Abstract:
A mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a frame slidably received in the bracket, a fixing member mounted inside the frame for fixing a storage device to the frame, at least one gasket, and at least one fastener for extending through the at least one gasket and the frame to engage with the fixing member, the at least one gasket dampening vibrations transmitted from the frame to the storage device along the at least one fastener and the fixing member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for a storage device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electronic apparatus, such as a typical desktop computer, a tower computer, a server, and the like, usually includes storage devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital video disc (DVD) drives, floppy disk drives, and the like. These devices are typically added to increase the functionality of the electronic apparatus as desired by a user. However, the installation of such devices in the electronic apparatus is labor-intensive. 
         [0005]    The installation of a hard disk drive in a computer typically involves the use of screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket of a computer chassis. However, these screws are usually too small and difficult to handle. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws are easily dropped, by an assembler, into the computer. 
         [0006]    To address the aforementioned problems, a plurality of mounting apparatuses is invented to reduce the number of needed screws. For example, a pair of detachable rails is attached to opposite sides of a storage device with screws. The storage device is then slid into and secured to a drive bracket. However, because the screws are directly engaged in the rails and the storage device, the storage device is apt to be damaged by vibrations transmitted through the screws. 
         [0007]    What is needed, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which is able to provide better protection to a storage device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An exemplary mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a frame slidably received in the bracket, a fixing member mounted inside the frame for fixing a storage device to the frame, at least one gasket, and at least one fastener for extending through the at least one gasket and the frame to engage with the fixing member, the at least one gasket dampening vibrations transmitted from the frame to the storage device along the at least one fastener and the fixing member. 
         [0009]    Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus with a storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting apparatus for a storage device is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting apparatus includes a frame  20  for receiving a storage device  10 , two fixing members  30 , four shockproof gaskets  40 , four screws  50 , and a bracket  60 . Each gasket  40  defines a through hole  42  therein. In this embodiment, the gaskets  40  are rubber gaskets, and the screws  50  are stepped screws. 
         [0014]    The storage device  10  includes two lateral sides  13 , and each lateral side  13  defines three spaced fixing holes  131  therein. 
         [0015]    The frame  20  is made of plastic material. The frame  20  includes two opposite elastic arms  21  each having a first end and a second end, a generally H-shaped supporting portion  22  connecting with bottom portions of the elastic arms  21 , and a U-shaped elastic handle  23  connecting with first ends of the elastic arms  21 . An opening  27  is defined in the frame  20  between the second ends of the elastic arms  21 . Two wedge-shaped blocks  25  are formed on the handle  23  adjacent to the elastic arms  21  respectively. Each elastic arm  21  includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outside surface. Each of the top surface and the bottom surface forms two spaced arcuate flanges  212  thereon, and each elastic arm  21  defines a concave portion  215  in the outside surface thereof. Each concave portion  215  defines two spaced stepped holes therein. Each stepped hole includes a recessed first hole  213  in communication with the concave portion  215 , and a second hole  214  in communication with the first hole  213 . The second hole  214  is smaller in diameter than the first hole  213 . Two slots  216  are defined in each elastic arm  21  adjacent to each stepped hole. Two stop plates  217 ,  218  are formed on an inside surface of each elastic arm  21  adjacent to the first and second end thereof respectively. 
         [0016]    Each fixing member  30  forms two outwardly bent bridge-shaped fixing portions  32 , corresponding to the second holes  214  of the elastic arms  21  of the frame  20 , and a threaded hole  324  is defined in a post inwardly punched from a middle section of each fixing portion  32 . Three spaced pins  35  are perpendicularly formed on an inside surface of each fixing member  30 , for engaging in the fixing holes  131  of the corresponding lateral side  13  of the storage device  10 . 
