Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for enabling the mounting of a computer peripheral device to a peripheral device bay of a computer system comprises a mounting rail adapted to slideably engage a profile in the peripheral device bay. The mounting apparatus further includes an adhesive element adapted to attach the mounting rail to a side surface of the computer peripheral device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/608,727, filed Jun. 27, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,914,778 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   A computer includes various components, such as a central processing unit (CPU), main memory, peripheral devices, and others. In some computers, especially in servers, multiple bays are provided to receive various types of peripheral devices, such as floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, tape drives, optical drives, and so forth. The bays enable convenient removal and/or addition of the peripheral devices to a computer. For example, if increased storage capacity is desired, additional storage devices can be added to empty bays of a computer, or existing storage devices can be removed and replaced with new storage devices of larger capacity. The multiple bays of a computer also allow for different types of storage devices to be mounted in the computer. 
   Conventionally, peripheral devices are removably mounted in the bays of the computer with mounting mechanisms attached to the peripheral devices. In some implementations, the mounting mechanisms include rails that enable sliding engagement of the peripheral devices in respective computer bays. 
   A feature of conventional mounting rails is that the mounting rails are attached to the peripheral device by screws or other like fasteners. One issue associated with the use of screws or other like fasteners is that a tool, such as a screwdriver, has to be used to attach the mounting rails to the peripheral device. This method of attachment is generally inconvenient to a user. A further issue is that there may not be sufficient space inside a peripheral device to accept the threaded protrusion of a screw. Also, screw heads take up space, and there may not be sufficient space between the computer bay and the peripheral device for the screw head 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a computer server that has multiple bays for receiving peripheral devices. 
       FIG. 2  is a different perspective view of the bays of the server of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a peripheral device with a mounting rail according to one embodiment attached to a side of the peripheral device. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  further illustrate the mounting rail of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a peripheral device having a key profile and alignment elements for engagement to a mounting rail according to another embodiment. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  further illustrate the mounting rail of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a peripheral device with a mounting rail according to yet another embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  further illustrates the mounting rail of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a peripheral device with a mounting rail according to further embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. 
     FIG. 1  shows an example computer server  10  having multiple bays  14  for receiving respective computer peripheral devices  12  (one peripheral device  12  is shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the example of  FIG. 1 , the peripheral device  12  is a compact disc (CD) drive (e.g., a 5.25″ form factor CD drive). However, in alternative embodiments, other types of peripheral devices, such as DVD drives, floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, tape drives, peripheral cards or boards, and so forth, can be mounted into the bays  14 . The bays  14  may be 5.25″ form factor bays or others. The peripheral device  12  has at least one side surface  18  on which is mounted a mounting rail  16 . In some embodiments, two mounting rails  16  are attached to respective two side surfaces of the peripheral device  12  (such as a left side surface and a right side surface). 
   A characteristic of the mounting rail  16  is that it can be easily attached to the peripheral device  12  to enhance user convenience. In some embodiments, the mounting rail  16  includes one or more engagement profiles. The peripheral device  12  has corresponding engagement profiles that enable the attachment of the mounting rail  16  to the peripheral device  12 . An engagement profile of the mounting rail  16  includes a protruding element (e.g., a key), while an engagement profile of the peripheral device  12  includes a receptacle (e.g., a key receptacle) on a side surface of the peripheral device to receive the protruding element. Alternatively, the protruding element can be provided on the side surface of the peripheral device while the receptacle is provided on the mounting rail. Other engagement profiles also include alignment elements to properly align the mounting rail to the peripheral device. As examples, the alignment elements include alignment posts and alignment holes to receive the alignment posts. 
   In alternative implementations, an adhesive is used to attach the mounting rail to the peripheral device. The mounting rail can be a single-segment element, or it can be made up of plural, separate segments. The mounting rail can be attached to the peripheral device in other ways as well. 
     FIG. 1  also shows right slots  20  in the bays  14  for slidably receiving mounting rails  16  attached to the right side surfaces of respective peripheral devices  12 . Slots  22  ( FIG. 2 ) are also provided on the left sides of the bays  14  to receive mounting rails mounted on the left side surfaces of respective peripheral devices  12 . 
