Abstract:
A hard disk drive holder includes main body, spindle slidably mounted to the main body, handle rotatably connected to the main body via the spindle, and hook slidably mounted to the main body. The handle includes claw and locking tongue. The handle rotates between closed and opened positions. When the handle is at closed position, if the spindle slides from a first position to a second position, the locking tongue gradually extends out of the main body. When the handle rotates to closed position, if the spindle isn&#39;t at first position, the claw engages with a blocking piece of the hook and compels the hook to slide from a third position towards a fourth position until the claw goes over the blocking piece. A first spring biases the spindle to second position. A second spring biases the handle to opened position. A third spring biases the hook to third position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to a copending U.S. patent application, titled “HARD DISK DRIVE HOLDER”, with the application Ser. No. 12/613,449, assigned to the same assignee as the present application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a hard disk drive (HDD) holder. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An HDD holder is used to hold an HDD. The HDD holder typically includes a main body and a handle having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end is rotatably mounted to the main body, a locking tongue extends from the first end, and a hook extends from the second end. A computer chassis typically includes a receiving portion for receiving the HDD holder. The receiving portion includes opposite sidewalls for mounting the HDD holder therebetween, wherein one of the sidewalls defines a locking hole. When the HDD holder is received in the receiving portion, the handle is rotated to the main body to be closed. The hook of the handle will hook the main body of the HDD holder, and the locking tongue will extend in the locking hole of the receiving portion. Therefore, the HDD holder can be securely locked in the receiving portion successfully. However, when the receiving portion is manufactured, there is usually an error of a distance between the sidewalls of the receiving portion, which may lead the locking tongue of the handle cannot be locked in the locking hole of the receiving portion. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a new frame appears in industry to improve the HDD holder. In the new frame, the locking tongue is elastically mounted to the first end of the handle, and thereby the distance error of the sidewalls of the receiving portion can be offset. However, this new frame causes a new problem that the hook of the handle can hook the main body of the HDD holder no matter the locking tongue extends in the locking hole or abuts against the corresponding sidewall of the receiving portion. In other words, when the HDD holder is received in the receiving portion, if the HDD holder is not located at the right position to be locked, the handle can still be closed, which will misguide a user to think that the installation of the HDD holder has already been done. Under this misguided thought, when the user operates or turns the receiving portion, the HDD may fall off the receiving portion and the HDD may be damaged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a hard disk drive (HDD) holder. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the HDD holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the HDD holder of  FIG. 3 , showing in a locking state. 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing in an unlocking state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an embodiment of a hard disk drive (HDD) holder  8  includes a main body  10 , a spindle  60 , a sleeve  70 , a first elastic member  80 , a second elastic member  90 , a handle  30 , a hook  50 , and two third elastic members  58 . 
     The main body  10  includes an elongated panel  11 , a rear cover  12 , a first arm  14 , and a second arm  15 . 
     The panel  11  includes an elongated top board  21 , an elongated bottom board  22 , a first connecting wall  23 , a sidewall  24 , and a second connecting wall  25  defining a first opening  250 . A second opening  252  is defined in a right lateral side of the second connecting wall  25 , opposite to the sidewall  24 . The top board  21  and the bottom board  22  are opposite to each other. The first connecting wall  23  is connected between rear sides of the top board  21  and the bottom board  22 , and is adjacent to a right end of the panel  11 . The sidewall  24  is connected between left ends of top board  21  and the bottom board  22 . The second connecting wall  25  is connected between front sides of the top board  21  and the bottom board  22 , and is adjacent to a left end of the panel  11 . The top board  21  defines a first elongated hole  210  adjacent to a right end of the top board  21 , and extending through the top board  21 . A longitudinal axis of the first elongated hole  210  is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the top board  21 . A projection  212  extends from the top board  21 , adjacent to the right end of the top board  21 . The projection  212  is located between the first elongated hole  210  and the rear side of the top board  21 . A round raised portion  221  extends from the bottom board  22  towards the top board  21 , below the first elongated hole  210  of the top board  21 . A second elongated hole  220  is axially defined in the raised portion  221  and extends through the bottom board  22 . A longitudinal axis of the second elongated hole  220  is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the bottom board  22  and the longitudinal axis of the top board  21 . The second elongated hole  220  aligns with the first elongated hole  210 . A third elongated hole  214  is defined in each of the top board  21  and the bottom board  22 , adjacent to the left end of the panel  11  and the second connecting wall  25 . Longitudinal axes of the third elongated holes  214  are parallel with the longitudinal axes of the top board  21  and the bottom board  22 . Two clipping holes  215  are defined in each of the top board  21  and the bottom board  22 , located between the corresponding third elongated hole  214  and the corresponding rear side of the top board  21  or the bottom board  22 . A projecting piece  231  extends forwards from the first connecting wall  23 , opposite to the sidewall  24 . A guiding hole  230  is defined in the projecting piece  231 . A first locating pole  232  extends backwards from the first connecting wall  23 . A first mounting hole  233  is defined in the first connecting wall  23 , adjacent to the first locating pole  232 . 
