Fixing mechanism and related electronic device

A fixing mechanism includes a first positioning component, a bridging component, a movable component, a base, a second positioning component, a latch and a driving component. The first positioning component and the bridging component are disposed on a backboard, and the movable component is slidably disposed on the bridging component. The second positioning component and the latch are disposed on the base. The latch includes a guiding pin slidably disposed on the movable component. The driving component is rotatably disposed on the latch. The driving component includes an actuating portion slidably disposed on the movable component. The actuating portion slides relative to a first slot on the movable component, so that the guiding pin slides at a second slot on the movable component and the base moves close to the backboard, so as to combine a first connector disposed on the base with a second connector disposed on the backboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fixing mechanism and a related electronic device, and more particularly, to a fixing mechanism with convenient operating function and assembly fool-proofing function and a related electronic device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional server equipment includes a plurality of electronic components. The electronic components have matched connectors to easily establish signal transmission between the separated electronic components. The connectors are manually assembled with or disassembled from each other for quick fabrication. However, the conventional server equipment utilizes the difficultly detachable connectors to electrically connect the electronic components to each other. The manual operating process for assembly and disassembly of the difficultly detachable connectors consumes physical strength of the operators and results in fabricated mistake due to tired. Therefore, design of an auxiliary fixing mechanism capable of rapidly and simultaneously combining the plurality of difficultly detachable connectors in an effort-saving manner is an important issue in the mechanical design industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fixing mechanism with convenient operating function and assembly fool-proofing function and a related electronic device for solving above drawbacks.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a fixing mechanism for combining a first connector with a second connector is disclosed. The second connector is disposed on a backboard. The fixing mechanism includes a first positioning component, a bridging component, a movable component, a base, a second positioning component, a latch and a driving component. The first positioning component is disposed on the backboard. The bridging component is disposed on the backboard. The movable component is slidably disposed on the bridging component. The movable component includes a first slide slot and a second slide slot. A structural direction of the first slide slot is different from a moving direction of the movable component relative to the bridging component, and a structural direction of the second slide slot is between the moving direction and the structural direction of the first slide slot. The first connector is disposed on the base. The second positioning component is disposed on the base for combining with the first positioning component. The latch is disposed on the base. The latch includes a guiding pin slidably disposed on the second slide slot. The driving component is rotatably disposed on the latch. The driving component includes an actuating portion slidably disposed on the first slide slot. The actuating portion moves inside the first slide slot to slide the movable component relative to the bridging component, so that the guiding pin slides along the second slide slot and the base moves close to the backboard, so as to combine the first connector with the second connector.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an electronic device includes a backboard, a first connector, a second connector and a fixing mechanism. The second connector is disposed on the back board and detachably combined with the first connector. The fixing mechanism is for combining the first connector with the second connector. The fixing mechanism includes a first positioning component, a bridging component, a movable component, a base, a second positioning component, a latch and a driving component. The first positioning component is disposed on the backboard. The bridging component is disposed on the backboard. The movable component is slidably disposed on the bridging component. The movable component includes a first slide slot and a second slide slot. A structural direction of the first slide slot is different from a moving direction of the movable component relative to the bridging component, and a structural direction of the second slide slot is between the moving direction and the structural direction of the first slide slot. The first connector is disposed on the base. The second positioning component is disposed on the base for combining with the first positioning component. The latch is disposed on the base. The latch includes a guiding pin slidably disposed on the second slide slot. The driving component is rotatably disposed on the latch. The driving component includes an actuating portion slidably disposed on the first slide slot. The actuating portion moves inside the first slide slot to slide the movable component relative to the bridging component, so that the guiding pin slides along the second slide slot and the base moves close to the backboard, so as to combine the first connector with the second connector.

The fixing mechanism and the related electronic device of the present invention can combine the first connector with the second connector rapidly and accurately in the effort-saving manner. The present invention has advantages of simple structure, small volume and easy operation. The plurality of fixing mechanisms can be set inside the electronic device according to user's demand for simultaneously rapid combination of the plurality of matched connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2.FIG. 1is an exploded diagram of an electronic device10according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is an assembly diagram of the electronic device10according to the embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device10can be a server device. A motherboard and a plurality of hard disk drives are disposed inside a casing of the server device. The hard disk drive can be electrically connected to the motherboard detachably, so that the motherboard and the hard disk drive respectively have matched connectors for combination. The electronic device10includes a backboard12, a plurality of first connectors14, a plurality of second connectors16and at least one fixing mechanism18. The first connector14and the second connector16are respectively disposed on the fixing mechanism18and the backboard12. The fixing mechanism18can move relative to the backboard12to combine the first connector14with the second connector16or to separate the first connector14from the second connector16. An amount of the first connector14corresponds to an amount of the second connector16.

The fixing mechanism includes at least one first positioning component20, a bridging component22and a movable component24. The first positioning component20and the bridging component22are disposed on the backboard12, and the movable component24is slidably disposed on the bridging component22. The movable component24includes a first slide slot26, a plurality of second slide slots28and at least one guiding slot30. The bridging component22can include a boss32slidably disposed on the guiding slot30, so that the movable component24can move relative to the bridging component22via a combination of the guiding slot30and the boss32. A structural direction D1of the first slide slot26is different from a moving direction D2of the movable component24relative to the bridging component22. For example, the structural direction D1can be substantially perpendicular to the moving direction D2.

