Rack and pinion retaining and release device for removable computer components

A method of mounting a data storage drive having electrical connectors to a computer housing comprising the steps of:

• providing a means for transporting the data storage drive;
• attaching a means for alignment to the means for transporting, wherein the means for alignment includes a floating guide having alignment pins and an aperture adapted to receive the electrical connectors;
• attaching the means for transporting to the data storage drive and mounting the electrical connectors to the floating guide;
• providing a means for mounting the data storage drive to the computer housing, wherein the means for mounting has a rack formed thereon;
• attaching the means for mounting to the computer housing;
• assembling a pinion having a radially projecting lever to the means for transporting;
• and
• assembling the means for transporting to the means for mounting by engaging the pinion to the rack and moving the lever to rotate the pinion, thereby producing relative motion between the means for transporting and the means for mounting, and thereby inserting the alignment pins into locating members disposed in the computer housing, wherein the alignment pins shift the floating guide into aligning and engaging the electrical connectors with receiving members disposed in the computer housing.

A device for mounting a data storage drive having electrical connectors to a computer housing comprising:

• a drive sled attachable to the underside of the data storage drive wherein said drive sled defines a flat, rectangular plate with a vertical leading edge wall;
• a rectangular, floating guide plate having opposite edges that slide along channels disposed on the vertical leading edge wall, wherein the guide plate has an aperture therethrough adapted to receive the electrical connectors, and the guide plate has locating pins extending from either side of the aperture;
• a carrier tray having a channel shape, adapted to slideably receive the drive sled, and having a rack disposed thereon;
• and
• a pinion with a radially-extending lever assembled to an underside of the drive sled, biased in a direction by a torsion spring juxtaposed between the pinion and the drive sled, wherein the drive sled is assembled to the carrier tray by rotating the lever to advance the pinion along the rack which produces substantially linear displacement between the drive sled and the carrier tray and causes the locating pins to engage locating members disposed in the computer housing thus aligning and engaging the electrical connectors with receiving members disposed in the computer housing.

A method of mounting a data storage drive having electrical connectors to a computer housing having mating electrical connectors and a drive receiving means including a rack, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sled means for retaining and transporting the data storage drive, said sled means having a pinion having a radially projecting lever adapted to mate in use with the rack on said drive receiving means;
• providing a means for alignment to the sled means, wherein the means for alignment includes a floating guide having alignment pins and an aperture adapted to receive the electrical connectors of the drive;
• attaching the data storage drive to the sled means and mounting the electrical connectors to the floating guide;
• assembling the sled means to the drive receiving means by engaging the pinion to the rack and moving the lever to rotate the pinion, thereby producing relative motion between the sled means and the drive receiving means, and thereby inserting the alignment pins into locating members disposed in the computer housing, wherein the alignment pins shift the floating guide into aligning and engaging the electrical connectors with receiving members disposed in the computer housing.