Computer enclosure incorporating slidable drive bracket

A computer enclosure includes a cage (10), and a drive bracket (30). The cage has a pair of side panels (14a, 14b), and a front panel (16). Each of the side panel defines a first slideway (21) and a second slideway (25). The front panel defines a screw hole (28). The drive bracket includes a pair of side walls (36). Each side wall attachingly receives a first sliding member (50) and a locking member (70), and forms a second sliding member (40). A slot (26) is defined in each of the second slideway. The locking member includes a protrusion (78) defining a through hole (80). In assembly, the drive bracket is pushed into the cage, with the second and first sliding member sliding along the second and the first slideways. A thumbscrew (90) is extended the through hole and engages in the screw hole to secure the drive bracket in the cage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and particularly to a computer enclosure having a slidable drive bracket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various data storage devices are installed in computers for electronic communication and handling of data. Drive brackets are often used to support and secure such data storage devices inside the computers.

In a typical computer, drive brackets are fixed in an enclosure of the computer by screws or fasteners. Taiwan Patent Application No. 89216297 discloses a conventional computer enclosure comprising a cage and a bracket. The cage defines a plurality of fixing holes, and the bracket includes a base and two separable frames. The base defines a plurality of screw holes. Fixing edges depend from two sides respectively of the frames, and the fixing edges define a plurality of fixing openings. A plurality of setscrews is extended through the fixing openings of the fixing edges and engaged in the screw holes of the base, thereby fixing the two frames to the base. A plurality of setscrews is used to fix the bracket into the cage in similar fashion.

However, using screws to mount the frame onto the base is laborious and time-consuming. In addition, when a user wants to change or maintain a component in the computer, removal of the screws is inconvenient. Similarly, using screws to attach a bracket in a computer enclosure is laborious and time-consuming. Moreover, production and assembly of these modularized brackets is complicated and costly.

Thus, a computer enclosure incorporating slidable drive bracket which solves the above-mentioned problems is strongly desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer enclosure having a slidable drive bracket which allows quickly and readily attachment and removal of data storage devices therein.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a computer enclosure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cage and a bracket. The cage comprises a pair of side panels, and a front panel. Each of the side panel defines a first slideway and a second slideway. The front panel defines a screw hole. The drive bracket comprises a pair of side walls. Each side wall attachingly receives a first sliding member and a locking member, and forms a second sliding member. A slot is defined in each of the second slideway. The locking member includes a protrusion defining a through hole. In assembly, the drive bracket is pushed into the cage, with the second and first sliding member sliding along the second and the first slideways. A thumb screw is extended the through hole and engages in the screw hole to secure the drive bracket in the cage.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a computer enclosure of an electronic device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bracket30, and a cage10.

The cage10comprises a bottom panel12, a front panel16, and a pair of side panels14a,14b. A top extremity of the front panel16is lower than top extremities of the side panels14a,14b. An entrance18is thereby defined above the front panel16and between the side panels14a,14b, for receiving the drive bracket30therethrough. The side panels14a,14bhave similar and symmetrical configurations; therefore, only the side panel14ais described in detail thereafter. The side panel14acomprises a beam15extending perpendicularly inwardly from a top edge thereof, and a flange17depending from an innermost side edge of the beam15. A first slideway21is horizontally defined in a front portion of the flange17. A second slideway25is horizontally defined in a rear portion of the flange17adjacent to the first slideway21. A cutout26is defined in the beam15, at a front end of the second slideway25and in communication with the slideway25. A pair of parallel second flanges22extends perpendicularly from upper and lower extremities of the first slideway21toward the side panel14a. The first slideway20comprises a blocking portion23at a rear extremity thereof, and an entry24defined in a front portion thereof. A third flange29extends perpendicularly outwardly from a bottom edge of the second slideway25toward the side panel14a. A vertical flange27extends inwardly and perpendicularly from a front extremity of the side panels14a. A pair of screw hole28is defined in the vertical flange27and a left portion of the front panel16beside the entrance18respectively. A plurality of first rivet holes44is defined in a front portion of the side panel14below the fixing wall38.

The drive bracket30can be slidably received in the cage10along the first and second slideways21,25. The drive bracket30has a pair of side walls36, an upper wall34, a bottom wall32, and a separating wall37parallel to and disposed at approximately midway between the side walls36. The side walls36and separating wall37cooperatively define a pair of spaces therebetween, for holding data storage device therein. The side walls36protrude progressively outwardly from bottom to top, thereby forming a pair of fixing wall38. A fixing hole42is defined in a front portion of each fixing wall38. A hook43is outwardly formed from each fixing wall38behind the fixing hole42.

A pair of first sliding members50is attached on front portions of the fixing walls38respectively. Each first sliding member50is elongated. A recess54is defined at a rear end of the first sliding member50, corresponding to the hook43of the drive bracket30. A through hole52is defined in a middle portion of the first sliding member50, for extension of a setscrew60therethrough.

A pair of second sliding member40is outwardly formed from rear portions of the fixing wall38respectively. Each second sliding member40is directly punched from its corresponding fixing wall38, and is substantially a hollow cylinder.

A pair of locking member70is attached to the side panels14a,14bof the cage10respectively. Each locking member70comprises a first plate72, and a second plate74perpendicular to the first plate72. A plurality of second rivet holes76is defined in the first plate72, corresponding to the first rivet holes44of the side panels36of bracket30. A protrusion78is extruded outwardly from the second plate74. A screw hole80is defined in the protrusion78, for engaging with a thumbscrew90.

Referring also toFIGS. 2 and 3, in assembly, each first sliding member50is placed against its corresponding fixing wall38of the drive bracket30, so that the recess54of the first sliding member50receives the hook43of the corresponding fixing wall38. The setscrew60is then extended through the through hole52of the first sliding member50and engages in the fixing hole42of the corresponding fixing wall38. The first sliding member50are thus fixed to the drive bracket30. The locking members70are rivetedly attached to side panels14a,14bof the cage10respectively, with the first rivet holes76aligning with the second rivet holes44. The thumbscrews90are extended through the apertures80of the locking members70respectively. The second sliding members40of the drive bracket30are then inserted through corresponding cutouts26of the cage10. The drive bracket30is then pushed into the cage10, with the second sliding member40sliding along the second slideways25, and the first sliding members50sliding along the first slideways21via corresponding entries24. When the first sliding members50contact the blocking portions23of the first slideways21respectively, the thumbscrews90are screwed in the screw holes28of the cage10respectively. The drive bracket30is thereby secured in the cage10, and is prevented from being accidentally detached from the cage10.

In disassembly, the thumbscrews90are unscrewed to disengage from the screw holes28of the cage10. The bracket30is then easily slide out and removed from the cage10.

Referring also toFIG. 4, in an alternative embodiment, the locking member70can be omitted, and a locking tab74is stamped outwardly from each side wall36of the bracket30.