Data storage device carrier assembly

A data storage device carrier assembly includes a first carrier, a second carrier, and a bracket. The first carrier includes a pair of parallel side walls configured for mounting large data storage devices therebetween. The second carrier includes a pair of parallel side plates configured for mounting small data storage devices therebetween. A distance between the pair of side plates of the second carrier is less than a distance between the pair of side walls of the first carrier. The bracket is attached on one of the side plates of the second carrier to cooperatively form a unit having a width approximately same as the distance between the pair of side walls of the first carrier. The unit is mountable between the side walls of the first carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data storage device carrier assembly, and more particularly to a data storage device carrier assembly for accommodating data storage devices of different sizes therein.

2. Description of Related Art

Data storage devices, such as floppy disk drives or hard disk drives, are usually installed in a computer enclosure. The data storage device carriers are required to securely hold the storage devices and ensure that they run smoothly. The carriers with the data storage devices should take up as little room as possible to facilitate making the entire computer compact. Various kinds of carriers have been developed to meet these requirements.

A common arrangement is to have a large carrier for large data storage devices, and a small drive bracket for small data storage devices. Both of the large and small carriers are mounted in the enclosure to occupy different spaces. However, the carriers are usually not fully utilized because typically not all sizes of data storage devices are used simultaneously in a computer system. So the space in the enclosure is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A data storage device carrier assembly includes a first carrier, a second carrier, and a bracket. The first carrier includes a pair of parallel side walls configured for mounting large data storage devices therebetween. The second carrier includes a pair of parallel side plates configured for mounting small data storage devices therebetween. A distance between the pair of side plates of the second carrier is less than a distance between the pair of side walls of the first carrier. The bracket is attached on one of the side plates of the second carrier to cooperatively form a unit having a width approximately same as the distance between the pair of side walls of the first carrier. The unit is mountable between the side walls of the first carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1,2, and3, a data storage device carrier assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first carrier10, a second carrier30, and a bracket50.

The first carrier10includes a bottom wall11and a pair of parallel side walls13,15extending upwardly and perpendicularly from opposite edges of the bottom wall11. The bottom wall11and the side walls13,15together define a large receiving space adapted to accommodate a plurality of large data storage devices20therein (shown inFIG. 2). A plurality of horizontal sliding grooves17is defined in the side walls13,15. Each of the sliding grooves17of the side wall13is level with a corresponding sliding groove17of the side wall15to form a pair of sliding grooves corresponding to one large data storage device20.

The second carrier30is smaller than the first carrier10, and can be accommodated in the first carrier10. The second carrier30includes a bottom plate31, a top plate32, and a pair of parallel side plates33,35. The bottom plate31, the top plate32and the side plates33,35together define a small receiving space adapted to accommodate a plurality of small data storage devices70. Inner surfaces of the side plates33,35form a plurality of horizontal supporting flanges37extending in toward each other. Each two adjacent supporting flanges37defines a guideway39therebetween. Each of the guideways39of the side plates33is level with a corresponding guideway39of the side plate35to form a pair of guideways39adapted for a small data storage device70sliding into. A pair of securing posts331is formed on an outer surface of the side plate33. A plurality of protrusions359is protruded from an outer surface of the side plate35(shown inFIG. 3).

The bracket50is designed to be mounted on an outer surface of the side plate33of the second carrier30to form a unit having approximately a same width as the large data storage device20. The bracket50includes a side piece51parallel to the side wall13of the first carrier10, and four sidewalls53extending from four edges of the side piece51toward the side plate33of the second carrier30. A width of each sidewall53is equal to or a little less than a difference between the distance of the inner surfaces of the side walls13,15of the first carrier10and the outer surfaces of the side plates33,35of the second carrier30. A flange54is bent from one of the sidewalls53to be parallel with the side plate33. The flange54defines a pair of holes541therein corresponding to the securing posts331of the side plate33. The side piece51defines a plurality of securing holes511therein adapted for securing a plurality of sliding members90. In the present embodiment, the sliding members90are screws.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, in assembly, the small data storage device70slides into the second carrier30with lateral edges of the small data storage device70located on the supporting flanges37of the second carrier30. The sliding members90are secured in the securing holes511of the bracket50. The bracket50is moved to the side plate33of the second carrier30with the securing posts331of the second carrier30interferentially inserted into the holes541of the bracket50to secure the bracket50on the outer face of the side plate33.

The second carrier30together with the small data storage device70and the bracket50is then accommodated in the first carrier10. The protrusions359on the side plate35of the second carrier30slide into the sliding grooves17in the side wall15of the first carrier10, and the sliding members90slide into the sliding grooves17in the side wall13of the first carrier10. So, the small data storage device70is mounted in the first carrier10within the unit formed by the second carrier30and the bracket50.

In a computer enclosure, the first carrier10is firstly mounted to accommodate large data storage devices20. If the small data storage device70is needed in the computer system, the second carrier30and bracket50are used to mount the small data storage device70in the first carrier10.

Referring toFIG. 5, in the second embodiment, another second carrier30′ is designed smaller than the second carrier30in the previous embodiment. Then, after the second carrier30′ is mounted into the first carrier10, the first carrier10still has surplus space to also accommodate the large data storage device20.