Screen rack for two screens with a case for electric components

Abstract

A screen rack for two screens, comprising a case for electric components, whereby power supply adapters for a PC and two screens that can be installed on the screen rack are arranged in the case.

Claims

1. A screen rack for two screens, comprising: a case for electric components, the case including at least two vertically offset ventilation apertures; and power supply adapters arranged in the case, the power supply adapters being for a PC and two screens that can be installed on the screen rack; wherein at least one of the power supply adapters is arranged between the at least two vertically offset ventilation apertures so that the at least one power supply adapter is cooled by air that enters the case through a lower one of the two vertically offset ventilation apertures and that flows out of the case through an upper one of the at least two vertically offset ventilation apertures after the power supply adapter is heated by exhaust air.

2. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the case has a flexible and/or removable case section in order to open or to close the case at least partially.

3. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein at least a main circuit board of the PC is arranged in the case, and the main circuit board of the PC contains at least one of a central process unit and a hard disc drive of the PC.

4. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the power supply adapters for the PC and the two screens are supplied with power through a joint power cable, and the joint power cable is a double cable with an integrated network cable.

5. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the case is substantially a cuboid, and is aligned in an upright position with smallest side areas of the cuboid pointing upwards or downwards and/or largest side areas of the cuboid pointing frontwards or rearwards.

6. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein a CPU of the PC is arranged between the two vertically offset ventilation apertures so that the CPU of the PC is cooled by the air that enters the case through the lower one of the at least two ventilation apertures and that flows out of the case through the upper one of the at least two ventilation apertures after the CPU of the PC is heated by the exhaust air.

7. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the screen rack has a mounting section configured to be positioned on an even surface, the mounting section is located exactly under the screens after the two screens are installed on the screen rack, and the mounting section is dimensioned so that the two screens are installed on the screen rack next to each other in a horizontal format while the screen rack is standing on the even surface.

8. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the case has at least one cable throughput aperture, the cable throughput aperture opens towards a rear of the screens after the screens are installed on the screen rack and the cable throughput aperture is concealed by the screens.

9. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the screen rack has a mounting section with ports for the installation of the two screens, the ports comply with Video Electronics Standards Association standard for display mounting, the mounting section is height-adjustable and/or tilt-adjustable, and each of the ports is tilt-adjustable in relation to the mounting section.

10. The screen rack according to claim 1, wherein the screen rack has an inductive charging surface in order to inductively charge electric devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a screen rack according to the invention with a case to integrate electronic components, whereby power supply adapters for a PC and for two screens are arranged in the case and whereby the case absorbs the main circuit board of the PC.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a computer-generated perspective view of the mounted screen rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(3) The preferred embodiment of the invention shall be described with reference to the annexed Figures in the following.

(4) Basic Functions of the Screen Rack 1

(5) The screen rack 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is a PC flat screen rack for the installation of two identical PC flat screens 6 with a diagonal screen size of preferably 15 to 27 inches so that the two PC flat screens 6 in the horizontal format (essentially horizontal position of the longer screen side) are positioned directly next to each other while the shorter screen sides are facing each other and the surfaces of the screens 6 are substantially flush in relation to each other. Also, other screen formats can be mounted next to each other if the mounting section 11 is designed accordingly. The mounting section 11 is designed with ports 13 for two screens 6 according to the VESA standard and is adjustable in height and tilt so that the two PC flat screens 6 can be moved simultaneously upwards and downwards in relation to the even base surface (table surface) as well as swiveled in relation to a horizontal swivel axis. The adjustability in height and/or tilt is optional.

(6) Case 2 for Electric Components

(7) According to the invention, the screen rack 1 comprises a cuboid-shaped and upward aligned case 2 to integrate electric components. In particular, the power supply adapters for a PC 5 and for screens 6 to be installed on the screen rack 1 are arranged in the case 2. The case 2 comprises a carrying case section and/or support section 2a that is mounted on a large mounting plate 9a via a spacer plate 9c and that is consequently linked to the mounting section 9 in a rigid way. On the side of the carrying case section 2a that points towards the screens 6, an ON/OFF switch is to be installed in a central position below the screens 6. If needed, there are USB slots and/or further ports for external accessories (e.g. SD card slot, etc.) on the side of the carrying case section 2a that points towards the screens 6 or on the two side areas of the case 2. The carrying case section 2a is essentially designed in a rectangular and plate-shaped manner and forms the support section of the screen rack 1. The carrying case section 2a is bent over a horizontal edge that extends in parallel to the shorter side of the rectangular form in order to form a mounting section for electric components on top of it as well as a mounting flange to fasten the mounting plate 9a underneath. The mounting section for the electric components is formed by the part of the case section 2a with the larger area and extends upwards at an angle of 75 to 105 in relation to the large mounting plate 9a. The mounting flange for fastening on the mounting plate 9a is formed by the part of the carrying case section 2a with the smaller area and is located on the lower end of the carrying case section 2a. The mounting flange extends in parallel to the large mounting plate on the side of the mounting section that faces away from the screens 6. The mounting flange of the carrying case section 2a, the spacer plate 9c and the large mounting plate 9a respectively have three compatible throughput apertures in order to be able to connect the components, for example by means of screws.

