TWI559842B - Tool less component carrier and electronic device - Google Patents

Description

Tool-free part bearing mechanism and electronic device

This instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent No. 62/198,717, filed July 30, 2015, entitled "Tool-less HDD Carrier", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. .

The subject matter of this document is primarily related to a storage device carrying mechanism. More specifically, the subject matter herein is directed to a storage device carrier that is configured to be secured and removed from the electronic device without the need for tools.

The electronic device secures one or more parts with a part carrier mechanism in the electronics housing. The part carrier mechanism is often fixed to the electronics housing by screws, so the technician must use the tool to take out the part carrier mechanism. While it is often necessary to maintain or replace one or more parts during use of the electronic device, the technician must utilize appropriate tools to remove the part carrier. The need for tools increases the downtime and associated maintenance costs of repairing or replacing parts in an electronic device.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a part carrying mechanism comprising: a housing having at least a portion of an open front portion, a two-part open side wall, and a portion of a rear wall formed to receive an accommodation space of the storage device; extending from the housing a flange disposed to receive the first pluggable connector, the first pluggable connector being configured to engage the electronic device to the exterior of the housing; configured to slidably and laterally couple with the housing to cover the front front panel, and The front panel has a side perpendicular to the front panel; and a second insertable connector for removably engaging one of the side and the two side walls to secure the front panel to the front portion; wherein the first insertable The connector and the second pluggable connector are arranged to be embedded and removed without tools.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an electronic device including: an electronic device housing disposed to receive a component carrying mechanism therein; the component carrying mechanism including: at least a portion of an open front portion disposed to form a receiving space for receiving the storage device a two-port open side wall and a portion of the rear wall load-bearing mechanism housing; extending from a flange of the load-bearing mechanism housing disposed to receive the first insertable connector, the first insertable connector being disposed to engage the electronic device housing; Provided to slidably and laterally couple with the carrier housing to cover the front front panel, and the front panel has sides that are perpendicular to the front panel; and is configured to removably engage one of the side and the two side walls to a second insertable connector that encloses the receiving space and thus secures the front panel on the front portion; wherein the first pluggable connector and the second pluggable connector are configured to be embedded and removed without tools; A printed circuit board is provided that electrically couples the storage device housed within the housing of the carrier.

100‧‧‧Parts bearing mechanism

102‧‧‧ housing

104‧‧‧ front

106, 108‧‧‧ side wall

107‧‧‧Port

109, 133‧‧‧ slots

110‧‧‧Part back wall

112‧‧‧ accommodation space

114, 115‧‧‧ storage devices

117, 130‧‧‧Flange

118‧‧‧First pluggable connector

119‧‧‧Offset components

120, 126‧‧‧ head

122‧‧‧front board

123‧‧‧Protruding

124‧‧‧Second pluggable connector

131‧‧‧ Ridge

132‧‧‧ bottom surface

134‧‧‧ Guide pin hole

135‧‧‧back support

138‧‧‧ Cable Management Space

140‧‧‧Support film

142‧‧‧ spacers

200‧‧‧Electronic devices

202‧‧‧ Receiving components

204‧‧‧Directional sales

206‧‧‧ accommodation space

208‧‧‧fan

210‧‧‧Printed circuit board

Embodiments of the present technology will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a part bearing mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 2 is an exploded view of a component carrying mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a partial assembled view of a component carrying mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 4 is a front view of a component carrying mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 5 is an isometric view of an electronic device capable of accommodating a component carrying mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an electronic device having a component carrying mechanism housed therein in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

It is to be understood that in the simplification and clarity of the claims In addition, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the described technical features. The drawings are not necessarily to scale unless the The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

The presentation is applied to several definitions throughout the disclosure.

The term "coupled" is defined as being indirectly connected directly or via an intervening part and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be for permanent or detachable attachment of the article. The term "substantially" is defined to mean substantially conforming to a particular size, shape or other substantially modified word such that the part need not be precise. For example, a substantially cylindrical finger refers to an object that is similar to a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from the cylinder. The term "comprising" means "including, but not limited to," which refers to an open inclusion or component relationship in the combination, group, series, and the like.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a part carrier mechanism that is capable of implementing one or more components. The present invention refers to interchangeably, a component carrier mechanism, a carrier mechanism assembly, a hard disk drive (HDD) carrier mechanism, or a carrier mechanism device. The part carrier mechanism is configured to receive one or more components therein and housed in the electronic device. The electronic device can be a computer, a server, a blade server, a rack server, or other similar electronic device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure focus on a part carrier mechanism that is capable of receiving one or more storage devices. The part carrying mechanism includes a housing having an open front portion forming a receiving space, a portion of the open side wall, and a portion of the rear wall. The accommodation space is configured to accommodate at least one storage device. A flange extending from the housing is configured to receive the first pluggable connector. A first pluggable connector is provided to engage the electronic device to secure the carrier assembly to the electronic device. The front plate is configured to be coupled to the housing by the second insertable connector to close the receiving space. A second insertable connector is provided to engage a partially open side wall. The first pluggable connector and the second pluggable connector are individually insertable or removable between the fixed structure and the non-fixed structure by tools.

Although the illustrated embodiment is specifically described as a part carrier mechanism for housing an HDD, a part carrier mechanism implemented with other components, including but not limited to a solid state hard disk drive (SSD), is also within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, while the display two components are housed within the part carrier mechanism, more or fewer components can be implemented within the part carrier mechanism without altering the scope of the present disclosure.

Moreover, while the illustrated embodiment specifically depicts a part carrier mechanism with a threaded insertable connector, the part carrier mechanism implemented with other insertable connectors including, but not limited to, screws, bolts, and slotted pins Also within the scope of the invention.

1 through 3 depict an exemplary embodiment of a part carrier mechanism 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The part carrying mechanism 100 has a housing 102 having an open front portion 104 defining a receiving space 112; Two partial open side walls 106, 108; and a partial rear wall 110 (shown in Figure 2). The part carrier mechanism 100 also includes a front plate 122 that is configured to secure the housing 102 and cover the front portion 104.

The receiving space 112 is configured to accommodate at least one storage device 114. The storage device 114 can be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state hard disk drive (SSD), or any other known storage medium. In at least one embodiment, at least one storage device 114 is two 2.5" HDDs. In other embodiments, storage device 114 can be a 3.5" HDD, 3.5" SSD, or a combination thereof. However, the present disclosure does not disclose Limited to any particular type of storage device.

The partially open side walls 106, 108 provide structural and rigidity to the housing 102 while allowing air to flow in, through, and around the housing 102. The various side walls 106, 108 increase the airflow and associated cooling within the housing 102. Each of the partially open side walls 106, 108 has a plurality of ports 107 of various shapes and sizes therein. The plurality of ports 107 also reduce the material required for the housing 102, thus reducing the weight of the part carrier mechanism 100.

An exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the part carrier mechanism 100 is depicted as in FIG. A portion of the rear wall 110 is formed by a flange extending from each of the side walls 106,108. A portion of the rear wall 110 provides access to electrically couple at least one storage device 114 to the electronic device 200 (as shown in Figures 5 and 6). In other embodiments, the partial rear wall 110 can be formed to extend partially from the side walls 106, 108, the top surface, the bottom surface 132, or any other combination thereof. In yet another embodiment, the partial rear wall 110 can be similar to the partial side walls 106, 108, being a complete wall with a plurality of ports.

The housing 102 has a flange 117 having a bore adjacent the partial rear wall 110 and which can accommodate the first pluggable connector 118. As described in more detail below, the first pluggable connector 118 can be coupled to the electronic device to securely couple the component carrier mechanism 100 with the electronic device 200. the first The insertable connector 118 can be inserted or moved from the corresponding receiving member 202, thereby securing or unloading the part carrier mechanism 100 from the electronic device 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two storage devices 114 are slidably received in the accommodation space 112 through the front portion 104. The housing 102 includes an open top surface and a respective side wall 106, 108 having a flange to secure the top portion of the uppermost storage device 115.

Figure 3 depicts a partial assembly view of an embodiment of a part carrying mechanism having at least one storage device 114 housed therein. When the part carrying mechanism 100 is fixed in the electronic device 200 (as shown in FIG. 6 ), the housing 102 has at least one flange 130 extending outward from the bottom surface 132 to lift the housing 102 higher than the electronic device 200 . Above the bottom surface. The flange 130 includes at least one guide pin aperture 134 for engaging at least one corresponding guide pin 204 to the electronic device 200 (as shown in Figure 5). At least one guide pin aperture 134 and corresponding guide pin 204 can assist in alignment during connection of the part carrier mechanism 100 with the electronic device 200. And at least one of the guide pin holes 134 and the corresponding guide pin 204 can be further combined with the first insertable connector 118 to fix the component carrying mechanism 100 and the electronic device 200 (as shown in FIG. 2). In other embodiments, the part carrier mechanism 100 can have at least one guide pin disposed to engage a guide pin aperture corresponding to at least one of the electronic devices 200.

The flange 130 is coupled and extends from the bottom surface 132 of the housing 102. A ridge 131 is formed at the bottom surface 132 near the front portion 104. The ridge 131 is the leading edge of the receiving space 112 and is oblique to the receiving space 112 to define a slot 133 that is slidably received to receive the front panel 122.

The front panel 122 of the housing 102 is slidably coupled to the housing 102 and selectively covers or opens the front portion 104. The front plate 122 of the coupling housing 102 closes the receiving space 112 and fixes at least one storage device 114. The front panel 122 can couple one of the side walls 106, 108 through the second pluggable connector 124.

The second insertable connector 124 is threadedly engaged with one of the side walls 106, 108 to secure the front panel 122 to the housing 102 and enclose the receiving space 112. The second insertable connector 124 preferably has a head 126 that is at least three times the diameter of the body of the second insertable connector 124, thus allowing for tool-free operation of the second insertable connector 124. The head 126 also includes a textured outer perimeter that is configured to increase grip and allow a user to manually manipulate the second insertable connector 124. The outer perimeter of the texture can be a plurality of ridges, a plurality of grooves, or knurling. In at least one embodiment, the second insertable connector 124 further includes a recess in the uppermost head 126 to accommodate a tool that the user prefers to use, such as a Phillips screwdriver (also known as a Phillips head) and/or a Word screwdriver. In other embodiments, the second pluggable connector 124 can be configured with a pin, bolt, or any other tool-less engagement mechanism that is press-fitted with a corresponding component of the electronic device 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front panel 122 slides laterally through the housing 102 to cover the front portion 104. The front panel 122 has a projection 123 that can be received in a corresponding slot 109 of the partial opening sidewall 108 to engage the front panel 122 and the housing 102. The second insertable connector 124 is then engaged with the opposing side walls 106 to secure the front panel 122 and the housing 102.

In at least one embodiment, the front panel 122 can be vertically slid to the housing 102 to cover the open front portion 104 and include a projection that extends from the bottom surface of the front panel 122 and that is received in the bottom surface 132 of the housing 102.

4 depicts an elevational side view of an illustrative embodiment of a part carrier mechanism having a front panel 122 coupled to a housing 102. The part carrier mechanism 100 is detachably coupled to the electronic device 200 by a first pluggable connector 118 (as shown in Figures 5 and 6). The first pluggable connector 118 is threadedly engaged with the corresponding receiving member 202 of the electronic device 200 (as shown in FIG. 6). The first insertable connector 118 has a head 120 having a diameter at least three times the diameter of the body of the first insertable connector 118, thus allowing A tool-free operation that can be inserted into the connector 118. The head 120 also includes a textured outer perimeter that is configured to increase grip and allow a user to manually manipulate the first insertable connector 118. The outer perimeter of the texture can be a plurality of ridges, a plurality of grooves, or knurling. In at least one embodiment, the first pluggable connector 118 further includes a recess in the uppermost head 120 for receiving a tool that the user prefers to use, such as a Phillips screwdriver (also known as a Phillips head) and/or A word screwdriver. In other embodiments, the first pluggable connector 118 can be configured with pins, bolts, or any other tool-less engagement mechanism that is press-fitted with corresponding components of the electronic device 200.

In other embodiments, the first insertable connector 118 can have one or more outwardly extending projections and can be received within a corresponding receiving member 202 (as shown in FIG. 6) such that when first When the insertable connector 118 is rotated to the fixed position, the protrusion engages the side wall of the corresponding receiving member 202 to secure the part carrier mechanism 100.

In the non-fixed configuration, the first insertable connector 118 is substantially horizontal to the bottom surface 132 of the housing 102 and does not extend below the bottom surface 132. The first pluggable connector 118 can have a biasing element 119 to further assist in transitioning from a fixed position to a non-fixed position. The biasing element 119 can be a spring that is configured to hold the first pluggable connector 118 in a non-fixed configuration when not in use. In the fixed configuration, the first pluggable connector 118 extends below the bottom surface 132 of the housing 102 and is received in a corresponding receiving member 202, thereby coupling the part carrier mechanism 100 with the electronic device 200.

The rear support 135 supports and lifts a portion of the rear wall 110 above the electronic device 200. The rear support 135 is substantially the same height as the at least one flange 130. At least one flange 130 and rear support 135 lifts the housing 102 above the electronic device 200 to provide a cable management space 138 for receiving power between the electronic device 200, the part carrier mechanism 100, and other components within the electronic device 200. Communication Cable.

