Abstract:
A mounting mechanism is used to mount a fan to a chassis. The mounting mechanism includes parallel first and second guide rails fixed to the chassis, and a mounting bracket fixed to the fan. The fan is slidably sandwiched between the first and second guide rails. The mounting bracket comprises a securing tab detachably and selectively fixed to a position on the first guide rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a mechanism for mounting a fan. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In electronic devices, fans may be used to assist in dissipating heat generated by components mounted on circuit boards of the electronic devices. Generally, the fans are fixed in the chassis and cannot be moved in the chassis. As a result, if the components are relocated, the fans may not dissipate heat so effectively. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting mechanism, together with a fan. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2 , show an exemplary embodiment of a mounting mechanism for fixing a fan  100  including a chassis  300 , a first guide rail  20 , a second guide rail  40 , and a mounting bracket  60 . 
         [0011]    The fan  100  includes opposite rectangular end boards  101 , each defining four mounting holes  102 . 
         [0012]    The first guide rail  20  includes a lengthwise fixing wall  21 , an abutting wall  23  perpendicularly extending up from a side of the fixing portion  21 , and a positioning wall  25  perpendicularly extending from a top of the abutting wall  23  and parallel to the fixing wall  21 . The fixing wall  21  defines a plurality of fixing holes  211 . The positioning wall  25  defines a plurality of internally threaded positioning holes  251 , which are equidistantly arranged. 
         [0013]    The second guide rail  40  is similar to the first guide rail  20 . The second guide rail  40  includes a fixing wall  41 , an abutting wall  43  perpendicularly extending up from a side of the fixing wall  41 , and a positioning wall  45  perpendicularly extending from a top of the abutting wall  43 . The fixing wall  41  defines a plurality of fixing holes  411 . 
         [0014]    The mounting bracket  60  includes a substantially rectangular main body  61 , four mounting tabs  63  perpendicularly extending from a side of the main body  61  and correspondingly adjacent to four corners of the main body  61 , and a securing tab  65  extending from the main body  61  adjacent to one of the mounting tabs  63  at a bottom of the main body  61 . A column  632  perpendicularly extends from an outer side surface of each of the mounting tabs  63 . The securing tab  65  is L-shaped, and includes an extension portion  652  coplanar with the main body  61 , and a securing portion  654  perpendicularly extending from a bottom of the extension portion  652 . The securing portion  654  defines a fastening hole  6542 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3 , shows in assembly, the first and second guide rails  20  and  40  are fixed to the chassis  300  with a plurality of fasteners, such as screws or rivets, extending through the fixing holes  211  and  411 , and fastened to the chassis  300 . The first and second guide rails  20  and  40  are parallel to each other, with a side of the abutting wall  23  opposite to the fixing wall  21  facing a side of the abutting wall  43  opposite to the fixing wall  41 . A distance between the abutting walls  23  and  43  is slightly greater than a distance between the end boards  101  of the fan  100 . The mounting bracket  60  is manipulated to place the mounting tabs  63  between the end boards  101 . The columns  632  are engaged in the corresponding mounting holes  102 . Therefore, the mounting bracket  60  is attached to a side of the fan  100 . The fan  100  is sandwiched between the first and second guide rails  20  and  40 , with the end boards  101  correspondingly abutting against the abutting walls  23  and  43 . The securing tab  65  is supported on the positioning wall  25 . The fastening hole  6542  is aligned with one of the positioning holes  251 . A screw  400  extends through the fastening hole  6542  and is engaged in the positioning hole  251  to position the fan  100  at a desired position. 
         [0016]    To relocate the fan  100 , the screw  400  is disengaged from the fastening hole  6542 . The fan  100  is slid along the first and second guide rails  20  and  40 . When the fan  100  reaches a desired position, the screw  400  extends through the fastening hole  6542  and is engaged in a corresponding positioning hole  251  to fix the fan  100  at the desired position. 
         [0017]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.