Abstract:
In some embodiments, an apparatus to carry a hard drive may include one or more of the following features: (a)at least one carrier component, (b) at least one interlocking portion located on the at least one carrier component, (c) a first connector located at the at least one interlocking portion that can be received by a second connector, (d) a second carrier component, (e) a second interlocking portion, and (f) a third and fourth connector located at the second interlocking portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to computer systems and information handling systems, and, more particularly, to a hard drive carrier for a computer system or information handling system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to these users is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may vary with respect to the type of information handled; the methods for handling the information; the methods for processing, storing or communicating the information; the amount of information processed, stored, or communicated; and the speed and efficiency with which the information is processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include or comprise a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0003]    Information handling system or computer system may include a hard drive that is coupled to the chassis of a computer or a drive bay. A hard drive is typically disposed on a carrier assembly, often referred to as a hard drive carrier, and the carrier assembly is inserted, via a guide rail system, into a bay in a computer chassis. The hard drive carrier serves as a protective housing for the hard drive and mechanically mates with a drive bay in a computer chassis. 
         [0004]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a prior art drive carrier assembly is shown. Drive and drive carrier assembly  10  has a hard drive unit  12 , and a drive carrier  14 . All current drive carrier assemblies have some physical connection between drive carrier  14  and drive unit  12 . For example, screws  16  which are used to attach drive carrier  14 , securing bracket  18 , and tongue  20  to drive unit  12 . One disadvantage of drive carrier  14  is that it requires tools (e.g., a screwdriver) and retaining hardware (e.g., screws) in the assembly of the drive and drive carrier. Current practices for assembling drives and carriers require a lot of physical contact with the drives (e.g., getting screws aligned, threaded, and in place). This contact increases the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) and/or mechanical damage to the drive unit. 
         [0005]    Further, typical assembly requires a number of hardware components in the form of screws and washers, thus increasing the complexity of the assembly and the associated cost. In addition, some carrier assemblies are slid upon the drive before they are attached. This action raises ESD concerns as well 
         [0006]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an assembly that can eliminate the need for tools and retaining hardware in the assembly of drive and drive carrier assemblies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In some embodiments, an apparatus to carry a hard drive may include one or more of the following features: (a) at least one carrier component, (b) at least one interlocking portion located on the at least one carrier component, (c) a first connector located at the at least one interlocking portion that can be received by a second connector, (d) a second carrier component, (e) a second interlocking portion, and (f) a third and fourth connector located at the second interlocking portion. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, a carrier unit that can carry a hard drive may include one or more of the following features: (a) a carrier component having a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end; and (b) an interlocking portion on the carrier component where the first connector can be received by the second connector and held firm with no additional action. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, a method for attaching a drive carrier to a hard drive may include one or more of the following steps: (a) placing a carrier component about the hard drive; (b) bringing an interlocking portion together; and (c) connecting adjoining connectors. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art drive carrier assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart diagram for connecting a drive carrier to a hard drive in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0019]    The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present teachings. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the present teachings. Thus, the present teachings are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of the present teachings. 
         [0020]    In embodiments of the present invention, a drive carrier would have at least one interlocking part that would capture the drive unit in place. Any number of materials could be used (e.g., metal or most any polymer) so long as the connection mechanism had sufficient tension strength to maintain the connection. This could be achieved by setting material thickness requirements, grounding specifications, ESD shielding, or other specific needs of a given implementation of embodiments of the present invention. The materials used are not critical, so long as the materials meet the physical needs for the carrier and the disclosed method. However, for non-conductive materials, some form of ground for the drive to the main chassis should be provided. One way to do this is to embed metal “fingers” on the inside edge of the drive carrier, with some element of the metal piece making its way to outside edge of the carrier as is described in more detail below. Thus, when the drive is captured in the carrier, it provides electrical continuity from the drive casing, to the embedded metal fingers, to the outside of the drive carrier, which, when inserted in the system chassis it is grounded. Further, embodiments of the present invention could include alignment pins located on the drive carrier so as to align with existing drive unit mounting holes as shown in  FIG. 1 . Embodiments of the present invention can reduce the amount of physical handling of drives during carrier unit assembly. Embodiments of the present invention can also reduce the amount of parts used in the carrier unit assembly and can also create a tool-less carrier unit assembly. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Carrier unit  100  is shown in relation to drive  102 . Carrier unit  100  can have two carrier components, component  104  and component  106 . Carrier unit  100  can also have securing bracket  108  and tongue portion  110 . These elements will commonly have a thin metal underside to provide ESD protection by creating a digital ground. Carrier unit  100  can also have interlocking portions  112 , having male puzzle piece connectors  114  and female puzzle piece connectors  116 . 
