U.S. patent application number 11/038503 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for device mounting rail for mounting a device in a computer system.
Invention is credited to Bryan R. Van Alstyne, James M. Webster, James A. Woods.
Application Number | 20060158070 11/038503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35846494 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060158070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woods; James A. ; et
al. |
July 20, 2006 |
Device mounting rail for mounting a device in a computer system
Abstract
A device mounting rail for use in mounting a peripheral device
in a computer system comprises first and second elongated sides.
The first elongated side engages the peripheral device when the
device mounting rail is used to mount the peripheral device in the
computer system. The second elongated side engages a retaining wall
within the computer system when the device mounting rail is used to
mount the peripheral device in the computer system. The second side
is also compressible toward the first side to generate a spring
force. When the device mounting rail is used to mount the
peripheral device in the computer system, the spring force
maintains the peripheral device in a substantially rigid
relationship to the retaining wall of the computer system.
Inventors: |
Woods; James A.; (Tomball,
TX) ; Webster; James M.; (Houston, TX) ; Van
Alstyne; Bryan R.; (The Woodlands, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
35846494 |
Appl. No.: |
11/038503 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.2 ;
G9B/33.033 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/127 20130101;
G06F 1/184 20130101; G06F 1/187 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.2 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00 |
Claims
1. A device mounting rail for use in mounting a peripheral device
in a computer system comprising: a first elongated side which
engages the peripheral device when the device mounting rail is used
to mount the peripheral device in the computer system; and a second
elongated side which engages a retaining wall within the computer
system when the device mounting rail is used to mount the
peripheral device in the computer system, the second elongated side
being compressible toward the first elongated side to generate a
spring force; and wherein, when the device mounting rail is used to
mount the peripheral device in the computer system, the spring
force maintains the peripheral device in a substantially rigid
relationship to the retaining wall of the computer system.
2. A device mounting rail as defined in claim 1 wherein: the first
and second elongated sides are joined together at distal endpoints
thereof and at a middle point thereof; and the second elongated
side is curved away from the first elongated side between the
middle point and the distal endpoints.
3. A device mounting rail as defined in claim 1 wherein: the first
and second elongated sides are joined together at distal endpoints
thereof and at a plurality of middle points thereof; and the second
elongated side is curved away from the first elongated side between
each point at which the first and second elongated sides are joined
together.
4. A device mounting rail for use in toolessly mounting a
peripheral device in a computer system comprising: an elongated
body with a generally rectangular cross section generally
perpendicular to a longitudinal axis; at least one elongated hole
through the elongated body; and first and second elongated side
sections separated by the at least one elongated hole, at least one
of the first and second elongated side sections having a convex
curvature along the at least one elongated hole; and wherein: the
convex curvature of at least one of the elongated side sections
enables a compressive spring force to be generated when the device
mounting rail is compressed between the first and second elongated
side sections; and upon attaching the device mounting rail to one
of the peripheral device and retaining walls of the computer
system, the peripheral device is slid between the retaining walls
to a locked position, the peripheral device and the retaining walls
compress the device mounting rail between the first and second
elongated side sections, and the resulting compressive spring force
in the device mounting rail maintains the peripheral device in a
substantially rigid relationship with the retaining walls of the
computer system.
5. A device mounting rail as defined in claim 4 further comprising:
at least one protrusion protruding from one of the elongated side
sections with which to attach the device mounting rail to the
peripheral device.
6. A computer system comprising: a housing; a cage mounted within
the housing; a peripheral device toolessly mounted within the cage;
and a rail disposed between and engaging the peripheral device and
the cage in a spring biased manner to apply a spring force between
the peripheral device and the cage that maintains the peripheral
device in a substantially rigid relationship to the cage.
7. A computer system as defined in claim 6 wherein: the rail
comprises a first longitudinal section engaging the peripheral
device and a second longitudinal section engaging the cage and
curved away from the first longitudinal section, the second
longitudinal section being compressed towards the first
longitudinal section when engaging the cage to generate the spring
force between the peripheral device and the cage.
