Patent Publication Number: US-2013233987-A1

Title: Fastening device for hard disk drive

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a device for fastening a hard disk drive (HDD). 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many HDDs are screwed to brackets in computers, so the HDDs are rigidly connected to chassis of the computers, which means any vibrations or shocks to the chassis are easily transferred to the HDDs. When an HDD is operating at a high speed, such vibrations may harm the HDD. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening device together with a hard disk drive (HDD), wherein the fastening device includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member. 
         FIG. 2  is an inverted view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the first fastening member of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the second fastening member of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a circled portion V of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the HDD, the first fastening member and the second fastening member of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled, isometric view of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary embodiment of a fastening device for a hard disk drive (HDD)  10 . Four mounting holes  12  are defined in a bottom wall of the HDD  10 . The fastening device includes a first fastening member  20 , a second fastening member  30  and a bottom plate  40 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 3  show the substantially U-shaped first fastening member  20 . The first fastening member  20  includes a long sidewall  22 , and a top wall  24  and a bottom wall  26  perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the sidewall  22 . Two through holes  242  are defined in opposite ends of the top wall  24 . Two engaging holes  27  are defined in opposite ends of the bottom wall  26 , each with a shape of an old-fashioned keyhole. Each engaging hole  27  includes a small first hole  271  and a large second hole  272  communicating with the first hole  271 . An opening  25  is defined in a middle of the sidewall  22 , extending through the top wall  24  and bottom wall  26 . An L-shaped locking tab  28  extends from the bottom wall  26  adjoining the opening  25 . The locking tab  28  extends up and then extends out of the sidewall  22 . A through hole  282  is defined in a top of the locking tab  28 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 4  show the U-shaped second fastening member  30  which is similar to the first fastening member  20 . The second fastening member  30  includes a long sidewall  32 , and a top wall  34  and a bottom wall  36  perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the sidewall  32 . Two through holes  342  are defined in opposite ends of the top wall  34 . Two engaging holes  37  are defined in opposite ends of the bottom wall  36 . Each engaging hole  37  includes a small first hole  371  and a large second hole  372  communicating with the first hole  371 . Except for the opening  25  and the locking tab  28 , the second fastening member  30  is a mirror image of the first fastening member  20 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 5  show four protrusions  42  protruding up from the bottom plate  40 . The protrusions  42  are arranged as a rectangle. Each protrusion  42  includes a small neck  421  extending up from the bottom plate  40  and a large head  422  on a top of the neck  421 . A locking protrusion  43  protrudes up from the bottom plate  40 , beside the protrusions  42 . A locking hole  432  is defined in a top of the locking protrusion  43 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show in assembly, the top walls  24  and  34  abut against the bottom wall of the HDD  10 , and the through holes  242  and  342  align with the corresponding mounting holes  12 . Four screws  50  extend through the corresponding through holes  242  and  342 , and engage in the corresponding mounting holes  12 , to fasten the first fastening member  20  and the second fastening member  30  to the HDD  10 . The first fastening member  20  and second fastening member  30  are placed above the bottom plate  40 , and the second holes  272  and  372  are aligned with the corresponding protrusions  42 . The first fastening member  20  and the second fastening member  30  are manipulated down to abut against the bottom plate  40 , to gather the protrusions  42  into the second holes  272  and  372 . In the manner of a slot lock, the HDD  10 , the first fastening member  20  and the second fastening member  30  are moved to allow the necks  421  to engage in the corresponding first holes  271  and  371 . The heads  422  abut against the corresponding bottom wall  26  and  36 . The through hole  282  of the locking tab  28  aligns with the locking hole  432  of the locking protrusion  43 . A fastener  60 , such as a screw, extends through the through hole  282  and engages in the locking hole  432 , to fasten the HDD  10  to the bottom plate  40 . 
     The HDD  10  is fastened to the bottom plate  40  by the U-shaped first fastening member  20  and second fastening member  30 , a certain distance above the bottom plate  40 . When the first fastening member  20  and second fastening member  30  are subjected to vibrations or shocks, the first fastening member  20  and second fastening member  30  can deform to absorb at least part of vibration energy. 
     In other embodiments, the opening  25  is omitted, and the locking tab  28  extends out from an outer side of the sidewall  22 , parallel to the top wall  24 . 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and the functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.