HARD DISK DRIVE TRAY

Technical Field

[1] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.

20-2008-0002754, filed on February 29, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[2] The present device relates to a hard disk drive tray, and more particularly, to a hard disk drive tray that is coupled with a hard disk drive and facilitates installation of the hard disk drive in a computer case. Background Art

[3] Hard disk drives that store a high capacity of data are one of the components constituting computers. In general, a hard disk, capable of storing up to several tens of GB, is installed in a hard disk drive currently selling on the market. Such hard disk drive is installed inside a computer case. Conventionally, there are two types of hard disk drives: one is formed inside the computer case as one body and the other one is separately formed and installed inside the computer case. In order to install the separate hard disk drive inside the computer case, conventionally, the hard disk drive is located in a desired location of a bracket fixed in the computer case, and then a fastening means, such as a screw, is screwed into the bracket and its corresponding hole formed in the hard disk drive.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] However, such conventional method has a problem in that many screws need to be tightened or loosened when the hard disk drive is fixed or separated to or from the bracket when it is necessary to change or repair the hard disk drive.

[5] Further, as computers recently have better performances than in the past, various graphics, game programs , etc., have been developed, thus some users need to use two or more hard disk drives. Accordingly, a process for installing a plurality of hard disk drives to a bracket is becoming more difficult. Technical Solution

[6] The present device provides a hard disk drive tray that facilitates installation of the hard disk drive in a computer case without using fastening means.

[7] According to an aspect of the present device, there is provided a hard disk drive tray coupled with a hard disk drive to install the hard disk drive in a computer case, the hard disk drive tray including: a first side board comprising at least one first side inserting pin inserted into an inserting hole formed in a side surface of the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive tray is coupled with the hard disk drive; at least one horizontal supporting member extended from a lower end portion of the first side board toward an inner portion of the side board and supporting a bottom surface of the hard disk drive; a second side board spaced apart from the first side board, movable in a direction away from and toward the first side board when the hard disk drive tray is coupled with the hard disk drive, movable to a coupling location close to the other side surface of the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is located on the horizontal supporting member, and comprising at least one second side inserting pin inserted into the inserting hole formed in the other side surface of the hard disk drier; and at least one fixing member fixing the second side board in the coupling location.

[8] The fixing member includes: an inserting slot formed in a side end portion of the horizontal supporting member; an inserting member protruding from a lower side end portion of the second side board towards an inner portion of the second side board and inserted into the inserting slot of the horizontal supporting member; a first protruding portion formed on the inserting member; and a first locking member formed in the inserting slot to lock with the first protruding portion in the coupling location of the second side board.

[9] The first protruding portion may be elastically transformed by an external force applied by a user, released from the first locking member, and movable in a direction in which the second side board is away from the first side board; the inserting member further comprises a second protruding portion; the inserting slot further includes a second locking member; when the second side board is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first side board so that the hard disk drive is located in a separating location, the second protruding portion of the inserting member is locked with the second locking member so that the second side board is not moved further away from the first side board.

[10] The hard disk drive tray further includes a handle unit of which a side end portion and the other side end portion are coupled with an end portion of the horizontal supporting member and a front end portion of the first side board, respectively. Advantageous Effects

[11] According to a hard disk drive tray of the present device, the hard disk drive tray can be easily coupled with a hard disk drive without using fastening means and can install the hard disk drive in a computer case while the hard disk drive tray is coupled with the hard disk drive. Description of Drawings

[12] The above and other features and advantages of the present device will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[13] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hard disk drive tray according to an embodiment of the present device;

[14] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present device;

[15] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating when a second side board of the hard disk drive tray of FIG. 1 is separated from the hard disk drive tray, according to an embodiment of the present device;

[16] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present device;

[17] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate only the second side board of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present device;

[18] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating when only the second side board of FIG. 1 is removed, according to an embodiment of the present device;

[19] FIGS. 8 through 10 are perspective views for explaining a method of coupling a hard disk drive to a hard disk drive tray, according to an embodiment of the present device; and

[20] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a computer case according to an embodiment of the present device. Best Mode

[21] Exemplary embodiments according to the present device will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[22] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hard disk drive tray 1 according to an embodiment of the present device. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present device.

[23] The hard disk drive tray 1, which can be coupled with a hard disk drive 100 and used to install the hard disk drive 100 in a computer case, includes a first side board 10, first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22, a second side board 30, and a fixing member 40.

[24] The first side board 10 is closely coupled with a side surface of the hard disk drive

100 when the hard disk drive tray 1 is coupled with the hard disk drive 100. The first side board 10 includes two side inserting pins 12. Referring to FIG. 8, inserting holes 102 and 104, for coupling respectively with the two side inserting pins 12, and an inserting hole 103 are formed in each side surface of the hard disk drive 100.

