Abstract:
A device mounting rail for use in mounting a peripheral device in a computer system comprises first and second elongated sides. The first elongated side engages the peripheral device when the device mounting rail is used to mount the peripheral device in the computer system. The second elongated side engages a retaining wall within the computer system when the device mounting rail is used to mount the peripheral device in the computer system. The second side is also compressible toward the first side to generate a spring force. When the device mounting rail is used to mount the peripheral device in the computer system, the spring force maintains the peripheral device in a substantially rigid relationship to the retaining wall of the computer system.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     There are a variety of ways to mount a peripheral device, such as a hard drive, in a housing of a computer system. It is usually preferred that the peripheral device not move around within the housing, so the performance of the peripheral device will not be adversely affected by such movement. Thus, the peripheral device is typically fixed to the housing by screws that bolt the peripheral device between retaining walls or within a cage or drive slot within the housing.  
         [0002]     A trend in the computer industry, as well as in other industries, has been to reduce the amount of time required to manufacture and service products. The act of using a tool (e.g. a screwdriver) to insert the screws to mount the peripheral device in the housing, however, requires a certain amount of time during assembly or servicing of the computer system. Manufacturers, thus, have developed “tooless” techniques for more quickly mounting some types of peripheral devices in computer system housings. One such technique involves attaching elongated guide rails to the sides of a peripheral device and then sliding the peripheral device into a “device cage” mounted within the housing of the computer system. The guide rails guide the peripheral device into the device cage, which is shaped to receive the peripheral device with attached guide rails and to retain the peripheral device by the guide rails when the peripheral device is fully inserted into the device cage.  
         [0003]     A problem arises with the dimensional tolerances with which the various parts (the peripheral device, the drive cage and the guide rails) are made. The peripheral device and guide rails are made with relatively “tight” tolerances. However, the drive cage is made with relatively “loose” tolerances. The result is that the “fit” between the drive cage and the combined peripheral device and guide rail may not be very tight or rigid. Without a tight fit, the peripheral device may be allowed to move within the drive cage, because the guide rails do not fully take up the space between the peripheral device and the drive cage. Therefore, upon operation of the peripheral device, such as upon spinning-up of a hard drive disk, the peripheral device can torque, twist or move within the drive cage, which can adversely affect the performance of the peripheral device, such as the seek time of a hard drive. Additionally, upon movement of the computer housing, the peripheral device can be battered within the drive cage, which can damage the peripheral device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a computer system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a device mounting assembly for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top, front, left side exploded perspective view of a peripheral device and device mounting rails for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a device mounting rail for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of another device mounting rail for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a device mounting assembly for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a peripheral device and device mounting rails for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a drive cage for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is a top, front, left side perspective view of an alternative device mounting rail for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in  FIG. 1 , and incorporating an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     A computer system  100  incorporating an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  having elements such as a housing  102 , a keyboard  104  and a display  106 . A device mounting assembly  108 , for mounting a peripheral device for use by the computer system  100 , is disposed at an appropriate location within the housing  102 . Although the present invention is described with respect to its use in the computer system  100  and the device mounting assembly  108 , it is understood that the invention is not so limited, but may be used in any appropriate electronic system that includes a peripheral device (e.g. a hard drive, a tape drive, a removable drive, a DVD or CD drive, a network adapter, etc.), regardless of any other elements included in the electronic system.  
         [0014]     The device mounting assembly  108 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , generally includes a device cage  110  and a peripheral device  112  mounted within the device cage  110 . The peripheral device  112 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , has device mounting rails  114  attached at holes  116  on opposite sides thereof. The device mounting rails  114  have protrusions  118  with which to snap into the holes  116  on the sides of the peripheral device  112 . (See also  FIG. 4 .)  
         [0015]     The device mounting rails  114  also have elongated sections  120  and  122  separated by elongated holes  124 . The device mounting rails  114  may have any appropriate number of elongated holes  124 , e.g. one or more. The device mounting rails  114  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , for instance, illustrate an embodiment having three elongated holes  124  (i.e. a “three-lobe spring”); whereas a device mounting rail  114 ′ shown in  FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment having two elongated holes  124 ′ (i.e. a “two-lobe spring”).  
         [0016]     The elongated section  120  of the device mounting rails  114  is generally flat on the side from which the protrusions  118  protrude. Thus, when the device mounting rails  114  are attached to the peripheral device  112 , the flat side of the elongated section  120  may be flush with the sides of the peripheral device  112 .  
