Abstract:
Each of one or more devices to be detachably attached to a mechanical substructure includes rails on opposed sides with insertion/extraction mechanisms. Each of a plurality of pairs of guides mounted on the substructure slidably receives and retains a respective set of rails upon attachment of the devices. The insertion/extraction mechanism includes one or more pivotable handles associated with each device for retaining the device with the substructure. A spring extending from a rail makes electrical contact with electrostatic discharge ground pads on the substructure to discharge existing static charge from the device prior to electrical engagement between an electrical connector on the device and an electrical connector on the substructure. An apertured plate of the substructure includes a plurality of apertures through which the devices are inserted/extracted. A face plate may be hingedly attached to and removable from the apertured plate to cover all of the apertures therein that accommodate insertion/extraction of the devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a divisional application related to a patent application entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING, RETAINING AND EXTRACTING A DEVICE FROM A COMPARTMENT”, filed Jan. 12, 2006 and assigned Ser. No. 11/330,858 which application is related to and claims priority to a provisional application entitled “Method and Apparatus for Inserting, Retaining and Extracting a Device from a Compartment”, filed Jan. 12, 2005, and assigned Ser. No. 60/643,524, which applications describe an invention by the present inventors and are assigned to the present assignee. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to mating assemblies and, more particularly, to a guide assembly for mechanically supporting and electrically connecting a rail mounted device.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Prior Art  
         [0005]     Various mechanical substructures, such as printed wiring boards and other mechanical devices provide support for detachably attached devices of various sorts that are electrically connected to elements attendant the mechanical substructure. No industry standard presently exists for mounting such devices on the mechanical substructure. Accordingly, provisions must be made unique to each device to mount same. Furthermore, the electrical interconnections vary widely in type and usually require manual engagement. The potential for substantial damage due to static electricity to components mounted on the mechanical substructure or components of a device being mounted exists. To dissipate any electrostatic charges, known procedures must be employed but the carrying out of such procedures is sometimes omitted with attendant actual or potential damage to one or more components.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention relates to guides mounted upon a mechanical substructure for engaging corresponding rails attached to a device to be demountably mounted upon the mechanical substructure. The alignment of the device with components of the mechanical substructure is assured through predetermined interconnection and alignment between the guides and the rails. Such alignment permits mating between electro-mechanical connectors attendant the device and the mechanical substructure. Elements interacting between the guides, mechanical substructure, and rails assure dissipation of any electrostatic charges and zero static potential upon mounting of the device to preclude damage to the electrical components from static electricity. The cooperative engagement between the guides and rails eliminates the need for manual access to make further mechanical or electrical connections and thereby permits a low profile mechanical packaging enclosure commensurate in size with the device to be mounted. The device is retained upon the structure by one ore more pivotable lockable handles that may be grasped to insert, lock, unlock and retract the device.  
         [0007]     It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a guide and rail assembly, and an insertion/extraction mechanism for mating and electrically connecting a device to a mechanical substructure.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an industry standard assembly for demountably mounting electromechanical devices on a mechanical substructure.  
         [0009]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mating assembly which dissipates any existing electrostatic charges during the mounting procedure.  
         [0010]     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a mounting assembly which eliminates the need for manual mechanical connection and manual engagement of mating electrical conductors.  
         [0011]     A further object of the present invention is to provide rails attachable to any device, or a housing therefor, for engagement with guides mounted on a mechanical substructure to which the device is to be mechanically and electrically connected.  
         [0012]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for electrostatic dissipation upon mechanical and electrical attachment of a device to a substructure.  
         [0013]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide guides attachable to a front panel of a substructure, providing strength to the aligned guides, the substructure, and the device mounted on the guides.  
         [0014]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide either one or two pivotable handles secured to a device or housing for manually inserting and retracting the device from within a compartment having a substructure for engaging the device.  
         [0015]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide either one or two pivotable handles secured to a device or housing for manually locking and unlocking the device within a compartment having a substructure for engaging the device.  
         [0016]     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the invention proceeds.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a substructure used as a mounting for various electrical, electromechanical and mechanical elements, including illustration of devices mounted thereon and of a device segregated from the substructure and mountable thereon;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates mounting elements or guides for engaging and supporting devices to be mounted upon the substructure;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the guides attached to the substructure;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate handles pivotally attached to a device and rails attachable to the device for engagement with the guides of the substructure;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a variant of the pivotable handles used for insertion and extraction of a device showing an exploded view of the handles and related rails and the closed position of the handles;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the substructure having mounted thereon a plurality of devices inserted through apertures in a front plate;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of various components mounted on the substructure and including a full length pivotally attached face plate;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate perspective views of a hard drive having a single pivotable handle and uniquely configured rails attached thereto;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the substructure illustrating a circuit board and a supporting plate; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of components of the substructure.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a mechanical substructure  10  used as a mounting for various electrical, electromechanical and mechanical elements. The substructure is typically removable from a chassis of a signal processing equipment. Generally, substructure  10  and the elements forming a part thereof will constitute a component of a unit (not shown) wherein signal processing is performed. The substructure may incorporate clasps  12  and  14  for detachably attaching a face plate to the substructure. Substructure  10  may also include various electromechanical connectors  16  disposed along rear edge  18  for electrically engaging other components of the signal processing equipment. Although not shown, various electrical components, such as integrated circuits, transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, microprocessors, etc. may be mounted on the substructure.  
