Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device, which has a protrusion thereon, includes a bracket, a fixing member movably mounted to the bracket, a resilient member connected between the bracket and the fixing member, and a latching member mounted to the fixing member. The bracket for holding the data storage device includes a sidewall. The sidewall defines a slide slot configured for the protrusion of the data storage device sliding therealong. The latching member includes a retaining space for receiving the protrusion of the data storage device. The latching member is selectively locatable in at least two positions of the fixing member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   Relevant subject matter is disclosed in the copending U.S. patent application filed on the same date with application Ser. No. 11/592,769 and having a same title with the present application, which is assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and particularly to a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing or readily removing a data storage device to or from a computer enclosure. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Generally speaking, when a computer is assembled, a drive bracket is mounted in a computer enclosure, and then data storage devices are fixed to the drive bracket. The data storage devices include various combinations of hard disk drives (HDDs), floppy disk drives (FDDs), and compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drives. 
   A conventional data storage device is generally attached to a drive bracket by bolts or slide rails. However, fixing a data storage device to a drive bracket with bolts is unduly laborious and time-consuming. A mounting apparatus for a data storage device using slide rails is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,159. The date storage device defines a plurality of locking holes in opposite sidewalls thereof. The mounting apparatus includes a computer enclosure, and a pair of slide rails each having resilient tabs thereof. According to the locking holes of the data storage device, a pin extends from each resilient tab. The slide rails are attached to respective sides of the data storage device. The assembly of the data storage device and the slide rails is slidably inserted into the computer enclosure. The pins of the slide rails are engaged in the corresponding locking holes. However, when positions of the data storage devices are needed to be changed within the computer enclosure, both the data storage devices and the slide rails must be extracted and the mounting process repeated. Thus, adjusting positions of the data storage device fixed within the drive bracket with bolts or slide rails is difficult and inconvenient. 
   What is desired, therefore, is to provide a mounting apparatus which readily allows securely installing a data storage device in different positions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An exemplary mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device, which has a protrusion thereon, includes a bracket, a fixing member movably mounted to the bracket, a resilient member connected between the bracket and the fixing member, and a latching member mounted to the fixing member. The bracket for holding the data storage device includes a sidewall. The sidewall defines a slide rail configured for the protrusion of the data storage device sliding therealong. The latching member includes a retaining space for receiving the protrusion of the data storage device. The latching member is selectively locatable in at least two positions of the fixing member. 
   Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with a data storage device; the mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a fixing member, and a latching member; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the fixing member and the latching member of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of FIG  1 , but viewed from another aspect, and not showing the data storage device; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of FIG  1 , showing the data storage device in a first mounting position; and 
       FIG. 6  is similar to FIG  5 , but showing the data storage device in a second mounting position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided for mounting a data storage device  10  that has two protrusions  12  protruding from a side wall thereof. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket  20  for holding the data storage device  10 , a fixing member  30  moveably mounted to the bracket  20 , a latching member  40  mounted to the fixing member  30 , and a pair of resilient members  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the data storage device  10  is a CD-ROM drive, the protrusions  12  are screws, and the resilient members  50  are springs. 
   The bracket  20  includes a bottom wall  22 , and a sidewall  24  extending up from a side of the bottom wall  22 . A flange  241  perpendicularly extends out from an end of the sidewall  24 . According to the protrusions  12  of the data storage device  10 , a slide slot serving as a guideway  242  is defined in the sidewall  24 , and extends from the flange  241  to the other end of the sidewall  24 . The slide slot  242  is parallel to the bottom wall  22 . An L-shaped first limiting tab  244  extends from the sidewall  24  adjacent a back end of the slide slot  242 . Two L-shaped limiting tabs  246  extend out from the sidewall  24  and are respectively located at upper and lower sides of the slide slot  242  adjacent the flange  241 . Two hooks (not shown) with a certain space therebetween are formed at an upper portion of the sidewall  24 . 
