Device retention apparatus

• US 6,456,489 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, David, Castillo, Daniel, Amdahl, Paul, Erickson, Vernon, Davis, David R., Hooper, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/583,112
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/685, 361/686, 361/684, 361/724-727, 312/332.1, 312/333, 312/223.2, 439/152, 439/155, 439/157, 439/159, 439/483, 439/484
• US Class Current: 361/679.58
• 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: H05K 7/1421 Drawers for printed circuit boards

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device retention apparatus. A device retention apparatus includes a housing suitable for mounting an information handling system device and a retaining portion disposed on the housing, the retaining portion suitable for engaging an information handling system device when disposed in the housing. A selection mechanism suitable for securing the information handling system device to the housing is slideably connected to the housing so as to be capable of moving between a first position and a second position. Therefore, as the selection mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position, the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion thereby securing an information handling system device to the housing.

Claims

1. A device retention apparatus, comprising

a housing suitable for mounting an information handling system device;

a retaining portion disposed on the housing, the retaining portion suitable for engaging an information handling system device when disposed in the housing; and

a selection mechanism suitable for securing the information handling system device to the housing, the selection mechanism including an aperture having a first side, wherein the selection mechanism is slideably connected to the housing so as to be capable of moving between a first position and a second position so that as the selection mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position, the first side of the aperture of the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion to force the retaining portion to engage the information handling system device, thereby securing an information handling system device to the housing.

2. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is formed as an integral part of the housing.

3. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the retaining portion includes a retaining tab suitable for engaging a hole disposed on the information handling system device.

4. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising when the selection mechanism is moved from the second position to the first position, the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion so as to disengage the retaining portion from the information handling system device thereby permitting removal of the information handling system device from the housing.

5. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein when the selection mechanism is placed in the second position, the retention portion is withdrawn thereby permitting at least one of insertion and removal of an information handling system device without interference from the retention portion.

6. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side disposed on generally opposing sections of the housing, the second side including a biasing mechanism for the information handling system device against the first side of the housing, and the first side including the selection mechanism.

7. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism includes a handle so as to enable manual operation of the retention mechanism wherein the handle is capable of at least one of operation from the front of the housing and operation from the side of the housing.

8. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism includes a viewing portion so as to enable at least one of an indication of a unsecured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the first position and an indication of a secured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the second position.

9. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism is moved from a second position to the first position, a second side of the aperture of the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion to force the retaining portion to disengage the retaining portion from the information handling system device, thereby releasing the information handling system device from the housing.

10. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein the selection mechanism is positioned over the retaining portion so that the retaining portion is disposed through the aperture of the selection mechanism when the selection mechanism is in the first position.

11. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is positioned between the selection mechanism and the information handling system device.

12. A device retention apparatus, comprising

a housing suitable for mounting an information handling system device;

a retaining portion disposed on the housing, the retaining portion suitable for engaging an information handling system device when disposed in the housing; and

a selection mechanism suitable for securing the information handling system device to the housing, the selection mechanism including an aperture having a first side and a second side, wherein the selection mechanism is slideably connected to the housing so as to be capable of contracting the retaining portion as the selection mechanism is slid along the housing thereby causing the retaining portion to be capable of at least one of engaging an information handling system device to the housing and disengaging an information handling system device from the housing;

wherein the selection mechanism is moved from a first position to a second position, the first side of the aperture of the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion to force the retaining portion to engage the information handling system device, thereby securing an information handling system device to the housing and wherein the selection mechanism is moved from the second position to the first position, a second side of the aperture of the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion to force the retaining portion to disengage the retaining portion from the information handling system device, thereby releasing the information handling system device from the housing.

13. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the retaining portion is formed as an integral part of the housing.

14. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the retaining portion includes a retaining tab suitable for engaging a hole disposed on the information handling system device.

15. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the retention portion is withdrawn thereby permitting at least one of insertion and removal of an information handling system device without interference from the retention portion.

16. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side disposed on generally opposing sections of the housing, the second side including a biasing mechanism for biasing the information handling system device against the first side of the housing, and the first side including the selection mechanism.

17. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the selection mechanism includes a handle so as to enable manual operation of the retention mechanism wherein the handle is capable of at least one of operation from the front of the housing and operation from the side of the housing.

18. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the selection mechanism includes a viewing portion so as to enable at least one of an indication of a unsecured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the first position and an indication of a secured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the second position.

19. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the selection mechanism is positioned over the retaining portion so that the retaining portion is disposed through the aperture of the selection mechanism when the selection mechanism is in the first position.

20. The device retention apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the retaining portion is positioned between the selection mechanism and the information handling system device.

28. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 17, wherein the selection mechanism is positioned over the retaining portion so that the retaining portion is disposed through the aperture of the selection mechanism when the selection mechanism is in the first position.

21. An information handling system chassis, comprising:

a chassis suitable for storage of information handling system devices and components;

a housing suitable for mounting an information handling system device;

a retaining portion disposed on the housing, wherein the retaining portion is formed as an integral part of the housing, the retaining portion suitable for engaging an information handling system device when disposed in the housing; and

a selection mechanism suitable for securing the information handling system device to the housing, wherein the selection mechanism is slideably connected to the housing so as to be capable of moving between a first position and a second position so that as the selection mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position, the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion thereby securing an information handling system device to the housing.

22. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, wherein the retaining portion includes a retaining tab suitable for engaging a hole disposed on the information handling system device.

23. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, further comprising when the selection mechanism is moved from the second position to the first position, the selection mechanism contacts the retaining portion so as to disengage the retaining portion from the information handling system device thereby permitting removal of the information handling system device from the housing.

24. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 23, wherein when the selection mechanism is placed in the second position, the retention portion is withdrawn thereby permitting at least one of insertion and removal of an information handling system device without interference from the retention portion.

25. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side disposed on generally opposing sections of the housing, the second side including a biasing mechanism for biasing the information handling system device against the first side of the housing, and the first side including the selection mechanism.

26. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, wherein the selection mechanism includes a handle so as to enable manual operation of the retention mechanism wherein the handle is capable of operation from the front of the housing and operation from the side of the housing.

27. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, wherein the selection mechanism includes a viewing portion so as to enable at least one of an indication of a unsecured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the first position and an indication of a secured state disposed on the housing to be viewed when the selection mechanism is in the second position.

29. The information handling system chassis as described in claim 21, wherein the retaining portion is positioned between the selection mechanism and the information handling system device.