Removable module for a console

• US 8,351,203 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reents, Jeffrey M., Hayes, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, ZACHARY
• Application Number:
  US13/091,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20110194244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 36167933-67939, 36167946-67954, 361688-723, 439/248, 369/75.11, 369/77.21, 206/701, 360/97.01
• US Class Current: 361/693
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1426 by cooling plates, e.g. fins

Abstract

A housing, which may contain a hard disk drive, is configured to removably mount to a recessed surface of a console. The housing includes a lip and a biased latch arm so that the lip can be inserted into a corresponding feature in the recessed surface and the housing can be rotatably mounted to the recessed surface. The biased latch arm is retained by a latch arm retainer so that the housing is held in place. A cable connector extends from the bottom of the housing and is configured to connect to a receptor on the console when the housing is installed. When desired, a latch on the housing can be translated where the translation cause the biased latch arm to translate so as to clear the latch arm retainer. Thus the housing can be readily removed from the console. Preferably a portion of the housing extends beyond a wall of the recessed surface so that when installed, the housing alters the profile of the console.

Claims

1. A hard disk drive module configured to mount to a console having a cable receptor in a recessed surface, the recessed surface having a plurality of air holes, the hard disk drive module comprising:

a housing, the housing having a bottom surface and two ends each substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface; and

a cable assembly adapted to be connected to a hard disk drive, the cable assembly including a cable connector, the cable connector extending beyond the bottom surface, the cable connector configured to mate with the cable receptor;

extensions that extend from at least one of the two ends of the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the cable connector;

wherein the bottom surface is configured to substantially align with the plurality of air holes in the recessed surface.

2. The hard disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the extensions are arms.

3. The hard disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface has an opening configured to allow air to enter or exit the housing.

4. The hard disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the housing has a top surface.

5. The hard disk drive module of claim 4, wherein the top surface has an opening configured to allow air to enter or exit the housing.

6. The hard disk drive module of claim 4, wherein the top surface includes an opening configured to define a first air passageway into the housing, and the bottom surface of the housing includes an opening configured to define a second air passageway out of the housing, wherein air is directed in to the housing through the first air passageway and into the console via the second air passageway;

whereby the air passing through the housing aids in cooling the console.