         [0017]    The bracket  60  includes a first sidewall  61 , a second sidewall  62  opposite to the first sidewall  61 , and a top wall  63 . Two spaced sliding rails  64 ,  65  are formed on an inner side of each of the first sidewall  61  and the second sidewall  62 , parallel to the top wall  63  of the bracket  60 . An inward bent elastic tab  66  extends from the first sidewall  61  between the sliding rails  64 ,  65 . Each of the first sidewall  61  and the second sidewall  62  defines an engaging slot  67  adjacent to one end thereof between the sliding rails  64 ,  65 , and forms an inward bent L-shaped latching portion  68  adjacent to the other end thereof between the sliding rails  64 ,  65 . 
         [0018]    Referring further to  FIG. 2 , in assembly, each fixing member  30  is received between the stop plates  217 ,  218  of the corresponding elastic arm  21 , the fixing portions  32  of each fixing member  30  adjoin the inside surface of the corresponding elastic arm  21  of the frame  20 , with the threaded holes  324  of the fixing portions  32  aligning with the second holes  214  of the corresponding elastic arm  21  respectively. The gaskets  40  are attached in the first holes  213  of the stepped holes of the elastic arms  21  respectively. The screws  50  are extended through the through holes  42  of the gaskets  40  and the second holes  214  of the elastic arms  21  respectively, and engage in the corresponding threaded holes  324  of the fixing members  30 . Thereby, the fixing members  30  are fixed to the elastic arms  21  of the frame  20  respectively. The elastic arms  21  of the frame  20  are deformed outward to allow the storage device  10  to be received in the frame  20 , with the fixing holes  131  of the lateral sides  13  of the storage device  10  aligning with the pins  35  of the fixing members  30  respectively. Thereafter, the elastic arms  21  are released and rebound, which makes the pins  35  engage in the corresponding fixing holes  131  of the storage device  10 . Thereby, the storage device  10  is fixed in the frame  20 . 
         [0019]    Referring further to  FIG. 3 , the frame  20  together with the storage device  10  are pushed to slide into the bracket  60 , with the elastic arms  21  of the frame  20  received between the corresponding sliding rails  64 ,  65  of the bracket  60 , and the arcuate flanges  212  of the elastic arms  21  abutting against the corresponding sliding rails  64 ,  65 . The elastic arm  21  toward the first sidewall  61  of the bracket  60  presses the elastic tab  66  of the first sidewall  61 , and makes the elastic tab  66  deform outward. When the blocks  25  of the frame  20  contacts the first and second sidewalls  61 ,  62  of the bracket  60  respectively, the handle  23  of the frame  20  is compressed to deform by the first and second sidewalls  61 ,  62  of the bracket  60  to allow the blocks  25  to enter the bracket  60 . The frame  20  is pushed further, until the second ends of the elastic arms  21  abut against the latching portions  68  of the first and second sidewalls  61 ,  62  respectively, then the handle  23  is restored to make the blocks  25  engage in the engaging slots  67  of the first and second sidewalls  61 ,  62  respectively. Thereby, the frame  20  and the storage device  10  are fixed to the bracket  60  in a locked position where the L-shaped latching portions  68  block the corresponding second ends of the frame  20  to stop the combined bracket  60  and storage device  10  from moving inward, the blocks  25  engage in the corresponding engaging slots  67  to stop the combined bracket  60  and storage device  10  from moving outward, and the handle  23  is left outside of the bracket  60 . The elastic tab  66  of the first sidewall  61  abuts against the corresponding screw  50  of the elastic arm  21  of the frame  20 , which is able to protect the storage device  10  from vibrations. 
         [0020]    To detach the storage device  10 , the handle  23  of the frame  20  is squeezed to disengage the blocks  25  from the engaging slots  67  of the first and second sidewalls  61 ,  62  of the bracket  60  respectively. The frame  20  and the storage device  10  are then pulled out of the bracket  60 . Thereafter, the elastic arms  21  of the frame  20  are deformed away from each other, to disengage the pins  35  of the fixing members  30  from the fixing holes  131  of the storage device  10  respectively. Thereby, the storage device  10  is ready to be detached from the frame  20 . 
         [0021]    The gaskets  40  used in this embodiment may dampen vibrations transmitted from the frame  20  to the storage device  10  along the fasteners  50  and the fixing members  30  to thereby protect the storage device  10  from being damaged. 
         [0022]    It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention.