Patent Publication Number: US-2022240406-A1

Title: Mount bracket, storage device assembly, and server

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on provisional patent application No(s). 63/141,527 filed in U.S.A. on Jan. 26th, 2021 and on patent application No(s). 110127743 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jul. 28th, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure provides a mount bracket, a storage device assembly, and a server, more particularly to a mount bracket having a buffering structure, a storage device assembly, and a server including the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As internet progresses, people widely use the internet to deal with daily stuffs. In order to provide better internet service, a host server is required to equip with many storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) to store data or information. In general, interior components of the server may cause the vibrations during operation, and the server may be vibrated by exterior factors, such as impacts during the transportation and so on, but these vibrations may adversely affect the hard disk drives. 
     In addition, each of the storage devices is mounted in the server casing via a frame, and the frame helps the installation of the storage device into the server casing or the removal of the storage device from the server casing. During the removal of the storage device from the server casing, a handle of the frame is required to be opened and pivoted to move the storage device upward. However, after the handle is pivoted, the handle may be located above the storage device and thus interfere with the removal of the storage device. Therefore, how to prevent the handle from interfering with the removal of the storage device is one of the crucial topics in this field. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure provides a mount bracket, a storage device assembly, and a server which are capable of protecting the storage device from being damaged due to vibration or sudden impact. 
     One embodiment of the disclosure provides a mount bracket. The mount bracket is adapted to fix a storage device to a first side plate. The mount bracket includes a base part and a handle. The base part includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion is configured to be removably disposed on the first side plate. The first support portion has at least one first buffering structure configured to be in contact with the first side plate. The second support portion is connected to the first support portion and configured to support the storage device. The handle is pivotably disposed on the base part. 
     Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a server. The server includes a first side plate, a storage device, and a mount bracket. The mount bracket includes a base part and a handle. The base part includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion is removably disposed on the first side plate. The first support portion has at least one first buffering structure, and the first buffering structure is in contact with the first side plate. The second support portion is connected to the first support portion and supports the storage device. The handle is pivotably disposed on the base part. 
     Still another embodiment of the disclosure provides a storage device assembly. The storage device assembly is adapted to be mounted on a first side plate. The storage device assembly includes a storage device and a mount bracket. The mount bracket includes a base part and a handle. The base part includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The first support portion is configured to be removably disposed on the first side plate. The first support portion has at least one first buffering structure configured to be in contact with the first side plate. The second support portion is connected to the first support portion and supports the storage device. The handle is pivotably disposed on the base part. 
     According to the mount bracket, the storage device assembly, and the server as discussed in the above embodiments, when the mount bracket is mounted on the first side plate, the buffering structure is in contact with the first side plate, such that the buffering structure can reduce or absorb the vibrations or external force transmitted to the base part from the first side plate, thereby protecting the storage device from being damaged due to vibration or sudden impact. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become better understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intending to limit the present disclosure and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a server according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the server in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mount bracket in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral view of the server in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a base part in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial and enlarged schematic view of the base part in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial and enlarged schematic view of the base part in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8 to 14  show a removal process of the storage device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion according to a second embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  is a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion according to a third embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 18  is a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
     In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown a partial perspective view and an exploded view of a server  1  according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the server  1  includes a first side plate  10 , a second side plate  10 ′, a mount bracket  30 , and a storage device  40 . Note that the server  1  may also include a casing (not shown) for accommodating other associated electronic components or devices, such as, a circuit board  50  shown in  FIG. 4  or a processor, a power supply, connectors, and other components not shown in the drawings. 
