Internal computer assembly features and methods

• US 9,563,239 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Anthony Pham, DeForest, Laura M., Goldberg, Michelle, Jayanathan, Stephen Vincent, Fetterman, Kevin Scott, Cuseo, James M., Funamara, Joshua Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US13/608,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67939, 361724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives

Abstract

Examples of computing devices and assemblies for mounting computer components to an enclosure or other structure of the computing device are described. In some examples, the mounting assembly may include a compliant member having a plurality of corner portions configured to engage the corners of the component. The mounting assembly may also include a bracket configured to enclose at least a portion of the compliant member. The mounting bracket may be configured to mount the component at an angle relative to the enclosure or other structure, and may include one or more features adapted for improved cooling of the component mounted therein. The compliant member may include a plurality of ribs or other retaining elements for maintaining the component in a spaced apart position relative to the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting a computer component, comprising:

an elastomeric sleeve having a plurality of corner portions configured to receive corresponding corner portions of the computer component, at least one of the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve comprising a plurality of retaining elements protruding from a surface of the elastomeric sleeve and configured to contact the corresponding corner portion of the computer component received by the at least one of the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve, wherein the retaining elements are located between the at least one of the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve and the computer component; and

a bracket that surrounds the elastomeric sleeve, wherein the bracket is configured to mount the elastomeric sleeve and computer component to a computer housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sleeve comprises a plurality of polymeric materials.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining elements protrude substantially perpendicularly from the surface of the elastomeric sleeve.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of retaining elements has a shape which is different than a shape of another one of the plurality of retaining elements.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve includes rounded exterior surfaces, and wherein receiving surfaces of the bracket are shaped to match the rounded exterior surfaces of the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the corner portions of the elastomeric sleeve are wider than other portions of the elastomeric sleeve.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket has a deformable portion that overlaps the elastomeric sleeve and bends to receive the elastomeric sleeve in the bracket.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket is configured to be mounted at an angle to a surface of the computer housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of mounting portions, at least one of the plurality of mounting portions having a height different than a height of another one of the plurality of mounting portions.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a surface connecting a plurality of corners of the bracket, and wherein the surface is offset from a plane defined by the corners of the bracket.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the surface is curved.

12. A computing device comprising:

an enclosure defining an exterior surface and a curved interior surface of the computing device; and

a mounting assembly disposed within the enclosure and mounted to the curved interior surface of the enclosure, the mounting assembly comprising;

a mounting bracket comprising first, second, third, and fourth support members fastened to the curved interior surface of the enclosure, wherein the first and third support members have different lengths, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a base, a first rail that extends from the first support member to the second support member, a second rail that extends from the third support member to the fourth support member, and an opening in the second rail that routes cables through the bracket;

a compliant member positioned within the bracket that receives a computer component and that rests on the first and second rails, wherein the first and second rails suspend the compliant member over the base of the mounting bracket to provide an air space between the computer component and the base, wherein the computer component comprises top and bottom surfaces and four sidewall surfaces, and wherein the compliant member comprises a first pair of connector strips that extend parallel to two of the sidewall surfaces and a second pair of connector strips that extend parallel to the top and bottom surfaces while leaving two of the sidewall surfaces uncovered;

a first lid attached to the first and second support members such that the computer component is interposed between the first rail and the first lid; and

a second lid attached to the third and fourth support members such that the computer component is interposed between the second rail and the second lid, wherein the first and second lids overlap the two uncovered sidewall surfaces of the computer component.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the mounting bracket is mounted at an angle relative to the curved interior surface.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the computer component is a hard drive.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the compliant member includes a plurality of rib structures that contact the computer component and maintain a gap between the computer component and the first and second pairs of connector strips.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the compliant member comprises an elastomeric sleeve.

17. An assembly for mounting a computer component, the assembly comprising:

a compliant member that wraps around the computer component, wherein the compliant member comprises four corner portions and first and second pairs of opposing side portions that extend between the four corner portions; and

a bracket that engages the compliant member to secure the compliant member to the bracket at each of the four corners, wherein the bracket encloses the first pair of opposing side portions while exposing the second pair of opposing side portions, and wherein the bracket comprises a base defining a curved surface that faces the computer component and provides airflow through a gap between the curved surface and the computer component.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the curved surface increases a velocity of the airflow through the gap.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the airflow cools the computer component.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the curved surface comprises:

a first curved portion;

a second curved portion; and

a substantially flat portion extending between the first and second curved portions.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second curved portions is configured to direct airflow from a fan into the gap.

22. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the compliant member comprises an encapsulated gel configured to absorb heat generated by the computer component.