U.S. patent application number 10/724065 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for mechanism for quickly removing an electronic device from pc having a smaller case.
This patent application is currently assigned to FIRST INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER, INC.. Invention is credited to Hsu, Hsin-An, Yeh, Che-Fu.
Application Number | 20050117287 10/724065 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34620012 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050117287 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Hsin-An ; et
al. |
June 2, 2005 |
MECHANISM FOR QUICKLY REMOVING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE FROM PC HAVING
A SMALLER CASE
Abstract
The present invention is to provide a mechanism for quickly
removing an electronic device from a PC having a smaller case,
which comprises a slot in the PC having one or more recesses at
either side, enabling a tray installed with the electronic device
to be inserted therein through a front opening of the slot and
enabling one or more snapping members on either side of the tray to
be adapted to snap into one or more recesses on the slot. In an
operation of removing the electronic device from the PC, a user may
pull a first clinging member of a pivotal gate at the front opening
to open a gate upward, and then hold a handle of the tray to
quickly pull the tray toward the front opening of the slot.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Hsin-An; (Taipei,
TW) ; Yeh, Che-Fu; (Taipei, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Assignee: |
FIRST INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER,
INC.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
34620012 |
Appl. No.: |
10/724065 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.33 ;
399/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/184 20130101;
G06F 1/187 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/685 ;
399/026 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mechanism for quickly removing an electronic device from a PC
having a smaller case, comprising: a slot in the PC, the slot
comprising one or more recesses at either side, a front opening,
and a latch at a corner adjacent the front side; a tray adapted to
insert into the slot through the front opening, the tray being
shaped as an inverted U so as to receive the electronic device by
inserting the electronic device through an opening thereof, the
tray comprising a snapping surface on either side, one or more
snapping members on either snapping surface, and a handle at a
front side between the snapping surfaces, the handle being
operative to hold for removing the tray from the slot or installing
the same therein wherein the one or more snapping members are
adapted to allow the tray to insert into the slot by sliding into
the one or more recesses on the slot; and an elongated gate
comprising a top plate having a pivot shaft at one end, a first
clinging member at the other end wherein the pivot shaft is
pivotably provided in a pivot hole at a front side of the slot, the
pivot shaft of the gate is adapted to pivot about the pivot hole in
opening or closing the gate, and the first clinging member is
snapped into the latch of the slot when the gate is closed.
2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the recess is formed by
providing an opening at a top portion of the side, the opening of
the recess being extended downward, rearward at the same side.
3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the number of the recesses is
four with two of them being at one side of the slot and the other
two of them being at the other side of the slot.
4. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a second clinging
member at the other end of the gate adjacent the first clinging
member wherein the first and the second clinging members of the
gate are urged against the latch of the slot and the cavity of the
tray adjacent the handle respectively when the gate is closed,
thereby securely fastening the tray in the slot.
5. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a resilient latch
member at one side of the pivot shaft of the gate, a first hole at
one side of the pivot hole, and a second hole at the other side of
the pivot hole wherein a distance from the first hole to the pivot
hole is the same as that from the second hole to the pivot hole so
that two sides of the resilient latch member are adapted to snap
into the first and the second holes respectively for
positioning.
6. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising one or more
inverted L-shaped conductive members at a junction of either
snapping surface and a top of the tray wherein the junction of
either snapping surface is perpendicular to the top of the tray,
and the conductive members at the junction of either snapping
surface and the top of the tray makes it possible of being
electrically grounded with respect to a cover of the PC, one side
of the tray, and the electronic device within the tray.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to detaching mechanisms and
more particularly to an improved mechanism capable of quickly
removing an electronic device from a PC (personal computer) having
a smaller case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A PC having a smaller case is gaining popularity among users
due to its small size, less space occupation, and being as powerful
as a conventional desktop computer by installing electronic devices
such as CD-ROM drive, hard disk, fan, etc. within the smaller
case.
