Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a case comprising a drive bracket housing a number of compact disc drives and a storage device module mounted in the drive bracket in the absence of installed disk drives. The storage device module includes a supporting frame fixed in the drive bracket, a backboard, and a number of data storage devices arranged in the supporting frame. The backboard provides connection of the data storage devices to a motherboard of the case.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to computer enclosures and, particularly, to a computer enclosure with a module receiving data storage devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A computer enclosure may include a drive bracket capable of housing three or more compact disc (CD) drives. However, more often than not, only one CD drive is installed, thus wasting space in the enclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a computer enclosure as disclosed, the computer enclosure including a storage device module. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of a storage device module as disclosed, utilized in a computer enclosure such as, for example, that of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the storage device module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of the storage device module of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled, isometric view of the computer enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a computer enclosure  100  includes a case  10  and a storage device module  20 . The storage device module  20  may be a hard disk drive (HDD) module. 
     The case  10  includes a front panel  12 , and a drive bracket  14  mounted on an upper portion of the front panel  12 . The front panel  12  defines an opening  13  therein, corresponding to the drive bracket  14 . The drive bracket  14  can house three compact disc (CD) drives (not shown) or the storage device module  20  and a CD drive. The drive bracket  14  defines a plurality of through holes  142  for mounting the CD drives or the storage device module  20 . Mounting technology for the drive bracket  14  and the three CD drives is well known and thus not described here. In one embodiment, if only one CD drive is mounted in the drive bracket  14 , the storage device module  20  can be mounted in the drive bracket  14  to fully utilize available space. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the storage device module  20  includes a supporting frame  21 , a backboard  22 , two rail boards  23  and  24 , and a plurality of data storage devices, such as HDDs  25  each with a handle locking configuration  252 . The handle locking configuration  252  includes a handle  2522 . 
     The supporting frame  21  is a hollow rectangular frame defining two opposite openings  211 . Four fastener holes  212  are defined in a top wall of the supporting frame  21  for mounting the rail board  23 . Four fastener holes  214  are defined in a bottom of the supporting frame  21  for mounting the rail board  24 . Four fastener holes  219  are defined in each of opposite sides of the supporting frame  21 . A blocking portion  218  extends from a front end of the bottom of the supporting frame  21 . Two protrusions  216  each defining a through hole  2162  extend from a back end of each of the top and bottom of the supporting frame  21 , for mounting the backboard  22 . 
     The backboard  22  includes a plurality of sockets  222  on a front side thereof, for connecting connectors  254  of the HDDs  25 . Two signal connectors  224  and a power connector  226  are mounted on a back side opposite to the front side of the backboard  22 . The plurality of sockets  222  are electrically connected to the signal connectors  224  and the power connector  226 . Four through holes  228  are defined in the backboard  22 , corresponding to the through holes  2162  of the protrusions  216 . 
     Each of the two rail boards  23  and  24  defines a plurality of sliding channels  242 , for receiving the HDDs  25 . Four fastener holes  232  are defined in the rail board  23 , corresponding to the fastener holes  212  of the supporting frame  21 . Four fastener holes  246  are defined in the rail board  24 , corresponding to the fastener holes  214  of the supporting frame  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , during assembly of the storage device module  20 , the rail board  23  is attached to a bottom of the top of the supporting frame  21 , four fasteners  30 , such as screws, pass through the corresponding through holes  212  of the supporting frame  21 , and engage the corresponding fastener holes  232  of the rail board  23 . The rail board  24  is attached to a top of the bottom of the supporting frame  21 , four fasteners  30  pass through the corresponding through holes  214  of the supporting frame  21 , and engage the corresponding fastener holes  246  of the rail board  24 . Thus, the rail board  23  is fixed to the bottom of the top wall of the supporting frame  21 , and the rail board  24  is fixed to the top of the bottom wall of the supporting frame  21 . Four fasteners  40  pass through the corresponding through holes  228  of the backboard  22 , and engage the fastener holes  2162  of the corresponding protrusions  216  of the supporting frame  21 . Thus, the backboard  22  is fixed to the back end of the supporting frame  21 . The HDDs  25  are received in the supporting frame  21  along the sliding channels  242 , and the connectors  254  are correspondingly received in the corresponding sockets  222  of the backboard  22 . The handles  2522  of the HDDs  25  are moved to a locking position (see  FIG. 5 ) to engage the blocking portion  218  of the supporting frame  21 . Thus, the HDDs  25  are fixed in the supporting frame  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , during assembly of the computer enclosure  100 , the storage device module  20  is received in the drive bracket  14  through the opening  13  of the case  10 . Four fasteners  50  pass through the through holes  142  of the drive bracket  14 , and engage the fastener holes  219  of the supporting frame  21 . Thus, the storage device module  20  is fixed in the drive bracket  14 . In use, the signal connectors  224  and the power connector  226  of the backboard  22  are connected to corresponding signal connectors and a power connector of a motherboard (not shown). The storage device module  20  is arranged in available space of the drive bracket  14  of the computer enclosure  100 , efficiently utilizing the space of the computer enclosure  100 . 
     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 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.