Retention apparatus for a peripheral device

• US 6,236,563 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McNulty, Timothy James, Buican, Eugene, Siedow, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/345,460
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683-686, 361/724, 361/725, 361/728, 361/747, 312/332.1, 312/333, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/251.1, 248/240, 248/291.1, 248/225.11
• US Class Current: 361/679.31
• 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 system including a chassis having a plurality of walls forming a cavity. The computer system further includes a peripheral device positioned in the cavity. A retention clip movable between an open position and a closed position is attached to one of the walls. The retention clip includes an arm portion and a retention flange. The retention clip retains the peripheral device in a supported position relative to the chassis when in the closed position so that a fastener member can be engaged with the peripheral device.

Claims

1. A mounting system, comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of walls;

a mounting flange attached to one of the walls for supporting a peripheral device positioned thereon;

a mounting portion on another one of the walls; and

a retention clip attached to one of the walls for retaining the peripheral device in a supported position on the mounting flange spaced from the mounting portion, the retention clip being movable between an open position and a closed position, whereby a fastener is extended through the mounting portion into engagement with the peripheral device.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the retention clip is formed with one of the walls.

3. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the retention clip includes an arm portion and a retention flange, the arm portion being pivotally attached to one of the walls and the retention flange extending from the arm portion.

4. The mounting system of claim 3 wherein the retention flange extends generally perpendicular to the arm portion.

5. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls forms a cavity for receiving the peripheral device therein.

6. The mounting system of claim 5 wherein the mounting flange is configured to engage a first side of the peripheral device and wherein the retention clip is configured to engage a second side of the peripheral device.

7. The mounting system of claim 5 wherein a fastener can be engaged through one of the plurality of walls into the peripheral device while the peripheral device is engaged with the retention clip.

8. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the mounting flange includes at least one member upon which the peripheral device can be pivotally mounted.

9. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the retention clip, the mounting flange and the plurality of walls are unitary.

10. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein the retention clip is attached to the respective one of the walls by a hinge point.

11. The mounting system of claim 10 wherein the hinge point is unitary with the retention clip.

12. A peripheral support system, comprising:

a chassis including a plurality of walls forming a cavity;

a peripheral device positioned in the cavity;

a mounting portion on the chassis adjacent the peripheral device; and

a retention clip attached to one of the walls for movement between an open position and a closed position for retaining the peripheral device in a supported position spaced from the mounting portion within the cavity when in the closed position, whereby a fastener extended through the mounting portion is engaged with the peripheral device.

13. The peripheral support system of claim 12 wherein the peripheral device is a hard disk drive.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis including a plurality of walls forming a cavity;

a microprocessor mounted in the chassis;

an input coupled to provide input to the microprocessor;

a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a displayed coupled to the microprocessor by a video controller;

a system memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;

a peripheral device positioned in the cavity;

a mounting portion on the chassis; and

a retention clip attached to one of the walls for movable between an open position and a closed position for retaining the peripheral device in a supported position spaced from the mounting portion within the cavity when in the closed position, whereby a fastener extended through the mounting portion is engaged with the peripheral device.

15. A method of mounting a device in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

forming a chassis having a plurality of walls, a mounting flange extending from one of the walls, and a retention clip attached to one of the walls and movable between an open position and a closed position;

providing a mounting portion on the chassis;

attaching a first side of a peripheral device to the mounting flange;

moving the retention clip from the open position to the closed position to engage a second side of the peripheral device to retain the peripheral device in a supported position relative to the chassis and spaced from the mounting portion; and

extending a fastener through the mounting portion into engagement with the peripheral device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of forming the chassis includes the step of forming the retention clip and at least a portion of the plurality of walls to be unitary.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of forming the chassis includes the step of forming an arm portion pivotally attached to one of the walls and a retention flange extending from the arm portion.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of forming the chassis includes the step of forming a cavity for receiving the peripheral device therein.