Self-latching storage device module

• US 8,717,753 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dot Hill Systems Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Keffeler, David Michael, Heyd, Andrew Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/347,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.37, 361/679.38, 403/327
• US Class Current: 361/679.37
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1487 Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring

Abstract

A latching device for latching a storage device module into a storage chassis is provided. The latching device includes a latch member having a latching end and a spring end opposite the latching end, the latch member slidingly disposed within a front bezel of the storage device module and being movable between a latching position and a releasing position. The latching device also includes a latch spring between a bearing surface of the front bezel and the spring end of the latch member. The latch spring is in increased compression when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, and the latch spring is in decreased compression when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position. The latching end extends through a latch hole in a side member of the storage chassis for locking the storage device module in the chassis.

Claims

1. A latching device for latching a storage device module into a storage chassis, the storage chassis confining an open-ended receiving space that extends in a first direction and that receives slidably and removably the storage device module therein, the storage chassis having a wall comprising a latch hole that borders the receiving space, the latching device comprising:

a latch member having a latching end portion and a spring end portion opposite the latching end portion, the latch member slidingly disposed within a front bezel of the storage device module and being movable in a second direction transverse to the first direction between a latching position, and a releasing position,

wherein the latching end portion of the latch member in the latching position extends into the latch hole for locking the storage device module into the storage chassis, wherein the latching end portion of the latch member in the releasing position is extracted from the latch hole thereby permitting the removal of the storage device module from the receiving space; and

a latch spring for providing spring force in the second direction and disposed within the front bezel between a bearing surface of the front bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member, wherein the latch spring is in increased compression when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the spring member is in decreased compression when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position.

2. The latching device of claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the latching end portion is beveled to cause the latch member to transition from the latching position to the releasing position after the storage device module is inserted a first predetermined distance into the receiving space.

3. The latching device of claim 2, wherein after inserting the storage device module the first predetermined distance into the receiving space, the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

4. The latching device of claim 3, wherein the storage device module comprises a storage device, wherein an electrical connector of the storage device makes electrical connection with a mating connector of the storage chassis when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

5. The latching device of claim 4, wherein the latching end portion is registered with the latch hole when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

6. The latching device of claim 1, wherein an ejection spring exerts force in the first direction between the storage chassis and storage device module when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

7. The latching device of claim 6, wherein the ejection spring moves the storage device module a second predetermined distance out from the receiving space when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position after the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

8. The latching device of claim 7, wherein after the ejection spring moves the storage device module the second predetermined distance out from the receiving space, a bezel finger recess of the front bezel of the storage device module allows a user to fully remove the storage device module from the receiving space.

9. A storage device module for providing independent insertion and removal of a storage device in a storage chassis, the storage device module comprising:

a tray, slidingly engaged in a first direction to one or more storage chassis surfaces forming a receiving space that receives the storage device module therein; and

a bezel, forming a front surface of the storage device module and fastened to the tray, the bezel comprising;

a latch member, comprising;

a latching end portion; and

a spring end portion, opposite the latching end portion, the latch member being finger-movable in a second direction transverse to the first direction between a latching position, and a releasing position; and

a latch spring for providing force in the second direction and disposed within the bezel between a bearing surface of the bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member,

wherein in the latching position the latching end portion of the latch member extends through a latch hole in one of the one or more storage chassis surfaces for locking the storage device module into the storage chassis, wherein in the releasing position the latching end portion of the latch member is not engaged with the latch hole, wherein the latch member in the releasing position unlocks the storage device module from the storage chassis and permits the removal of the storage device module from the receiving space, wherein the latch spring is in an increased compression state when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the latch spring is in an decreased compression state when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position,

wherein an ejection spring exerts force in the first direction between the storage chassis and storage device module when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space, wherein the ejection spring moves the storage device module a second predetermined distance out from the receiving space when the latch transitions from the latching position to the releasing position after the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space, wherein after the ejection spring moves the storage device module the second predetermined distance out from the receiving space, a bezel finger recess of the storage device module allows a user to fully remove the storage device module from the receiving space.

10. The storage device module of claim 9, wherein a rear surface of the latching end portion is beveled to cause the latch to transition from the latching position to the releasing position when the storage device module is inserted a first predetermined distance into the receiving space.

11. The storage device module of claim 10, wherein after inserting the storage device module the first predetermined distance into the receiving space, the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

12. The storage device module of claim 11, wherein the storage device module comprises a storage device, wherein an electrical connector of the storage device makes electrical connection with a mating connector of the storage chassis when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

13. The storage device module of claim 12, wherein the latching end portion is registered with the latch hole when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

14. The storage device module of claim 9, wherein an ejection spring exerts force in the first direction between the storage chassis and storage device module when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

15. The storage device module of claim 14, wherein the ejection spring moves the storage device module a second predetermined distance out from the receiving space when the latch transitions from the latching position to the releasing position after the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

16. The storage device module of claim 15, wherein after the ejection spring moves the storage device module the second predetermined distance out from the receiving space, a bezel finger recess of the storage device module allows a user to fully remove the storage device module from the receiving space.

