Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure with a bracket for receiving disk drives. 
     2. General Background 
     In a computer or a sever, a disk drive is needed. A bracket is usually provided to secure the disk drive therein. However, the kind of bracket is only used to secure the disk drive, but cannot be used to secure other electronic devices, such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnection) cards. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a computer enclosure having a bracket for securing at least one disk drive therein and allowing a PCI card securing thereon. 
     SUMMARY 
     A computer enclosure includes a chassis, and a bracket secured in the chassis. The bracket includes a holding portion configured for receiving at least one disk drive therein and an expansion portion configured for securing a PCI card thereon. The expansion portion is integrally formed on an outside of the holding portion. 
     Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with attached drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a PCI card and a motherboard; and 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a computer enclosure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis  10 , and a bracket  30  detachably attached to the chassis  10 . 
     The chassis  10  includes a bottom plate  12 , a side plate  14 , and a rear plate  18 . The side plate  14  and the rear plate  18  are perpendicularly formed on adjacent edges of the bottom plate  12 , and perpendicular to each other. A motherboard  20  is secured on an inner surface of the bottom plate  12 . An expansion slot  22  is disposed on the motherboard  20  and extends along a direction perpendicular to the rear plate  18 . A convex portion  122  with a mounting hole  124  defined therein is disposed on the inner surface of the bottom plate  12  between the motherboard  20  and the side plate  14 . The rear plate  18  defines an opening  182  adjacent the side plate  14  thereof. Three bent flanges  1822 ,  1824 , and  1826  are perpendicularly bent from a bottom and two side edges of the opening  182  respectively. A cutout  1828  is defined in a top portion of the bent flange  1826  along a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate  12 . 
     The bracket  30  includes a holding portion  32  for receiving disk drives therein, and an expansion portion  34  extending from the holding portion  32 . The holding portion  32  includes a bottom wall  322 , a top wall  324  parallel to the bottom wall  322 , and parallel first and second side walls  326 ,  328  both perpendicular to the bottom wall  322 . A rim  3222  is perpendicularly bent down from a rear edge of the bottom wall  322 . A bent piece  3282  is perpendicularly formed on a front edge of the second side wall  328  toward the first side wall  326 . A hollow restricting portion  3284  is formed on an outer surface of the bent piece  3282 . A positioning piece  3286  with a through hole  3288  defined therein is formed on the bent piece  3282  below the restricting portion  3284 . The expansion portion  34  includes a first retaining wall  342  bent perpendicularly out from the first side wall  326  of the holding portion  32 , and a second retaining wall  344  bent perpendicularly out from the first retaining wall  342 . A support flange  3422  is perpendicularly formed on a top edge of the first retaining wall  342 . A PCI opening  3424  is defined in the first retaining wall  342  and the support flange  3422 . A securing hole  3426  is defined in the support flange  3422 . A post  3442  is disposed on the second retaining wall  344 , corresponding to the cutout  1828  of the bent flange  1826  of the rear plate  18 . A rim  3444  is perpendicularly formed on a rear edge of the second retaining wall  344 . 
     A PCI (peripheral component interconnection) card  40  has an L-shaped mounting piece  42  for securing the PCI card  40  on the expansion portion  344  of the bracket  30  and shielding the PCI opening  3424 , and an inserting portion  44  for inserting into the expansion slot  22  of the motherboard  20 . The mounting piece  42  defines a locking hole  422  therein, corresponding to the securing hole  3426  of the expansion portion  344  of the bracket  30 . Alternatively, other expansion cards can also be used. 
     See  FIG. 2 , the bracket  30  is placed into the chassis  10  with the rear end thereof being received into the opening  182  of the rear plate  18 . The post  3442  of the bracket  30  is slid into the cutout  1828  of the rear plate  18 . The positioning piece  3286  of the second side wall  328  is located above the convex portion  122  of the bottom plate  12 , and the through hole  3288  aligns with the mounting hole  124  of the convex portion  122 . The bottom wall  322  is supported on the bent flange  1822  of the rear plate  18 , and the second side wall  328  abuts on the bent flange  1824 , and the end of the rim  3222  abuts on the bent flange  1826 . The rims  3222 ,  3444  are positioned at the exterior of the chassis  10  and abut an outer surface of the rear plate  18 . A locking member  50 , such as an elongated thumb-screw, is inserted through the restricting portion  3284  and the through hole  3288  of the positioning piece  3286  thereby being locked into the mounting hole  124  of the convex portion  122  of the bottom plate  12 . Thus, the bracket  30  is stably secured into the chassis  10 . 
     The inserting portion  44  of the PCI card  40  is inserted into the PCI slot  22  of the motherboard  20 . The mounting piece  42  is inserted into the PCI opening  3424  of the first retaining wall  342  of the expansion portion  342  with a top portion thereof abutting on the top portion of the support flange  3422 . The locking hole  422  aligns with the securing hole  3426  of the support flange  3422  of the first retaining wall  342 . A screw  60  is inserted through the locking hole  422  of the mounting piece  42  of the PCI card  40 , and locked into the securing hole  3426  of the first retaining wall  342 . Thus, the PCI card  40  is stably secured into the chassis  10  on the expansion portion  34  of the bracket  30 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions 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 Category: 3