CD-ROM drive capable of rapidly detaching and installing

The present invention is to provide a CD-ROM drive capable of rapidly detaching and installing, which comprises a frame mounted in a case of a computer. The frame comprises a side opening, an interior cavity in communication with the side opening so that the CD-ROM drive can be mounted in the cavity through the side opening, and an elongated fastening assembly at a side of the cavity. The fastening assembly comprises an elongated sliding member capable of moving toward or away from the side opening, and an elongated fastening member capable of moving toward or away from the CD-ROM drive. After mounting the CD-ROM drive in the cavity, it is possible of manipulating the sliding member to move the fastening member for fastening or detaching the CD-ROM drive to or from the frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a CD-ROM drive, and more particularly to a fastening mechanism being capable of rapidly detaching a CD-ROM drive from a computer (e.g., notebook computer) and installing the same in the computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronics industry and its associated industries have known a rapid, spectacular development as time evolves. Further, all kinds of high-technology products and communication products related to computer technology are commercially available. The fast development of the new products not only advantageously influences our daily life and work, but also brings a great convenience to people. In response to all kinds of new information products being developed, especially notebook computers, most users become more critical with respect to the convenience in using them. Thus, whether electronic products manufactured in the future can provide a more convenient and effective service to customers will be an indicator to decide whether sale revenue and manufacturing technology of one large electronic company are higher and more advanced than other competitive ones respectively.

For meeting the increasing consumer demand about computers, a high-technology company has to not only maintain good quality of its products, but also increase the manufacturing speed. In brief, each portion of an assembly line, whether important or not, will affect the manufacturing speed. For example, the speed of installing a CD-ROM drive in a computer is one of important factors that affect the increase of the computer assembly speed. It is understood that competition among computer manufacturing companies is very fierce. Thus, one computer manufacturing company cannot have a large share of the computer market if both the computer assembly speed of the company is low and quality of computers produced by the company is poor. To the worse, the company may be eliminated from the competitive computer market.

However, typically, a plurality of screws are employed to fasten a CD-ROM drive in the computer in the installation process. This has a drawback of low in assembly speed. Similarly, in a case of removing a malfunctioned CD-ROM drive for maintenance or replacement, a user has to sequentially detach the computer case, unfasten the screws by means of a screw driver, disconnect all power and data cables from the CD-ROM drive, and finally detach the CD-ROM drive from the computer case. As such, it is a tedious, time consuming, and labor intensive process during computer assembly. Similar drawbacks are also found in maintenance. This is an undesirable design. Further, it contradicts the trend of low cost, high efficiency, and mass production as pursued by modern industries.

Thus, it is desirable among vast consumers and computer manufacturers to provide a novel fastening mechanism capable of rapidly detaching a CD-ROM drive from a computer and installing the same in the computer in order to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a CD-ROM drive capable of rapidly detaching and installing for overcoming the above drawbacks of the prior art. These drawbacks are that a plurality of screws are employed to fasten a CD-ROM drive in the computer. For removing a malfunctioned CD-ROM drive, a user has to sequentially detach the computer case, unfasten the screws, disconnect all power and data cables from the CD-ROM drive, and finally detach the CD-ROM drive from the computer case.

One object of the present invention is to provide a CD-ROM drive capable of rapidly detaching and installing. The CD-ROM drive comprises a frame mounted in a case of a computer, the frame comprising a side opening, an interior cavity in communication with the side opening so that the CD-ROM drive can be mounted in the cavity through the side opening, and an elongated fastening assembly at a side of the cavity, the fastening assembly comprising an elongated sliding member capable of moving toward or away from the side opening, and an elongated fastening member capable of moving toward or away from the CD-ROM drive. After mounting the CD-ROM drive in the cavity, it is possible of manipulating the sliding member to move the fastening member for urging and further fastening the CD-ROM drive. Alternatively, a disengagement of the fastening member from the CD-ROM drive facilitates a user to detach the CD-ROM drive from the frame thereafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, there is shown a CD-ROM drive capable of rapidly detaching and installing in accordance with the invention. The invention comprises a case1of a computer, the case1comprising a front slot10; a frame2received in the slot10, the frame2comprising a side opening20, an interior cavity21in communication with the opening20so that a CD-ROM drive3can be mounted in the cavity21through the opening20, and an elongated fastening assembly22at a side of the cavity21, the fastening assembly22comprising an elongated sliding member220capable of moving toward or away from the opening20, and an elongated fastening member221capable of moving toward or away from the CD-ROM drive3. After mounting the CD-ROM drive3in the cavity21, it is possible of manipulating the sliding member220to move the fastening member221for urging and further fastening the CD-ROM drive3. Alternatively, a disengagement of the fastening member221from the CD-ROM drive3enables a user to easily detach the CD-ROM drive3from the frame2thereafter.

