Removable module for a console

• US 8,264,834 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reents, Jeffrey M., Hayes, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Zachary M
• Application Number:
  US12/875,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.33, 361/679.37, 361/679.46, 361692-693, 439/248, 369/75.11, 369/77.21, 206/701, 360/97.01
• US Class Current: 361/679.38
• 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 hard disk drive module comprising:

a housing, the housing having a bottom surface and at least one end, the bottom surface having a connector hole;

a biased latch arm extending from the at least one end;

a cable assembly adapted to be connected to a hard disk drive within the housing, the cable assembly including a cable connector, the cable connector projecting through the connector hole and extending beyond the bottom surface, the cable connector configured to mate with the cable receptor; and

a latch slidably mounted to the housing, the latch configured to slidably engage a ramp on the biased latch arm;

whereby displacement of the latch causes the biased latch arm to translate into the housing.

2. The hard disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first end and second end and a top surface.

3. The hard disk drive module of claim 2, further comprising a tongue extending from the first end.

4. The hard disk drive module of claim 2, wherein the biased latch arm extends from the second end.

5. The hard disk drive module of claim 4, further comprising a frame mounted within the housing, wherein the hard disk drive is mounted to and supported by the frame.

6. The hard disk drive module of claim 5, further comprising a midframe mounted to the frame, the midframe configured to support the hard disk drive and the cable assembly.

7. The hard disk drive module of claim 6, wherein the top surface includes at least one vent configured to allow air to enter the housing.

8. The hard disk drive module of claim 1, wherein the cable connector is configured for angular mating with the cable receptor.