Hard disk drive mounting system and method

• US 20020085358A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Homer, Steve S., DeLuga, Ronald E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,487,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A generic mounting structure is provided between a hard disk drive (HDD) and a computer. The structure includes a plurality of nubs disposed on a brace that can be fitted onto a HDD. The nubs are preferably cylindrical members having an enlarged diameter head. The computer includes, either internally or externally, a bay having a boot interface that closely receives the nubs. The boot interface includes a tapered slotted recess that closely receives the enlarged diameter head of the nubs. In a preferred embodiment, at least two different computer platforms incorporate a substantially identical bay design. Likewise, a brace having nubs oriented in a manner complementary to the bay design is fitted onto at least two different HDDs. Because the HDDs and computer platforms have common mechanical connection by virtue of the brace and bay designs, the HDDs may be exchanged between these computer platforms. In a different embodiment of the present invention, the nubs may be formed directly onto the HDD itself.

Claims

1. A system for installing a storage device on a computer, the storage device having a standard width and being available in a first and second thickness, the system comprising:

a carrier having spaced-apart parallel arms configured to receive the storage device;

a first member disposed on one of said parallel arms;

a bay associated with the computer, said bay having a cavity suitable for receive the storage device, said cavity having a depth sufficient to accommodate the first and second storage device thicknesses; and

a second member formed in said bay, said second member engaging said first member when said carrier and the storage device are placed in said bay and slid along a first axis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier and said bay form a substantially rigid connection along an axis normal to said first axis after said carrier and the storage device are slid along said first axis.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier further comprises at least one alignment pin;

and wherein said bay further comprises a receptacle complementary to said alignment pin.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a nub;

and wherein said second member comprises a boot interface having a recessed portion, the recessed portion adapted to receive said nub.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said recessed portion comprises a tapered slot adapted to provide increasing clamping pressure on said nub when the HDD docks into the computer.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said carrier further comprises an alignment pin affixed to one of said parallel arms;

and wherein said bay further includes a receptacle for receiving said alignment pin.

7. The mounting system of claim 1 where said carrier is structurally integral with the storage device.

9. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein said first member comprises a first nub, said second member comprises a second nub;

and wherein said third member comprises a boot interface having a recessed portion.

10. The mounting system of claim 9 wherein said recessed portion comprises a tapered slot adapted to provide increasing clamping pressure on said nubs when said first and second HDDs are docked into said bay.

24. The system of claim 4 wherein said storage device is a hard disk drive.

8. A mounting system for a computer, comprising:

a first HDD having a first thickness;

a second HDD having a second thickness, said second thickness being greater than said first thickness;

a first member disposed said first HDD;

a second member disposed said second HDD;

a bay associated with the computer, said bay including a cavity having a depth sufficient to accommodate said second thickness of said second HDD; and

a third member formed in said bay, said third member engageable with said first member when said first HDD is docked into said bay, said third member also engageable with said second member when said second HDD is docked into said bay;

thereby said first and second HDDs being operably interchangeable in said bay.

11. A system for mounting a storage device on a computer, comprising:

a carrier affixed to the storage device;

a first computer model;

a second computer model, said first and second computer models having at least one dissimilar physical feature; and

a bay provided in said first and second computer models, said carrier being dockable in said bay.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said carrier further comprises a brace clamping the storage device and at least one nub disposed on said brace;

and wherein said bays each includes a boot interface having a recessed portion, the recessed portions adapted to engage said nub such that a substantially solid mounting is provided between said carrier and said bays.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said carrier further comprises an alignment pin affixed to said brace;

and wherein said bay each include a receptacle for receiving said alignment pin.

14. The mounting system of claim 12 wherein said recessed portion comprises a tapered slot adapted to provide increasing clamping pressure on said nub when said carrier is docked into said bay.

16. A method of claim 15 further wherein the first and second members engage to provide a substantially rigid connection along at least one axis.

17. A method of claim 15 further comprising:

affixing at least one alignment pin on the storage device;

forming a first receptacle in the first bay at a third predetermined distance from the connector interface, the first receptacle slidably engageable with the alignment pin; and

forming a second receptacle in the second bay at a fourth predetermined distance from the connector interface, the second receptacle slidably engageable with the alignment pin, the third and fourth predetermined distances being substantially identical.

19. A system of claim 18, wherein said carrier comprises spaced-apart parallel arms configured to receive said storage device, a first member disposed on one of said parallel arms;

and wherein said bay further comprises a cavity suitable for receive the storage device, and a second member formed in said bay, said second member engaging said first member when said carrier and the storage device are placed in said bay and slid along said first axis.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said carrier and said bay form a substantially solid connection along an axis normal to said first axis after said carrier and the storage device are slid along said first axis.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said carrier further comprises at least one alignment pin;

and wherein said bay further comprises a receptacle complementary to said alignment pin.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said first member comprises a nub;

and wherein said second member comprises a boot interface having a recessed portion, the recessed portion adapted to receive said nub.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein said recessed portion comprises a tapered slot adapted to provide increasing clamping pressure on said nub when the storage device docks into the computer.

15. A method of exchanging a storage device between a first and second computer platform, comprising:

affixing a first member on the storage device;

providing the first computer platform with a first housing;

providing the second computer platform with a second housing, the first and second housings having at least one dissimilar external physical dimension;

forming a first bay on the first computer platform, the first bay having a connector interface configured to mate with the storage device;

positioning a second member in the first bay at a first predetermined distance from the connector interface, the second member releasably engageable with the first member;

forming a second bay on the second computer platform, the second bay having a second connector interface configured to mate with the storage device; and

positioning a third member in the second bay at a second predetermined distance from the second connector interface, the third member engageable with the first member, the first and second predetermined distances being substantially identical.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis having a bay;

a storage device; and

a carrier adapted to securely receive said storage device;

wherein said carrier docks into said bay when slid along a first axis.