Abstract:
One embodiment is a system for mounting a component in a computer system comprising a bracket having a plurality of access ports that permit the component to be secured to the bracket, and having a plurality of mounting points that permit the bracket to be secured to the computer system; a cavity in the computer system formed to receive the bracket with the component and having a plurality of mounting posts, each of which corresponds with a respective mounting point of the plurality of the mounting points; and a cover that is formed to fit over the cavity and having a plurality of access points, each of which corresponds with a respective mounting point and a respective mounting post, wherein the plurality of access points permits each respective mounting point to be secured to the respective mounting post through the associated access point.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This application relates in general to a computer, and in specific to a component mounting scheme. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Some computer systems have an internally mounted hard drive that cannot be replaced by a consumer-user. Other systems have hard drives that are not permanently mounted in a computer system, enabling a user to replace a hard drive with another hard drive. 
   Consequently, the mechanism that mounts the hard drive to the computer needs to both minimize shock transmission to the hard drive, and allow a computer user to quickly and easily change the hard drive. Such mounting mechanisms typically function in one of two modes. 
   In the first mode, the hard drive is rigidly mounted to the frame of the computer. The rigid mount ties the hard drive to the computer such that the hard drive experiences the same movement as the computer, and prevents the hard drive from moving independently from the computer. However, rigid mounts are difficult for a consumer-user to use. If the replacement hard drive is not correctly mounted, then the benefits of the rigid mount are lost, and the replacement hard drive is more likely to experience shock or vibration damage. 
   One such rigid mounting system uses a slotted connector in the computer that slidably receives the hard drive. One end of the drive is held by the connecter. The other end of the drive is held by two wings that are attached on the drive and are received by two wedge-shaped slots in the computer. The slots exert a compressive force on the wings. A stop screw is then placed into the computer to prevent movement of the drive. The stop screw does not actually attach the drive to the computer, but rather prevents the drive from moving out of the computer. 
   In the second mode, the hard drive is cushion mounted. The hard drive is surrounded with a cushioning material which dampens shocks or vibrations experienced by the hard drive. Since the hard drive is not directly mounted to the frame, this type of mount is easier for a consumer-user to work with than the rigid mount. Moreover, this type of mount may be useable across various product lines. Since the rigid mount needs to be tied to a frame member, the mounting location and mounting mechanism may be different for different products. Alternatively, with the cushion mount, since no frame member is needed, the location and/or mounting mechanism may be the same across product lines. However, the cushion materials require an additional 4–6 millimeters of space around the hard drive. Space in mobile computers is a limiting factor, and thus more space is required for this type of mount than for the rigid mount. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment is a system for mounting a component in a computer system comprising a bracket having a plurality of access ports that permit the component to be secured to the bracket, and having a plurality of mounting points that permit the bracket to be secured to the computer system; a cavity in the computer system formed to receive the bracket with the component and having a plurality of mounting posts, each of which corresponds with a respective mounting point of the plurality of the mounting points; and a cover that is formed to fit over the cavity and having a plurality of access points, each of which corresponds with a respective mounting point and a respective mounting post, wherein the plurality of access points permits each respective mounting point to be secured to the respective mounting post through the associated access point. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an arrangement of a bracket supporting a hard drive, according to a representative embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a cover according to a representative embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1  without the hard drive; 
       FIG. 4  depicts an example of a hard drive pocket, according to a representative embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of a portion of a computer that depicts the bracket with the hard drive of  FIG. 1  placed into the pocket of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of a portion of a computer that depicts the cover of  FIG. 2  covering the pocket of  FIG. 4  and enclosing the bracket with the hard drive of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an arrangement  10  of a bracket  11  supporting hard drive  15 , according to a representative embodiment.  FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the bracket  11  of  FIG. 1  without the hard drive. In the arrangement  10  of  FIG. 1 , the hard drive  15  is mounted into bracket  11  by component fastener  17  via access points ( 31  of  FIG. 3 ). Bracket  11  provides stiffness and support for the drive  15 , which improves the protection of the drive during installation and handling of the drive. The bracket  11  reduces or limits the magnification shocks received by the computer. Ideally, a shock, e.g. a sudden force that is applied to the computer system, is passed through to the hard drive at a one-to-one correspondence. For example, if a 10 g shock is applied to the computer system (e.g. by dropping it), then a 10 g shock would be applied to the hard drive as well. In less than ideal situations, the hard drive mount instead acts a ‘rubber band’ or ‘spring’, and magnifies the applied force, thus a 10 g shock may be passed through the hard drive as a 20 g shock, etc. Secondary shocks are caused by the movement of a loosely secured hard drive, where the hard drive moves around (e.g. rattles) when the computer is subjected to a shock. Embodiments of the bracket  11  according to the present invention reduces or limits secondary shocks. 
