Abstract:
A computer ( 10 ) is provided with a casing ( 12 ) which includes a component mounting system ( 18 ) for mounting a component ( 16 ) within the casing ( 12 ). The system includes a component support ( 22 ) securable to the casing ( 12 ); a plurality of posts ( 44,46 ) mounted on at least one sprung member ( 48 ), which is mounted to the support ( 22 ). The posts ( 44,46 ) are operable to be engaged in at least one associated recess in the component ( 16 ) and are movable between a component engaging position and a component non-engaging position. A slider ( 28 ) is slidable relative to the posts ( 44,46 ) and is operable to move and retain the posts ( 44,46 ) between the component engaging position and said component non-engaging position. A component can be removed and fitted into the computer ( 10 ) easily even by an untrained user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a component mounting system for use in mounting, for example, computer components within a computer and also to a computer employing such a mounting system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Modern personal computers are typically provided with a plurality of components which are mounted within and to the casing of the computer. Such components typically include floppy disc drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, hard disc drives and so on.  
           [0003]    Traditionally, these components have been secured to the computer casing, typically to brackets integral with computer casing, by screws. Although this arrangement provides effective securing of the components to the computer casing, there are times when they need to be removed, for example for repair and/or to be replaced with new components. In such an event, it is necessary to gain access to the interior of the computer casing, to remove the screws, remove the component, replace it and secure the replacement with the self-tapping screws, before closing the casing again. Although this is an operation which can be performed by the end user many end users are reluctant to do so because of the apparent complexity of the procedure. The result is either that the user must pay for a service technician to replace the component or, particularly if the replacement is carried out under warranty, that this is done at the expense of the computer manufacturer.  
           [0004]    Attempts have been made to simplify the mounting of such components within a personal computer. Examples can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,909, U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,923 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,547, amongst others.  
           [0005]    Another, more recent, mounting system, which has been proven effective, is disclosed in the applicant&#39;s earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,266. This patent discloses a system in which a computer component such as a disc drive can be removed from a personal computer without having to open the computer casing and without the need to remove screws. The fixing of the component to the computer is achieved via a removable tray which is provided with a plurality of posts which fit in to associated recesses in the case of the component. These pins also provide for the ground connection for the component. However, this system requires the provision of a removable tray and also provision of clips to clip the tray to the computer casing. Furthermore, a user is required to use both hands to remove or insert a peripheral component via this system, which can sometimes be inconvenient and thus discourage the user to carry out this action. Moreover, the tray and fixing clips add cost to the system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention seeks to provide an improved component mounting system.  
           [0007]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting system for mounting a component within a casing, including a component support securable to a said casing; at least one post coupled to the component support and being operable to be engaged in at least one associated recess in the component, the at least one post being movable between a component engaging position and a component non-engaging position; and a post moving device operable to move and retain the at least one post in a selected one of said component engaging position and said component non-engaging position.  
           [0008]    In practice, a component is located in the support and secured thereto by moving the or each post into the engaging position. The component remains fixed to the support until the post or posts are moved to the non-engaging position. The post moving device enables the component to be released from the support easily by retaining the posts in the selected position. In the preferred embodiment, described below, the component releasing and removing operations can be carried out in two steps using a single hand.  
           [0009]    Advantageously, the support is fixed to the casing; which avoids the need to have an additional mounting component.  
           [0010]    Advantageously, the at least one post is mounted on at least one sprung support. Preferably, the at least one sprung support biases the at least one post towards the component engaging position.  
           [0011]    In the preferred embodiment, the post moving device is slidable between two positions so as to remove and retain the at least one post in either said component engaging position or said component non-engaging position.  
           [0012]    Advantageously, the system provides for grounding of a component through the component support and/or through the at least one post.  
           [0013]    The casing could be in the form of a chassis.  
           [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer including a casing and a component mounting system for mounting a component within the casing, the component mounting system including a component support secured to the casing; at least one post coupled to the component support and being operable to be engaged in at least one associated recess in the component, the at least one post being movable between a component engaging position and a component non-engaging position; and a post moving device operable to move and retain the at least one post in a selected one of said component engaging position and said component non-engaging position.  
           [0015]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting system for mounting a component within a casing, including a component support securable to a casing; at least one post mounted on at least one sprung member, which sprung member is mounted to the support, the at least one post being operable to be engaged in at least one associated recess in the component and being movable between a component engaging position and a component non-engaging position; and a post moving device slidable relative to the at least one post and operable to move and retain the at least one post between said component engaging position and said component non-engaging position.  
