Any comments on Whitebox Robotics trying to get a patent for a robot with a PC inside? There HAS to be prior art on this. I believe in intellectual property but this idea doesn't seem new to me.
You can go to the
I want to sell a robot with an ITX motherboard inside but there could be complications if this patent issues. I'm looking to the community for prior art references.
Thanks, Danh
Here is a copy of the claims:
The invention claimed is:
- A hobby robot having an encasement shell surrounding a support structure, wherein the hobby robot is comprised of: means for securing the encasement shell to the support structure; at least one cavity defined within the support structure, wherein the cavity is adapted to receive at least one mounting element; and an opening situated in the encasement shell, wherein the opening is sized to accommodate the insertion and removal of the mounting element therethrough, and wherein a portion of the cavity and a portion of the opening are arranged to allow the mounting element to simultaneously be situated within the cavity while protruding through the opening.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the mounting element in one of a substantially horizontal orientation and substantially vertical orientation.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is hardware for performing a desired function in connection with the operation of the robot.
- The hobby robot of claim 3, wherein the hardware is one of a mother/ daughter board, hard disk drive, optical drive, media reader, non- volatile/volatile memory, slide rail, speaker system, I/O interface, rack mount, riser card, and face plate.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is a tray for supporting hardware that performs a desired function in connection with the operation of the robot.
- The hobby robot of claim 5, wherein the tray is slidably received in the cavity.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, further comprising a face plate for covering at least a portion of the cavity.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, further comprising means for securing the mounting element to the support structure.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the support structure is adapted to receive a circuit board.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the support structure is adapted to receive a self-contained power source.
- The hobby robot of claim 1, wherein the support structure is adapted to receive means for imparting motive force to the support structure.
- The hobby robot of claim 11, wherein the means for imparting motive force includes a motor coupled to one of a plurality of wheels, one or more treads, and a combination thereof.
- A hobby robot having a support structure, the hobby robot comprising: a cavity defined within the support structure, wherein the cavity includes means positioned within the cavity for removably coupling at least one mounting element to an interior portion of the cavity; and means for securing an encasement shell to the support structure.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, further comprising the encasement shell for receiving the support structure therein.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, further comprising means attached to the support structure for imparting motive force to the support structure.
- The hobby robot of claim 15, wherein the means for imparting motive force to the support structure includes one of wheels, one or more treads, and a combination thereof attached to the support structure.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, wherein the mounting element is in one of a substantially horizontal orientation and substantially vertical orientation.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, wherein the means for securing the encasement shell to the support structure is one of a snap fit, friction fit, screwing and bolting.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, wherein the means for removably coupling the mounting element is one of slide rails, screws, and fasteners.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, wherein the cavity is substantially rectilinear.
- The hobby robot of claim 13, wherein the mounting element is one of a mother/daughter board, hard disk drive, optical drive, media reader, non-volatile/volatile memory, slide rail, speaker system, I/O interface, rack mount, riser card, tray, and face plate.