8. A computer system as defined in claim 7 wherein: the first and
second longitudinal sections of the rail are joined together at
distal endpoints thereof and at a middle point thereof; and the
second longitudinal section is curved away from the first
longitudinal section between the middle point and the distal
endpoints.
9. A computer system as defined in claim 7 wherein: the first and
second longitudinal sections of the rail are joined together at
distal endpoints thereof and at a plurality of middle points
thereof; and the second longitudinal section is curved away from
the first longitudinal section between each point at which the
first and second longitudinal sections are joined together.
10. A device mounting assembly for use in a computer system
comprising: a device cage; a peripheral device disposed within the
device cage; a rail disposed and compressed between the peripheral
device and the cage to generate a spring force between the
peripheral device and the cage that maintains the peripheral device
in a substantially rigid relationship to the cage.
11. A device mounting assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein: the
rail comprises a first longitudinal section engaging the peripheral
device and a second longitudinal section engaging the device cage
and curved away from the first longitudinal section, the second
longitudinal section being compressed towards the first
longitudinal section when engaging the device cage to generate the
spring force between the peripheral device and the device cage.
12. A device mounting assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein: the
first and second longitudinal sections of the rail are joined
together at distal endpoints thereof and at a middle point thereof;
and the second longitudinal section is curved away from the first
longitudinal section between the middle point and the distal
endpoints.
13. A device mounting assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein: the
first and second longitudinal sections of the rail are joined
together at distal endpoints thereof and at a plurality of middle
points thereof; and the second longitudinal section is curved away
from the first longitudinal section between each point at which the
first and second longitudinal sections are joined together.
14. A device mounting assembly for use in mounting a peripheral
device in a computer system comprising: a means for retaining the
peripheral device; and a means disposed between the peripheral
device and the retaining means and attachable to the peripheral
device for generating a compressive spring force between the
peripheral device and the retaining means and in a direction
perpendicular to an elongated dimension of the compressive spring
force generating means, the compressive spring force generating
means also guiding the peripheral device into retention by the
retaining means upon tooless insertion of the peripheral device
into the retaining means.
15. A method of toolessly assembling a portion of a computer system
comprising: attaching device mounting rails to a peripheral device,
the device mounting rails being compressible in a direction
perpendicular to an elongated dimension to generate a spring force;
and sliding the peripheral device with the device mounting rails
between retaining walls of the computer system, the device mounting
rails guiding the peripheral device between the retaining walls and
being compressed between the retaining walls and the peripheral
device to generate the spring force in the device mounting rails
and to maintain the peripheral device in a substantially rigid
relationship to the retaining walls.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] There are a variety of ways to mount a peripheral device,
such as a hard drive, in a housing of a computer system. It is
usually preferred that the peripheral device not move around within
the housing, so the performance of the peripheral device will not
be adversely affected by such movement. Thus, the peripheral device
is typically fixed to the housing by screws that bolt the
peripheral device between retaining walls or within a cage or drive
slot within the housing.
[0002] A trend in the computer industry, as well as in other
industries, has been to reduce the amount of time required to
manufacture and service products. The act of using a tool (e.g. a
screwdriver) to insert the screws to mount the peripheral device in
the housing, however, requires a certain amount of time during
assembly or servicing of the computer system. Manufacturers, thus,
have developed "tooless" techniques for more quickly mounting some
types of peripheral devices in computer system housings. One such
technique involves attaching elongated guide rails to the sides of
a peripheral device and then sliding the peripheral device into a
"device cage" mounted within the housing of the computer system.
The guide rails guide the peripheral device into the device cage,
which is shaped to receive the peripheral device with attached
guide rails and to retain the peripheral device by the guide rails
when the peripheral device is fully inserted into the device
cage.