         [0017]     Along the length of each of the elongated holes  124 , the other elongated section  122  of the device mounting rails  114  has a convex curvature that bows away from the flat elongated section  120 . The bowed portions of the elongated section  122  allow these portions to be compressed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  by dashed lines  126 , which show how the bowed portions of the elongated section  122  of the device mounting rails  114  flex inwardly. In this manner, a compressive spring force can be generated in the device mounting rails  114 . The device mounting rails  114  and  114 ′ in  FIGS. 3, 5  and  7  and the solid lines for the device mounting rail  114  in  FIG. 4  illustrate the uncompressed shape of the device mounting rails  114  and  114 ′.  
         [0018]     To enable compression of the bowed portion of the elongated section  122 , the device mounting rails  114  are made of an appropriately flexible material, such as nylon, plastic or any other injection-molded material. Alternatively, bent metal, such as steel, aluminum, etc., may be used. Other flexible materials may also be appropriate.  
         [0019]     The peripheral device  112 , with attached device mounting rails  114 , is inserted into the device cage  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , with the device mounting rails  114  guiding the peripheral device  112  between side retaining walls  128  ( FIGS. 2, 6  and  8 ) and between shoulders  130  and  132  of the retaining walls  128 .  FIG. 6  shows a second peripheral device  112 ″, with attached device mounting rails  114 ″, which is inserted in the device cage  110  with the device mounting rails  114 ″ guiding the peripheral device  112 ″ between the side retaining walls  128  and between additional shoulders  134  and  136  of the retaining walls  128 .  
         [0020]     When the peripheral device  112 , with the device mounting rails  114  attached thereto, is inserted into the device cage  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the device mounting rails  114  are compressed between retaining walls  128  of the device cage  110  and the side of the peripheral device  112 . The compression of the device mounting rails  114  generates the compressive spring force in the device mounting rails  114  between the retaining walls  128  and the side of the peripheral device  112 . The compressive spring force of the device mounting rails  114  holds the peripheral device  112  in a substantially rigid relationship to the device cage  110 .  
         [0021]     Horizontal motion of the peripheral device  112  is prevented due to the compressive spring force of the device mounting rails  114 . Thus, the device mounting rails  114  are formed to be wider than the gap between the retaining walls  128  and the peripheral device  112  for the maximum of the tolerance for the size of the device cage  110 . Additionally, the device mounting rails  114  are formed to ensure that the bowed portion of the elongated section  122  can flex sufficiently to generate the compressive spring force and allow the device mounting rails  114  to be used with a device cage  110  formed at the minimum of the size tolerance. In this manner, the device mounting rails  114  are ensured to engage the retaining walls  128  and generate the compressive spring force for the entire tolerance range for all device cages  110 . In other words, the device mounting rails  114  eliminate the clearance between the retaining walls  128  and the peripheral device  112 . By contrast, a device mounting rail without the holes and bowed portions cannot reliably eliminate the clearance between the retaining walls  128  and the peripheral device  112 , and therefore, cannot be formed to flex sufficiently and generate a compressive spring force to work within the entire tolerance range for all such device cages  110 .  
         [0022]     Vertical motion of the peripheral device  112  is limited by the shoulders  130  and  132  of the retaining walls  128 . However, the compressive spring force in the device mounting rails  114  also limits vertical motion due to friction with the retaining walls  128 .  
         [0023]     When the peripheral device  112 , with the device mounting rails  114  attached thereto, is inserted into the device cage  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the peripheral device  112  is locked in position by tabs  138  and  140  ( FIGS. 2, 6  and  8 ). The tabs  138  and  140  prevent the device mounting rails  114 , and thus the peripheral device  112 , from moving forward out of the device cage  110 .  
         [0024]     The tabs  138  and  140  are connected to side flexion members  142  and  144 , respectively. The tabs  138  and  140  extend through holes  146  and  148 , respectively, in retaining walls  128  into the interior of the device cage  110 . The side flexion members  142  and  144  are connected through horizontal members  150  and  152 , respectively, to activator members  154  and  156 , respectively.  
