Ejection mechanisms for computer equipment

• US 8,897,004 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruch, Mark H., Moore, Earl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US12/867,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 36167932-67939, 361/679.41, 361724-727, 312 1-223, 312/293.1, 745/23, 744/91
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20396 Hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20612 Hand

Abstract

In one embodiment, an ejection mechanism for ejecting a removable module from a piece of equipment includes a two-part ejection lever including a first lever portion that is snap fit to a second lever portion, wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the ejection lever in an attempt to eject the removable module when the module has been locked within the equipment.

Claims

1. An ejection mechanism for ejecting a removable module from a piece of equipment, the ejection mechanism comprising:

a two-part ejection lever including a first lever portion that is snap fit to a second lever portion, wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the ejection lever in an attempt to eject the removable module when the module has been locked within the equipment, wherein the first lever portion remains snap fit to the second lever portion during ejection of the removable module.

2. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lever portion forms an outer lever arm portion that can be gripped by the user.

3. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lever portion comprises snap elements that are received by openings provided in the second lever portion, wherein the openings abut opposite side surfaces of each of the snap elements.

4. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lever portion comprises a latch element that latches to the second lever portion.

5. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lever portion comprises a pivot pin support adapted to receive a pivot pin about which the first lever portion can pivot.

6. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second lever portion comprises a body and an arm portion to which the first lever portion couples.

7. The ejection mechanism of claim 6, wherein the arm portion comprises openings adapted to receive snap elements of the first lever portion.

8. The ejection mechanism of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a cam slot adapted to receive a cam follower of a carriage used to urge the removable module out from the equipment.

9. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin to which the first and second lever portions are both independently pivotally mounted, wherein when the first lever portion is separated from the second lever portion the first lever portion pivots about the pivot pin but the second lever portion does not.

10. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an internal carriage upon which the ejection lever pulls when the ejection lever is pulled by the user, the carriage being adapted to urge the removable module out from the equipment.

11. The ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lever portion is separable from the second lever portion while the second lever portion is stationary.

12. An ejection mechanism for ejecting a removable module from a piece of equipment, the ejection mechanism comprising:

a two-part ejection lever including a first lever portion that forms an outer arm portion that a user can pull upon and a second lever portion to which the first lever portion snap fits, the second lever portion including a body and an inner arm portion to which the first lever portion directly couples, the first lever portion comprising snap elements that can be received by openings provided in the inner arm portion and a latch element that can latch to a distal edge of the inner arm portion, the body of the second lever portion comprising a cam slot;

a pivot pin to which the first and second lever portions are both independently pivotally mounted; and

an internal carriage upon which the ejection lever pulls when the ejection lever is pulled, the carriage comprising a cam follower positioned within the cam slot of the second lever portion, the carriage being adapted to urge the removable module out from the equipment;

wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the ejection lever in an attempt to eject the removable module when the module has been locked within the equipment, in which case the first lever portion pivots about the pivot pin but the second lever portion does not.

13. An ejection lever for ejecting a removable module from a piece of equipment, the ejection lever comprising:

a first lever portion that forms an outer arm portion upon which a user can pull, the outer arm portion having an outer surface, an inner surface, and snap elements that extend out from the inner surface, the first lever portion further including an opening through which a pivot pin can pass; and

a second lever portion to which the first lever portion is snap fit, the second lever portion being pivotable with the first lever portion during ejection of the removable module, the second lever portion including a body and an inner arm portion to which the outer arm portion can attach, the inner arm portion comprising openings adapted to receive snap elements of the outer arm portion;

wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the first lever portion while the second lever portion cannot pivot, wherein the first lever portion remains snap fit to the second lever portion during ejection of the removable module.

14. The ejection lever of claim 13, wherein the inner surface of the outer arm portion contacts an outer surface of the inner arm portion when the first lever portion is coupled to the second lever portion.

15. The ejection lever of claim 13, wherein the outer arm portion comprises a latch element adapted to latch to a distal edge of the inner arm portion.

16. The ejection lever of claim 13, wherein the first lever portion comprises a pivot pin support adapted to receive the pivot pin and wherein the body of the second lever portion comprises an opening also adapted to receive the pivot pin.

17. The ejection lever of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a cam slot adapted to receive a cam follower of a carriage used to urge the removable module out from the equipment.

18. Computer equipment comprising:

an outer housing that includes a module bay;

a removable module that can be inserted into and ejected from the bay; and

an ejection mechanism for ejecting the removable module from the bay, the ejection mechanism including a two-part ejection lever including a first lever portion that is snap fit to a second lever portion, wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the ejection lever in an attempt to eject the removable module when the module has been locked within the computer equipment and wherein the first lever portion is snap fit to the second lever portion such that the first lever portion and the second lever portion remained snap fit together during ejection of the removable module.

19. The equipment of claim 18, further comprising a pivot pin to which the first and second lever portions are both independently pivotally mounted, wherein when the first lever portion is separated from the second lever portion the first lever portion pivots about the pivot pin but the second lever portion does not.

20. The equipment of claim 18, further comprising an internal carriage upon which the ejection lever pulls when the ejection lever is pulled by the user, the carriage being adapted to urge the removable module out from the equipment.

21. The equipment of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises a notebook computer docking station.

22. An ejection mechanism for ejecting a removable module from a piece of equipment, the ejection mechanism comprising:

a two-part ejection lever including a first lever portion that is snap fit to a second lever portion, wherein the first lever portion can separate from the second portion when a user pulls on the ejection lever in an attempt to eject the removable module when the module has been locked within the equipment, wherein the first lever portion and the second lever portion pivot about a single axis when the module is unlocked with respect to the equipment.