US20120013233A1

US20120013233A1 - Chassis module without using securing tool

Info

Publication number: US20120013233A1
Application number: US13/164,256
Authority: US
Inventors: Chuan-Feng Chen; Chin-Pang Hsu; Chin-Yueh Liu
Original assignee: Silitek Electronic Guangzhou Co Ltd; Lite On Technology Corp
Current assignee: Lite On Technology Corp
Priority date: 2010-07-15
Filing date: 2011-06-20
Publication date: 2012-01-19
Also published as: CN102339102A; CN102339102B

Abstract

A chassis module includes a chassis unit, a movable retaining unit and a switch unit. The chassis unit has a chassis body, at least one first retaining element on the chassis body and a movable cover separably disposed on the chassis body. The movable retaining unit is disposed on an inner surface of the movable cover, and the movable retaining unit has at least one second retaining element selectively cooperating with the first retaining element. The switch unit is assembled on the chassis body. The switch unit has a control portion exposed from the chassis body and a push portion connected to the control portion for selectively separating the first retaining element and the second retaining element from each other. Therefore, after operating the control portion to lift the movable cover up, a user can install or detach data access devices in/from the chassis body easily.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a chassis module, and more particularly, to a chassis module without using securing tool.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic apparatus, such as a computer or a server usually includes one or more data access devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital video disc (DVD) drives, and floppy disk drives. These devices are typically added to increase the functionality of the electronic apparatus. However, installation of such devices in the electronic apparatus is usually a great hassle due to inconvenient access of the conventional housing/case units.
The installation of a data access device such as a hard disk drive in a computer typically involves using screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket on a chassis of the computer. Usually, these screws are so small that it is difficult to install them. Guiding and mounting the screws into the intended location is not easy and time consuming. Additionally, because of their small size, the screws tend to drop before they are aligned at the intended location. This may cause damages to the circuitry of the computer.
To address the aforementioned problems, a plurality of mounting apparatuses had been invented to reduce the number of needed screws. For example, a pair of detachable rails is attached to opposite sides of a data access device with screws. The data access device is slid into, and secured to, a drive bracket. However, the screws have to be removed to detach the rails from the data access device when replacing the data access device.
In addition, a cover is always disposed on the chassis of the computer for shading the data access devices, and the user needs to use screws to fix the cover on the chassis by a screwdriver. However, when the user wants to detach the data access devices from the chassis, he/she needs to use the screwdriver to detach the screws from the chassis first so as to open the cover. Hence, it is inconvenient for the user to replace the data access device by matching the screwdriver and the small-size screws, and it is easy to lose the small-size screws during assembling or detaching the data access devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular aspect of the instant disclosure is to provide a chassis module without using securing tool in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of matching the screwdriver and the small-size screws to open or close the cover of the chassis.
To achieve the above-mentioned advantages, the instant disclosure provides a chassis module, including: a chassis unit, a movable retaining unit and a switch unit. The chassis unit has a chassis body, at least one first retaining element disposed on the chassis body, a receiving portion formed within the chassis body and a movable cover cooperating with the chassis body to selectively expose or shut the receiving portion. The movable retaining unit is disposed on an inner surface of the movable cover. The movable retaining unit has a retaining structure and an actuating link structure connected to the retaining structure for selectively moving the retaining structure, and the retaining structure has at least one second retaining element selectively cooperating with the at least one first retaining element. The switch unit is assembled on the chassis body, and the switch unit has a control portion exposed from the chassis body and a push portion connected to the control portion for selectively pushing the actuating link structure.
To achieve the above-mentioned advantages, the instant disclosure provides a chassis module, including: a chassis unit, a movable retaining unit and a switch unit. The chassis unit has a chassis body, at least one first retaining element disposed on the chassis body and a movable cover separably disposed on the chassis body. The movable retaining unit is disposed on an inner surface of the movable cover, and the movable retaining unit has at least one second retaining element selectively cooperating with the at least one first retaining element. The switch unit is assembled on the chassis body. The switch unit has a control portion exposed from the chassis body and a push portion connected to the control portion for selectively separating the at least one first retaining element and the at least one second retaining element from each other.
Hence, it is simple and convenient for user to merely operate (such as rotating or moving) the control portion to easily open or lift the movable cover. Therefore, it is convenient for the user to install data access devices in the chassis body or detach the same from the chassis body through the easy way to lift the movable cover as described above.
To further understand the techniques, means and effects the instant disclosure takes for achieving the prescribed objectives, the following detailed descriptions and appended drawings are hereby referred, such that, through which, the purposes, features and aspects of the instant disclosure can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated. However, the appended drawings are provided solely for reference and illustration, without any intention that they be used for limiting the instant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a perspective, exploded, schematic view of the chassis module according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1B shows a perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after lifting up or opening the movable cover) according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1C shows a perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after closing the movable cover) according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2A shows one perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after closing the movable cover) according to the instant disclosure (temporarily omitting the movable cover from FIG. 2A);

