Abstract: A mounting system for attaching a panel to a chassis includes a chassis having a top, a bottom and opposing sides. A guide portion is attached adjacent to the top of the chassis. A latch is movably mounted to the chassis adjacent to the guide portion. The guide portion engages the latch to limit the movement of the latch along a reference axis defined by the guide portion. A resilient member is connected between the latch and the chassis for biasing the latch to a static position. A panel is pivotally attached adjacent to the bottom of the chassis. The panel is engaged by the latch to retain the panel in a closed position. The latch is movable to a displaced position for releasing the panel to allow the panel to be moved to an open position. The panel can be accurately and consistently aligned and attached to the chassis of the computer system after each removal.

Abstract: A system and method of mounting components to a frame, such as a disk drive in the mounting frame of a personal computer shaped to receive the disk drive in a releasable fashion within the frame. A tubular spring member with a z-shaped base and outwardly-extending legs is made of a spring steel and formed with flattened leg ends fits within holes in the component to secure the component to a guide member, with the guide member mounted within the mounting frame. The disk drive component with the guide member secured by the Z-spring slides into a slot on the frame of the personal computer and is secured in place to provide a releasable assembly for replacement of the disk drive as desired.

Abstract: An I/O bracket is mounted to a back panel of an enclosure defining connector access openings for exposing connectors mounted in the enclosure. The back panel defines a substantially rectangular opening having a circumferential wall perpendicular thereto. The bracket includes a plate having a primary flange perpendicular thereto for movably fitting over the wall of the back panel. A second flange perpendicularly extends from the primary flange and defines a plurality of trapezoidal holes having a wide end and a narrow end. L-shaped pawls are stamped on the back panel for being received in the wide ends of the holes when the bracket is at a first unlocked position and engaging with the narrow ends of the holes when the bracket is moved with respect to the back panel to a second locked position and thus securing the bracket to the back panel.

Abstract: A computer system is provided which includes features enhancing its serviceability. In a described embodiment, a computer has a chassis which includes option card module latching structures and a drive bay module pivot structure. The latching structures provide convenient access to a system board of the computer. The pivot structure provides convenient access to storage media devices in a drive bay module of the computer.

Abstract: For an active computer work station at which discs are used to operate the computer and documentation produced as the work product thereof, the use of a storage basket of wire construction material permanently attached to a maintenance access opening closure of the computer housing so that disposal of the basket/closure assembly, if need be, is without significant financial consequence and, prior to disposal, the stored discs, documentation and other such sundries are within the convenient reach of a user of the computer.

Abstract: A low profile, miniature notebook computer has a base portion, a monitor portion and a display monitor which is pivotally mounted to the monitor portion. The base portion and the monitor portion are movable relative to one another between retracted and deployed positions. The computer also has a keyboard with keys which are divided between the base and monitor portions. As the monitor portion is deployed, it shifts to the left and forward relative to the stationary base portion. The monitor portion may be manually or automatically shifted between positions. The computer also has a base plate with a stationary support foot which is flush with the rear edge of the main body of the machine when it is in the retracted position, but which extends beyond the rear edge of the main body of the machine when it is in the deployed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a display housing to a base of a laptop computer. In one embodiment, the base has a widthwise dimension, a depthwise dimension, and a thickness and the display housing has a depthwise dimension that exceeds the depthwise dimension of the base. The laptop computer can further include a latch coupled to at least one of the display housing and the base. The latch can have an engaging portion that moves between a secured position to secure the display housing to the base, and an unsecured position to allow the display housing to be pivoted away from the base. The latch can translate or rotate between the secured position and the unsecured position.