Patent Publication Number: US-2012026673-A1

Title: Mounting apparatus for data storage device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a mounting apparatus for a data storage device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     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 traditional screw type fasteners is inefficient and always requires tools, such as a screw driver. 
    
    
     
       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 mounting apparatus, a data storage device, and a chassis, the mounting apparatus includes a support bracket, a latch mechanism, and four positioning members. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the support bracket of  FIG. 1 , but shown from a different perspective. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 1 , but shown from a different perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of one of the positioning members of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples 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. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a mounting apparatus is provided for mounting a data storage device  100 , such as a hard disk drive, to a chassis  200  of a computer. A mounting hole  101  is defined in a side of the data storage device  100 , adjacent to each of four corners of the data storage device  100 . A plurality of securing holes  201  is defined in a bottom plate of the chassis  200 . The mounting apparatus includes a support bracket  10 , a latch mechanism  30 , and four positioning members  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support bracket  10  includes a rectangular main body  11 , a first flange  12  perpendicularly extending from a bottom of the main body  11 , and two second flanges  13  perpendicularly extending from the first side of the main body  11  and opposite to the first flange  12 . The first flange  12  is located between the second flanges  13 . Two L-shaped guiding portions  14  extend from a middle of the main body  11 , adjacent to a top of the main body  11 . Four support tabs  15  extending from left and right sides of the main body  11 . The main body  11  defines a locking hole  113  therein between the guiding portions  14 . The first flange  12  defines two retaining holes  121 . Each of the second flanges  13  defines a retaining hole  131 . The guiding portions  14  extend towards each other to cooperatively form a guiding slot  141  together with the main body  11 . A semicircular cutout  152  is defined in a top side of each of the support tabs  15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the latch mechanism  30  includes a latch member  31  and a resilient member  33 . The latch member  31  includes a pressing portion  313 , and a first holding portion  311  and a second holding portion  312  perpendicularly extending along the same direction from opposite sides of the press portion  313 . The first holding portion  311  is taller than the second holding portion  312 . A resilient locking tab  3113  extends from a middle of the first holding portion  311  and slantingly extends out from the second holding portion  313  in an unforced state. Two alignment blocks  3115  protrude from a side of the first holding portion  311  facing the second holding portion  312 . A recessed area  3131  is defined in a side of the pressing portion  313  facing the first and second holding portions  311 ,  312 . Two snapping slots  3132  are defined in the pressing portion  313  at opposite sides of the recessed area  3131 , and communicate with the recessed area  3131 . In one embodiment, the resilient member  33  is an arc-shaped spring piece accommodated in the recessed area  3131 , and includes two inserting portions  332  formed at opposite sides. 
     In assembly of the latch mechanism  30 , the inserting portions  332  of the resilient member  30  are correspondingly engaged in the snapping slots  3132  of the pressing portion  313  of the latch member  31 , to attach the resilient member  33  to the latch member  31 . The resilient member  33  aligns with the recessed area  3131  of the pressing portion  313 , and protrudes away from the pressing portion  313 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the positioning members  50  is substantially columnar, and includes a post body  51 , and a threaded coupling portion  54  extending from an end of the post body  51 . The post body  51  defines an annular groove  512  in a circumference of the post body  51 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to mount the data storage device  100  to the chassis  200 , the support bracket  10  is placed on the chassis  200  with the retaining holes  121 ,  131  of the first and second flanges  12 ,  13  of the support bracket  10  aligning with the corresponding securing holes  201  of the chassis  200 . A plurality of fasteners, such as rivets  300 , are correspondingly secured in the securing holes  201  of the chassis  200  and the retaining holes  121 ,  131  of the support bracket  10  to secure the support bracket  10  to the chassis  200  with the main body  11  of the support bracket  10  perpendicularly extending up from the bottom plate of the chassis  200 . The positioning members  50  are attached to the side of the data storage device  100 , with the coupling portions  54  of the positioning members  50  engaging in the corresponding mounting holes  101  of the data storage device  100 . The positioning members  50  are supported on the corresponding support tabs  15 , with the positioning members  50  received in the cutouts  152  of the corresponding support tabs  15 , meanwhile, the support tabs  15  engaged in the grooves  512  of the corresponding positioning members  50 . Therefore, the data storage device  100  is attached to the support bracket  10 , with the side of the data storage device  100  substantially parallel with the main body  11  of the support bracket  10 . The latch member  31  is lifted over the data storage device  100  to align the alignment blocks  3115  of the latch member  31  with the guiding slot  141  of the support bracket  10 . With the alignment blocks  3115  of the latch member  31  sliding downwards along the guiding slot  141  of the support bracket  10 , the first holding portion  311  is inserted between the data storage device  100  and the main body  11  of the support bracket  10  until the locking tab  3113  engages in the locking hole  113  of the main body  11  of the support bracket  10 . At the same time, the data storage device  100  is sandwiched between the first and second holding portions  311 ,  312 . The top of the storage device  100  resists against the resilient member  33  to compress the resilient member  33 . 
     To detach the data storage device  100 , the locking tab  3113  is depressed to disengage from the locking hole  113  of the support bracket  10 . The resilient member  33  restores driving the locking member  31  up from the data storage device  100 . The latch mechanism  30  may then be taken off from the data storage device  100 . The data storage device  100  may then be disengaged from the support bracket  10  and be detached from the chassis  200 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in 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.