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of A part of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C shows an enlarged view of B part of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D shows another perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after closing the movable cover) according to the instant disclosure (temporarily omitting the movable cover from FIG. 2D);

FIG. 3A shows one perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after rotating the control portion of the switch unit to rotate and lift the movable cover by a little angle) according to the instant disclosure (temporarily omitting the movable cover from FIG. 3A);

FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view of A part of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C shows an enlarged view of B part of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D shows another perspective, assembled, schematic view of the chassis module (after rotating the control portion of the switch unit to rotate and lift the movable cover by a little angle) according to the instant disclosure (temporarily omitting the movable cover from FIG. 3D);

FIG. 4A shows a plane, schematic view of the movable retaining unit that is disposed on the inner surface of the movable cover and has not being pushed yet according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 4B shows a plane, schematic view of the movable retaining unit that is disposed on the inner surface of the movable cover and has being pushed yet according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5A shows a partial, schematic view of another type of switch unit of the chassis module (before pushing the actuating link structure through the switch unit) according to the instant disclosure; and

FIG. 5B shows a partial, schematic view of another type of switch unit of the chassis module (after pushing the actuating link structure through the switch unit) according to the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, a perspective exploded schematic view, a perspective assembled schematic view before closing movable cover and a perspective assembled schematic view after closing movable cover according to the instant disclosure are respectively shown. In view thereof, the instant disclosure provides a chassis module without using securing tool, including: a chassis unit 1, a movable retaining unit 2 and a switch unit 3.
The chassis unit 1 has a chassis body 10, at least one first retaining element 11 disposed on the chassis body 10, a receiving portion 12 formed within the chassis body 10 and a movable cover 13 cooperating with the chassis body 10 in a way such as pivoting, sliding etc. to selectively expose the receiving portion 12 (as shown in FIG. 1B) or shut the receiving portion 12 (as shown in FIG. 1C). In this embodiment, four first retaining elements 11 are shown. In addition, the chassis body 10 may be a computer casing for receiving and fixing data access devices (such as optical disk drive, hard disk drive etc.).
In this embodiment of the instant disclosure, the chassis body 10 is exemplified as a computer casing for receiving and fixing data access devices. The chassis body 10 has a bottom wall 100 and a plurality of lateral walls 101 extended upward from an outer peripheral of the bottom wall 100 and disposed around the receiving portion 12. In addition, one side of the movable cover 13 can be pivoted on one side of the chassis body 10, thus the movable cover 13 may be selectively rotated forwardly (shown as W direction of the arrow in FIG. 1B) or backwardly (shown as Z direction of the arrow in FIG. 1B) relative to the side of the chassis body 10. That is, since the side of the movable cover 13 is pivoted on the side of the chassis body 10, the movable cover 13 can be selectively rotated forward to shut the receiving portion 12 (the cover-closing action of the movable cover 13 as shown in FIG. 1C) or rotated backward to expose the receiving portion 12 (the cover-lifting action of the movable cover 13 as shown in FIG. 1B).
The movable retaining unit 2 is disposed on an inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13 (that is, the movable retaining unit 2 is disposed on the bottom surface of the movable cover 13). The movable retaining unit 2 has a retaining structure 20 and an actuating link structure 21 connected to the retaining structure 20 for selectively moving the retaining structure 20, and the retaining structure 20 has at least one second retaining element 200 selectively cooperating with the at least one first retaining element 11. In this embodiment, four second retaining elements 200 are shown. For example, the chassis body 10 has an extension 1010 formed on a top surface of a first lateral wall 101 thereof and extended inwardly (i.e. toward the receiving portion 12). Each first retaining element 11 may be a retaining hole such as a thin through hole penetrating through the extension 1010 of the first lateral wall 101 of the chassis body 10, and a guiding piece 110 (as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), preferably formed from the extension 1010 of the chassis body 10, is received in the respective retaining hole. In addition, each second retaining element 200 may be a hook element selectively retained in or separated from the retaining hole, and the hook element has an unciform shape. Each hook element can be guided by each guiding piece 100 to be smoothly inserted and retained in each retaining hole. However, the above-mentioned definitions for the first retaining elements 11 and the second retaining elements 200 are just examples in the instant disclosure. For example, each first retaining element 11 may be a hook element disposed on the first lateral wall 101 of the chassis body 10, and each second retaining element 200 may be a retaining hole.
