U.S. patent application number 14/609608 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-12 for tool-less mounting device for hard disk drive.
The applicant listed for this patent is INVENTEC CORPORATION, INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yu-Long Shen.
Application Number | 20160132080 14/609608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52554579 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160132080 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shen; Yu-Long |
May 12, 2016 |
TOOL-LESS MOUNTING DEVICE FOR HARD DISK DRIVE
Abstract
A tool-less mounting device for hard disk drive (HDD) is
provided. The mounting device has a tray, at least one flexible
member, a backplane, and at least one HDD. The tray has a base and
two sidewalls. The flexible member has a fixed portion and an arm.
The backplane is disposed on the base between the sidewalls, and
has a first connector and a second connector. The HDD is coupled to
the first connector of the backplane.
Inventors: |
Shen; Yu-Long; (Shanghai,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
INVENTEC CORPORATION |
SHANGHAI
TAIPEI CITY |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
52554579 |
Appl. No.: |
14/609608 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/187 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/18 20060101
G06F001/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2014 |
CN |
201410628197.3 |
Claims
1. A tool-less mounting device for hard disk drive (HDD), suitable
to be installed in a HDD mounting bracket of a server, the HDD
mounting bracket comprising a circuit board equipped with a
connector, the tool-less mounting device for HDD comprising: a
tray, comprising one base and two sidewalls, with the two sidewalls
standing on opposite sides of the base, forming an installation
space; one or more flexible members, each flexible member with one
side as a fixed portion and the other side bended by an angle and
extended as an arm, the fixed portion being fastened to the
sidewall along the direction it extends, the arm being installed
with a dowel pin and a round portion on the end, with the dowel pin
installed facing inside of the tray; a backplane, installed on the
base between the two sidewalls, with one or more first connectors
and a second connector; and one or more HDDs, installed in the
installation space and coupled to the first connector of the
backplane; wherein when the tool-less mounting device for HDD is
inserted in the HDD mounting bracket along a first direction, the
arm of the flexible member gradually changes from opening outwardly
to closing inwardly due to elastic deformation as it touches the
sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket and is gradually pressured;
the arm of the flexible member closes when it is inserted into the
sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket, with the dowel pin of the
flexible member dowels one aligning hole of the HDD, and fastens
the HDD on the tray, so that the second connector of the backplane
is inserted in and coupled to the connector of the circuit board of
the HDD mounting bracket; when the tool-less mounting device for
HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting bracket along a second
direction, the round portion of the flexible member assists the
tool-less mounting device for HDD to slide out of the sidewalls of
the HDD mounting bracket; the arm of the flexible member changes
from closing inwardly to opening outwardly due to elastic
deformation as it is detached from the HDD mounting bracket, and
opens outwardly when it is removed from the sidewalls of the HDD
mounting bracket; the second connector of the backplane is
extracted and decoupled from the connector on the circuit board of
the HDD mounting bracket; the dowel pin is detached from the
aligning hole of the HDD and unfastens the HDD.
2. The tool-less mounting device for HDD of claim 1, wherein the
HDD is inserted into the first connector of the backplane along the
first direction when the arm of the flexible member is opening
outwardly, and be removed from the first connector along the second
direction.
3. The tool-less mounting device for HDD of claim 1 further
comprising one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), fastened on
the inner side of a front wall of the tray and coupled to the
backplane to show a status of the HDD.
4. The tool-less mounting device for HDD of claim 1 further
comprising a turn-and-lock handle, with an axis installed on a
corner where a front side of the tray and the sidewall meet, and
fastened to the bottom of the base of the tray; when the tool-less
mounting device for HDD is inserted into the HDD mounting bracket,
the turn-and-lock handle is turned from the first position and
locked at the second position, with the turn-and-lock handle and
the HDD mounting bracket functioning to fasten the tool-less
mounting device for HDD; when the tool-less mounting device for HDD
is extracted from the HDD mounting bracket, the turn-and-lock
handle is turned from the second position and locked at the first
position, with the turn-and-lock handle and the HDD mounting device
functioning to unfasten the tool-less mounting device for HDD.
