Abstract:
A mounting apparatus includes a bracket ( 30 ), a retainer ( 50 ), and a slider ( 60 ). The bracket is for receiving a storage device ( 10 ) therein and includes a first sidewall ( 34 ) defining two pairs of apertures ( 344 ) therein. The slider is slidably attached to the first sidewall and includes two pairs of slideways ( 644 ), and a pair of resilient arms ( 623 ). The retainer is sandwiched between the first sidewall of the bracket and the slider and abutted against by the resilient arms. The retainer includes two pairs of posts ( 56 ) sliding along the slideways, and two pairs of pins ( 54 ) extending through the apertures to engage the storage device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Relevant subject matter is disclosed in two co-pending U.S. Patent Applications respectively entitled “MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR STORAGE DEVICES” and “MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR STORAGE DEVICE”, which assigned to the same assignee of this application with application Ser. Nos. 10/951,425, and 11/200,828.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a mounting apparatus, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for a storage device.  
         [0004]     2. General Background  
         [0005]     The manufacture and assembly of electronic apparatuses have become increasingly more competitive. Manufacturers continually strive to improve the design and features of electronic apparatuses yet still offer competitive prices. One such area of improvement is mounting of devices in an electronic apparatus. 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 always labor-intensive.  
         [0006]     For instance, as disclosed in China Patent No. 92232515.4 and China Laid-open Application No. 01130712.9, the installation of a hard disk drive in a computer typically involves use of screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket of a computer chassis. Usually, these screws are small enough to make them difficult to be manipulated. It is laborious and time-consuming to manually manipulate the screws. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws are easier to be dropped by an assembler into the computer. Some accidental damage will occur in the computer due to impact of these moving parts, and the like causes.  
         [0007]     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 slides into and is secured to a drive bracket. However, the screws have to be removed to detach the rails from the storage device before replacing the storage device.  
         [0008]     What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which conveniently and securely holds a storage device in a bracket.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     In one preferred embodiment, a mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a retainer, and a slider. The bracket is for receiving a storage device therein and includes a first sidewall defining two pairs of apertures therein. The slider is slidably attached to the first sidewall and includes two pairs of slideways, and a pair of resilient arms. The retainer is sandwiched between the first sidewall of the bracket and the slider and abutted against by the resilient arms. The retainer includes two pairs of posts sliding along the slideways, and two pairs of pins extending through the apertures to engage the storage device.  
         [0010]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 2 , together with a storage device;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , with the storage device installed therein; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mounting apparatus of an electronic device like a computer is provided for holding a functional device like a storage device  10  of the computer in place. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket  30 , a retainer  50 , and a slider  60 .  
         [0017]     The storage device  10  includes a top wall  11 , and a pair of sidewalls  12  perpendicular to the top wall  11 . Two pairs of spaced fixing holes  14  are defined in each of the sidewalls  12 .  
         [0018]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the bracket  30  includes a bottom wall  32 , a first sidewall  34 , and a second sidewall  36 . A pair of guiding pieces  362  is punched inwardly and separately from the first and second sidewalls  34 ,  36 , opposite to each other. Two lines of spaced bridges  345  each with a guiding protrusion  346  are punched outwardly from the first sidewall  34  so as to be used as a guide mechanism of the bracket  30 . Two lines of spaced guiding tabs  348  are punched outwardly from the first sidewall  34 , between the lines of the bridges  345 . A locating tab  349  is punched outwardly from the first sidewall  34 , between the lines of the guiding tabs  348  so as to be used as another guide mechanism of the bracket  30 . A many pairs of apertures  344  in array are defined in the first sidewall  34  besides two ends of the guiding tabs  348 , corresponding to the fixing holes  14  of the storage device  10 . Many slots  347  in array are defined in a rear portion of the first sidewall  34 . Many pairs of resilient tabs  364  in array extend inwardly from the second sidewall  36  along the horizontal direction. A protrusion  366  extrudes from each of the resilient tabs  364  in alignment with the corresponding aperture  344  of the first sidewall  34 .  
         [0019]     The retainer  50  includes a rectangle plate  51 , and a pair of flanges  55  extended perpendicularly and outwardly from upper and lower edges of the rectangle plate  51  respectively. Many slits  52  in array are defined in the rectangle plate  51 , corresponding to the locating tab  349  of the bracket  30 . A tip  54  extends perpendicularly at each comer of the rectangle plate  51 , corresponding to the apertures  344  of the bracket  30 . A pair of posts  56  extends outwardly from end portions of each flange  55 . The post  56  can be replaced by another sliding member, such as a block or a protrusion.  
