Patent Publication Number: US-2020301484-A1

Title: Storage device fixing bracket

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to storage device fixing brackets, and more particularly to a storage device fixing bracket capable of more stably mounting a storage device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, a storage device is installed in a chassis by being mounted in a bracket. The storage device is generally mounted in the bracket by a post or stud fitted with the bracket. However, a gap may exist between the storage device and the post or stud, thereby making the storage device unstably mounted in the bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an embodiment of a storage device fixing bracket. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the storage device fixing bracket in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the storage device fixing bracket from another angle. 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up view of a fastener of the storage device fixing bracket. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the cross-sectional view from another angle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other word that “substantially” modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an embodiment of a storage device fixing bracket  100  configured to be located in a chassis. The storage device fixing bracket  100  is used for fixing a storage device, such as a hard disk or other type of storage device. 
     The storage device fixing bracket  100  includes a bracket  10  and a plurality of fasteners  20  for fastening the storage device. The bracket  10  includes a plurality of guiding portions  15 . Each fastener  20  defines a groove  23 . The fasteners  20  are located corresponding to the guiding portions  15 . 
     When the fastener  20  is mounted on the bracket  10 , after the guiding portion  15  guides the fastener  20  to a predetermined position, the guiding portion  15  protrudes into the groove  23  and resists against an inner wall  231  of the groove  23 , and the bracket  10  is fixed to the fastener  20  by the guiding portion  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bracket  10  further includes a grounding portion  30  configured to contact the chassis for grounding the storage device. 
     The bracket  10  further includes a base plate  11 , a first elastic side panel  12 , and a second elastic side panel  13 . The first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13  are respectively located on opposite sides of the base plate  11 . The first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13  are mounted substantially perpendicularly to the base plate  11  and are elastically deformable relative to the base plate  11 . 
     A first through hole  111  is defined in the base plate  11  for dissipating heat generated by the storage device. In other embodiments, the first through hole  111  may be omitted. The base plate  11  further defines a second through hole  112  adjacent to the second elastic side panel  13 . In one embodiment, the second through hole  112  is not in communication with the first through hole  111 , and the grounding portion  30  latches through the second through hole  112 . 
     A third through hole  121  is defined in the first elastic side panel  12 . The third through hole  121  is not in communication with the first through hole  111 . If the storage device mounted in the bracket  10  needs to be removed, the first elastic side panel  12  can be pulled through the third through hole  121  to elastically deform the first elastic side panel  12  so that the storage device can be removed from the bracket  10 . An external device may connect with the storage device through the third through hole  121 . A clamping portion  122  is located on an end of the first elastic side panel  12  opposite the base plate  11 . An end of the first elastic side panel  12  opposite the end where the clamping portion  122  is located includes a latching flap  123 . The latching flap  123  is substantially perpendicular to the first elastic side panel  12  and extends toward the second elastic side panel  13 . The clamping portion  122  is used for clamping onto the chassis or other components in the chassis, so that the bracket  10  is more stably mounted in the chassis, and the latching flap  123  is used for biasing the storage device within the bracket  10 , so that the storage device is more stably mounted in the bracket  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , resisting portions  131  are located on an outer side of the second elastic side panel  13 . The resisting portions  131  are configured to resist the grounding portion  30 . Each of two ends of the second elastic side panel  13  includes a latching flap  132 . The two latching flaps  132  are substantially perpendicular to the second elastic side panel  13  and extend toward the first elastic side panel  12 . The two latching flaps  132  on the second elastic side panel  13  cooperate with the latching flap  123  on the first elastic side panel  12  to bias the storage device within the bracket  10 . An inner side of the second elastic side panel  13  includes at least one first protrusion  133  for abutting the grounding portion  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5 , an opening  14  is defined in each of the first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13 , and each fastener  20  is received in a corresponding opening  14 . In one embodiment, the first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13  each define two openings  14 . The guiding portion  15  is formed at an edge portion of the opening  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the guiding portion  15  is located on opposite sides of the opening  14 , and the guiding portion  15  is inclined to guide movement of the fastener  20 . Specifically, the two guiding portions  15  are respectively inclined toward each other at a same angle. In other embodiments, a quantity of the openings  14  and a position of opening are not limited thereto, and the guiding portions  15  may be located on other sides of the opening  14 . In one embodiment, the guiding portions  15  extend toward outside of the first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13 . When the fastener  20  is mounted on the bracket  10 , the guiding portions  15  abut against the fastener  20 . 
