Computer enclosure incorporating slidable drive bracket

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and particularly to a computer enclosure having a slidable drive bracket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various data storage devices are installed in computers for electronic communication and handling of data. Drive brackets are often used to support and secure such data storage devices inside the computers.

In a typical computer, drive brackets are fixed in an enclosure of the computer by screws or fasteners. Taiwan Patent Application No. 89216297 discloses a conventional computer enclosure comprising a cage and a bracket. The cage defines a plurality of fixing holes, and the bracket includes a base and two separable frames. The base defines a plurality of screw holes. Fixing edges depend from two sides respectively of the frames, and the fixing edges define a plurality of fixing openings. A plurality of setscrews is extended through the fixing openings of the fixing edges and engaged in the screw holes of the base, thereby fixing the two frames to the base. A plurality of setscrews is used to fix the bracket into the cage in similar fashion.

However, using screws to mount the frame onto the base is laborious and time-consuming. In addition, when a user wants to change or maintain a component in the computer, removal of the screws is inconvenient. Similarly, using screws to attach a bracket in a computer enclosure is laborious and time-consuming. Moreover, production and assembly of these modularized brackets is complicated and costly.

Thus, a computer enclosure incorporating slidable drive bracket which solves the above-mentioned problems is strongly desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure having a slidable drive bracket which allows quickly and readily attachment and removal of data storage devices therein.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a computer enclosure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cage and a bracket. The cage comprises a pair of side panels, and a front panel. Each of the side panel defines a first slideway and a second slideway. The front panel defines a screw hole. The drive bracket comprises a pair of side walls. Each side wall attachingly receives a first sliding member and a locking member, and forms a second sliding member. A slot is defined in each of the second slideway. The locking member includes a protrusion defining a through hole. In assembly, the drive bracket is pushed into the cage, with the second and first sliding member sliding along the second and the first slideways. A thumb screw is extended the through hole and engages in the screw hole to secure the drive bracket in the cage.

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 attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a computer enclosure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembly view of FIG. 1 , but showing a drive bracket in an initial position;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 , but showing the drive bracket in a final position; and

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the drive bracket integrated with a locking member.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a computer enclosure of an electronic device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bracket 30 , and a cage 10 .

The cage 10 comprises a bottom panel 12 , a front panel 16 , and a pair of side panels 14 a , 14 b . A top extremity of the front panel 16 is lower than top extremities of the side panels 14 a , 14 b . An entrance 18 is thereby defined above the front panel 16 and between the side panels 14 a , 14 b , for receiving the drive bracket 30 therethrough. The side panels 14 a , 14 b have similar and symmetrical configurations; therefore, only the side panel 14 a is described in detail thereafter. The side panel 14 a comprises a beam 15 extending perpendicularly inwardly from a top edge thereof, and a flange 17 depending from an innermost side edge of the beam 15 . A first slideway 21 is horizontally defined in a front portion of the flange 17 . A second slideway 25 is horizontally defined in a rear portion of the flange 17 adjacent to the first slideway 21 . A cutout 26 is defined in the beam 15 , at a front end of the second slideway 25 and in communication with the slideway 25 . A pair of parallel second flanges 22 extends perpendicularly from upper and lower extremities of the first slideway 21 toward the side panel 14 a . The first slideway 20 comprises a blocking portion 23 at a rear extremity thereof, and an entry 24 defined in a front portion thereof. A third flange 29 extends perpendicularly outwardly from a bottom edge of the second slideway 25 toward the side panel 14 a . A vertical flange 27 extends inwardly and perpendicularly from a front extremity of the side panels 14 a . A pair of screw hole 28 is defined in the vertical flange 27 and a left portion of the front panel 16 beside the entrance 18 respectively. A plurality of first rivet holes 44 is defined in a front portion of the side panel 14 below the fixing wall 38 .

The drive bracket 30 can be slidably received in the cage 10 along the first and second slideways 21 , 25 . The drive bracket 30 has a pair of side walls 36 , an upper wall 34 , a bottom wall 32 , and a separating wall 37 parallel to and disposed at approximately midway between the side walls 36 . The side walls 36 and separating wall 37 cooperatively define a pair of spaces therebetween, for holding data storage device therein. The side walls 36 protrude progressively outwardly from bottom to top, thereby forming a pair of fixing wall 38 . A fixing hole 42 is defined in a front portion of each fixing wall 38 . A hook 43 is outwardly formed from each fixing wall 38 behind the fixing hole 42 .

A pair of first sliding members 50 is attached on front portions of the fixing walls 38 respectively. Each first sliding member 50 is elongated. A recess 54 is defined at a rear end of the first sliding member 50 , corresponding to the hook 43 of the drive bracket 30 . A through hole 52 is defined in a middle portion of the first sliding member 50 , for extension of a setscrew 60 therethrough.

A pair of second sliding member 40 is outwardly formed from rear portions of the fixing wall 38 respectively. Each second sliding member 40 is directly punched from its corresponding fixing wall 38 , and is substantially a hollow cylinder.

A pair of locking member 70 is attached to the side panels 14 a , 14 b of the cage 10 respectively. Each locking member 70 comprises a first plate 72 , and a second plate 74 perpendicular to the first plate 72 . A plurality of second rivet holes 76 is defined in the first plate 72 , corresponding to the first rivet holes 44 of the side panels 36 of bracket 30 . A protrusion 78 is extruded outwardly from the second plate 74 . A screw hole 80 is defined in the protrusion 78 , for engaging with a thumbscrew 90 .

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3 , in assembly, each first sliding member 50 is placed against its corresponding fixing wall 38 of the drive bracket 30 , so that the recess 54 of the first sliding member 50 receives the hook 43 of the corresponding fixing wall 38 . The setscrew 60 is then extended through the through hole 52 of the first sliding member 50 and engages in the fixing hole 42 of the corresponding fixing wall 38 . The first sliding member 50 are thus fixed to the drive bracket 30 . The locking members 70 are rivetedly attached to side panels 14 a , 14 b of the cage 10 respectively, with the first rivet holes 76 aligning with the second rivet holes 44 . The thumbscrews 90 are extended through the apertures 80 of the locking members 70 respectively. The second sliding members 40 of the drive bracket 30 are then inserted through corresponding cutouts 26 of the cage 10 . The drive bracket 30 is then pushed into the cage 10 , with the second sliding member 40 sliding along the second slideways 25 , and the first sliding members 50 sliding along the first slideways 21 via corresponding entries 24 . When the first sliding members 50 contact the blocking portions 23 of the first slideways 21 respectively, the thumbscrews 90 are screwed in the screw holes 28 of the cage 10 respectively. The drive bracket 30 is thereby secured in the cage 10 , and is prevented from being accidentally detached from the cage 10 .

In disassembly, the thumbscrews 90 are unscrewed to disengage from the screw holes 28 of the cage 10 . The bracket 30 is then easily slide out and removed from the cage 10 .

Referring also to FIG. 4 , in an alternative embodiment, the locking member 70 can be omitted, and a locking tab 74 is stamped outwardly from each side wall 36 of the 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.