(8) According to the invention, the case 2 formed by the screen rack 1 integrates the power supply adapters 3, 4 for a personal computer (PC) 5 and for the screens 6. The carrying case section 2a defines an intake for the electric components between the mounting section and the mounting flange. The power supply adapters 3, 4 and the PC 5 and/or its main circuit board with a central process unit (CPU) and at least one hard disc drive are mounted on the carrying case section 2a in a vertically offset position towards each other. An internal case section 2b that is to be installed on the carrying case section 2a forms a frame around the electric components. An external case section 2c is designed as a removable cover in order to be able to open or close the case 2 at least partially if needed.

(9) Ventilation

(10) The case 2 has two vertically offset ventilation apertures 7, 8 between which the electric components, i.e. the power supply adapters 3, 4 as well as the main circuit board of the PC 5, are arranged. The lower ventilation aperture 7 is located at the rear of the case, slightly above the contact surface of the screen rack 1. The upper ventilation aperture 8 is located on the top side of the case 2. Due to a chimney effect, the electric components are cooled through air that enters the case 2 through the lower ventilation aperture 7 and that flows out of the case 2 through the upper ventilation aperture 8 after heating through exhaust air of the electric components. The vertically offset arrangement of the electric components alongside the air current between the two ventilation apertures 7, 8 facilitates the air current within the case 2 due to the chimney effect so that the electric components are effectively cooled by means of convection. A ventilator controlled by a thermostat is installed on the CPU. This ventilator is acoustically insulated through its installation between the ventilation apertures 7, 8.

(11) Cable Routing

(12) The power supply adapters 3, 4 arranged in the case 2 for the PC 5 installed in the case 2 as well as for the screens 6 are interconnected within the case in such a way that only a single power cable has to be led out of the case 2 to a socket in order to connect all electric components to the power supply.

(13) Connections

(14) The power cable is designed as a double cable with an integrated network cable. The respective connections for the screens 6 as well as for a keyboard and/or mouse to use the PC 5 are preferably installed in or on the case 6. Alternatively, the network connection, the keyboard and/or the mouse and/or peripheral devices can also communicate with the PC 5 through relevant wireless interfaces (for example WLAN, Bluetooth, etc.) where possible and useful.

(15) Materials

(16) The structurally carrying parts of the screen rack 1 according to the invention, particularly the large and small mounting plates 9a, 9b, the spacer plate 9c, the carrying case section 2a as well as the internal and external case sections 2b, 2c, are preferably made of plastic or metal.

(17) Inductive Charging Section

(18) In a central position ahead of the mounting plate 9a, there is the small mounting plate 9b that is designed as an inductive charging surface for inductive charging of electric devices such as mobile phones or the like.

(19) Benefits of the Invention

(20) A significant advantage of the screen rack according to a variant of the invention is the provision of two ports to fasten two screens, whereby it is preferably possible to simultaneously adjust the height and tilt of the two screens. It is preferred to have the ports designed to fasten the screens according to the VESA standard in order to be able to install different screens on the screen rack according to the invention.

(21) Another important benefit of the invention is the condition that the power supply adapters for the PC and the power supply adapters for the screens as well as diverse electric components and connections can be integrated in the case of the screen rack. Thereby, these electric components can be interconnected within the case so that only a single power cable is to be connected to a power grid in order to supply all electric components with electricity.

(22) According to another variant of the invention, the mounting section is designed as an essentially rectangular or square-shaped plate and/or the case has a cuboid shape. The longitudinal sides of the cuboid are preferably aligned vertically. The smallest sides of the cuboid preferably point upwards or downwards, and the largest sides of the cuboid point towards the front or the rear. The emerging arrangement of shapes of the screen rack according to the invention is aesthetically attractive and at the same time functional as the rectangular mounting section ensures a stable position because the cuboid shape of the case uses the available installation space to integrate the electric components in an optimal way.

(23) Further benefits in terms of aesthetic appearance and functional safety are created by the integrated cable management and the reduction of exposed cables.