         [0025]     The activator members  154  and  156  are operated by pushing them from the positions shown by solid lines to the positions shown by dashed lines in  FIG. 8 . The activator members  154  and  156  may be operated in this manner either by an appropriate mechanical apparatus or by pressure from a user&#39;s fingers. For example, the user may push a button (on the exterior of the housing  102 ,  FIG. 1 ) that causes the mechanical apparatus to operate the activator members  154  and  156 . Alternatively, the user may reach a hand into the housing  102  to grasp and thereby operate the activator members  154  and  156 . Operation of the activator members  154  and  156  causes the horizontal members  150  and  152 , respectively, to push the side flexion members  142  and  144 , respectively, from the positions shown by solid lines to the positions shown by dashed lines. The side flexion members  142  and  144  are attached to the retaining walls  128  at a rear end  158  ( FIG. 2 ) of the device cage  110 , so that when the side flexion members  142  and  144  are pushed to the position shown by the dashed lines in  FIG. 8 , the side flexion members  142  and  144  flex slightly, but then spring back to the position shown by the solid lines upon being released.  
         [0026]     Upon operation of the activator members  154  and  156 , since the tabs  138  and  140  are connected to the side flexion members  142  and  144 , respectively, the tabs  138  and  140  are pushed into positions that are almost flush with the retaining walls  128 . In the flush position, the tabs  138  and  140  do not lock the device mounting rails  114 , and thus the peripheral device  112 , into the device cage  110 . The peripheral device  112  can thus be pulled forward to remove it from the device cage  110  without the use of tools.  
         [0027]     Similarly, when installing the peripheral device  112  into the device cage  110 , the activator members  154  and  156  may be operated to move the tabs  138  and  140  to the flush position, so the tabs  138  and  140  will not hinder the movement of the device mounting rails  114  and the peripheral device  112  into the device cage  110 . Alternatively, the tabs  138  and  140  may be formed with an angle, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , so that the tabs  138  and  140  are pushed out of the way by the device mounting rails  114  upon inserting the device mounting rails  114  and the peripheral device  112  into the device cage  110  without operating the activator members  154  and  156 . In either manner, the peripheral device  112  is inserted into the computer system  100  without the use of tools.  
         [0028]     According to an alternative embodiment, a device mounting rail  160  has elongated sections  162  and  164  separated by elongated holes  166 . The elongated section  162  is similar to the elongated section  120  ( FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 ) and has protrusions  118  with which to snap into the holes  116  ( FIG. 3 ) on the sides of the peripheral device  112 . Along the length of the elongated holes  166 , the other elongated section  164  has a convex curvature that bows horizontally away from the elongated section  162  in a manner similar to that of the elongated section  122  ( FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 ). Additionally, the elongated section  164  also has additional elongated holes  168  that divide the elongated section  164  into upper and lower portions  170  and  172 . The additional elongated holes  168  are generally coextensive with the elongated holes  166 . Furthermore, along the length of the additional elongated holes  168 , the upper and lower portions  170  and  172  of the elongated section  164  have convex curvatures that bow vertically away from each other. The horizontal bowing of the elongated section  164  allows the elongated section  164  to be compressed horizontally to generate a horizontal compressive spring force in the device mounting rail  160  upon insertion of the peripheral device  112  with the attached device mounting rails  160  into the drive cage  110  ( FIGS. 2, 6  and  8 ). The vertical bowing of the elongated section  164 , on the other hand, allows the elongated section  164  to be compressed vertically to generate a vertical compressive spring force in the device mounting rail  160  upon insertion of the peripheral device  112  with the attached device mounting rails  160  into the drive cage  110 . Horizontal motion of the peripheral device  112  is prevented due to the horizontal compressive spring force of the device mounting rails  160 . Similarly, vertical motion of the peripheral device  112  is prevented due to the vertical compressive spring force of the device mounting rails  160 .  
         [0029]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drive cage  110  and the operation thereof, it is understood that the present invention is not so limited. Instead, the peripheral device  112  with attached device mounting rails  114  may be used with any appropriate type of retaining walls between which the peripheral device  112  and device mounting rails  114  may be mounted. For instance, instead of being part of a separate device cage, the retaining walls may be separate elements within the computer system  100  or may be part of the housing  102  or another appropriate internal structure of the computer system  100 . Additionally, instead of operating to insert or remove the peripheral device  112  in the manner described above, the retaining walls may operate in any appropriate toolless manner with any appropriate toollessly operated means for locking or holding the peripheral device  112  therein.  
         [0030]     Additionally, although not necessarily drawn to scale, the drawings may indicate that the invention has been described with respect to certain standard peripheral devices or standard retaining means (e.g. device cages, retaining walls, etc.) having standard dimensions. It is understood, however, that the invention is not so limited, but may be used with any appropriate standard or non-standard peripheral devices and retaining means.