   Bracket  11  is a four-sided container that includes a top opening to allow for the hard drive  15  to be located in the bracket. One side of a hard drive  15  is typically more rugged than the other side to allow for handling of the hard drive. Thus, the rugged side of the hard drive is exposed by the top opening of bracket  11 . Bracket  11  also includes a side opening to allow for a connector  16  of the hard drive to couple with a corresponding connector of a computer system. Bracket  11  includes a plurality of mounting points, (e.g. mounting point  1  ( 12 ), mounting point  2  ( 13 ), and mounting point  3  ( 14 ) formed to allow for a plurality of fasteners to rigidly connect the bracket  11  (with the hard drive  15 ) to the frame of a computer. Note that the bracket may include at least one fastener that permits the bracket to be connected with one of the mounting posts via one of the mounting points. 
   Note that this arrangement  10  has a hard drive  15  by way of example only, as these embodiments may be used to connect other types components to a computer or to other types of systems. Thus other components such as processors, co-processors, power supplies, data storage devices such as optical drives, ZIP drives, solid state memory drives, or other peripheral components may be connected instead of a hard drive. Further, note that number and location of component fasteners  17  is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer fasteners or the fasteners may be located in different locations. Similarly, the number and location of the mounting points  12 ,  13 ,  14  is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer mounting points or the mounting points may be located in different locations. Still further, note that the fasteners may comprise screws, which provide for a secure connection and allow the user to readily swap out the drive, but may also comprise other types of fasteners such as wing nuts, thumb screws, cam-based fasteners, and/or clip/snap-based fasteners. The bracket  11  may comprise sheet metal, but other materials may be used, e.g. plastics or ceramics. 
     FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a cover  20  according to a representative embodiment. The cover  20  is separate from the four-sided bracket  11  of  FIG. 1 . This provides manufacturing flexibility in that a change in the exterior of the computer will not require changes to the box, e.g. a change in color or styling of the computer casing. 
   The cover  20  includes access points that correspond with a portion of the mounting points of the bracket  11 . For example, this arrangement of cover  20  includes holes  21  and  22  which correspond with mounting points  3  ( 14 ) and  2  ( 13 ), respectively. The cover  20  also includes at least one retaining mechanism for securing a portion of the cover to the computer casing or frame. For example, this arrangement of cover  20  includes retaining hooks  23 , which are designed to fit into corresponding pockets in the computer casing or frame. Note that number and location of access points is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer access points or the access points may be located in different locations. Similarly, the number and location of the retaining mechanisms is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer retaining mechanisms or the retaining mechanisms may be located in a different location. Further, note that the retaining mechanisms may also comprise other types of fasteners such as snaps or clips. Still further, note that the cover  20  may include a seal to hermetically seal the hard drive pocket from external air, moisture, dust, water, other contaminates, etc. 