         [0020]     The slider  60  is generally box-shaped. The slider  60  includes a vertical wall  62 , and a pair of horizontal walls  64  extending inwardly from upper and lower edges of the vertical wall  62  respectively. A pair of resilient arms  622  extends inwardly from two opposite end portions of the vertical wall  62 . A handgrip portion  624  is defined in a middle portion of the vertical wall  62  and extends to the horizontal walls  64 . A pair of sliding blocks  642  extends from an edge of each of the horizontal walls  64 , corresponding to guiding protrusions  346  of the bridges  345  of the bracket  30 . A resilient hook  648  extends outwardly from the edge portion of each of the horizontal walls  64  between corresponding guiding blocks  642 , engaging with corresponding guiding tabs  348  of the bracket  30 . A pair of slideways  644  is formed in each of the horizontal walls  64  besides the handgrip portion  624 . A recess  647  is defined in each of the horizontal walls  64  connecting with the corresponding slidaway  426 . Each of the slideways  644  includes a sloped wall  645 . Each of the slopped walls  645  includes a first end  645   a  near the vertical wall  62 , and a second end  645   b  far away the vertical wall  62 . A locator  66  is resiliently formed in a rear portion of the vertical wall  62 . The locator  66  includes a plug  661  extruding inwardly therefrom, and a handle  663  extending outwardly therefrom.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in assembly of the mounting apparatus, the retainer  50  is engaged to the first sidewall  34  of the bracket  30 , with the locating tab  349  engaged in one of the slots  52  and the tips  54  in alignment with corresponding apertures  344 . The slider  60  is placed on the first sidewall  34 , with the hooks  648  sliding between corresponding guiding tabs  348 . The guiding blocks  642  of the slider  60  slide along the guiding protrusions  346  of the bridges  345 . The sliding posts  56  of the retainer  50  are received in the corresponding slidaways  644  via the corresponding recesses  647 . The plug  661  of the slider  60  engages in corresponding slit  347  of the bracket  30 . The resilient arms  622  urge the rectangle plate  51  toward the first sidewall  34  of the bracket  30 , with the tips  54  extending through corresponding aperture  344  of the bracket  30 .  
         [0022]     In use of the mounting apparatus,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the storage device  10  fixed in the bracket  30 . Before installing the storage device  10  into the bracket  30 , the handle  663  is drawn outwardly to release the plug  661  from the slot  347  of the bracket  30  by a forefinger of an operator. The handgrip portion  624  is engaged by a thumb of the operator to push the slider  60  rearward, with the guiding blocks  642  moving along corresponding guiding protrusions  346  of the bridges  345  correspondingly. The sliding posts  56  of the retainer  50  slide along corresponding sloped wall  645  from the second end  645   b  to the first end  645   a . The resilient arms  623  are restored to move the retainer  50  away from the first sidewall  34  of the bracket  30 . The tips  54  of the retainer  50  disengage from corresponding apertures  344  of the first sidewall  34  of the bracket  30 . Then the storage device  10  is moved into the bracket  30 , with the guiding pieces  362  engaging on the top wall  11  of the storage device  10  and the resilient tabs  364  abutting the sidewalls  12  of the storage device  10 . When a rear pair of fixing holes  14  of the storage device  10  approximately reaches one front pair of the apertures  344  of the bracket  30 , the slider  60  is pushed frontward. The sliding posts  56  of the retainer  50  slide along corresponding sloped wall  645  from the first end  645   a  to the second end  645   b . The resilient arms  622  are depressed to urge the retainer  50  toward the first sidewall  34 . The tips  54  of the retainer  50  are extended through the apertures  344  to abut the sidewall  12  of the storage device  10 . When the fixing holes  14  of the storage device  10  are in alignment with corresponding apertures  344  of the bracket  30 , the tips  54  are extended into the fixing holes  14 . At the same time, the protrusions  366  of the second sidewall  36  of the bracket engage in the fixing holes  14  of an opposite sidewall of the storage devices  10 . The plug  661  of the slider  60  engages in the corresponding slot  347  of the bracket  30 . The storage device  10  is fixed in the bracket  30 .  
         [0023]     The storage device  10  is selectively located in different positions in the bracket  30 , with the tips  54  of the retainer  50  engaging in different pairs of the apertures  344  of the bracket  30 , the locating tab  349  of the bracket  30  engaging in different slits  52  of the retainer  50 , the locating plug  663  of the slider  60  engaging in different slots  347  of the bracket  30 , and the fixing holes  14  of the storage device  10  engaging with different protrusions  366  of the bracket  30 .  
         [0024]     To detach the storage device  10 , the handle  663  of the slider  60  is drawn outwardly to separate the plug  661  from the slot  347 . The slider  60  is moved rearward, the sliding posts  56  of the retainer  50  slide along the corresponding sloped walls  645  from the second end  645   b  to the first end  645   a . The resilient arms  623  are restored to move the retainer  50  away from the first sidewall  34  of the bracket  30 . The tips  54  withdraw from the fixing holes  14  of the storage device  10 . The storage device  10  is easily detached from the bracket  30 .  
         [0025]     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 a preferred or exemplary embodiment.