     A quantity of the fasteners  20  is equal to the quantity of the openings  14 . The fastener  20  includes a first fixing portion  21  and a second fixing portion  22 . The first fixing portion  21  and the second fixing portion  22  abut against the bracket  10 , and the second fixing portion  22  is guided by the guiding portions  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a side of the first fixing portion  21  facing away from the second fixing portion  22  includes at least one second protrusion  211  for abutting the storage device in the bracket  10 , so that the storage device is mounted more stably in the bracket  10 . The second fixing portion  22  includes a first inclined surface  221  and a second inclined surface  222 . The first inclined surface  221  and the second inclined surface  222  are respectively located on opposite sides of the second fixing portion  22 . A direction of inclination of the first slanted surface  221  and of the second slanted surface  222  is the same as a direction of inclination of the two guiding portions  15 . Opposite surfaces of the second fixing portion  22  are formed by a central circular arc surface and two lateral planar surfaces, but are not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 , the groove  23  is defined on opposite sides of the fastener  20 , and the first inclined surface  221  and the second inclined surface  222  are each adjacent to the corresponding groove  23 . Boundaries of the groove  23  are defined by the first fixing portion  21  and the second fixing portion  22 . The inner wall  231  of the groove  23  is slanted, and a direction and angle of slant of the inner wall  231  are the same as the direction and angle of slant of the two guiding portions  15 . When the fastener  20  is mounted to the bracket  10 , the guiding portions  15  are in contact with the inner wall  231 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the fastener  20  further includes a protruding post  24 . The protruding post  24  protrudes from a surface of the first fixing portion  21  and is used to clamp the storage device. 
     When the fastener  20  is mounted on the bracket  10 , an end of the second fixing portion  22  away from the first fixing portion  21  first passes through the opening  14 , and then the guiding portions  15  guide the first fixing portion  21  by engagement of the first inclined surface  221  and the second inclined surface  222  with the guiding portions  15 . After the second fixing portion  22  is moved to a predetermined position, the guiding portions  15  protrude into the grooves  23  to engage with the inner walls  231 , and the first fixing portion  21  abuts against inner surfaces of the first elastic side panel  12  or the second elastic side panel  13 , thereby fastening the fasteners  20  on the first elastic side panel  12  and the second elastic side panel  13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the grounding portion  30  is configured to further connect the storage device to the chassis casing. Specifically, the grounding portion  30  includes a first abutting portion  301 , a second abutting portion  302 , and a third abutting portion  303 . When the grounding portion  30  is mounted to the bracket  10 , the first abutting portion  301  is configured to abut against the resisting portion  131 , the second abutting portion  302  is configured to abut against an edge of the second through hole  112 , and the third abutting portion  303  is configured to abut against the storage device to connect the storage device to the chassis to achieve a grounding effect. In other embodiments, the grounding portion  30  may be mounted to other portions of the bracket  10  and be structurally different, as long as the grounding portion  30  connects the storage device to the chassis. 
     In summary, the storage device fixing bracket  100  can more stably mount the storage device in the bracket  10  by using the fasteners  20  and the grounding portion  30 . The fasteners  20  are mounted to the bracket  10  along a direction parallel to the base plate  11 , and the grounding portion  30  is mounted to the bracket  10  along a direction perpendicular to the base plate  11 . The fasteners  20  are more stably clamped on the bracket  10  by engagement of the first inclined surface  221  and the second inclined surface  222  with the guiding portions  15 , and the guiding portions  15  extending outside of the bracket  10  enhances guiding of the fasteners  20  to be mounted on the bracket  10 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.