Color interchangeable side panels mounting plugs

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus in which a consumer, without technical skill or special tools can quickly and easily change or add a color to the computer case of their personal computer. Because of the large number of available color panels, it is necessary to provide an aftermarket kit in which the consumer can customize the computer case. Advantageously, this permits the consumer to have a computer in green, blue, red, violet, etc. Also, advantageously, the consumer merely needs to remove a plurality of hole plugs and then install the color panels using supplied attachment feet or mounting plugs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A kit, comprising: 
 a pair of cover panels for attachment to opposite side panels of a computer case, each of said cover panels having a plurality of holes and each of the opposite side panels of the computer case having a corresponding plurality of holes; and    a plurality of elastomeric feet each insertable through one of said holes in said cover panel and through the corresponding hole in the computer case for retaining each of said pair of cover panels on the opposite side panels of the computer case.    
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each said cover panels is made of a plastic material.  
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the holes of the opposite side panels is covered with hole plugs.  
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of cover panels has an interior surface corresponding in shape to an exterior surface of each said side panels.  
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the cover panels has a vent section corresponding in location to a vent in one of the side panels.  
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of said feet has a cover portion and a pair of legs extending from said cover portion and a shoulder portion at a distal end of said legs such that when said legs are inserted into said cover panel hole and the side panel hole, said legs flex inwardly and said shoulder portions are brought into engagement with an interior surface of the side panel.  
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the opposite side panels are painted or molded in a variety of different colored resins.  
     
     
         8 . A method of installing a color panel on a computer case, the color panel having a plurality of holes, the computer case having at least one panel, the at least one panel having a plurality of holes corresponding in location to the plurality of holes in the color panel, comprising: 
 inserting a plurality of elastomeric feet each through one of the holes in the color panel and through the corresponding hole in the at least one panel to secure the color panel on the computer case.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising removing hole plugs from the plurality of holes in the at least one panel.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of said feet has a cover portion and a pair of legs extending from said cover portion and a shoulder portion at a distal end of said legs such that when said legs are inserted into said cover panel hole and the side panel hole, said legs flex inwardly and said shoulder portions are brought into engagement with an interior surface of the side panel.  
     
     
         11 . A computer case, comprising: 
 opposite side panels each having a plurality of holes;    a pair of cover panels for attachment to said opposite side panels;    a plurality of elastomeric feet each insertable through one of said holes in said cover panel and through the corresponding hole in the computer case for retaining each of said pair of cover panels on the opposite side panels of the computer case.    
     
     
         12 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein each said cover panels is made of a plastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein the holes of the opposite side panels are covered with hole plugs.  
     
     
         14 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of cover panels has an interior surface corresponding in shape to an exterior surface of each said side panels.  
     
     
         15 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein each of the cover panels has a vent section corresponding in location to a vent in one of the side panels.  
     
     
         16 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein each of said feet has a cover portion and a pair of legs extending from said cover portion and a shoulder portion at a distal end of said legs such that when said legs are inserted into said cover panel hole and the side panel hole, said legs flex inwardly and said shoulder portions are brought into engagement with an interior surface of the side panel.  
     
     
         17 . The computer case of  claim 11 , wherein the opposite side panels are painted.