5. The tool-less mounting device for HDD of claim 4, wherein a
thumbscrew is installed on the turn-and-lock handle opposite to the
axis to fasten the turn-and-lock handle to the front side of the
tray when the turn-and-lock handle is at the second position.
6. The tool-less mounting device for HDD of claim 1, wherein the
fixed portion of the flexible member is fastened to the inner side
of the sidewall of the tray, and the arm of the flexible member
goes through the sidewall and extends outwards from the sidewall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool-less mounting device
for hard disk drive (HDD) in the field of server technology. More
specifically, it relates to a tool-less mounting device for HDD
applicable to a HDD mounting bracket in a server.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As digital technology is more prevalent in everyday life
thanks to the rapid development of platforms including the
Internet, mobile Internet, broadcast and television network, and
smart television (TV), the amount of data around the world is
undergoing an explosive growth. To provide better online services,
major enterprises of Internet services continue to build new data
centers and purchase more storage servers to save the ever-growing
data. The trend also underlines the importance of the maintenance
of the HDDs in the storage servers.
[0005] HDD failures account for a sizable number of all the
malfunctions of server hardware. When a HDD must be replaced due to
having bed sectors, the cost of maintenance is high if the HDD was
fastened by a conventional nut-and-bolt structure. And more
importantly, it may affect related businesses of the enterprises
providing Internet service. Therefore, it is crucial for server
manufacturers to provide a structure that enables fast replacement
of HDDs. At the same time, the structure must be as simple as
possible so to avoid excessive costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a tool-less
mounting device for HDD. Instead of adopting the conventional
nut-and-bolt fastening structure, the present invention provides a
tool-less structure which enables fast HDD replacement.
Furthermore, the structure of the device is simple so no excessive
fee is incurred.
[0007] According to the present invention, a tool-less mounting
device for hard disk drive (HDD) suitable to be installed in a HDD
mounting bracket of a server is provided. The HDD mounting bracket
comprises a circuit board equipped with a connector. The tool-less
mounting device for HDD comprises a tray, one or more flexible
members, a backplane and one or more HDDs. The tray comprises one
base and two sidewalls, with the two sidewalls standing on opposite
sides of the base, forming an installation space. Each flexible
member comprises one side as a fixed portion and the other side
bended by an angle and extended as an arm. The fixed portion is
fastened to the sidewall along the direction it extends. The arm is
installed with a dowel pin and a round portion on the end, with the
dowel pin installed facing inside of the tray. The backplane is
installed on the base between the two sidewalls and comprises one
or more first connectors and a second connector. The one or more
HDDs, are installed in the installation space and coupled to the
first connector of the backplane. When the tool-less mounting
device for HDD is inserted in the HDD mounting bracket along a
first direction, the arm of the flexible member gradually changes
from opening outwardly to closing inwardly due to elastic
deformation as it touches the sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket
and is gradually pressured. The arm of the flexible member closes
when it is inserted into the sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket,
with the dowel pin of the flexible member dowels one aligning hole
of the HDD, and fastens the HDD on the tray, so that the second
connector of the backplane is inserted in and coupled to the
connector of the circuit board of the HDD mounting bracket. When
the tool-less mounting device for HDD is extracted from the HDD
mounting bracket along a second direction, the round portion of the
flexible member assists the tool-less mounting device for HDD to
slide out of the sidewalls of the HDD mounting bracket. The arm of
the flexible member changes from closing inwardly to opening
outwardly due to elastic deformation as it is detached from the HDD
mounting bracket, and opens outwardly when it is removed from the
sidewalls of the HDD mounting bracket. The second connector of the
backplane is extracted and decoupled from the connector on the
circuit board of the HDD mounting bracket. The dowel pin is
detached from the aligning hole of the HDD and unfastens the
HDD.
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the HDD is inserted
into the first connector of the backplane along the first direction
when the arm of the flexible member is opening outwardly, and be
removed from the first connector along the second direction.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the tool-less
mounting device for HDD further comprises one or more
light-emitting diodes (LEDs), fastened on the inner side of a front
wall of the tray and coupled to the backplane to show a status of
the HDD.