The first slide slot26can include a first area261and a second area263. The first area261can be a linear structure, and the second area263can be an arc structure. The second area263is connected to an end of the first area261in a relatively bending manner. In addition, the present invention includes two second slide slots28respectively located by two opposite sides of the first slide slot26, and a structural direction D3of the second slides slot28is between the structural direction D1and the moving direction D2. For example, an angle of the structural direction D3relative to the structural direction D1(or the moving direction D2) can be within a range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

The fixing mechanism18further includes a base34, at least one second positioning component36, a latch38and a driving component40. The first connector14is disposed on the base34. The second positioning component36is disposed on the base34, and an amount of the second positioning component36corresponds to an amount of the first positioning component20. The first positioning component20and the second positioning component36can respectively be a bar and a sleeve, and the bar is slidably sheathed with the sleeve to constrain movement of the base34relative to the backboard12and to guide an assembly of the first connector14and the second connector16. The latch38is fixed on the base34. The latch38includes a plurality of guiding pins42. Each guiding pin42is slidably disposed inside the corresponding second slide slot28, which means an amount of the guiding pin42corresponds to the amount of the second slide slot28.

The driving component40is rotatably disposed on the latch38via a pivot portion44. The driving component40includes an actuating portion46slidably disposed inside the first slide slot26. When the driving component40rotates relative to the latch38, the actuating portion46can slide along the first slide slot26to move the movable component24relative to the bridging component22at the moving direction D2. Meanwhile, the guiding pin42can move from an outer of the second slide slot28into an inner of the second slide slot28with the movement of the movable component24, so as to move the base34relative to the backboard12for combining the first connector14with the second connector16, or further for separating the first connector14from the second connector16by reverse procedure.

The fixing mechanism18can further include a resilient component48. Two ends of the resilient component48are respectively disposed on the bridging component22and the movable component24. The fixing mechanism18has fool-proofing function due to design of the resilient component48. For example, the resilient component48utilizes the resilient recovering force to steady the movable component24at an initial position when the fixing mechanism18is at an initial state. As the second positioning component36is disposed on the first positioning component20, the actuating portion46of the driving component40can align with the first slide slot26on the movable component24, and each guiding pin42of the latch38can align with the corresponding second slide slot28on the movable component24. The fixing mechanism18has automatic adjusting function for rapid and correct assembly of the first connector14and the second connector16.

The driving component40can further include a body50, a handle52, a first positioning hole54and a second positioning hole56. The pivot portion44can be disposed on the middle of the body50. The handle52and the actuating portion46are respectively disposed on two ends of the body50. A distance between the handle52and the pivot portion44can be substantially greater than a distance between the actuating portion46and the pivot portion44, so that the driving component40can be operated easily to actuate assembly and disassembly functions of the fixing mechanism18. The first positioning hole54and the second positioning hole56are respectively formed on protruding parts of the body50and surround around the pivot portion44.

Accordingly, the latch38can further include a hole structure58, a resilient arm60and a positioning block62. An end of the resilient arm60is connected to a lateral wall of the hole structure58, and the resilient arm60can be disposed inside the hole structure58in a deformable bending manner. The positioning block62is disposed on the other end of the resilient arm60. Because a distance between the first positioning hole54and the pivot portion44is substantially equal to a distance between the second positioning hole56and the pivot portion44, the positioning block62can be engaged with the first positioning hole54and the second positioning hole56when the driving component40rotates relative to the latch38at predetermined angles respectively, so as to constrain rotation of the driving component40relative to the latch38. For example, the positioning block62is engaged with the first positioning hole54and the second positioning hole56when the driving component40rotates relative to the latch38at 0 degree and 90 degrees, to generate frictional stagnation as switching the driving component40for control feel.

Please refer toFIG. 3andFIG. 4.FIG. 3andFIG. 4respectively are diagrams of the latch38and the driving component40in different operation modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the angle between the body50of the driving component40and a main portion of the latch38is equal to 90 degrees, and the positioning block62is engaged with the first positioning hole54(shaded by the positioning block62and not shown in figures). When combining the first connector14with the second connector16, a position of the guiding pin42relative to the latch38substantially corresponds to an outer (an inlet) of the second slide slot28on the movable component24. Due to constraint function generated by assembly of the positioning block62and the first positioning hole54, the actuating portion46can align with an outer (an inlet) of the first slide slot26on the movable component24, so as to increase assembly accuracy and operation convenience of the fixing mechanism18of the present invention.

