US5483419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot-swappable multi-cartridge docking module
Assignee: Pont Peripherals Corp
•
Filing: 1993-11-15
•
Granted: 1996-01-09
•
Expires: 2013-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A docking module for removable disk drives provides, in one embodiment, space for two such disk drives within a standard half-height bay. The docking module provides cammed insertion and removal together with hot swappability of disk drives. The bay is provided within a housing member. A door is rotatably mounted on the housing member and configured to serve as a lever arm. An engagement portion for urging a disk drive into the bay protrudes from the door. A slide is mounted within the housing member and connected to the door such that rotation of the door causes the slide to move forward and back within the housing member. A tab on the inner end of the slide engages the disk drive to urge the disk drive out of the bay. Alternative embodiments provide ten or more disk drives at a density of two drives per half height bay.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Kaczeus, Sr.
- 👤 Thomas McKnight
- 👤 Roy J. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:15
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/12; G11B33/125; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4081; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043; G11B33/121; G11B33/14; G11B33/1446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A docking module for use with removable disk drives, the disk drives each including an electrical connector, the docking module comprising: a housing member having a plurality of slots therein, each slot configured to receive a removable disk drive; a docking module connector mateable with the connector on the removable hard disk drive to electrically connect the removable disk drive to a host; a door rotatably mounted on the housing and configured to serve as a lever arm, the door having an engagement surface projecting therefrom to urge the connector on the disk drive into connection with the docking module connector when the door is closed; and a slide mounted within the housing and connected to the door so that rotation of the door causes at least a portion of the slide to move forward and back within the housing, the slide adapted to engage the disk drive and urge the disk drive out of the docking module and disconnect the docking module connector from the disk drive connector when the door is opened.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A docking module for use with removable disk drives, the disk drives each including an electrical connector, the docking module comprising: a housing member having a plurality of slots therein, each slot configured to receive a removable disk drive; a docking module connector mateable with the connector on the removable hard disk drive to electrically connect the removable disk drive to a host; a door rotatably mounted on the housing and configured to serve as a lever arm, the door having an engagement surface projecting therefrom to urge the connector on the disk drive into connection with the docking module connector when the door is closed; and a slide mounted within the housing and connected to the door so that rotation of the door causes at least a portion of the slide to move forward and back within the housing, the slide adapted to engage the disk drive and urge the disk drive out of the docking module and disconnect the docking module connector from the disk drive connector when the door is opened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The docking module according to claim 1 wherein the housing has two slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The docking module according to claim 1 wherein each slot is capable of receiving internally therein a disk drive having a nominal width of 4 inches, a nominal depth of 5.75 inches and a nominal height of one-half inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
175 words
A docking module for use with at least two removable disk drives, the disk drives each including an electrical connector, the docking module comprising: a housing member having a plurality of slots therein, each slot configured to receive a removable disk drive; a docking module connector mateable with the connector on the removable disk drive to electrically connect the removable disk drive to a host; a door rotatably mounted on the housing and configured to serve as a lever arm; a slide mounted within the housing and connected to the door so that rotation of the door causes at least a portion of the slide to move forward and back within the housing; engagement means projecting from the door for urging the connector on the disk drive into connection with the connector on the docking module when the door is closed; and disengagement means attached to the slide for urging the disk drive out of the docking module to thereby disconnect the docking module connector from the disk drive connector when the door is opened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
A docking module for use with at least two removable disk drives, the disk drives each including an electrical connector, the docking module comprising: a housing member having a plurality of slots therein, each slot configured to receive a removable disk drive; a docking module connector mateable with the connector on the removable disk drive to electrically connect the removable disk drive to a host; a door rotatably mounted on the housing and configured to serve as a lever arm; a slide mounted within the housing and connected to the door so that rotation of the door causes at least a portion of the slide to move forward and back within the housing; engagement means projecting from the door for urging the connector on the disk drive into connection with the connector on the docking module when the door is closed; and disengagement means attached to the slide for urging the disk drive out of the docking module to thereby disconnect the docking module connector from the disk drive connector when the door is opened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2051458A
Cited
EP0161720A2
Cited
US4778401A
Cited
US4954928A
Cited
US4933785A
Cited
US4992899A
Cited
US5041924A
Cited
US5027242A
Cited
US5038239A
Cited
US5025335A
Cited
US5025335B1
Cited
US5025336A
Cited
JPH03150778A
Cited
US5215212A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |