Crib device for computer hard drive or the like

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an improved computer system, including a crib device and chassis (60) for installing and removing a hard drive (6) to and from the chassis (60) of the system. The drive (6) is securable to the crib device, which has a handle (40) that allows the drive (6) to be carried to and away from the chassis (60). The crib device and chassis have cams (54) and cam engaging surfaces (50) that cause the crib device an drive to move to effect engagement and disengagement of the electrical connectors of the computer system and drive.

Description: The present invention relates to an improved computer system, including an arrangement that allows the safe, quick and effortless installation, engagement, disengagement and removal of a subsystem, such as a hard drive, and a method of manufacturing the arrangement and the assembly of the system and the devices thereof. In most, if not all, computer systems, where space is always a high priority, the handling of the relatively heavy hard drive is a serious problem requiring great care to avoid damaging the drive, both in the initial installation thereof and in the later performance of maintenance. This is particularly true in the critical handling and positioning of the drive for electrical connection to the computer system. Because hard drives can not be subject to any great amount of stress or shock, it is highly desirable to find a way to safely handle the drives when installing them and in their removal from the computer systems. In the past, the heavy very expensive hard drives have been handled by hand and fastened to the computer chassis by hand tool tightened screws. Another important consideration in installing and removing the drive is to find a way that allows the use of a slotted or plug-in electrical connection system, wherein the drive can be connected to the system without the need of the use of hands or tools, or the extra step or steps represented thereby. Also, in past designs, the connection of the drive in a slotted or plug-in design required a considerable force to effect the electrical connection and disconnection, which in many cases because of the location of the drive in the computer system made it very difficult and time consuming to apply the necessary force required to effect the connection and disconnection. It is known in the prior art to employ a two-part mounting device to allow removable mounting of computer components. Such devices have been used to create portable hard drives for a computer system. See, for example, WO-A-9 302 488. Such devices are characterised by having a crib portion, in which the computer component is secured by conventional means such as screws, and a chassis portion, which is secured to the computer system. A mechanism is provided whereby the crib portion can be readily mounted on the chassis portion effecting a mechanical mounting and electrical connection of the computer component. When such a mounting device is used to create a configuration for use in creating portable components, the mounting mechanism must be accessible from the front, and capable of withstanding a large number of mounting operations. Speed of mounting and cost of fabrication are secondary concerns. Any device or system that answers these objectives should be low in cost and high in reliability, in addition to reducing the number of required parts and reducing the installation and removal time and cost. The present invention, in one aspect, meets each of the aforesaid requirements by providing an improved computer system, including a user friendly crib arrangement for installing a subsystem, such as a hard drive, of a computer system. The crib arrangement may allow the safe, quick and effortless installing and, if desired, removal of a subsystem to and from the system and one that allows the use of an electrical plug-in connector, where no tool force and very little hand force is required to effect the electrical connection and where the required force is applied in a very convenient manner. The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a system for mechanically mounting an insertable subsystem in a computer, as defined in claim 1. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a crib device for mechanically mounting an insertable subsystem in a computer, as defined in claim 26. Embodiments provide an improved computer system, including a crib device and a method of manufacture and assemblage designed to be received in a chassis of the computer, the chassis having elongated openings that receive holding and guiding elements provided on the crib device. The openings also provide a mechanical mechanism, such as for example cam engaging surfaces adapted to be contacted by cams of the crib device, through which action the crib device and a subsystem that has been secured thereto can be moved in reverse directions by an actuator that may take the form of a handle to which the cams are made a part, the leverage effect of the handle and cams providing the required force to engage and disengage the drive to and from a slotted connector with very little effort. The employment