Abstract:
The present invention includes a mounting device for a computer drive that includes a flexible locking plate and one or more tabs for securing the drive. A contact point allows a portion of the locking plate to be reversibly flexed out of a plane that substantially corresponds to the plane of the flexible locking plate when not flexed is used to effect.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to computers and computer manufacturing and more particularly to an apparatus and method to easily mount a computer drive within a drive cage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The consumer market in computers is very competitive and those manufacturers that are successful rely on their ability to rapidly assemble their products to meet both customer expectations and the need for high throughput in order to maintain profitability. Because of the highly competitive market in which these manufacturers operate, they seek to maximize their returns through the efficient use of their labor resources. Each added step in the manufacturing process adds to the expense of the finished product. Any change that allows the assembler to increase the number of units produced in a given period will directly impact the profitability of the enterprise. 
   A computer drive, such as for example a hard drive or a floppy disc drive is generally attached to a drive cage with screws. Typically two or more screws are used on each side of the drive in order to anchor the drive in place. 
   Depending on the location of the drive within the computer chassis and what other components are present, the number of steps and the time required to attach the screws can be substantial. The difficulty of attaching the screws also leads to the potential for assembly defects that may result in a quality control rejection at the factory, or worse, a defect in the possession of the end user requiring a return and remanufacture. 
   Even when properly installed, the use of screws is still problematic. The small size and metallic nature of the screws gives rise to additional problems. Since the screws are used in confined spaces, they are difficult to handle and can be dropped into positions that may lead to short circuiting or other damage to expensive components. 
   It is also not uncommon for a consumer to modify the configuration of their computer after purchase. This can include any number of modification including adding additional components or upgrading existing ones. If the consumer does not have the appropriate tools, or expertise to use them, there is the possibility that they will damage either the component that they are working on, or another component near by. This is especially true with computer drives mounted by small hard to reach screws in chassis positions cluttered by the presence of other system components. 
   It would therefore be desirable to have a mounting system for computer drives that decreases the number of repetitive steps in the mounting process, that does not increase the number of attaching elements, such as screws, used in assembling the computer, and that will decrease the likelihood that a consumer may damage their computer system while attempting to repair or upgrade the system&#39;s components. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved computer drive mounting arrangement and an improved method of mounting a computer drive. 
   One embodiment of the present invention is a mounting device for a computer drive that includes a flexible locking plate and one or more tabs for securing the drive. A contact point allows a portion of the locking plate to be elastically deflected or flexed out of a plane that substantially corresponds to the plane of the flexible locking plate when not flexed. 
   Another form of the present invention is a computer drive mounted within a computer drive cage that includes a drive mounting assembly that is made up of a flexible locking plate that includes one or more tabs for securing the drive. A contact point that allows a portion of the locking plate to be reversibly flexed out of a plane that generally corresponds to the plane of the flexible locking plate when it is not flexed, and the one or more tabs connect to the computer drive and hold it substantially within the drive cage. 
   Yet another form of the present invention is a method of mounting a computer drive that includes the steps of reversibly flexing a flexible locking plate that is attached to a drive cage, such that the plane of the locking plate in the flexed position is not substantially planar with the portion of the drive cage to which the flexible locking plate is attached, and placing a computer drive at least partially within the drive cage, and releasing the reversibly flexed flexible locking plate such that the flexed portion returns to a position that is substantially planar to the portion of the drive cage to which the flexible locking plate is attached. This results in the contacting one or more mounting tabs of the flexible locking plate with the computer drive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a screwless computer drive attachment device connected to a drive cage in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a screwless computer drive attachment device in accordance with the present invention on a larger scale and is shown in an open or installation configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting of a computer drive into a drive cage equipped with a screwless computer drive mounting device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a computer drive mounted in a drive cage by means of a screwless computer drive-mounting device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the drive attachment device shown disconnected from a drive cage; 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the attachment device shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the attachment device shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Although making and using various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of contexts. The specific embodiments discussed here are meant to be illustrative of specific examples of how the present invention may be made and used and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the drive attachment device of the invention is characterized by a flexible locking plate  100  that includes a rotateable lever  101  is attached to a drive cage  102 . Cage  102  is shown as a generally channel shaped member having opposed generally planar side walls  102   a  and  102   b  interconnected by an integral wall  102   c . The flexible locking plate  100  is depicted in the closed or mounted position in FIG.  1 . In this position a first plate portion  100   a  of the locking plate  100  is substantially contiguous with the sidewall  102   a  of the drive cage  102  to which the locking plate is attached. The attachment of the flexible locking plate  100  to the drive cage  102  may be accomplished by any suitable means. Such means include, but are not limited to, screws, rivets, welds and the like. While screws are one element for attachment of the locking plate  100  to the drive cage  102 , it is important to note that no screws are subsequently used to mount the drive in the drive cage. By way of example, a lower, generally planar second plate portion  100   a  of locking plate  100  is secured to sidewall  102   a  by spaced apart blind rivets  105 . The attachment of the locking plate  100  to the drive cage  102  may typically be accomplished during the manufacture of the drive cage itself and thus adds no steps to the actual assembly of a computer chassis assembly that the drive cage could be incorporated into. 
