LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR LOCKING HARD DISK DRIVES TO ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20100309621A1
• Filed: 05/31/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambit Microsystems Shanghai Ltd (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ambit Microsystems Shanghai Ltd (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: GAO, SONG, CHANG, CHIH-KAI, XU, CAI-WEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis

Abstract

A locking mechanism includes a tray to receive a hard disk drive and a locking apparatus. The locking apparatus includes a base attached to a front wall of the tray, a handle pivotally connected to the base, and a locking member attached to the base. The base defines a receiving chamber and a mounting hole in communication with the receiving chamber. The locking member includes a sliding portion slidably received in the receiving chamber of the base to impel the handle to pivot relative to the base, and a locking tongue attached to the sliding portion. Movement of the locking tongue relative to the mounting hole causes the locking mechanism to toggle between a locked and unlocked position.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure comprising a plurality of sidewalls, one of the sidewalls defining at least one locating hole;

at least one hard disk drive; and

at least one locking mechanism to release or lock the at least one hard disk drive from or in the enclosure, the at least one locking mechanism comprising a tray and a locking apparatus, the tray comprising a front wall and a receiving space to receive the at least one hard disk drive, the locking apparatus comprising;

a base attached to the front wall, the base comprising a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, the first end portion defining a receiving chamber and a mounting hole in communication with the receiving chamber;

a handle pivotally connected to the first end portion of the base;

a control member attached to the second end portion of the base to lock or unlock the handle; and

a locking member mounted in the first end portion of the base, the locking member comprising a sliding portion slidably received in the receiving chamber of the base to drive the handle to pivot relative to the base, and a locking tongue attached to the sliding portion, wherein movement of the locking tongue between the mounting hole and the locating hole causes the at least one locking mechanism to toggle between a locked and unlock position.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sliding portion comprises a moving portion, a fixing post projecting from a middle portion of the moving portion, and a positioning hole defined in a middle portion of the fixing post.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the locking tongue comprises a locating post and a locating portion slidably received in the mounting hole of the base.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a first spring wrapped around the fixing post.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the handle comprises a pair of driving protrusions, and wherein when the handle is unlocked by the control member, the first spring decompresses and moves the sliding portion toward the second end portion with the moving portion of the locking member applying a corresponding force to the driving protrusions of the handle to impel the handle to pivot away from the base and the locking tongue from the locating hole into the mounting hole.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a second spring wrapped around the locating post, and wherein the second spring and the locating post are received in the positioning hole.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein when the handle is locked by the control member, the second spring decompresses and moves the locking portion from the mounting hole into the locating hole.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the first end portion of the base comprises a plurality of guide protrusions projecting into the receiving chamber.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the guide protrusions comprises a hook located at a distal end thereof to form a pair of guide rails along which the locking member slides.

10. A locking mechanism to release or lock a hard disk drive from or in an enclosure of an electronic device, the locking mechanism comprising:

a tray comprising a front wall and a receiving space to receive the hard disk drive; and

a locking apparatus comprising;

a base attached to the front wall, the base defining a receiving chamber and a mounting hole in communication with the receiving chamber;

a handle pivotally connected to the base; and

a locking member attached to the base, the locking member comprising a sliding portion slidably received in the receiving chamber of the base to impel the handle to pivot relative to the base, and a locking tongue attached to the sliding portion, wherein movement of the locking tongue relative to the mounting hole causes the locking mechanism to toggle between a locked and unlock position.

11. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 10, wherein the sliding portion comprises a moving portion, a fixing post projecting from a middle portion of the moving portion, and a positioning hole defined in a middle portion of the fixing post.

12. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein the locking tongue comprises a locating post and a locating portion slidably received in the mounting hole of the base.

13. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 12, wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a first spring wrapped around the fixing post.

14. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 13, wherein the handle comprises a pair of driving protrusions, and wherein when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the first spring decompresses and moves the sliding portion with the moving portion of the locking member applying a corresponding force to the driving protrusions of the handle to impel the handle to pivot away from the base and the locking portion into the mounting hole.

15. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 12, wherein the locking apparatus further comprises a second spring wrapped around the locating post, and wherein the second spring and the locating post are received in the positioning hole.

16. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 15, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the second spring decompresses and moves the locking portion out of the mounting hole.

17. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein the first end portion of the base comprises a plurality of guide protrusions projecting into the receiving chamber.

18. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the guide protrusions comprises a hook located at a distal end thereof to form a pair of guide rails along which the locking member slides.