Hard diskdrive mobile rack

#The present invention relates to a hard diskdrive mobile rack, and more particularly to such a hard diskdrive mobile rack, which has means to eliminate shocks.

#Following fast development information industry and business, people may travel from place to place and use a computer to process data. Because a desk computer is of low mobility and a mobile computer (notebook computer) is expensive, people may use a hard diskdrive mobile rack for carrying data between different working places. Because safety and integrity of the internal data of a hard diskdrive has a great concern with the operation and data processing of the computer mainframe, vibration of the hard diskdrive must be kept eliminated. Conventional hard diskdrives are not equipped with shock absorbing means. A severe vibration may cause the internal data of the diskdrive to be damaged. Recently, there are known hard diskdrives with shock-absorbing means. However, the limited shock absorbing effect of the shock absorbing means cannot well protect these hard diskdrives against severe shocks.

#It is one object of the present invention to provide a hard diskdrive mobile rack, which has means to protect the hard diskdrive against shocks. It is another object of the present invention to provide a hard diskdrive mobile rack, which enhances the grounding of the hard diskdrive to eliminate interference. According to the present invention, the hard diskdrive mobile rack is designed for mounting in the mainframe of a computer to carry a hard diskdrive for storing data, and comprised of a hollow rack, a top cover, and a buffer unit. The rack body comprises an opening through which a hard diskdrive is inserted into the inside of the rack body, a plurality of air vents for dissipation of heat from the loaded hard diskdrive, a plurality of coupling holes, and an electric connector for connection to the mainframe of the computer electrically. The heat-resisting top cover is made of heat-resisting material, and detachably coupled to the rack body by positioning means to close/open the opening of the rack body. The buffer unit supports the loaded hard diskdrive in the rack body and eliminates shocks from the hard diskdrive, comprised of a tray, which holds the loaded hard diskdrive in the rack body, and a plurality of spring elements, which support the tray in the rack body. The tray comprises a plurality of coupling elements, and a plurality of coupling holes respectively coupled to the coupling hole on the rack body by the coupling elements for enabling the tray to be moved up and down in the rack body within a limited range.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the relationship between the hard diskdrive mobile rack and the receiving shell in the mainframe of a computer.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a hard diskdrive mobile rack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of the hard diskdrive mobile rack shown in FIG. 2.

#Referring to FIGS. from 1 through 3, a hard diskdrive mobile rack 10 is provided to hold a hard diskdrive 80, comprised of a casing 20, a top cover 30, and a buffer unit 40.

#As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile rack 10 is inserted into a receiving shell 90 and electrically coupled thereto, which receiving shell 90 is mounted inside a computer mainframe 95 for enabling the computer mainframe 95 to use the hard diskdrive 80 for storing data. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the body 20 comprises an opening 21, a plurality of air vents 22, a plurality of side holes 23, and an electric connector 25. The air vents 22 are disposed on the shell of the peripheral wall of the body 20 through which heat from the hard diskdrive 80 is dissipated into the air outside the body 20. According to this first embodiment, the body 20 has a front side 1201, and a rear side 202. The air vents 22 are formed on the front side 202 of the body 20, and the electric connector 25 is installed in the rear side 202 of the body 20. Further, a fan 60 is mounted inside the body 20, and attached to the air vents 22. When operated, the fan 60 causes outward currents of air to carry heat away from the hard diskdrive 80 to the outside of the body 20 through the air vents 22. After installation in the body 20, the hard diskdrive 80 is electrically connected to the electric connector 25. Further, a handle 70 is provided at the front side 201 of the body 20. According to this embodiment, the handle 70 is pivoted to the front side 201 of the body 20. Through the handle 70, the mobile rack 10 can be conveniently inserted into or pulled out of the shell 90 in the computer mainframe 95 by hand. The pivoting structure between the handle 70 and the body 20 can be achieved by any of a variety of conventional techniques. Taiwan Patent Application Serial No.86200599, which was filed by the present inventor, discloses a related pivoting arrangement.

#The top cover 30 is made of heat-resisting aluminum, detachably positioned on the body 20 by positioning means 33 to close/open the opening 21. The positioning means 33 comprises a plurality of sliding coupling grooves 331, and coupling ribs 332. The sliding coupling grooves 331 are formed on the inside of the body 20 and disposed at two opposite sides of the opening 21. The coupling ribs 332 are respectively raised from two parallel bottom rails 31 at the top cover 30 at an outer side corresponding to the sliding coupling grooves 331 on the body 20. The top cover 30 is slidably inserted into the body 20 to close/open the opening 21. After insertion of the top cover 30 into the body 20, the coupling ribs 332 are respectively engaged into the sliding coupling grooves 331. In order to facilitate dissipation of heat, air vents 32 are formed on the top cover 30.