           [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer casing including a component mounting system for mounting a component within the casing, including a component support securable to the casing; at least one post mounted on at least one sprung member, which sprung member is mounted to the support, the at least one post being operable to be engaged in at least one associated recess in the component and being movable between a component engaging position and a component non-engaging position; and a post moving device slidable relative to the at least one post and operable to move and retain the at least one post between said component engaging position and said component non-engaging position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of an example of personal computer with a top cover of the computer casing removed and showing fitted therewithin an embodiment of component mounting system;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from above of the component mounting system of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from below of the system of FIG. 2 with the component removed;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of post and sprung support member for the system of FIGS. 2 and 3;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are, respectively, partial views from below of the system of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing engaging pins in the engaging and non-engaging positions, respectively;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view both from below of an alternative embodiment of sliding pin-moving device;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below of an alternative embodiment of component support for use with the sliding device of FIG. 6; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of component mounting system. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1, the example of personal computer  10  shown includes a casing  12  of which the top has been removed to allow access to the components within the casing  12 . The computer  10  is of conventional form and includes, amongst other typical components, a floppy disc drive  14  and a CD-ROM drive  16 . The CD-ROM drive  16  is provided with an embodiment of component mounting system  18 .  
         [0027]    The component mounting system  18  is provided with a component support or chassis frame  20  which is fixed to the casing  12  by any suitable means, such as by rivets, bolts, welding and the like. The frame  20  could, of course, also be formed integrally with the casing  12 .  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown in better detail the component mounting system  18  separated from the computer  10  and casing  12 . The component support or chassis frame  20  is shown in simplified form in FIGS. 2 and 3 as it is not shown with the means for fixing it to the casing  12  or the electrical coupling to ground potential.  
         [0029]    The chassis frame  20  is provided with a first plate member  22  from which extend first and second walls  24 ,  26 . The upper surface of the plate member  22  is provided with depictions of the words “open” and “closed” by engraving, printing or the like, together with appropriate arrows. In FIG. 2, only the word “open” and the arrow associated therewith are visible, the word “closed” and its associated arrow being hidden by the slider  28 . They serve the purpose of indicating in which direction the slider  28  must be moved to unlock the component (in this example the CD-ROM drive)  16  from the mounting system  18 , as is described in detail below. The word “closed” and its associated arrow are located on the plate member  22  around the position of arrowhead  30 .  
         [0030]    The plate member  22  is provided with elongate slots  32 ,  34  which acts as guides for pins  36 ,  38  provided on the underside of the slider  28 .  
         [0031]    Each wall  24 ,  26  is provided, in this example, with two round apertures  40 ,  42  through which metal posts can pass, as described below.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an embodiment of post support and guiding device  48  of which there are provided two in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0033]    The device  48  is formed of a resilient material having spring-like properties, for example spring steel or the like. It includes a mounting section  50  provided with two holes  52  which receive rivets to rivet the mounting section  50  and hence the device  48  to a respective wall  24 ,  26  of the chassis frame  20 . The device  48  is also provided with a resilient member  54  having a contoured configuration as shown in FIG. 4, described below in further detail. At the ends of the device  48  there are provided the metal posts  44 ,  46 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , it can be seen how the slider  28  co-operates with the resilient member  54  to adjust and control the position of the pins  44  and  46 . The resilient member  54  provides two fulcrums  56  which rest on the respective wall  24  (or  26 ). They also provide a raised central dome  58  between the two fulcrums  56  and two shoulders  60  which are connected at flange portions  62  to the posts  44  and  46 .  
         [0035]    Each side wall of the slider  28  is provided with an internal profile which acts upon the raised dome  58  and the shoulders  60  either to engage the pins  44  and  46  into associated recesses  64  of the drive  16  or to disengage the pins  44  and  46 , as follows. In the position shown in FIG. 5 a , the slider is in the “closed” position and its internal walls bear upon the shoulders  60  to urge them towards the wall  24  (or  26 ) and push the pins  44  (or  46 ) into the recesses  64 . Each side wall of the slider  28  is provided with an aperture or internal recess which ensures that in the engaged position shown in FIG. 5 a , the raised dome  58  of the device  48  is not pushed downwardly in any way.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 5 b , when the slider  28  is moved towards the open position (upwardly in the view of FIG. 5 b ) the side walls of the slider  28  are slid beyond contact with the shoulders  60 , while the raised dome  58  is pressed down by the internal profile of the side walls of the slider  28 . The act of pressing down the dome  58 , through the fulcrums  56 , causes the flanges  62  and, as a result, the posts  44  and  46  to be raised relative to the walls  24  (and  26 ) of the chassis frame  20 , thereby disengaging the posts  44  and  46  from the component  16 . In this disengaged or open position, the component  16  had be slid relative to the mounting system  18  and out of the computer casing  12 .  
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiment, the resilient member  54  is formed so as to bias the pins  44 ,  46  in their component engaging positions when it is not otherwise influenced by the slider  28 .  
