US5340340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removably supporting a plurality of hot plug-connected hard disk drives
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1993-01-14
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Granted: 1994-08-23
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Expires: 2013-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A series of hard disk drives are secured atop molded plastic support trays slidably and removably received in opposing guide channel member pairs snap-fitted into opposite side walls of a sheet metal cage structure externally used in conjunction with a file server or other computer device. Snap-fitted into rear end portions of the trays are small printed circuit boards that are insertable into hot plug sockets at the rear of the cage. Forwardly projecting guard plates on the rear end of the cage block manual access to the board/socket interface, and the surface mounted grounding leads on the board extend rearwardly beyond its signal leads to enhance grounding safety during disk drive installation and removal. At the front end of each tray is a vertical support plate upon which LED indicating lights are conveniently mounted for the associated disk drive. Each guide channel member has a metal grounding clip portion that is pressed against the adjacent cage wall and is contacted by grounding portions of the disk drive and support tray as they are slid into the housing. To assist in installing and removing each disk drive, its associated support tray is provided at its front corners with pivotable ejection latch members removably and self-lockingly secured thereto using a molded connection structure that eliminates the requirement for attachment screws or rivets.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Hastings
- 👤 Paily T. Varghese
- 👤 Dennis J. Alexander
- 👤 James F. Babb
- 👤 John R. Bradshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:45
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/125; G11B33/126; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/181; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/187; G11B33/127; G11B33/128; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1485; H05K7/1488; H05K7/1489; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
473 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open front end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, and first and second opposite side walls extending between said open front and said rear and wall and having facing surfaces, said plug socket having a spaced series of connectors therein including a grounding connector, a resistored pre-charge connector connectable to a voltage source, a voltage connector connectable to said voltage source, and a plurality of signal connectors; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend towards said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board having a plug portion with a wide surface and a rear edge, said printed circuit board being removably mounted on said rear end portion of said support tray member in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position said plug portion of said printed circuit board is removably received within said plug socket, said plug portion side surface having formed thereon a series of electrically conductive traces mutually spaced apart in a direction parallel to said plug portion rear edge and including: a grounding trace engageable with said grounding connector and having a rear end, a pre-charge trace engageable with said pre-charge connector and having a rear end forwardly offset from said rear end of said grounding trace, a voltage trace engageable with said voltage connector and connector to said pre-charge trace, said voltage trace having a rear end forwardly offset from said rear end of said pre-charge trace, and a plurality of signal traces engageable with said signal connectors, said signal traces having rear ends forwardly offset from said rear end of said voltage trace; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; and means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
473 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open front end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, and first and second opposite side walls extending between said open front and said rear and wall and having facing surfaces, said plug socket having a spaced series of connectors therein including a grounding connector, a resistored pre-charge connector connectable to a voltage source, a voltage connector connectable to said voltage source, and a plurality of signal connectors; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend towards said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board having a plug portion with a wide surface and a rear edge, said printed circuit board being removably mounted on said rear end portion of said support tray member in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position said plug portion of said printed circuit board is removably received within said plug socket, said plug portion side surface having formed thereon a series of electrically conductive traces mutually spaced apart in a direction parallel to said plug portion rear edge and including: a grounding trace engageable with said grounding connector and having a rear end, a pre-charge trace engageable with said pre-charge connector and having a rear end forwardly offset from said rear end of said grounding trace, a voltage trace engageable with said voltage connector and connector to said pre-charge trace, said voltage trace having a rear end forwardly offset from said rear end of said pre-charge trace, and a plurality of signal traces engageable with said signal connectors, said signal traces having rear ends forwardly offset from said rear end of said voltage trace; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; and means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said rear end of said grounding trace is positioned generally at said rear edge of said printed circuit board plug portion, and said apparatus further comprises a series of anti-friction pads formed on said side surface of said printed circuit board plug portion in alignment with said pre-charge, voltage and signal traces, said anti-friction pads having rear ends positioned generally at said rear edge of said printed circuit board plug portion and front ends spaced rearwardly apart from the rear ends of said pre-charge, voltage and signal traces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said anti-friction pads are formed from an electrically conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the electrically conductive material of said anti-friction pads is identical to that of said series of electrically conductive traces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said plug socket is a hot plug socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
424 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, first and second opposite side walls extending between said open end and said rear end wall and having facing surfaces, and opposing channel portions formed on said open front end and extending parallel to said opposite side walls; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls of said housing cage structure in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend toward said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite front corners portions, and side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board; means for removably mounting said printed circuit board on said rear end portion of said support tray member for movement therewith in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position a rear portion of the mounted printed circuit board is conductively and removably received within said plug socket; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive; a pair of ejection lever members pivotally mounted on said opposite front corner portions of said support tray member for movement relative thereto between opened and closed positions, said ejection lever members being operative, when pivoted relative to said front corner portions, to engage said cage structure front end channel portions in a manner selectively creating an insertion or withdrawal force on said support tray member; and cooperatively interengageable locking means on said ejection lever members and said support tray member for releasably holding said ejection lever members in said closed position thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
