GB2330447A

GB2330447A - A computer drive cage with a latching mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2330447A
Application number: GB9821328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dan Kikinis; Steven M Mroz
Original assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-16
Filing date: 1998-10-02
Publication date: 1999-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-02
Also published as: CN2373822Y; GB2330447B; GB9821328D0; TW502813U

Abstract

An arrangement for fastening a drive cage (30) to the computer case (10) includes a cavity formed within the computer case (10) for receiving therein the drive cage (30) wherein the cubic type drive cage is composed of four plates (32,34,36,38) in both vertical and right-to-left directions. The cavity is generally defined by a pair of opposing walls (22,20) having two pairs of guide rails (24, 26) for cooperation with the corresponding projection bars (40) on the drive cage (30) for guiding the installation of the drive cage (30) into the computer case (10) and confining the drive cage (30) in the cavity in both front-to-end and right-to-left directions. A rotatable lever (50) is attached to the top plate (32) of the drive cage (30), and the opposing ends (56) of the lever (50) are adapted to be rotatably latchably moved and engaged within a pair of corresponding locking slots (28) respectively formed in the opposing walls (22,20) of the computer case (10) after the drive cage (30) has been positioned in its final positions as to prevent the vertical movement of the drive cage (30) with regard to the computer case (10).

Description

STRUCTURE OF DRIVE CAGE AND COMPUTER CASE The invention relates to the drive cage and the corresponding computer case, and particularly to the structures thereof for reliably assembling the drive cage and the computer case together.

As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,112,119, 5.164,886 and 5,447,367, most of the drive cages used within the computer case generally each is installed and fastened by some resilient hook latching devices and/or restrained by the front panel which covers the front portion of the drive cage. Anyhow, this assembling way sometimes may not be implemented as well as being expected to be so convenient or reliable for the semi-finished product or the final product.

Therefore, and object of the invention is to provide a new arrangement of the drive cage and the corresponding computer case so that the drive cage can be easily and reliably fastened to the computer case.

According to an aspect of the invention, and arrangement for fastening a drive cage to the computer case includes a cavity formed within the computer case for receiving therein the drive cage wherein the cubic type drive cage is composed of four plates in both vertical and right-to-left directions. The cavity is generally defined by a pair of opposing walls having two pairs of guide rails for cooperation with the corresponding projection bars on the drive cage for guiding the installation of the drive cage into the computer case and confining the drive cage in the cavity in both front-to-end and right-to-left directions. A rotatable lever is attached to the top plate of the drive cage, and two opposing end of the lever are adapted to be rotatably latchably moved and engaged within a pair of corresponding locking slots respectively formed in the opposing walls of the computer case after the drive cage has been positioned in its final position, so as to prevent the vertical movement of the drive cage with regard to the computer case.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a presently embodiment of a computer case with a corresponding drive cage adapted to be installed therein, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the computer case with the drive cage therein to show how the lever can lock the drive cage in position with regard to the computer case after the drive cage has been loaded in its final vertical/horizontal position.

References will now be in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention. While the present invention has been described in with reference to the specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

It will be noted here that for a better understanding, most of like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures in the embodiments. It is also noted that to simplify the view for easy understanding and not confusion, some related parts which are not the claimed features of the subject matter are not shown thereof. Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein a computer case 10 includes a base 12, a front wall 14, a rear wall 16, a left side wall 18 and a right side wall 20. The case 10 further includes a partition wall 22 extending parallel to the right side walls 20 with a pair of first guide rails 24 form thereon to face another corresponding pair of guide rails 26 formed on the inner surface of the right side wall 20. A pair of opposing horizontal locking slots 28 are respectively formed on the top portions of the partition wall 22 and the right side wall 20.

A cubic type drive cage 30 includes a top plate 32, a bottom plated 34, a left side plated 36 and a right side plated 38. Each plate 32, 34, 36, 38, includes a plurality of outward projecting bars 40 in two lines wherein the dimension defined by each pair of corresponding projecting bars 40 of two lines on the same plate 32 (34, 36, 38) is generally equal to the distance between the corresponding pair of guide rails 24 (26) on the facing wall 22 (20).

A rotatable lever 50 is pivotally positioned on the top plate 32.

Correspondingly, the top plate 32 includes a pivotal hole 42 in the center, a pair of stopper tags 44 by two sides of a center line of such top plate 32, and a pair of embossments 46 along such center line.

To comply with the pivotal hole 42 and the embossments 46 on the top plate 32, the lever 50 includes a center hole 52 in alignment with the pivotal hole 42, and a pair of retention holes 54 by two sides for engagement within the embossments 46 when the lever 50 is in a locking position. The lever 50 further includes a pair of upward side walls 58 for easy manual rotation operation.