         [0022]    In operation, the carrier unit installer would place carrier components  104  and  106  around drive  102 , hopefully with minimal human contact so as to reduce any risk of ESD. The installer would then place male puzzle piece connectors  114  within female puzzle piece connectors  116 . This could be done one interlocking portion  112  at a time or both at one time. Regardless, when male puzzle piece connectors  114  are within female puzzle piece connectors  116  a firm grip is created on disk drive  102 . Thus, drive  102  is ready to be placed within a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) system, JBOD (just a bunch of disks) system, a server, or even a personal computer. If it was ever desired to remove carrier unit  100  from drive  102 , an operator could simply slide male puzzle piece connectors  114  away from drive  102  thus releasing them from female puzzle piece connectors  116 . This would release component  104  from component  106  thus releaseing carrier unit  100  from drive  102 . 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3  carrier unit  200  can have only one carrier component  204 . Carrier component  204  could be made from a polymer so that it can be flexible. In this fashion, connector  214  can be pulled outward as shown by arrow  218 . The operator would then place carrier unit  200  around drive  102  and bring interlocking portion  212  back together as shown by arrow  218 . As interlocking portion  212  comes back together, connectors  214  and  216  could then be mated together to firmly hold carrier unit  200  to drive  102 . This embodiment reduces the amount of carrier components to one thus reducing the amount of connecting activity by the operator and reducing the amount of component materials. Carrier unit  100  could be released from drive  102  in a similar fashion to that described above. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment carrier unit  300  has snap fit connectors  314  and  316  located and interlocking portions  312 . Carrier components  304  and  306  could be brought together by the assembly technician where male snap fit connector  316  could be received by female snap fit connector  314 . If an operator ever desired to remove carrier unit  300  from drive  102 , for example if drive  102  was bad, the operator could simply press down on tabs  318  with their fingers thus releasing male snap connector  316  from female snap connector  314 . This action would then release carrier component  304  from carrier component  306  and thus release carrier unit  300  from drive  102 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , a drive carrier assembly in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment carrier unit  400  has plug fit connectors  414  and  416 . Carrier components  404  and  406  could be coupled to drive  102  by putting them into place around the periphery of drive  102 . The operator could then move components  404  and  406  together so that interlocking sections  412  are aligned to allow male plug  414  to be received by female plug  416 . In this embodiment, male plug  414  would probably not be able to be separated from female plug  416 . Thus when drive  102  would go bad, carrier unit  400  would be discarded with drive  102 . 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , it can be seen that interlocking portions  112 ,  312 , and  412  have a 90 degree different planar orientation. This allows the operator to easily align the correct interlocking portions  112 ,  312 , and  412  and insures that carrier units  100 ,  300 , and  400  are correctly put together around drive  102 . 
         [0027]    It is fully contemplated any type of connectors could be used to couple a carrier unit to a drive, such as those discussed in detail below, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is fully contemplated that the interlocking portions could be located anywhere on the carrier units without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is fully contemplated there could be more than two interlocking portions on the carrier unit without departing from the spirit of the invention. The carrier unit could be a four-piece unit where the corners are interlocked, however, this would increase the number of parts. Carrier unit  600  could have a “horseshoe” design (shown in  FIG. 7 ) that captures drive  102  by interlocking a handle  602  on the front to close carrier unit  600  using any one of the above described methods. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart diagram for connecting a drive carrier to a hard drive in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Carrier drive assembly operation  500  begins at state  502  with the hard drives arriving at the assembly station. At state  504  the assembly person places any one of the carrier components discussed above about the periphery of the hard drive. It is helpful if the assembly person does not touch the hard drive. At state  506 , the interlocking portions, specifically the connectors, are brought together. At state  508 , the connecters are adjoined in any type fashion as is discussed above in detail. The assembly person then moves to the next hard drive and begins carrier drive assembly operation  500  all again at state  502 . 
         [0029]    It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. Features of any of the variously described embodiments may be used in other embodiments. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.