   Referring briefly to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  the drive locking plate  100  is illustrated in further detail. The locking plate  100  is preferably formed of metal or plastic plate including the first plate part  100   a  and the second plate part  10   b . Plate parts  100   a  and  10   b  are integrally joined along a bend line  100   c  which forms an elastic living hinge allowing the plate part  100   a  to be flexed or deflected with respect to the plate part  100   b  in an elastic manner so that when the plate part  100   b  is secured to the sidewall  102   a  the plate part  100   a  may be elastically deflected away from the sidewall  102   a  and held in the inflected position by the lever  101 . However, when the lever  101  is rotated to a position substantially coplanar with the plate part  100   a , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , the plate part  100   a  will return to a position substantially coplanar with the plate part  10   b . Plate part  100   b  includes spaced apart fasteners receiving openings  100 F for receiving rivets  105 , respectively. 
   Referring still further to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the lever  101  preferably includes a generally planar tab like member having a recess  101   a  formed therein for digital manipulation of the lever. Moreover, the locking plate  100  may be formed to be folded back on itself at an upper longitudinal edge portion  100   d  to form opposed openings for receiving respective opposed trunnions  101   b ,  FIG. 5 , of lever  101  for supporting the lever in a notch  100   e  opening to the upper side edge of the plate part  100   a , as shown in FIG.  5 . Accordingly, lever  101  is supported on the locking plate  100  for pivotal movement into a working position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , but may be rotated back to a position substantially coplanar with the plate part  100   a  to allow the locking tabs  103  to project through openings  104 , one shown in  FIG. 2 , formed in cage sidewall  102   a.    
     FIG. 2  depicts the flexible locking plate  100  in the open or installation position. In this position the plate part of the locking plate  100  is not substantially planar with the portion of the drive cage  102  to which the locking plate  100  is attached. By rotating the rotateable lever  101 , which is also referred to as a contact point herein, of the drive cage to which the flexible locking plate  100  is attached to, a portion of the flexible locking plate  100  is flexed away from the side of the drive cage  102 . In so doing, locking tabs  103  are temporarily moved out of holes  104  to allow for a computer drive  106 ,  FIG. 3  to be inserted into the drive cage  102 . The manipulation of the rotatable lever  101  may be accomplished with the aid of a tool or other suitable device. The attachment of the flexible locking plate  100  to the drive cage  102  is shown using blind rivets  105 . 
     FIG. 3  depicts the insertion of a computer drive  106  into the drive cage  102 . This is accomplished with the flexible locking plate  100  in the open or installation position such that the locking tabs  103  are removed from the corresponding holes  104  in the drive cage  102 . The flex in the locking plate  100  must be sufficient to allow the computer drive  106  to be placed in the drive cage  102  without interference from the locking tabs  103 . The locking tabs  103  hold the computer drive  106  in place by using the existing mounting-features  107  on the computer drive  106 . Such features are generally provided by the manufacturer of the computer drive  106 , and are typically screw holes. The depiction in  FIG. 3  is of a computer drive  106  mounted in a horizontal orientation, however there is no limitation on the orientation in which the drive cage  102  may be placed. The only limitation is that the computer drive  106  must be capable of being placed, at least partially, within the drive cage  102 . 
     FIG. 4  depicts the computer drive  106  installed in the drive cage  102  and secured by the insertion of the locking tabs  103  through the holes  104  in the drive cage  102  and into the mounting features  107  found on the computer drive  106 . The locking tabs  103  are placed through the holes  104  into the mounting features  107  by rotating the rotateable lever  101  in order to allow the flexible locking plate  100  to return to a position substantially aligned with the side of the drive cage  102  to which the flexible locking plate  100  is mounted.