Fixing apparatus for hard disk drive

An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive (HDD) having a plurality of holes defined in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a bezel assembly. The first bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate, and a pivoting portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The second bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate to pivotably engage with the end plate of the first bracket, and an extension portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The bezel assembly is pivotably attached to the pivoting portion of the first bracket and detachably locked with the extension portion of the second bracket. The side plates include a plurality of fixing members to engage in the holes of the disk drive, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in the 6 co-pending U.S. patent applications; filed on the same date and having a same title as the present application, which are assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. Relevant subject matter is also disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/953,863, filed on Dec. 11, 2007, having a same title as the present application, which is assigned to the same assignee as this patent application.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fixing apparatuses, and particularly to a fixing apparatus for hard disk drives (HDDs).

2. Description of Related Art

The conventional approach now being adopted to mount an HDD in a computer chassis generally involves placing the HDD in a holding area of a drive bracket; screwing a plurality of screws through side walls of the drive bracket into two sides of the HDD to fasten the HDD on the drive bracket; and mounting the HDD and the bracket in a computer chassis or a mobile HDD rack. For proper balanced installation of the HDD, multiple screws should be fastened at the same time, making installing and removing operations of the HDD tedious.

What is desired, therefore, is a fixing apparatus which allows convenient installation and removal of an HDD.

SUMMARY

An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive (HDD) having a plurality of holes defined in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a bezel assembly. The first bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate, and a pivoting portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The second bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate to pivotably engage with the end plate of the first bracket, and an extension portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The bezel assembly is pivotably attached to the pivoting portion of the first bracket and detachably locked with the extension portion of the second bracket. The side plates include a plurality of fixing members to engage in the holes of the disk drive, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, a fixing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is for fixing a hard disk drive (HDD)100and includes a first bracket20, a second bracket30, a bezel assembly40, and two shafts62,64.

The HDD100includes a pair of holes120defined in each of two opposite sidewalls thereof.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the first bracket20includes a side plate22, an end plate24, and a transverse member26. The end plate24and the transverse member26are perpendicularly disposed at opposite ends of the side plate22respectively. The end plate25includes a pivoting portion25having a pivoting hole252and extending from a free end thereof. The side plate22includes a pivoting portion27slantingly extending from the end thereof adjacent the transverse member26. The pivoting portion27includes a pair of spaced tabs272each having a pivoting hole274. The side plate22includes a plurality of mounting holes23defined therein to retain a plurality of fixing members50therein. Each of the mounting holes23includes a rectangular recess232, a cylindrical hole234, and a pair of slots236oppositely extending from and communicating with the cylindrical hole234.

The second bracket30includes a side plate32, an end plate34, and an extension portion36. The end plate34extends perpendicularly from one end of the side plate32. The end plate34includes pivoting portion35formed at a free end thereof. The pivoting portion35includes a pair of parallel spaced tabs352each having a pivoting hole354. The extension portion36extends forward from the other end of the side plate32. A wedged block362extends form an outside of the extension portion36. The side plate32includes a plurality of mounting holes322defined therein to retain a plurality of fixing members50. Each of the mounting holes322has a similar configuration as the mounting hole23of the first bracket20.

The bezel assembly40includes a bezel42, and a handle44pivotably engaging with the bezel42. The handle44includes a pair of vertically aligned pivoting holes442respectively defined in an upper portion and a lower portion thereof. The bezel42includes a receiving space defined therein. A locking hole422is defined in an outside wall of the bezel42beside the receiving space to engage with the wedged block362of the extension portion36of the second bracket30.

Each of the fixing members50includes a cap54, and a pin52with one end embedded in the cap54. The pin52is made of metal. The cap54is made of shock absorbing material, such as rubber. Each cap54includes a rectangular portion542, a cylindrical portion544perpendicularly extending from the rectangular portion542, and a pair of wedged protrusions546extending oppositely from a circumferential wall of the cylindrical portion544.

The fixing members50are attached to the side plate22of the first bracket20, with the rectangular portions542of the caps54engaging in the rectangular recesses232of the side plate22, the cylindrical portions544of the caps54engaging in the cylindrical holes234of the side plate22, and the wedged protrusions546engaging in the slots236of the side plate22. The fixing members50are also attached to the side plate32of the second bracket30in a same way as to the first bracket20.

Referring also toFIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the first bracket20is pivotably attached to the second bracket30, with the pivoting portion25of the first bracket20sandwiched between the tabs352of the pivoting portion35of the second bracket30. The shaft62extends through the pivoting holes354of the second bracket30and the pivoting hole252of the first bracket20. The bezel assembly40is pivotably attached to the second bracket30, with the tabs272of the pivoting portion27of the first bracket20sandwiched between the upper and lower portions of the handle44of the bezel assembly40. The shaft64extends through the pivoting holes442of the bezel assembly40and the pivoting holes274of pivoting portion27of the first bracket20. The extension portion36of the second bracket30extends into the receiving space of the bezel42of the bezel assembly40, with the wedged block362detachably engaging in the locking hole422.

Referring also toFIG. 4, in use, the wedged block362of the second bracket30is pushed inward by a tip of a pen or a sharp article to disengage from the locking hole422of the bezel assembly40. Thus, the bezel assembly40is pivoted about the shaft64to move away from the transverse member26of the first bracket20and the second bracket30is pivoted about the shaft62to move away from the side plate22of the first bracket20to allow the HDD100to be placed between the first bracket20and the second bracket30. The pins52of the fixing members50of the second bracket30extend into the holes120of one sidewall of the HDD10. Then, the first bracket20is pivoted back to the HDD100so that the pins52of the first bracket20extend into the holes120of the other sidewall of the HDD100. Subsequently, the bezel assembly40is pivoted to the transverse member26of the first bracket20to allow the wedged block362of the second bracket30to be engaged in the locking hole422of the bezel assembly40. Thus, the HDD100is secured.

To release the HDD100, the wedged block362of the second bracket30is pushed inward to disengage from the locking hole422of the bezel assembly40. Then, the bezel assembly40is pivoted about the shaft64to move away from the first bracket20, and the second bracket30is pivoted about the shaft62to move away from the first bracket20. Thus, the HDD100can be easily detached.