of a handle in this manner allows for the safe, quick and inexpensive handling of the hard drive to and from the chassis and the ability to connect and disconnect the electrical connection with a minimum of hand force and without any need to use tools. For a better understanding of the present invention, an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view, with the top part removed, of an improved computer system incorporating a crib device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a crib device illustrating the base portion thereof without its handle, Figure 3 is an elevational view of the base portion shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a section view taken on line 4 - 4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a plan view of a handle used but shown apart from the base portion of the crib device shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 6 is an elevational view of the handle shown in Figure 5, Figure 7 is an elevational view, simplified in certain respects, of a chassis of a computer system illustrating a crib device and hard drive supportable by the handle above the chassis in position to be lowered into the chassis, and Figures 8, A, B, C and D, are four schematic elevational views illustrating four related, but different, positions assumed by the crib device relative to the chassis of a computer system, in installing the crib device with a hard drive in the chassis and moving the drive into a slotted electrically connecting position. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated in outline form an improved computer system according to the present invention, including along with other customary components and circuits, a computer box 1, a motherboard 2, a power supply unit 3, a CPU unit 4, two memory units 5, hard drive 6 having a printed circuit board 6A, a floppy disk drive 7 and input and output facilities 8 and 9, all these units being well known in the art. The system includes a crib device 10 illustrated best in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The crib device 10 consist of a generally rectangularly shaped box 12 having, as one views Figures 2 and 3, an open top 14 and two opposed open ends 16 and 18. On the two longitudinal sides of the box 12 there are provided identical upright members or walls 20 that extend the full length of the box. The substantial opening 22 formed in the bottom 24 of the box is provided to reduce its weight and allow air flow cooling access for the bottom of the hard drive, the air flow being indicated by the legend A in Figure 2. As noted above, the bottom of the hard drive has a customary printed circuit board 6A with its usual electrical components. On the outside of each upright member 20 there are formed two spaced apart support and retention members 26 shaped, as best shown in Figure 3, as segments of cylinders with the segments being arranged at the top and bottom and separated by spaces at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. The members 26 are located near the ends 16 and 18 of the box 12. The members 26 at the end 16 of the box 12 is provided with brackets 28 that are mounted on the outer ends of the associated two members 26 to form spaces 29 between the adjacent portions of the upright members 20. As noted in Figures 2 and 3, the brackets extend parallel to the upright members 20 on either side of the support members 26. Midway between the ends 16 and 18 on the outside of the walls 20 there are formed two in line spaced apart trunnion members 30 having cylindrical portions that project outwardly from the associated walls. The outer ends of the trunnion members 30 are provided with two diametrically oppositely arranged narrow projections 32. At the end 18 of the box 12 formed in the bottom 24 is a latch opening 34. The two walls 20 of the box 12 are provided with deflectable fingers 36, best shown in Figures 3 and 4. To form these fingers the walls 20 are provided with upright rectangular openings 38 with portions of the walls unremoved extending from the lower ends of the openings and terminating short of the upper ends of the openings, thus forming the upwardly extending fingers 36. As best shown in Figure 4, portions of the outer surfaces of-the fingers 36 project beyond the adjacent surfaces of the walls 20 of the box 12, allowing the fingers 36 to be deflected inwardly when contacted by outside surfaces. In referring to Figure 3, on the outside surface of the bottom 24 below the walls 20 and at the very end on the left, as one views this figure, and inward from the opposite end, there are provided four feet 39, two being shown in Figure 3. These feet provide frictional reducing sliding surfaces, as will be noted below, and aid in air flow for cooling the hard drive by providing a space between the floor 65 of the chassis or a crib device arranged below. It will be obvious to a skilled person in the art that the box 12 may take other forms, for example, a simpler form than described above, such as consisting of a single base member. With reference now to the handle that is attached to the box 12, reference is made to Figures 5 and 6. The handle 40 consist of two identical arms 