Abstract:
A mounting apparatus is used for securing an electronic device ( 50 ) to a computer enclosure. The mounting apparatus includes a chassis ( 60 ), a bracket ( 10 ), and a retention member ( 30 ). The chassis includes a bottom panel ( 80 ). The bracket is secured on the bottom panel of the chassis. The bracket includes a first side wall ( 14 ) and a second side wall ( 16 ) for cooperatively sandwiching the electronic device therebetween. The retention member pivotably attached to the chassis and engaged with one of the first and second side walls to lock the electronic device between the first and second side walls.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to mounting apparatus, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for conveniently securing a computer power supply in a computer enclosure.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     A conventional computer system usually includes a power supply in a chassis. The installation of the power supply in the chassis usually involves the use of screws.  
         [0003]     A computer enclosure for mounting power supplies is provided. The computer enclosure includes a rear panel, a fixing bracket attached to the rear panel, and a bridge, which attaches to the fixing bracket. The rear panel defines an opening therein. The fixing bracket includes first and second side walls opposite each other to define a receiving space therebetween in communication with the opening in the rear panel adapted for receiving a power supply therein. The bridge includes first and second ends respectively connected to the first and second side walls of the fixing bracket for positioning and fastening the power supply. The bridge is secured to the fixing bracket by screws.  
         [0004]     However, it is inconvenient to use the screws to secure the power supply in the chassis of the computer. The screws are small and make them difficult to manipulate and install. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws may be dropped by an assembler, possibly causing damage to other parts of the computer system due to shorts, lodging in moving parts, and the like.  
         [0005]     What is needed, therefore, is a mounting apparatus, which allows convenient securing of a power supply in a computer enclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     A mounting apparatus is used for securing an electronic device to a computer enclosure. The mounting apparatus includes a chassis, a bracket, and a retention member. The chassis includes a bottom panel. The bracket is secured on the bottom panel of the chassis. The bracket includes a first side wall and a second side wall for cooperatively sandwiching the electronic device therebetween. The retention member pivotably attached to the chassis and engaged with one of the first and second side walls to lock the electronic device between the first and second side walls.  
         [0007]     Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus for a computer power supply of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting apparatus comprises a bracket and a retention member;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the power supply and the bracket of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the mounting apparatus for the power supply in a chassis, showing the mounting apparatus in a locked position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the mounting apparatus in a unlocked position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus for a computer power supply of another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an assembled, isometric view of  FIG. 5 , showing the mounting apparatus in a unlocked position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting apparatus for a computer power supply  50  comprises a bracket  10 , and a retention member  30 . The retention member  30  secures the power supply  50  in a computer chassis.  
         [0015]     The bracket  10  includes a bottom wall  12 , and a first side wall  14  and a second side wall  16  respectively bent from opposite edges of the bottom wall  12 . Two locking clips  122  are formed on the bottom wall  12 . A retaining portion  142  is defined in the first side wall  14 . A pair of retaining clips  162  is bent out from the second side wall  16 . A pair of pivot holes  1622  is respectively defined in the retaining clips  162 . The bracket  10  is divided into area A and area B. The locking clips  122 , the retaining portion  142 , and the retaining clips  162  are set in the area A for receiving the power supply  50 . The area B is for receiving a data storage device  40  such as a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive or the like.  
         [0016]     The retention member  30  is generally L-shaped and may be formed from plastic, composite, metal and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The retention member  30  includes a body  32  and a resilient bending portion  34 . A pushing portion  344  is formed on the bending portion  34 . A connecting portion  36  connects the body  32  to the bending portion  34 . An engaging portion  342  is formed on the bending portion  34  corresponding to the retaining portion  142  of the bracket  10 . The engaging portion  342  may be a protrusion formed on the retention member  30  corresponding to a retaining hole  142  formed on the bracket  10 . A pair of pivot pins  322  is formed corresponding to the pivot holes  1622  of the bracket  10  respectively on an end of the body  32 , for pivoting the retention member  30  on the bracket  10 .  
         [0017]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , a pair of T-shaped locking holes  52  corresponding to the locking clips  122  of the bracket  10  is defined in a bottom side of the power supply  50 . Each locking hole  52  has a wide portion and a narrow portion.  
         [0018]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the power supply  50  is secured in a computer chassis  60 . The chassis  60  includes a bottom panel  80 , a back panel  90  oriented perpendicular to the bottom panel  80 , and two opposite side panels  70  extending upwardly and perpendicularly from the bottom panel  80 . A top-blocking clip  92  is bent from a top portion of the back panel  90 , for stopping the power supply  50  from moving upward. A cutout  72  is defined in a top edge of the side panel  70 .  
         [0019]     The bracket  10  is mounted to the bottom panel  80  of the chassis  60  by fasteners, such as screws. The retention member  30  is pivotally attached to the bracket  10 . The top portion of the retention member  30  is received in the cutout  72  of the side panel  70 , when the retention member  30  is located at an unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in locking the power supply  50  to the chassis  60 , the locking clips  122  of the bracket  10  are aligned with the corresponding locking holes  52  of the power supply  50 . The power supply  50  is pushed along the bracket  10  toward the back panel  90  of the chassis  60 . Therefore, the locking clips  122  of the bracket  10  are engaged in the corresponding locking holes  52  of the power supply  50 , and the power supply  50  is secured under the top-blocking clip  92  of the chassis  60 . Then, the power supply  50  is secured in the perpendicular direction to the bottom panel  80  of the chassis  60 . The retention member  30  is rotated downwardly from the unlocked position toward the first side wall  14  of the bracket  10 . The bending portion  34  is bent toward the second side wall  16  of the bracket  10  when the engaging member  342  of the retention member  30  slidingly abuts against the first side wall  14  of the bracket  10 . As the engaging member  342  of the retention member  30  reaches the retaining portion  142  of the bracket, the bending portion  34  deforms back toward its original position, and the engaging member  342  of the retention member  30  snappingly engages with the retaining portion  142  of the bracket  10 . This is a locked position where the power supply  50  is secured along a first horizontal direction between the first side wall  14  and the second side wall  16  of the bracket  10 , and along a second horizontal direction between the retention member  30  and the back panel  90 . In this way, the power supply  50  is secured to the chassis  60 .  
         [0021]     In unlocking the power supply  50  from the chassis  60 , the pushing portion  344  of the retention member  30  is pushed to deform toward the second side wall  16  of the bracket  10 , so that the engaging member  342  is disengaged from the retaining portion  142  of the bracket  10 . The retention member  30  is rotated from the locked position to an unlocked position. The power supply  50  is moved away from the back panel  90  of the chassis  60 , thereby disengaging the locking clips  122  of the bracket  10  from the corresponding locking holes  52  of the power supply  50 . Thus, the power supply  50  is unlocked.  
         [0022]     Referring also to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. A pair of locking clips  82  is formed on the bottom panel  80 . A pair of side walls  87 ,  88  is formed on the bottom panel  80  for retaining the power supply  50  on the chassis  60 . The side wall  88  defines a retaining hole  882  for engagingly receiving the engaging portion  342  of the retention member  30 , thereby locking the retention member  30  in a locked position. A pair of retaining clips  78  is formed on the side panel  70  of the chassis  60  for pivoting the retention member  30 . When the retention member  30  is locked to the side wall  88  of the chassis  60 , the power supply  50  is secured to the chassis  60 .  
         [0023]     The engaging portion  342  of the retention member  34  and the retaining portion  142  of the bracket  10  or the chassis  60  in the preferred embodiments can be interchanged, for realizing the same function.  
         [0024]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of a preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.