Mounting apparatus for data storage device

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mounting apparatus, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for readily attaching a data storage device in a computer enclosure.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical personal computer comprises data storage devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive and a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive.

Conventionally, the data storage devices are attached to a chassis of a computer enclosure using screws. U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,367 discloses a drive bracket which is attached to a computer enclosure with screws. A tool such as a screwdriver is required to fasten the screws, and to unfasten the screws when removing the data storage devices. This is inconvenient and time-consuming, and particularly costly in mass production facilities. Furthermore, during assembly, extra operation space for manipulating the screws is needed. This militated against the modem trend toward reducing the size of a computer. Moreover, screws can be accidentally lost during assembly.

Various solutions have been devised to overcome the problems inherent in screw-type drive attachment means. One popular solution is to attach slide rails to opposite sides of the data storage device, and incorporate complementary guiding rails in the computer chassis. Said rails allow the computer driver to be slide into the chassis and then locked in place. Typical examples of this solution are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,806,949, 5,801,920 and 5,599,080, and in Taiwan Patent Applications Nos. 79209891 and 82207667. However, none of these solutions eliminates the need for screws, because screws are still required to attach the slide rails to the data storage device.

Thus, an improved mounting apparatus for data storage devices which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mounting apparatus for easy and convenient installation or removal of data storage devices into or from a computer enclosure without screws.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a mounting apparatus for a data storage device, the data storage device forms a plurality of protrusions on both sidewalls, the mounting apparatus comprises a bracket, a pair of retaining members, and a pair of latches. The bracket comprises a bottom plate and a pair of opposite side plates extending therefrom. A pair of openings is defined in each of the side plates. The retaining members are attached to inner surfaces of the side plates of the bracket and each comprises a pair of retaining portions. The retaining portions are received in corresponding openings and each comprises a resilient arm and a positioning portion located beneath. An arc-shaped lower concavity is formed at a top of the positioning portion and an arc-shaped upper concavity is formed at a bottom of the resilient arm. The protrusion is secured in a space defined by the upper concavity and the lower concavity. A hook is formed on a bottom of the resilient arm and extending through corresponding openings. The resilient arm can move forwardly and rearwards by the driven of the hook. The latches are pivotally attached to outsides of the side plates of the bracket. Each of the latches comprises a pressing portion and two operating ends extending horizontally from two distal ends of the pressing portion. The operating ends are received in corresponding hooks. The data storage device is released from the bracket by pressing the pressing portions of the latches.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, together with a data storage device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an retaining member of the amounting apparatus of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , a mounting apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for securing a data storage device 10 to a bottom panel 20 of a computer chassis (not shown). The mounting apparatus comprises a bracket 30 , a pair of retaining members 50 , and a pair of latches 70 .

A pair of aligned protrusions 14 is formed on each of opposite sidewalls 12 of the data storage device 10 . Alternatively, other suitable members may be provided at the opposite sidewalls 12 of the data storage device 10 such as screws, the members performing the same function as the protrusions 14 as described below.

The bracket 30 is generally U-shaped, and is attached to the bottom panel 20 by conventional means. The drive bracket 30 comprises a bottom plate 32 , and a pair of side plates 34 extending upward from opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom plate 32 . Three pairs of rectangular hook holes 36 are defined in a middle portion and two end portions of each side plate 34 respectively. An aperture 38 is defined in each end portion of the side plates 34 between the hook holes 36 . A pair of openings 40 is defined in each side plate 34 proximate to the hook holes 36 at the end portions thereof respectively. The side plates 34 each further comprises two spaced pairs of bent pieces 44 bent perpendicularly outwardly adjacent the inner edges of each opening 40 . A slot 46 is defined in each bent piece 44 .

The retaining members 50 are attached to the inner surface of the side plates 34 of the bracket 30 respectively. A plurality of catches 52 is formed outwardly on the retaining members 50 , engaging in the hook holes 36 of the bracket 30 respectively. A pair of bosses 54 is formed on each retaining member 50 , corresponding to the apertures 38 of the bracket 30 . Each retaining member 50 further defines a retaining portion 56 adjacent the catches 52 , corresponding to the openings 40 of the bracket 30 . The retaining portion 56 comprises a positioning portion 58 , and a resilient arm 60 depending from a top of the retaining member 50 . The positioning portion 58 is connected to the retaining member 50 via a plurality of resilient curved strips 582 . The curved strips 582 can absorb vibration when the data storage device 10 is assembled. An arc-shaped lower concavity 584 is formed at a top of the positioning portion 58 . The resilient arm 60 can be pressed to move outwardly. A pair of flanges 602 extends inwardly from the resilient arm 60 in proximity to an inner side of the retaining member 50 . The flanges 602 and the resilient arm 60 cooperatively confine a guiding groove 604 . A guiding section 606 extends slantingly inwardly from a bottom portion of the guiding groove 60 . An arc-shaped upper concavity 608 is formed at a bottom of the guiding section 606 . An L-shaped hook 610 is formed outwardly from the resilient arm 60 opposite to the flanges 602 .

The latches 70 are pivotally attached to the outsides of the side plates 34 of the bracket 30 , and comprises a pressing portion 72 and two operating ends 74 extending horizontally from two distal ends of the pressing portion 72 respectively. A pair of shafts 76 is formed at common edges of the pressing portion 72 and the operating ends 74 respectively. Ends of the shafts 76 are received in the slots 46 of the bent pieces 44 of the bracket 30 respectively to attach the latches 70 to the bracket 30 . The latches 70 are movable parallel to the side plates 34 of the bracket 30 , with the shafts 76 sliding in the slots 46 of bent pieces 44 .

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , in assembly, the retaining member 50 and the latches 70 are firstly assembled to the bracket 30 ; thereafter the data storage device 10 is received in the bracket 30 .

Firstly, the catches 52 of the retaining member 50 are clasped in corresponding hook holes 36 of the bracket 30 . And the bosses 54 of the retaining member 50 are engaged in corresponding apertures 38 . The retaining members 50 are thus attached to the inner sides of the side plates 34 of the bracket 30 . The hook 610 of the retaining portion 56 of the retaining member 50 extends out from the opening 40 of the side plate 34 . Secondly, each operating end 74 of the latches 70 is received in corresponding hook 610 , and each shaft 76 is engaged in the slots 46 of the bent piece 44 of the bracket 30 . Thus the latches 70 are attached to the outer sides of the side plates 34 of the bracket 30 respectively. Thirdly, the data storage device 10 is pressed into the bracket 30 from a top of the bracket 30 . The protrusions 14 of the data storage device 10 are respectively slid along the corresponding guiding grooves 604 of the retaining member 50 , the guiding sections 606 are urged toward outer sides of the side plates 34 by the data storage device 10 . After the data storage device 10 passes the guiding sections 606 , the guiding sections 606 rebounds, and the protrusions 14 of the data storage device 10 are secured in spaces defined by the upper concavities 608 and the lower concavities 584 . The upper concavities 608 prevents the data storage device 10 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate 32 of the bracket 30 , and the lower concavities 584 prevents the data storage device 10 from moving in a direction parallel to the bottom plate 32 . Therefore, the data storage device 10 is secured in the drive bracket 30 .

In disassembly, the pressing portions 72 of the latches 70 are inwardly pressed to cause the operating ends 74 to be prized outwardly. The hooks 610 are driven by the operating ends 74 to move outwardly, the guiding sections 606 is then moved outwardly to permit movement of the protrusions 14 in the direction perpendicular to the bottom plate 32 of the bracket 30 . The data storage device 10 is then ready to be removed from the drive bracket 30 .

It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.