A limit groove 131 is formed on an inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13. The retaining structure 20 has a retaining body 201 slidably received in the limit groove 131 and an elastic element 202 connected between the retaining body 201 and the inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13, and the second retaining elements 200 are extended from the retaining body 201 and respectively correspond to the first retaining elements 11. For example, each second retaining element 200 is extended from one side end of the retaining body 201 and approximately vertical to the retaining body 201. In other words, the size of the limit groove 131 is larger than that of the retaining body 201 and a plurality of position-limiting hooks 132 formed above the limit groove 131 of the movable cover 13 can prevent the retaining body 201 from being escaped from the limit groove 131, thus the retaining body 201 can slide leftward and rightward in the limit groove 131 to move the second retaining elements 200.
One end of the actuating link structure 21 is pivotally connected with one section of the retaining body 201, and one section of the actuating link structure 21 is pivoted on the inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13. For example, one end of the actuating link structure 21 is pivotally connected with the central section of the retaining body 201 through one securing element S such as a screw, and the central section of the actuating link structure 21 is pivoted on the inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13 through another securing element S such as a screw. Hence, in such a pivotal way, the actuating link structure 21 can be rotatably disposed on the inner surface 130 of the movable cover 13. Moreover, when the actuating link structure 21 is rotated, it can drive the retaining body 201 to move linearly leftward or rightward in the limit groove 131.
The switch unit 3 (such as rotary switch unit 3) assembled on a second lateral wall 101 of the chassis body 10, and the switch unit 3 has a control portion 30 exposed from the chassis body 10 and a push portion 31 connected to the control portion 30 for selectively pushing the actuating link structure 21 or contacting the actuating link structure 21 merely without pushing.
For example, the chassis unit 1 has at least two through holes 14 penetrating through the second lateral wall 101 of the chassis body 10, the switch unit 3 has a connecting portion 32 connected to the control portion 30 and an elastic element 33 connected between the connecting portion 32 and the chassis body 10, and the push portion 31 and the connecting portion 32 respectively pass through the at least two through holes 14 and accommodated in the receiving portion 12. Furthermore, the chassis body 10 has a front lateral wall F for exposing operation region P having many user operation panels disposed thereon and a rear lateral wall R for exposing terminal region T having many terminals for signal transmission disposed thereon, and the front lateral wall F and the rear lateral wall R are two opposite lateral walls of the chassis body 10, and the first retaining elements 11 are disposed on the front lateral wall F of the chassis body 10, and the switch unit 3 is assembled on the rear lateral wall R of the chassis body 10. Therefore, when the user faces the operation region P to operate the operation panel, he/she will not see the switch unit 3. In other words, because the switch unit 3 is hidden in the back of the chassis body 10, the aspect of the instant disclosure is improved. However, the above-mentioned way for the switch unit 3 to rotate the actuating link structure 21 is merely exemplified and does not limit the instant disclosure. Any type of structures for rotating the actuating link structure 21 may be applied in the instant disclosure.
The chassis unit 1 has at least one first locking hole 15 penetrating through the second lateral wall 101 of the chassis body 10, and the switch unit 3 has a second locking hole 34 penetrating through the control portion 30 and communicated with the first locking hole 15. Hence, when the user uses a hammer head lock or T-type lock (not shown) to sequentially insert it into the second locking hole 34 and the first locking hole 15 and to rotate it by 90 degrees, a head of the hammer head lock is retained in the chassis body 10 to prevent the control portion 30 of the switch unit 3 from being rotated or moved. In other words, the movable cover 13 cannot be lifted arbitrarily due to the usage of the hammer head lock, thus the instant disclosure can provides a burglarproof effect for the user.
Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D, the cooperation of the chassis unit 1, the movable retaining unit 2 and the switch unit 3 during closure of the movable cover 13 is respectively shown and the movable cover 13 is temporarily omitted for the purpose of clear observation. Moreover, FIG. 2A is one perspective, schematic view of the instant disclosure, FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of A part of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of B part of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2D is another perspective, schematic view of the instant disclosure.
When the movable cover 13 and the chassis body 10 are cooperating with each other by such as pivoting, sliding etc. to shut the receiving portion 12, the push portion 31 only contacts an end of the actuating link structure 21 without pushing the actuating link structure 21 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) and the second retaining elements 200 such as hook elements are respectively guidingly inserted and retained in the first retaining elements 11 such as retaining holes (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C).
The instant the second retaining elements 200 are respectively guidingly inserted into the first retaining elements 11, the retaining body 201 slidably received in the limit groove 131 is pushed from a first position (the original position) of the limit groove 131 to a second position within the limit groove 131 in the same direction as that of the topmost arrow shown in FIG. 4B). After the second retaining elements 200 are respectively completely inserted into the first retaining elements 11, the retaining body 201 is pulled back from the second position to the first position (the original position) within the limit groove 131 as shown in FIG. 4A.
Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3D, the cooperation of the chassis unit 1, the movable retaining unit 2 and the switch unit 3 during rotation of the control portion 30 of the switch unit 3 so that the movable cover 13 is rotated by a small angle and is slightly opened is respectively shown and the movable cover 13 is temporarily omitted for the purpose of clear observation. Moreover, FIG. 3A is one perspective, schematic view of the instant disclosure, FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of A part of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of B part of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3D is another perspective, schematic view of the instant disclosure.
When the control portion 30 is rotated by the user, the push portion 31 is driven by the control portion 30 to push the end of the actuating link structure 21 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B), thus the actuating link structure 21 is rotated by a predetermined angle (shown as the rotary arrow in FIG. 4B). When the actuating link structure 21 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the retaining body 201 is pushed by the interlocking of the actuating link structure 21 from the first position (the original position) to the second position within the limit groove 131 in the same direction as that of the topmost arrow shown in FIG. 4B and the second retaining elements 200 such as hook elements are simultaneously separated from the first retaining elements 11 such as retaining holes (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C) respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the instant disclosure provides another switch unit 3′ that may be a push-type switch unit 3′. The main components of the push-type switch unit 3′ are the same as those of the rotary switch unit 3, so that the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. The control portion 30 is pushed by the user toward the direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5B to drive the push portion 31 to push the motion of the actuating link structure 21, and at this time the elastic element 33 is pulled to store elastic energy. When the control portion 30 is released by the user, the control portion 30 is pulled back to the original position (as shown in FIG. 5A) by the stored elastic energy of the elastic element 33.
In conclusion, it is simple and convenient for user to merely operate (such as rotating or moving) the control portion to easily open or lift the movable cover. Therefore, it is convenient for the user to install data access devices in the chassis body or detach the same from the chassis body through the easy way to lift the movable cover as described above.
The above-mentioned descriptions merely represent the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure, without any intention or ability to limit the scope of the instant disclosure which is fully described only within the following claims. Various equivalent changes, alterations or modifications based on the claims of instant disclosure are all, consequently, viewed as being embraced by the scope of the instant disclosure.