424 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, first and second opposite side walls extending between said open end and said rear end wall and having facing surfaces, and opposing channel portions formed on said open front end and extending parallel to said opposite side walls; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls of said housing cage structure in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend toward said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite front corners portions, and side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board; means for removably mounting said printed circuit board on said rear end portion of said support tray member for movement therewith in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position a rear portion of the mounted printed circuit board is conductively and removably received within said plug socket; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive; a pair of ejection lever members pivotally mounted on said opposite front corner portions of said support tray member for movement relative thereto between opened and closed positions, said ejection lever members being operative, when pivoted relative to said front corner portions, to engage said cage structure front end channel portions in a manner selectively creating an insertion or withdrawal force on said support tray member; and cooperatively interengageable locking means on said ejection lever members and said support tray member for releasably holding said ejection lever members in said closed position thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said cooperatively interengageable locking means are operative in response to movement of said ejection lever members from said opened positions thereof to said closed positions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cooperatively interengageable locking means include: resiliently deflectable locking members carried by said front corner portions of said support tray member and having rearwardly facing first abutment surfaces, and locking projections formed on said ejection lever members and having second abutment surfaces thereon, said locking members and locking projections being relatively configured and positioned in a manner such that as said ejection lever members are pivotally moved to said closed positions thereof said locking projections engage and deflect said locking members; until said second abutment surfaces are positioned rearwardly of said first abutment surfaces and then permit said locking members to return to their original undeflected positions to position said first abutment surfaces in opposing relationships with said second abutment surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said locking members extend toward one another from said front corner portions of said support tray member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said locking members have tapered side surface portions positioned and configured to facilitate the deflection of said locking members by said locking projections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said locking projections have openings therein permitting manual access to said locking members to manually deflect them in a manner permitting said ejection lever members to be pivoted from said closed positions thereof to said opened positions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, when said ejection lever members are in said closed positions thereof, said first and second abutment surfaces, relative to said support tray member, are sloped downwardly and forwardly at relatively small, generally identical angles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said angles are approximately 5 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said plug socket is a hot plug socket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
374 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open front end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, and first and second opposite side walls extending between said open front end and said rear end wall and having facing surfaces; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend toward said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board; means for removably mounting said printed circuit board on said rear end portion of said support tray member for movement therewith in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position a rear portion of the mounted printed circuit board is conductively and removably received within said plug socket; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive; sheet metal grounding clip members carried by said guide channel members and deformingly pressed against said first and second side walls of said housing cage structure; and cooperatively engageable means on said printed circuit board and said grounding clip members for temporarily grounding said printed circuit board as said support tray member is being moved through said cage structure toward and away from said operating position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
374 words
Apparatus for supporting and providing a plug connection for a disk drive, comprising: a housing cage structure having an open front end, a rear end wall having a plug socket thereon, and first and second opposite side walls extending between said open front end and said rear end wall and having facing surfaces; first and second elongated guide channel members having open side portions, interiors, and generally U-shaped cross-sections along their lengths; means for mounting said guide channel members on the facing surfaces of said first and second side walls in a parallel relationship in which said open side portions of the mounted first and second guide channel members face one another and said first and second guide channel members longitudinally extend toward said plug socket in a generally laterally aligned relationship therewith; a support tray member having opposite side edge portions slidably and supportingly receivable in the interiors of said first and second guide channel members in a manner permitting said support tray member to be slid rearwardly along said first and second guide channel members to bring said support tray member to an operating position within said cage structure, said support tray member having a rear end portion and a top side portion disposed forwardly of said rear end portion; a printed circuit board; means for removably mounting said printed circuit board on said rear end portion of said support tray member for movement therewith in a manner such that when said support tray member is rearwardly moved through said cage structure to said operating position a rear portion of the mounted printed circuit board is conductively and removably received within said plug socket; means for removably securing a disk drive to said top side portion of said support tray member for movement therewith; means for electrically coupling said printed circuit board to the disk drive; sheet metal grounding clip members carried by said guide channel members and deformingly pressed against said first and second side walls of said housing cage structure; and cooperatively engageable means on said printed circuit board and said grounding clip members for temporarily grounding said printed circuit board as said support tray member is being moved through said cage structure toward and away from said operating position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: said printed circuit board has opposite edge portions positioned to be moved through the interiors of said first and second guide channels as said support tray member is moved through said housing cage structure, each of said opposite edge portions of said printed circuit board having a side surface portion, and said cooperatively engageable means include an electrically conductive material disposed on said side surface portions of said opposite edge portions of said printed circuit board, openings formed transversely through said first and second guide channels and extending into their interiors, and grounding contact portions of said grounding clip members extending through said openings into the interiors of said first and second guide channel members and positioned to be slidingly and temporarily engaged by said electrically conductive material as said support tray member is moved through said housing cage structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: metal grounding members secured to and projecting outwardly beyond opposite side portions of the mounted disk drive, said metal grounding members being configured and positioned to releasably engage said grounding clip members when said support tray member is rearwardly brought to said operating position thereof within said housing cage structure to thereby continuously ground the disk drive while said printed circuit board is operatively connected to said plug socket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: said plug socket is a hot plug socket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-02-21 | 1998-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-22 | 2002-02-21 | 2002-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-22 | 2006-02-21 | 2006-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |