Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for a storage device includes a bracket configured for receiving the storage device and including a sidewall defining a through hole therein, a latching member pivotally mounted to the bracket and including a latching protrusion extending through the through hole of the bracket for fixing the storage device, a rotating mechanism connected between the bracket and the latching member to enable the latching member to rotate relative to the bracket, and an elastic member connected between the bracket and the latching member for urging the latching member toward the side wall of the bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for a storage device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An electronic apparatus, such as a typical desktop computer, a tower computer, a server, and the like, usually includes storage devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital video disc (DVD) drives, floppy disk drives, and the like. These devices are typically added to increase the functionality of the electronic apparatus as desired by a user. However, the installation of such devices in the electronic apparatus is labor-intensive. 
     The installation of a hard disk drive in a computer typically involves the use of screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket of a computer chassis. However, these screws are usually too small and difficult to handle. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws are easily dropped, by an assembler, into the computer. 
     To address the aforementioned problems, a plurality of mounting apparatuses is invented to reduce the number of needed screws. For example, a pair of detachable rails is attached to opposite sides of a storage device with screws. The storage device is then slid into and secured to a drive bracket. However, the screws have to be removed to detach the rails from the storage device before replacing the storage device. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which facilitates convenient and secure mounting of a storage device in a bracket. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary mounting apparatus for a storage device includes a bracket configured for receiving the storage device and including a sidewall defining a through hole therein, a latching member pivotally mounted to the bracket and including a latching protrusion extending through the through hole of the bracket for fixing the storage device, a rotating mechanism connected between the bracket and the latching member to enable the latching member to rotate relative to the bracket, and an elastic member connected between the bracket and the latching member for urging the latching member toward the side wall of the bracket. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus with a storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting apparatus including two latching members; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged isometric view of the latch member of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled, partial, side elevational view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting apparatus for a storage device is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting apparatus is used for fixing a storage device  10  defining two spaced assembly holes  12 , and includes a bracket  20  for receiving the storage device  10 , and two fixing assemblies. Each fixing assembly includes a latching member  80 , a shaft  90 , and an elastic member. In this embodiment, the elastic member is a torsion spring  70 . 
     The bracket  20  includes a top wall  21 , a bottom wall  22 , and a pair of sidewalls  24  connecting the top wall  21  to the bottom wall  22 . Corresponding to each fixing assembly, one of the sidewalls  24  includes a pair of vertically spaced clipping tabs  61  extending therefrom, a blocking tab  65  extending therefrom and located at same sides of the clipping tabs  61 , and a through hole  67  defined therein. A C-shaped groove  63  is defined in each clipping tab  61 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each latching member  80  includes a round-shaped plate  81 , a beam  82  extending from a circumferential side of the plate  81 , a latching protrusion  87  extending from a center of the plate  81 , a pair of spaced triangular walls  83  extending from the beam  82  and joining with the latching protrusion  87 , and a blocking tab  84  extending from the beam  82  between the walls  83 . A C-shaped groove  86  is defined in the peak of each wall  83 . A distance between the walls  83  is less than a distance between the clipping tabs  61  of the bracket  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the torsion spring  70  includes two legs respectively extending from ends thereof. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , in assembly, only one of the fixing assemblies is shown and described hereinafter as an example. The torsion spring  70  is coiled around the shaft  90 . The shaft  90  is snappingly received in the grooves  86  of the walls  83  of the latching member  80 , and the torsion spring  70  is placed between the two walls  83 . The latching protrusion  87  of the latching member  80  is generally aligned with the through the hole  67  of the bracket  20 , the shaft  90  is snappingly received in the grooves  63  of clipping tabs  61  of the bracket  20 , the two walls  83  of the latching member  80  are placed between the two tabs  61 , and ends of the two legs  72  of the torsion spring  70  are respectively abutted against the blocking tab  65  of the bracket  20  and the blocking tab  84  of the latching member  80 . Thus, the latching member  80  is rotatably mounted to the corresponding sidewall  24  of the bracket  20 , the latching member  80  is rotated toward the sidewall  24  of the bracket  20  by the torsion spring  70  engaged between the latching member  80  and the sidewall  24 , and a free end of the latching protrusion  87  of the latching member  80  is inserted in the bracket  20  through the hole  67 . Moreover, in other embodiments, the distance between the two clipping tabs  61  of the bracket may be less than the distance between the two walls  83  of the latching member  80 , and the torsion spring  70  is placed between the clipping tabs  61 , and the two tabs  61  are placed between the two walls  83 . 
     In use, the latching member  80  is rotated around the shaft  90  to make the latching protrusion  87  thereof to disengage from the through hole  67  of the bracket  20  by pressing a free end of the beam  82  or pulling the plate  81 . The storage device  10  is inserted in the bracket  20 , and the assembly hole  12  of the storage device  10  is aligned with the corresponding through hole  67  of the bracket  20 . Releasing the latching member  80 , the latching member  80  is rotated back by the torsion spring  70 , and the free end of the latching protrusion  87  of the latching member  80  is inserted through the through hole  67  of the bracket  20  and inserted in the assembly hole  12  of the storage device  10 . Thus, the storage device  10  is fixed in the bracket  20  by the latching member  80 . To disassemble the storage device  10 , the latching member  80  is rotated to disengage the latching protrusion  87  from the assembly hole  12  of the storage device  10 , the storage device  10  can then be easily taken out from the bracket  20 . 
     In other embodiments, the torsion spring  70  in the present embodiment may be replaced by an extension spring, the extension spring is placed between the latching protrusion  87  of the latching member  80  and the shaft  90 , and one end of the extension spring is connected with the latching member  80  and the other end of the extension spring is connected with the corresponding sidewall  24  of the bracket  20 . The torsion spring  70  may be replaced by a compression spring, the compression spring is placed between an free end of the beam  82  of the latching member  80  and the shaft  90 , and one end of the compression spring is connected with the latching member  80  and the other end of the compression spring is connected with the corresponding sidewall  24  of the bracket  20 . Moreover, a rotation mechanism made up of the shaft  90 , the corresponding C-shaped grooves  63  of the bracket  20 , and the C-shaped grooves  86  of the corresponding latching member may be shown in other forms. For example, the grooves  63  and/or  86  may be O-shaped; the shaft  90  may be replaced by a shaft having a smooth middle portion and two threaded segments adjacent two ends of the shaft, and correspondingly, the grooves  63  of the bracket  20  is replaced by screw holes corresponding to the screw threads of the shaft; one of the pair of clipping tabs  61  and the groove  63  thereof may be canceled; one of the pair of walls  83  and the groove  86  thereof may be canceled. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, 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.