Abstract:
A modular drive cage assembly for mounting drives, such as, for example, floppy drives, hard drives, CD ROMs, tape drives or optical drives, into a computer case. The modular drive cage assembly includes standard single drive cages with coupling mechanisms. The coupling mechanisms on the cages engage each other allowing attachment of several single drive cages, producing a drive cage assembly. Following attachment of individual drive cages into a drive cage assembly, the drive cage assembly may be installed in a computer case. Fabrication of the drive cage assembly separately from the computer case allows the assembly to be used in various different computer cases without redesign of the assembly or the computer case.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is related to mounting brackets for computers. More specifically, the invention is related to a modular cage assembly for mounting internal devices into computers. 
     2. Description of the Related Technology 
     Personal computers have become an integral part of most businesses. Due to increasing sales of personal computers, computer manufacturers look for ways to more efficiently mass-produce their products. Most personal computers are built in an assembly line format with different computer components installed at various positions along the line. Because of the increasing competitiveness in the computer marketplace, the speed and efficiency of both the design and manufacturing processes need to improve in order to more quickly bring new products to market as well as to decrease costs. The ability or lack thereof, to get new products to market quickly and contain manufacturing costs, can translate into the difference between a profitable corporation and one which is unable to be competitive. 
     Computer manufacturers, when designing a new computer case, typically design a new cage assembly to hold internal devices such as, for example, hard drives, floppy drives, CD-ROMs, tape drives and optical drives. This results in a new cage assembly design for each different computer case. Although the size and shape of the internal devices are standardized, and each have individual cages, these individual cages must be designed and assembled into a final cage assembly for use in each computer case being designed. 
     Existing cage assemblies are typically made as an integral portion of the computer case design. Often they consist of shelves in the computer case, which accept a device. If the device installed in the case is a standard 5.25 inch format, then it will sit on, and attach to, the shelf usually with screws. If the device is a different size format, such as for example, a 3.5 inch format, the device is mounted and secured to an adapter. The adapter then sits on, and attaches to, the shelf again usually with screws. 
     These types of cage assembly designs have several drawbacks. For example, because the cage assembly is an integral part of the computer case, each new case design requires the design of a new cage assembly. Designing a new cage assembly for each new computer case increases design time. Increased design time increases both the cost of development as well as time to market. Additionally, because the cage assembly is part of the computer case, devices cannot be installed “off line” from the main manufacturing assembly line. Instead, devices must be installed at one of the stations in the manufacturing line. This requires additional steps to be performed in the main product manufacturing line. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a modular cage assembly design capable of being used in different computer case designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a modular drive cage assembly for mounting drives such as, for example, floppy drives, hard drives, CD ROMs, tape drives or optical drives, into a computer case. The modular drive cage assembly includes standard single drive cages with coupling mechanisms. The coupling mechanisms on the cages engage each other allowing attachment of several single drive cages, and thereby producing a drive cage assembly. Combining single drive cages into a drive cage assembly allows configuration of a drive cage assembly which supports any desired number of standard drives. 
     The modular drive cage assembly may be installed in various, different, computer cases. Use of the modular cage assembly in different computer cases eliminates the need for a new cage assemble to be designed for each new computer case design. Reuse of the modular cage assembly saves design time and reduces development costs. Additionally, use of the modular cage assembly allows drives to be installed into the cage assembly prior to installation of the drive cage into the computer case. These features reduce manufacturing time and costs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features, objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of standard drive cages. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drive cage assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the embodiment of FIG. 2 within line  34 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drive cage assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drive cage assembly of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drive cage assembly installed in a computer case. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 6 within line  54 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drive cage assembly installed in a tower configured computer case. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drive cage assembly installed in a desktop configured computer case. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drive cage assembly installed in a tower configured computer case. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drive cage assembly installed in a desktop configured computer case. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a modular cage design for mounting internal devices into a computer. FIG. 1 shows standard drive cages for a single 5¼ inch drive  20  and a single 3½ inch drive  22 . A standard drive cage has an upper surface  24 , a lower surface  26  and two side surfaces  28 . 
