Hard drive carrier

• US 6,876,547 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McAlister, Robert Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/294,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-686, 3122231-2232, 312/333, 360/97.01, 360/67.02, 250/236, 250/216
• 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 flexible drive carrier is disclosed. The drive carrier includes flexible elements that accommodate variations in sizes of hard drives as well as variations in computer chassis. The drive carrier forms a precise fit within a computer chassis. A drive carrier that does not accommodate a hard drive is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A carrier for a storage device, comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail;

a bezel having a first end coupled to the first rail and a second end coupled to the second rail;

a cam lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the bezel proximate the first end of the bezel and a second end including a latch for coupling the cam lever to the bezel at a location proximate the second end of the bezel, wherein the latch comprises;

a first surface; and

a second surface coupled to the first surface;

wherein the first surface may be moved relative to the second surface to reduce the distance between the first surface and the second surface for the purpose of coupling the cam lever to the bezel; and

an electromagnetic interference shield coupled between the first rail and the second rail, wherein the shield includes a plurality of openings formed therein for the passage of air through the shield.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the cam lever is comprised of a compliant material to permit the cam lever to be distended when the latch of the cam lever is coupled to the bezel.

3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the shield is flexible.

4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rail or the second rail is flexible.

5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the latch is biased in an open state.

6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the latch is sized such that an audible noise is emitted as the latch is coupled to the bezel.

7. A carrier for a storage device, comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail;

a bezel having a first end coupled to the first rail and a second end coupled to the second rail; and

a cam lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the bezel proximate the first end of the bezel and a second end including a latch for coupling the cam lever to the bezel at a location proximate the second end of the bezel, wherein the latch comprises;

a first surface; and

a second surface flexibly coupled to the first surface and wherein the first surface is positioned at an angle relative to the second surface; and

wherein the first surface may be flexed relative to the second surface to move the first surface closer to the second surface for the purpose of coupling the cam lever to the bezel.

8. The carrier of claim 7, further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield coupled between the first rail and the second rail, wherein the shield includes a plurality of openings formed therein for the passage of air through the shield.

9. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the cam lever is comprised of a compliant material to permit the cam lever to be distended when the latch of the cam lever is coupled to the bezel.

10. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the shield is flexible.

11. The carrier of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first rail or the second rail is flexible.

12. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the latch is biased in an open state.

13. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the latch is sized such that an audible noise is emitted as the latch is coupled to the bezel.

14. A carrier for a storage device, comprising:

a frame sized to receive the storage device, the frame being defined by first and second rails;

a bezel having a first end coupled to the first rail and a second end coupled to the second rail; and

a cam lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the bezel proximate the first end of the bezel and a second end including a latch for coupling the cam lever to the bezel at a location proximate the second end of the bezel, wherein the latch comprises;

a first surface; and

a second surface flexibly coupled to the first surface and wherein the first surface is positioned at an angle relative to the second surface; and

wherein the first surface may be flexed relative to the second surface to move the first surface closer to the second surface for the purpose of coupling the cam lever to the bezel.

15. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the cam lever is comprised of a compliant material to permit the cam lever to be distended when the latch of the cam lever is coupled to the bezel.

16. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the shield is flexible.

17. The carrier of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first rail or the second rail is flexible.

18. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the latch is biased in an open state.

19. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the latch is sized such that an audible noise emitted as the latch is coupled to the bezel.

20. The carrier of claim 14, further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield coupled between the first rail and the second rail, wherein the shield includes a plurality of openings formed therein for the passage of air through the shield.