Referring toFIGS. 2,3and4, in the invention the fastening assembly22further comprises an engagement section222on a bottom, the engagement section222including a central vertical groove2220parallel to a side wall of the cavity21, an opening2221through the frame2and in the center of the vertical groove2220, and an upright latch arm2222at either side of the opening2221, the latch arms2222being parallel to the vertical groove2220; and a groove section223adjacent either side of the engagement section222, the groove section223including two parallel, transverse grooves2230at both sides of either groove section223, the transverse grooves2230being perpendicular to the vertical groove2220, and a substantially elliptical limiting slot2231in a center of either groove section223, the limiting slot2231being proximate and aligned with the vertical groove2220and the transverse groove2230being perpendicular to the vertical groove2220.

The sliding member220comprises a sliding piece2201on an underside, a finger tab2202on the sliding piece2201, and a short, cylindrical projection2203at either end distal from the sliding piece2201. The sliding piece2201is fitted in the vertical groove2220when the sliding member220is fastened in the engagement section222by the latch arms2222. Also, the finger tab2202is projected from the frame2by passing the opening2221. The projections2203are defined by the limiting slots2231. By configuring as above, a user can push the finger tab2202to move the sliding piece2201along the vertical groove2220. At the same time, the projections2203move along the limiting slots2231. As an end, the sliding member220moves either toward or away from the opening20.

The fastening member221comprises a trough2211, a guide2212proximate either end, a rail2213at either end, a slanted slot2214on either guide2212, an abutment surface2215projected from either guide2212, the abutment surfaces2215being parallel to the trough2211, and a peg2216protruded from either abutment surface2215. The slanted slots2214and the limiting slots2231are partially overlapped when the rails2213are fitted in the transverse grooves2230. This is because the orientation of either slanted slot2214is different from that of either limiting slot2231(i.e., the slanted slot2214is at an acute angle about the limiting slot2231).

Referring toFIGS. 2,3,5and6, as stated above, first mount the fastening member221prior to mounting the sliding member220. The projections2203pass the slanted slots2214prior to being defined in the limiting slots2231. After mounting the CD-ROM drive3in the cavity21, a user can push the finger tab2202to move the sliding member220along the vertical groove2220. At the same time, the projections2203move along the limiting slots2231. As an end, the fastening member221moves as the projections2203urge against the slanted slots2214since the orientation of either slanted slot2214is different from that of either limiting slot2231in response to the projections2203moving along the limiting slots2231. In brief, a movement of the sliding member220will cause the fastening member221to move accordingly. As a result, it is possible of moving the fastening member221for urging and further fastening the CD-ROM drive3. Alternatively, a disengagement of the fastening member221from the CD-ROM drive3enables a user to easily detach the CD-ROM drive3from the frame2thereafter.

As stated above, a movement of the sliding member220will cause the fastening member221to move accordingly. As an end, the abutment surfaces2215move either toward or away from the CD-ROM drive3. In this regard, at least one peg (one is shown)2216for positioning is provided on either abutment surface2215. Correspondingly, at least one hole (four are shown)30is formed on a side wall of the CD-ROM drive3. The pegs2216are adapted to insert into the holes30for fastening the CD-ROM drive3. Alternatively, a disengagement of the pegs2216from the holes30enables a user to easily detach the CD-ROM drive3from the frame2thereafter.

Referring toFIG. 1again, in the invention the frame2further comprises a latch25on a bottom. Also, the case1further comprises an interior slit11matingly coupled to the latch25for securing the frame2to the case1. Alternatively, a disengagement of the latch25from the slit11enables a user to easily detach the frame2from the case1thereafter.

Referring toFIG. 2again, in the invention the frame2further comprises at least one protuberance (two are shown)23on a side wall opposite the fastening assembly22. Also, the CD-ROM drive3further comprises at least one hole (two are shown)31on a side opposite the holes30. The protuberances23are adapted to insert into the holes31for fastening the CD-ROM drive3.

Referring toFIG. 2again, in the invention the frame2further comprises a plurality of parallel ribs24on the bottom for strengthening the frame2.

Referring toFIG. 3again, in the invention two ridges2223are formed in the vertical groove2220adjacent both ends of the opening2221. Also, two slots2204are formed on both ends of the sliding piece2201. The ridges2223are adapted to snugly receive in the slots2204. As such, the provision of the slots2204and the ridges2223can more precisely guide the sliding member220as it moves along the vertical groove2220.