[0003] Thus, it is very important to customize the limited space of
the PC having a smaller case for accommodating the above electronic
devices therein since the PC having a smaller case only has a small
internal space. Further, the arrangement of the electronic devices
installed in the PC having a smaller case is very critical in both
assembling the components in the assembly line and doing
maintenance in the future. Typically, a plurality of screws are
used to fasten each electronic device in a conformed frame of the
smaller case of the PC for installing the electronic device
therein.
[0004] However, the above technique of using a plurality of screws
to fasten each electronic device in the conformed frame of the case
has a couple of drawbacks. One drawback is that in a case of
removing a malfunctioned electronic device for replacement or
upgrading, a user has to sequentially detach the case and the
panels, unfasten the screws from the frame of the electronic device
by means of a screw driver, and finally detach the electronic
device from the case. To the contrary, while installing an
electronic device in the frame, a user has to sequentially insert
the electronic device into the frame, fasten a plurality of screws
at the frame by means of a screw driver, and finally assemble the
case and the panels again. In view of the above, it is apparent
that the assembling process is very tedious and time consuming
within the narrow internal space of the case, and the electronic
devices is also easily damaged during the assembling process.
Moreover, the assembling speed in the assembly line will also
become slow due to the narrow internal space of the case.
Therefore, it is impossible to either quickly remove an electronic
device from the small case of the PC or install the same therein by
the prior technique of using screws to fasten or unfasten the
electronic device to or from the PC having a smaller case.
[0005] Thus, it is desirable among users to provide a mechanism for
quickly removing an electronic device from a PC having a smaller
case or installing the same therein by utilizing the existing
construction of PC in order to overcome the above drawbacks of the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is to provide a mechanism for quickly
removing or installing an electronic device to or from a PC having
a smaller case, which is able to overcome the above drawbacks of
the prior art and effectively solve the problems of tedious and
time consuming process of removing an electronic device from the PC
having a smaller case or installing the same therein within the
narrow internal space of the PC through using a plurality of screws
in fastening the electronic device in a conformed frame of the
computer case and avoid other electronic devices in the PC from
being damaged in the processes.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism
for quickly removing an electronic device from a PC having a
smaller case. The mechanism comprises a slot in the PC, the slot
including one or more recesses at either side, a tray for
containing the electronic device (e.g., hard disk) adapted to
insert into the slot through a front opening of the slot wherein
one or more snapping members on either side of the tray are adapted
to snap into one or more recesses on the slot. In an operation of
removing the electronic device from the PC, a user may pull a first
clinging member of a pivotal gate at the front opening of the slot
to open a gate upward. Next, the hand of the user may hold a handle
of the tray to quickly pull the tray toward the front opening of
the slot. By utilizing the present invention, it is possible to
quickly remove the electronic device from the PC without being
hindered by the narrow internal space of the PC. As an end, the
drawbacks of being impossible of quickly removing the electronic
device from the PC and installing the same therein as experienced
by the prior art can be overcome.
[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mechanism according to the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1, the mechanism being
shown during mounting;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the snapping
arrangement of the invention; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the removal of an
electronic device from the computer case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, there is shown a
mechanism for quickly removing an electronic device from a
parallelepiped PC having a smaller case (hereinafter referred to as
computer) 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The mechanism comprises a slot 10, a tray 20, and a gate
30 all contained in the computer 1 (see FIG. 1). One or more
recesses 11 (two are shown) are formed at either side. In other
words, there are two recesses 11 at one side of the slot 10 and
there are two recesses 11 at the other side thereof. An opening 110
is formed at a top portion of the side and is extended downward,
rearward at the same side to form the recess 11. The slot 10
further comprises a front opening 12 and a latch 121 at a corner
adjacent the front opening 12.
