Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for a storage device, includes a first bracket for accommodating the storage device therein, a chassis for slidably securing the first bracket therein, a locking member including a pivotable portion, a blocking portion pivotable about an axis of the pivotable portion for urging the first bracket, and a connecting portion interconnecting the pivotable portion and the blocking portion, and a bearing connected to the chassis for pivotably supporting the pivotable portion of the locking member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for at least one electronic storage device. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   An electronic apparatus, such as a typical desktop computer, generally includes storage devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk drives, digital video disk drives, floppy disk drives, and the like. These storage devices are typically added to increase functionalities of the electronic apparatus as desired by users. However, the installation of such storage devices in the electronic apparatus is labor-intensive. 
   The installation of a storage device in a computer typically involves the use of a great number of screws or bolts to attach the storage device to a bracket of a computer chassis. Generally, these screws or bolts are too small to be easily manipulated and installed. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws or bolts are easily dropped by an assembler, into the computer. 
   What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which conveniently holds brackets in a computer chassis with a small quantity of screws or bolts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A mounting apparatus for an electronic storage device, includes a first bracket for accommodating the storage device therein, a chassis for slidably securing the first bracket therein, a locking member including a pivotable portion, a blocking portion pivotable about an axis of the pivotable portion for urging the first bracket, a connecting portion interconnecting the pivotable portion and the blocking portion, and a bearing connected to the chassis for pivotably supporting the pivotable portion of the locking member. 
   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 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus, a first storage device, and a second storage device in accordance with a first embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is an inverse view of the mounting apparatus, the first storage device, and the second storage device of  FIG.1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the first storage device and the second storage device held in place; and 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a mounting apparatus and a storage device in accordance with a second embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in a first embodiment, a mounting apparatus for holding a first storage device  10  and a second storage device  12  in place is illustrated. The mounting apparatus includes a chassis  20 , a first bracket  30  accommodated in the chassis  20  for receiving the first storage device  10 , a second bracket  40  accommodated in the chassis  20  for receiving the second storage device  12 , and a locking member  50  arranged between the first bracket  30  and the second bracket  40 . 
   The chassis  20  includes a bottom plate  22 , and a first sidewall  24  substantially perpendicularly extending from the bottom plate  22 . A plurality of (e.g. nine) spaced first clasps  220  are punched upward in the bottom plate  22 . These first clasps  220  are separated into three clasp groups: a first clasp group, a second clasp group, and a third clasp group. Each clasp group includes several (e.g. three) first clasps  220  arranged in a line that is parallel to the first sidewall  24 . The first clasp group and the second clasp group are spaced away from the first sidewall  24  a similar distance. The third clasp group is adjacent to the first sidewall  24  and face to the second clasp group. Each first clasp  220  may be generally a curved T-shaped bridge connected to the bottom plate  22  at two opposite ends thereof. A plurality of spaced second clasps  240  are punched inward in the first sidewall  24 . The plurality of spaced second clasps  240  is arranged in a line to define a fourth clasp group corresponding to the first clasp group. Each second clasp  240  is generally inverted L-shaped and connected to the first sidewall  24  at one end thereof. A blocking protrusion  224  is arranged adjacent to an end of each clasp group. The blocking protrusions  224  are punched upward in the bottom plate  22  for blocking the first bracket  30  and the second bracket  40 . 
   The first bracket  30  for securing the first storage device  10  is substantially U-shaped, and includes a first top plate  32 , two second sidewalls  34  substantially perpendicularly extending from two opposite sides of the first top plate  32  respectively, and an end wall  38  substantially perpendicularly interconnecting ends of the two second sidewalls  34 . Two first flanges  36  are respectively and oppositely bent inward from corresponding bottom portions of the two second sidewalls  34 . Each first flange  36  defines a line of first T-shaped slots  360  therein for engagably receiving the corresponding first clasps  220  or the second clasps  240  therein. A locking hole  380  is defined in the end wall  38 . A guiding tab  382  is punched outward from the end wall  38  for guiding the locking member  50  to engagably insert in the locking hole  380 . 
   The second bracket  40  for securing the second storage device  12  is substantially U-shaped, and includes a second top plate  42 , two third sidewalls  44  substantially perpendicularly extending from two opposite sides of the second top plate  42  respectively, two second flanges  46  oppositely bent outward from corresponding bottom portions of the two third sidewalls  44 , and a bearing  48  attached to a distal end of one third sidewall  44  for supporting the locking member  50 . Each second flange  46  defines a line of second slots  460  therein for engagably receiving the corresponding first clasps  220  therein. The bearing  48  includes a pair of spaced supporting arms  480 . Each supporting arm  480  defines a bearing hole  482  therein for a shaft such as a bolt  49  or a rivet to insert therethrough. 
   The locking member  50  includes a pivotable portion  52  pivotably supported between the pair of supporting arms  480 , a blocking portion  54  opposite to the pivotable portion  52  for engaging in the corresponding locking hole  380 , and a connecting portion  56  interconnecting the pivotable portion  52  and the blocking portion  54 . 
   The pivotable portion  52  includes a tube  520  for the bolts  49  inserting therein, a plurality of ribs  522  radially extending from a circumference of the tube  520  to the connecting portion  56  for supporting the tube  520 . 
