Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device with an easily detachable power module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    An electronic device, such as a desktop computer, tower computer, server, or the like, usually includes power modules for connecting to a power supply. The installation of the power module in a computer typically involves the use of screws. However, power modules installed by screws may fit too tightly and can not be drawn out easily. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is an electronic device which can overcome the limitations described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an assembled electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a power module and a casing of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a view of part of the assembled power module of  FIG. 2 , shown from a different aspect. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the power module of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an inverted view of the power module of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a view of a sliding member and a locking member of the power module of  FIG. 4 , assembled together. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an inverted view of the sliding member and the locking member of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the cover removed from the power module. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the power module of  FIG. 3 , taken along a line IX-IX thereof, and showing the locking member of the power module in a locked position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 9 , but showing the locking member in an unlocked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present electronic device in detail. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a casing  10  and a power module  20  in the casing  10 . The electronic device  100  can be, for example, a server or a computer. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the casing  10  includes a bottom plate  11 , a top plate  13  and two side plates  15 ,  16  connecting the bottom plate  11  with the top plate  13 . A receiving room  17  is defined between the side plates  15 ,  16 . The side plate  15  defines a fixing hole  18  communicating with the receiving room  17 . The power module  20  is received in the receiving room  17 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the power module  20  includes a base  21 , a cover  29 , two power connectors  25 , a sliding member  30  and a locking member  50 . The cover  29  attaches to the base  21  so as to sandwich the connector  25 , the sliding member  30  and the locking member  50 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , the cover  29  defines a pair of holes  290  therein. The base  21  includes a bracket  22  and a securing member  23  received in the bracket  22 . The bracket  22  includes a bottom wall  220  and two lateral walls  222  extending upwards from the two opposite sides of the bottom wall  220 . The bottom wall  220  has a protrusion  223  extending up from a central portion thereof. Each of the lateral walls  222  defines a through hole  226  therein. 
         [0021]    The securing member  23  is received in the bracket member  22  and defines a fixing hole  233  in the bottom surface thereof to receive the protrusion  223 . Two blocking portions  236  extend outwards from the two sides of the securing member  23  into the through holes  226  of the bracket member  22 . Thereby, the securing member  23  may be secured in the bracket member  22 . The securing member  23  defines a rectangular receiving groove  238  thereon and two U-shaped receiving grooves  237  flanking the receiving groove  238 . Two middle walls  231  extend respectively from a top surface of the securing member  23  on either side of the receiving groove  238 . The middle walls  231  are parallel. A connecting wall  239  connects the rear ends of the middle side walls  231 . The connecting wall  239  defines a locating hole  240  communicating with the receiving groove  238 . A fixing member  80  is mounted in the locating hole  240 , an opening  81  is defined in an end of the fixing member  80 , facing the receiving groove  238 . An elastic portion  234  extends from the securing member  23  in the receiving groove  238  and away from the locating hole  240 . A latching portion  235  extends upwards from a free end of the elastic portion  234 . 
         [0022]    The connectors  25  are received in the receiving grooves  237 . Each of the connectors  25  includes a head portion  250  and an end portion  252 . The end portions  252  are received and mounted in the receiving grooves  237  of the securing member  23 . The head portions  250  are mounted beyond the front edge of the securing member  23 . The sliding member  30  is movably engaged between the power connectors  25 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sliding member  30  includes a rectangular body  31 , an operating portion  32  and an inserting portion  33 . The operating portion  32  extends lengthways from an end of the body  31 , and the inserting portion  33  extends from the other end of the body  31  opposite to the operating portion  32 . The body  31  defines a slot  310  through the top and bottom thereof. The slot  310  in the body  31  has two parallel sidewalls  34 . Each of the sidewalls  34  has a bottom pressing edge  340  gradually slanting down from the front end to the rear end thereof. 
         [0024]    The body  31  includes two supporting portions  35  extending from an end thereof near to the operating portion  32 . The body  31  defines a concave portion  312  at the bottom surface near the inserting portion  33 . Two side plates  36  extend downwards from the two edges of the body  31 . The side plates  36  are located outside the sidewalls  34 . 
