Patent Application
20130255987
The disclosure generally relates to mounting devices for fans, and especially to a mounting device for retaining a fan to a chassis.
Electronic components in computers, such as central processing units and power supplies, generate a large mount of heat. A fan module is usually provided for the power supply to assist in cooling the electronic components. The fan is generally mounted in a bracket, and then the bracket is mounted in each computer enclosure by screws, a process requires a screw driver to secure the bracket with screws. Disassembly or reassembly of the fan is tedious and inconvenient.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
The chassis 10 includes a top plate 11, a bottom plate 13, a side plate 15, and a dividing plate 17. The top plate 11 is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 13. The side plate 15 is substantially perpendicularly connected to the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13. The dividing plate 17 is substantially perpendicularly connected to the side plate 15 and located between the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13. The top plate 11, the bottom plate 13, and the dividing plate 17 cooperatively define a plurality of receiving space for receiving the plurality of brackets 30. Each of the top plate 11 and the dividing plate 17 defines two retaining holes 111 corresponding to each bracket 30.
Each of the two latches 50 includes two elastic arms 51, a handle 55, and a converting portion 53 connecting the two elastic arms 51 to the handle 55. Each of the two elastic arms 51 includes a securing piece 511, a connecting piece 513, and an elastic piece 515. The connecting piece 513 connects the securing piece 511 to the connecting piece 513. The securing piece 511 and the connecting piece 513 are located on two opposite sides of the connecting piece 513. In one embodiment, a first obtuse angle is defined between the connecting piece 513 and the securing piece 511, and a second obtuse angle is defined between the connecting piece 513 and the elastic piece 515. The securing piece 511 defines a securing hole 5111, corresponding to each positioning post. A fixing tab 5151 extends outwards from each elastic piece 515, corresponding to each retaining hole 111. The converting portion 53 includes a first converting piece 531 and a second converting piece 533, connected to the first converting piece 531. The two elastic arms 51 are located on an edge of the first converting piece 531. The handle 55 extends inside from a distal end of the second converting piece 533. In one embodiment, the handle 55 is curved shaped.
A forcing action is applied to the handle 55 of each of the two latches 50, the two elastic arms 51, of each latch 50, are elastically deformable to retract the fixing tab 5151 into the corresponding cutout 311. The bracket 30 is moved towards the receiving space of the chassis 10, until each fixing tab 5151 is aligned with each retaining hole 111.
The two elastic arms 51 rebound to engage each fixing tab 5151 into each retaining hole 111, to secure the bracket 30 to the chassis 10.
When detaching the bracket 30, the handle 55 of the two latches 50 is pressed towards each other, and the two elastic arms 51 are elastically deformable to disengage each fixing tab 5151 from each retaining hole 111. The bracket 30 can be thus removed out of the chassis 10.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201210083904.6 | Mar 2012 | CN | national |
