Electronic device with hard disk frame

A hard disk frame for holding a hard disk drive can include a supporting plate defining a first opening, a first group of positioning portions and a second group of positioning portions. Each of the first and second group of the positioning portions can define a second opening. The second openings can communicate with the first opening. The first group of the positioning portions can enable the hard disk drive to be mounted to the supporting plate at a first direction, and a second group of the positioning portions can enable the hard disk drive to be mounted to the supporting plate in a second orientation different from the first direction. As a result, the hard disk can be arranged in the hard disk frame at different orientations.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to an electronic device with a hard disk frame.

BACKGROUND

Hard disk drives are generally used to store data in a notebook or a computer. The notebook or the computer can include a hard disk frame to secure the hard disk drive. However, when the typical hard disk frame is fixed on the notebook or the computer, an orientation of the typical hard disk frame is unchangeable, therefore, the hard driver can only be located at one orientation and cannot be changed to other orientations when the hard driver is assembled to the hard disk frame. Furthermore, the size of the typical hard disk frame is also unchangeable, therefore, one typical hard disk frame cannot accommodate with different sizes of the hard disk drives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a first embodiment of an electronic device100. The electronic device100can include a hard disk drive10, a hard disk frame20supporting the hard disk drive10, and a connecting element30connected to the hard disk drive10and the hard disk frame20.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate that the hard disk drive10can be cubic. The hard disk drive10can include a smooth first surface11, and a second surface12opposite to the first surface11. Each corner of the second surface12can define a position hole13used for fixation to the hard disk frame20. In the illustrated embodiment, a size of the hard disk drive10can be 2.5 inches but not limited to 2.5 inches.

The hard disk frame20can include a supporting plate21which can be a rectangular board, a pair of sidewalls22extending from the supporting plate21and opposite to each other, a plurality of supporting legs23supporting the supporting plate21, and an accessory24connecting to the supporting plate21.

The supporting plate21can define a first opening210. That is, the supporting plate21can be a rectangular and hollow frame defining a rectangular space. The supporting plate21can include a pair of first side panels211opposite to each other and a pair of second side panels212vertical to the first side panels211. The first side panels211and the second side panels212can be located end-to-end to form the first opening210. The first side panels211and the second side panels212can be integrated. The length of the second side panels212can be greater than the first side panels211. A plurality of positioning portions25can be located on four corners of an inner edge of the supporting plate21. The positioning portions25can include a first group of positioning portions251and a second group of positioning portions252. Each of the first and the second groups of the positioning portions25can define a second opening253, the second opening253can communicate with the first opening210. The first group of the positioning portions251can correspond to the position holes13when the hard disk drive10is placed in a first direction A (SeeFIG. 1). The second group of the positioning portions252can correspond to the position holes13when the hard disk drive10is placed in a second direction B different from the first direction A (SeeFIG. 7). A first latching hole213can be defined on one of the first side panels211, and a second latching hole214can be defined on the other one of the first side panels211. The first latching hole213and the second latching hole214can be used to latch with the accessory24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the number of the sidewalls22can be two and the two sidewalls22can be opposite to each other. The sidewalls22can extend perpendicularly downward from outer edges of the first side panels211. The sidewalls22and the supporting plate21can be integrated. In other embodiments, the number of the sidewalls22can be four and the sidewalls22can extend perpendicularly downward from the outer edges of the first side panels211and the second side panels212.

In the illustrated embodiment, the number of the supporting legs23can be four. The supporting legs23can extend from outer edges of the supporting plate21and can be located at opposite side of each side wall22. A fixing hole233can be defined on the fixing portion232and can be used to fix the hard disk drive10and the hard disk frame20together and to a cover (not shown) of the electronic device100through a fastener (not shown), such as screws.

The hard disk frame20further can include a plurality of ribs26. In the illustrated embodiment, two ribs26can be located at each of the four corners of the hard disk frame20. In detail, the ribs26can respectively extend from the first side panel211to the supporting leg23increasing stability of the hard disk frame20.

The connecting element30can include a plurality of screws31, and a plurality of buffering elements32corresponding to the screws31. The first group of the positioning portions251can be engaged with the connecting element30to enable the supporting plate21to hold the hard disk drive10in a first direction A (seeFIG. 1). The second group of the positioning portions252can be engaged with the connecting element30enabling the supporting plate21to hold the hard disk drive10in a second direction B (seeFIG. 7) different from the first direction A.

FIGS. 3-4illustrate that the accessory24can include a main body241, a protruding portion242extending from one end of the main body241and a latching portion243extending from the other end of the main body241. The protruding portion242and the latching portion243can be arranged on opposite sides of the main body241. In detail, the main body241can be a rectangular piece. The length of the main body241can be smaller than the rectangular space of the supporting plate21. A radiating portion244can be concave from the center of the main body241. The radiating portion244can be used to contact heat generating elements (not shown) of the electronic device100for dissipating the heat generated by the heat generating elements. The protruding portion242can extend outward from one side of the main body241and an end of the protruding portion242can be bent downward. The latching portion243can extend outward from another side of the main body241and an end away from the main body241can form a hook245. The latching portion243and the hook245can be in “J” shape. In this embodiment, the accessory24can be made of aluminum. In other embodiments, the accessory24can be made of copper. In other embodiments, the accessory24can be omitted.

