JPH04155685A - Locking mechanism for accessory component - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and effectively insert an accessory component to a device by allowing a connecting pawl to protrude from right or left side, or upper or lower surface of the component to the outside when a knob is turned after inserting the component to the device. CONSTITUTION:In order to insert a hard disk drive 20 into the slot 16 of a laptop type personal computer, locking pawls 26a, 26b are retracted from holes 20a, 20b into the body of the drive 20 to be completely inserted, and a knob 24 is turned in a direction of an arrow A. Thus, the pawls 26a, 26b protrude to be engaged with holes 16a, 16b on the side of the slot 16 to be locked. When the drive 20 is removed from the slot 16, the knob 24 is rotated in the direction of an arrow B, the pawls 16a, 16b are retracted, and then removed. With the structure, an operation in the case of inserting and removing can be performed by one hand, the operation is easy, and it is strong against an impact, at the time of transporting, etc., and an effective locking is achieved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to fixing accessory parts such as a hard disk drive or pantry bank inserted into a device such as a portable personal computer so that they do not come off from the device. This invention relates to a locking mechanism for accessory parts.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of equipment have been configured to supplement or improve their functions by inserting various accessory parts into the equipment.

For example, a laptop-knob personal computer is configured to allow insertion and removal of a hard disk drive, battery bank, etc. in order to improve functionality. Hard disk drives are provided to increase the storage capacity of personal computers, and battery packs are provided to allow personal computers to be carried and used anywhere. These accessories need to be fixed so that they do not come off the personal computer.

Fig. 4 is a front view schematically showing an example of a conventional locking mechanism used when a hard disk drive is inserted into a rough knob type personal computer. At this time, the hard disk drive is fixed by placing it over this.

A sliding knob 52 is provided on the lid 50.
The lock pawl 54 is configured to protrude from the right side when the knob 52 is moved to the right in FIG. 4. After inserting the hard disk drive into the main body of the personal computer, cover the lid 50 and move the knob 52 to the right so that the lock claw 54 enters a groove (not shown) provided on the side of the insertion part of the hard disk drive.
This prevents the hard disk drive from being removed inadvertently.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when such a fixing lid is used, it is necessary to insert and hold an accessory such as a hard disk drive with one hand, while operating the knob with the other hand, making it difficult to insert and insert it. There is a problem that the operation is troublesome.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixing lid is usually provided with a locking claw only on one side of the left and right sides, which makes it difficult to securely lock the lid. Furthermore, it is conceivable to provide lock claws on both the left and right sides, but in this case, the problem arises that the operation becomes even more troublesome.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism for accessory parts that allows accessory parts to be easily and reliably inserted into a device.

[Means to solve the problem]

A locking mechanism for an accessory according to the present invention to achieve the above object is a locking mechanism for an accessory that fixes an accessory inserted into a device so that the accessory does not come off from the device, When inserted into the device, a rotatable knob provided on the front surface of the accessory part located on the surface side of the device, one end side supported by the knob, and by rotating the knob, the It is characterized by having a pair of slide members each having an engaging pawl at the other end that protrudes outward from the left and right side surfaces or the top and bottom surfaces of the accessory.

Here, the above-mentioned accessory parts include, for example, a hard disk drive and a battery pack.

[Effect]

In the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the accessory component can be fixed to the device by turning the knob after inserting the accessory component into the device, so that the insertion operation can be easily performed with one hand. Furthermore, since the engaging claws are configured to protrude from both sides (left and right or top and bottom) by turning the knob, a reliable locking mechanism that does not come off even during impact or transportation can be constructed. Furthermore, when releasing this lock, it is only necessary to twist the knob, so that the attachment can be easily removed with one hand.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention is shown below in FIGS. 1 and 2A.

This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2B and 3.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hard disk drive equipped with a locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
Figure B is a schematic front view of a hard disk drive for explaining the operation of the locking mechanism, and Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rough knob type personal computer configured to allow insertion and removal of a hard disk drive equipped with the locking mechanism. .

The lamp-top personal computer shown in FIG. 3 includes a main body part 2, a lid part 4, and a pair of hinge parts 6a and 6b.
The main body part 2 and the lid part 4 are composed of a hinge part 5a,
They are rotatably coupled by 6b. The liquid crystal display 12 also serves as a lid that is placed over the keyboard 10 when the personal computer is not in use. The main body 2 is also provided with a floppy disk drive section 14 into which a floppy disk is loaded and driven, a hard disk drive slot 16 into which a hard disk drive is inserted, and a battery back 18. The unit 2 is equipped with a CPU, an internal memory, and the like. Although this personal computer can be used with commercial power,
It is designed so that you can carry it and use it anywhere by inserting it.

