TWI841419B - Removable electronic device case and removable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable electronic device case includes a case body, a handle, and a wire type spring. The case body includes a first case wall and a second case wall connected with each other. The handle has a pivot portion, a manipulation portion, and a locking portion. The pivot portion and the first case wall are pivotally connected relative to a pivot axis. The manipulation portion and the locking portion are exposed from the case body. The wire type spring bends and extends parallel to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. The wire type spring is respectively connected with the case body and the handle and has a bending portion which is bent over 90 degrees. A removable electronic device includes the above removable electronic device case and a main board disposed therein. The wire type spring is located between the main board and the first case wall. Therein, rotating the handle can make the bending portion elastically deform, and the elastically deformed bending portion can make the handle rotate in reverse.

Description

Removable electronic device chassis and removable electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device chassis, and in particular to a locking mechanism of a removable electronic device chassis.

In the application of multi-node servers, the entire server system will be equipped with multiple motherboards. To facilitate installation, replacement and other operations, each motherboard will be implemented as a removable server. In addition, in order to facilitate the insertion, removal or fixing of the server, a convenient operation mechanism will be designed. For example, the server chassis can be equipped with a rotatable handle, and the user can rotate the handle to achieve operations such as removal and locking. At the same time, in order to facilitate the use of the handle, the handle can be used with a reset mechanism to automatically rotate the handle. However, these mechanisms may take up too much space. In the case of a limited structural framework of the entire server system, the aforementioned mechanisms may be difficult to fully implement or the mechanism may be unstable, or the structure may interfere with the electronic components (such as the motherboard) in the removable server, such as causing a short circuit due to contact.

In view of the problems in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a removable electronic device chassis, which uses a linear spring that takes up less space and a handle that utilizes a simple hinge structure to achieve the configuration of a rotatable handle and a reset mechanism under limited space conditions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a removable electronic device case includes a case body, a handle and a linear spring. The case body includes a first case wall and a second case wall vertically connected to the first case wall. The handle has a pivot part, an operating part connected to the pivot part, and a locking part connected to the pivot part. The pivot part is pivoted with the first case wall relative to a pivot axis. The operating part and the locking part are exposed from the case body. The linear spring is bent and extended parallel to a plane, and the pivot axis is perpendicular to the plane. The linear spring has two connecting parts and a bending part located between the two connecting parts, and the two connecting parts are respectively connected to the case body and the handle, and the bending part has an angle greater than 90 degrees. When the handle is rotated in a first rotation direction, the handle squeezes the linear spring to elastically deform the bent portion; the elastically deformed bent portion drives the handle to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Thus, the linear spring increases the range of its elastic deformation by using a bent structure, and the handle and the box are hinged by a simple hinge structure, so the removable electronic device chassis can use a smaller space to realize a rotatable handle and a reset mechanism.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a removable electronic device that uses the aforementioned removable electronic device chassis, so that a rotatable handle and a reset mechanism can be configured under limited space conditions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a removable electronic device includes a mainboard and the aforementioned removable electronic device chassis. The mainboard is disposed in the removable electronic device chassis and fixed to the first box wall, and the linear spring is located between the mainboard and the first box wall. The space between the mainboard and the first box wall is generally not used by other components, and the handle and the linear spring use this space to reduce interference with other components in the removable electronic device chassis. In addition, the linear spring uses a curved structural configuration to reduce its occupied area under the mainboard, which is convenient for the avoidance design of the mainboard circuit.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the attached drawings.

1: Removable electronic device

12: Motherboard

14: Removable electronic device chassis

142: Cabinet

142a: Storage space

1422: First box wall

1424: Second box wall

1426: The third box wall

1426a: Keyhole

1428a,1428b: Box wall

1430: Limiting parts

1430a: Limiting hole

1432: Limiting slot

1434: Supporting fixed column

144:Handle

144a: Axis

144b: First rotation direction

144c: Second rotation direction

1442: Joint

1444: Operation Department

1446: Locking part

1448: Limiting column

1450:Fixers

146: Linear spring

1462,1464:Connection

1466,1468,1470: bending part

1472: Straight line

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a removable electronic device according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the extractable electronic device in Figure 1 from another perspective.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the extractable electronic device at circle A in Figure 2.

