Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that defines a locking hole in a sidewall thereof includes a bracket for holding the data storage device, and a locking member. The bracket includes a first side wall defining a through-hole. The locking member includes a mounting member mounted to the first side wall of the bracket, and a securing member rotatably mounted to the mounting member. The securing member includes a post extending therefrom. The securing member is selectively located in two positions. In a first position, the post passes through the through-hole of the bracket to engage with the locking hole of the data storage device. In a second position, the post is disengaged from the locking hole.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and particularly to a mounting apparatus readily allowing installation or removal of a data storage device thereto or therefrom.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Generally speaking, when a computer is assembled, a drive bracket is mounted in a computer enclosure, and then data storage devices are fixed to the drive bracket. The data storage devices comprise various combinations of hard disk drives (HDDs), floppy disk drives (FDDs), and compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drives.  
         [0003]     A conventional data storage device is generally attached to a drive bracket by bolts or rails. Examples are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 82202124, 81207129, and 82207667. Fixing a data storage device to a drive bracket with bolts is unduly laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, the computer enclosure needs extra operating space for carrying out repairs. Repairing a data storage device in a drive bracket with rails is more convenient than using the above-described bolts. However, certain bolts are still needed to fix the rails to the drive bracket. Additionally, mounting systems using rails require a clearance between the data storage device and the drive bracket. This may cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems, and may lead to accumulation of static charges on the computer enclosure. Furthermore, the rails are generally made of plastic. This not only restricts grounding connection options between the data storage device and the drive bracket, but also tends to lead to extra maintenance, because plastic rails may easily wear out and require replacement.  
         [0004]     What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which readily allows installation or removal of a data storage device thereto or therefrom.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An exemplary mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that defines a locking hole in a sidewall thereof includes a bracket for holding the data storage device, and a locking member. The bracket includes a first side wall defining a through-hole. The locking member includes a mounting member mounted to the first side wall of the bracket, and a securing member rotatably mounted to the mounting member. The securing member includes a post extending therefrom. The securing member is selectively located in two positions. In a first position, the post passes through the through-hole of the bracket to engage with the locking hole of the data storage device. In a second position, the post is disengaged from the locking hole.  
         [0006]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus for a data storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, together with a data storage device, the mounting apparatus includes a bracket, and a pair of locking members;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the bracket of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect and partially cutaway;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the locking member of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of the locking member of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the locking members in a locked position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 ; but showing the locking members in a first unlocked position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing the locking members in a second unlocked position; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but an inverted view. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mounting apparatus of an electronic device like a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown for mounting a functional component like a data storage device  100  to an enclosure of the computer. The data storage device  100  defines a pair of locking holes  104  in a sidewall  102  thereof. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket  10  mounted to the computer enclosure, and a pair of locking members  40 .  
         [0017]     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the bracket  10  includes a first side wall  12 , a second side wall  14  parallel to the first side wall  12 , a top wall  16  connecting tops of the first side wall  12  and the second side wall  14 , and a bottom wall  18  connecting bottoms of the first side wall  12  and the second side wall  14 . The first side wall  12  defines a pair of through-holes  22  therein. Two pairs of locating holes  24  are defined in the first side wall  12 . The locating holes  24  of each pair are located at opposite sides of a corresponding through-hole  22 . Two pairs of arc-shaped rails  26  are stamped outwardly from the first side wall  12 . The rails  26  of each pair are located at opposite sides of a corresponding through-hole  22  and extend along a circumference round the through-hole  22 . The rails  26  are symmetrically alternated with the locating holes  24 . A blocking tab  28  is bent toward the inside of the circumference from a first end of each rail  26  in a clockwise direction. A pair of resilient tabs  30  is stamped from the second side wall  14 .  
         [0018]     Referring also to FIGS.  3  to  5 , each locking member  40  includes a securing member  42 , a resilient member  60 , a mounting member  62 , and an elastic operating member  90 .  
         [0019]     The securing member  42  includes a circular body  44 , a pillar  46  extending from a center of the body  44 , and a post  48  opposite to the pillar  46  extending from the center of the body  44 . A pair of ears  50  parallel to the pillar  46  and opposite to each other extends from a circumference of the body  44 . L-shaped retaining slots  52  are defined in the securing member  42  extending from opposite sides of the body  44  to each ear  50 . A guiding rib  54  protrudes out from one of the pair of ears  50  adjacent the corresponding retaining slot  52 .  
         [0020]     The resilient member  60  having a truncated conical shape is a coil spring.  