     The rear cover  12  includes a rectangular board  121 . A projection (not labeled) extends forwards from the board  121 , and defines a second mounting hole  123  through the board  121 . A second locating pole  122  extends backwards from the board  121 , adjacent to the second mounting hole  123 . Two clipping portions  125  extend from each of top and bottom sides of the board  121 . 
     The first arm  14  is L-shaped and includes an elongated first main portion  141  to be attached to a first side of an HDD (not shown), and a first mounting portion  142  perpendicularly extending from a front end of the first main portion  141  to be attached to a right part of a front end of the HDD. A round first locating hole  143  and a round first through hole  144  are defined in the first mounting portion  142 . 
     The second arm  15  is L-shaped and includes an elongated second main portion  151  to be attached to a second side opposite to the first side of the HDD, and a second mounting portion  152  perpendicularly extending from a front end of the second main portion  151  to be attached to a left part of the front end of the HDD. An elongated second locating hole  153  and a round second through hole  154  are defined in the second mounting portion  152 . 
     The spindle  60  is cylindrical and includes three coaxial segments. It includes a first segment  61 , a second segment  62 , and a third segment  63 , wherein the second segment  62  is connected between the first segment  61  and the third segment  63 , the diameter of the first segment  61  is the greatest, and the diameter of the third segment  63  is the smallest. 
     The sleeve  70  axially defines a sleeve hole  700  corresponding to the second segment  62  of the spindle  60 . A guiding post  71  extends from a circumference of the sleeve  70 , perpendicular to the extending direction of the sleeve hole  700 . 
     In the present embodiment, the first elastic member  80  is a pressure spring. 
     In the present embodiment, the second elastic member  90  is a torsion spring including two spring legs  91 . 
     The handle  30  includes an elongated covering board  33 . A first extension piece  31  extends backwards from a top of a right end of the covering board  33 . A round first pivot hole  313  is defined in the first extension piece  31  corresponding to the first segment  61  of the spindle  60 . A second extension piece  32  extends backwards from a bottom of the right end of the covering board  33 , opposite to the first extension piece  31 . A round second pivot hole  324  is defined in the second extension piece  32 , corresponding to the third segment  63  of the spindle  60 . A locking tongue  34  extends from each of the first extension piece  31  and the second extension piece  32 , towards a direction opposite to a left end of the covering board  33 . A plurality of claws  36  extends backwards from the left end of the covering board  33 . Each claw  36  includes a slanting first guiding surface  360 . 
     The hook  50  includes a rectangular main piece  51 . An operating portion  52  extends from a front surface of the main piece  51 . Two sliding blocks  53  extend backwards from upper and lower sides of the main piece  51 , respectively. A blocking piece  56  extends from a right side of the main piece  51 . The blocking piece  56  includes a slanting second guiding surface  560 . Two holding poles  57  extend from a left side of the main piece  51 . 
     In the present embodiment, the third elastic members  58  are pressure springs. 