   The connecting portion  56  includes a first strip  560 , a second strip  562 , and a third strip  564 . The first strip  560 , the second strip  562 , and the third strip  564  join each other to construct a first juncture adjacent to the pivotable portion  52 . The plurality of ribs  522  connects the tube  520  to inner surfaces of the second strip  562 , and the third strip  564 . The first strip  560 , the second strip  562 , and the third strip  564  extend from the first juncture and join at a second juncture which is connected to a fixed end of the blocking portion  54 . The first strip  560 , the second strip  562 , and the third strip  564  are spaced from each other between the first juncture and the second juncture for improving strength of the locking member  50 . The first strip  560  and the third strip  564  are arranged at opposite upper and lower sides of the second strip  562  between the first juncture and the second juncture. The second strip  562  and the third strip  564  are substantially parallel to each other between the first juncture and the second juncture. A cutout  560   a  is defined in the first strip  560  extending from the first juncture to a portion adjacent the second juncture which results in the first strip  560  being narrower near the first juncture than near the second juncture. The cutout  560   a  is configured for preventing the first strip  560  from being stopped by a corner  420  (shown in  FIG.4 ) of the second bracket  40  when the locking member  50  rotates. A recessed portion  560   b  is defined in the first strip  560  adjacent to the second juncture for preventing a third flange  242  extending from the first sidewall  24  from obstructing the first strip  560  when the locking member  50  rotates. The second strip  562  and the third strip  564  have uniform width from the first juncture to the second juncture. The first strip  560 , the second strip  562 , and the third strip  564  are constructed as curved shapes for improving resiliency of the locking member  50 . The third strip  564  includes a substantially arc-shaped portion  564   a  for allowing the locking member  50  to smoothly rotate to resiliently contact the end wall  38 . 
   The blocking portion  54  is substantially L-shaped, and includes a fourth strip  540  and a handle  542  bent from the fourth strip  540 . The fourth strip  540  includes a fixed end  540   a  and an opposite free end  540   b . The fixed end  540   a  is connected to the second juncture of the connecting portion  56 . The handle  542  is bent from the free end  540   b  in a direction away from the connecting portion  56 . A third clasp  544  is punched outward in the fourth strip  540  for engaging in the locking hole  380  in the end wall  38 . The fourth strip  540  is narrower than the third strip  564  for fully exposing the recessed portion  560   b  and preventing the fourth strip  540  from impacting the third flange  242  when the locking member  50  rotates. A V-shaped space  58  is formed between the connecting portion  56  and the blocking portion  54  for allowing pressing the blocking portion  54  toward the connecting portion  56  when detaching the third clasp  544  from the locking hole  380 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in assembly of the mounting apparatus, the locking member  50  is attached to the bearing  48  of the second bracket  40 , with a pair of bolts  49  extending through the corresponding bearing holes  482  to engage with the tube  520  of the locking member  50 . The first bracket  30  is placed in the chassis  20 , with the first group of first clasps  220  and the second clasps  240  of the chassis  20  extending through the corresponding first slots  360  of the first bracket  30 . The first storage device  10  is secured in the first bracket  30 . The first bracket  30  with the first storage device  10  mounted therein is pushed along the line consisting of the first clasp group until the ends of the first flanges  36  abut the blocking protrusions  224  and the first group of clasps  220  and the second clasps  240  are engaged in the narrower portions of the first slots  360  of the first flanges  36 . The first bracket  30  is thus secured relative to the first group of clasps  220  in a direction perpendicular to the line consisting of the first clasp group. The second bracket  40  is placed opposite to the first bracket  30  in the chassis  20 , with the first and third groups of first clasps  220  of the chassis  20  extending through the corresponding second slots  460  of the second bracket  40 . The second storage device  12  is secured in the second bracket  40 . The second bracket  40  is pushed along the line consisting of the second clasp group until the ends of the second flanges  46  abut the blocking protrusions  224  and the second and third group of clasps  220  are engaged in the narrower portions of the second slots  460  of the first flanges  46 . The second bracket  40  is thus secured relative to the first group of clasps  220  in a direction perpendicular to the line consisting of the first clasp group. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the locking member  50  has a first position where it is apart from the first bracket  30 . In use, pressure is applied to the handle  542  of the blocking portion  54  to rotate the locking member  50  around the tube  520  of the pivotable portion  52 . The third strip  564  contacts the end wall  38 , and urges the first bracket  30  to move away from the second bracket  40 . The guiding tab  382  guides the fourth strip  540  to resiliently urge the end wall  38  causing the third clasp  544  on the fourth strip  540  to engage in the locking hole  380  in the end wall  38 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the locking member  50  thus arrives at a second position where the third clasp  544  engages in the locking hole  380  in the end wall  38  to block the first bracket  30  from moving toward the second bracket  40  thereby preventing the first clasps  220  and the second clasps  240  disengaging from the first slots  360  of the first flanges  36 . In the same way, the second bracket  40  is blocked from moving toward the first bracket  30  thereby preventing the second and third groups of clasps  220  disengaging from the second slots  460  of the second flanges  46 . The first bracket  30  with the first storage device  10  therein and the second bracket  40  with the second storage device  12  therein are thus conveniently secured in the chassis  20  together. 
   To detach the first bracket  30  and the second bracket  40  from the chassis  20 , the locking member  50  is rotated to disengage from the locking hole  380  in the end wall  38  allowing the first bracket  30  to be drawn to disengage the first clasps  220  and the second clasps  240  from the first slots  360  in the first flange  36 . Thus, the first bracket  30  can be taken away from the bottom plate  22  of the chassis  20 . The second bracket  40  is subsequently removed from the bottom plate  22  of the chassis  20  after the first clasps  220  disengage from the second slots  460  of the second flanges  46 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment in accordance with the mounting apparatus is illustrated. The bearing  48  is directly mounted on the bottom plate  22  instead of being attached to the second bracket  40 . Therefore, the locking member  50  may be utilized with only one bracket provided. 
   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.