   A pair of projections  39  extend from each of top and bottom sides of the fixing member  30 . Two limiting protrusions  31 ,  32  extend respectively from opposite ends of the fixing member  30 . Two fixing portions  33  each defining a through hole  332  respectively extend out from the top side of the fixing member  30  at opposite sides of the corresponding projections  39 . A depressed portion is defined in the fixing member  30 . The depressed portion includes two side boards  36  at top and bottom sides thereof, and a restricting board  34  connected between the side boards  36 . An opening  35  is defined in the depressed portion at a side of the restricting board  34  and between the side boards  36 . A plurality of locking slots  362  is defined in each side board  36 . Two slots  37  are defined in top and bottom sides of the restricting board  34 . Two sliding slots  38  are defined respectively in each side board  36  adjacent to and communicating with, the opening  35 . 
   The latching member  40  includes a body  49 , two side walls  41  extending from top and bottom sides of the body  49 , and two end walls  48  extending from opposite ends of the body  49 . Two resilient latching portions  412  corresponding to a corresponding sliding slot  38  and a corresponding slot  37  of the fixing member  30  respectively extend from each side wall  41 . A resilient finger  42  extends from the latching member  40  at each side wall  41 , and a corresponding portion of the body  49 . A protruding portion  426  at a corresponding side wall  41  of the latching member  40  extends from a free end of each resilient finger  42 . An operating portion  43  extends out from each resilient finger  42  at the body  49 . A blocking tab  47  facing the fixing member  30  is arranged at the body  49  and adjacent the opening  35 . A general U-shaped retaining portion is arranged between the blocking tab  47  and a corresponding end wall  48 . The retaining portion includes a first blocking part  453 , and a second blocking part  455 , parallel to the end wall  48 . A retaining space  45  is defined between the first blocking part  453  and the second blocking part  455 . A slanted guiding portion  457  extends from a distal end of the first blocking part  453  toward the blocking tab  47 . A free end of the slanted guiding portion  457  is against the blocking tab  47 . The second blocking part  455  is linked to the end wall  48  by a plurality of spaced connecting ribs. 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in assembling the fixing member  30  and the latching member  40  to the bracket  20 , the resilient latching portions  412  of the latching member  40  are respectively inserted in the corresponding slots  37  and the corresponding sliding slots  38  of the fixing member  30 . The retaining portion of the latching member  40  is received in the opening  35  of the fixing member  30 . The protruding portions  426  of the latching member  40  are engaged in the corresponding looking slots  362  of the fixing member  30 . The latching member  40  can be positioned at different positions via the protruding portions  426  engaging in different locking slots  362  of the fixing member  30 . In mounting the assembly of the fixing member  30  and the latching member  40  to the sidewall  24  of the bracket  20 , one end of each resilient member  50  is engaged in the through hole  332  of the corresponding fixing portion  33 . The limiting protrusions  31 ,  32  of the fixing member  30  slide along the corresponding limiting tabs  244 ,  246  from down to up. The projections  39  of the fixing member  30  are depressed by the sidewall  24  of the bracket  20 . The other end of each resilient member  50  is engaged with a corresponding hook of the bracket  20 .
         In assembling the data storage device  10  in the bracket  20 , the protrusions  12  of the data storage device  10  are slid into the slide slot  242  of the sidewall  24  from the flange  241  at one side of the bracket  20 . The data storage device  10  is then moved further, and a corresponding protrusion  12  of the data storage device  10  slides on the slanting guiding portion  457  of the latching member  40  to drive the latching member  40  to move down. The resilient members  50  are distorted. The data storage device  10  is moved further still, so that the protrusion  12  moves beyond the slanting guiding portion  457 . The resilient members  50  are elastically thus restoring the latching member  40 . The protrusion  12  is located in the retaining space  45  of the latching member  40 . Thus, the data storage device  10  is mounted in one position of the bracket  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 .       

   When adjusting mounting positions of the data storage device  10 , the operating portions  43  of the latching member  40  are squeezed to drive the resilient fingers  42  of the latching member  40  to distort. The protruding portions  426  are disengaged from the corresponding locking slots  362  of the fixing member  30 . The latching member  40  and the data storage device  10  attached thereto are slid within the fixing member  30  until the protruding portions  426  of the lathing member  40  are engaged in desired locking slots  362 . Thus, the data storage device  10  is mounted in another desired position of the bracket  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   In disassembling the data storage device  10 , the fixing member  30  is slid down along the limiting tabs  244 ,  246  of the sidewall  24  until the slanting guiding portion  457  is below the slide slot  242 . The resilient members  50  are stretched and distorted. Thus, the data storage device  10  is readily removed from the bracket  20 . 
   It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment.