Abstract:
A positioning device for a computer read/write or storage device is provided. The positioning device allows the computer read/write or storage device (such as an optical disk drive, a hard disk drive, or a magnetic disk drive) to be readily installed in a computer chassis and rapidly detached therefrom for replacement without using screws.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an improved fastening device for a computer read/write or storage device (such as an optical disk drive, a hard disk drive, or a magnetic disk drive), wherein the a fastening device is installed at an appropriate location on a read/write or storage device installation frame of a computer chassis so that the computer read/write or storage device can be speedily assembled to the installation frame and rapidly detached therefrom for replacement. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a typical computer chassis  50  mainly contains, among other components, a motherboard, a power supply, a sound card, a display card, and various read/write or storage devices  70  (such as an optical disk drive, a DVD player, a hard disk drive, or a magnetic disk drive). The read/write or storage devices  70  are installed on an installation frame  60 , respectively, and secured in position thereto with screws  71 . 
   However, it is an onerous and time-consuming operation to fasten the read/write or storage devices  70  to the installation frame  60  with the screws  71 . Besides, while the read/write or storage devices  70  are being secured with the screws  71 , the screws  71  often drop unexpectedly and cannot be found. It is very likely that the dropped screws  71  are stuck somewhere in the motherboard so as to short-circuit or even damage the computer. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the fact that the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art require immediate remedy, the inventor of the present invention, based on years of experience in the relevant industry, took pains in contemplating ways of improvement and finally succeeded in developing a fastening device with an improved structure which enables rapid installation and rapid detachment/replacement of various read/write or storage devices. 
   The present invention provides an improved fastening device for a computer read/write or storage device (such as an optical disk drive, a hard disk drive, or a magnetic disk drive), wherein the fastening device allows the computer read/write or storage device to be readily installed in a computer chassis and rapidly detached therefrom for replacement without using screws. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The structure and objectives as well as a preferred mode of implementation and essential concepts of the present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a conventional computer chassis in which a read/write or storage device is secured in place with screws; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a fastening device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is another exploded perspective view of the fastening device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a read/write or storage device installation frame according to the present invention, wherein the installation frame is coupled with a plurality of threaded-post plugs according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the read/write or storage device installation frame according to the present invention, wherein the installation frame is coupled with a plurality of the fastening devices according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a see-through view of the fastening device according to the present invention, showing rotation of a locking knob; 
       FIG. 7  is another see-through view of the fastening device according to the present invention, showing rotation of the locking knob in an opposite direction; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of a plurality of read/write or storage devices fastened in place by the fastening devices according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the fastening device according to the present invention in a position for securing a read/write or storage device; and 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the fastening device according to the present invention in a position for releasing a read/write or storage device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2  for an exploded perspective view of a fastening device  10  according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the fastening device  10  comprises a pressing plate  100 , a locking knob  30 , and a threaded-post plug  40 . 
   The pressing plate  100  is bilaterally provided with pins  101  and centrally provided with an axial hole  102 . As shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 , the axial hole  102  has an upper rim extended with an inclined projection  102   a . In addition, the pins  101  bilaterally provided on the pressing plate  100  are equipped with springs  20 , respectively. 
   The locking knob  30  has a knob portion  301  whose bottom surface is extended centrally with a nut  302 . A pushing block  303  is protrudingly provided between the bottom surface of the knob portion  301  and the nut  302 . 
   The threaded-post plug  40  comprises a plug base  401  centrally and protrudingly provided with a threaded post  402 . The plug base  401  is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned resilient hooks  401   b  and a pair of oppositely positioned projecting blocks  401   a . In addition, referring to  FIG. 4 , a read/write or storage device installation frame  60  has a side panel protrudingly provided with at least a fastening hole  602  and two through holes  603  formed by a stamping process. The fastening hole  602  is further formed with engaging recesses  602   a . The threaded-post plug  40  is pressed and inserted into the fastening hole  602  so that the resilient hooks  401   b  of the plug seat  401  are biased inward. When the threaded-post plug  40  is in place, the two resilient hooks  401   b  spring back and resume their original positions so as to engage with a rim of the fastening hole  602 . Meanwhile, the two projecting blocks  401   a  are inserted into the engaging recess  602   a , respectively, thus securing the threaded-post plug  40  in position to the fastening hole  602 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fastening holes  602  of the side panel of the read/write or storage device installation frame  60  are coupled with a plurality of the threaded-post plugs  40 , respectively. Then, the threaded post  402  of each of the threaded-post plugs  40  is inserted into the axial hole  102  centrally provided on a corresponding said pressing plate  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that the pins  101  bilaterally provided on the pressing plate  100  and equipped respectively with the springs  20  are inserted into corresponding said through holes  603  of the side panel. Afterward, each said threaded post  402  is fastened with the nut  302  of a corresponding said locking knob  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the locking knob  30  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the knob portion  301 , the projecting block  303  of the knob portion  301  is pressed against by the inclined projection  102   a  of the axial hole  102  of the pressing plate  100 . Thus, an angular range of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the locking knob  30  is restricted (to less than a full circle) to prevent the locking knob  30  from getting loose and allow the locking knob  30  to drive the pressing plate  100  and its pins  101  to move forward or backward, whereby a read/write or storage device  70  is rapidly fastened in place or rapidly detached. 
     FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of a plurality of the read/write or storage devices  70  fastened in place by the fastening devices  10  according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the read/write or storage devices  70  are first inserted into the read/write or storage device installation frame  60 . Then, referring also to  FIGS. 6 and 9 , the knob portion  301  of the locking knob  30  of each said fastening device  10  is rotated so as to push the corresponding pressing plate  100  and its pins  101  to move forward. As a result, the pins  101  are inserted into threaded holes  70   a  of each said read/write or storage device  70  to secure each said read/write or storage device  70  in position. 
   Further, as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  10 , when it is desired to detach any of the read/write or storage devices  70 , the knob portion  301  of a corresponding said locking knob  30  is rotated in an opposite direction so as to move the locking knob  30  backward. Thus, the corresponding pressing plate  100  along with its pins  101  are pushed backward by the restoring force of the springs  20 , so that the pins  101  are disengaged from the threaded holes  70   a  of the read/write or storage device  70 , allowing the read/write or storage device  70  to be removed successfully. 
   It can be known from the above description that the structure of the present invention is capable of achieving the intended effects. Besides, the disclosed fastening device has not been put to public use. Therefore, the present invention meets the requirements of utility and novelty for patent application, and an application for patent for the present invention is hereby lawfully filed for examination. 
   It should be noted that the present invention is herein described by reference to a preferred embodiment. Any changes which are based on the concepts of the present invention and whose functions and effects do not depart from the spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings should be encompassed by the appended claims.