Device mounting and retention assembly

• US 6,619,766 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mansueto, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US09/416,547
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/727, 361/732, 361/810, 174/51, 312/330.1, 312/333, 312/334.16, 312/334.22, 312/334.36, 312/334.44, 312/334.46
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• 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 7/1411 for securing or extracting box-type drawers

Abstract

A device mounting and retention mechanism is disclosed, comprising a guide disposed on a device so that the guide is capable of slidably moving along a guide channel so that a retention mechanism may engage the guide thereby providing a restraining force and ground for the device. A device retention assembly is also disclosed, comprising a guide mounted on a device so that the guide is capable of slidably moving along a guide channel disposed on a housing so that the retention mechanism is capable of flexibly engaging the guide, thereby providing a restraining force. A device mounting assembly is also disclosed, comprising a first guide mounted on a device and a second guide mounted on a device wherein a guide channel is formed so as to selectively accept the first guide and exclude acceptance of the second guide.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a housing having at least two guide channels and a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism formed as a spring at least partially disposed over one of the at least two guide channels; and

an electronic device including a plurality of guides disposed thereon in a manner to enable the electronic device to be inserted and removed from the housing by contacting the guide channels with the guides,

wherein the retention mechanism is flexed away from the housing through contact of a guide of the plurality of guides against the retention mechanism upon insertion of the electronic device in the housing and upon alignment of the guide with a securing portion formed as an indention of the retention mechanism, the securing portion engages the guide thereby securing the electronic device to the housing of the information handling system, the plurality of guides extending through guide channels to protrude through the housing.

2. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein the guide is formed as a post.

3. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of mounting holes to which the plurality of guides are secured by utilizing screws.

4. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of guides are substantially circular.

5. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a hard drive and a CD-ROM device.

6. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism is formed as an integral part of the housing.

7. The information handling system as described in claim 1, wherein contact of the guide with the retention mechanism through the housing works as a ground of the electronic device to the housing.

8. An information handling system, comprising:

a housing having at least two guide channels and a retention mechanism; and

an electronic device including a plurality of guides disposed thereon in a manner to enable the electronic device to be inserted and removed from the housing by contacting the guide channels with the guides, in which the plurality of guides are formed as posts,

wherein the retention mechanism is flexed substantially parallel to the housing through contact of at least one guide of the plurality of guides against the retention mechanism upon insertion of the electronic device in the housing, and upon alignment of the guide with a securing portion of the retention mechanism, the securing portion engages the guide thereby securing the electronic device to the housing of the information handling system, the plurality of guides extending through guide channels to protrude through the housing.

9. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein the guide is substantially circular.

10. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of mounting holes to which the plurality of guides are secured by utilizing screws.

11. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein the retention mechanism includes a first grasping structure and a second grasping structure to as to engage a guide of the plurality of guides to secure the electronic device to the housing.

12. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a hard drive and a CD-ROM device.

13. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein the retention mechanism is formed as an integral part of the housing.

14. The information handling system as described in claim 8, wherein contact of the guide with the retention mechanism through the housing works as a ground of the electronic device to the housing.

15. A system, comprising:

a housing having at least two guide channels and a retention mechanism; and

an electronic device including a plurality of guides disposed thereon in a manner to enable the electronic device to be inserted and removed from the housing by contacting the guide channels with the guides, the guides formed as posts, the plurality of guides extending through the guide channels to protrude through the housing,

wherein the retention mechanism is capable of flexible movement so that when contacted by a guide of the plurality of guides of the electronic device, the retention mechanism flexes to permit passage of at least one guide of the plurality of guides and upon passage of the at least one guide, the retention mechanism returns to an original position thereby enabling a securing portion of the retention mechanism to engage the guide, thereby securing the electronic device to the housing.

16. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of mounting holes to which the plurality of guides are secured by utilizing screws.

17. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the plurality of guides are substantially circular.

18. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a hard drive and a CD-ROM device.

19. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the retention mechanism is formed as an integral part of the housing.

20. The system as described in claim 15, wherein contact of the guide with the retention mechanism through the housing works as a ground of the electronic device to the housing.