         [0029]     Electrico-mechanical devices, such as media storage devices, hard disk drives, etc., may be demountably mounted upon substructure  10  in conformance with the teachings of the present invention. Devices  24 ,  26 , and  28  are mechanically mounted upon the substructure and electrically connected thereto, as will be described below. Device  30  is illustrated apart from substructure  10  ready for mounting thereon. A pair of rails  32 ,  34  are mounted along opposed edges at the bottom of each of devices of  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  for the purpose of attaching the devices to substructure  10 . Several pairs of guides,  36 ,  38  are mounted on substructure  10  for sliding engagement with the rails of a respective device. As shown, four pairs of guides are mounted upon substructure  10  to slidably cooperate with the rails of the four devices shown in  FIG. 1 . Each device includes an electrical connector  40  for mechanical and electrical engagement with a further electrical connector  42  mounted upon substructure  10 . Upon engagement of a device with the substructure, electrical connectors  40  and  42  will be aligned with one another to obtain an electrical and mechanical interconnection. Thereby, a transfer of electrical signals between each device and various electrical components mounted upon the substructure is achieved.  
         [0030]     As particularly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , guide  36  is attached to the substructure by a bolt or machine screw  44  penetrably engaging aperture  46  in the substructure and threadedly engaging aperture  48  in guide  36 . Similarly, a bolt or machine screw  50  penetrably engages aperture  52  in the substructure and threadedly engages aperture  54  in guide  36 . A further bolt or machine screw  56  penetrably engages aperture  58  in the substructure and threadedly engages aperture  60  in guide  38 . A further bolt (not shown) penetrably engages aperture  64  in the substructure and threadedly engages aperture  66  in guide  38 . Thereby, guides  36  and  38  are rigidly attached to the substructure and spaced apart from one another to slidably engage the pair of rails attached to a device to be demountably mounted thereon. It is to be understood that the remaining pairs of guides are similarly attached to the substructure. Additionally and as particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , a bolt or machine screw  70  may be penetrably engaged with an aperture  72  in an apertured plate  74  extending upwardly and formed as part of or otherwise attached to substructure  10 . Bolt  70  threadedly engages aperture  76  in the end of guide  38 . Similarly, a bolt or machine screw  78  extends through an aperture  80  in apertured plate  74  for threaded engagement with aperture  82  in the end of guide  36 . The front end of each of the guides illustrated may be similarly attached to the apertured plate to further rigidly mount the guides. Each of guides  36 ,  38  includes a V-shaped groove  86  and  88  (see also  FIG. 7 ), respectively, for engagement with a corresponding V-shaped ridge extending along each of the respective rails supporting a device. Thereby, vertical and lateral displacement of the rails relative to the guides is precluded while sliding movement therebetween is accommodated.  
         [0031]     As particularly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , rail  32  is attached to device  30  by a pair of bolts or machine screws  90 ,  92  penetrably engaging apertures  94 ,  96  in rail  34  and into threaded engagement with device  30 . It is to be understood that device  30  may be a component or it may be a housing enclosing a plurality of components. Similarly, rail  32  is secured to device  30  by a pair of bolts or machine screws, of which bolt  98  is shown penetrably engaging corresponding apertures, of which aperture  100  is shown and into threaded engagement with device  30 . To insure dissipation of any electrostatic charge attendant device  30 , a spring  102  is retained within slot  106  by a bolt  104  threadedly engaging rail  34 . This spring extends downwardly past the lower edge of the slot and makes contact with the ground pads  108 ,  110  mounted on the substructure (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Thereby, upon insertion of device  30 , any electrostatic charges present are discharged during the act of mounting by spring  102  engaging pads  108 ,  110 .  
