Patent Publication Number: US-8113873-B1

Title: Pivot assisted storage device unloading mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     External storage devices may be communicatively coupled to a computer in a variety of ways. For some storage devices, a cable may be coupled directly between the storage device&#39;s housing and the computer. For other storage devices, a wireless connection (e.g., a Bluetooth connection) may be created between circuitry in both the storage device and the computer. For still other storage devices, a separate cradle is first coupled to the computer (e.g., via a USB cable), and the storage device may then mate with the cradle by any of a variety of connectors. The cradle solution may enable a user to more conveniently connect and disconnect a storage device from a computer and has been a preferred solution for many storage devices. 
     One challenge in designing storage device cradles is finding the proper balance between a tight fit for the mating connectors of the storage device and the cradle, in order to ensure proper electrical interconnection, and providing sufficient space/mechanical give between the mating connectors, in order to allow the storage device to disconnect from the cradle without undue effort. If the fit is too tight, the storage device must be wrenched off of the cradle, and the delicate mating connectors may be damaged. If the fit is too loose, electrical shorts may arise between the storage device and the cradle. 
     There is therefore a need for an improved cradle for coupling between a storage device and a computer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage device cradle, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1  holding a storage device, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1  with a portion of a housing of the storage device cradle removed, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, top view of a storage device connector of the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1 , according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective, exploded view of the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1 , according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 6A  is a side, schematic view of the storage device connector within the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1  in a relaxed configuration against one stop, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side, schematic view of the storage device connector of  FIG. 6A  in a rotated configuration against another stop, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a magnified, schematic view of the storage device connector interacting with a cradle connector of a storage device, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a storage device pivoting about the storage device cradle of  FIG. 1  during an unloading operation, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart for a method of manufacturing a storage device cradle, according to one illustrated embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a storage device cradle  100  is illustrated, according to one embodiment. The storage device cradle  100  comprises a housing  102 , an external interface  104  and a storage device connector  106 . The housing  102  includes a receiving surface  108  sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a storage device  110  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the receiving surface  108  having a hole  112  defined therethrough. The external interface  104  is configured to communicatively couple to a computer (not shown). The storage device connector  106  extends at least partially through the hole  112  in the receiving surface  108 , the storage device connector  106  communicatively coupled to the external interface  104  and configured to couple to the storage device  110 . In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  is rotatable about a pivot axis A defined by at least one shaft (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) mounted within the housing  102 . 
     The storage device cradle  100  may comprise any of a variety of cradles configured to receive a storage device  110  and to enable communications between the storage device  110  and a computer. In one embodiment, the storage device cradle  100  is designed specifically for a particular type of storage device  110 . In other embodiments, the storage device cradle  100  may be a more universal cradle designed to accommodate storage devices of different types, sizes and configurations. The storage device cradle  100  may also be designed to receive more than one storage device  110  at a time. In one embodiment, the storage device cradle  100  may comprise a distinct component; however, in other embodiments, the storage device cradle  100  may comprise one part of a system having multiple components. 
     The housing  102  of the storage device cradle  100  includes a receiving surface  108  sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the storage device  110 . In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the receiving surface  108  may partially support the storage device  110  along one sidewall of the storage device  110  placed against the housing  102 . In other embodiments, one or more surfaces of the storage device  110  may be received by the receiving surface  108 , depending upon the configuration of both the storage device  110  and the housing  102 . In some embodiments, the receiving surface  108  may be configured to contact the storage device  110  only during loading and/or unloading operations. 
     The receiving surface  108  may be formed between three walls  114   a - c  of the housing  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , these three walls  114   a - c  may help to align and then support the storage device  110 , when the storage device  110  is properly positioned on the storage device cradle  100 . Of course, in other embodiments, one or more of the ancillary walls  114   a - c  may be omitted, or additional walls may be added to the housing  102 . 