[0014] In the embodiment, the tray 20 is adapted to insert into the
slot 10 through the front opening 12. The tray 20 is shaped as an
inverted U. The opening of the tray 20 is adapted to receive an
electronic device 40. In the embodiment, the electronic device 40
is a hard disk. A plurality of screws 401 are driven through both
sides of the tray 20 to fasten the electronic device 40 therein
(see FIG. 1). A snapping surface 21 is formed on either side of the
tray 20. One or more snapping members 211 (two are shown) are
formed on the snapping surface 21. At least one snapping member 211
of either snapping surface 21 is adapted to allow the tray 20 to
insert into the slot 10 by sliding along the openings 110 of at
least one recess 11 on the slot 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Further,
the tray 20 is completely, stably fastened in the slot 10 after
being snapped at the closed ends of the recesses 11.
[0015] Moreover, one or more inverted L-shaped conductive members
212 (two are shown) are formed at a junction of either snapping
surface 21 and a top 201 of the tray 20 wherein the junction of
either snapping surface is perpendicular to the top 201 of the tray
20 (see FIG. 1). The provision of the conductive members 212 at the
junction of either snapping surface 21 and the top 201 of the tray
20 makes it possible of being electrically grounded with respect to
a cover (not shown) of the computer 1, one side of the tray 20, and
the internal electronic device 40. This configuration has the
advantage of prolonging the useful life of the electronic device
40.
[0016] In addition, a handle 22 is formed at a front side between
two snapping surfaces 21 of the tray 20 (see FIG. 1). In use, the
hand 50 of a user may hold the handle 22 to quickly remove the tray
20 from the slot 10 or install the same therein (see FIG. 4).
Moreover, a cavity 213 is formed at one snapping surface 21 of the
tray 20 adjacent the handle 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 4).
[0017] In the embodiment, the gate 30 is elongated and comprises a
top plate 31 (see FIG. 1). The top plate 31 has a pivot shaft 311
and an adjacent resilient latch member 312 both at one end and a
first clinging member 32 and a second clinging member 33 at the
other end thereof (see FIG. 2). The pivot shaft 311 is pivotably
provided at a pivot hole 13 at a front side of the slot 10 (see
FIGS. 1 and 2). A hole 131 is provided at one side of the pivot
hole 13 and another hole 132 is provided at the other side of the
pivot hole 13 respectively in which the distance from one hole 131
to the pivot hole 13 is the same as that from the other hole 132 to
the pivot hole 13. As such, the pivot shaft 311 of the gate 30 is
able to pivot about the pivot hole 13 in opening or closing the
gate 30. Also, two sides of the resilient latch member 312 are
snapped into the holes 131 and 132 respectively for positioning.
The first clinging member 32 is snapped into the latch 121 at one
side of the slot 10 when the gate 30 is closed. Hence, the first
clinging member 32 and the second clinging member 33 of the gate 30
are urged against the latch 121 of the slot 10 and the cavity 213
of the tray 20 respectively. As an end, the tray 20 is reliably
fastened in the slot 10.
[0018] By configuring as above, in a case of removing the
electronic device 40 from the computer 1 for replacement or
upgrading, a user may sequentially detach the case of the computer
1, pull the first clinging member 32 of the gate 30 to disengage
the latch 121 of the slot 10 and the second clinging member 33 from
the cavity 213 of the tray 20. Also, pivot the gate 30 about the
pivot shaft 311 for opening the gate 30 upward (see FIGS. 2 and 4).
Thus, the hand 50 of a user may hold the handle 22 of the tray 20
to quickly pull the tray 20 toward the front opening 12 of the slot
10. At this time, at least one snapping member 211 on the snapping
surface 21 of the tray 20 has disengaged from at least one recess
11 on the slot 10 and further is removed from the opening 110 by
sliding. In such a manner, it is possible of quickly removing the
tray 20 from the slot 10 either for replacing the electronic device
40 with a new one or for upgrading. Hence, the purpose of quickly
removing the electronic device 40 from the computer 1 without being
hindered by the narrow internal space of the computer 1 is
achieved. As an end, the drawbacks of being impossible of quickly
removing the electronic device 40 from the computer 1 and
installing the same therein as experienced by the prior art can be
overcome.
[0019] While the invention has been described by means of specific
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made
thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
* * * * *