         [0032]     A pair of handles  114 ,  116  serve in the manner of an insertion/extraction mechanism to assist in insertion and extraction of device  30 . Handle  114  is pivotally attached to the front end of rail  32  by a bolt  118  penetrably engaging passageway  120  in the handle and into threaded engagement with aperture  122  in the rail. A disc spring  124  is located between the head of bolt  118  and passageway  120  to provide a spring bias against pivotal movement of handle  114 . Handle  116  is secured to rail  34  by a bolt or machine screw  126  penetrably engaging passageway  128  in the handle and into threaded engagement with aperture  130  in the rail. A compressible sleeve  132  is mounted upon bolt  126  and compressed to provide a downward bias upon handle  116  and restrict inadvertent rotation of the handle. As particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , handle  116  includes a nubbin  134  extending downwardly therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a corresponding nubbin  136  extends upwardly for engagement in the manner of a detent with nubbin  132  extending from handle  116 . To rotate handle  116  into the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , handle  116  must rise to permit nubbin  134  to clear nubbin  136 . Such rise is accommodated by the compressibility of sleeve  132 . Handle  114  may be secured in the locked position shown in  FIG. 4  by a screw  138  penetrating a passageway  140  in the handle and into threaded engagement with aperture  142  of handle stop  144  (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a variant of handles  114  and  116 . Handle  150  is rotatably secured to rail  32  by a bolt or machine screw  152  penetrably engaging aperture  154  of the handle and into threaded engagement with aperture  122  in rail  32 . A disc spring  156  is supported by bolt  152  and bears on handle  152  compressively as a function of the degree of tightening of bolt  152 . Thereby, disc spring  156  provides resistance to pivotal movement of handle  150 . Similarly, pivotally supported handle  160  includes a bolt or machine screw  152  penetrably engaging a disc spring  156 , aperture  154  and threadedly engaging aperture  130  in rail  34 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates apertured plate  74  which includes a plurality of slots  170 ,  172 ,  174  and  176  through which devices  30 ,  28 ,  26  and  24  are inserted, respectively. Handles  114 ,  116  are shown in a closed position to retain the respective devices therebehind. Additionally, grooves  86  in guides  36 ,  38  slidingly mate with ridges  180  formed in each of rails  32 ,  34 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of substructure  10  having various components mounted thereon, including devices  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 ; it is to be understood that these may instead be housings containing various components. A face place  182  is hingedly attached to apertured plate  74  by hinges  184 ,  186 ,  188 ,  190  and  192 . The face plate is secured by spring loaded quarter turn fasteners  194 , which may be of the Zeus type. Thereby, these fasteners remain attached to the face plate when it is pivoted upwardly to accommodate insertion/retraction of devices mounted upon substructure  10 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a device that may be of the type previously described. Alternatively, it may be a hard drive  200  having an electrical connector  202  mounted at the rear end. A rail  204  is mounted to the underside of the hard drive along an edge and secured by bolts or machine screws  206 ,  208  penetrating apertures  210 ,  212  in the rail and threadedly engaging corresponding apertures in the underside of the hard drive. It may be noted that rail  204  does not extend forwardly of the hard drive. A spring  214 , such as described above, is secured to rail  204  by a bolt or machine screw  216  and is free to extend into slot  218  of the rail. Upon contact of this spring with grounding pads on substructure  10 , as described above, any electrostatic charges present will be dissipated. Rail  220  is similar to rail  32  described above and is attached to the underside of hard drive  200  by bolts or machine screws  222  penetrably engaging apertures, such as aperture  224 , in the rail. Rail  220 , like the previously described rails, includes an end  226  supporting a threaded aperture  228 . A single handle  230  is pivotally attached to end  226  by a bolt or machine screw  232  extending through a passageway  234  in the handle and into threaded engagement with aperture  228 . A disc spring  236  is disposed intermediate the head of bolt  232  and handle  230  to provide resistance against pivotal movement of the handle about the axis of bolt  232  and yet permit such pivotal movement. Thereby, handle  230  will tend to remain in either the closed position, as illustrated, or in an extended position to permit manipulation of the hard drive into and out of engagement with the substructure, as discussed with respect to handles  114 ,  116  or handles  150 ,  160 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates hard drive  200  with rails  204  and  220  attached thereto. In this position, handle  230  has been pivoted to a location adjacent the front end of the hard drive, which location corresponds with the hard drive being mounted on substructure  10 . As noted previously, and as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , rails  204  and  220  include inwardly facing ridges  254 ,  256  for engagement with the grooves of corresponding guide rails mounted upon the substructure.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown an exploded view of substructure  10 . It includes a base  240 , usually of metal, supporting, or formed with apertured plate  74 . This plate includes a plurality of apertures  170 ,  172 ,  174  and  176  to accommodate ingress and egress of devices to be supported upon the substructure. Clasp  12  is pivotally supported upon a bolt or machine screw  242  to accommodate locking engagement of the clasp with a spring tab  244 . Similarly, clasp  14  is pivotally supported upon a bolt or machine screw  246  to accommodate locking engagement with a spring tab  248 . A circuit board  250 , or the like, is mounted upon base  240  by a plurality of bolts or machine screws  242 , as depicted. As described above, a plurality of guides  36 ,  38  are mounted upon the circuit board to receive and retain the devices or hard drives to be demountably mounted thereon. A plurality of ancillary electric/electronic equipment may also be mounted upon the circuit board, as indicated, to perform the signal processing function attendant the substructure.  
         [0039]     Upon displacement of faceplate  182  from a location adjacent aperture panel  74 , whether by pivoting it about attached hinges or by removal, insertion and withdrawal of hard drives  200 , or other devices ( 24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 ) may be accomplished. Thereby, replacement of defective hard drives or other devices is readily accomplished by pivoting the handle or handles attached to the hard drive or device to be removed and grasping the handle(s)  230  when in its extended position to insert and withdraw the hard drive or device. Upon insertion, the handle(s) are pivoted adjacent the front edge of the hard drive or device and thereafter covered by faceplate  182 .