     In assembling the HDD holder  8 , the third elastic members  58  are fitted about the holding poles  57  of the hook  50 , respectively. The hook  50  is mounted to the panel  11 , wherein the operating portion  52  of the hook  50  is exposed through the first opening  250  of the second connecting wall  25  of the panel  11 , the second guiding surface  560  of the hook  50  is exposed through the second opening  252  of the second connecting wall  25  of the panel  11 , opposite ends of each of the third elastic members  58  abut against the sidewall  24  of the panel  11  and the main piece  51  of the hook  50  respectively, and the sliding blocks  53  of the hook  50  are slidably received in the third elongated holes  214  of the panel  11 . The rear cover  12  is fixed to the panel  11 , via the clipping portions  125  of the rear cover  12  being clipped in the clipping holes  215  of the panel  11 , respectively. The first locating pole  232  of the panel  11  is inserted into the first locating hole  143  of the first arm  14 . A fastener  100 , such as a screw, is extended through the first through hole  144  of the first arm  14  and engaged in the first mounting hole  233  of the panel  11 , to fix the first arm  14  to the panel  11 . The second locating pole  122  of the rear cover  12  is inserted into the second locating hole  153  of the second arm  15 . A fastener  200 , such as a screw, is extended through the second through hole  154  of the second arm  15  and engaged in the second mounting hole  123  of the rear cover  12 , to fix the second arm  15  to the panel  11 . It is noted that the second locating hole  153  is designed to have a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the second main portion  151  of the second arm  15 , which is able to offset a distance error between the second locating pole  122  and the second mounting hole  123  that may appears when the rear cover  12  is manufactured. 
     The second elastic member  90  is fitted about the raised portion  221  of the panel  11 . The first elastic member  80  is fitted about the guiding post  71  of the sleeve  70 . The sleeve  70  is disposed between the raised portion  221  of the panel  11  and the top board  21 , and a free end of the guiding post  71  is extended through the guiding hole  230  of the projecting piece  231 , to sandwich the first elastic member  80  between the projecting piece  231  and the sleeve  70 . The first extension piece  31  of the handle  30  is disposed on the top board  21  of the panel  11 , with the first pivot hole  313  of the handle  30  aligning with the first elongated hole  210 , and the second extension piece  32  of the handle  30  is disposed under the bottom board  22  of the panel  11 , with the second pivot hole  324  of the handle  30  aligning with the second elongated hole  220 . The first pivot hole  313  and the second pivot hole  324  of the handle  30 , the first elongated hole  210  and the second elongated hole  220  of the panel  11 , and the sleeve hole  700  of the sleeve  70  are adjusted to be aligned, and cooperatively receive the spindle  60 . It is noted that the first segment  61  of the spindle  60  is received in the first pivot hole  313  of the handle  30  and the first elongated hole  210  of the panel  11 , and an engagement between the first segment  61  and the first pivot hole  313  and an engagement between the first segment  61  and the first elongated hole  210  are clearance fit; the second segment  62  of the spindle  60  is received in the sleeve hole  700  of the sleeve  70 , and an engagement between the second segment  62  and the sleeve hole  700  is interference fit; the third segment  63  of the spindle  60  is received in the second elongated hole  220  of the panel  11  and the second pivot hole  324  of the handle  30 , and an engagement between the third segment  63  and the second elongated hole  220  and an engagement between the third segment  63  and the second pivot hole  324  are clearance fit. Therefore, the assembling for the HDD holder  8  is done, and the HDD holder  8  is ready to mount the HDD between the first arm  14  and the second arm  15 . It is noted that opposite ends of the first elastic member  80  abut against the projecting piece  231  of the panel  11  and the sleeve  70  respectively, and the spring legs  91  of the second elastic member  90  abut against the panel  11  and the handle  30  respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in normal use of the HDD holder  8 , the handle  30  is opened relative to the main body  10 , via rotating around the spindle  60  ( FIG. 4  shows the handle being closed). The HDD holder  8  is slid into a receiving portion  4  of a computer chassis, to completely receive the HDD holder  8  in the receiving portion  4 . The handle  30  is rotated to the main body  10  to be closed. When the handle  30  is rotated to the main body  10 , the first guiding surfaces  360  of the plurality of claws  36  of the handle  30  contact and engage with the second guiding surfaces  560  of the blocking piece  56  of the hook  50 , to push the hook  50  to slide leftwards and thereby compressing the third elastic members  50 , and until the plurality of claws  36  of the handle  30  goes over the blocking piece  56  of the hook  50 , the elastic force of the third elastic members  50  push the hook  50  to slide back and therefore the blocking piece  56  of the hook  50  hooks the handle  30 . The locking tongues  34  of the handle  30  extend into a locking hole  7  of a first sidewall  5  of the receiving portion  4 , the first extension piece  31  and the second extension piece  32  of the handle  30  abut against an inner side of the first sidewall  5 , and the second elastic member  90  is elastically deformed. Therefore, the HDD holder  8  is locked between the first sidewall  5  and a second sidewall  6  opposite to the first sidewall  5  of the receiving portion  4 . It is noted that the first elastic member  80  supplies an elastic force to bias the sleeve  70  together with the spindle  60  and the handle  30  to right dead ends of the first elongated hole  210  and the second elongated hole  220 . 