     The first side plate  10  has a top edge  11 , at least one first engagement slot  12 , at least one second engagement slot  15 , a plurality of guide pads  20 , at least one positioning recess  21  and at least one engagement hole  22 . The second side plate  10 ′ has a plurality of guide pads  20  and at least one engagement hole  22 . The first side plate  10  and the second side plate  10 ′ are mounted on, for example, the circuit board  50 , and the top edge  11  of the first side plate  10  is located opposite to the circuit board  50 . The first engagement slot  12  is located closer to the top edge  11  than the second engagement slot  15 . The first engagement slot  12  has a first releasing part  13  and a first fastening part  14 , and the first releasing part  13  is connected to a side of the first fastening part  14  and located closer to the top edge  11  than the first fastening part  14 . The second engagement slot  15  has a second releasing part  17  and two second fastening parts  16  and  18 , and the second releasing part  17  is connected to and located between the second fastening parts  16  and  18 . Each of the guide pads  20  may be made of rubber, plastic, or both. In one embodiment, the guide pad  20  may have a plastic core wrapped by a rubber layer. The guide pads  20  are able to guide the movement of the storage device  40  relative to the first side plate  10  and the second side plate  10 ′ while absorb vibration or external force transmitted to the storage device  40 . The positioning recess  21  is configured for positioning the mount bracket  30 . 
     In this embodiment, the guide pads  20  of the first side plate  10  are arranged between every first engagement slots  12  and between every second engagement slots  15 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the guide pads of the first side plate may be arranged between every first engagement slots or the second engagement slots. Note that the quantities of the first engagement slots  12  and the second engagement slot  15  may be modified as required. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 ,  FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mount bracket  30  in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a lateral view of the server  1  in  FIG. 1 . 
     The mount bracket  30  includes a base part  100  and a handle  200 . The base part  100  is removably mounted on the first side plate  10  and is configured to support the storage device  40 . Specifically, the base part  100  includes a first support portion  110  and a second support portion  130 . Furthermore, the base part  100  may further include a joint portion  120 . 
     The first support portion  110  has a surface S, a buffering structure  111 , and a plate part  113 . The surface S and the buffering structure  111  are located at the plate part  113 . When the storage device  40  is mounted on the base part  100 , the surface S faces or contacts the storage device  40 . The buffering structure  111  is, for example, an elongated protrusion having a long side extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to an extension direction of the first support portion  110 ; that is, the buffering structure  111  may be substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the first support portion  110 . The buffering structure  111  protrudes from a surface of the plate part  113  of the first support portion  110  facing away from the surface S and towards the first side plate  10 , and the buffering structure  111  is elastic. The buffering structure  111  may be formed by any suitable process, such as punching, blanking, embossing, aluminum extruding or forging. 
     The first support portion  110  further has two engagement protrusions  112 . The engagement protrusions  112  are configured to be respectively and removably engaged with the first engagement slot  12  and the second engagement slot  15  of the first side plate  10 . To install the base part  100  onto the first side plate  10 , first step is to insert one of the engagement protrusions  112  into the first releasing part  13  of the first engagement slot  12 , second step is to move the base part  100  towards the circuit board  50 . By doing so, the other engagement protrusions  112  is moved to be aligned with the second releasing part  17  of the second engagement slot  15  and then is allowed to be inserted into the second releasing part  17 . Then, fourth step is to move the base part  100  further towards the circuit board  50  until the engagement protrusions  112  touch the ends of the first engagement slot  12  and the second engagement slot  15 . Through the above steps, the base part  100  is mounted on the first side plate  10 . Meanwhile the buffering structure  111  of the first support portion  110  of the base part  100  is engaged into the positioning recess  21  of the first side plate  10 , and which helps fix the base part  100  in position and also reduce or absorb vibration or external force transmitted to the base part  100  from the first side plate  10 , thereby protecting the storage device  40  from being damaged due to vibration or sudden impact. In addition, the difference in the configuration of the first engagement slot  12  and the second engagement slot  15  helps prevent the incorrect installation and unwanted removal of the base part  100 . 
     The second support portion  130  and the joint portion  120  are respectively connected to two opposite ends of the first support portion  110 . The second support portion  130  is, for example, in a plate shape and is non-parallel to the plate part  113  of the first support portion  110 . The second support portion  130  is configured to support or hold the storage device  40  in position on the mount bracket  30 . 
