Abstract:
A locking apparatus uses a handle pivotally connected to a base to control the movement of a slide block slidablely accommodated in a base. The slide block includes a locking tongue. The locking tongue protrudes out of the base or retracts back into the base according to the movement of the slide block. Thus, the locking apparatus can lock the hard disk when the locking tongue protrudes out of the base and unlock the hard disk when the locking tongue retracts back into the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to locking apparatuses and, particularly, to a locking apparatus which can be operated to lock a removable hard disk in place. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, a hard disk is fastened in an electronic equipment using a number of fasteners. However, when replacing or repairing the hard disk, the fasteners need to be removed, which is inconvenient and time-consuming. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a locking apparatus for locking a hard disk to an electronic device, which can overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a locking apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the locking apparatus of  FIG. 1 , viewed at a different angle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the locking apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of the locking apparatus of  FIG. 1 , similar to  FIG. 3 , when a handle is pulled away. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is cross-section, isometric view taken along line V-V of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is cross-section, isometric view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a locking apparatus  1 , according to an exemplary embodiment, is illustrated. The locking apparatus  1  includes a handle  10 , a base  12 , a slide block  14 , a pair of bolts  18 , and a pair of resilient elements  16 . 
         [0013]    The handle  12  is generally rectangular and includes a main body  100 , a pair of substantially parallel first sidewalls  102 , a pair of first connecting protrusions  104 , and a pair of pressing protrusions  106 . The main body  100  is a substantially rectangular plate and includes a first outer surface  100   a , and a first inner surface  100   b  opposite to the first outer surface  100   a . Each of the first sidewalls  102  is perpendicularly connected to two opposite sides of the first inner surface  100   b.  Each of the first connecting protrusions  104  is semi-circular and perpendicularly extends outwards from the first inner surface  100   b  at one distal end of each first sidewall  102 . Each first connecting protrusion  104  defines a first connecting through hole  104   a  generally at the center thereof. Each of the pressing protrusions  106  is generally triangular and extends outwards from the first inner surface  100   b  between the first connecting protrusions  106 . Each pressing protrusion  106  includes a first sloping surface  106   a  extending obliquely from the first inner surface  100   b  at a first predetermined angle. 
         [0014]    The base  12  is a substantially rectangular case and includes a front cover  120 , a pair of substantially parallel second sidewalls  122 , and a top cover  124 . The top cover  124  is a substantially rectangular plate. Each of the second sidewalls  122  is perpendicularly connected to two opposite sides of the top cover  124 . Two opposite ends of each second sidewall  122  and two opposite ends of the top cover  124  are coplanar. The front cover  120  is perpendicularly connected to the coplanar ends of the second sidewalls  122  and the top cover  124 . The front cover  120 , the top cover  124 , and the second sidewalls  122  cooperatively define a receiving space  126  to accommodate the slide block  14 . 
         [0015]    The front cover  120  defines a pressing through hole  120   a  near the top cover  124 . Each of the second sidewalls  122  includes a second inner surface  122   a , a second outer surface  122   b  opposite to the second inner surface  122   a , a pair of second connecting protrusions  123 , a number of first positioning protrusions  127 , and a number of second positioning protrusions  128 . Each second connecting protrusion  123  extends outwards from the end of a corresponding second sidewall  122  adjacent to the front cover  120  via the pressing through hole  120   a . The second connecting protrusions  123  extend towards along a direction perpendicular to the front cover  120 . The distance between the second connecting protrusions  123  is slightly shorter than the distance between the first connecting protrusions  104 . Each of the second connecting protrusion  123  defines a second connecting through hole  123   a  generally at the center thereof. The second outer surface  122   b  of each second sidewall  122  defines a connecting cutout  125  corresponding to each second connecting protrusion  123 . 