Claims

1. A chassis module, comprising:

a chassis unit having a chassis body, at least one first retaining element disposed on the chassis body, a receiving portion formed within the chassis body and a movable cover cooperating with the chassis body to selectively expose or shut the receiving portion;

a movable retaining unit disposed on an inner surface of the movable cover, wherein the movable retaining unit has a retaining structure and an actuating link structure connected to the retaining structure for selectively moving the retaining structure, and the retaining structure has at least one second retaining element selectively cooperating with the at least one first retaining element; and

a switch unit assembled on the chassis body, wherein the switch unit has a control portion exposed from the chassis body and a push portion connected to the control portion for selectively pushing the actuating link structure.

2. The chassis module of claim 1, wherein the chassis body has a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extended upward from an outer peripheral of the bottom wall and disposed around the receiving portion.

3. The chassis module of claim 2, wherein the at least one first retaining element is a retaining hole penetrating through a first lateral wall of the chassis body, and the at least one second retaining element is a hook element selectively retained in or separated from the retaining hole.

4. The chassis module of claim 3, wherein the chassis body has an extension formed on a top surface of the first lateral wall thereof and extended toward the receiving portion, the retaining hole penetrates through the extension, and the chassis body has a guiding piece received in the retaining hole.

5. The chassis module of claim 1, wherein one side of the movable cover is pivoted on one side of the chassis body for selectively rotating the movable cover forward or backward.

6. The chassis module of claim 1, wherein the movable cover has a limit groove formed on an inner surface thereof, the retaining structure has a retaining body slidably received in the limit groove and an elastic element connected between the retaining body and the inner surface of the movable cover, and the at least one second retaining element is extended from the retaining body.

7. The chassis module of claim 6, wherein one end of the actuating link structure is pivotally connected with one section of the retaining body, and one section of the actuating link structure is pivoted on the inner surface of the movable cover.

8. The chassis module of claim 3, wherein the chassis unit has at least two through holes penetrating through a second lateral wall of the chassis body, the switch unit has a connecting portion connected to the control portion and an elastic element connected between the connecting portion and the chassis body, and the push portion and the connecting portion respectively pass through the at least two through holes and accommodated in the receiving portion.

9. The chassis module of claim 1, wherein the chassis body has a front lateral wall for exposing operation region and a rear lateral wall for exposing terminal region, the front lateral wall and the rear lateral wall are two opposite lateral walls of the chassis body, the at least one first retaining element is disposed on the front lateral wall of the chassis body, and the switch unit is assembled on the rear lateral wall of the chassis body.

10. The chassis module of claim 9, wherein the chassis unit has at least one first locking hole penetrating through the rear lateral wall of the chassis body, and the switch unit has a second locking hole penetrating through the control portion and communicated with the at least one first locking hole.

11. A chassis module, comprising:

a chassis unit having a chassis body, at least one first retaining element disposed on the chassis body and a movable cover separably disposed on the chassis body;

a movable retaining unit disposed on an inner surface of the movable cover, wherein the movable retaining unit has at least one second retaining element selectively cooperating with the at least one first retaining element; and

a switch unit assembled on the chassis body, wherein the switch unit has a control portion exposed from the chassis body and a push portion connected to the control portion for selectively separating the at least one first retaining element and the at least one second retaining element from each other.

12. The chassis module of claim 11, wherein the chassis body has a bottom wall and a plurality of lateral walls extended upward from an outer peripheral of the bottom wall and disposed around the receiving portion.

13. The chassis module of claim 12, wherein the chassis unit has a receiving portion formed within the chassis body, the at least one first retaining element is a retaining hole penetrating through a first lateral wall of the chassis body, and the at least one second retaining element is a hook element selectively retained in or separated from the retaining hole.

14. The chassis module of claim 13, wherein the chassis body has an extension formed on a top surface of the first lateral wall thereof and extended toward the receiving portion, the retaining hole penetrates through the extension, and the chassis body has a guiding piece received in the retaining hole.

15. The chassis module of claim 11, wherein one side of the movable cover is pivoted on one side of the chassis body for selectively rotating the movable cover forward or backward.

16. The chassis module of claim 11, wherein the movable cover has a limit groove formed on an inner surface thereof, the movable retaining unit has a retaining structure, the retaining structure has a retaining body slidably received in the limit groove and an elastic element connected between the retaining body and the inner surface of the movable cover, and the at least one second retaining element is extended from the retaining body.

17. The chassis module of claim 16, wherein the movable retaining unit has an actuating link structure connected to the retaining structure for selectively moving the retaining structure, one end of the actuating link structure is pivotally connected with one section of the retaining body, and one section of the actuating link structure is pivoted on the inner surface of the movable cover.

18. The chassis module of claim 13, wherein the chassis unit has at least two through holes penetrating through a second lateral wall of the chassis body, the switch unit has a connecting portion connected to the control portion and an elastic element connected between the connecting portion and the chassis body, and the push portion and the connecting portion respectively pass through the at least two through holes and accommodated in the chassis body.

19. The chassis module of claim 11, wherein the chassis body has a front lateral wall for exposing operation region and a rear lateral wall for exposing terminal region, the front lateral wall and the rear lateral wall are two opposite lateral walls of the chassis body, the at least one first retaining element is disposed on the front lateral wall of the chassis body, and the switch unit is assembled on the rear lateral wall of the chassis body.

20. The chassis module of claim 19, wherein the chassis unit has at least one first locking hole penetrating through the rear lateral wall of the chassis body, and the switch unit has a second locking hole penetrating through the control portion and communicated with the at least one first locking hole.