[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, the tool-less
mounting device for HDD further comprises a turn-and-lock handle,
with an axis installed on a corner where a front side of the tray
and the sidewall meet, and fastened to the bottom of the base of
the tray. When the tool-less mounting device for HDD is inserted
into the HDD mounting bracket, the turn-and-lock handle is turned
from the first position and locked at the second position, with the
turn-and-lock handle and the HDD mounting bracket functioning to
fasten the tool-less mounting device for HDD. When the tool-less
mounting device for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting bracket,
the turn-and-lock handle is turned from the second position and
locked at the first position, with the turn-and-lock handle and the
HDD mounting device functioning to unfasten the tool-less mounting
device for HDD.
[0011] In still another aspect of the present invention, a
thumbscrew is installed on the turn-and-lock handle opposite to the
axis to fasten the turn-and-lock handle to the front side of the
tray when the turn-and-lock handle is at the second position.
[0012] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the fixed
portion of the flexible member is fastened to the inner side of the
sidewall of the tray, and the arm of the flexible member goes
through the sidewall and extends outwards from the sidewall.
[0013] The advantages of the present invention are: automatic
fastening of the HDD held in the tool-less mounting device for HDD
when the device is inserted into the HDD mounting bracket, and
automatic unfastening of the HDD when the tool-less mounting device
for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting bracket; a dowel pin to
fasten the HDD by aligning holes on the side of the HDD; a commonly
applicable structure that poses no specific restriction on the
height of the HDD; a simple and cost-effective structure that
fastens the HDD with a flexible member made of sheet metal instead
of a plastic part; providing the users with the maximum discretion
when employing storage devices, and meeting the goal of changing
HDDs quickly and conveniently; enhancing the scalability of a
system as it is capable of supporting a plurality of HDDs.
[0014] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present disclosure will become understood with reference to the
following description, appended claims and accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a tool-less mounting device for HDD
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a flexible member of an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the HDD installed on to
backplane of one embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the HDD in the FIG. 3 connecting
to the first connector.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of the tool-less mounting
device of one embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an enlargement of a portion A in
FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the tool-less mounting device
for HDD of one embodiment of the present invention inserted in the
HDD mounting bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The objects, features and advantages of the present
invention are better illustrated by preferred embodiments of the
present invention in combine with appended figures in the following
texts. In addition, indications related to directions/positions,
including up, down, top, bottom, front, back, left, right, inward,
outward, sideway, around, central, parallel, horizontal,
perpendicular, vertical, axial, radial, the topmost layer and the
bottommost layer, are used in reference to the appended figures.
Therefore, the direction/position indications were used to enhance
the explanation and understanding of the present invention, instead
of restricting the present invention.
[0023] The following is a detailed explanation in combine with
appended figures of the tool-less mounting device for HDD of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a tool-less mounting device for HDD
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
diagram of a flexible member of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A tool-less mounting
device 100 for HDD can be installed in a HDD mounting bracket 200,
which has a circuit board (not shown in the figures) equipped with
a connector 210 (please refer to FIG. 5). The tool-less mounting
device 100 for HDD comprises a tray 110, and one or more flexible
members 120. The tray 110 comprises a base 111 and two sidewalls
112, disposed on both sides of the base 111, facing each other. An
installation space is thus created among the base 111 and sidewalls
112 to accommodate one or more HDDs 150 (please refer to FIG. 3).
In the present embodiment, the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD comprises four flexible members 120, arranged in two pairs and
disposed on opposite side of the sidewalls. The number of flexible
members 120 is not limited to the present number in other
embodiments.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Each flexible member 120
has a fixed portion 121, and another portion as an arm 122. The
fixed portion 121 is utilized to fix the flexible member 120 on the
inner side of the sidewall 112 of the tray 110. The fixed portion
121 has two or more mounting holes 125. Through mounting holes 125
and connecting members (not shown in the figure), one or more
flexible members 120 can be fixed in the inner side of the sidewall
112. The connecting member can be a screw, a rivet, or other types
of fasteners. In addition, on the sidewall 112 of the tray 110,
there is a pair of slots 113 (as shown in FIG. 6) facing flexible
members 120. The slot 113 extends between the arm 122 and the fixed
portion 121, so that the arm 122 can freely pass through the slot
113 on the sidewall 112, and extend outwards from the sidewall 112
(i.e. to the direction further away from the HDD 150).