         [0038]    Not shown in FIGS.  1  to  5   b  are electrical connections which would be provided. These can be any convenient type and disengaged in any appropriate manner, as a skilled person will know.  
         [0039]    Thus, in order to remove a CD-ROM drive or other component  16  from the computer casing, the user needs only to remove the cover of the computer casing  12  slide the slider  28  in the direction of the “open” arrow, which causes the pins  44 ,  46  to be disengaged from the case of the drive  16  and then to slide the drive out from the front of the computer casing  12 . At the same time, the user simply needs to unplug the electrical connections to the drive  16  in the case where this is not achieved automatically on the simple sliding of the drive  16  out of the computer casing  12 .  
         [0040]    In order to fit a new drive  16  into the computer casing  12  the user simply needs to ensure that the slider  28  is slid to the “open” position, then to slide the drive  16  into the slot in the front of computer casing  12  and, once this has been done, to slide the slider  28  in the direction of the “closed” arrow which would at that time be visible. This sliding action moves the pins  44 ,  46  into the locked position shown in FIG. 5 a . In the case where the electrical terminals on the disc drive  16  are not simultaneously plugged into the appropriate sockets of the computer  10 , the user simply needs to plug these in the appropriate manner.  
         [0041]    In order to facilitate location of the drive  16  relative to the mounting system  18 , there are preferably provided suitable stops (not shown) prevent further movement of the drive  16  relative to the chassis  12  once it has reached the correct position. The stops could either be located within the casing  12  behind the normal engaged position of the drive  16  or at the front of the casing  12  to abut the front face plate  66  of the drive  16 .  
         [0042]    It will be apparent that the elongate slots  32 ,  34  in the plate member  22  of the chassis frame  20  will provide stops to the movement of the slider  28 . If desired, any other stops may also be provided.  
         [0043]    It will be apparent that the process for removing and inserting a drive  16  into the computer  10  by this system is a relatively easy operation which can be performed by the user and hence without the need for high servicing costs. Furthermore, the system provides positive locking action of the posts  44 ,  46  into the case of the drive  16 , which assists not only with ensuring that the drive  16  is properly locked into the computer casing  12  but also ensures both electrical coupling with the case of the drive  16  so that the ground connection to the case of the drive  16  can be effected through the pins  44 ,  46 .  
         [0044]    Another embodiment of component mounting system is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Where those parts of the system are the same or equivalent to parts of the system  18  shown in FIGS.  1  to  5   b , they have been given the same reference numerals followed by an apostrophe (&#39;). As their structure and function will be apparent from the above description relating to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  5   b , they are not be described in detail below.  
         [0045]    The slider  28 ′ is provided on its side walls with first and second pins  68  (only one being visible in FIGS. 6 and 7).  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 7, the chassis frame  20 ′ is provided with flanges  70  each of which includes a first portion  72  substantially parallel to the depending walls  24 ′ and  26 ′ and with a second portion  74  which is substantially perpendicular to the first portion  72  and which can be used for securing the chassis frame  20  to the computer casing  12 . The first portion  72  is provided with horizontally extending elongate slots  76  (only one of which is visible in FIG. 7) which receive and guide the pins  68 . It will be apparent that the slots  76  prevent the slider  28 ′ from being removed from the system  18  by a lifting action.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 7 also shows the depending walls  24 ′ and  26 ′ being provided with in-stamped bumpers  78  which are used to align the drive  16  during installation.  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIG. 8, another embodiment of slider  28 ″ is shown, which is provided with a tab  80  having a suitable finger grip  82  for assisting the user in sliding the slider  28 ″ back and forth between its open and closed positions. FIG. 8 shows the tab  80  extending rearwards, in practice into the computer casing  12 . However, in some embodiments, the tab  80  could be made to extend forwardly, through an appropriate slot (not shown) in the casing  12  out of the casing  12  but which the internal space provided by the front bezel  84  of the computer  10 . In this manner, the slider  28 ″ can be operated (and thus the pins  44 ,  46  can be engaged and disengaged) from the outside of the computer casing  12  and therefore without the need to remove the cover of the computer casing  12 . In this latter embodiment, the chassis frame  20  could be reversed such that its locked position is the rear-most position as viewed from the front of the computer  10  and its open position is the forward-most position from this view. This would enable the tab  80  to be in a retracted position when the slider  28  is in a locked position (and hence a drive  16  mounted in the computer  12 ) and pulled out from the front of the computer  10  to unlock the pins  44 ,  46  and hence the drive  16 . The finger support  82  could usefully be hidden behind the front bezel  84 .  
         [0049]    It will be apparent to the skilled person that modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the teachings herein and within the scope of the claims.