Spring clip attachment device

• US 6,172,870 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Novotny, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/076,959
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/683, 361/724-727, 248/222.12, 248/225.11
• US Class Current: 361/679.37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• 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 computer component, such as a hard disk drive, is provided with a spring clip assembly. The spring clip has a spring bracket and a plurality of tabs for engaging with a divider panel disposed within a chassis of a computer. The plurality of tabs guide the hard disk drive into place as the hard disk drive is installed. A support bracket coupled with the hard disk drive couples with slots on a power supply housing, and anchors the hard disk drive as the spring bracket assembly engages with the divider panel. A release mechanism is provided with the spring clip assembly, thereby allowing for easy removal and installation of the hard disk drive.

Claims

1. A removable computer component assembly for use with a computer, the component assembly comprising:

a computer component having a first side surface, a second side surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;

a support bracket coupled with the second side surface of the computer component; and

a spring clip assembly coupled with the first side surface of the computer component, the spring clip comprising a spring bracket biasing away from the first surface of the computer component, the spring bracket having a first end fixed to the spring clip assembly and a non-fixed end, the spring bracket oriented so that the first end is located near the bottom surface of the computer component and the non-fixed end is located near the top surface of the computer component.

2. The computer component assembly as recited in claim 1, the support bracket further comprising first and second support tabs.

3. The computer component assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second support tabs have rounded edges.

4. The computer component assembly as recited in claim 1, the spring clip assembly further comprising a plurality of tabs having a spring bias where the plurality of tabs are integral with the spring clip assembly.

5. The computer component assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer component comprises a disk drive.

6. The component assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bracket and the spring clip assembly are not connected to each other.

7. The component assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring bracket is oriented in vertical direction relative to the top and bottom surfaces of the computer component.

8. The component assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring clip assembly further comprises a plurality of tabs, at least one of the plurality of tabs has a spring bias in a first direction, at least one of the plurality of tabs has a spring bias in a second direction, and at least one of the plurality of tabs has a spring bias in a third direction.

9. The component assembly of claim 8, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction, and wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction and is substantially opposed to the first direction.

10. A removable hard disk drive assembly comprising:

a hard disk drive having a first surface and a second surface;

a support bracket disposed proximate to one of the first surface or the second surface of the hard disk drive; and

a spring clip assembly coupled with the other of the first surface or the second surface of the computer component, the spring clip assembly comprising a spring bracket having a spring bias away from the first surface of the computer component to which the spring clip assembly is coupled;

wherein, the support bracket holds the second surface of the hard disk drive substantially in place while the first surface of the hard drive is rotated and the spring clip assembly is coupled to a panel of a computer chassis.

11. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 10, wherein the anchor member comprises a support bracket coupled with the hard disk drive.

12. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 11, the support bracket further comprising a first support tab and a second support tab.

13. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 10, the spring bracket assembly further comprising a plurality of tabs having a spring bias.

14. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 10, the spring bracket assembly further comprising a release mechanism.

15. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 14, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull ring rotatably coupled with the spring bracket.

16. The hard disk drive as recited in claim 10, wherein the spring clip assembly comprises:

an elongate structure extending from a first end to a second end, the spring clip having first and second bracket portions being generally transverse to each other;

the second bracket portion having at least one aperture disposed therein, the aperture for receiving threaded fasteners therethrough;

a spring bracket coupled with the first bracket portion; and

a plurality of tabs coupled with the first bracket portion.

17. A personal computer having computer components therein, the computer comprising:

a chassis formed from a substantially rigid material, the chassis having a plurality of side surfaces including a first side surface and a second side surface, the chassis having at least one slot formed in a side surface;

a fan for drawing air through the slots formed in the side surface;

a divider panel disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface of the chassis, the divider panel having a plurality of attachment features integral therewith;

a disk drive having a first surface and a second surface;

a support bracket coupled with the second surface of the disk drive, the support bracket coupled with at least one slot of the chassis; and

a spring clip assembly coupled with the first surface of the disk drive, the spring clip assembly comprising a spring bracket having a spring bias away from the first surface of the disk drive, and a plurality of tabs, the spring bracket coupled with at least one of the plurality of attachment features of the divider panel, the spring bracket having a release mechanism for uncoupling the spring bracket from the divider panel so that the disk drive is released from the divider panel in a perpendicular direction relative to a top surface of the divider panel.

18. The computer as recited in claim 17, wherein the attachment features of the divider panel include a spring bracket cut out and first and second flanges, where the spring bracket is disposed in the spring bracket cut out and the plurality of tabs press against the second flanges.

19. The computer as recited in claim 17, wherein the support bracket has first and second support tabs integral therewith.

20. The computer as recited in claim 17, the computer further comprising a power supply having a power supply housing, the power supply housing having a plurality of slots therein, the slots for engaging the support bracket of the disk drive.

21. The computer as recited in claim 17, wherein the release mechanism comprises means for forcing the spring bracket towards the first surface of the disk drive.