[0027] Because the flexible member 120 is made of sheet metal, the
arm 122 has better elastic modulus. But the material of the
flexible member 120 is not limited to the present invention. The
directions to which the fixed portion 121 and the arm 122 extend
form an angle, like a bend. When the tool-less mounting device 100
for HDD is in a normal and pressure-free situation (i.e. when it is
not inserted into the HDD mounting bracket 200), the arm 122 of the
flexible member 120 opens outwardly. When the tool-less mounting
device 100 for HDD is inserting into the HDD mounting bracket 200
along a first direction, the arm 122 of the flexible member 120
gradually changes from opening outwardly to closing inwardly due to
elastic deformation as it touches the sidewall of the HDD mounting
bracket 200 and is gradually pressured in the process. The arm 122
of the flexible member 120 closes when it is inserted into the
sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket 200. When the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting
bracket 200 along a second direction, the arm 122 of the flexible
member 120 gradually changes from closing inwardly to opening
outwardly due to elastic deformation, as it detaches and is
gradually removed from the sidewall of the HDD mounting bracket
200.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 2. A dowel pin 123, protruding
outwardly and nearly perpendicular to the arm 122, is installed on
one end of the arm 122. The dowel pin 123 is installed facing
inside of the tray 110. When the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD is inserted into the HDD mounting bracket 200 along the first
direction (e.g. to the right) and the arm 122 of the flexible
member 120 closes as it is inserted into the sidewall of the HDD
mounting bracket 200, the dowel pin 123 of the flexible member 120
goes through the slot 113 on the sidewall 112 of the tray 110 (as
shown in FIG. 6) and dowels the HDD 150 by an aligning hole (not
shown in the figure) on the HDD 150. When the tool-less mounting
device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting bracket 200
along the second direction (e.g. to the left), the dowel pin 123 of
the flexible member 120 detaches from the aligning hole on the HDD
150 so to unfasten the HDD 150. In other embodiments, when the
fixed portion 121 of the flexible member 120 is installed on the
external side of the sidewall 112, the size of the slot 113 only
needs to be largest enough for the dowel pin 123 to go through the
slot 113 to dowel the aligning hole on the side of the HDD 150.
Note that in practice, as long as the dowel pin 123 of the flexible
member 120 can dowel the aligning hole on the side of the HDD 150
and fasten the HDD 150 to the tray 100, there is no restriction on
the height of the HDD 150. Therefore, the flexible member 120 can
be applied widely.
[0029] Please refer to FIG. 2. The arm 122 further comprises a
round portion 124, disposed at one end of the arm 122. When the
tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD
mounting device 200 along the second direction (e.g. to the left),
the round portion 124 is in touch with the sidewall of the HDD
mounting device 200 throughout the process, so that the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD can slide smoothly out of the sidewall
of the HDD mounting bracket 200. It ensures that the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD does not encounter bigger resistance
because of the sidewall (not shown in the figure) of the HDD
mounting bracket 200, so that the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD can be removed from the HDD mounting bracket 200 quickly and
conveniently.
[0030] Please refer to FIG. 1. The tool-less mounting device 100
further comprises one or more backplanes 130, installed on the base
111 between the two sidewalls 112. The backplane 130 has one or
more first connectors 131 and a second connector 132. When one or
more HDDs 150 are installed in the installation space of the
tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD, the HDD 150 is coupled to
the first connector 131 of the backplane 130, as shown in FIG. 3.
