Patent Abstract:
A computer enclosure includes a front panel and a bracket configured for receiving data storage devices therein. The bracket is accommodated in the computer enclosure. An opening is defined at the front panel for exposing the bracket. The bracket has a side wall covering the opening. A locking plate is pivotably attached to the bracket and locked with the front panel to thereby locking the bracket to the computer enclosure.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure with a bracket for data storage devices.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Usually, a bracket is fixed to a computer enclosure for securing storage devices. The bracket is generally installed on an inner surface of the computer enclosure.  
         [0003]     For example, the computer enclosure generally includes a front panel. The front panel defines an opening therein. The bracket is installed on an inner surface of the front panel. The data storage devices are installed into the bracket through the opening of the front panel. However, in this computer enclosure, the bracket usually takes up a fairly large amount of space.  
         [0004]     What is needed, therefore, is a computer enclosure with a bracket for improving usage of limited space of the computer enclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A computer enclosure includes a front panel and a bracket configured for receiving data storage devices therein. The bracket is accommodated in the computer enclosure. An opening is defined at the front panel for exposing the bracket. The bracket has a side wall covering the opening. A locking plate is pivotably attached to the bracket and locked with the front panel to thereby locking the bracket to the computer enclosure.  
         [0006]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a computer enclosure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer enclosure including a front panel, a bottom panel, a bracket, and a locking plate;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the bracket installed in the computer enclosure;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , including two data storage devices in the bracket, and the locking plate in an unlocked position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the locking plate in a locked position; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a computer enclosure includes a front panel  10 , a bottom panel  30 , and a bracket  50 .  
         [0013]     A rectangular opening  13  is defined in a bottom of the front panel  10 . A first flange  131  and a second flange  133  extend out from top and bottom edges of the opening  13  of the front panel  10  respectively. A third flange  135  extends out from a side edge of the front panel  10 . The flanges  131 ,  133 ,  135  are perpendicular to the front panel  10 . A fourth flange  15  extends inward from a side edge of the front panel  10 . The fourth flange  15  is parallel to the third flange  135 . Each of the flanges  131 ,  133 ,  135 ,  15  has a plurality of anti-EMI (electronic magnetic interference) clips  16 . A first positioning hole  171  is defined in the front panel  10  above the first flange  131  far away from the third flange  135  on the front panel  10 . A second positioning hole  173  is defined in the front panel  10  underneath the second flange  133  far away from the third flange  135 . The front panel  10  defines two holes  19  above the first flange  131 , and the bottom panel  30  defines two holes  39  therein.  
         [0014]     The bracket  50  includes a top wall  56 , a bottom wall  58 , a first side wall  52 , a second side wall  54 , and a locking plate  51 . The top wall  56 , the bottom wall  58 , and the side walls  52 ,  54  together form a space for accommodating data storage devices  90  (shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ) therein. An entrance, through which the data storage devices  90  can enter into the bracket  50 , is formed at one side of the bracket  50  and surrounded by the top wall  56 , the bottom wall  58 , and the side walls  52 ,  54 . The first side wall  52  defines two pivot holes  521 ,  523 . Two mounting plates  53  are defined at the top wall  56  of the bracket  50 . Each mounting plate  53  defines a mounting hole  531  corresponding to one of the holes  19  defined in the front panel  10 . An L-shaped supporting plate  55  with two mounting holes  551  (only one shown in  FIG. 1 ) is formed on the bottom wall  58  of the bracket  50 , corresponding to the holes  39  of the bottom panel  30 . The bracket  50  has a plurality of clips  57  for securing the data storage devices  90 . A plurality of holes  59  is defined in the first side wall  52  of the bracket  50 . The locking plate  51  has two pivots  511 ,  513  for being inserted into the pivot holes  521 ,  523  of the bracket  50 . A first finger  515  with a first protrusion  5151  extends from the middle of the top edge of the locking plate  51 , and a second finger  517  with a second protrusion  5171  extends from the middle of the bottom edge of the locking plate  51 . The locking plate  51  has a block flange  519 . The block flange  519  has a protuberance  5191  and a plurality of EMI clips  5193 .  
         [0015]     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in assembly, the bracket  50  is received in the computer enclosure. The first side wall  52  of the bracket  50  extends out of the opening  13  of the front panel  10 . The first and second flanges  131 ,  133  of the computer enclosure  30  abut against the top and bottom walls  56 ,  58  of the bracket respectively. The third flange  135  abuts against the bracket  50  at a location far away from the entrance. The forth flange  15  abuts against the bracket  50  at the entrance. The mounting plates  53  of the bracket  50  abut against an inner surface of the front panel  10 , and the mounting holes  531  of the mounting plates  53  align with the respective holes  19  of the front panel  10 . Two stakes (not shown) are inserted through the holes  19 ,  531  to fix the bracket  50  to the front panel  10 . The mounting holes  551  of the bracket  50  align with the holes  39  of the bottom panel  30 . Another stake (not shown) is inserted through the holes  39 ,  551  to secure the bracket  50  on the bottom panel  30 . The bracket  50  is therefore locked in the computer enclosure. The pivots  511 ,  513  of the locking plate  51  are respectively engaged into the pivot holes  521 ,  523  of the bracket  50 . Consequently, the locking plate  51  is pivotally attached on the bracket  50 , and extends out of the computer enclosure.  
         [0016]     Referring also to FIGS.  3  to  5 , the data storage devices  90  are installed into the bracket  50 . Screws  60  are engaged into the holes  59  of the bracket  50  to lock the data storage devices  90  in the bracket  50 . The locking plate  51  is rotated in. The first finger  515  and the second finger  517  are wedged into the first positioning hole  171  and the second positioning hole  173  of the front panel  10  respectively. The first protrusion  5151  of the first finger  515  and the second protrusion  5171  of the second finger  517  are against edges of the first positioning hole  171  and the second positioning hole  173  respectively. Meanwhile, the flange  519  of the locking plate  51  is substantially coplanar with the fourth flange  15  of the front panel  10 , and the protuberance  5191  of the flange  519  resiliently engages the data storage devices  90 .  
         [0017]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of a preferred embodiments, together with details of the structure and function of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6