FIG. 5illustrates that the buffering element32can include two buffering pads321, and a pillar322connecting to the buffering pads321. A hole323can pass through the buffering pads321and the pillar322.

FIGS. 2-7illustrates that in assembly, first, the accessory24can be fixed to the hard disk frame20. In detail, an end of the protruding portion242can be passed through the first latching hole213and can be held by the first side panel211defining the latching hole213. The hook245can be inserted into the second latching hole214and can clasp the first side panel211defining the second latch hole214. As a result, a top surface of the accessory24can be coplanar with a top surface of the supporting plate21.

Second, the pillar322of the buffering element32can be inserted into the position hole13of the hard disk drive10. Third, the hard disk drive10can be fixed to the hard disk frame20. In detail, when the hard disk drive10is secured to the hard disk frame20along a first direction A (seeFIG. 1). The buffering element32can be latched with the first group of positioning portions251, then the screw31can be passed through the hole323in that order and can engage with the hard disk drive10, such that the hard disk drive10can be fixed to the hard disk frame20in the first direction A. When the hard disk drive10is secured to the hard disk frame20along a second direction B (seeFIG. 7). The buffering element32can be latched with the second group of the positioning portions252, then the screw31can be passed through the hole (not shown) in that order and can engage with the hard disk drive10a, such that the hard disk drive10acan be fixed to the hard disk frame20in the second direction B.

FIGS. 8-10illustrate a second embodiment of an electronic device100b. The structure of the electronic device100bis similar to the electronic device100, the difference is a size of a hard disk drive10bcan be 3.5 inches, structure of an accessory24b, structure of a buffering element32band a position hole (not shown) of the hard disk drive10bcan be located on a center of the bottom surface of the hard disk drive10b.

The accessory24bof the hard disk frame20bcan include a main body241b, a protruding portion242bcan extend outwardly from a first end B1 of the main body241b. A latching portion243bcan extend outwardly from a second end B2 of the main body241band two installing portions246bcan extend outwardly from a third end B3 and a fourth end B4 of the main body241b.

A plurality of convex closures247bcan extend upwardly from two ends of each installing portion246b. Each convex closures247bcan define a third group of positioning portions25band the positioning portions25bof the installing portions246bcan be opposite to each other.

A plurality of convex blocks3211bcan be defined on the two buffering pads321bof each buffering element32b. The convex blocks3211bcan be spaced from each other and can be arranged to increase stability of the hard disk drive10b.

In assembly, first, the accessory24bcan be fixed to the hard disk frame20. In detail, an end of the protruding portion242bcan be passed through the first latching hole213band can be held by the supporting plate21bdefining the latching hole213b. The latching portion243bcan be inserted into the second latching hole214band can clasp the supporting plate21bdefining the second latch hole214b. Second, the buffering element32bcan be inserted into the position hole of the hard disk drive10b. Third, the hard disk drive10bcan be fixed to the accessory24b. In detail, the buffering element32bcan be latched with the positioning portions25bof the accessory24b, then the screw31bcan be passed through the hole323bin that order and can engage with the hard disk drive10b, such that the hard disk drive10bcan be fixed to the accessory24b.

FIGS. 11-14illustrate a third embodiment of an electronic device100c. The structure of the electronic device100cis similar to the electronic device100, the difference of which is a structure of an accessory24cand an addition of a fan40. The accessory24ccan include an installing board2412c, a first board2411ccan extend downward from one end of the installing board2412c, a protruding portion242ccan extend from the first board2411c, a linking board2413ccan extend upward from the other end of the installing board2412c. A second board2414ccan extend from the linking board2413cand a latching portion243ccan extend from the second board2414c. The first board2411ccan be parallel to the second board2414cand the installing board2412ccan be arranged at an angle with the linking board2413c. A plurality of air intakes2415ccan be defined on the installing board2412cparallel to each other. A plurality of installing holes2416ccan be defined on the installing board2412c.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fan40can be a centrifugal fan. The fan40can be arranged on a lower surface of the installing board2412cand can be fixed to the installing hole2416cwith screws.

FIG. 14illustrates that cold air from outside can enter the fan40through the air intakes2415cand can radiate from a side, and dissipate the heat generated by the heat generating elements.

In other embodiments, the main body241ccan be a rectangular plate and the plurality of air intakes2415ccan be arranged on a lower surface of the rectangular plate. In other embodiments, the main body241ccan include an installing board2412cinclining downward from the main body241cand a linking board2413cinclining upward from the installing board2412c. That is, the main body241cdoes not include the first board2411cand the second board2414c.

Although various features and elements are described as embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in other various combinations within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.