U.S. patent application number 09/957759 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for locking device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Delta Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Huang, Chin Chu, Yu, Chen Yu.
Application Number | 20020071248 09/957759 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21675966 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020071248 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Chin Chu ; et
al. |
June 13, 2002 |
Locking device
Abstract
A locking device adapted to secure a retractable storing device
in a frame of an electrical apparatus is provided. The locking
device includes a main body, an activating element assembled with
the main body and having an activating button and a first engaging
member thereon, and a handle pivotally connected to the main body
and having a second engaging member for engaging with the first
engaging member when the retractable storing device is secured in
the frame, wherein the activating button, being invisibly disposed
in a concavity of the main body, is used for disengaging the second
engaging member from the first engaging member when the retractable
storing device is retracted from the frame.
Inventors: |
Huang, Chin Chu; (Taoyuan
Shien, TW) ; Yu, Chen Yu; (Taoyuan Shien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
SUITE 400, ONE PENN CENTER
1617 JOHN F. KENNEDY BOULEVARD
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Delta Electronics Inc.
Taoyuan Shien
TW
|
Family ID: |
21675966 |
Appl. No.: |
09/957759 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/187 20130101;
G06F 1/184 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/685 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 12, 2000 |
TW |
89221539 |
Claims
What is claimed is
1. A locking device adapted to secure a retractable storing device
in a frame of an electrical apparatus, comprising: a main body an
activating element assembled with said main body and having an
activating button and a first engaging member thereon; and a handle
pivotally connected to said main body and having a second engaging
member for engaging with said first engaging member when said
retractable storing device is secured in said frame, wherein said
activating button, being invisibly disposed in a concavity of said
main body, is used for disengaging said second engaging member from
said first engaging member when said retractable storing device is
retracted from said frame.
2. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein said storing
device is a disk array system of a personal computer.
3. The locking device according to claim 2 wherein said disk array
system is a hard disk.
4. The locking device according to claim 2 wherein said disk array
system is a CDROM.
5. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein said main body
is made of plastic.
6. The locking device according to claim 5 wherein said main body
is formed by injection molding.
7. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein said activating
element is made of plastic.
8. The locking device according to claim 7 wherein said activating
element is formed by injection molding.
9. The locking device according to claim 1 wherein said handle is
made of plastic.
10. The locking device according to claim 9 wherein said handle is
formed by injection molding.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a locking device, and
more particularly to a locking device adapted to secure a
retractable storing device in a frame of an electrical
apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A storing device, e.g. a disk array system, applied in an
electrical apparatus, e.g. a personal computer, generally possesses
a function of hot swap. That is, during the running process of the
personal computer, the personal computer doesn't need to be shut
down if the user of the personal computer would like to replace the
disk array system, e.g. a hard disk or a CDROM, with another one
for some purposes. What the user merely have to do is to retract
the disk array system through a locking device assembled therewith.
Conventionally, the disk array system combined with a locking
device is disposed in a frame of the personal computer for securing
which with the personal computer.
[0003] Please refer to FIG. 1 which is a schematic diagram
illustrating a structure of a disk array system 11 combined with a
conventional locking device 10 disposed in a frame 12 of a personal
computer. The conventional locking device 10 includes a rotatable
handle 101 and a key hole 102. The disk array system 11 is secured
in the frame 12 of a personal computer (not shown). To replace the
disk array system 11 during the running process of the personal
computer with another one, the user have to insert the key into the
key hole 102 first to unlock the disk array system 11. Thereafter,
the disk array system 11 is retracted from the frame 12 by pulling
the rotatable handle 101 out. Finally, another disk array system is
then pushed into the frame 12 and secured therein by inserting the
key into the key hole 102 to lock the disk array system 11.
However, the structure of the locking device 10 is very
complicated. Particularly, if one of the elements for locking the
disk array system 11 in the frame 12 malfunctions, a big trouble
would be made. In addition, by forming a key hole 102 for locking
the disk array system 11 in the frame 12, the manufacturing cost is
raised.
[0004] Please refer to FIG. 2 which is a schematic diagram
illustrating a structure of a disk array system 11 combined with
another conventional locking device 13 disposed in a frame 12 of a
personal computer. The conventional locking device 13 includes a
rotatable handle 131 and a locking element 132. The disk array
system 11 is secured in the frame 12 of a personal computer (not
shown). To replace the disk array system 11 during the running
process of the personal computer with another one, the user have to
push a locking member 1321 of the locking element 132 toward right
first to unlock the disk array system 11. Thereafter, the disk
array system 11 is retracted from the frame 12 by pulling the
rotatable handle 131 out. Finally, another disk array system is
then pushed into the frame 12 and secured therein by pushing the
locking member 1321 of the locking element 132 toward left to lock
the disk array system 11. Although the structure of the locking
device 13 is not so complicated as that of FIG. 1, it is very easy
for an infant or a child to arbitrarily retract the disk array
system 11 by merely pushing the locking member 1321 of the locking
element 132. Predictably, arbitrary locking/unlocking of the disk
array system would result in easy damage of the locking device
13.