[25] The two side inserting pins 12 are inserted into their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in the side surface of the hard disk drive 100. According to the current embodiment, the two side inserting pins 12 protrude toward an inner portion of the first side board 10. [26] The two side inserting pins 12 may each be formed to have an external diameter smaller than that of their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in the side surface of the hard disk drive 100, so as to easily couple to and separate from their respective inserting holes 102 and 104.

[27] The two side inserting pins 12 are each formed as one body with a pin body 13, and each of the two side inserting pins 12 protrude from the pin body 13 toward the inner portion of the first side board 10. The pin body 13 is coupled with a pin coupling hole 14 formed in a tumbler shape having two coupled circular through holes and having different diameters to each other.

[28] Accordingly, after the pin body 13 is located in the bigger hole of the pin coupling hole 14, the pin body 13 is inserted into the smaller hole by applying an external force, thereby fixing the pin body 13. Therefore, a user can easily insert the pin body 13 into the pin coupling hole 14 without using fastening means, such as screws.

[29] The first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 extend in a horizontal direction from a lower end portion of the first side board 10. The first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 according to the current embodiment are separated apart from each other to make the hard disk drive tray 1 light and save material.

[30] The first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 support a bottom surface of the hard disk drive 100 when the hard disk drive 100 is coupled with the hard disk drive tray 1. Side end portions of the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 and the lower end portion of the first side board 10 are formed as one body.

[31] The second side board 30 is disposed to be separated apart from the first side board

10, and is closely coupled with the other side surface of the hard disk drive 100 when the hard disk drive tray 1 is coupled with the hard disk drive 100. The second side board 30 may be moved from its original position in a direction away from the first side board 10 when the hard disk drive tray 1 is coupled with the hard disk drive 100. When the hard disk drive 100 is located on the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 of the hard disk drive tray 1 so as to be coupled with the hard disk drive tray 1, the second side board 30 may be moved to a coupling location close to the other side surface of the hard disk drive 100.

[32] The second side board 30 includes two side inserting pins 32 inserted in their respective inserting holes formed in the other side surface of the hard disk drive 100. Each of the two side inserting pins 32 are formed as one body with a pin body 33, and the side inserting pins 32 are each coupled with a pin coupling hole 34 formed in the second side board 30.

[33] Referring to FIG. 6, the pin coupling hole 34 is formed of a first pin coupling hole 33 having the bigger diameter and a second pin coupling hole 34 having the smaller diameter. A method of coupling the pin body 33 of the side inserting pin 32 with the pin coupling hole 34 is performed in the same manner as the side inserting pins 12 described above.

[34] The second side board 30, including the two side inserting pins 32, may be moved from its original position to be separated apart from the first side board 10 when the hard disk drive tray 1 is coupled with the hard disk drive 100. When the hard disk drive 100 is located on the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22, the second side board 30 may be moved back towards the first side board 10 to its original position, so that the two side inserting pins 32 are respecively inserted into their inserting holes formed in the other side of the hard disk drive 100.

[35] The fixing member 40 fixes the moving second side board 30 in a coupling location.

The coupling location denotes that the side inserting pins 12 and the side inserting pins 32 are inserted into their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in both side surfaces of the hard disk drive 100.

[36] In the current embodiment, the two fixing members 40 each include an inserting slot

42, an inserting member 46, a first protruding portion 47, and a first locking member 43.

[37] The inserting slot 42 is formed in the other side end portions of the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the inserting slot 42 is formed in a flat and deep groove shape.

[38] The inserting member 46 protrudes from a lower side end portion of the second side board 30 towards an inner portion of the second side board 30. Thus, the two inserting members 46 and the second side board 30 are formed as one body, and the two inserting members 46 have the shape illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. Each of the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22 is inserted into its corresponding inserting slot 42.

[39] The first protruding portion 47 is formed on the inserting member 46. The first locking member 43 in which the first protruding portion 47 is locked is formed in the inserting slot 42. Referring to FIG. 2, when the inserting member 46 is sufficiently inserted into the inserting slot 42, the first protruding portion 47 is locked in the first locking member 43. Thus, the hard disk drive 100 is coupled with the hard disk drive tray 1, and this is referred to as a completed coupling state.

[40] Here, when a user presses the first protruding portion 47, the first protruding portion

47 is elastically transformed and moves upward to an empty space of the inserting slot 42 and thus the first protruding portion 47 is released from the first locking member

43. When the user moves the second side board 30 away from the first side board 10, while the user continuously presses the first protruding portion 47, the inserting member 46 is removed from the inserting slot 42. Accordingly, the two side inserting pins 32 of the second side board 30 are removed from their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in the hard disk drive 100.

[41] On the contrary, in order to insert the inserting member 46 into the inserting slot 42, the user may push the second side board 30 towards the first side board 10 so as to be in the completed coupling state. At this time, the first protruding portion 47 is elastically transformed while being inserted into the first locking member 43.

[42] In the current embodiment, the inserting member 46 further includes a second protruding portion 48, and the inserting slot 42 further includes a second locking member 44.

[43] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the horizontal direction, the second protruding portion

48 is formed to be narrower than the first protruding portion 47 and thus closer to the second side board 30 than the first protruding portion 47. The second protruding portion 48 includes an elastic body and a flange portion formed in an end portion of the elastic body.

[44] The second locking member 44 is formed in the inserting slot 42 and formed to be closer to the second side board 30 than the first locking member 43 so as to correspond to the location of the second protruding portion 48 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[45] The first protruding portion 47 is elastically transformed by an external force applied by a user, separated from the first locking member 43, and may be moved in a direction in which second side board 30 is away from the first side board 10.

[46] Here, when the second side board 30 is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first side board 10 so as to be located in a location where a hard disk drive 100 can be removed from the hard disk drive tray 1, the hard disk drive 100 is located as illustrated in FIG. 4. That is, the second protruding portion 48 of the inserting member 46 is locked with the second locking member 44 so that the second side board 30 no further separates from the first side board 10.

[47] The hard disk drive tray 1 according to the current embodiment further includes a handle unit 50.

[48] Referring to FIG. 3, a side end portion of the handle unit 50 is coupled with a front end portion of the first side board 10, and the other side end portion of the handle unit 50 is coupled with an end portion of the second horizontal supporting member 22. When the hard disk drive 100 is coupled with the hard disk drive tray 1, a user grips the handle unit 50 in order to easily and safely move the hard disk drive tray 1. The other end portion of the handle unit 50 is not coupled with the second side board 30 so as not to limit the movement of the second side board 30 with respect to the first side board 10.

[49] In the current embodiment, the first side board 10, the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22, and the handle unit 50 may be formed as one body.

[50] Hereinafter, a method of coupling the hard disk drive 100 with the hard disk drive tray 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 10.

[51] Referring to FIG. 8, the second side board 30 is moved away from the first side board

10. At this time, a user presses the first protruding portion 47 to elastically transform the first protruding portion 47, and moves the second side board 30. When the second side board 30 is moved a predetermined distance away from the first side board 10, the second side board 30 arrives at a separating location. At this time, the second protruding portion 48 is locked with the second locking member 44, so that the movement of the second side board 30 is restricted.

[52] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the hard disk drive 100 that is to be installed in the hard disk drive tray 1 is located on the first and second horizontal supporting members 20 and 22, and then the side inserting pins 12 formed in the first side board 10 are inserted into their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in the side surface of the hard disk drive 100.

[53] When the user presses the second side board 30 and applies such force to the second side board 30, the second side board 30 contacts the other side surface of the hard disk drive 100. At this time, the side inserting pins 32 of the second side board 30 are inserted into their respective inserting holes 102 and 104 formed in the other side surface of the hard disk drive 100. In the state illustrated in FIG. 10, since the second side board 30 is fixed due to the fixing member 40, the user can safely grip the handle unit 50 and move or install the hard disk drive 100 in a computer case.

[54] The hard disk drive tray 1 according to the present device can allow the hard disk drive 100 to be installed in the computer case by a simple operation and to safely and easily move after the hard disk drive 100 is installed in the computer case. Mode for Invention

[55] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a computer case 2, according to another embodiment of the present device.

[56] The computer case 2 includes the hard disk drive tray 1 and a plurality of hard disk drive installation units 70.

[57] The plurality of hard disk drive installation units 70 are stacked in a front portion of the computer case 2 in a vertical direction. The number of the hard disk drive installation units 70 may be decreased or increased as required. The hard disk drive installation units 70 are not formed only in the front portion of the computer case 2 and may be formed in any place inside the computer case 2 depending on the situation. In this case, the hard disk drive tray 1 may be installed when a side surface board of the computer case is removed.

[58] Referring to FIG. 12, in the current embodiment, an electric coupling unit 80, which is connected with an electric connecting unit formed in a rear surface of a hard disk drive 100 coupled with the hard disk drive tray 1 and inserted into the hard disk drive installation unit 70, is formed in a rear surface of the hard disk drive installation unit 70.

[59] That is, when the hard disk drive tray 1 coupled with the hard disk drive 100 is pushed in the hard disk drive installation unit 70 like a drawer, the electric connecting unit formed in the rear surface of the hard disk drive 100 is naturally connected with a connecting terminal such as a socket formed in a type corresponding to the electric coupling unit 80.

[60] FIG. 12 illustrates a rear surface of the electric coupling unit 80. The electric coupling unit 80 includes a plurality of connectors 82 for applying electricity to the hard disk drive 100 and transferring every kind of data.

[61] While the present device has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present device as defined by the following claims.