Media retention device for CD ROM and digital video drives in a portable computer
AssigneeDell USA, L.P.
InventorsReynold Liao, Sean O'Neal, Mark White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable computer includes a media module having a support surface. A drive base is movable relative to the support surface. A spindle includes an automatically actuatable clamp device mounted on the drive base. A triggering device is mounted in the spindle and includes a reciprocating member and a rotating cam member, so that movement of the drive base adjacent the support surface moves the reciprocating member to rotate the cam member and actuate the clamp device.
Claims20
A media retention device comprising:
- a movable drive base;
- a spindle including an automatically actuatable clamp device mounted on the drive base;
- and
- a triggering device movably mounted in the spindle, the triggering device including a bi-directional reciprocating member and a uni-directional rotating member which rotates in one direction, whereby movement of the triggering device in the spindle causes the triggering device to actuate the clamp device to thereby retain or release a media.
A media module comprising:
- a support surface including a ramp thereon;
- a drive base movable relative to the support surface;
- a spindle including an automatically actuatable clamp device mounted on the drive base;
- and
- a triggering device mounted in the spindle and including a bi-directional reciprocating member and a uni-directional rotating member, whereby movement of the drive base adjacent the support surface causes the triggering device to engage the ramp and actuate the clamp device to thereby retain or release a media.
A computer system comprising:
- a chassis;
- a microprocessor in the chassis;
- an input device coupled to provide input to the microprocessor;
- a mass storage coupled to the microprocessor;
- a video controller coupled to the microprocessor;
- a memory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by the microprocessor;
- a support surface in the chassis;
- a drive base movable relative to the support surface;
- a spindle including an automatically actuatable clamp device mounted on the drive base;
- and
- a triggering device movably mounted in the spindle, the triggering device including a bi-directional reciprocating member and a uni-directional rotating member, whereby movement of the triggering device in the spindle causes the triggering device to actuate the clamp device to thereby retain or release a media.
A method for retaining media on a drive spindle comprising the steps of:
- providing a support surface in a media module mounted in a portable computer;
- movably mounting a drive base adjacent to the support surface;
- mounting a spindle including an automatically actuatable clamp device on the drive base;
- resiliently mounting a triggering device including a bi-directional reciprocating member and a uni-directional rotating member in the spindle connected to actuate the clamp device;
- and
- mounting the triggering device in the spindle so that movement of the triggering device in the spindle causes the triggering device to actuate the clamp device thus retaining or releasing the media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.