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US6460948B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Drive bracket

Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1999-10-29
•
Granted: 2002-10-08
•
Expires: 2019-10-29
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Abstract

Abstract An EMI-efficient system for mounting internal peripheral devices such as disk or tape drives inside a computer enclosure so that the drives may be removed and replaced easily. A drive bracket guide is mounted to a computer enclosure chassis, a peripheral device is mounted to a drive bracket, and the drive bracket is inserted into an opening of the drive bracket guide. A socket support disposed at the end of the bracket guide opposite the opening fixedly supports a socket in position for receiving a mating socket on the drive. A locking insertion/ejection mechanism is coupled to the bracket and facilitates engagement/disengagement of the two sockets in the rear of the assembly. The bracket guide may be integrally formed on side walls of a drive cage to reduce potential for leaks of electromagnetic energy from the enclosure and to facilitate the creation of numerous bracket guides in a stack arrangement for housing multiple drives.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arlen L. Roesner
  • 👤 David Mayer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:25
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/125; G11B33/127; G11B33/128; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/187; G11B33/14; G11B33/1493; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1417; H05K7/142; H05K9/00; H05K9/0062

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 96 words
A drive bracket comprising: a) a bracket frame; b) left and right outer rails fixed to the bracket frame; c) left and right inner rails fixed to the bracket frame substantially parallel to the outer rails; d) mounting holes in the inner rails that accept mounting screws substantially perpendicular to the inner rails such that the screws will engage side mounting holes in a drive; and e) at least one flange disposed between the left or right inner and outer rails, substantially perpendicular to the rails, the flange including holes for receiving and storing mounting screws.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 96 words
A drive bracket comprising: a) a bracket frame; b) left and right outer rails fixed to the bracket frame; c) left and right inner rails fixed to the bracket frame substantially parallel to the outer rails; d) mounting holes in the inner rails that accept mounting screws substantially perpendicular to the inner rails such that the screws will engage side mounting holes in a drive; and e) at least one flange disposed between the left or right inner and outer rails, substantially perpendicular to the rails, the flange including holes for receiving and storing mounting screws.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The drive bracket of claim 1 , further comprising mounting screws stored in the flange.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 60 words
The drive bracket of claim 1 further comprising: a) a front panel fixed to the bracket frame and extending upward from the bracket frame; and b) an EMI flange for accepting an EMI gasket on the upper edge of the front panel, the flange fixed to the front panel and tilted downward and toward the rear of the bracket frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The drive bracket of claim 3 wherein the EMI flange is fixed to the front panel with a downward tilt angle of between five and ten degrees from horizontal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 112 words
A method of storing drive mounting screws comprising the steps of: a) providing a drive bracket comprising a drive bracket frame, left and right outer rails fixed to the bracket frame, left and right inner rails fixed to the bracket frame substantially parallel to the outer rails, mounting holes in the inner rails that accept mounting screws substantially perpendicular to the inner rails such that the screws will engage side mounting holes in a drive, at least one flange disposed between the left or right inner and outer rails, substantially perpendicular to the rails, the flange including holes for receiving and storing mounting screws; and b) storing mounting screws in the holes.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 112 words
A method of storing drive mounting screws comprising the steps of: a) providing a drive bracket comprising a drive bracket frame, left and right outer rails fixed to the bracket frame, left and right inner rails fixed to the bracket frame substantially parallel to the outer rails, mounting holes in the inner rails that accept mounting screws substantially perpendicular to the inner rails such that the screws will engage side mounting holes in a drive, at least one flange disposed between the left or right inner and outer rails, substantially perpendicular to the rails, the flange including holes for receiving and storing mounting screws; and b) storing mounting screws in the holes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5340340A Cited
US5654873A Cited
US5791753A Cited
US5765933A Cited
US6067225A Cited
US6227631B1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-10-07 2006-04-08 2006-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-10-07 2010-04-08 2010-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-10-07 2014-04-08 2014-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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