     FIG. 4  depicts an example of a hard drive pocket  41  according to a representative embodiment. The pocket may have additional stiffeners or reinforcement to reduce or prevent magnification of vibrations or shocks received by the computer, as well as reduce or prevent secondary shocks or vibrations received by the computer. The pocket is directly attached to the frame of the computer, or may form a portion of the frame of the computer. While pocket  41  is a hard drive pocket in this example, it may be a pocket for some other component, such as processor(s), power supply, etc. in other embodiments. 
   The hard drive pocket  41  is located on the bottom side of a lap top computer  46  although could be located elsewhere in other embodiments. The pocket  41  is designed to receive the bracket  11  with the hard drive  15 . The pocket  41  includes a connector  42  that couples to the connector  16  of the hard drive  15 . Note that additional connectors may be present, as needed for the component. The pocket  41  also includes a plurality of mounting posts to correspond with the mounting points of the bracket. For example, the pocket  41  includes mounting posts  43 ,  44 , and  45  which correspond with the mounting points ( 3 )  14 , ( 2 )  13 , ( 1 )  12 , respectively. The pocket  41  also includes retainer(s)  47  that receive a retaining mechanism of a cover. For example, pocket  41  includes cavities  47  which correspond to retaining hooks  23  of cover  20 . Note that number and location of mounting posts is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer mounting posts or the mounting posts may be located in different locations. Similarly, the number and location of the retainers is by way of example only, as there may be more/fewer retainer or the retainers may be located in different locations. Note that one of the mounting posts may not have an associated access point. 
     FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of a portion  50  of a computer  46  that depicts the bracket  11  with hard drive  15  placed into the pocket  41 . Note that in this view, the computer is in the upside down position. The view of  FIG. 5  shows the bracket  11  after placement in the pocket  41  and prior to securing the bracket to the computer  46 . Also, the cover  20  is not in place in the view of  FIG. 5 . Note that the bracket is placed into the pocket such that the side  18  of the bracket is located in the top of the view. 
   To be begin securing the hard drive and bracket within computer  46 , the hard drive/bracket is moved forward in the direction indicated by arrow  52 . This causes the connector  16  of the hard drive to couple with the connector  42  of the pocket. This also aligns mounting points  1  ( 12 ),  2  ( 13 ), and  3  ( 14 ) of the bracket  11  with the mounting posts  45 ,  44 , and  43 , respectively. In this example, mounting point  1  ( 12 ) includes an attached, spring-loaded screw  51 . The attached nature of the screw prevents the screw from falling out and/or becoming lost from the bracket. The spring-loaded nature of the screw makes installation and removal of the hard drive easier. After sliding the hard drive forward and coupling the connectors  16 ,  42 , the user would tighten the screw  51  to secure the hard drive to the computer  46 . 
     FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of a portion of a computer that depicts the cover  20  of  FIG. 2  covering the pocket  41  of  FIG. 4  and enclosing the bracket  11  with hard drive  15  of  FIG. 1 . The view of  FIG. 6  shows the bracket  11  after placement in the pocket  41 , after installation of the cover  20 , and after securing the bracket to the computer  46 . 
   After the coupling of the connecters  16 ,  42 , which also respectively aligns mounting points  1  ( 12 ),  2  ( 13 ), and  3  ( 14 ) with the mounting posts  45 ,  44 , and  43 , and securing the bracket to the computer via mounting point  1 , the cover would be installed by sliding the hooks  23  of the cover into their respective cavities  47  in the computer. This causes alignment of the holes  21  and  22  with mounting points  3  ( 14 ) and  2  ( 13 ), respectively (where the mounting points  3  and  2  are already aligned with mounting posts  43  and  44 , respectively). The user would then secure the cover to the bracket and to the computer via securing units, e.g. screws. For example, screw  61  is fastened to mounting post  44  of the computer through hole  22  of the cover and mounting point  13  of the bracket. Similarly, another screw (not shown) is fastened to mounting post  43  of the computer through hole  21  of the cover and mounting point  14  of the bracket.