     The joint portion  120  has a plate part  122 . The plate part  122  of the joint portion  120  is non-parallel to the plate part  113  of the first support portion  110 . The joint portion  120  and the second support portion  130  are respectively located at two opposite ends of the first support portion  110 , and the joint portion  120  and the second support portion  130  are respectively located at two opposite sides of the first support portion  110  in a thickness direction Ti of the first support portion  110 . The joint portion  120  further has a tab part  123  and a mount hole  121  located at the tab part  123 . 
     The handle  200  has a pressing portion  210  and an engagement portion  220  located at one side of the handle  200 . The pressing portion  210  is pivotably disposed on the tab part  123  of the joint portion  120  via a pivot (not numbered) inserting therethrough. The pressing portion  210  is configured to press against the first side plate  10  to move the base part  100  relative to the first side plate  10 . The engagement portion  220  is configured to be engaged with the engagement hole  22  of the first side plate  10 . 
     In this embodiment, the mount bracket  30  may further include a latch  300  and an elastic component  350 . The latch  300  is movably mounted on the handle  200  and located opposite to the engagement portion  220 . The latch  300  has an engagement portion  310 . The engagement portion  310  is configured to engaged with the engagement hole  22  of the second side plate  10 ′. The elastic component  350  is, for example, a compression spring. The elastic component  350  is located between and clamped by the latch  300  and the handle  200 . The elastic component  350  is configured to force the engagement portion  310  of the latch  300  to insert into the engagement hole  22  of the second side plate  10 ′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , there are shown a schematic view of the base part  100  in  FIG. 4 , a partial and enlarged schematic view of the base part  100  in  FIG. 5 , and a partial and enlarged schematic view of the base part  100  in  FIG. 6 . 
     In this embodiment, as long as the pressing portion  210  and the engagement portion  220  does not interfere with the installation and the removal of the storage device  40 , an angle θ 1  between the plate part  122  of the joint portion  120  and the extension direction of the first support portion  110  can be determined by the sizes of the pressing portion  210  and the engagement portion  220 . The larger the sizes of the pressing portion  210  and the engagement portion  220 , the larger the angle θ 1  is. In contrast, the smaller the sizes of the pressing portion  210  and the engagement portion  220 , the smaller the angle θ 1  is. In one embodiment, the angle θ 1  may range between 10 degrees and 45 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle of the joint portion  120  to the first support portion  110  can provide a buffering effect. 
     In addition, in the extension direction of the first support portion  110 , a distance between the mount hole  121  of the joint portion  120  and a center point of the buffering structure  111  denotes L 1 ; in the thickness direction T 1 , a height of the buffering structure  111  relative to the flat surface of the plate part  113  of the first support portion  110  denotes H; in the extension direction of the first support portion  110 , a length of the buffering structure  111  denotes L 2 ; and a thickness of the first support portion  110  denotes T. It is noted that L 1 , H, L 2 , and T all may be modified according to anti-vibration required by the storage device  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 14 , the removal process of the storage device  40  is given below in detail. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the storage device  40  is mounted on the first side plate  10  via the mount bracket  30 , and a connector  41  of the storage device  40  is electrically connected to a connector  60  of the circuit board  50 . Also, the engagement portion  220  of the handle  200  and the engagement portion  310  of the latch  300  are respectively engaged with the engagement holes  22  of the first side plate  10  and the second side plate  10 ′. At this moment, the handle  200  is in a closed position, and the mount bracket  30  are fixed to the first side plate  10  and the second side plate  10 ′. 
     Meanwhile, the base part  100  is mounted on the first side plate  10 , and the buffering structure  111  of the base part  100  is engaged into the positioning recess  21  of the first side plate  10 , which fixes the base part  100  in position and the elasticity of the buffering structure  111  can also reduce or absorb vibration or external force transmitted to the base part  100  from the first side plate  10 . 