42 which are connected at their one ends by a cross member 44, which cross member at its upper surface is provided with a latch 46 in the form of an inverted U shaped member having an outer free collapsible end 48. Also at the latch end of the arms 42, the arms have circular recesses 49 facing the bottom of the arms designed to pass over adjacent support members 26 of the box 12. At the inner ends of each arm, the arms are provided with bosses 50 having openings that slide over the trunnion members 30 of the box 12, the bosses each having diametrically opposite slots 52 that slide over the projections 32 of the box 12. By this construction, the handle 40 is pivotally connected to the box and allowed to rotate from an upright carrying position, to a horizontal latching position and to two positions on either side of the carrying position, which are designated the forward and rearward crib device moving positions. The distance of the separation of the arms 42 and the axial dimension of the bosses 50 are such that the inside of the arms are separated from the walls 20 of the box 12 sufficient to allow cam elements 54 to be arranged inside the arms 42 and the vertical outside surfaces of the walls 20. In this construction, while the handle 40 is free to rotate there will exist no play or transverse movement of the handle relative to the box 12 due to the restraining action of the fingers 36. The two cam elements 54 are identically formed in the general shape of a triangle, in which when the handle 40 is in its vertical most position, i.e. its carrying position, the cam elements 54 present two upper rounded cam surfaces 56 separated by one of the sides of the triangle, these surfaces being better shown in Figures 7 and 8. The cam surfaces 56 form first parts of two cam mechanisms. It will be appreciated that while two cam elements are employed in the preferred embodiment, if desired, a single cam element 54 may be employed. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that other forms of an actuator can be used instead of the handle design illustrated, for example, a single lever arranged in several different ways can be used. As will be more apparent later, the leverage effect of the throw of the cam elements 54 and the length of the arms 42 are designed to allow the effortless movement of the crib device 10 when engaging and disengaging the hard drive, two such drives being shown only in Figures 7 and 8D at 6 and 6A. The box 12 is dimensioned to permit the placement of a subsystem, such as a standard hard drive, into the box 12 where it may be secured to the box by either screwless fastening facilities or by screws. In the design being illustrated, a hard drive lying flat against the bottom 24 of the box 12 is secured to the crib device 10 by four screws 58 passed through openings provided in the support and retention members 26 and into cooperative threaded holes, not shown, in the hard drive, two of the screws being shown only in Figure 7. With other hard drives the screw connection may be made from the bottom of the drive or the drive may be secured to the crib device in some other manner. The crib device being illustrated is designed for a hard drive measuring approximately 146mm x 95mm x 25mm (5 3/4" x 3 3/4" x 1"), which as noted above may be considered one of several standard sizes of drives in use today in desk top computer systems. While the invention for illustration purposes is used with a hard drive, it will be appreciated that the crib device may be employed to handle other subsystems of the computer system, such as a floppy disk drive. The crib device 10 described above is designed to be made out of a polymer material, although it can be made of metal, such as an aluminum alloy. The choice of the material will depend on cost, environment, ergonomic and performance considerations. In referring now to the chassis 60 designed to cooperate with the crib device 10, reference is made to Figures 7 and 8. Particularly in Figure 7, there is illustrated a chassis 60, which while only one side and a portion of its back wall are shown, it will be understood that the chassis takes the form of a box like structure that makes up a small part of the composite computer box or chassis. The chassis 60 has an open top 62, a bottom 64, which is joined and supports two upright walls 66A, one of which is only shown but the other indicated as 66B in the figures. The bottom 64 includes a flat sheet metal floor 65, which is provided with an opening, indicated by surfaces 67 shown in Figure 7, located below the opening 22 of the crib device 10 and sized to allow air flow cooling of the hard drive, the air flow being indicated by the legend A in Figure 6. One end of the chassis has a back wall 68 on which a slotted or plug-in electrical connector 69 is mounted and over and into which the matching connector 71 of the hard drive 6 is forced into. These connectors are of the type well known in the computer industry. In Figure 7, two electrical connectors 69 are shown. The opposite end 72 of the chassis is open. As best shown in Figure 8A, each side of the walls 66, A and B which are identically constructed, have three vertically arranged openings, 