[0005] Accordingly, it is attempted by the present invention to
overcome the drawbacks encountered in the prior arts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a locking
device of simple structure adapted to secure a retractable storing
device in a frame of an electrical apparatus.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
locking device adapted to secure a retractable storing device in a
frame of an electrical apparatus for preventing from arbitrary
locking/unlocking of the storing device.
[0008] According to the present invention, a locking device adapted
to secure a retractable storing device in a frame of an electrical
apparatus is disclosed. The locking device includes a main body, an
activating element assembled with the main body and having an
activating button and a first engaging member thereon, and a handle
pivotally connected to the main body and having a second engaging
member for engaging with the first engaging member when the
retractable storing device is secured in the frame, wherein the
activating button, being invisibly disposed in a concavity of the
main body, is used for disengaging the second engaging member from
the first engaging member when the retractable storing device is
retracted from the frame.
[0009] Preferably, the storing device is a disk array system of a
personal computer.
[0010] Preferably, the disk array system is a hard disk.
[0011] Preferably, the disk array system is a CDROM.
[0012] Preferably, the main body is made of plastic.
[0013] Preferably, the main body is formed by injection
molding.
[0014] Preferably, the activating element is made of plastic.
[0015] Preferably, the activating element is formed by injection
molding.
[0016] Preferably, the handle is made of plastic.
[0017] Preferably, the handle is formed by injection molding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0018] The present invention may best be understood through the
following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a
disk array system combined with a conventional locking device
disposed in a frame of a personal computer.;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a
disk array system combined with another conventional locking device
disposed in a frame of a personal computer;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a
disk array system combined with a locking device disposed in a
frame of a personal computer according to the present invention;
and
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rear view of a
locking device according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention will now be described more
specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to
be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments
of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration
and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be
limited to the precise form disclosed.
[0024] Herein, the present invention is illustrated by respectively
using a disk array system and a personal computer as a storing
device and an electrically apparatus. Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4
which are schematic diagrams respectively illustrating a structure
of a disk array system 31 combined with a locking device 30
disposed in a frame 32 of a personal computer, and a rear view of
the locking device 30 according to the present invention. The
locking device 30 is used for securing the disk array system 31 in
the frame 32 of a personal computer (not shown). The locking device
30 includes a main body 301, an activating element 302 assembled
with the main body 301 and having an activating button 3021 and a
first engaging member 3022 thereon, and a handle 303 pivotally
connected to the main body 301 and having a second engaging member
3031 for engaging with the first engaging member 3022 when the
retractable disk array system 31 is secured in the frame 32. The
activating button 3021 is used for disengaging the second engaging
member 3031 from the first engaging member 3022 when the
retractable disk array system 31 is retracted from the frame 32.
For preventing an infant or a child from arbitrarily
locking/unlocking the disk array system 31, the activating button
3021 is disposed in an invisible concavity 3012 of the main body
301. To assemble the activating element 302 with the main body 301,
the first assembling member 3023 of the activating element 302 is
engaged with the second assembling member 3011 of the main body 301
as shown in FIG. 4.
[0025] To replace the disk array system 31 during the running
process of the personal computer with another one, the user just
need to poke his finger into the invisible concavity 3012 of the
main body 301 to press the activating button 3021 first. In the
meantime, the second engaging member 3031 will be disengaged from
the first engaging member 3022, i.e. the disk array system 31 is
unlocked. Thereafter, the disk array system 31 is retracted from
the frame 32 by pulling the handle 303 out. Then, another disk
array system can be pushed into the frame 32 and secured therein by
engaging the second engaging member 3031 with the first engaging
member 3022, i.e. locking the disk array system 31.
[0026] Preferably, the main body, the activating element and the
handle of the locking device is made of plastic. Certainly, the
main body, the activating element and the handle of the locking
device can be formed by injection molding.
[0027] According to the present invention, the structure of the
locking device 30 is simple. In addition, the activating button
3021 is disposed in an invisible concavity 3012 of the main body
301 such that it's not easy for an infant or a child to arbitrarily
press the activating button 3021 and therefore disengaging the
second engaging member 3031 from the first engaging member 3022,
i.e. unlocking the disk array system 31. Accordingly, the drawbacks
encountered in the prior arts are solved.
[0028] While the invention has been described in terms of what are
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be
limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and similar structures. Therefore,
the above description and illustration should not be taken as
limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *