Patent Application
20070152548
The present invention relates to mounting assemblies for pivotal bracket, and more particularly to a mounting assembly which readily and conveniently secures a pivotal bracket to a computer chassis.
Nowadays, with the popularization of the computer, the trend toward miniaturization in computer systems is irresistible. In order to make the most of the internal space of a computer enclosure, it is required that components in the computer enclosure should be compactly arranged in a confined space inside the computer enclosure. For example, various data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, optical disk drives, and floppy disk drives, are installed in the computer enclosure for electronic communication and handling of data. Support brackets are often used to support and secure such data storage device inside the computer enclosure. However, a conventional bracket for accommodating data storage devices is firmly mounted to the computer enclosure by screws, rivets, or other fasteners. It is time-consuming and laborious to remove the bracket from the computer enclosure for gaining access to other components due to a confined space.
A typical mounting assembly for securing pivotal bracket is disclosed. The bracket is pivotally attached to a computer enclosure. A plurality of screws is required not only between a pair of fixing plates and the bracket, but also between the bracket and the computer enclosure. Therefore, the procedures of assembly and disassembly are considerably inconvenient and unduly arduous. Also, the fixing plates take up valuable space inside the computer enclosure. Furthermore, the bracket is pivoted substantially inside the computer enclosure, which also reduces space available for other components inside the computer enclosure.
What is needed, therefore, is a mounting assembly which readily and conveniently secures a pivotal bracket to a computer chassis.
A mounting assembly includes a chassis having a sidewall, a support bracket pivotally mounted to the sidewall of the chassis, and a locking member securely attached to the chassis. The support bracket has a locking portion thereon. The locking member has a latching portion thereon for engaging in the locking portion, thereby securing the support bracket to the locking member. When the support bracket is pivoted, the latching portion engages in the locking portion in a first direction, and when the locking member is pushed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the latching portion disengages from the locking portion, thereby disengaging the support bracket from the locking member.
Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with the attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
The computer chassis 10 includes a bottom wall 11, a sidewall 12, and a rear wall 13 connected perpendicularly with the bottom wall 11 and the sidewall 12. Two screw holes (not shown) are defined in the bottom wall 11. The sidewall 12 is formed to have a pair of opposite supporting blocks 122 thereon. A pivot pin 124 extends outwards and horizontally from each supporting block 122. A rectangular opening 131 is defined in the rear wall 13 of the computer chassis 10. A part of the rear wall 13 is bent perpendicular and in to form a tab 134 (shown in
The support bracket 20 is pivotally mounted to the sidewall 12 of the computer chassis 10. The support bracket 20 includes two opposite step-shaped sidewalls 21, 22 and a bottom wall 24 connected with the two sidewalls 21, 22. Front and rear sides of the sidewall 21 are bent perpendicular and out to form a tab 211 respectively, and each of the tabs 211 defines a pivot hole 213 therein, corresponding to each of the pivot pins 124 of the computer chassis 10. The sidewall 22 of the support bracket 20 is formed to have a shoulder 23. A top end of the sidewall 22 is bent horizontally to form a flange 221. The shoulder 23 forms a vertical and downward protruding tab 232 by stamping, and the protruding tab 232 forms a locking portion 234 thereon. In the present preferred embodiment, the locking portion 234 is a locking hole defined in the protruding tab 232. Alternatively, the locking portion 234 may be a catch formed on the protruding tab 232.
The clasp member 30 is securely attached to the positioning member 40 by one of three fasteners 50 such as a screw, a rivet, or the like. The clasp member 30 includes a horizontal mounting portion 31 and an elastic vertical portion 32 connected with the mounting portion 31. The mounting portion 31 defines a through hole 312 therein. Opposite sides of the vertical portion 32 are split to form a slanted flap 322 respectively. A top end of the vertical portion 32 has a latching portion 324 with a cambered guiding surface thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the latching portion 324 is a catch formed on the top end of the vertical portion 32. Similarly, the locking portion 234 may be a locking hole defined in the vertical portion 32.
The positioning member 40 is firmly mounted to the bottom wall 11 of the computer chassis 10 by the other two fasteners 50. The positioning member 40 includes a horizontal mounting portion 41, two opposite portions 42, 44 and a stop block 43 perpendicularly connecting the two portions 42, 44 extend up from the mounting portion 41. A pair of protruding posts 412 extends up from the mounting portion 41 adjacent opposite sides of the stop block 43. Each of the protruding posts 412 defines a screw hole (not labeled) for extension of the corresponding fastener 50 therethrough. A threaded hole 414, adjacent to the stop block 43, is defined in the mounting portion 41. An elongated cantilever 422, above the mounting portion 41, extends horizontally from the portion 42. A rectangular opening 432 is defined in the stop block 43, and a curved elastic resisting tab 434 extends upwards from a top end of the stop block 43.
Referring to
Referring also to
In disassembly of the support bracket 20, the free end of the cantilever 422 is pushed in a second direction (in a horizontal direction). The cantilever 422 resists against the vertical portion 32 of the clasp member 30 towards the stop block 43, thereby urging the latching portion 324 of the clasp member 30 to disengage from the locking portion 234 of the protruding tab 232. At the same time, the resisting tab 434 of the positioning member 40 lifts up the bottom surface of the shoulder 23 of the support bracket 20, thereby urging the support bracket 20 to pivot upwards. Thus, the unlocked support bracket 20 can be freely pivoted about the pivot pins 124 to an unlocked position.
In view of the disassembly described above, the cantilever 422 serves as an operating member, which is operable to resist against the clasp member 30, thereby enabling the clasp member 30 to disengage from the locking portion 234 of the support bracket 20. Therefore, the operating member can be configured to be any suitable shape, size, or formed with any one of the chassis 10, the support bracket 20, and the locking member as long as it can perform the function mentioned above, and should not be limited to the embodiments given herein.
In another preferred embodiment, different locking structures may be arranged on the computer chassis 10 and the support bracket 20, for locking the support bracket 20 with respect to the computer chassis 10. In addition, the clasp member 30 and the positioning member 40 can be integrally molded to form a unitary locking member, thereby snappingly engaging with the support bracket 20.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.