     In uninstalling the HDD holder  8 , the operating portion  52  of the hook  50  is operated to be slid leftwards, to disengage the blocking piece  56  of the hook  50  from the plurality of claws  36  of the handle  30 . Therefore, an elastic force of the second elastic member  90  can bias the handle  30  to rotate away from the main body  10  and thereby opening the handle  30 . The locking tongues  34  of the handle  30  disengage from the locking hole  7  of the first sidewall  5  of the receiving portion  4 . Therefore, the HDD holder  8  is ready to be removed from the receiving portion  4 . It is noted that the projection  212  of the top board  21  of the main body  10  is configured to limit a rotation angle of the handle  30 . When the handle  30  is opened, the first extension piece  31  will be blocked by the projection  212 , such that the rotation angle of the handle  30  is limited between about 0-30 degrees. 
     In practice, a distance between the first and second sidewalls  5  and  6  of the receiving portion  4  usually has an error between plus or minus 1 millimeter (the error range is much less than lengths of the first elongated hole  210  and the second elongated hole  220 ). The handle  30  of the present disclosure is able to slide under the force of the first elastic member  80 , such that the locking tongues  34  of the handle  30  are able to elastically engage in the locking hole  7  of the receiving portion  4  no matter how much distance between the first and second sidewalls  5  and  6  of the receiving portion  4 . Therefore, the error of the distance can be offset. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the present disclosure has an innovative function that if the HDD holder  8  is not completely slid in the receiving portion  4 , the handle  30  can not be closed, which is actually an alarm and can lead the user to assuredly push the HDD holder  8  in position to be locked. In detail, if the HDD holder  8  is not completely slid in the receiving portion  4 , when the handle  30  is rotated towards the panel  11 , the locking tongues  34  of the handle  30  will engage with the first sidewall  5  of the receiving portion  4  and thereby being compelled to move leftward. The handle  30  together with the plurality of claws  36  will slide leftward under the guiding of the first elongated hole  210  and the second elongated hole  220 , wherein the spindle  60  is slid to left dead ends of the first elongated hole  210  and the second elongated hole  220 . Therefore, when the plurality of claws  36  of the handle  30  is rotated to contact with the blocking piece  56  of the hook  50 , the plurality of claws  36  will be stopped by the blocking piece  56  and cannot go over the blocking piece  56 . Once the operation of the user stops, the handle  30  will be rotated away from the main body  10  by the second elastic member  90  to be opened. Accordingly, the present disclosure can prevent the user from making mistakes and thereby preventing the HDD holder  8  from been damaged by accident. 
     In other embodiments, the engagement between the spindle  60  and the sleeve  70  may be clearance fit, and the engagement(s) between the spindle  60  and the first pivot hole  313  and/or the second pivot hole  324  of the handle  30  may be interference fit. 
     In other embodiments, the first elastic member  80  may be a torsion spring whose two spring legs abut against the main body  10  and the sleeve  70 , respectively. Another round raised portion like the raised portion  221  may extend from the main body  10  for the torsion spring to fit about. 
     In other embodiments, the sleeve  70  may be omitted, and the guiding post  71  may extend from the spindle  60 . Furthermore, the guiding post  71  may be omitted, and a first portion of the spindle  60  that engages in the first elongated hole  210  and/or a second portion of the spindle  60  that engages in the second elongated hole  220  may be designed to have rectangular cross section to make the spindle  60  be slidable and not pivotable. If the guiding post  71  is omitted, the first elastic member  80  may be positioned in other ways. For example, a sleeve defining a through hole may be disposed, and the first elastic member  80  is received in the through hole with the opposite ends of the first elastic member  80  extending out of the through hole. 
     In other embodiments, the second elastic member  90  may be a pressure spring whose opposite ends abut against the main body  10  and the handle  30  respectively. 
     In other embodiments, only one of the third elastic members  58  may be employed and the other one may be omitted. The third elastic member  58  may be a pullback spring whose opposite ends connect with the hook  50  and a portion of the handle  30  located at a right side of the hook  50 , respectively. 
     In other embodiments, one of the locking tongues  34  of the handle  30  may be omitted. 
     In other embodiments, only one of the plurality of claws  36  of the handle  30  may be employed and the other claws  36  may be omitted. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, 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 disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.