     The receiving surface  108  may be substantially planar along its length, extending from the rear wall  114   c  of the storage device cradle  100  towards the front  116  of the storage device cradle  100 . However, in other embodiments, the receiving surface  108  may include any of a variety of contours (abrupt or gradual), which may facilitate a mating connection with particular types of storage devices. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  (as well as in additional Figures), a set of axes may be defined to facilitate discussion regarding the storage device cradle  100 . A first axis L may be defined substantially parallel the length of the receiving surface  108 , a second axis W may be defined substantially parallel a width of the receiving surface  108 , and a third axis H may be defined perpendicular to both the L and W axes. As illustrated, the receiving surface  108  may define a length along the first axis L and may define a width substantially shorter than the length along the second axis W perpendicular to the first axis L. 
     In one embodiment, the receiving surface  108  further includes a hole  112  defined therethrough. The hole  112  may have any of a variety of sizes and shapes, and may be sized and configured to enable the storage device connector  106  to extend at least partially therethrough. The housing  102  may further include a bottom surface  124  configured to lie against a supporting surface, such as the ground or a table. In one embodiment, the receiving surface  108  extends along the axis L at an angle to the bottom surface  124 , which may facilitate the loading and unloading of the storage device  110 . 
     The housing  102  of the storage device cradle  100  may be formed from any of a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the housing  102  may be formed from a molded plastic. In other embodiments, heavier materials may be used to form the housing  102  in order to increase the overall mass of the storage device cradle  100 . Such increased mass may facilitate the unloading of the storage device  110  by acting as a counterweight to the forces created as the connectors of the storage device  110  and the storage device cradle  100  are separated. The housing  102  may also be formed as a unitary body or may be assembled from a plurality of pieces. 
     The external interface  104  may comprise any of a variety of interfaces configured to communicatively couple to a computer (not shown). In one embodiment, as illustrated, the external interface  104  may comprise a wired universal serial bus (USB) connector. In another embodiment, the external interface  104  may comprise some other wired serial or parallel interface. In still other embodiments, the external interface  104  may comprise a wireless interface configured to communicate according to one or more protocols and may include one or more antennas. 
     The storage device connector  106  may comprise any of a variety of connectors communicatively coupled to the external interface  104  and configured to couple to the storage device  110 . In some embodiments, the storage device connector  106  need not comply with the same interface standards as the external interface  104 , and the storage device cradle  100  may include circuitry communicatively coupled between the storage device connector  106  and the external interface  104 . However, in other embodiments, as illustrated, the storage device connector  106  may comply with the same interface standards as the external interface  104 , and a cable (not visible) may extend between the storage device connector  106  and the external interface  104 . For example, the storage device connector  106  may comprise a USB connector, such as a mini-USB, micro-USB or other USB-compatible connector, and a cable may extend from the storage device connector  106  to the USB-compatible external interface  104 . 
     In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  is positioned to extend at least partially through the hole  112  in the receiving surface  108  and is rotatable about a pivot axis A defined by at least one shaft mounted within the housing  102 . The hole  112  may be sized and shaped such that the storage device connector  106  can rotate relatively freely about the pivot axis A within the hole  112 . As illustrated in the top view of  FIG. 4 , the storage device connector  106  may include two shafts  118   a, b  extending to either side of the storage device connector  106 , which define the pivot axis A. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the shafts  118   a, b  may be retained by and allowed to pivot within corresponding slots  120 . In other embodiments, more or fewer shafts may define the pivot axis A of the storage device connector  106 , and the at least one shaft may rotate within any of a variety of openings. In one embodiment, as illustrated, the pivot axis A of the storage device connector  106  is in substantial alignment with the axis W. Of course, in other embodiments, the pivot axis A of the storage device connector  106  need not be aligned with the axis W and may instead be in substantial alignment with the axis L, for example. 
     The rotation of the storage device connector  106  may enable a user to unload the storage device  110  from the storage device cradle  100  while exerting some torque on the storage device  110  without damaging the sensitive electrical connectors of the storage device  110  and the storage device cradle  100 . 
     The storage device  110  may comprise any of a variety of external storage devices configured to communicate with a computer (not shown). For example, the storage device  110  may comprise an external disk drive having a USB, FireWire or other serial interface, a personal media device having an internal memory (e.g., an mp3 player), or a cellular phone having internal storage. In addition to the internal storage, the storage device  110  may include various controllers and/or processors configured to perform computing tasks. 
