Housing having configurable airflow exhaust

Abstract

A configurable housing includes a top surface having a closed configuration and an opened configuration in which a first plurality of perforations provide a first air flow path. The housing further includes a plurality of sidewalls connected to the top surface. The plurality of sidewalls including a first sidewall having a closed configuration and an opened configuration in which a second plurality of perforations provide a second air flow path. The housing also includes a bottom surface connected to the plurality of sidewalls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cabinet configured to house an article that requires cooling, the cabinet comprising:
 a top surface having a top air outlet disposed therein;   a removable top cover configured to be secured to the top surface over the top air outlet, thereby obstructing air flow through the top air outlet;   a plurality of walls connected to the top surface, the plurality of walls including a rear wall having a rear air outlet disposed therein; and   a removable rear cover configured to be secured to the rear wall over the rear air outlet, thereby obstructing air flow through the rear air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a front air inlet opposite the rear air outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom air inlet opposite the top air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the top air outlet includes a plurality of perforations disposed in the top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the rear air outlet includes a plurality of perforations disposed in the rear wall. 
     
     
         6 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shelf disposed therein. 
     
     
         8 . A housing comprising:
 a frame;   a first top panel connected to the frame, the first top panel having a top opening disposed therein;   a second top panel, wherein the second top panel is solid; and   a plurality of side panels connected to the frame, the plurality of side panels including at least a first rear panel and a second rear panel,
 wherein the first rear panel has a rear opening disposed therein, and 
 wherein the second rear panel is a solid panel. 
   
     
     
         9 . The housing of  claim 8 , wherein the second top panel is configured to be secured to the first top panel such that the second top panel obstructs the top opening. 
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 8 , wherein the first top panel is removably connected to the frame, and wherein the second top panel is configured to be removably connected to the frame to replace the first top panel. 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 8 , wherein the second rear panel is configured to be secured to the first rear panel such that the second rear panel obstructs the rear opening. 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 8 , wherein the first rear panel is removably connected to the frame, and wherein the second rear panel is configured to be removably connected to the frame to replace the first rear panel. 
     
     
         13 . The housing of  claim 8 , further comprising an exhaust fan disposed therein. 
     
     
         14 . A configurable housing comprising:
 a top surface having a closed configuration and an opened configuration in which a first plurality of perforations provide a first air flow path;   a plurality of sidewalls connected to the top surface, the plurality of sidewalls including a first sidewall having a closed configuration and an opened configuration in which a second plurality of perforations provide a second air flow path; and   a bottom surface connected to the plurality of sidewalls.   
     
     
         15 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first air flow path and the second air flow path includes an air inlet disposed opposite the first plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom surface has an air inlet disposed therein. 
     
     
         17 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , further comprising a top cover configured to be secured to the top surface in the closed configuration to obstruct the first plurality perforations. 
     
     
         18 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , further comprising a first sidewall cover configured to be secured to the first sidewall in the closed configuration to obstruct the second plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         19 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , wherein the top surface includes a pair of removable top surfaces, including a solid top surface and a top surface having the first plurality of perforations disposed therein. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable housing of  claim 14 , wherein the first sidewall includes a pair of first sidewalls, including a solid first sidewall and a first sidewall having the second plurality of perforations disposed therein. 
     
     
         21 . A method of configuring a housing, the method comprising:
 providing a housing having a top surface with a closed configuration and an opened configuration, and a plurality of sidewalls connected to the top surface, wherein the plurality of sidewalls include a first sidewall having a closed configuration and an opened configuration;   placing a first one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the opened configuration; and   placing a second one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the placing the first one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the opened configuration includes exposing an air outlet, and wherein the placing the second one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the closed configuration includes obstructing an air outlet with a cover. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the placing the first one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the opened configuration includes providing a panel having an air outlet, and wherein the placing the second one of the top surface and the first sidewall in the closed configuration includes providing a solid panel.