Patent ID: 6227516
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A tray for hot plugging a hard disk drive in a computer system, comprising:a base;a pair of side walls extending orthogonally from the base and each having an aperture, the side walls being parallel to each other and adapted to closely receive the hard disk drive therebetween;an elongated channel in an outer surface of each of the side walls;a flat spring mounted in each of the channels, each having a fixed end and a free end, the free end being biased outward relative to its respective side wall;a pair of slides slidably mounted in each of the channels for linear movement relative to the springs; and whereinthe slides have a locked position that is adapted to force the free end of the springs inward to engage the hard disk drive to secure it from movement relative to the tray, and an unlocked position that is adapted to release the free end of the springs to retract outward and free of contact with the hard disk drive to allow it to be removed from the tray.