[0003] A problem arises with the dimensional tolerances with which
the various parts (the peripheral device, the drive cage and the
guide rails) are made. The peripheral device and guide rails are
made with relatively "tight" tolerances. However, the drive cage is
made with relatively "loose" tolerances. The result is that the
"fit" between the drive cage and the combined peripheral device and
guide rail may not be very tight or rigid. Without a tight fit, the
peripheral device may be allowed to move within the drive cage,
because the guide rails do not fully take up the space between the
peripheral device and the drive cage. Therefore, upon operation of
the peripheral device, such as upon spinning-up of a hard drive
disk, the peripheral device can torque, twist or move within the
drive cage, which can adversely affect the performance of the
peripheral device, such as the seek time of a hard drive.
Additionally, upon movement of the computer housing, the peripheral
device can be battered within the drive cage, which can damage the
peripheral device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a top, front, left side perspective view of a
computer system incorporating an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a top, front, left side perspective view of a
device mounting assembly for use in a system, such as the computer
system shown in FIG. 1, and incorporating an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a top, front, left side exploded perspective view
of a peripheral device and device mounting rails for use in a
system, such as the computer system shown in FIG. 1, and
incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a device mounting rail for use
in a system, such as the computer system shown in FIG. 1, and
incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another device mounting rail
for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in FIG. 1,
and incorporating another embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a device mounting
assembly for use in a system, such as the computer system shown in
FIG. 1, and incorporating an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a peripheral device and
device mounting rails for use in a system, such as the computer
system shown in FIG. 1, and incorporating an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a drive cage for use in
a system, such as the computer system shown in FIG. 1, and
incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 9 is a top, front, left side perspective view of an
alternative device mounting rail for use in a system, such as the
computer system shown in FIG. 1, and incorporating an alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] A computer system 100 incorporating an embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1 having elements such as a
housing 102, a keyboard 104 and a display 106. A device mounting
assembly 108, for mounting a peripheral device for use by the
computer system 100, is disposed at an appropriate location within
the housing 102. Although the present invention is described with
respect to its use in the computer system 100 and the device
mounting assembly 108, it is understood that the invention is not
so limited, but may be used in any appropriate electronic system
that includes a peripheral device (e.g. a hard drive, a tape drive,
a removable drive, a DVD or CD drive, a network adapter, etc.),
regardless of any other elements included in the electronic
system.
[0014] The device mounting assembly 108, as shown in FIG. 2,
generally includes a device cage 110 and a peripheral device 112
mounted within the device cage 110. The peripheral device 112, as
shown in FIG. 3, has device mounting rails 114 attached at holes
116 on opposite sides thereof. The device mounting rails 114 have
protrusions 118 with which to snap into the holes 116 on the sides
of the peripheral device 112. (See also FIG. 4.)
[0015] The device mounting rails 114 also have elongated sections
120 and 122 separated by elongated holes 124. The device mounting
rails 114 may have any appropriate number of elongated holes 124,
e.g. one or more. The device mounting rails 114 shown in FIGS. 3
and 4, for instance, illustrate an embodiment having three
elongated holes 124 (i.e. a "three-lobe spring"); whereas a device
mounting rail 114' shown in FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment having
two elongated holes 124' (i.e. a "two-lobe spring").
[0016] The elongated section 120 of the device mounting rails 114
is generally flat on the side from which the protrusions 118
protrude. Thus, when the device mounting rails 114 are attached to
the peripheral device 112, the flat side of the elongated section
120 may be flush with the sides of the peripheral device 112.
[0017] Along the length of each of the elongated holes 124, the
other elongated section 122 of the device mounting rails 114 has a
convex curvature that bows away from the flat elongated section
120. The bowed portions of the elongated section 122 allow these
portions to be compressed, as illustrated in FIG. 4 by dashed lines
126, which show how the bowed portions of the elongated section 122
of the device mounting rails 114 flex inwardly. In this manner, a
compressive spring force can be generated in the device mounting
rails 114. The device mounting rails 114 and 114' in FIGS. 3, 5 and
7 and the solid lines for the device mounting rail 114 in FIG. 4
illustrate the uncompressed shape of the device mounting rails 114
and 114'.