A locking mechanism 22 integrally formed with the hard disk drive 20 is provided on the front side of the hard disk drive 20 shown in FIG. The thickness d of this locking mechanism portion is approximately 41 mm, which is approximately the same thickness as a conventional cover provided at the entrance of a hard disk drive slot for securing the hard disk drive. Therefore, by taking this thickness into account when designing the hard disk drive 20 and the hard disk drive slot 16, it is possible to make both the conventional hard disk drive without such a locking mechanism and the hard disk drive of this embodiment compatible. It becomes possible to insert it into the hard disk drive slot 16.

The locking mechanism 22 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is composed of a rotatable knob 24 and a pair of slide members 26 and 28, one end of which is supported at both ends of the knob 24. Locking mechanism 22 of hard disk drive 20
Holes 20a and 20b are formed on the left and right sides of the portion having the holes 20a and 20b.

By rotating the knob 24, the holes 20a, 2
Lock claws 26a and 28b provided at the other ends of the slide members 26 and 28 can be moved in and out of the main body of the hard disk drive 20 from 0b.

Next, the operation of inserting and removing the hard disk drive having the locking mechanism configured as described above into and from the personal computer will be described.

First, in order to insert the hard disk drive 20 into the hard disk drive slot 16, use the screw claw 26a.
, 28b are retracted into the main body of the hard disk drive 20 from the holes 20a, 20b, and the hard disk drive 20 is inserted into the hard disk drive slot 1.
6 and, at the end of insertion, rotate the knob 24 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2A. As a result, the lock claws 26a and 28b protrude and fit into the holes 16a and 16b provided in either of the hard disk drive slots 16, as shown in FIG. 2B, whereby the hard disk drive 20 is removed from the hard disk drive slot 16. It is locked so that it cannot be removed accidentally.

Next, when removing the hard disk drive 20 from the hard disk drive slot 16, rotate the knob 24 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2B to retract the lock claws 26a and 28b into the main body of the hard disk drive 20, and Pull out the drive 20.

In the locking mechanism of this embodiment, since the locking claw is made to pop out by rotating the knob, the insertion/removal operation can be performed with one hand, making the operation easier. In addition, since the locking claws are configured to protrude from both the left and right sides, strong and reliable locking can be achieved even during impact or transportation.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the locking claws protrude from the left and right sides of the hard disk drive, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the locking claws protrude from the upper and lower sides of the hard disk drive. The locking mechanism may be configured as follows.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case was explained in which a hard disk drive was used as an accessory component incorporating a locking mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the locking mechanism can be incorporated into a pantry pack for a personal computer. Furthermore, it can be widely incorporated into accessories of not only personal computers but also general equipment.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the engaging claws of the pair of slide members can be moved in and out from the left and right sides or the top and bottom surfaces of the accessory by rotating the knob provided on the accessory. A port for accessory parts that can be easily operated with one hand when inserting and removing parts from the device, and is resistant to shocks.

It is possible to provide a mechanism for

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hard disk drive equipped with a locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2B.
The figure is a schematic front view of a hard disk drive for explaining the operation of the four-lock mechanism, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a laptop-type personal computer configured to allow insertion and removal of a hard disk drive equipped with the locking mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing an example of a conventional locking mechanism used when a hard disk drive is inserted into a rough-button type personal computer. 2... Main body part, 4... Lid body part, 5a, 5b, = Hinge part, 10... Keyboard, 1
2...Liquid crystal display, 14...Floppy disk drive unit, 16...
Hard disk drive slot, 16a, 16b=
- Hole, 18... Battery pack, 20... Hard disk drive, 20a, 20b... Hole, 22... Lock mechanism, 24
...Knob, 26.28...Slide member, 26
a, 28 b-9-'Ofu') Nail.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A locking mechanism for accessory parts that fixes the accessory parts inserted into the equipment so that they do not come off from the equipment, the locking mechanism being located on the front side of the equipment when the accessory parts are inserted into the equipment. a rotatable knob provided on the front surface of the accessory; and an engagement claw whose one end side is supported by the knob, and which projects outward from the left and right side surfaces or the top and bottom surfaces of the accessory by rotating the knob. A locking mechanism for an accessory component, comprising: a pair of slide members having a slide member on the other end side. (2) The accessory locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the accessory is a hard disk drive. (3) Claim 1, wherein the accessory part is a battery pack.
Locking mechanism for accessories listed.