   Note that the right and left slots  20  and  22  in each bay  14  are different. The left slot  22  has a latching mechanism  23  to engage a profile on the mounting rail  16 , while the right slot  20  does not have such a latching mechanism. Instead, in the example implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , the right slot  20  has a spring tab  24  for biasing the peripheral device  12  to the left side of the bay  14  to enhance engagement of the mounting rail  16  in the left slot  22 . The latching mechanism  23  in cooperation with the profile of the mounting rail  16  provide a snap-locking mechanism that enables the peripheral device  12  to be removably mounted in the bay  14 . Tactile feedback may be provided to the user when the latching mechanism is engaged upon mounting of the peripheral device in the bay. 
     FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of a mounting rail  16 A that can be lockingly engaged by the latching mechanism  24  in the left bay slot  22 . The mounting rail  16 A has a main, elongated segment  100 . A locking member  102  is provided at one end of the mounting rail  16 A, with the locking member  102  having a generally round shape in the illustrated example. Adjacent the locking member  102  is a neck segment  106  that connects the locking member  102  to the main segment  100 .  FIG. 3  shows the locking member  102 , neck segment  106 , and main segment  100  as being integrally formed. However, in alternative embodiments, these can be separate pieces attached together. 
   The combination of the locking member  102 , neck segment  106 , and the main segment  100  defines a locking recess  104 , that is configured to receive a locking flipper  50  of the latching mechanism  24  ( FIG. 2 ). The locking flipper  50  is biased by a spring or other like device to its lower position shown in  FIG. 2 . However, as the locking member  102  of the mounting rail  16 A ( FIG. 3 ) is pushed inwardly into the left slot  22 , the locking flipper  50  is pushed upwardly by the generally round locking member  102 . Once the locking member  102  passes the locking flipper  50 , the locking flipper  50  is biased into the locking recess  104  of the mounting rail  16 A, which provides locking engagement of the locking flipper  50  against the mounting rail  16 A. Note that in other embodiments, other types of locking mechanisms  24  in the mounting bays  14  can be employed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting rail  16 A is attached to the side surface  18  of the peripheral device  12  by an adhesive film  110 . The adhesive film  110 , which in the example shown in  FIG. 4  is generally rectangular in shape, is attached on one side to a recess  112 . The recess  112  is formed in the side (referred to as the attachment side  114 ) of the mounting rail  16 A facing the side surface  18  of the peripheral device  12 . Alignment members  116  and  118  are formed on respective ends of the mounting rail  16 A. In the example implementation, the alignment members  116  and  118  are generally cylindrical in shape to provide alignment posts. However, the alignment members can have other structures or shapes in other embodiments. 
   Also, generally ring-shaped grommets  120  and  122  are mounted onto the alignment members  116  and  118 , respectively. In one embodiment, the grommets  120  and  122  are formed of a resilient material, such as rubber or polymer, to provide shock absorption between the mounting rail  16 A and the peripheral device  12  housing. In an alternate embodiment of the mounting rail  16 A, the grommets  120  and  122  can be omitted from the mounting rail  16 A.  FIG. 5  shows the mounting rail  16 A with the adhesive film  110  and the grommets  120  and  122  attached to the mounting rail  16 A. 
     FIG. 6  shows a mounting rail  16 B according to another embodiment. The mounting rail  16 B also has a generally elongated main segment  200 , along with a generally round locking member  202 . A locking recess  204  is defined by the combination of the main segment  200 , the locking member  202 , and a neck segment  206 . 
   The mounting rail  16 B has three alignment posts  208 ,  210 , and  212 . The alignment posts  208  and  212  are provided at the ends of the mounting rail  16 B on its attachment side, while the alignment post  210  is provided intermediate the alignment posts  208  and  212 . 
   Additionally, the mounting rail  16 B has a key  214 , which has an elongated plate  216  that is raised above the main surface  218  of the attachment side of the mounting rail  16 B. The plate  216  is raised by a support member  220 . Note that the width W 1  of the elongated plate  216  is larger than the width W 2  of the support member  220 . 