FIG4 is a top view of the removable electronic device in FIG2 at circle A; the first box wall is partially cut to allow the linear spring to be fully displayed.

Figure 5 is a top view of the handle in Figure 4 when it is rotated to another position.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the removable electronic device in Figure 1 from another viewing angle after the handle is fixed.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. According to an embodiment, a removable electronic device 1 mainly includes a mainboard 12 (in order to simplify the figure, it is represented in the figure as a single flat piece) and a removable electronic device chassis 14. The mainboard 12 (only shown in Figure 2) is arranged in the removable electronic device chassis 14. The removable electronic device chassis 14 includes a box body 142, a handle 144 and a linear spring 146. The box body 142 includes a first box wall 1422, a second box wall 1424, a third box wall 1426 and other box walls 1428a, 1428b, and forms a accommodating space 142a. The first box wall 1422, the second box wall 1424 and the third box wall 1426 are vertically connected to each other. The mainboard 12 is screwed to the first box wall 1422. The handle 144 is pivotally connected to the first box wall 1422. The linear spring 146 is connected to the box body 142 and the handle 144 respectively. If the linear spring 146 is elastically deformed (for example, the user rotates the handle 144 and squeezes the linear spring 146, the restoring force generated can drive the handle 144 to rotate.

In further detail, the handle 144 has a pivot portion 1442, an operating portion 1444 connected to the pivot portion 1442, and a locking portion 1446 connected to the pivot portion 1442. The pivot portion 1442 is pivoted with the first box wall 1422 relative to a pivot axis 144a (shown as a chain in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and as a cross mark in FIG. 4), so that the handle 144 can rotate relative to the pivot axis 144a. In this embodiment, the pivot portion 1442 is close to the corner of the box body 142 (in this embodiment, it is the junction of the first box wall 1422, the second box wall 1424 and the third box wall 1426), so that the operating portion 1444 and the locking portion 1446 can be easily exposed from the box body 142. The operating portion 1444 is exposed from the third box wall 1426 to the box body 142, which is convenient for the user to operate the handle 144 (for example, turning the handle 144 through the operating portion 1444); the locking portion 1446 is exposed from the second box wall 1424 to the box body 142, and can be connected to the locking structure on the external structural frame (not shown in the figure, such as a cabinet). In addition, in practice, the operating portion 1444 can remain exposed from the third box wall 1426, and the locking portion 1446 can be retracted into the box body 142 according to the design of the locking mechanism; but the practice is not limited to this.

The linear spring 146 is bent and extended parallel to a plane. In this embodiment, the first box wall 1422 is in the shape of a flat plate, and the surface of the first box wall 1422 can be regarded as the plane. The pivot 144a is perpendicular to the plane. The linear spring 146 has two connecting parts 1462 and 1464, and is connected to the handle 144 and the box body 142 respectively through the connecting parts 1462 and 1464. In this embodiment, the rotation of the handle 144 and the elastic deformation of the linear spring 146 are parallel to the plane, so the height required for the handle 144 and the linear spring 146 to operate is equivalent to the thickness of the structure (in the direction parallel to the pivot 144a). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the linear spring 146 and the hinge 1442 (of the handle 144) are both located between the main board 12 and the first box wall 1422. The aforementioned actuation characteristics help to reduce the distance between the main board 12 and the first box wall 1422, and can reduce the interference with the structure of the main board 12, and even cause a short circuit on the main board 12. In addition, the linear spring 146 can be formed by bending an elastic wire in practice, but is not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, the connecting parts 1462 and 1464 are located at both ends of the linear spring 146 and are in a ring-shaped structure; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. The handle 144 is provided with a limiting post 1448 on the pivot 1442, and the connecting part 1462 is sleeved on the limiting post 1448. In addition, the first box wall 1422 has a limiting groove 1432, which extends around the pivot 144a and is in an arc-shaped groove. The limiting post 1448 is limitedly slidably disposed in the limiting groove 1432. In addition, in this embodiment, the connecting part 1462 is constrained to be located between the limiting post 1448 and the first box wall 1422, and this structural configuration also helps the linear spring 146 to maintain parallel deformation to the plane. In addition, in this embodiment, a support fixing column 1434 is fixedly arranged on the first box wall 1422 and is used to support and fix the main board 12. In practice, the support fixing column 1434 can be a screw hole column, and the main board 12 can be locked to the support fixing column 1434 through screws. The connecting portion 1464 of the linear spring 146 is sleeved on the support fixing column 1434, and there is no need to set a structure connected to the linear spring 146 on the first box wall 1422; this structural configuration also helps to reduce the structural interference of the main board 12. In addition, the structural constraint of the limit groove 1432 on the limit column 1448 also has the effect of limiting the rotation range of the handle 144.

