Fixing apparatus of data storage device

A fixing apparatus is provided for holding a data storage device which defines a hole in a side wall thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a drive bracket, and a receiving rack. The drive bracket includes a side panel. The receiving rack includes a side plate, a pin arranged on the side plate to engage in the hole of the data storage device, and a handle being lockable to the side panel of the drive bracket. The data storage device is slantways placed into the receiving rack from a side opposite to the side plate. The combined receiving rack and the data storage device is received in the drive bracket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fixing apparatuses of data storage devices, and particularly to a fixing apparatuses which readily mounts a data storage devices to a drive bracket.

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 comprise 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 rails. However, fixing a data storage device to a drive bracket with bolts is unduly laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, the computer enclosure needs extra operating space for carrying out the fixing operation. Fixing a data storage device in a drive bracket using rails is more convenient then using the above-described bolts. However, certain bolts are still needed to fix the rails to the drive bracket. Additionally, mounting systems using rails require a clearance between the data storage device and the drive bracket. This may cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems, and may lead to accumulation of static charges on the computer enclosure. Furthermore, the rails are generally made of plastic. This not only restricts grounding connection options between the data storage device and the drive bracket, but also tends to lead to extra maintenance because of the plastic rails easily wearing out and needing replacement.

What is desired, therefore, is to provide a fixing apparatus which readily attach a data storage device to a drive bracket.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment, a fixing apparatus is provided for holding a data storage device which defines a hole in a side wall thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a drive bracket, and a receiving rack. The drive bracket includes a side panel. The receiving rack includes a side plate, a pin arranged on the side plate to engage in the hole of the data storage device, and a handle being lockable to the side panel of the drive bracket. The data storage device is slantways placed into the receiving rack from a side opposite to the side plate. The combined receiving rack and the data storage device is received in the drive bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and5, a fixing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided to attach a data storage device10to an electronic device (not shown) such as a computer. The fixing apparatus includes a receiving rack20for receiving the data storage device10, and a drive bracket40fixed to the electronic device. In this embodiment, the data storage device10is a hard disk drive.

The receiving rack20is integrally formed by plastic, and includes a bottom plate22, a side plate24, and a rear plate26. Two opposite sides and a front edge of a front portion of the bottom plate22respectively upwardly form a restricting flange222. The other portion of the bottom plate22is cut off to save material. A rectangular slot242is defined in a middle of the side plate24. A pair of positioning holes244is respectively defined in the side plate24at two opposite sides of the slot242, and a pair of stepped mounting holes246is defined in the side plate24at two opposite sides of the positioning holes244. A resilient handle248extends from a front of the side plate24. A wedge-shaped locking block2482is formed outwardly from the handle248. A clipping tab2224is formed from the restricting flange222corresponding to the handle248. A resilient tab262is formed slightly inwardly from the rear plate26for clamping the data storage device10. A top flange29extends inwardly from a top of the side plate24.

The receiving rack20further includes a rectangular fixing plate30. The fixing plate30is integrally formed by stamping a metal sheet. The fixing plate30includes an arc-shaped spring tab32extending outwardly therefrom, a pair of positioning posts34formed at opposite sides of the spring tab32, and a pair of mounting posts36formed at opposite sides of the positioning posts34. The positioning posts34and the mounting posts36are hollow. Each mounting post36defines a plurality of gaps362for facilitating riveting. A pair of pins38is bent perpendicularly inwardly from opposite ends of the fixing plate30. In assembly, the fixing plate30is placed to an inner side of the side plate24of the receiving rack20. The positioning posts34of the fixing plate30enter corresponding positioning holes244of side plate24, the spring tab32extends through the slot242of the side plate24, and the mounting posts34enter corresponding mounting holes246of the side plate24. The mounting posts34are riveted from an outer side of the side plate24, thereby mounting the fixing plate30to the receiving rack20.

The data storage device10includes a side wall12defining two apertures18corresponding to the pins38of the fixing plate30.

The drive bracket40includes two side panels42. A plurality of supporting tabs44is stamped inwardly from the side panels42. Two L-shaped blocking tabs46are formed from rear edges of the side panels42, respectively. A rim48is bent outwardly from a front edge of one side panel42. A locking hole49is defined in the side panel42adjacent the rim48.

Referring also toFIGS. 3 and 4, the data storage device10is slantways placed into the receiving rack20from the side opposite to the side plate24, with the pins38of the receiving rack20engaging into the apertures18of the data storage device10, the data storage device10is then horizontally placed down. The data storage device10is thus secured in a receiving space defined by the bottom plate22and its restricting flange222, the side plate24, the rear plate26, and the top flange29to form a data storage device module. The module can be lift via a single hand.

Referring also toFIGS. 5 and 6, the module is pushed into the drive bracket40along the supporting tabs44, until the blocking tabs46stop the module. At this time, the locking block2482of the receiving rack20is resiliently engaged into the locking hole49of the drive bracket40, and the clipping tab2224engages with the rim48of the drive bracket40. The spring tab32of the fixing plate30extends through the slot242of the receiving rack20to abut against the side panel42of the drive bracket40for vibration absorption and preventing EMI.

In disassembly, the handle248of the receiving rack20is grabbed by a single hand and moved inwardly, so that the locking block2482is withdrawn from the locking hole49of the drive bracket40. The handle248can be easily taken out from the drive bracket40by the single hand grabbing the handle248.

In this embodiment, the data storage device10and the receiving rack20is combined to form a module. The module can be easily moved in or out from the drive bracket40. In addition, it is convenient that the data storage device10is secured in the receiving rack20via the pins38extending into the apertures18and the clamping force of the plates and flanges.

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 a preferred or exemplary embodiment.