74, 76, and 78, reading left to right, the openings 74 and 78 each have a set of two vertically spaced recesses 80, the lower and upper recesses of one set being in horizontal alignment and sized to loosely receive the support and retention members 26. This alignment assures that the electrical connector of the hard drive will be on the proper plane for registry with the electrical connector of the computer system. The openings 78 in both walls 66A and B are actually formed by the open end of the chassis 60. The openings 76 in the walls 66A and B have straight vertical cam contacting cooperating sides or surfaces 82 and 84 that form second parts of the two cam mechanisms. While in the preferred form, the cams are formed on the cam elements 54, they may be formed on the chassis 60, in which case they would engage straight surfaces formed on the handle 40. The openings 74 and 78 have bottom supporting edges 86, (see Figures 7 and 8A) and are contacted in a supporting relationship with the retention members 26, while the bottoms of the openings 76 are held out of contact with the bottoms of the trunnions 30 of the box 12 due to their smaller outside diameters relative to the trunnions 30. As is customary, the chassis is formed out of relatively heavy gauge steel sheet metal. As shown in Figure 3, the front wall 20 of the box 12 of the crib device 10 is provided with three holes 81 arranged on a common arc. The back wall 20 is provided with only two similar holes corresponding to the two upper most holes 81. As shown in Figure 6, on the inside vertical surface of both of the cam elements 54 there are provided projecting buttons 83 arranged to pass through the aforesaid arc. The lower most single hole 81 when entered into by the button 83 is used to register the projections 32 of the trunnions 30 with the openings 52 of the arms 42, to aid in the assembly of the handle 40 on the trunnions 30 of the box 12. The holes 81 at the 11 o'clock position, as one views Figure 3, are provided to hold the handle 40 in its carrying and inserting and removing positions, when they receive the buttons 83 to assist in the quick and easy installing and removing of the crib device and hard drive. The remaining holes 81 are provided to relieve any stress on the handle 40 that may occur when the handle is latched due to the stress placed on the handle by the latching action. In briefly describing the operation of the improved computer system, including the crib device 10 and chassis 60 and their assemblage, with the top, not shown, of the computer system removed allowing immediate access to the hard drive chassis 60, a crib device 10 is inserted into the openings 76 of the chassis. Before this is done, a hard drive 6 will have been secured to the crib device 10 by screws 58. The thickness of the bottom 24 of the crib device and the height of the opening 67 of the chassis are such that the outer surfaces of the lowest most components of the printed circuit board of the hard drive are prevented from contacting the floor 65 of the chassis. During this phase, the handle 40 is used to carry the drive with the handle in its vertical position, as shown in Figures 7 and 8A. In this position, the two cam elements 54 assume the laid back positions so that they can pass unrestrictedly into the openings 76 of the walls 66A and B of the chassis 60. When lowering the crib device, the support and retention members 26 will be received by the openings 74 and 78 and come to rest on the surfaces 86 of the chassis directly in front of and in proper registry with the two sets of lower recesses 80 thereof associated with the openings 74 and 78. The crib device 10 will be guided and held in the proper position during its downward movement by the fact that the brackets 28 arranged at the front of the crib device will slide over the overlapped portions of the walls 66A and B, of the chassis 60, in which the walls 20 of the crib device will be held between the brackets 28 and the walls 66A and B. As noted above, the brackets 28 not only control the downward movement of the crib device but also its longitudinal movement. In this regard, it will be observed that in all three positions represented by Figures 8B, C and D the brackets 28 are always in an overlapping condition relative to the walls 66A and B of the chassis 60. During the downward movement of the crib device 10, the four fingers 36 will engage and be deflected inwardly as they contact the inside surfaces of the chassis walls 66A and B, thus preventing transverse movement of the crib device and the secured hard drive. After this very simple and quick operation, the handle 40 can be rotated from its carrying vertical position clockwise, as one views Figures 7 and 8B and 8C, to the position it is shown to assume in Figures 8C and D. This action will cause the forward most cam surfaces 56 of the cam elements 54 to contact the wall surfaces 84 of the walls 66A and B forcing the crib device and hard drive to the left on one views Figures 7 and 8. This movement will require very little force which may be applied by a single finger. The controlled restraining of the crib device by virtue of the edges 86, the recesses 80, the brackets 28 and fingers 36 will assure unhesitated entrance of the connector 71 of the hard drive with the connector 69 of the computer system. In the connected position, the latch 48 of the handle 40 will pass into the latch opening 34 of the box 12, latching the crib device and the hard drive in the chassis 60, and firmly holding these interconnected units against any movement relative to the chassis, due to the locking of the cam elements 54 against the surfaces 84 of the chassis and the restraining action of the fingers 36. Also in this position, the circular recesses 49 of the arms 42 will pass over the adjacent support members 26. In removing the hard drive and crib device, the above procedure is reversed. In this case, the frontward most cam surfaces 56 will engage the vertical surfaces 82 of the openings 76 as the handle is rotated counterclockwise, by the same small force required to engage the connectors, as shown in Figure 8C, for example. This will create the necessary force to disengage the connectors 69 and 71 and retract the crib device 10 and hard drive 70 to the position shown in Figure 8B, where the handle can be used to quickly and easily lift the drive out of the chassis 60. While the above description contemplates employment of the crib device 10 to both install and remove a drive, the crib device may in certain applications be employed only to effect the installation of the drive. In the applications where it is desirable to employ two or more hard drives in the computer system, the design illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 will accommodate this interest. In these figures the heights of the walls 66A and B of the chassis 60, and openings 74, 76 and 78, as well as providing second sets of recesses 80 and extended cam surfaces 82 and 84 allow a second hard drive 6A to be stacked and supported above a first drive 6. In this construction, the four feet 39 of the second crib device 10A will come to rest on the upper edges of the walls 20 of the lower crib device 10 and act as sliding surfaces for the upper crib device 10A and its drive 6A, and also provide the air flow cooling advantage, noted above, by virtue of the separation between the two crib devices. The upper surfaces or edges of the walls 20 of the lower crib device 10 provide straight continuous supporting and guiding surfaces for the feet 39 of the upper crib device 10A. The walls 20 and hence the feet 39 being located inside the walls 66A and B of the chassis 60 allow the feet of the upper crib device 10A to ride over the walls 20 of the lower crib device 10. In accordance with the requirement of the EPC, we have explained our invention in terms of its preferred embodiment, however, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that it may be practiced otherwise than illustrated and described.

Claims: A mechanism for mounting of a subsystem (6) in a chassis (60) of a computer box (1), the subsystem (6) having a footprint and a vertical profile, the mechanism comprising a crib device (10) having a rear end (16), a front end (18), and a fastening facility (26, 58), the fastening facility (26, 58) for allowing the subsystem (6) to be secured to the crib device (10) to prevent relative movement there between, wherein: a handle in the form of a lever (40) is rotatably connected to the crib device (10) between the rear end (16) and front end (18) of the crib device (10) in a manner to allow the lever (40) to move from a carrying position that is perpendicular to the footprint of the subsystem (6) to a second position located within the vertical profile of the subsystem (6) to thereby create movement of the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6); and the lever (40) has a cam mechanism (54) for positioning the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6) during installation in the chassis (60). A mechanism according to claim 1, the lever (40) disposed laterally across the crib device (10) for carrying the subsystem (6) in a horizontal position, wherein the lever (40) rotatably connected to the crib device (10) in a manner to allow the lever (40) to move from the carrying position to two other positions. A mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, the lever (40) having a first cam mechanism (54) and a second cam mechanism (54) operating in cooperation with the first cam mechanism (54) for evenly positioning the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6) during installation in the chassis (60), wherein the crib device (10) includes a bottom portion (24) having at least two upright walls (20) arranged opposed to each other for retaining corresponding sides of the subsystem (6). A mechanism according, to claim 3, the lever (40) including a latch (48) and configured to be integrated into a contour of the crib device, the bottom portion (24) having an opening (34) for receiving the latch (48) for effecting a latching of the lever (40), and at least two upright walls (20) including supporting and holding members (26) mounted thereon. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the first cam mechanism (54) and the second cam mechanism (54) are arranged opposed to one another and comprising at least two of the supporting and holding members (26) arranged opposed to each other at an end of the bottom portion (24) opposite the latch opening (34), and brackets (28) carried by the upright walls (20) arranged adjacent to the two of the supporting and holding members (26) for guiding and restraining movement of the crib device (10). A mechanism according to claim 5, the lever (40) further rotatably connected to the crib device (10) in a manner to allow the lever (40) to move from a carrying position located without the vertical profile of the subsystem (6), wherein two additional the supporting and holding members (26) are arranged opposed to each other at an end of the bottom portion having the latch opening (34). A mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 6, the first and second cam mechanisms (54) for evenly positioning the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6) during installation in the chassis (60), the upright walls (20) having outer exposed surfaces, and the upright walls (20) having compressible fingers (36) having surfaces that project outwardly from the outer surfaces of the upright walls (20). A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the lever (40) is in the second position located within the vertical profile of the subsystem (6), the mechanism permits a second mechanism to be stacked thereon. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fastening facility (12) and the lever (40) are made out of an aluminum alloy and wherein the fastening facility (12) and the lever (40) are made out of a polymer. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lever (40) comprises a rotatable cam element (54) having two distinct cam surfaces (56) constructed and arranged to contact the chassis. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the chassis (60) having a connecting portion to allow the crib device (10) and the secured subsystem (6) to be connected to the chassis (60), the chassis (60) having a cooperative part (76) of the cam mechanism which when operative with the cam mechanism effects the movement of the crib device (10) . A mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the connecting portion of the chassis (60) has walls (66A and 66B) arranged to correspond generally to the walls (20) of the crib device (10) and separated therefrom to allow the crib device (10) and the secured subsystem (6) to be received between the chassis walls (66A and 66B). A mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the cam mechanism (54) includes two cam surfaces (56), the chassis walls (66A and 66B) having openings for receiving the lever (40), at least one of the chassis (60) openings forming the cooperative part (76) of the cam mechanism arranged to be engaged by the two cam surfaces (56), and wherein the one chassis opening (76) has a width and the two cam surfaces (56) are spaced relative to each other, such that on movement of the lever (40) in one direction, one of the cam surfaces is caused to engage one side (82) of the one chassis opening (76), and on movement of the lever (40) in a second direction, the other cam surface (56) is caused to engage a second side of the one chassis (84) opening. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the insertable subsystem (6) comprises a hard drive (6) having, at one of its ends an electrical connector (71), adapted to be connected with a cooperative electrical connector (69) of the computer, and wherein the leverage effect of the two cam surfaces (56) and lever (40) is such that the electrical connector (71) of the hard drive (6) is quickly and easily connectable and disconnectable to and from the computer, respectively, and in the disconnectable position the crib device (10) and hard drive (6) can be lifted out of the chassis (60) by the lever (40). A mechanism according to claim 14, the crib device (10) having supporting and holding members (26) mounted on the upright walls (20), the chassis (60) having corresponding recesses (80) for receiving a different one of the supporting and holding members (26) of the crib device (10), the recesses (80) including surfaces for registering the connector (71) of the hard drive (6) with the connector (69) of the computer, and the relationship between the chassis walls (66A and 66B) and the crib device walls (20) being such so as to limit transverse movement of the crib device (10) relative to the chassis (60). A mechanism according to claim 15, at least two of the supporting and holding members (26) arranged opposed to each other, the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) having outer exposed surfaces, and brackets (28) carried by the upright walls (20) of the crib device (10) arranged adjacent to the two of the supporting and holding members (26) and being closely positionable relative to the outer surfaces of the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) for guiding and restraining movement of the crib device (10) and hard drive (6). A mechanism according to claim 16, the upright walls (20) of the crib device (10) have outer exposed surfaces and the walls (66A and 6613) of the chassis (60) have inner exposed surfaces, and the upright walls (20) having compressible fingers (36) having surfaces that project outward from the outer exposed surfaces of the upright walls (20) adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60). A mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the fingers (36) comprise opposed spaced apart pairs of deflectable members (36) having free ends and portions that are deflectable by the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) when the crib device (10) is received by the chassis (60). A mechanism according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) are provided with sets of recesses (80) arranged one above the other in one chassis opening, wherein the one chassis opening has cam engaging surfaces for each set of recesses (80) arranged to permit a plurality of crib devices (10) and associated hard drives (6) to be stacked one above the other in the chassis (60), and the crib devices (10) having straight continuous support surfaces for supporting a crib device (10) placed above it. A mechanism according to claim 19, wherein the openings of the chassis (60) comprise elongated openings (74 and 78), wherein the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) are provided with two opposed the elongated openings (74 and 78), the elongated openings (74 and 78) having pairs of opposed recesses (80) facing into the elongated openings (74 and 78), the elongated openings (74 and 78) having width sufficient to permit an opposed pair of the supporting and holding members (26) to be inserted into the elongated opening and a different one of the supporting and holding members (26) of the pair to be received into a different one of the recesses (80), the crib device (10) and the chassis (60) having lengths such that at one end of the crib device (10) extends beyond the corresponding end of the chassis (60), and the chassis (60) has an exposed end (78) at the one end, the supporting and holding members (26) comprising a second pair of supporting and holding members (26), and the exposed end (78) of the chassis (60) having a pair of the recesses (80) arranged to receive second pair of supporting and holding members (26). A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the crib device (10) has feet members (39) on its outside bottom portion (24) constructed and arranged to permit the crib device (10) to slide on contactable surfaces and allow cooling of the inserting subsystem (6). A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising a bottom portion (24) of the crib device (10) having a bottom portion opening, (22), the chassis (60) comprises a floor member (65) including a chassis floor opening (67), wherein the bottom portion opening (22) and the chassis floor opening (67) are constructed to permit cooling of the insertable subsystem (6). A mechanism according to claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein cam surfaces are each formed on rotatable members (42), the rotatable members (42) mounted on the outside of a different one of the upright walls (20) of the crib device (10) and adjacent to the walls (20) of the crib device (10), the rotatable members (42) having projections arranged to face the adjacent walls (20), and the adjacent walls (20) of the crib device (10) having openings arranged to receive a projection of an associated the rotatable member (42). A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the computer includes a motherboard, CPU unit, one or more memory units, power supply unit and input and output units and the inserting subsystem (6) comprises a hard drive (6). A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the crib device (10) is configured to be installed in the chassis by vertical movement. A method of producing a mechanism for mounting an insertable subsystem (6) in a chassis (60) of computer box (1), the subsystem (6) having a footprint and a vertical profile, the method comprising forming a crib device (10), forming a fastening facility (26, 58) on the crib device (10), securing the subsystem (6) to the crib device (10) through fastening facility (26, 58) to prevent relative movement between the subsystem (6) and the crib device (10), forming a handle in the form of a lever (40), wherein the method further comprises : connecting the lever (40) to the crib device (10) between the rear end (16) and front end (18) of the crib device (10) in a manner to allow the lever (40) to move from a carrying position that is perpendicular to the footprint of the subsystem (6) to a second position located within the vertical profile of the subsystem (6) to thereby create movement of the crib device (10) and subsystem (6); and forming on the lever (40) a cam mechanism (54) for positioning the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6) during installation in the chassis (60). A method of producing a mechanism according to claim 26 wherein the step of forming the crib device (10) further comprises: forming a generally rectangular shaped box having at least one open end (16 or 18) and an open top (14), the box having opposed upright sides (20) sized and dimensioned to receive the subsystem (6) through at least one of the open top (14) and the open end (16 or 18), forming