[0018] To enable compression of the bowed portion of the elongated
section 122, the device mounting rails 114 are made of an
appropriately flexible material, such as nylon, plastic or any
other injection-molded material. Alternatively, bent metal, such as
steel, aluminum, etc., may be used. Other flexible materials may
also be appropriate.
[0019] The peripheral device 112, with attached device mounting
rails 114, is inserted into the device cage 110, as shown in FIGS.
2 and 6, with the device mounting rails 114 guiding the peripheral
device 112 between side retaining walls 128 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 8) and
between shoulders 130 and 132 of the retaining walls 128. FIG. 6
shows a second peripheral device 112'', with attached device
mounting rails 114'', which is inserted in the device cage 110 with
the device mounting rails 114'' guiding the peripheral device 112''
between the side retaining walls 128 and between additional
shoulders 134 and 136 of the retaining walls 128.
[0020] When the peripheral device 112, with the device mounting
rails 114 attached thereto, is inserted into the device cage 110,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the device mounting rails 114 are
compressed between retaining walls 128 of the device cage 110 and
the side of the peripheral device 112. The compression of the
device mounting rails 114 generates the compressive spring force in
the device mounting rails 114 between the retaining walls 128 and
the side of the peripheral device 112. The compressive spring force
of the device mounting rails 114 holds the peripheral device 112 in
a substantially rigid relationship to the device cage 110.
[0021] Horizontal motion of the peripheral device 112 is prevented
due to the compressive spring force of the device mounting rails
114. Thus, the device mounting rails 114 are formed to be wider
than the gap between the retaining walls 128 and the peripheral
device 112 for the maximum of the tolerance for the size of the
device cage 110. Additionally, the device mounting rails 114 are
formed to ensure that the bowed portion of the elongated section
122 can flex sufficiently to generate the compressive spring force
and allow the device mounting rails 114 to be used with a device
cage 110 formed at the minimum of the size tolerance. In this
manner, the device mounting rails 114 are ensured to engage the
retaining walls 128 and generate the compressive spring force for
the entire tolerance range for all device cages 110. In other
words, the device mounting rails 114 eliminate the clearance
between the retaining walls 128 and the peripheral device 112. By
contrast, a device mounting rail without the holes and bowed
portions cannot reliably eliminate the clearance between the
retaining walls 128 and the peripheral device 112, and therefore,
cannot be formed to flex sufficiently and generate a compressive
spring force to work within the entire tolerance range for all such
device cages 110.
[0022] Vertical motion of the peripheral device 112 is limited by
the shoulders 130 and 132 of the retaining walls 128. However, the
compressive spring force in the device mounting rails 114 also
limits vertical motion due to friction with the retaining walls
128.
[0023] When the peripheral device 112, with the device mounting
rails 114 attached thereto, is inserted into the device cage 110,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the peripheral device 112 is locked in
position by tabs 138 and 140 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 8). The tabs 138 and
140 prevent the device mounting rails 114, and thus the peripheral
device 112, from moving forward out of the device cage 110.
[0024] The tabs 138 and 140 are connected to side flexion members
142 and 144, respectively. The tabs 138 and 140 extend through
holes 146 and 148, respectively, in retaining walls 128 into the
interior of the device cage 110. The side flexion members 142 and
144 are connected through horizontal members 150 and 152,
respectively, to activator members 154 and 156, respectively.
[0025] The activator members 154 and 156 are operated by pushing
them from the positions shown by solid lines to the positions shown
by dashed lines in FIG. 8. The activator members 154 and 156 may be
operated in this manner either by an appropriate mechanical
apparatus or by pressure from a user's fingers. For example, the
user may push a button (on the exterior of the housing 102, FIG. 1)
that causes the mechanical apparatus to operate the activator
members 154 and 156. Alternatively, the user may reach a hand into
the housing 102 to grasp and thereby operate the activator members
154 and 156. Operation of the activator members 154 and 156 causes
the horizontal members 150 and 152, respectively, to push the side
flexion members 142 and 144, respectively, from the positions shown
by solid lines to the positions shown by dashed lines. The side
flexion members 142 and 144 are attached to the retaining walls 128
at a rear end 158 (FIG. 2) of the device cage 110, so that when the
side flexion members 142 and 144 are pushed to the position shown
by the dashed lines in FIG. 8, the side flexion members 142 and 144
flex slightly, but then spring back to the position shown by the
solid lines upon being released.
