Mounting apparatus with rotating member for retaining and buffering data storage device

A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device includes a sliding member, a drive bracket, and a rotating member. The drive bracket includes a first side plate. A sliding groove is defined in the first side plate. The sliding member is received in the sliding groove. The rotating member is pivotally mounted to the first side plate. A curled piece and an arm are located on opposite ends of the rotating member. The arm defines a restricting room. The rotating member is adapted to rotate on the first side plate between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the curled piece abuts the first side plate and is elastically deformed by the first side plate, and the sliding member is disengaged from the restricting room. In the second position, the curled piece is released, and the restricting room receives and restricts the sliding member therein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses, more particularly to a mounting apparatus for mounting data storage devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Many data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, and optical drives are simply screwed to a drive bracket of a computer enclosure. However, this conventional method of mounting data storage devices is known as being painstaking and time-consuming.

Another mounting method is to use sliding members. Two sliding members are secured on two sides of a data storage device. A hole is defined in a front portion of each of the sliding members. A drive bracket defines a pair of guiding slots and two threaded holes in a front portion. The two sliding members slide into the guiding slots of the drive bracket, and two screws extend through the holes and screw in the threaded holes to secure the data storage device on the drive bracket. The data storage device is thus easily mounted. However, this method is still inconvenient, for screws are also needed to stably mount the data storage device.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device10includes a drive bracket20and a data storage device10.

The data storage device10includes opposite side walls11. Each side wall11defines a pair of sliding members13.

The drive bracket20includes a bottom plate21, a first side plate23, and a second side plate24. The first side plate23and the second side plate24are mounted on opposite edges of the bottom plate21. A flange236is connected to a top edge of a rear portion of the first side plate23. An “L”-shaped restraining piece238is connected to the first side plate23. The restraining piece238is located below the flange236. Each of the first side plate23and the second side plate24has a pair of “L”-shaped sliding grooves231. One sliding groove231of the first side plate23extends through the flange236. An opening237is defined in the flange236. The first side plate23further defines an engaging hole232, a pivot hole234, and a receiving slot235, located below the flange236. A bottom end of the receiving slot235has a cutout26which is wider than the receiving slot235(referring toFIG. 3).

Referring toFIG. 2, the rotating member40includes a clasp41. A top portion of the rotating member40is a pressing portion46, on which a plurality of ribs is formed. A left portion of the rotating member40is an arm, and a right portion of the rotating member is a curled piece49. A “U”-shaped restricting room43is defined in the arm45. The restricting room43comprises a receiving cutout431and a shielding panel433covering the receiving cutout431. The sliding member13can abut the shielding panel433when received in the restricting room43. The curled piece49is an elastic piece and can be elastically deformed. A resisting block47is connected to a distal end of the curled piece49. A side of the resisting block47is connected to a restricting piece48. A width of the resisting bock47is smaller than that of the receiving slot235, so the resisting block47can slide in the receiving slot235. A width of the resisting piece48is larger than that of the receiving slot235. The width of the resisting piece48is smaller than that of the cutout26, so the resisting piece48can be inserted in the cutout26. A pivot pin42is located on a middle portion of rotating member40. A tab421is connected to a free end of the pivot pin42.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, in assembly, the resisting block47and the restricting piece48are aligned with the cutout26. The pressing portion46is aligned with the opening237. The rotating member40is moved to insert the pressing portion46in the opening237. The resisting block47and the restricting piece48are inserted in the cutout26. The resisting block47slides in the receiving slot235. The restricting piece48abuts the inner surface of the first side plate23. The tab421is inserted through the pivot hole234. The pivot pin42is received in the pivot hole234. The tab421abuts the inner surface of the first side plate23. The arm45is placed between the restraining piece238and the first side plate23. The clasp41engages in the engaging holes232, and can move slightly in the engaging hole232. Therefore, the rotating member40is mounted on the first side plate23. In this position, the resisting block47resists against a top edge of the receiving slot235, and the restricting room43is in alignment with the sliding groove231.

In succession, the pressing portion46is pressed. The pivot pin42rotates in the pivot hole234. The top edge of the receiving slot235exerts force on the resisting block47to elastically deform the curled piece49. Simultaneously, the arm45slides downward and along the first side plate23. The restricting room43moves away from the sliding groove231. Then, the sliding member13of the data storage device10slides in the sliding groove231. Next, the pressing portion46is released. The curled piece49rebounds. The arm45slides upward and along the first side plate23. The restricting room43moves to receive and restrict the sliding member13. The sliding member13cannot move out of the sliding groove231. Therefore, the data storage device10is mounted in the drive bracket20.

For detaching the data storage device10from the drive bracket20, the pressing portion46is pressed to move the restricting room43away from the sliding member13. The sliding member13moves out of the sliding groove231to detach the data storage device10from the drive bracket20.