         [0025]    The locking member  50  includes an elongated elastic arm  51 , two engaging plates  56  extending from an end of the elastic arm  51 , and two locking portions  54  extending upwards from the engaging plates  56 . The locking portions  54  integrally connect the engaging plates  56 . The elastic arm  51  has a securing end  55  opposite to the engaging plates  56 . The securing end  55  is riveted to the cover  29 . The engaging plates  56  are received in the slot  310  of the body  31 . Each of the engaging plates  56  includes a connecting wall  52  connecting the elastic arm  51 , and a flange  53  extending outwards from the bottom edge of the connecting wall  52 . Each of the flanges  53  extends perpendicularly outwards from the connecting wall  52 . Each of the locking portions  54  has a triangular profile. The top edge  540  of each locking portion  54  inclines upwards from the end near the elastic arm  51  to the other end. The locking portions  54  will extend through the through holes  290  of the cover  29  to beyond the top surface of the cover  29 . 
         [0026]    Referring also to  FIG. 8 , in assembling the power module  20 , the securing member  23  is received in the bracket  22 . The end portions  252  of the connectors  25  are received in the receiving grooves  237  of the securing member  23 . The operating portion  32  of the sliding member  30  is mounted between the head portions  250  of the connectors  25 . The body  31  is mounted on the securing member  23 . The middle walls  231  are each received between the side plates  36  and the sidewalls  34  of the sliding member  30 . The sliding member  30  can accordingly slide along the middle walls  231 . The inserting portion  33  is movably received in the opening  81  of the fixing member  80 . In this embodiment, the fixing member  80  can be a locating device with a blocking portion (not shown) and a spring (not shown) therein. When the inserting portion  33  is initially pushed towards the fixing member  80 , the inserting portion  33  is received in the opening  81  and retained by the blocking portion of the fixing member  80 ; when the inserting portion  33  is pushed again towards the fixing member  80  a second time, the inserting portion  33  is disengaged with the blocking portion and pushed by the spring of the fixing member  80  and separated away from the fixing member  80 . 
         [0027]    The securing end  55  of the locking member  50  is fastened with the cover  29 , with the elastic arm  51  abutting against the cover  29  and the locking portions  54  extending through the through holes  290 . The engaging plates  56  are received in the slot  310  of the body  31  and between the sidewalls  34  and the supporting portions  35 . The rear ends of the flanges  53  engage and support the pressing edges  340  of the sidewalls  34 , and the front ends of the flanges  53  engage and press the supporting portions  35 , shown in  FIG. 7 . The sidewalls  34  and the engaging plates  56  are received in the receiving groove  238  of the securing member  23 . 
         [0028]    Referring also to  FIG. 9 , in a first (closed) state of the power module  20 , the locking member  50  is in a locked position when the front end of the sliding member  30  is coplanar with the front ends of the head portions  250  of the connectors  25 . In the first state, the supporting portions  35  of the sliding member  30  support the flanges  53 , causing the locking portions  54  to protrude upwards through the through holes  290  and beyond the top surface of the cover  29 . When the power module  20  needs to be unlocked (a second state), the operating portion  32  is pushed inwards to make the inserting portion  33  slide towards the fixing member  80 . The inserting portion  33  is pushed back by the fixing member  80  and separated away from the fixing member  80 . The sliding member  30  slides to the front end relative to the locking member  50 , allowing the flanges  53  to disengage from the supporting portions  35  and abut the pressing edges  340 . The sliding member  30  is then pulled outwards to bring the inclined pressing edges  340  to the front end and press down the flanges  53  of the engaging plates  56 . The locking portions  54  follow the engaging plates  56  down and are disengaged from the through holes  290  of the cover  29 . Simultaneously, the latching portion  235  of the securing member  23  is elastically engaged in the concave portion  312  of the sliding member  30 . Thus, the locking member  50  is unlocked, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0029]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-2 , in use, the power module  20  is received in the receiving room  17  of the casing  10  in the first (closed) state. The locking portions  54  of the locking member  50  protrude beyond the cover  29  and are locked in the fixing hole  18  of the side plates  15  to secure the power module  20  in the casing  10 . In disassembly, the power module  20  is turned to the second state with the locking member  50  unlocked by operating the sliding member  30 . The locking portions  54  are disengaged from the fixing hole  18  of the side plates  15 ; thus, the power module  20  can be withdrawn from the casing  10 . Without using any tools, the power module  20  can be fixed to and disassembled from the electronic device  100 . 
         [0030]    As described above, when a user or operator uses finger pressure to operate the sliding member  30 , the power module  20  can be driven to slide from the casing  10 . Therefore, the attachment and detachment of the power module  20  for this electronic device is very user-friendly. 
         [0031]    It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of the embodiment(s), together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiment(s), the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in the 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.

Technology Category: 3