Abstract:
An apparatus includes a board presenting a number of engaging portions and a post, and a matching casing containing a data storage device. The casing defines a number of engaging holes and a fixing member on one side. The fixing member includes a first sliding portion and a second sliding portion locating at opposite sides of the post which define a curving slot in which the post can slide. The fixing member is rotated to lock the casing to the board, and rotate back to unlock the casing from the board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a pending U.S. patent application, titled “FIXING APPARATUS FOR STORAGE DEVICE”, filed on Aug. 16, 2011, with the application Ser. No. 13/211,283, which is assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for fixing a data storage device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    An electronic device, such as a computer, is generally equipped with a data storage device, such as a hard disk drive. Mounting the storage device to the electronic device by screws is inefficient and always requires a tool, such as a screw driver, which is inconvenient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for a data storage device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of  FIG. 1  in an assembled state. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing another state of use. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another perspective. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partial, enlarged view of the fixing member of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from yet another perspective. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of  FIG. 3 , taken along the line of VI-VI. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a fixing apparatus for fixing a data storage device, such as a hard disk drive, includes a board  10 , a casing  20  for receiving the data storage device, and a fixing member  30 . 
         [0015]    The board  10  presents four engaging portions  14  arranged adjacent to the four corners of a rectangular plate, and a post  16  outside the internal rectangle formed by the engaging portions  14 . Each engaging portion  14  includes a neck  140  extending in a substantially perpendicular manner from the board  10  and a head  142  mounted to the distal end of the neck  140 . The diameter of the head  142  is greater than the diameter of the neck  140 . 
         [0016]    The casing  20  includes a bottom wall  21 , a front wall  22  and a back wall  23  extending in a substantially perpendicular manner from the ends of the bottom wall  21 , and two sidewalls  24  extending in a substantially perpendicular manner from the sides of the bottom wall  21 . A pair of supporting portions  26  protrudes from the bottom wall  21 , adjacent to each of the two sidewalls  24 . Each supporting portion  26  defines a fixing hole  260  in the top of the supporting portion  26 . 
         [0017]    The bottom wall  21  defines four engaging holes  200  to accommodate the engaging portions  14 . Each engaging hole  200  includes a first hole  202  adjacent to the back wall  23 , and a second hole  204  away from the back wall  23  and communicating with the first hole  202 . The size of the first hole  202  is substantially greater than the size of the second hole  204 . 
         [0018]    A resilient piece  221  is formed on the front wall  22 . A hemispherical projection  220  protrudes from an outer surface of the resilient piece  221 . The projection  220  is disposed substantially between a limiting portion  226  and a blocking portion  222  which extend out from the front wall  22 . A threaded sleeve  224  axially defining a threaded hole  228  extends from the outer surface of the front wall  22 . The threaded sleeve  24  is located below the projection  220  and between it and the blocking portion  222 . A latching portion  230  protrudes from an inner surface of the front wall  22  (referring to  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the fixing member  30  includes a connecting portion  32 , an operation portion  34  extending in a substantially perpendicular manner from an end of the connecting portion  32 , and a main body  36  extending from the other end of the connecting portion  32  opposite to the operation portion  34 . A latch  340  extends from the back side of the operation portion  34 . A hook  342  extends from a distal end of the latch  340  toward the operation portion  34 . The main body  32  includes a locking portion  38  locating at the back side of the main body  32  and a release portion  39  locating at the front side of the main body  32  opposite to the back side. A through hole  360  which extends through the locking portion  38  and the release portion  39  is defined in the main body  36 . A protrusion  382  extends from an end of the locking portion  38  and away from the operation portion  34 . An elastic portion  386  protrudes from the front surface of the protrusion  382  facing the release portion  39 . A flat piece  380  extends down from the other end of the main body  36  opposite to the protrusion  382 . A circular ramp or wedge (first sliding portion  384 ) is formed on the front surface of the locking portion  38  between the protrusion  382  and the flat piece  380 , and is inclined upward toward the release portion  39 . The release portion  39  forms a second sliding portion  390  which is inclined downward toward the first sliding portion  384 , such that a curving slot of one certain width is created between the first and second sliding portions  38  and  39 . The distance between the operation portion  34  and the through hole  360  is greater than the distance between the flat piece  380  and the through hole  360 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in assembly, the threaded sleeve  224  extends through the through hole  360 . A fastener  40  engages in the threaded hole  228  to secure the fixing member  30 , thereby pivotably mounting the fixing member  30  to the front wall  22 . At this time, the rotation of the connecting portion  32  is limited by the projection  220  and the blocking portion  222 . The data storage device (not shown) is supported and fixed on the supporting portions  26 . The casing  20  (with the storage device within) is placed on the board  10  so that the engaging portions  14  extend into the corresponding first holes  202 . The flat piece  380  is located between the post  16  and the front wall  22 . The release portion  39  is located at the side of the post  16  opposite to the flat piece  380 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in use, the operation portion  34  is rotated toward the limiting portion  226 , until the connecting portion  32  abuts the limiting portion  226  and the hook  342  engages with the latching portion  230 . The presence of the post  16  against the first sliding portion  384  causes the casing  20  away from the post  16 , until all the necks  140  are received in the corresponding second holes  204 . At the end of the rotation, the post  16  abuts the elastic portion  386 , and the bottom wall  21  is locked by the heads  142 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in disengaging the casing  20  from the board  10 , the hook  342  is disengaged from the latching portion  230  and the fixing member  30  is rotated to make the operation portion  34  move toward the blocking portion  222 , until the connecting portion  32  is sandwiched between the projection  220  and the blocking portion  222 . The second sliding portion  390  slides against the post  16  so as to pull the casing  20  forward toward the post  16 , until the engaging portions  14  move into the corresponding first holes  202  and the casing  20  can be lifted away. 
         [0023]    As the supporting portions  26  protrude from the bottom wall  21 , the bottom of the storage device is never in contact with the bottom wall  21 . 
         [0024]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of their material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments.