Rack mountable computer component and method of making same
View Patent ↗According to at least one of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, there is disclosed a rack mountable computer component which is in the form of an open computer component or blade construction which is adapted to be mounted in a generally upright or vertical disposition within a rack. The operative components such as mother boards are mounted at the front of the component or blade to permit access by the user thereto. The operative components are cooled by vertical air flow relative to the mounted blade to facilitate cooling thereof.
1. A computer component construction for mounting in a generally upright disposition within a rack or the like comprising:
a support having operative components mounted on at least one side thereof, and being adapted to be supported in a generally upright configuration;
a front panel extending transversely to a front edge portion of said support having an outlet thereat connected electrically to at least one of the operative components; and
an electrical power inlet mounted at a rear edge portion of said support to receive electrical power for said operative components.
2. A computer component construction according to claim 1 , wherein said support includes a cut-out portion, said power inlet being disposed near said cut-out portion.
3. A computer component construction according to claim 2 , wherein said support is generally rectangular in shape.
4. A computer component construction according to claim 3 , wherein said support is substantially rigid.
5. A computer component construction according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of said operative components to be disposed near said front edge portion of said support and is connected electrically to said outlet.
6. A computer component construction according to claim 5 , further including a cable for connecting electrically to said outlet or said front panel to convey electrical information from the operative components.
7. A computer component construction according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one operative component is a mother board.
8. A computer component construction according to claim 7 , wherein another one of said operative components is a hard drive.
9. A computer component construction according to claim 8 , wherein still another one of said operative components to a power supply.
10. A computer component construction according to claim 9 , wherein a further one of said operative components is a second mother board.
11. A computer component construction according to claim 1 , further including a handle connected to the front face of the front panel.
12. A computer component construction according to claim 1 , wherein one edge of said front panel is disposed at an edge of said support to form an L-shaped configuration.
13. A method of making a computer component construction, comprising: mounting operative components on at least one side of a support;
connecting a front panel to a front edge portion of the support for extending transversely thereto;
connecting an outlet to the front panel and connecting it electrically to at least one of the operative components; and connecting a power inlet at a rear edge portion of said support to receive electrical power for said operative components.
14. A method according to claim 13 , further including providing said support with at least one cut-out portion, and connecting the power inlet to the support at the cut-out portion.
15. A method according to claim 14 , further including disposing at least one of the operative components near the front edge portion of the support.
16. A method according to claim 15 , further including connecting electrically said at least one of the operative components to the outlet.
17. A method according to claim 13 , further including connecting a cable electrically to the outlet on the front panel.