Supports – Instrument in panel
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-06
2001-11-20
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Instrument in panel
C248S027300, C248S201000, C361S605000, C312S223300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318679
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for incorporating peripheral equipment such as a CD ROM or a disk drive into a computer and, more particularly, to side rails having spring fingers mounted to sides of the peripheral equipment for slidably installing in a cage of the computer having spring tabs on opposite inner sides thereof.
2. The Related Art
Peripheral equipment such as a disk drive or a CD ROM can be installed in a computer chassis in various ways. The most common way is by screw mounting the CD ROM directly to the computer chassis which makes installation and removal thereof time-consuming and laborious. As the computer industry progresses, other apparatuses have been developed which facilitate installation and removal of CD ROMs and disk drives. Such an apparatus, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,262,923, 5,332,306, and 5,510,955, comprises two flat rectangular side rails which are mounted to opposite sides of the CD ROM by screws. Bends or rectangular plates are provided in a bay of the computer chassis where the CD ROM is to be mounted and are adapted for slidably engaging with the side rails. The CD ROM is fully inserted into the bay and secured against movement by screwing the side rails to the chassis by screws, by tightening a screw to abut against the CD ROM itself, or by the side rails snapping the computer chassis.
In the assembly described above, clearance always exists between the CD ROM and the computer chassis resulting in a loose engagement therebetween. Thus, damage to the CD ROM caused by shock can not be resisted by this structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,080 describes a pair of sliding devices mounted to opposite sides of a disk drive and forming a lateral channel and an opening on one end for sliding on wheels mounted onto the walls of the computer chassis. The mounting of the wheels becomes very tedious and complex thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing the chassis. Furthermore, clearance exists between the wheels and the sliding devices resulting in a loose engagement between the disk drive and the computer chassis.
Clearance between the wheels and the sliding devices also prevents the disk drive from properly connecting with the chassis and grounding. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitting through the clearance may be harmful to people which is a very serious defect for precise operation of the computer and should be avoided.
Therefore, an improved apparatus for securely mounting computer peripheral equipment to a computer chassis is required to overcome the above mentioned defects of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide rails comprising spring fingers attached to sides of computer peripheral equipment for securely mounting to a computer chassis.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer chassis comprising spring tabs for slidably mounting and securing sides of computer peripheral equipment thereto.
A further object of the present invention is to provide computer peripheral equipment with proper grounding capabilities and sufficient EMI protection.
To achieve the above objects, an apparatus for mounting computer peripheral equipment, such as disk drives or CD ROMs, in accordance with the present invention comprises a drive cage and rails. The drive cage, a part of a computer chassis, defines several bays for receiving disk drives or CD ROMs therein. The drive cage has side walls forming bends whereby each pair of bends defines a receiving channel in each bay, and spring tabs project into each bay. Two rails each having a leading end and spring fingers are attached to sides of the CD ROM for slidably mounting in the corresponding bay of the drive cage. The leading end of the rail facilitates alignment with the receiving channel. The spring fingers abut against the bend of the channel to prevent clearance from forming between the bend and the rail. When the CD ROM is fully inserted into the bay, the spring tabs are attached to the rail thereby providing good grounding and easy installation capabilities.
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Ting Phillip
Yang Andy K.
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
King Anita
Wood Kimberly
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