Disk drive bracket

• US 6,798,650 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Reznikov, Naum, Hruska, Daniel, Eberhardt, Anthony N., McCormick, Michael F. Jr., Ettehadieh, Ehsan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/021,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 439/928.1, 360/137.D, 360/900, D14/363, D14/432
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1409 by lever-type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1418 Card guides, e.g. grooves H05K7/1425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

A bracket having two parallel sides and an interconnecting crosspiece is attached to a disk drive or similar peripheral with the sides of the bracket extending longitudinally of the sides of the drive and the crosspiece extending across the front of the drive. A chassis of a computer or the like has internal parallel sides formed with horizontal guides to receive the bracket, a substantially open front face and an internal connector engageable with a mating connector on the rear of the drive when the bracket is fully inserted in the chassis. The sides of the bracket have features to protect the drive from horizontal and vertical vibrations. A handle is pivoted to the crosspiece near one end moveable between at least three positions: a first or latched position parallel to the crosspiece, a second position swinging out at about a 15° angle and a third position at about a 45° angle. In second position a first point on the end of the handle engages the front edge of the side and a second point is about to enter a slot in one side of the chassis. As the handle is pivoted toward third position the second point engages a margin of the slot and pulls the two connectors apart. To reinsert the drive, the positions of the handle are reversed. A spring biased latch engages a hook on the handle. A second spring opens the unlatched handle from the first to second positions.

Claims

1. A bracket for mounting a storage device in a chassis, comprising:

two sides having opposing inner surfaces configured to face the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage a guide in the chassis; and

a crosspiece connecting the two sides.

2. The bracket as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

3. The bracket as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

4. The bracket as recited in claim 3, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

5. The bracket as recited in claim 4, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

6. The bracket as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage the chassis to secure the bracket in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

7. The bracket as recited in claim 6, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

8. The bracket as recited in claim 6, further comprising a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

9. The bracket as recited in claim 8, further comprising a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

10. The bracket as recited in claim 8, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device;

a chassis having a guide for holding the storage device;

a bracket connected to the storage device, wherein the bracket comprises two sides having opposing inner surfaces facing the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side of the bracket comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side of the bracket, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the bracket further comprises:

a crosspiece connecting the two sides; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage the chassis to secure the bracket and storage device in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket and storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the bracket further comprises a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the bracket further comprises a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the storage device comprises a connector and the chassis comprises a socket configured to receive the storage device connector, wherein the end of said handle is configured to pull the bracket and storage device into the chassis as the handle is pivoted in toward the crosspiece so that the storage device connector engages the chassis socket at a controlled rate.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the storage device comprises a connector and the chassis comprises a socket configured to receive the storage device connector, wherein the end of said handle is configured to pull the bracket and storage device out from the chassis as the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece so that the storage device connector disengages the chassis socket at a controlled rate.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the storage device comprises a disk drive.

24. An assembly, comprising:

a storage device; and

two sides of a bracket connected to the storage device, the two sides having opposing inner surfaces configured to face the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage a guide in a chassis configured to receive the assembly.

25. The assembly as recited in claim 24, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side of the bracket comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

26. The assembly as recited in claim 24, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side of the bracket, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

27. The assembly as recited in claim 26, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

28. The assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

29. The assembly as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a crosspiece connecting the two sides of the bracket; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage the chassis to secure the bracket and the storage device in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket and the storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

30. The assembly as recited in claim 29, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket and the storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

31. The assembly as recited in claim 29, further comprising a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

32. The assembly as recited in claim 31, further comprising a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

33. The assembly as recited in claim 31, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

34. A bracket for mounting a storage device in a chassis, comprising:

two sides;

a crosspiece connecting the two sides; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage the chassis to secure the bracket in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

35. The bracket as recited in claim 34, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

36. The bracket as recited in claim 34, further comprising a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

37. The bracket as recited in claim 36, further comprising a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

38. The bracket as recited in claim 36, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

39. The bracket as recited in claim 34, wherein the two sides have opposing inner surfaces configured to face the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage a guide in the chassis.

40. The bracket as recited in claim 39, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

41. The bracket as recited in claim 39, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

42. The bracket as recited in claim 41, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

43. The bracket as recited in claim 42, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device;

a chassis having a guide for holding the storage device;

a bracket connected to the storage device, the bracket comprising;

two sides;

a crosspiece connecting the two sides; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage the chassis to secure the bracket and storage device in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket and storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

45. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

46. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the bracket further comprises a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

47. The apparatus as recited in claim 46, wherein the bracket further comprises a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

48. The apparatus as recited in claim 46, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the storage device comprises a connector and the chassis comprises a socket configured to receive the storage device connector, wherein the end of said handle is configured to pull the bracket and storage device into the chassis as the handle is pivoted in toward the crosspiece so that the storage device connector engages the chassis socket at a controlled rate.

50. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the storage device comprises a connector and the chassis comprises a socket configured to receive the storage device connector, wherein the end of said handle is configured to pull the bracket and storage device out from the chassis as the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece so that the storage device connector disengages the chassis socket at a controlled rate.

51. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the storage device comprises a disk drive.

52. The apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein the two sides of the bracket have opposing inner surfaces facing the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

53. The apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side of the bracket comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

54. The apparatus as recited in claim 52, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side of the bracket, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

55. The apparatus as recited in claim 54, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

56. The apparatus as recited in claim 55, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

57. An assembly, comprising:

a storage device;

two sides of a bracket connected to the storage device;

a crosspiece connecting the two sides of the bracket; and

a handle pivotally mounted to the crosspiece, wherein an end of the handle is configured to engage a chassis to secure the bracket and the storage device in the chassis when the handle is pivoted inward toward the crosspiece, and wherein the end of the handle is configured to disengage the bracket and the storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted outward from the crosspiece.

58. The assembly as recited in claim 57, wherein the end of the handle comprises two points and a notch between the two points, wherein the end of the handle is configured such that the notch engages a flange of the chassis when the handle is flush with the crosspiece, and such that one of the points operates to disengage the bracket and the storage device from the chassis when the handle is pivoted out from the crosspiece.

59. The assembly as recited in claim 57, further comprising a latch mechanism configured to latch the handle in a closed position flush with the crosspiece.

60. The assembly as recited in claim 59, further comprising a spring biased between the crosspiece and the handle and configured to bias the handle out from the crosspiece when the latch mechanism is released.

61. The assembly as recited in claim 59, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a slide and a spring mounted to the crosspiece, wherein the slide is configured to reciprocally transverse across a portion of the crosspiece to release and close the latch mechanism, wherein the spring biases the slide to close the latch mechanism.

62. The assembly as recited in claim 57, wherein the two sides of the bracket have opposing inner surfaces configured to face the storage device, wherein each of the two sides has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially perpendicular to the opposing inner surfaces, and wherein each of the two sides comprises a lengthwise split and at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface and aligned with the split, wherein the bulge is configured to resiliently engage a guide in a chassis configured to receive the assembly.

63. The assembly as recited in claim 62, wherein said at least one bulge on the top or bottom surface of each side of the bracket comprises a bulge on both the top and bottom surfaces of each side aligned with each respective lengthwise split, wherein each bulge is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

64. The assembly as recited in claim 62, further comprising a spring attached to an outward facing surface of each side of the bracket, wherein the spring is configured to resiliently engage the guide in the chassis.

65. The assembly as recited in claim 64, further comprising a screw for attaching each spring to the respective side of the bracket and for attaching the respective side of the bracket to the storage device.

66. The assembly as recited in claim 64, wherein each spring and screw are electrically conductive and configured to establish a conductive path between the storage device and the chassis.

67. The assembly as recited in claim 57, wherein the storage device comprises a disk drive.

68. In combination, a chassis having spaced sides, said sides being formed with guides spaced apart to guide a disk drive in a direction parallel to said sides into said chassis, at least one said side having a front edge and a slot spaced inward from said front edge;

a disk drive having a drive front, rear, drive sides, top and bottom and a first connector for insertion into the chassis, wherein the sides of the chassis are formed with guides and wherein the chassis comprises a second connector engageable with said first connector when said drive is inserted through said guides into said chassis;

a bracket comprising a pair of bracket sides attached to said drive sides and a crosspiece across said drive front;

a handle pivotally mounted to said crosspiece inward from a first end of said crosspiece for outward pivotal movement;

first and second points on said handle extending outward relative to said first end, said first point lying approximately on a plane including and parallel to said handle, said second point being spaced rearward relative to said first point;

said first and second points being separated by a notch;

said handle being pivotally moveable between a first position parallel to said crosspiece, a second position at a first angle to said crosspiece and a third position at a second angle to said crosspiece greater than said first angle, said first and second connectors being in engagement when said handle is in said first position;

said first point engaging said front edge when said handle is in said second position, said first and second connectors being in engagement when said handle is in said second position;

said first point engaging said front edge to pull said bracket outwardly of said chassis as said handle is moved outwardly from said second to third positions and to disengage said first and second connectors.

69. The combination as recited in claim 68, further comprising first and second latch elements on said handle and said crosspiece respectively, to hold said handle in said first position.

70. The combination as recited in claim 69, wherein one said latch element is resiliently biased into engagement with the other said latch element.

71. The combination as recited in claim 69, further comprising a slide mounted in said crosspiece for horizontal transverse reciprocation and a spring on said slide fixed to said crosspiece, said second latch element moving with said slide, said spring biasing said second latch element into engagement with said first latch element.

72. The combination as recited in claim 68, further comprising a spring biasing said handle from said first to said second position.