Locking mechanism for removable components

• US 7,035,096 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Franz, John P., Vinson, Wade D., Holian, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/698,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-686, 361/695, 361724-727, 361/754, 361/759, 361/786, 361/798, 361/801, 361/804, 248/552, 248/553, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 70/14, 70/57, 70/58, 70 32- 34
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• 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: G11B 33/126 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1411 for securing or extracting box-type drawers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, the present technique provides a locking mechanism for coupling and uncoupling a removable component coupleable to and uncoupleable from a computing device. The exemplary locking mechanism includes a first member selectively positionable between secured and unsecured configurations of the removable component with respect to the computer device. The exemplary locking mechanism also includes a second member positionable between first and second configurations, wherein the first configuration extends the second member through the first member in the second configuration to secure the first member.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for coupling and uncoupling a removable component coupleable to and from a computer device, comprising:

a first member selectively positionable between secured and unsecured configurations of the removable component with respect to the computer device;

a second member positionable between first and second configurations, wherein the first configuration extends the second member through the first member in the secured configuration to secure the first member; and

a pivotable member configured to actuate the second member selectively between the first and second configurations, wherein the pivotable member is configured to transition the removable component between an operational configuration and a dormant configuration.

2. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the removable component is a hot-pluggable device.

3. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a lever pivotably coupled to the removable component.

4. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivotable member is a knob coupled to the removable component.

5. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the dormant configuration is an unpowered configuration and the operational configuration is a powered configuration.

6. A locking mechanism for coupling and uncoupling a removable component coupleable to and from a computer device, comprising:

a leveraging member configured to at least partially disengage a removable component with respect to a computer device;

an engaging member selectively positionable in first and second positions such that the engaging member at least partially engages with the leveraging member in the first position; and

a pivotable member coupled to the engaging member such that pivotal movement of the pivotable member actuates the engaging member along a longitudinal axis of the engaging member, wherein the pivotable member is configured to transition the removable component or the computer device or any combination thereof between an operational configuration and a dormant configuration.

7. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein the pivotable member is electrically coupled to an indicator configured to indicate visually the status of at least one of the computer device and removable component between the operational and dormant configurations.

8. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein the pivotable member and the leveraging member are coupled to the removable component.

9. The locking mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein the engaging member in the first position extends through the leveraging member.

10. A system, comprising:

a computer device;

a removable component engageable and disengageable with the computer device; and

a locking assembly, comprising;

a first member for at least partially disengaging the removable component with respect to the computer device;

an engaging member positionable between first and second configurations, wherein the engaging member in the first configuration extends through the first member to secure the first member with respect to the computing component; and

a pivotable member coupled to the engaging member such that pivotal movement of the pivotable member actuates the engaging member along a longitudinal axis of the engaging member, wherein the pivotable member is configured to transition the removable component or the computer device or any combination thereof between an operational configuration and a dormant configuration.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer device comprises a server.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer device comprises a personal computer.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the removable component comprises a memory component.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the removable component comprises a disk-drive.

15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the removable component comprises a cooling device.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first member and the engaging member is coupled to the removable component.

17. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the removable component is hot-pluggable.

18. A method of selectively securing a removable component to a computer device, comprising:

actuating a locking mechanism such that the locking mechanism actuates an engaging member to extend through a first pivotable member configured to selectively position the removable component between secured or unsecured configurations with respect to the computer device; and

actuating a second pivotable member to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein actuation of the second pivotable member transitions the computer device or the removable component or any combination thereof between a dormant state and an operational state.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein actuation comprises translating the pivotal movement of the pivotal member into lateral movement of the engaging member along a longitudinal axis of the engaging member.

20. A locking mechanism for coupling and uncoupling a removable component with respect to and from a computer device, comprising:

a first member positionable to transition the removable component between inserted and released positions with respect to the computer device; and

a second member positionable to transition the removable component between dormant and operational states, wherein placement of the second member in a position such that the removable component is in the operational state blocks the first member from transitioning the removable component between the inserted and released positions.