     To remove the storage device  40  out of the mount bracket  30 , the first step is to push the latch  300  (as indicated by an arrow A) to release the engagement portion  310  from the engagement hole  22  of the second side plate  10 ′. Then, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second step is to pivot the handle  200  to an opened position (as indicated by an arrow B). The handle  200  may be pivoted by an angle θ 3  (e.g., approximately 90 degrees) from the closed position to be approximately perpendicular to a reference line X of the handle  200  in the closed position. While pivoting the handle  200 , the pressing portion  210  of the handle  200  presses against the top edge  11  of the first side plate  10 , which forces the storage device  40  and the mount bracket  30  itself upwards by a short distance, causing the connector  41  of the storage device  40  to disengage from the connector  60  of the circuit board  50 . Then, the third step is to pull the handle  200  of the mount bracket  30  further upwards (as indicated by an arrow C), the lower edge of the buffering structure  111  of the first support portion  110  is in contact with the top edge  11  of the first side plate  10 . At this moment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the mount bracket  30  is kept in the current position as the buffering structure  111  sits on the top edge  11  of the first side plate  10 , so that the storage device  40  can be held above the circuit board  50  without manually holding it. 
     When the handle  200  is in a position at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to its closed position, the engagement portion  220  may be located at the path for removing the storage device  40 . In this case, the inclination of the joint portion  120  allows the handle  200  to further pivot to avoid the engagement portion  220  from blocking the storage device  40 . Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , after the handle  200  is further pivoted (as indicated by an arrow D), the handle  200  will be at an angle θ 4  of approximately 180 degrees to its closed position so as to be in parallel to the reference line X. By doing so, the engagement portion  220  of the handle  200  is moved out of the removal path of the storage device  40 , thus the handle  200  is prevented from interfering with the storage device  40  during the removal of the storage device  40  from the mount bracket  30 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the handle  200  may be allowed to be further pivoted (as indicated by an arrow E) so as to be at an angle θ 5  larger than 180 degrees to its closed position; that is, the handle  200  will be at an angle θ 5  larger than 180 degrees to the reference line X. 
     Note that, in the disclosure, by modifying the configurations of the base part  100  and the handle  200 , the released handle  200  may have a pivotable range of around 0 to 270 degrees from the closed position. 
     In this embodiment, the mount bracket  30  and the storage device  40  mounted on the mount bracket  30  can be regarded as a storage device assembly. Note that the storage device assembly may be applicable to other types of electronic devices or systems. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , there is shown a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion  110 A according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the first support portion  110 A has two buffering structure  111 A and a through hole  112 A formed between the buffering structures  111 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , there is shown a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion  110 B according to a third embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the first support portion  110 B has a buffering structure  111 B and two through holes  112 B. The buffering structure  111 B is a protrusion. The through holes  112 B are located at two opposite sides of the buffering structure  111 B. An overall width of the buffering structure  111 B and the through holes  112 B is substantially equal to a width W of the first support portion  110 C. 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , there is shown a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion  110 C according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the first support portion  110 C has a buffering structure  111 C and two through holes  112 C. The buffering structure  111 C is a protrusion. The buffering structure  111 C is located between the through holes  112 C. An overall width of the buffering structure  111 C and the through holes  112 C is smaller than a width W of the first support portion  110 C. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , there is shown a partial and enlarged perspective view of a first support portion  110 D according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the first support portion  110 D has two first buffering structures  111 D, a second buffering structure  113 D, and a through hole  112 D. The first buffering structures  111 D are protrusions. The through hole  112 D is formed between the first buffering structures  111 D. The second buffering structure  113 D is located at the through hole  112 D, and the second buffering structure  113 D further protrudes from a surface of the first support portion  110 D than the first buffering structures  111 D. The second buffering structure  113 D may have an inclined part so as to facilitate a tactile feedback while operating the mount bracket. 
     According to the mount bracket, the storage device assembly, and the server as discussed in the above embodiments, when the mount bracket is mounted on the first side plate, the buffering structure is in contact with the first side plate, such that the buffering structure can reduce or absorb the vibrations or external force transmitted to the base part from the first side plate, thereby protecting the storage device from being damaged due to vibration or sudden impact. 
     In addition, the inclined joint portion can increase the pivotable range of the handle, such that the engagement portion of the handle can be moved out of the path for removing the storage device, thereby preventing the handle from interfering with the storage device during the removal of the storage device from the mount bracket. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.