Computer enclosure incorporating pivotable drive bracket

• US 6,529,373 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Chiu-Chen, Liao, Nien Chiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, YEAN HSI
• Application Number:
  US09/558,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/683-686, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/322.1, 211/26
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives

Abstract

A computer enclosure includes a cage and a drive bracket received in the cage for being rotatable between a fixed position and an assembling position. The cage has a pair of tabs each defining a cutout therein and an aperture defined between the tabs. The drive bracket has a pair of first protrusions pivotably received in the cutouts of the tabs thereby allowing the drive bracket to be rotatable with respect to the cage and a fixing plate defining a screw hole substantially aligning with the aperture of the cage for receiving a bolt to secure the drive bracket to the cage.

Claims

1. A computer enclosure comprising:

a cage having a pair of tabs each defining a cutout therein, an aperture being defined between the tabs; and

a drive bracket attached to the cage, the drive bracket having a pair of first protrusions pivotably received in the cutouts of the tabs for allowing the drive bracket to rotate with respect to the cage and a fixing plate defining a screw hole substantially aligning with the aperture of the cage for receiving a bolt to secure the drive bracket to the cage.

2. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the drive bracket forms a pair of second protrusions for being guided along edges of the tabs of the cage when the drive bracket is rotated.

3. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the cage has a front panel and a beam transversely extending from the front panel, and wherein the pair of tabs extends from the front panel.

4. The computer enclosure as described in claim 3, wherein the drive bracket has a flange for being slidably supported on the beam of the cage.

5. The computer enclosure as described in claim 4, wherein the flange of the drive bracket forms a projection engageable with a notch defined in the beam for retaining the drive bracket in position.

6. A computer enclosure comprising:

a cage comprising a front panel and a beam transversely extending from the front panel, the front panel forming a pair of bent tabs; and

a drive bracket attached to the cage and pivotable about the cage about a fixed position and an assembling position, the drive bracket comprising a side wall and a stepped wall cooperatively forming a first carrier space and a second carrier space therebetween, a pair of first protrusions formed on the drive bracket for being rotatably mounted to the bent tabs of the cage and a flange extending from an upper edge of the stepped wall for being supported on the beam of the cage.

7. The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the front panel of the cage defines an opening, and wherein the pair of bent tabs extends from opposite edges of the opening.

8. The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein each bent tab defines a cutout for receiving the first protrusion of the drive bracket.

9. The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the drive bracket forms a pair of second protrusions for being guided along edges of the bent tabs of the cage.

10. The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the flange of the drive bracket forms a projection engageable with a notch defined in the beam for retaining the drive bracket in position.

11. A method of assembling a storage device in a cage of a computer and exposing electronic components under the storage device, comprising the steps of:

providing a drive bracket on which the storage device is securely seated;

forming a pair of tabs on one of said cage and said bracket with cutouts therein;

forming a pair of protrusions on the other of said cage and said bracket;

assembling the bracket with the associated storage device to the cage with the protrusions respectively moving along the corresponding cutouts in a linear direction until said protrusions reach final positions;

latchably fixing the bracket to the cage;

wherein

when the electronic components in the cage under the storage device are required to be replaced or added, the bracket is first unlatched from the bracket, and successively rotated about the final positions of said protrusions to expose said components.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein during assembling the bracket and the associated storage device to the cage, said bracket and the associated storage device are first downwardly installed into a space in the cage from a top portion of the cage, and successively moved with regard to the cage in said linear direction.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein during rotation the bracket and the associated storage device are tilted outwardly until fully outside a front panel of the cage.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of latchably fixing the bracket to the cage comprises extending a bolt through the drive bracket to engage with the cage.