Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a chassis ( 20 ), a drive bracket ( 10 ) rotatably attached to the chassis and a holder ( 50 ). The chassis includes a pair of parallel beams ( 30,40 ). The drive bracket forms a sliding member ( 111 ). The holder is secured to one of the beams of the chassis, and defines a groove ( 531 ). A number of holding positions ( 534 ) are defined in the groove to selectively hold the sliding member of the drive bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer enclosure, and more particularly to a computer enclosure with a drive bracket pivotally connected to the computer enclosure.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     Various data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, and optical drives are installed in drive brackets. Usually a typical drive bracket is directly secured in a computer enclosure with a plurality of screws. But a space in the computer enclosure is limited particularly for some mini personal computers. It is hard to remove these date storage devices when they need to be repaired.  
         [0005]     Therefore pivotable drive brackets have been developed. Taiwan Patent Publication No. 492614 discloses a compute enclosure with two pivotable drive brackets. A mounting plane is secured in the computer enclosure. The mounting panel extends at least one locating tab. The two drive brackets are pivotally attached to the mounting panel on two sides thereof. Each of the two drive brackets integrally extends a supporting leg at one side thereof, and forms a flange at the other side thereof. The flanges of the two drive brackets are rotatably connected with the locating tab by connecting shafts. The supporting legs function as supports when any of the drive brackets is rotated to a position paralleling to the other one. Each of the drive brackets can be pivoted to a folding position upon the other one in case of drive bracket maintenance or assembly. However the two drive brackets only can be positioned on the superposition and cannot be positioned on other inclined positions.  
         [0006]     An improved invention that solves the above problem is desired.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     Accordingly, what is needed is a computer enclosure with a drive bracket which is pivotally installed and locatable in inclined position during rotation thereof.  
         [0008]     To achieve the above-mentioned object, a computer enclosure includes a chassis, a drive bracket rotatably attached to the chassis and a holder. The chassis includes a pair of parallel beams. The drive bracket forms a sliding member. The holder is secured to one beam of the chassis and defines a groove. A holding position is defined on one site of the groove to hold the sliding member of the drive bracket. While the sliding member slides along the groove, the drive bracket rotates relative the chassis and can be situated in the holding position.  
         [0009]     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising a chassis, a drive bracket and a holder;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, isometric view of the drive bracket of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, isometric view of the holder of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the drive bracket being inclined positioned;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a circled part V of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a fully assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a circled part VII of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an enclosure of an electronic device like a computer with a bracket  10  for receiving components of the computer therein in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a holder  50  which is used for securing a bracket  10  to a chassis  20 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drive bracket  10  comprises a pair of parallel side plates  11 ,  12  each defining a pivot  115 ,  125  in a front portion thereof. A supporting protuberance  113  is formed from a rear portion of the side plate  11 . A sliding member  111  is formed from the side plate  11  below the pivot  115 .  
         [0019]     The chassis  20  comprises a first beam  30  and a second beam  40  for supporting the drive bracket  10 . The first beam  30  comprises a top panel  31  and a side panel  32 . The side panel  32  defines an L-shape slot  325  in a front portion thereof and a cutout  327  in a middle portion thereof for cooperating with the supporting protuberance  113  of the drive bracket  10 . The slot  325  comprises a vertical guiding portion  328  and a horizontal pivot portion  326 . The pivot portion  326  is for receiving the pivot  115 . The second beam  40  also defines an L-shape slot  425  for receiving the pivot  125 .  
         [0020]     The top panel  31  of the first beam  30  defines a concave  313  near the slot  325 . The concave  313  defines a screw hole  314 . A plurality of bent pieces  323  is formed on the side panel  32  for fastening the holder  50 . The bent pieces  323  are arranged to define an arcuate space therebetween.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the holder  50  comprises a mounting portion  51  and an arcuate portion  53 . A cutout  511  is defined in the mounting portion  51 . An arcuate groove  531  is defined along the arcuate portion  53  of the holder  50 , and in communication with the cutout  511 . An upper portion of the groove  531  is open for the sliding member  111  to slide into the groove  531 . The width of the groove  531  is less than the diameter of the sliding member  111 . A flange  532  is bent from the arcuate portion  53  along an outside of the groove  531 . An interspace  536  is defined between the groove  531  and the flange  532  for providing deformation space so that the opposite sides of the grooves  531  can be resiliently deformed. The ends and middle of the groove  531  expand outward to define three holding positions  534  thereof, and the holding position  534  can also be defined in other portion of the groove  531 .  
         [0022]     In assembly, the holder  50  slides along the surface of the side panel  32  and the arcuate portion  53  of the holder  50  slides into the arcuate space formed by the bent pieces  323 . The flange  532  of the arcuate portion  53  is restricted by the bent pieces  323 , at the same time the mounting portion  51  of the holder  50  is engaged in the concave  313  and the screw hole  314  is aligned with the cutout  511 . A screw  56  extends through the cutout  511  and engages in the screw hole  314  to secure the holder  50  to the first beam  30 .  
         [0023]     The drive bracket  10  is then installed into the chassis  20 . The drive bracket  10  is inclined to put the pivots  115 ,  125  in the guiding portions of the slot  325 ,  425  and then the pivots  115 ,  125  slide into the pivot portions of the slots  325 ,  425 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the drive bracket  10  rotates on the chassis  20  by the pivots  115 ,  125  rotating in the slots  325 ,  425 . The sliding member  111  of the drive bracket  10  intrudes into the groove  531  of the holder  50  and distorts the opposite sides of the groove  531 . When the sliding member  111  slides into the holding position  534 , the opposite sides of the groove  531  are restored, so the sliding member  111  is engaged in the holding position  534  of the groove  531 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the drive bracket  10  rotates downwardly until the sliding member  111  is positioned in the undermost holding position  534  of the holder  50 . And at the same time the supporting protuberance  113  of the drive bracket  10  is placed into the cutout  327  of the first beam  30 , so that the drive bracket  10  is fastened on the chassis  20 .  
         [0026]     If a data storage device needs to be disassembled from the drive bracket  10 , the drive bracket  10  is rotated upwardly and the sliding member  111  of the drive bracket  10  is selectively positioned in one of the upper holding positions  534 , so that the drive bracket  10  stays on an inclined position.  
         [0027]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, equivalent materials, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.