Mounting apparatus for data storage device and vibration absorbing member of the same

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to device mounting, and more particularly, to a mounting apparatus for a data storage device and a vibration absorbing member of the mounting apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices, such as computers or servers, often include data storage devices such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory drives, digital video disc drives, and floppy disk drives mounted on a bracket secured to a device chassis by screws. Since the data storage devices directly contact the bracket and the chassis of the computer, vibration generated by the data storage devices in operation can create sympathetic vibration of the bracket and the chassis of the computer, thereby magnifying impact to the data storage devices and creating noise.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting apparatus and a plurality of data storage devices, the mounting apparatus including a plurality of vibration absorbing members.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded, enlarged views of an exemplary embodiment of a vibration absorbing member utilized in a mounting apparatus such as, for example, that of FIG. 1 , shown from different perspectives.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus and the plurality of data storage devices of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged sectional view of FIG. 4 , taken along the line V-V.

Referring to FIG. 1 , in an exemplary embodiment, a mounting apparatus is provided to house a plurality of data storage devices 10 . The mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket 20 to receive the plurality of data storage devices 10 and a plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 attached to the plurality of data storage devices 10 and engaging the mounting bracket 10 .

Each of the plurality of data storage devices 10 includes two opposite attachment surfaces 11 , each attached surface 11 defining a plurality of fastener holes 112 . In one embodiment, two of the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 are attached to each of the attachment surfaces 11 of each of the plurality of storage devices 10 . In another embodiment, one or more than two of the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 are attached to each of the attachment surfaces 11 of each of plurality of the storage devices 10 .

The mounting bracket 20 includes two parallel sidewalls 21 . Two flanges 211 respectively extend perpendicularly from corresponding ends of the sidewalls 21 , away from each other. Each of the sidewalls 21 defines a plurality of parallel sliding slots 213 , extending perpendicular to the flanges 211 . Each of the sliding slots 213 includes a guiding portion 215 where a corresponding sidewall 21 meets the flange 211 connected to the sidewall 21 .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , each vibration absorbing member 30 includes a fastener 31 , a damping body 32 , and a supporter 33 . In one embodiment, the fastener 31 is conductive material, and includes an operating portion 311 and a threaded portion 312 extending from a first end of the operating portion 311 . An engagement groove 3113 , in this embodiment cross-shaped, is defined in a second end opposite to the first end of the operation portion 311 , for engaging a tool such as a screwdriver. The operating portion 311 further includes a rim 3115 extending from a circumference of the first end of the operating portion 311 .

The damping body 32 is conductive rubber. The damping body 32 is stepped and cylindrical, and includes a middle portion 321 , an annular first protrusion 323 , and an annular second protrusion 325 extending from opposite ends of the middle portion 321 . Diameters of the first protrusion 323 and the second protrusion 325 are less than that of the middle portion 321 , such that a first shoulder 324 and a second shoulder 326 (shown and labeled in FIG. 5 ) are respectively formed at the opposite ends of the middle portion 321 corresponding to the first protrusion 323 and the second protrusion 325 . The damping body 32 axially defines a through hole 320 . A circular retaining groove 328 (shown and labeled in FIG. 5 ) is defined in an inner wall bounding the through hole 320 of the damping body 32 , adjacent to the second protrusion 325 . A diameter of the retaining groove 328 is slightly less than an outer diameter of the rim 3115 . In another embodiment, the damping body 32 may be a spring or other vibration absorbing element. A block portion 3251 is radially formed on a distal end of the second protrusion 325 of the damping body 32 , to reduce access to the through hole 320 .

In one embodiment, the supporter 33 is an aluminum alloy with a glossy surface. In other embodiments, the supporter 33 may be other conductive materials. The supporter 33 includes a cylindrical supporting portion 331 and an abutting portion 332 extending from a circumference of a first end of the supporting portion 331 . A receiving hole 330 is axially defined in the supporter 33 and a diameter of the receiving hole 330 is slightly less than an outer diameter of the middle portion 321 . The supporter 33 further radially forms two circular tabs 338 respectively at a second end of the supporting portion 331 and a distal end of the abutting portion 332 , such that size of each opposite end of the receiving hole 330 is slightly less than the first protrusion 323 and the second protrusion 325 of the damping body 32 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , during assembly of each of the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 , the threaded portion 312 of the fastener 31 extends through the through hole 320 of the damping body 32 from the first protrusion 323 out of the second protrusion 325 . The fastener 31 is retained in the damping body 32 with the operating portion 311 of the fastener 31 engaged in the through hole 320 of the damping body 32 and the rim 3115 of the fastener 31 engaged in the retaining groove 328 of the damping body 32 . The damping body 32 with the fastener 31 passes through the receiving hole 320 of the supporter 33 from the second end of the supporting portion 331 , until the threaded portion 312 of the fastener 31 and the second protrusion 325 of the damping body 32 extend out of the abutting portion 332 of the supporter 33 . Thus, the damping body 32 is fixed to the supporter 33 with the opposite tabs 338 abutting the first shoulder 324 and the second shoulder 326 of the clamping body 32 , respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , to attach the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 to the corresponding data storage devices 10 , the threaded portions 312 of the fasteners 31 are engaged in the corresponding fastener holes 112 .

In assembling each of the plurality of data storage devices 10 to the mounting bracket 20 , the data storage device 10 is received in the mounting bracket 20 , with the supporting portions 331 of the supporters 33 of the vibration absorbing members 30 on the opposite mounting surfaces 11 of the data storage device 10 sliding into two corresponding sliding slots 213 in the opposite sidewalls 21 of the mounting bracket 20 through the guiding portions 215 of the sliding slots 213 . The abutting portions 332 of the supporters 33 of the vibration absorbing members 30 abut inner surfaces of the sidewalls 21 of the mounting bracket 20 . The second protrusions 325 of the damping bodies 32 of the vibration absorbing members 30 correspondingly abut the mounting surfaces 11 of the data storage device 10 . The plurality of data storage devices 10 held in the mounting bracket 20 do not directly contact the mounting bracket 20 . The plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 is disposed between and engages the corresponding data storage devices 10 and the mounting bracket 20 , such that the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 dampens vibration generated by the plurality of data storage devices 10 in operation, avoiding sympathetic vibration of the mounting bracket 20 . Further, since the plurality of vibration absorbing members 30 are electrically conductive, static electricity is expelled from the plurality of data storage devices 10 promptly.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments.