Computer enclosure with locking member for assembling drive bracket

{
  "publication_number": "US7264320B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Computer enclosure with locking member for assembling drive bracket",
  "abstract": "A computer enclosure comprises a base (10), a drive bracket (300) received in the base and a locking member (100). A stopping portion (372) extends downwardly from a bottom plate (370) of the drive bracket. The locking member comprises a supporting base (110) secured on the base and an operating part (160) pivotally supported by the supporting base. The operating part comprises a hook portion (178), a driving portion (176) and a pressing portion (180). The drive bracket is engaged in the base when the stopping portion is sandwiched by the hook portion and the driving portion. The drive bracket is disengaged when the pressing portion is pressed to drive the hook portion away from the stopping portion and the driving portion pushes the stopping portion.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A computer enclosure comprising: a base comprising a positioning wall and a front panel, an entrance opening defined in the front panel; a drive bracket received in the base, the drive bracket comprising a bottom plate, a stopping portion extended downwardly from the bottom plate; and a locking member comprising a supporting base secured on the base and an operating part pivotally supported by the supporting base, a resilient part connected between the supporting base and the operating part, the operating part comprising a pressing portion, a hook portion and a driving portion; wherein the hook portion and the driving portion sandwich the stopping portion therebetween to fix the drive bracket in the base, and the pressing portion is pressed to disengage the hook portion from the stopping portion while the driving portion constantly contacts the stopping portion to detach the drive bracket from the base.",
    "2. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the supporting base comprises a baseboard, and a first supporting wall and a second supporting wall bent upwardly from adjacent sides of the baseboard, the resilient part is secured on an inner surface of the second supporting wall.",
    "3. The computer enclosure as described in claim 2, wherein a slot is defined in the baseboard between the first supporting wall and the second supporting wall for receiving a bottom end of the operating part.",
    "4. The computer enclosure as described in claim 2, wherein a pivot shaft is extended perpendicularly from the first supporting wall, and a through hole is defined in the operating part corresponding to the pivot shaft.",
    "5. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein a hole is defined in the front panel adjacent the entrance opening for extension of the pressing portion therethrough.",
    "6. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a bottom panel, and the supporting base is secured on the bottom panel.",
    "7. The computer enclosure as described in claim 6, wherein the base further comprises a side panel, the positioning panel comprises a first positioning panel and a second positioning panel, and a positioning groove is defined along the first positioning panel.",
    "8. The computer enclosure as described in claim 7, wherein the bottom plate of the drive bracket comprises a first bottom plate and a second bottom plate parallel with the first bottom plate, and the stopping portion is formed on the second bottom plate.",
    "9. The computer enclosure as described in claim 8, wherein the drive bracket further comprises a connecting plate connecting the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate, and a positioning piece is formed on the connecting plate to receive the positioning groove.",
    "10. A computer enclosure comprising: a base comprising a side panel, a positioning wall and a front panel, an entrance opening defined in the front panel; a drive bracket received in the base via the entrance opening, the drive bracket comprising a bottom plate, a first side plate and a second side plate, a bending piece bent from an end of the drive bracket, a stopping portion extending downwardly from the bottom plate; and a locking member comprising a supporting base secured on the base and an operating part pivotally supported by the supporting base, a hook portion formed on a top of the operating part; wherein the hook portion of the locking member retains the stopping portion of the A drive bracket, and the bending piece of the drive bracket abuts against outside of the base for preventing the drive bracket from moving forward and backward respectively.",
    "11. The computer enclosure as described in claim 10, wherein the operating part is connected to the supporting base via a resilient portion.",
    "12. The computer enclosure as described in claim 11, wherein the supporting base comprises a baseboard, and a first supporting wall and a second supporting wall bent upwardly from adjacent sides of the baseboard, the resilient part is secured on an inner surface of the second supporting wall.",
    "13. The computer enclosure as described in claim 12, wherein a slot is defined in the baseboard between the first supporting wall and the second supporting wall for receiving a bottom end of the operating part.",
    "14. The computer enclosure as described in claim 13, wherein a pivot shaft is extended perpendicularly from the first supporting wall, and a through hole is defined in the operating part corresponding to the pivot shaft.",
    "15. The computer enclosure as described in claim 10, wherein the operating part further comprises a driving portion corresponding to the stopping portion and a pressing portion extending outside the front panel.",
    "16. The computer enclosure as described in claim 10, wherein the bottom plate comprises a first bottom plate and a second bottom plate, the drive bracket further comprises a connecting plate connected between the first bottom plate and the second bottom plate, and the stopping portion is formed on the second bottom plate.",
    "17. The computer enclosure as described in claim 16, wherein the positioning wall comprises a first positioning wall and a second positioning wall, a positioning groove is defined along a first positioning wall, and a positioning piece received in the positioning groove is formed on the connecting plate.",
    "18. A computer enclosure comprising: a base comprising a panel which defines an opening therein; a drive bracket slidably received in the base via the opening, the drive bracket comprising a bottom plate, and a stopping portion extending downwardly from the bottom plate; and a locking member comprising a supporting base arranged on the base, and an operating part pivotally connected to the supporting base, the operating part having a lower end forming a pressing portion extending out of the panel and an abutting portion preventing the lower end from moving forward, and an upper end forming a hook portion and a driving portion sandwiching the stopping portion of the drive bracket therebetween, a resilient member abutting against the lower end for preventing the lower end from moving rearward, thereby holding the drive bracket in the base; wherein when the pressing portion is pressed, the hook portion leaves the stopping portion of the drive bracket, and the driving portion urges the stopping portion so that the drive bracket is moved out of the opening.",
    "19. The computer enclosure as described in claim 18, wherein a slot is defined in the supporting base, the abutting portion of the lower end of the operating part abuts against a front end of the slot.",
    "20. The computer enclosure as described in claim 18, wherein the resilient member is connected between a rear face of the lower end of the operating part and a rear wall of the supporting base."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to a computer enclosure, and more particularly to a computer enclosure having a locking member which readily assembles and disassembles a drive bracket therefrom, together with a pre-disassembly function.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nGenerally speaking, when a computer is assembled, a drive bracket is mounted in a computer enclosure, and then data storage devices are fixed to the drive bracket. The data storage devices comprise various combinations of hard disk drives (HDDs), floppy disk drives (FDDs), and compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drives.\n\nA conventional drive bracket is generally attached to a computer enclosure by bolts or rails. Fixing the drive bracket to the computer enclosure with bolts is unduly laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, the computer enclosure needs extra operating space for carrying out the fixing operation. Since components of a computer are compactly arranged in a computer enclosure, the assembly and disassembly thereof is complicated and low efficient. Moreover, the components may be destroyed by inadvertent operation. Fixing a drive bracket in a computer base using rails is more convenient than using the above-described bolts. However, the rails are generally made of plastic. This leads to extra maintenance because of the plastic rails easily wearing out and resultantly needing replacement.\n\nAnother computer enclosure with drive bracket assembly is disclosed in Taiwan patent application No. 091212339. The drive bracket assembly comprises a drive bracket, an assembly panel, and a positioning device.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/187",
    "F16B 5/065"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 97/00",
    "H05K 7/14",
    "H05K 7/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd",
    "Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Yun-Lung Chen",
    "Xing-Yuan Li"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2004-09-29",
  "publication_date": "2007-09-04",
  "grant_date": "2007-09-04",
  "priority_date": "2004-03-12",
  "application_number": "US-95368404-A",
  "family_id": "34919222",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
  "citations": [
    "US5224024A",
    "US5768099A",
    "US6052277A",
    "US6222725B1",
    "US6147862A",
    "TW537425U"
  ]
}