Mounting apparatus for data storage devices

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and particularly to a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing or removing a data storage device to or from a computer enclosure.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Generally speaking, when a computer is assembled, a drive bracket is mounted in a computer enclosure, and then data storage devices are fixed to the drive bracket. The data storage devices comprise various combinations of hard disk drives (HDDs), floppy disk drives (FDDs), and compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drives.

[0005] Conventionally, a data storage device is attached to a drive bracket of a computer by bolts. The data storage device may, for example, be a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, or a CD-ROM drive. However, attachment by bolts is complicated and time-consuming. Furthermore, attachment by such means requires extra work space be available inside the computer enclosure. This requirement runs counter to the trend toward miniaturization in the computer industry.

[0006] To overcome the above problems, rails have been developed to mount a data storage device to a computer enclosure. Such rails are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 82202204 and a U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,306. Two such rails are attached to respective opposite sides of a data storage device. This assembly is then slidably inserted into the computer enclosure. However, the rails may easily fall off when installing or uninstalling the data storage device.

[0007] What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing or removing a data storage device to or from a computer enclosure.

[0008] An exemplary mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that defines a locking hole in a sidewall thereof, includes a bracket for holding the data storage device, a first locking member, and a second locking member. The bracket includes a side wall. The side wall defines a through-hole therein. The first locking member is pivotably mounted to the side wall of the bracket. A locking portion protrudes from the first locking member for being inserted through the through-hole of the bracket to engage in the locking hole of the data storage device. The second locking member is pivotably mounted to the side wall of the bracket, and releasably mounted to the first locking member.

[0009] Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting apparatus of an electronic device such as a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown for mounting a functional component such as a data storage device 10 to an enclosure of the computer. The data storage device 10 defines a first locking hole 133, and a second hole 131 in a sidewall 13 thereof. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket 20, a first locking member 30, and a second locking member 40.

[0016] The bracket 20 includes a bottom wall 21, a first side wall 22 extending up from a side of the bottom wall 21, and a second side wall 23 extending up from an opposite side of the bottom wall 21. A pair of limiting tabs 231 parallel to the bottom wall 21 extends in from each of the first and second side walls 22, 23. A pair of first mounting tabs 225 is perpendicularly bent from an end of the first side wall 22. Each first mounting tab 225 defines a first mounting hole 226. A pair of second mounting tabs 227 is perpendicularly bent from an opposite end of the first side wall 22. Each second mounting tab 227 defines a second mounting hole 228. A first through-hole 224 adjacent the second mounting tabs 227, and a second through-hole 223 adjacent the first mounting tabs 225 are defined in the first side wall 22.

[0017] Referring also to FIG. 2, the first locking member 30 includes a main plate 31, two side plates 33 respectively perpendicularly extending from a top and a bottom side of the main plate 31. An opening 315 is defined in an end of the main plate 31. A first locking portion 36 perpendicularly extends out from an opposite end of the main plate 31. A sliding portion 334 protrudes out from an end of each side plate 33 adjacent the first locking portion 36. A protrusion 335 protrudes out from an opposite end of each side plate 33 adjacent the opening 315. An extension tab 331 horizontally extends out from an end adjacent the protrusion 335 of each side plate 33. A first post 332 extends out from each extension tab 331.

[0018] The second locking member 40 includes a main board 41, and a pair of side boards 43 respectively perpendicularly extending from a top and a bottom side of the main board 41. A second locking portion 46 perpendicularly extends out from the main board 41, corresponding to the opening 315 of the first locking member 30. An arc-shaped operating portion 45 is bent out from the main board 41 adjacent the second locking portion 46. A second post 437 protrudes out from an end of each side board 43 opposite to the second locking portion 46. A locating hole 435 is defined in an opposite side of each side board 43 adjacent the second locking portion 46. A sliding slot 432 is defined in each side board 43 between the corresponding second post 437 and the corresponding locating hole 435. A bridge-shaped tab 433 is bent out from each side board 43, with an entry to the corresponding sliding slot 432 being defined thereunder.

[0019] Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the first locking member 30 is pivotably mounted to the first side wall 22 of the bracket 20 via the first posts 332 thereof pivotably received in the corresponding first mounting holes 226 of the first side wall 22. The sliding portions 334 of the first locking member 30 are slidably received in the corresponding sliding slots 432 of the second locking member 40 through the corresponding entries. The second locking member 40 is pivotably mounted to the first side wall 22 of the bracket 20 via the second posts 437 thereof being pivotably received in the corresponding second mounting holes 228 of the first side wall 22.

[0020] In mounting the data storage device 10, the data storage device 10 is slidably placed on the limiting tabs 221 of the bracket 20. The first and second locking holes 133, 131 of the data storage device 10 respectively align with the first and second through-holes 224, 223 of the first side wall 22 of the bracket 20. The second locking member 40 is pivoted toward the first side wall 22. The sliding portions 334 of the first locking member 30 slide in the corresponding sliding slots 432 of the second locking member 40. The second locking portion 46 of the second locking member 40 is inserted through the opening 315 of the first locking member 30. The first locking portion 36 of the first locking member 30 is inserted through the first through-hole 224 to engage in the first locking hole 133 of the data storage device 10. The second locking member 40 is pivoted further until the second locking portion 46 thereof is inserted through the second through-hole 223 of the first side wall 22 of the bracket 20 to engage in the second locking hole 131 of the data storage device 10. Then, edges of the locating holes 435 of the second locking member 40 catch the corresponding protrusions 335 of the first locking member 30. Thus, the data storage device 10 is mounted to the bracket 20.

[0021] In disassembling the data storage device 10, the operating portion 45 of the second locking member 40 is pulled to make the protrusions 335 of the first locking member 30 disengage from the corresponding locating holes 435 of the second locking member 40. The second locking member 40 is pivoted away from the first side wall 22 of the bracket 20. The sliding portions 334 of the first locking member 30 slide in the corresponding sliding slots 432 of the second locking member 40 to cause the first locking member 30 to pivot away from the first side wall 22 in a direction counter to the pivoting direction of the second locking member 40. The second locking portion 46 of the second locking member 40 is disengaged from the second locking hole 131 of the data storage device 10. The second locking member 40 is pivoted further until the first locking portion 36 of the first locking member 30 is disengaged from the first locking hole 133 of the data storage device 10. Thus, the data storage device 10 is easily removed from the bracket 20.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a mounting apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. The mounting apparatus of this embodiment is similar to the mounting apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment. Differences of the mounting apparatus of this embodiment from the above-mentioned embodiment are that the second locking member 60 is secured to the first locking member 50 via a protrusion 653 protruding from the operating portion 65 of the second locking member 60 engaging in a securing hole 553 that is defined in a securing tab 55 perpendicularly extending out from the main part 51 of the first locking member 50.

[0023] It is believed that the present embodiments and their 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 invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.