         [0021]     The mounting member  62  includes a circular main part  64  and a cylinder  66  extending from a circumference of the main part  64 . A receiving hole  68  is defined in a center of the main part  64  for holding a distal end of the pillar  46  of the securing member  42  therein. A first locating slot  70  is defined in each of two opposite edges of the mounting member  62  at junctions of the main part  64  and the cylinder  66 . A second locating slot  72  is defined adjacent each first locating slot  70  in the mounting member  62 . A depth of each first locating slot  70  is greater than that of each second locating slot  72 . An opening  74  is defined between each first locating slot and the receiving hole  68  in the main part  64 . Each opening  74  communicates with a corresponding first locating slot  70  and a corresponding second locating slot  72 . Each of a pair of projecting portions  76  are formed on opposite sides of, and protrudes outwardly from, a bottom of the cylinder  66 . The projecting portions  76  extend along a circumference of the cylinder  66 . An elastic arm  78  extends along the circumference of the cylinder  66  from a second end of each projection portion  76  in a clockwise direction. A locating post  80  protrudes from a distal end of each elastic arm  78  for being engaged in a corresponding locating hole  24  of the bracket  10 . A limiting post  82  and a supporting tab  84  therebelow protrude out from the cylinder  66  adjacent a corresponding first locating slot  70 . A guiding slot  86  is defined in an inner surface of the cylinder  66  for the guiding rib  54  of the securing member  42  sliding therein.  
         [0022]     The operating member  90  includes a hemicyclic operating portion  92  having two distal ends. An extension portion  94  extends from each distal end of the operating portion  92 . A connecting portion  96  extends perpendicularly inward from a distal end of each extension portions  94 . An orientating portion  98  extends perpendicularly inward from a distal end of each connecting portion  96 .  
         [0023]     Referring also to  FIGS. 6-9 , in assembling each locking member  40 , the resilient member  60  fits about the pillar  46  of the securing member  42 . The securing member  42  is received in the cylinder  66  of the mounting member  62 . A distal end of the pillar  46  is received in the receiving hole  68  of the mounting member  62 . The ears  50  of the securing member  42  are received in the corresponding openings  74  of the mounting member  62 . The guiding rib  54  of the securing member  42  is received in the guiding slot  86  of the mounting member  62 . The connecting portions  96  and the orientating portions  98  of the operating member  90  are inserted through the corresponding first locating slots  70 , and the corresponding retaining slots  52  of the locking member  50 . The orientating portions  98  of the operating member  90  are received in the retaining slots  52 . Thus, the locking member  40  is formed.  
         [0024]     In assembling each locking member  40  to the bracket  10 , the post  48  aligns with the through-hole  22  of the bracket  10 . The projection portions  76  of the mounting member  62  are received in the corresponding rails  26  of the bracket  10  from a second end in the clockwise direction and slide on the rails  26  in an anti-clockwise direction. The locating posts  80  are engaged with the corresponding locating holes  24  of the bracket  10 . The blocking tabs  28  of the bracket  10  block corresponding ends of the projection portions  76 . Thus, the locking member  40  is mounted to the bracket  10 .  
         [0025]     In preparation for assembling the data storage device  100 , pulling each operating member  90  causes the corresponding securing member  42  to move in a direction away from the bracket  10  thereby depressing the resilient member  60  within the mounting member  62 . Thus, ensuring the post  48  of the securing member  42  is not penetrating beyond an edge of the through-hole  22  of the bracket  10 . After the connecting portions  96  of the operation member  90  are separated from the corresponding first locating slots  70  of the mounting member  62 , the operating member  90  is rotated. When the connecting portions  96  move above the corresponding second locating slots  72  of the mounting member  62 , the operating member  90  is released. The resilient member  60  is elastically restored. The securing member  42  moves toward the bracket  10 . The connecting portions  96  of the operating member  90  are located in the corresponding second locating slots  72  of the mounting member  62 .  
         [0026]     In assembling the data storage device  100 , the data storage device  100  is inserted into the bracket  10 . The locking holes  104  of the data storage device  100  align with the corresponding through-holes  22  of the bracket  10 . Each operating member  90  is pulled away from the bracket  10 , and then is rotated. When the connecting portions  96  of the operating member  90  become aligned with the corresponding first locating slots  70 , the operating member  90  is released. The corresponding resilient member  60  is elastically restored. The securing member  42  moves toward the bracket  10 . The post  48  of the securing member  42  passes through the corresponding through-hole  22  of the bracket  10  and engages with the corresponding locking hole  104  of the data storage device  100 . The connecting portions  96  of the operating member  90  are located in the corresponding first locating holes  70  of the mounting member  62 . The resilient tabs  30  of the bracket  10  are elastically attached to an opposite sidewall of the data storage device  100 . Thus, the data storage device  100  is secured. Then, each operating member  90  is rotated to make a corresponding extension portion  94  thereof to be located between a corresponding limiting post  82  and a corresponding supporting tab  84  of the mounting members  62 .  
         [0027]     In disassembling the data storage device  100 , pulling each operating member  90  to move from corresponding first locating slots  70  to corresponding second locating slots  72  will disengage the posts  48  from the locking holes  104 .  
         [0028]     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 of the invention.