         [0016]    The first positioning protrusions  127  extend perpendicularly upwards from each second inner surface  122   a  generally at a position corresponding to the pressing through hole  120   a . The first positioning protrusions  127  are elongate plates that are substantially parallel with each other and the top cover  124 . Each of the first positioning protrusions  127  includes a distal end  127   a  away from the front cover  120 . The distal ends  127   a  of the first positioning protrusions  127  are coplanar. The second positioning protrusions  128  extend perpendicularly upwards from the second inner surface  122   a  at the end of second sidewall  122  away from the front cover  120 . The second positioning protrusions  128  are elongate plates that are substantially parallel with each other and the top cover  124 . In this embodiment, three first positioning protrusions  127  and two second positioning protrusions  128  are employed. Each second positioning protrusion  128  is positioned between two adjacent first positioning protrusions  128 . Each second positioning protrusion  128  and the corresponding two first positioning protrusions  127  cooperatively define a guiding gap  129  between the aligned distal ends  127   a  of the first positioning protrusions  127  and the second positioning protrusions  128 . 
         [0017]    The top cover  124  includes a third inner surface  124   c  and a pair of first hooks  124   b . The top cover  124  defines a tongue through hole  124   a  generally at the center of the third inner surface  124   c . The first hooks  124   b  perpendicularly extend downwards from the third inner surface  124   c  correspondingly at two opposite sides of the tongue through hole  124   a.    
         [0018]    The slide block  14  includes a pair of substantially parallel third sidewalls  140 , an upper block  142 , a sloping sidewall  144 , a pair of guiding ears  146 , a locking tongue  148 , and a pair of second hooks  149 . Each of third sidewalls  140  is perpendicularly connected to the upper block  142 . The sloping sidewall  144  is perpendicularly connected to each third sidewall  140 . Also, the sloping sidewall  144  is obliquely connected to the upper block  142  at a second predetermined angle equal to the first predetermined angle and includes a second sloping surface  144   a.    
         [0019]    Each of the third sidewalls  140  includes a fourth outer surface  140   a . The guiding ears  146  perpendicularly extend outward from the fourth outer surface  140   a . The upper block  142  is generally rectangular and includes an upper surface  142   a . The locking tongue  148  is an elongate plate that perpendicularly extends outwards from the upper surface  142   a . The second hooks  149  perpendicularly extend upwards from the upper surface  142   a  correspondingly at two opposite sides of the locking tongue  148 . 
         [0020]    Each of the resilient elements  16  includes two clasps  16   a  on opposite sides of the resilient element  16 . In this embodiment, the resilient elements  16  are a pair of springs. 
         [0021]    Also referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in assembly, the pressing protrusions  106  insert into the receiving space  126  via passing through the pressing through hole  120   a . The pressing protrusions  106  engage with the slide block  14  via the engagement between the first sloping surface  106   a  and the second sloping surface  144   a . The first connecting protrusions  104  are correspondingly accommodated in the connecting cutouts  125 . The first connecting through holes  104   a  are correspondingly aligned with the second connecting through holes  123   a . The handle  10  is pivotally connected to the base  12  via the bolts  18  correspondingly passing through the first connecting through holes  104   a  and the second connecting through holes  123   a.    
         [0022]    The slide block  14  is slidablely received in the receiving space  126  via two opposite ends  16   a  of each resilient element  16  correspondingly connecting to the first hook  124   b  and the second hooks  149 . The guiding ears  146  are correspondingly positioned in the guiding gaps  129 . 
         [0023]    Also referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in use, the base  12  is fixed to an electronic device (not shown). The locking tongue  148  protrudes out of the receiving space  126  through the tongue through hole  124   a  to lock a hard disk, by inserting the locking tongue into a corresponding hole of the hard disk, when the handle  10  is close to the front cover  120  and the first sloping surface  106   a  of the pressing protrusion  106  contacts with the second sloping surface  144   a  of the slide block  14 . 
         [0024]    To unlock the hard disk, the handle  10  is pivoted away from the front cover  120 . The pressing protrusions  106  push against the second sloping surface  144   a  downwards. The slide block  14  is moved downwards via the guiding ears  146  sliding in the guiding gaps  129 . Thus, the locking tongue  148  is retracted into the receiving space  126  to unlock the hard disk from the electronic device. 
         [0025]    While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.