In this embodiment, the linear spring 146 has at least one bending portion 1466, 1468, 1470, which is located between the connecting portions 1462, 1464 (along the extension path of the wire, or along the central axis of the wire). The angle of the bending portions 1466, 1468 is less than 90 degrees (which can improve space utilization), and the angle of the bending portion 1470 is equal to 90 degrees. Due to the existence of the bending portions 1466, 1468, 1470, the wire length of the linear spring 146 can be increased, thereby increasing the range of its elastic deformation. When the handle 144 is rotated to squeeze the linear spring 146, the bent portions 1466, 1468, and 1470 are elastically deformed, and the restoring force generated can drive the handle 144 to rotate. In this embodiment, the linear spring 146 is generally in a Z shape, and this structural configuration helps to reduce the space occupied by the linear spring 146. In addition, in addition to the two connecting portions 1462 and 1464, the linear spring 146 is located between the second box wall 1424 and the connecting portion 1462 connected to the handle 144, and is also located between the third box wall 1426 and the connecting portion 1464 connected to the box body 142. Therefore, in this embodiment, the handle 144 and the linear spring 146 are both disposed near the corners of the box 142. In the vertical direction (parallel to the pivot 144a), the main board 12 and the handle 144 and the linear spring 146 do not overlap much, which helps to reduce the structural interference of the handle 144 and the linear spring 146 on the main board 12.

In addition, in this embodiment, the box body 142 includes a stopper 1430, which protrudes from the first box wall 1422 in a direction perpendicular to the plane (i.e., parallel to the pivot 144a) and is fixedly arranged. A stopper hole 1430a is formed between the stopper 1430 and the first box wall 1422, and the linear spring 146 extends into the stopper hole 1430a. This structural configuration can prevent the linear spring 146 from deforming upward (i.e., parallel to the pivot 144a and away from the first box wall 1422) when a force is applied. In addition, in this embodiment, the bent portion 1466 is located in the stopper hole 1430a; that is, the stopper 1430 structure constrains the bent portion 1466. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the stopper 1430 is a bridge-shaped structure that spans the bent portion 1466. In practice, this bridge-shaped structure can be formed by directly stamping the first box wall 1422.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In FIG. 4, the handle 144 stops at a position, at which the handle 144 causes the linear spring 146 to be elastically deformed to the minimum (including the situation where the linear spring 146 is not elastically deformed, for example, the elastic deformation is zero), and the handle 144 is logically in an unlocked state. In FIG. 5, the handle 144 is rotated by an external force (for example, the user rotates the handle 144 in a clockwise direction) to another position, at which the handle 144 causes the linear spring 146 to be elastically deformed to the maximum, and the handle 144 is logically in a locked state. At this time, the elastically deformed linear spring 146 can drive the handle 144 to rotate in the opposite direction (i.e., in a counterclockwise direction). In short, when the handle 144 is rotated in a first rotation direction 144b (indicated by an arrow in the figure), the handle 144 squeezes the linear spring 146 to elastically deform the bent portions 1466, 1468, 1470, and the elastically deformed bent portions 1466, 1468, 1470 drive the handle 144 to rotate in a second rotation direction 144c opposite to the first rotation direction 144b.