When assembled, the drive cage 30 can be loaded into the cavity defined between the partition a wall 22 and the right side wall 20 from the two-line projecting bars 40 on the left side plate 36 and right side plate 38 engaged within the spaced defined between the corresponding guide rails 24 on the partition wall 22 and the right side wall 20, respectively, until the bottom plate 34 is seated on the base 12 of the computer case 10. Under this situation, the drive cage 30 can be confined in both front-to-end directions, by means of engagement between the projecting bars 40 and the corresponding guide rails 24 (26), and right-to-left directions, by means of confrontation of the side plates 36, 38 and the walls 22, 20. Afterwards, the lever 50 is rotated counterclockwise from the open position (shown by dashed lines) to the final locking position wherein distal opposite ends 56 are respectively received within the corresponding locking Simultaneously, the lever 50 abuts against the stopper tags 44 and is retained in position by means that the embossments 46 of the top plate 32 are retainably received within the corresponding retention holes 54 of the lever 50. Thus, the drive cage 30 finally can be securely assembled to the computer case 10 in the vertical direction.

Understandably, the engagement between the lever 50 and the corresponding locking slot 28 can also provide the latching function in the front-to-end direction.

When the drive cage 30 is required to be removed from the computer case 10 for repair or replacement, the reverse process is applied thereto.

The embodiment illustrates a desktop type personal computer, and thus the definitions of the parts are compliant with the direction of the desktop type.

Anyhow, the invention also can be applied to the tower type computer. Under such situation, the right side wall 20 will be the top wall, and other walls will also be named as different walls according to their structural relation in the tower type computer. It can be understood that correspondingly, the drive cage of the tower type computer has to rotate with 90 degrees along the frontto-end direction to have the original top plate 32 confront the original right side wall 20, thus assuring the drives can be installed and used in a horizontal type when the computer case 10 is applied in the tower type manner.

Accordingly, the lever 50 should be alternately attached to the original left side plate 36 so as to be adapted to be engaged within the corresponding slots 28 in the partition wall 22 and the original right side wall 20. This is the reason why in the invention, the left side plate 36 of the drive cage 30 also, similar to the top plate 32, forms a pivotal hole 32, two stopper tags 44 and two embossments 46 thereon. In other words, the invention [provides and arrangement of not only easy and reliably assembling the drive cage and the computer case together, but also a universal structure for application to both the desktop and the tower type computer.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Therefore, people of ordinary skill in this field are to understand that all such equivalent structures are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A structure for combining a computer case and a drive cage, comprising: a pair of walls provided on the computer case defining a cavity to receive said drive cage therein; said drive cage including at least a pair of opposing spaced plates adapted to confront said pair of walls, respectively; said drive cage further including a lever adapted to be rotated from a first open position to a second locking position for latchable engagement with means on the pair of wall so as to prevent the drive cage form moving in a direction of an axis along which the lever is rotated.
2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive cage further includes a third plate between said pair of spaced plates and the lever is mounted thereon.
3. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said third plate further includes a pair of stopper tags and a pair of retention embossments for retaining the lever in a locking position.
4. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said pair of wall include one wall constituting an external portion of the computer case, and the other wall positioned in an interior of the computer case.
5. A method for securely assembling a drive cage to a computer case, the steps comprising: providing said computer case with at least a pair of opposing walls defining a cavity there between; providing said drive cage with at least a pair of opposing plates defining a dimension compliant with that of the cavity; providing pivotal fastening means on the drive cage; loading the drive cage to the computer case by slidable movement of the drive cage along the opposing walls of the computer case; and rotatably actuating fastening means of the drive cage from a first opening position to a final locking position.
6. A drive cage for use with a computer case comprising: at least a pair of opposing parallel spaced first and second plates; a third plate positioned between said first and second plates in a perpendicular direction; and a pivotal lever attached unto either the third plate or one of said first and second plates.
7. The drive cage as defined in claim 6, wherein pair of stopper tags are formed on the third plate or said one of the first and second plates.
8. The drive cage as defined in claim 6, wherein a pair of projecting embossments are formed on the third plate or said one of the first and second plates.
9. The drive cage as defined in claim 6, wherein a pair of retention holes are fonned in the lever.
10. A universal type drive cage for use with either a desktop computer or a tower type computer, comprising: a pair of opposing parallel spaced first and second plates; third plate positioned between said first and second plates in a perpendicular direction; means formed on either the third plate or one of said first and second plates for adoption of a lever thereon.
11. The universal type drive cage as defined in claim 10, wherein said means includes a pivotal hole, a pair of stopper tags and a pair of projecting embossments.