In other embodiments, when a plurality of HDDs 150 is installed in
the installation space of the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD, each HDD 150 is coupled to one corresponding first connector
131 of the backplane 130, therefore the plurality of HDDs 150 can
be coupled in series. Thus through the plurality of first
connectors 131 on the backplane 130, more HDDs 150 can be mounted
on the tool-less mounting device 100.
[0031] When the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD is inserted
into the HDD mounting bracket 200 along the first direction, the
second connector 132 of the backplane 130 is inserted in and
coupled to a connector 210 of the circuit board of the HDD mounting
bracket 200. When the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD is
extracted from the HDD mounting bracket 200 along the second
direction, the second connector 132 of the backplane 130 is
detached and uncoupled from the connector 210 of the circuit board
of the HDD mounting bracket 200.
[0032] Note that in practice, the HDD 150 is first coupled to the
first connector 131 of the backplane 130 inside the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD, with the aligning hole on the HDD 150
to be doweled by the dowel pin 123 of the flexible member 120
installed corresponding to the aligning hole of the HDD 150, and
completely fastened until the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD
is inserted into the HDD mounting bracket 200. In the present
embodiment, the tool-less mounting device 100 has two HDDs 150.
Therefore, two pairs of the flexible members 120 are installed
facing each other to fasten the two HDDs 150 respectively. In other
embodiments, when the tool-less mounting device 100 is installed
with two or more HDDs 150, two or more pairs of the flexible
members 120 are installed facing each other to fasten the two or
more HDDs 150 respectively. Furthermore, a plurality of the
flexible members 120 on the sidewalls 112 of the tray 110 are
aligned to the same level to ensure that each HDD 150 fastened by
each pair of flexible members 120 is at the same height.
[0033] Optionally, the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD
further comprises a turn-and-lock handle 141. An axis 143 of the
turn-and-lock handle 141 is installed on a corner where a front
side of the tray 110 and the sidewall 112 meet, and fastened to the
bottom of the base 111 of the tray 110. When the tool-less mounting
device 100 for HDD is inserted into the HDD mounting bracket 200,
the turn-and-lock handle 141 turns from a first position (e.g. the
direction the arm of the turn-and-lock handle 141 extends is
approximately parallel to the direction the sidewall 112 extends)
and locks at a second position (e.g. the direction the arm of the
turn-and-lock handle 141 extends is approximately parallel to the
direction the front side of the tray 110 extends). The function of
the turn-and-lock handle 141 and the HDD mounting bracket 200 is to
fasten the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD. When the
tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD
mounting bracket 200, the turn-and-lock handle 141 turns from the
second position (e.g. the direction the arm of the turn-and-lock
handle 141 extends is approximately parallel to the direction the
front side of the tray 110 extends) and locks at the first position
(e.g. the direction the arm of the turn-and-lock handle 141 extends
is approximately parallel to the direction the sidewall 112
extends). The function of the turn-and-lock handle 141 and the HDD
mounting bracket 200 is to unfasten the tool-less mounting device
100 for HDD. Furthermore, on the end opposite to the axis 143 of
the turn-and-lock handle 141 is a thumbscrew 142. When the
turn-and-lock handle 141 is at the second position, the thumbscrew
142 fastens the turn-and-lock handle 141 to the front side of the
tray 110.
[0034] Optionally, the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD
further comprises a light-emitting diode 160, installed inside the
front wall of the tray 110. The light-emitting diode 160 is coupled
to the backplane 130 to show the status of the HDD 150.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the HDD installed on to
backplane of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a
diagram showing the HDD in the FIG. 3 connecting to the first
connector.
[0036] When the arm 122 of the flexible member 120 is opening
outwardly, the HDD 150 can be inserted into the first connector 131
of the backplane 130 along the first direction. Please refer to
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 for a more specific explanation. First, place the
HDD 150 perpendicularly to the backplane 130, as shown by the arrow
pointing downwards perpendicularly in the FIG. 3. Then, push each
HDD 150 along the first direction, as shown by the arrows pointing
right in the FIG. 3, so that one end of each HDD 150 is connected
to the first connector 131 of the backplane 130. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4
show how quick and convenient it is to install the HDD 150 based on
the method of the present embodiment. If installing one HDD 150
takes three seconds, then two HDDs 150 will take six seconds, and
so on and so forth.