   As further shown in  FIG. 6 , the alignment posts  208 ,  210 , and  212 , and the key  214  are adapted to engage respective openings and receptacles on a side surface  222  of a peripheral device  12 A. The alignment posts  208 ,  210 , and  212  are inserted into alignment openings  224 ,  226 , and  228 , respectively. Furthermore, the key  214  on the mounting rail  16 B is engaged into a key receptacle  230  on the side surface  222  of the peripheral device. The key receptacle  230  has an enlarged portion  232  and a reduced portion  234 . The enlarged portion  232  has a width that is slightly larger than the width W 1  of the key plate  216  of the key  214  so that the key plate  216  can be inserted into the enlarged portion  232 . Once the key plate  216  is inserted into the enlarged portion  232  of the key receptacle  230 , the mounting rail  16 B is pushed downwardly by the user such that the key plate  216  drops below the enlarged portion  232  of the key receptacle  230 . The reduced portion  234  of the key receptacle  230  is able to receive the support member  220  of the key  214 . Once pushed downwardly, the key  214  is lockingly engaged in the key receptacle  230 . In an alternative implementation, the key of the mounting rail  16 B can be rotatably mounted in a key receptacle to a locking position, rather than by sliding mounting as discussed above. 
   The mounting rail  16 B on each side of the peripheral device  12 A is configured to be removable from the peripheral device (such as with a snap-fit arrangement). Alternatively, the mounting rail  16 B, once mounted, is permanently attached. Examples of various connection types include a press-fit connection, function-retained connection, snapping connection, bayonet type connection, or other removable or permanent types of connections and locking arrangements. 
   The elongated main segment  200  of mounting rail  16 B may be curved or bowed such that the ends of the mounting rail  16 B adjacent to the alignment posts  208  and  212  contact the side surface  222  of the peripheral device  12 A before the key  214  begins to engage in the key receptacle  230 . Thus the mounting rail  16 B bends substantially to lockingly engage the key  214  into the key receptacle  230 . This bending force will ensure that the rail  16 B remains snuggly attached to the side surface  222  of peripheral device  12 A. Note that a similar arrangement can be provided on the other side of the peripheral device  12 A. 
   The mounting rail  16  is fabricated from a durable, resilient material, such as polymer (e.g., a glass-filled polymer), metal (e.g., sheet metal mild steel), or other materials. The polymer may be wear-resistant with a low coefficient of friction so that the peripheral device can be easily and repeatedly engaged or mounted into a bay. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate generally ring-shaped shock-absorbing grommets  240  and  242  mounted onto respective alignment posts  208  and  212  of the mounting rail  16 B. The shock-absorbing grommets are designed to provide shock absorption between the mounting rail  16 B and the housing of the peripheral device  12 A. These shock-absorbing grommets  240  and  242  are optional improvements to the mounting rail  16 B, and may be omitted. 
   The middle alignment post  210  is located between alignment posts  208  and  212  and generally closer to either alignment post  208  or  212 . The middle alignment post  210  is intended to function as an orientation feature that would prevent the mounting rail  16 B from being attached upside down such that the alignment post  208  is mistakenly inserted into alignment opening  228  rather than the correct alignment opening  224 , and alignment post  212  is mistakenly inserted into alignment opening  224  rather than the correct alignment opening  228 . If rail orientation is not a concern in a specific application, then the middle alignment post  210  can be omitted from the mounting rail  16 B. 
   An alternate embodiment of a rail orientation mechanism includes the key  214  being located substantially away from the midpoint of alignment posts  208  and  212 . In this alternate embodiment, the key  214  provides the orientation function. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate yet another embodiment of a mounting rail  16 C. The mounting rail  16 C is made up of two separate segments  302  and  304 . The segment  302  has an alignment post  306 , and the segment  304  also has an alignment post  308 . Each of the segments  302  and  304  is attached to the side surface  310  of a peripheral device  12 B. As shown in  FIG. 10 , an adhesive, for example, may be used to attach the segments to the peripheral device. The adhesive attachment is accomplished by use of an adhesive film  312  having a first side to attach to a side  314  of the mounting rail segment  302 , and a second side to attach to the side surface  310  of the peripheral device  12 B housing. 
   In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a mounting rail  16 D includes multiple segments, with a first segment  402  that is the same as the mounting rail segment  302  or  304  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . A second segment  405  is a screw for fastening to a threaded hole  404  in the side surface  406  of a peripheral device  12 C. In one implementation, the head  407  of the screw  405  enables sliding engagement in a slot of a mounting bay  14 . Alternatively, a screw-attached mounting rail similar to mounting rail  402  can be used, except that a screw is used instead of an adhesive for purposes of attachment. 
   The various mounting rails described above are easily attachable to the peripheral device. Also, with some mounting rails, extra space does not have to be reserved for screws or other like fasteners. Also, with such mounting rails, various users do not have to employ tools to attach the mounting rails to peripheral devices, which enhances user convenience. 
   While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.