The partially open side walls 106, 108 have support sheets 140 that extend inwardly into the receiving space 112 to secure at least one storage device 114. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the part carrier mechanism 100 is housed in a housing The two storage devices 114 of the accommodation space 112. A longitudinally extending support sheet 140 extends from each of the side walls 106, 108 to the receiving space 112 and supports the uppermost storage device 115. The spacer 142 separates the two storage devices 114 from each other. The spacer 142 provides a better air flow between the two storage devices 114, thereby improving the cooling performance of the storage device 114.

Figure 5 depicts an embodiment of the electronic device 200 having a receiving space 206 that is configured to receive the part carrier mechanism 100 (as shown in Figures 1-4). The electronic device 200 has a receiving space 206 that is configured to receive the component carrying mechanism 100 in the electronic device 200. The electronic device 200 has a receiving member 202 that is configured to receive the first pluggable connector 118. The receiving member 202 is raised to accommodate at least one flange 130 and rear support 135 and to receive the first insertable connector 118. The electronic device 200 also includes two guide pins 204 that are disposed to receive corresponding two guide pin holes 134 (shown in Figures 3 and 4) on the part carrier mechanism 100.

Figure 6 depicts an embodiment of an electronic device having a component carrier mechanism housed therein. The electronic device 200 can house the part carrying mechanism 100 in the receiving space 206. The part carrier mechanism 100 is coupled to the electronic device 200 by a first pluggable connector 118. The electronic device 200 can further include a fan 208 for introducing the airflow and cooling the component carrying mechanism 100, and a printed circuit board 210 for electrically coupling the at least one storage device 114 and the electronic device 200. Printed circuit board 210 can have a processor, a non-volatile storage medium, a power source, and other components disposed thereon. As is apparent from FIG. 6, at least one of the flanges 130 and the rear supports 135 of the part carrier mechanism 100 provide lift up onto the bottom surface of the electronic device 200, thereby enabling the cable management space 138 to receive power and communication cables.

It is believed that the exemplary embodiments and their advantages will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art in the <Desc/Clms Page number> The foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments or exemplary embodiments of the invention.

100‧‧‧Parts bearing mechanism

102‧‧‧ housing

104‧‧‧ front

106, 108‧‧‧ side wall

110‧‧‧Part back wall

112‧‧‧ accommodation space

114, 115‧‧‧ storage devices

117‧‧‧Flange

118‧‧‧First pluggable connector

122‧‧‧front board

132‧‧‧ bottom surface

Claims (10)

A component carrying mechanism comprising: a housing having a front portion, at least a portion of an opening, a portion of a rear wall, and a portion of a rear wall; and a flange formed to receive at least one of the storage devices Extending from the housing to accommodate a first insertable connector, the first insertable connector being configured to engage an electronic device to the exterior of the housing; a front panel disposed to slidably and laterally The housing is coupled to cover the front portion, and the front panel has a side portion perpendicular to the front panel; and a second insertable connector for detachably engaging the side portion and one of the two side walls, The front panel is fixed to the front portion; wherein the first pluggable connector and the second pluggable connector are disposed to be embedded and removed without tools. The part carrying mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing has no top surface. The part bearing mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first insertable connector and the second insertable connector each have a head having a rough outer periphery for being fixed by a thumb operation Conversion between a structure and a non-fixed structure. The part bearing mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one flange extending outwardly from a bottom surface of the receiving space, the at least one flange for raising the housing Above the electronic device. The component carrying mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first insertable connector extends from a bottom surface of the housing and the component carrying mechanism is fixed to the electronic device. The part bearing mechanism of claim 1, wherein the opposite side walls each have a support piece disposed to support an inwardly extending one of the storage devices. The component carrying mechanism of claim 6, wherein the inwardly extending support piece provides a separation space between a first storage device and a second storage device. The part carrying mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first insertable connector has a biasing element to facilitate switching between a fixed position and a non-fixed position. An electronic device includes: an electronic device housing disposed to receive a component carrying mechanism therein; the component carrying mechanism includes: a carrier mechanism housing having a receiving space configured to receive at least one storage device a front portion of at least a portion of the opening, a second side wall of the partial opening, and a portion of the rear wall; a flange extending from the carrier housing configured to receive a first insertable connector, the first insertable connector Arranging to couple the electronic device housing; a front panel disposed to slidably and laterally coupled to the carrier housing to cover the front portion, and the front panel having a side portion perpendicular to the front panel; a second insertable connector detachably engaging one of the side portion and the two side walls to close the receiving space and thereby fix the front panel to the front portion; wherein the first insertable connection And the second pluggable connector is configured to be embedded and removed without the need for a tool; and a printed circuit board is disposed to electrically couple the at least one storage device housed within the carrier housing. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device housing has a receiving member disposed to couple the first insertable connector, the first insertable connector from the one of the carrying mechanism housing The bottom surface extends.