In addition, in this embodiment, the linear spring 146 also abuts against the second box wall 1424. More specifically, the linear spring 146 has a straight line portion 1472 located between the two connecting portions 1462 and 1464 (also located between the bent portions 1468 and 1470). The linear spring 146 abuts against the second box wall 1424 with the straight line portion 1472; at this time, the straight line portion 1472 abuts against the second box wall 1424 in a substantially linear contact manner. When the handle 144 is rotated in the first rotation direction 144b, the handle 144 compresses the linear spring 146, causing the straight line portion 1472 to be elastically bent and deformed and remain against the second box wall 1424, as shown in FIG. 5; at this time, the straight line portion 1472 is generally against the second box wall 1424 in a point contact manner.

In addition, in this embodiment, a fixing member 1450 (for example, implemented by a screw) is provided on the operating portion 1444 of the handle 144, and the third box wall 1426 has a corresponding lock hole 1426a. As shown in FIG5, the handle 144 is in the locked state, the operating portion 1444 (together with the fixing member 1450) is close to the third box wall 1426, and the fixing member 1450 is aligned with the lock hole 1426a. At this time, the user can rotate the fixing member 1450 to lock it into the lock hole 1426a (as shown in FIG6; the main board 12 is not shown in the figure), so that the handle 144 will not rotate even if it is affected by the restoring force generated by the elastically deformed linear spring 146, and can remain in the locked state.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the extractable electronic device of the present invention can be a server, which can be used for artificial intelligence (AI) computing, edge computing, and can also be used as a 5G server, cloud server or car networking server.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

14: Removable electronic device chassis

142: Cabinet

1422: First box wall

1424: Second box wall

1426: The third box wall

1426a: Keyhole

1430: Limiting parts

1430a: Limiting hole

1432: Limiting slot

1434: Supporting fixed column

144:Handle

144a: Axis

1442: Joint

1444: Operation Department

1446: Locking part

1448: Limiting column

1450:Fixers

146: Linear spring

1462,1464:Connection

1466,1468,1470: bending part

1472: Straight line

Claims (10)

A removable electronic device case comprises: a case body, comprising a first case wall and a second case wall vertically connected to the first case wall; a handle, comprising a hinge, an operating part connected to the hinge, and a locking part connected to the hinge, the hinge and the first case wall are hinged relative to a hinge, the operating part and the locking part are exposed from the case body; and a linear spring, extending parallel to a plane, the hinge being perpendicular to the plane. The plane, the linear spring has two connecting parts and a bending part located between the two connecting parts, the two connecting parts are connected to the box and the handle respectively, and the bending part has an angle less than 90 degrees; wherein, when the handle is rotated in a first rotation direction, the handle squeezes the linear spring to make the bending part elastically deformed, and the elastically deformed bending part drives the handle to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. As described in claim 1, the removable electronic device case, wherein the case body includes a stopper, which protrudes from the first case wall in a direction perpendicular to the plane and is fixedly arranged, the stopper is a bridge-shaped structure and forms a stopper hole between the stopper and the first case wall, and the bending part is located in the stopper hole. As described in claim 1, the linear spring has a straight line portion between the two connecting portions, and the linear spring abuts against the second box wall with the straight line portion. When the handle is rotated in the first rotation direction, the handle squeezes the linear spring so that the straight line portion is elastically bent and deformed and remains against the second box wall. The removable electronic device chassis as described in claim 1, wherein the linear spring is Z-shaped. As described in claim 1, the removable electronic device case has a supporting column for fixing the motherboard, the supporting column is fixedly arranged on the first case wall, and the connecting portion of the linear spring connected to the case is ring-shaped and sleeved on the supporting column. The removable electronic device case as described in claim 1, wherein the first case wall has a limit groove, the handle has a limit column, and the limit column is limitedly slidably disposed in the limit groove. As described in claim 6, the removable electronic device case, wherein the connecting portion where the linear spring is connected to the handle is ring-shaped and is sleeved on the limiting column. As described in claim 1, the removable electronic device case, in which, except for the two connecting parts, the linear spring is entirely located between the second case wall and the connecting part connected to the handle. As described in claim 1, the removable electronic device case includes a third case wall, which is vertically connected to the first case wall and the second case wall respectively, the locking portion is exposed from the second case wall to the case, and the operating portion is exposed from the third case wall to the case. A removable electronic device, comprising: a removable electronic device case as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; and a mainboard, disposed in the removable electronic device case and fixed to the first case wall, the linear spring being located between the mainboard and the first case wall.