17. A method for inserting a storage device module into a receiving space of a storage chassis, comprising:

positioning the storage device module in alignment with the receiving space such that a front bezel assembly of the storage device module is oriented on a side of the storage device module opposite the receiving space and a top surface of the storage device module faces the top of the receiving space;

moving the storage device module a first predetermined distance into the receiving space until a latching end portion of a latch member in the front bezel assembly makes contact with a side surface of the storage chassis, the latch member comprising the latching end portion and a spring end portion opposite the latching end portion; and

pushing the storage device module fully into the receiving space, wherein the latching end portion engages a latch hole in a side interior surface of the storage chassis bordering the receiving space of the storage chassis when the storage device module is fully pushed into the receiving space.

18. The method for inserting a storage device module into a receiving space of a storage chassis of claim 17, the front bezel assembly comprising:

a front bezel;

the latch member; and

a latch spring;

wherein the latch spring is disposed within the front bezel between a bearing surface of the front bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member and exerts force against the spring end portion of the latch member, wherein the latch spring is in an increased compression state when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the latch spring is in an decreased compression state when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position.

19. A method for removing a storage device module from a receiving space of a storage chassis, comprising:

sliding a latch member in a second direction, the latch member comprising a latching end portion and a spring end portion opposite the latching end portion, wherein the latching end portion engages a latch hole in a storage chassis interior surface bordering the receiving space prior to sliding the latch member, wherein the latching end portion disengages the latch hole while sliding the latch member, wherein a latch spring in contact with the spring end portion provides a force opposite to the second direction;

pushing the storage device module out of the receiving space by an ejection spring providing force in a first direction between the storage chassis and the storage device module and orthogonal to the second direction, wherein the ejection spring pushes the storage device module in the first direction after the latching end portion disengages the latch hole;

grabbing the storage device module by a bezel finger recess of a front bezel assembly, wherein the front bezel assembly forms a front surface of the storage device module; and

pulling the storage device module from the receiving space of the storage chassis.

20. The method for removing a storage device module from a receiving space of a storage chassis of claim 19, the front bezel assembly comprising:

a front bezel;

the latch member; and

a latch spring;

wherein the latch spring is disposed within the front bezel between a bearing surface of the bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member and exerts force against the spring end portion of the latch member, wherein the latch spring is in an increased compression state when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the latch spring is in an decreased compression state when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position.

21. A method for inserting a storage device module into a receiving space of a storage chassis, comprising:

positioning the storage device module in alignment with the receiving space, the storage device module comprising;

a tray, slidingly engaged in a first direction to one or more storage chassis surfaces forming the receiving space; and

a bezel, forming a front surface of the storage device module and fastened to the tray, the bezel comprising;

a latch member, comprising;

a latching end portion; and

a spring end portion, opposite the latching end portion, the latch member being finger-movable in a second direction transverse to the first direction between a latching position and a releasing position;

a latch spring for providing force opposite to the second direction and disposed within the bezel between a bearing surface of the bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member, wherein the latch spring is in an increased compression state when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the latch spring is in a decreased compression state when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position; and

a bezel finger recess in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the bezel, for providing finger purchase when inserting the storage device module into the receiving space;

moving the storage device module a first predetermined distance into the receiving space until the latching end portion of the latch member makes contact with a side surface of the storage chassis; and

pushing the storage device module fully into the receiving space, wherein the latching end portion engages a latch hole in a side interior surface of the storage chassis bordering the receiving space when the storage device module is fully pushed into the receiving space,

wherein in the latching position the latching end portion of the latch member extends through the latch hole, wherein in the releasing position the latching end portion of the latch member is not engaged with the latch hole, wherein an ejection spring exerts force in the first direction between the storage chassis and storage device module when the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space.

22. A method for removing a storage device module from a receiving space of a storage chassis, comprising:

sliding a latch member of the storage device module in a second direction, the storage device module comprising;

a tray, slidingly engaged to one or more storage chassis surfaces forming the receiving space; and

a bezel, forming a front surface of the storage device module and fastened to the tray, the bezel comprising;

the latch member, comprising;

a latching end portion, wherein the latching end portion engages a latch hole in a storage chassis interior surface bordering the receiving space prior to sliding the latch member, wherein the latching end portion disengages the latch hole while sliding the latch member; and

a spring end portion, opposite the latching end portion, the latch member being finger-movable in the second direction transverse to the first direction between a latching position and a releasing position;

a latch spring for providing force opposite to the second direction and disposed within the bezel between a bearing surface of the bezel and the spring end portion of the latch member, wherein the latch spring is in an increased compression state when the latch member transitions from the latching position to the releasing position, wherein the latch spring is in a decreased compression state when the latch member transitions from the releasing position to the latching position; and

a bezel finger recess in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the bezel, for providing finger purchase when removing the storage device module from the receiving space;

pushing the storage device module out of the receiving space by an ejection spring providing force in a first direction transverse to the second direction between the storage chassis and the storage device module, wherein the ejection spring pushes the storage device module in the first direction after the latching end portion disengages the latch hole;

grabbing the storage device module by the bezel finger recess; and

pulling the storage device module from the receiving space of the storage chassis,

wherein in the releasing position the latching end portion of the latch member is not engaged with the latch hole, wherein the latch member in the releasing position unlocks the storage device module from the storage chassis and permits the removal of the storage device module from the receiving space, wherein the ejection spring moves the storage device module a predetermined distance out from the receiving space when the latch transitions from the latching position to the releasing position after the storage device module is fully inserted into the receiving space, wherein after the ejection spring moves the storage device module the predetermined distance out from the receiving space, the bezel finger recess allows a user to fully remove the storage device module from the receiving space.