[0026] Upon operation of the activator members 154 and 156, since
the tabs 138 and 140 are connected to the side flexion members 142
and 144, respectively, the tabs 138 and 140 are pushed into
positions that are almost flush with the retaining walls 128. In
the flush position, the tabs 138 and 140 do not lock the device
mounting rails 114, and thus the peripheral device 112, into the
device cage 110. The peripheral device 112 can thus be pulled
forward to remove it from the device cage 110 without the use of
tools.
[0027] Similarly, when installing the peripheral device 112 into
the device cage 110, the activator members 154 and 156 may be
operated to move the tabs 138 and 140 to the flush position, so the
tabs 138 and 140 will not hinder the movement of the device
mounting rails 114 and the peripheral device 112 into the device
cage 110. Alternatively, the tabs 138 and 140 may be formed with an
angle, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the tabs 138 and 140 are
pushed out of the way by the device mounting rails 114 upon
inserting the device mounting rails 114 and the peripheral device
112 into the device cage 110 without operating the activator
members 154 and 156. In either manner, the peripheral device 112 is
inserted into the computer system 100 without the use of tools.
[0028] According to an alternative embodiment, a device mounting
rail 160 has elongated sections 162 and 164 separated by elongated
holes 166. The elongated section 162 is similar to the elongated
section 120 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) and has protrusions 118 with which
to snap into the holes 116 (FIG. 3) on the sides of the peripheral
device 112. Along the length of the elongated holes 166, the other
elongated section 164 has a convex curvature that bows horizontally
away from the elongated section 162 in a manner similar to that of
the elongated section 122 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). Additionally, the
elongated section 164 also has additional elongated holes 168 that
divide the elongated section 164 into upper and lower portions 170
and 172. The additional elongated holes 168 are generally
coextensive with the elongated holes 166. Furthermore, along the
length of the additional elongated holes 168, the upper and lower
portions 170 and 172 of the elongated section 164 have convex
curvatures that bow vertically away from each other. The horizontal
bowing of the elongated section 164 allows the elongated section
164 to be compressed horizontally to generate a horizontal
compressive spring force in the device mounting rail 160 upon
insertion of the peripheral device 112 with the attached device
mounting rails 160 into the drive cage 110 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 8). The
vertical bowing of the elongated section 164, on the other hand,
allows the elongated section 164 to be compressed vertically to
generate a vertical compressive spring force in the device mounting
rail 160 upon insertion of the peripheral device 112 with the
attached device mounting rails 160 into the drive cage 110.
Horizontal motion of the peripheral device 112 is prevented due to
the horizontal compressive spring force of the device mounting
rails 160. Similarly, vertical motion of the peripheral device 112
is prevented due to the vertical compressive spring force of the
device mounting rails 160.
[0029] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the drive cage 110 and the operation thereof, it is
understood that the present invention is not so limited. Instead,
the peripheral device 112 with attached device mounting rails 114
may be used with any appropriate type of retaining walls between
which the peripheral device 112 and device mounting rails 114 may
be mounted. For instance, instead of being part of a separate
device cage, the retaining walls may be separate elements within
the computer system 100 or may be part of the housing 102 or
another appropriate internal structure of the computer system 100.
Additionally, instead of operating to insert or remove the
peripheral device 112 in the manner described above, the retaining
walls may operate in any appropriate toolless manner with any
appropriate toollessly operated means for locking or holding the
peripheral device 112 therein.
[0030] Additionally, although not necessarily drawn to scale, the
drawings may indicate that the invention has been described with
respect to certain standard peripheral devices or standard
retaining means (e.g. device cages, retaining walls, etc.) having
standard dimensions. It is understood, however, that the invention
is not so limited, but may be used with any appropriate standard or
non-standard peripheral devices and retaining means.
* * * * *