on the upright sides (20) holding members (26) that serve to support and control movement of the crib device (10) when in its operative position, forming the box (12) on the crib device (10) further comprises: forming a fastening facility (26, 58) on the box (12) to allow the subsystem (6) to be secured to the box 12, wherein the step of forming the lever (40) further comprises: forming the lever (40) with at least one arm (42) configured to be integrated into a contour of the crib device (10) and, wherein the step of connecting a lever (40) to the crib device (10) further comprises: forming the lever (40) having a boss (50) that allows the lever (40) to be rotatably connected to the crib device (10), and wherein the step of forming the cam mechanism (54) further comprises: forming, at the lower end of the arm (42) a cam member (54) having two distinct cam surfaces (56) capable of moving the crib device (10) in a longitudinal direction that is opposite of the direction of movement of the lever (40). A method of producing a mechanism according to claim 26 or 27 wherein the subsystem (6) having an electrical connector (71), further comprising the steps of: forming the chassis (60) to have a connecting portion to allow the crib device (10) and the subsystem (6) to be connected to the chassis (60), positioning the crib device (10) with the secured subsystem (6) on the connecting portion of the chassis (60), causing movement of the lever (40) to effect movement of the cam surfaces and the subsystem (6) to force the electrical connector (71) of the subsystem (6) into a mechanically mounted and electrically connected position with the computer box (1). A method of producing a mechanism according to claims 26, 27, or 28 wherein: the chassis (60) further comprises a supporting side and two opposed extending walls (66A and 66B), the walls (66A and 66B) having two spaced apart elongated openings (74 and 76) and a pair of opposed recesses (80) in the elongated openings (74), the crib device (10) further comprises a supportable side and two opposed extending walls (20) sized and dimensioned to fit into the chassis (60), wherein the supporting side of the chassis (60) supports the supportable side of the crib device (10), and wherein the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) assume an adjacent relationship with the walls (20) of the crib device (10), the crib device (10) further comprises supporting and holding members (26) arranged so that different ones are receivable in the recesses (80) of the chassis (60), the lever (40) is dimensioned to be received in one of the elongated openings (76), securing the subsystem (6) to the crib device (10) further comprises inserting the lever (40) into the elongated openings (76), and a pair of supporting and holding members (26) into a different one of the elongated openings (74), positioning the crib device (10) further comprises positioning the crib device (10) so that the walls (20) of the crib device (10) fit within the walls (66A and 66B) of the chassis (60) and the supportable side of the crib device (10) is supported by the supporting side of the chassis (60), and causing movement of the lever (40) further comprises causing rotational movement of the lever (40) to effect a movement of the subsystem (6) and by the same movement causing the supporting and holding, members (26) to be moved into the pair of recesses (80) in the openings. A method of producing a mechanism according to claim 29 wherein the walls (66A and 66B) further comprise a second pair of opposed recesses (80) in a first end (78) of the chassis (60) opposite the end having the connector (69) of the subsystem (6), the step of causing rotational movement of the lever (40) further comprises causing the supporting and holding members (26) to be moved into the two pairs of recesses (80) the openings (74) and in the first end (78) of the chassis (60). A method of producing a mechanism according to any one of claims 26 to 30, including the additional step of forming the crib device (10) out of a polymer or an aluminum alloy. A method of producing a mechanism according to any one of claims 26 to 31, including the additional step of employing as the subsystem (6) a hard drive (6) or a floppy disk drive (6). A method of producing a mechanism according to any one of claims 26 to 32, including the additional step of including in the computer a motherboard (2), CPU unit (4), one or more memory units (5), power supply unit (3) and input and output units (8 and 9). A method of producing a mechanism according to any one of claims 26 to 33, the additional step of forming on the lever (40) a cross member (44) usable as a carrying handle. A method of producing a mechanism according to claim 25, further comprising: forming the crib device (10) to be installed in the chassis by vertical movement.

Inventors: ANTONUCCIO ROBERT S, CARNEY JAMES M, HOORNAERT DANIEL F, SIAHPOLO HASSAN, SPANO JOSEPH M, ANTONUCCIO, ROBERT S., CARNEY, JAMES M., HOORNAERT,DANIEL F., SIAHPOLO, HASSAN, SPANO, JOSEPH M.
Applicants: SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC, SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G11B33
IPC codes: G06F1, G11B33