The actuating portion46and the guiding pin42respectively slide into the first slide slot26and the second slide slot28, and the driving component40can rotate to a position that the body50is substantially parallel to the main portion of the latch38, which means the angle between the driving component40and the latch38is equal to 0 degree. Then, the actuating portion46and the guiding pin42can move into bottom of the first slide slot26and the second slide slot28, so the first connector14can be combined with the second connector16. As shown inFIG. 4, the positioning block62is engaged with the second positioning hole56(shaded by the positioning block62and not shown in figure). A combination of the positioning block62and the second positioning hole56can effectively constrain the rotation of the driving component40relative to the latch38, so as to prevent the fixing mechanism18from being released to separate the first connector14from the second connector16due to accidental hit of the driving component40. It should be mentioned that the distance between the handle52and the pivot portion44can be substantially greater than the distance between the actuating portion46and the pivot portion44, so that the driving component40can rotate relative to the latch38via the handle52in the effort-saving manner.

Please refer toFIG. 5toFIG. 8.FIG. 5toFIG. 8respectively are diagrams of the fixing mechanism18in different operation modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 5, the fixing mechanism18is actuated. The base34moves toward the plate12, and the actuating portion46and the guiding pin42respectively align with the first slide slot26and the second slide slot28on the movable component24. Because the actuating portion46is disposed on the driving component40, a position of the actuating portion46towers over a position of the guiding pin42; in the meantime, the guiding pin42is located outside of the second slide slot28, and the actuating portion46has inserted into the first slide slot26. As shown inFIG. 6, each guiding pin42moves into the corresponding second slide slot28, the driving component40rotates at the counterclockwise direction R via the handle52, and the angle between the driving component40and the latch38is smaller than 90 degrees. The actuating portion46and the guiding pin42gradually move into the first slide slot26and the second slide slot28deeply. Because the structural direction of the second slide slot28is between the structural direction D1and the moving direction D2(such as 45 degrees, and is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments), the guiding pin42can push the movable component24to move relative to the bridging component22at the direction D2when sliding into the second slide slot28. Thus, the combination of the guiding slot30and the boss32can ensure that the moving direction of the movable component24is not shifted over the direction D2. The base34moves close to the backboard12, and a front end of the first connector14inserts into the second connector16.

As shown inFIG. 7, the angle between the driving component40and the latch38is increased, and the actuating portion46and the guiding pin42can deeply move into the first slide slot26and the second slide slot28. The driving component40rotates relative to the latch38via the pivot portion44. During the rotation, a moving path of the actuating portion46can be an arc surrounding the pivot portion44, which can be the center of the arc, and the second area263is connected to a rear end of the first area261(the linear structure) by form of the arc structure, so that the actuating portion46is not interfered with the first slide slot26structurally when sliding along the first slide slot26. A shape of the second area263is designed according to the moving path of the actuating portion46. At the time, the first connector14has completely combined with the second connector16. As shown inFIG. 8, the driving component40can manually rotate to a position that is parallel to the latch38, which means the angle between the body50and the main portion of the latch38is substantially equal to 0 degree, and the positioning block62is engaged with the second positioning hole56. Therefore, volume of the fixing mechanism18can be effectively decreased when the first connector14and the second connector16are combined, and modes of the fixing mechanism18can be kept stably.

For disassembly of the first connector14and the second connector16, the driving component40can rotate at the clockwise direction (opposite to the counterclockwise direction R and not shown in figures). As shown fromFIG. 8toFIG. 5, disassembly procedures are reversely operation than assembly procedures. The actuating portion46can slide out of the first slide slot26with the rotation of the driving component40, so as to drive the movable component24to move relative to the bridging component22toward the right side. The guiding pin42slides out of the second slide slot28, and the base34is gradually spaced from the backboard12. The first connector14can be completely disassembled from the second connector16until the driving component40rotates to the position that is perpendicular to the latch38.

In conclusion, the detachable fixing mechanism of the present invention has the guiding function and the effort-saving function. The plurality of guiding bars (the first positioning component) is disposed on the backboard, and the plurality of sleeves (the second positioning component) is disposed on the base to constrain the movement of the base relative to the backboard and to provide the guiding function. The driving component of the fixing mechanism can drive motion of the actuating portion and the first slide slot when rotating relative to the latch at the counterclockwise direction, so as to laterally move the movable component relative to the bridging component toward the right side and the left side. At the time, motion of the guiding pin and the second slide slot can vary directions of force transmission, to linearly move the base close to the backboard and to accurately insert the first connector into the second connector. For disassembly of the fixing mechanism, the driving component rotates relative to the latch at the clockwise direction. The actuating portion and the guiding pin can respectively move out of the first slide slot and the second slide slot. The movable component can be automatically recovered to the initial position by moving along the structural direction of the second slide slot, and the resilient component disposed between the movable component and the bridging component can provide the resilient recovering force for auxiliary. Further, the fixing mechanism can set the two second slide slots respectively by opposite sides of the first slide slot. One combination of the actuating portion and the first slide slot and two combinations of the guiding pin and the second slide slot can drive the base to be close to or far from the backboard, so as to effectively balance the force transmission when the plurality of connectors is connected to each other and to increase operation stability of the fixing mechanism.

Comparing to the prior art, the fixing mechanism and the related electronic device of the present invention can combine the first connector with the second connector rapidly and accurately in the effort-saving manner. The present invention has advantages of simple structure, small volume and easy operation. The plurality of fixing mechanisms can be set inside the electronic device according to user's demand for simultaneously rapid combination of the plurality of matched connectors.