     Typically, drives are manufactured in a configuration which allows them to be installed into a standard drive cage. A drive such as, for example, a 5¼ inch drive  30  slides into a standard 5¼ drive cage  20  and is attached to the drive cage  20 , usually by screws (not shown). Individual drive cages  20  and  22  may be installed into a computer case. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing one arrangement for attaching two drive cages together. As shown in FIG. 2, single drive cages  20 ,  22 ,  32  and  33  are coupled to each other. The drive cages are aligned with each other by use of coupling mechanisms such as those illustrated within line  34 . The coupling mechanism can be more fully understood by referring to FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the portion of FIG. 2 within line  34 . As shown in FIG. 3, a tab  36  extends from the upper surface  24  of a drive cage  20 . The tab  36  protrudes above, and is parallel to, the upper surface  24  of the drive cage  20 . In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the tab  36  comprises a portion of the upper surface  24  that has been raised upward away from the upper surface  24 . In another embodiment, the tab  36  may be a separate “L” shaped piece that is attached to the upper surface  24 . 
     Also shown in FIG. 3 is a receiving slot  38  located in the lower surface  26  of drive cage  22 . The receiving slot  38  comprises a rectangular hole cut into the lower surface  24  of drive cage  22 . The size of the receiving slot  38  substantially corresponds to the size of the tab  36  so that the tab  36  may be extended into the slot  38 . A plurality of tabs  36  may be located on the upper surface  24  of drive cage  20  and a corresponding plurality of receiving slots  38  may be located on the lower surface  26  of drive cage  22 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, attachment of two drive cages is accomplished by placing drive cage  22  on top of drive cage  20 . The two drives are then slid in relation to each other so that the tab  36  on the upper surface  24  of drive  20  engages the receiving slot  38  located on the lower surface  26  of drive  22 . When tab  36  is fully engaged in receiving slot  38  the two drive cages are aligned in a desired position relative to each other. In addition to aligning the drive cages, tab  36  is biased such that when it has passed through the slot  28 , it exerts a force against a portion of the lower surface  26  of drive cage  22 . The force exerted by tab  36  against lower surface  26  maintains the two drive cages in the desired alignment. Using the attachment technique illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of drive cages may be assembled into a cage assembly. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates four drive cages  20 ,  22 ,  32  and  33  attached into a drive cage assembly. 
     Although the embodiment of FIG.  2  and FIG. 3 defines drive cages with tabs on the upper surface of a lower cage and receiving slots on the lower surface of an upper cage, it is contemplated that the tabs may be located on the lower surface of the upper cage and receiving slots located on the upper surface of the lower cage. In addition, both tabs and slots may be located on both surfaces of the drives. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in this embodiment, drive cage  20  has a ridge  46  located on its upper surface  24  and extending across at least a portion of the width of the drive cage. In one embodiment, the ridge  46  may be a portion of the upper surface  24  that has been raised, forming an “L” shape. In another embodiment, the ridge  46  may be a separate “L” shaped strip that is attached to the upper surface  24 . Drive cage  22  has a trough  48  located on its lower surface  26  configured to mate with ridge  46  when drive cage  20  is placed below drive cage  22 . In particular, ridge  46  and trough  48  engage when drive cage  22  is slid across the top of drive cage  20 . When ridge  46  is fully engaged with trough  48  the outer surface of the two drive cages  20  and  22  are aligned in a desired position in relation to each other. In addition to aligning the drive cages, ridge  46  and trough  48  may maintain the two drive cages into a desired position. Arrangement of ridges  46  and troughs  48  on corresponding surfaces allows a plurality of drive cages to be coupled together. In other embodiments, the ridges  46  and troughs  48  may run along the length of the drive cage. Also, the ridges and troughs may be swapped, with the ridge  46  located on the top drive  22  and the trough  48  located on the bottom drive  20 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, drive cage  20  has receiving slots  50  mounted on the sides  28  of the drive cage. In one embodiment, the receiving slots  50  are “u” shaped brackets mounted on the sides  28  of the drive cage. The “u” shaped bracket and the adjacent surface of the cage form receiving slots  50 . The receiving slots  50  are a size and shape that substantially correspond to those of tabs  52  located on drive cage  22 . In other embodiments, the receiving slots  50  may be different sizes and shapes. 
