Electronic device with an apparatus for fixing a power supply

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device having an apparatus for fixing a power supply.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] For an electronic device, such as a computer or a server, a power supply is usually fixed in a rack of the electronic device by a plurality of fasteners or screws. However, it is time-consuming and often difficult to assemble or disassemble the power supply to or from the electronic device.

[0013] The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device includes a chassis 300, a power supply 100, a latching member 40, a handle 60, and a resilient member 80. A plurality of electronic elements (not shown), such as a motherboard and a hard disk drive, can be mounted in the chassis 300 to execute function of a computer or a server. The chassis 300 includes a bottom wall 320, two sidewalls 322 extending up from opposite sides of the bottom wall 320, and a top wall 321 connected between tops of the sidewalls 322 and opposite to the bottom wall 320. The bottom wall 320, the sidewalls 322, and the top wall 321 cooperatively define a receiving space 323 for receiving the power supply 100 and the electronic elements. Two latching holes 324 are defined in a rear end of one of the sidewalls 322, communicating with the receiving space 323.

[0015] The power supply 100 includes a main body 20 and a cover 23. The main body 20 includes a rectangular frame 22 and a connector 25 formed at an end of the frame 22. The frame 22 includes a top plate 24, a bottom plate 26, and two opposite side plates 28 perpendicularly connected between sides of the top plate 24 and the bottom plate 26. Rear ends of the top plate 24, the bottom plate 26, and the side plates 28 cooperatively define an opening 21. The connector 25 is exposed through the opening 21. Two opposite tabs 242 respectively extend rearward from the rear ends of the top plate 24 and the bottom plate 26. Each tab 242 defines a shaft hole 244. One of the side plates 28 defines two through holes 282. A fixing pole 284 from the side plate 28, adjacent to the opening 21, fixes to the resilient member 80. The cover 23 defines an opening 231 therein, corresponding to the connector 25. A through hole 232 is defined in an end of the cover 23. Two resilient pieces 234 extend rearward from the cover 23, respectively above and below the through hole 232.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the latching member 40 is substantially bar-shaped, and includes a resilient connecting plate 44, a locating plate 42 slantingly extending out from a first end of the connecting plate 44, and a guiding plate 46 slantingly extending out from a second end of the connecting plate 44. The locating plate 42 defines two fixing holes 422. Two wedge-shaped latching tabs 442 extend out from opposite sides of the connecting plate 44, adjacent to the locating plate 42. A bar-shaped protrusion 462 protrudes in from a junction of the connecting plate 44 and the guiding plate 46. In the embodiment, the latching member 40 is made of resilient material, such as plastic or steel, and is integrally formed.

[0017] The handle 60 is substantially U-shaped, and includes two parallel pivoting arms 64, and a latching portion 62 perpendicularly connected between first ends of the pivoting arms 64. A pin 642 extends out from a second end of each pivoting arm 64 opposite to the latching portion 62. A guiding slot 622 is defined in a middle of an outer surface of the latching portion 62 opposite to the pivoting arms 64. An operation portion 624 extends away from the latching portion 62 opposite to the guiding slot 622.

[0018] In the embodiment, the resilient member 80 is a spring.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, in assembly of the power supply 100, the latching member 40, and the handle 60, a first end of the resilient member 80 is fitted about the pole 284 of the frame 22. Two rivets respectively extend through the fixing holes 422 of the latching member 40, to be riveted to an outer surface of the side plate 28 defining the through holes 282, thereby fixing the latching member 40 to an inner surface of the side plate 28. A second end of the resilient member 80 resiliently abuts against the connecting plate 44. The latching tabs 442 align with the corresponding through holes 282. The protrusion 462 and the guiding plate 46 extend out of the frame 22 through the opening 21. The cover 23 is attached to the main body 20 to cover the opening 21. The resilient pieces 234 are exposed through the opening 21. The guiding plate 46 and the protrusion 462 extend out through the through hole 232 of the cover 23. The connector 25 is exposed through the opening 231. The pins 642 of the handle 60 are rotatably inserted into the corresponding shaft holes 244. The resilient member 80 biases the connecting plate 44 to abut a sidewall bounding the through hole 232 and adjacent to the connector 25.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4-7, in assembling the power supply 100 to the chassis 300, the front end of the frame 22 is inserted into the receiving space 323 from the rear end of the chassis 300. The power supply 100 is pushed forward, until the through holes 282 align with the corresponding latching holes 324. The operation portion 624 is operated to rotate the handle 60 toward the guiding plate 46 of the latching member 40, until the guiding plate 46 is accommodated in the guiding slot 622. The handle 60 is rotated further, the bottom wall bounding the guiding slot 622 slidably abuts against the guiding plate 46. The connecting plate 44 and the resilient member 80 are deformed toward the sidewall 324 defining the latching holes 324. The latching tabs 442 are extended through the through holes 282 to engage in the corresponding latching holes 324. After the protrusion 462 passes over the latching portion 62, the resilient member 80 and the connecting plate 44 are restored slightly to allow the protrusion 462 latch the latching portion 62. The handle 60 abuts against the resilient pieces 234 to deform the resilient pieces 234. The latching portion 62 is resiliently sandwiched between the resilient pieces 234 and the protrusion 462 of the latching member 40.

[0021] In disassembling the power supply 100 from the chassis 300, the guiding plate 46 of the latching member 40 is pressed away from the handle 60, deforming the connecting plate 44 and the resilient member 80, until the protrusion 462 is disengaged from the latching portion 62 of the handle 60. The resilient pieces 234 are restored to urge the handle 60 to rotate away from the latching member 40. The connecting plate 44 and the resilient member 80 are restored toward the connector 25. The latching pieces 442 are disengaged from the latching holes 324. The power supply 100 is ready to be removed from the chassis 300 through pulling the handle 60.

[0022] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.