[0037] FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of the tool-less mounting
device of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a
diagram showing an enlargement of a portion A in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is
a diagram showing the tool-less mounting device for HDD of one
embodiment of the present invention inserted in the HDD mounting
bracket.
[0038] Please refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. After the HDD 150
is installed on the backplane 130, the tool-less mounting device
100 for HDD must be installed in the HDD mounting bracket 200. When
the tool-less mounting device 100 is inserted into the HDD mounting
bracket 200 along the first direction, as shown in the portion A of
the FIG. 5, the sidewall (not shown in the figures) of the HDD
mounting bracket 200 is constraining, so that the arm 122 of the
flexible member 120 is pressured by a force towards HDD 150. The
arm 122 of the flexible member 120, because of elastic deformation,
gradually changes from opening outwardly to closing inwardly, and
closes as it is inserted into the sidewall of the HDD mounting
bracket 200. Then, the dowel pin 123 of the arm 122 goes through
the slot 113 and automatically dowels the HDD 150 by the aligning
hole, thus the HDD 150 is fastened to the tray 110. No other
fastening structure is needed during the process.
[0039] FIG. 7 and FIG. 1 show that the four flexible members 120
are closed due to the constraint of the sidewalls of the HDD
mounting bracket 200. The dowel pin 123 on each flexible member 120
dowels the corresponding aligning hole of the HDD 150 to fasten the
corresponding HDD 150. Lastly, the turn-and-lock handle 141 is
turned from the first position and locked at the second position,
with the thumbscrew 142 screwed so that the turn-and-lock handle
141 is fastened to the front side of the tray 110. Thus the
function of the turn-and-lock handle 141 and the HDD mounting
bracket 200 is to fasten the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD.
[0040] The previous paragraph describes the procedure of installing
the HDD 150 and the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD. The
removal of the HDD 150 and the tool-less mounting device 100 for
HDD adopts the same procedure but with steps followed in reverse.
First, loosen the thumbscrew 142 and the turn-and-lock handle 141,
and turns the turn-and-lock handle 141 from the second position and
locks at the first position. The function of the turn-and-lock
handle 141 and the HDD mounting bracket 200 is to unfasten the
tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD. Then, when the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting
bracket 200 along the second direction, the round portion 124 of
the flexible member 120 ensures that the tool-less mounting device
100 for HDD slides smoothly out of the sidewall of the HDD mounting
bracket 200. The arm 122 of the flexible member 120 changes from
closing to gradual restoration of its shape due to elastic
deformation, as it is detached from the sidewall of the HDD
mounting bracket 200. The arm 122 of the flexible member 120
continues to open outwardly until it is removed from the sidewall
of the HDD mounting bracket 200. The second connector 132 of the
backplane 130 is disconnected and uncoupled from the connector 210
on the circuit board of the HDD mounting bracket 200. The dowel pin
123 of the flexible member 120 is removed from the aligning hole of
the HDD 150, so to unfasten the HDD 150. After the tool-less
mounting device 100 is completely removed from the HDD mounting
bracket 200 and the arm 122 of the flexible member 120 opens
outwardly, the HDD 150 can be removed from the first connector 131
of the backplane 130 along the second direction (e.g. to the left).
Thus, the HDD 150 is uncoupled from the first connector 131 to be
changed. The whole process of changing HDDs seems to be quick and
easy, and not tool is needed.
[0041] The present invention is capable of realizing an automatic
fastening of the HDD 150 on the backplane 130 when the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD is inserted in the HDD mounting bracket
200, and an automatic unfastening of the HDD 150 when the tool-less
mounting device 100 for HDD is extracted from the HDD mounting
bracket 200. In addition, the tool-less mounting device 100 for HDD
features tool-less installation which provides users with the
maximum discretion when employing storage devices, and meets the
goal of changing the HDD 150 quickly and conveniently.
[0042] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements made without departing from the scope of the broadest
interpretation of the appended claims.
* * * * *