     Drive cage  22  has tabs  52  mounted on its sides corresponding to the location of the receiving slots on drive cage  20 . In one embodiment, the tabs are rectangular shaped pieces with a cross section to match the opening in a receiving slot  50 . In other embodiments, the tabs may be different shapes to match different receiving slot  50  openings. As drive cage  22  is lowered onto drive cage  20  the tabs  52  extend into receiving slots  50 , aligning drive cages  20  and  22  to each other. Additionally, the tabs and slots may maintain the position of the two slides relative to each other. Arranging tabs  52  and corresponding slots  50  on drive cages allows a plurality of drive cages to be coupled together into a drive cage assembly of a desired number of drive cages. 
     Although FIG. 5 illustrates a top drive cage  22  having tabs  52  and a lower drive cage  20  having receiving slots  50 , it is contemplated that the top drive cage  22  may have receiving slots  50  and the lower drive  20  may have corresponding tabs  52 . In addition, both tabs  52  and receiving slots  50  may be located on the same drive cage, with corresponding receiving slots  50  and tabs  52  located on the mating drive cage. 
     FIG. 6 shows a drive assembly  50  mounted into a computer case  52 . As shown in FIG. 6, the drive cage assembly  50  slides into an opening in the computer case  52  and is secured to the computer case by a securing mechanism  56 , within line  54 , which is better defined with reference to FIG.  7 . With the drive cage assembly  50  securely mounted in the computer case  52 , drives may now be installed into the drive cage assembly  50 . For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a 3.5 inch drive, and two 5.25 inch drives may be installed within the drive cage assembly. In other embodiments, different configurations of drive cages and drives may be installed into a computer case. In yet another embodiment, the drives may be installed in drive cage assembly  50  before drive cage assembly  50  is installed in computer case  52 . 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the portion of FIG. 6 within line  54 . FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a securing mechanism for attaching the drive cage assembly  50  into the computer case  52 . As shown, after the drive cage assembly  50  is located in a desired position, a securing mechanism  56  attaches the cage assembly  50  to the computer case  52 . In one embodiment, the securing mechanism  56  is a screw. In other embodiments, different securing mechanisms may be used, such as, for example, rivets or spot welds. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the invention where a typical drive cage assembly is installed in one configuration of a computer case. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a three drive cage assembly  70  is installed in a tower configuration computer case  72 . The drive cage assembly  70  may be secured to the tower configuration computer case  72  by a securing mechanism, such as, for example, one of the mechanisms illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the same three drive cage assembly  70  is installed in a desktop configured computer case  74 . FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate one aspect of the invention, where the same drive cage assembly  70  can be used in two different computer case configurations  72  and  74 . 
     FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention. As shown, a drive cage assembly  80  made up of four individual drive cages is installed in a tower configured computer case  82 . 
     FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the same four drive cage assembly  80  illustrated in FIG. 10 in a tower configured computer case  82  is now installed in a desktop configured computer case  84 . FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an aspect of the invention where the same drive cage assembly  80  may be installed into two different computer case configurations  82  and  84 . 
     In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention overcomes the long-standing problem in the art of having to design a new drive cage system for each new computer case by providing a modular drive cage assembly that can be used in multiple, different computer cases. The modular cage assembly has standardized drive cages with coupling mechanisms located at related positions on adjacent cages so that multiple cages can be quickly positioned in a desired configuration. In addition, the modular designs provide for inserting drives into the cage assembly, and then installing the cage, with the drives, into the computer case. Alternatively, the drive cage assembly can be installed into the computer case and then the drives installed into the cage assembly. 
     The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. A described embodiment is to be considered in all aspects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.