     The storage device  110  may include a cradle connector (illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) configured to mate with the storage device connector  106 . In one embodiment, as illustrated, the storage device connector  106  may comprise a male connector, and the storage device  110  may include a corresponding female cradle connector. Of course, in other embodiments, the storage device connector  106  may comprise a female connector, and the storage device  110  may include a corresponding male cradle connector. 
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the internal components of the storage device cradle  100  in greater detail. As best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the storage device cradle  100  may include a spring  122  configured to bias the storage device connector  106  to a position wherein the storage device connector  106  extends substantially perpendicular to the receiving surface  108  (i.e., parallel with the axis H, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A ). The spring  122  may comprise any of a variety of spring elements and, in one embodiment, may comprise a leaf spring (as illustrated). Biasing the storage device connector  106  to this position may facilitate the loading of the storage device  110 . In other embodiments, the storage device connector  106  may be biased to a position substantially perpendicular to a supporting surface, such as the ground or a table. In still other embodiments, the storage device connector  106  need not be biased in any particular direction. 
     In one embodiment, a cable  126  extends between the storage device connector  106  and the external interface  104 . The cable  126  may have sufficient flexibility to enable the storage device connector  106  to pivot about the at least one shaft  118   a, b  substantially freely. Of course, in other embodiments, other electrical elements may be used to communicatively couple between the storage device connector  106  and the external interface  104 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 5  also illustrate two masses  128   a, b  positioned within the housing  102 . These masses  128   a, b  may be added to the storage device cradle  100  in order to increase the total mass of the storage device cradle  100  while maintaining the simplicity of its design. As described above, the increased mass may facilitate the unloading of the storage device  110  by acting as a counterweight to the forces generated as the connectors of the storage device  110  and the storage device cradle  100  are separated. Of course, in other embodiments, the storage device cradle  100  may include more or fewer components that are differently configured and arranged. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  schematically illustrate the storage device connector  106  against one of two stops  130   a, b  within the storage device cradle  100 . In one embodiment, the housing  102  may include a stop  130   a, b  to each side of the storage device connector  106 , the stops  130   a, b  configured to limit rotation of the storage device connector  106 . In one embodiment,  FIG. 6A  illustrates the storage device connector  106  in a relaxed configuration biased against a first stop  130   a . As illustrated, the storage device connector  106  may be pressed against the first stop  130   a  by the spring  122  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) and may extend substantially perpendicularly to the receiving surface  108 . With the storage device connector  106  in this relaxed configuration, the storage device  110  may be loaded by sliding a rear of the storage device  110  along the rear wall  114   c  until the storage device  110  is seated properly against the receiving surface  108 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates the storage device connector  106  in a rotated configuration against a second stop  130   b . In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  may contact this second stop  130   b  as the storage device  110  is pivoted away from the storage device cradle  100  (as illustrated in  FIG. 8 ). The stops  130   a, b  may thus circumscribe the rotation of the storage device connector  106  within the storage device cradle  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the stops  130   a, b  may comprise distinct cylindrical obstructions within the housing  102 , as illustrated. In other embodiments, the stops  130   a, b  may comprise differently shaped components within the housing  102 , which, when combined with the geometry of the storage device connector  106 , limit the connector&#39;s degree of rotation. For example, the two stops  130   a, b  may be formed by the bottom surface of the housing  102  of the storage device cradle  100 , which may obstruct the complete rotation of the storage device connector  106 . In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  may rotate through approximately 30 degrees between the two stops  130   a, b . In another embodiment, the storage device connector  106  may rotate through approximately 45 degrees between the two stops  130   a, b . In other embodiments, the storage device connector  106  may rotate through a greater or lesser angle. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a magnified, schematic view of the storage device connector  106  and a cradle connector  132  of the storage device  110  during an unloading operation. As the angle between the storage device connector  106  and the cradle connector  132  grows too great, electrical shorts and/or mechanical breakage may occur. As highlighted by circle  134 , certain surfaces of the two connectors  106 ,  132  have collided and are mechanically stressed at the illustrated angle. In one embodiment, these mechanical stresses may become too great at angles of greater than about six degrees. Therefore, it may be beneficial to design the storage device cradle  100  with the proper geometry to maintain the angle between the connectors  106 ,  132  below such a threshold when unloading the storage device  110 . In one embodiment, the angle may be kept below six degrees. In another embodiment, the angle may be kept below three degrees. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the storage device  110  may be unloaded from the storage device cradle  100  by pivoting the storage device  110  away from the storage device cradle  100 . In one embodiment, the receiving surface  108  is adjacent a curved area  136  that is separated from the storage device connector  106  along the first axis L. The curved area  136  may be sized and configured such that the storage device  110  pivots about the curved area  136  (as illustrated by the arrow of  FIG. 8 ) while unloading the storage device  110  from the storage device cradle  100 . As the storage device  110  pivots about the curved area  136 , the storage device connector  106  may also rotate about the pivot axis A, minimizing the angle formed between the storage device connector  106  and the cradle connector  132 . By allowing this pivoting during the unloading operation, the total weight of the storage device cradle  100  may be kept relatively low, since the user may simultaneously push down on the storage device cradle  100  while unloading the storage device  110  from the cradle  100 . Of course, the user may also simply pull the storage device  110  off of the storage device cradle  110  generally along the third axis H, perpendicularly to the receiving surface  108 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart for a method  900  of manufacturing a storage device cradle, according to one illustrated embodiment. This method  900  will be discussed in the context of the storage device cradle  100  of  FIGS. 1-8 . However, the acts disclosed herein may be executed to produce a variety of different cradles, in accordance with the described method. 
     As described herein, at least some of the acts comprising the method  900  may be orchestrated by a processor according to an automatic manufacturing algorithm, based at least in part on computer-readable instructions stored in computer-readable memory and executable by the processor. A manual implementation of one or more acts of the method  900  may also be employed, in other embodiments. 
     At act  902 , a housing  102  is provided, the housing  102  having a receiving surface  108  sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a storage device  110 . In one embodiment, the housing  102  may be provided as a plurality of components that may be arranged and joined during a later stage. In another embodiment, the housing  102  may comprise a unitary piece provided in a form substantially similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     At act  904 , a storage device connector  106  configured to couple to the storage device  110  is provided. As described above, the storage device connector  106  may comprise any of a variety of connectors configured to couple to the storage device  110 . In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  may comprise a USB connector configured to couple to the storage device  110 . 
     A cable  126  may also be coupled between the storage device connector  106  and an external interface  104  configured to communicatively couple to a computer (not shown). The cable  126  may comprise any of a variety of wire configurations and may have sufficient flexibility to allow the storage device connector  106  to rotate relatively freely. 
     At act  906 , a hole  112  is formed through the receiving surface  108 . The hole  112  may be formed in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the hole  112  may be formed by punching, sawing or otherwise creating a hole in the receiving surface  108 . In other embodiments, the receiving surface  108  may be molded or pieced together in such a way that a hole  112  is formed therethrough. 
     At act  908 , the storage device connector  106  is positioned to extend at least partially through the hole  112  in the receiving surface  108 , the storage device connector  106  rotatable about a pivot axis A defined by at least one shaft  118   a, b  mounted within the housing  102 . In one embodiment, the storage device connector  106  may be coupled to the at least one shaft  118   a, b  (e.g., the storage device connector  106  and the at least one shaft  118   a, b  may comprise a unitary component), and the storage device connector  106  and the at least one shaft  118   a, b  may together be mounted within the housing  102  such that the storage device connector  106  extends at least partially through the hole  112 . In another embodiment, the at least one shaft  118   a, b  may first be mounted within the housing  102 , and the storage device connector  106  may be coupled to the at least one shaft  118   a, b  in a position such that the storage device connector  106  extends at least partially through the hole  112 . 
     The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics, and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the present subject matter may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). However, the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more programs executed by one or more processors, as one or more programs executed by one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof.