US20060277858A1

US20060277858A1 - Installing structure for modularized electronic device

Info

Publication number: US20060277858A1
Application number: US11/249,966
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuei-Hua Chen
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2005-06-13
Filing date: 2005-10-12
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: TWM279153U

Abstract

An installing structure for modularized electronic structure is provided, including a first receiving element, a second receiving element, a first buckling element and a second buckling element, wherein the first receiving element and the second buckling element are of the same structure in order to simplify molding structure for the installing structure, and solving problems such as time-consuming disassembling, tool requirement, complicated structure and high cost encountered in the prior art

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an installing structure, in particularly, an installing structure for modularized electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ever-changing developments of technologies in the information electronic industry have brought about a vast variety of products and technologies. Modularized electronic devices required for data accessing, such as Floppy Disk Devices (FDDs), Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Compact Disks (CDs), are one of the applications in the information electronic industry.
Notebook or desktop computers currently on the market can be generally categorized into slim type and full-featured type. The full-featured type is the so-called “All-In-One” model, that is, all the modularized electronic components are incorporated into the main broad, while slim type computers usually have detachable modularized electronic devices, which are not provided on the main board, so the slim type computers are lighter but require installation through installing structures to the main broads when used.
Common types of installing structures for fixing modularized electronic devices are screws or securing frame, such as those shown TW Patent Publication No. 481294, No. 529276 and No. 572559.
For example, screw holes are conventionally made in the installing structure that encloses a modularized electronic device in order for fixing. Thus, tools are needed to unscrew the screws, and the modularized electronic devices are pushed inwards in order to be detached. However, this type of assembling/disassembling process is time-consuming and requires the aid of tools, which can create a lot of inconveniences when in use. For example, a peripheral device (i.e. the modularized electronic device) described in TW Patent Publication No. 572559 adopts this kind of securing structure.
TW Patent Publication No. 481294 discloses a peripheral fixing device for fixing a modularized electronic device to a computer main board. A first and a second screw holes are provided at opposing sides of the modularized electronic device, respectively. The prior art of this patent describes using screws to attach a floppy disc. The peripheral fixing device in this patent includes a supporting component for connecting a computer main board; at least one wedging element having a first wedge block corresponding to a first screw hole provided in the supporting component, such that the first wedging block wedges into the first screw hole; and at least a second wedging element having an elastic second wedging block corresponding to a second screw hole provided in the supporting structure, such that the second wedging block wedges into the second screw hole. The modularized electronic device is wedged in the supporting structure via the elasticity of the second wedging element.
Although the above patent solves the problems of time consumed for assembling/disassembling and the necessity of tools in the case of utilizing screws to fasten the modularized electronic device, this structure is nonetheless complicated and the cost of molding is unfavorably high.
In TW Patent Publication No. 549476, a securing frame for assembling more than one computer driving devices (modularized electronic devices) is disclosed. The securing frame is integrally formed with a single piece of metal, including a base, ears extending outwardly from two sides of the base, such that the securing frame is fastened inside the housing of the computer main board; a side plate bent from the two sides of the base to be integrally and vertically formed; a sheltering plate detachably assembled to the back side of the base to be used in combination with a straddling plate.
Although this prior art is capable of assembling a variety of computer driving devices, i.e. modularized electronic devices, the metal securing frame still requires screws to fasten the modularized electronic devices, thus the previous-discussed problems still exist.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple and effective installing structure for modularized electronic devices that simplifies the structure and reduces the lengthy time consumed for assembling/disassembling, the costs, the necessary tools that would otherwise encountered when screws or securing frames are used for fastening the modularized electronic modules in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of forgoing drawbacks, an objective of the present invention is to provide an installing structure for modularized electronic devices for simplifying molding developing structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an installing structure for modularized electronic devices that reduces the production cost.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an installing structure for modularized electronic devices without the need of extra tools to carry out the disassembling procedure.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an easy and effective installing structure for modularized electronic devices.
In accordance with the above and other objectives, the present invention provides an installing structure for a modularized electronic device, which comprises a first receiving element, a second receiving element, a first buckling element and a second buckling element.
Preferably, the first receiving element and the second receiving element are made of elastic material, each of which comprises a first fastener, a second fastener provided away from the first fastener, a third fastener provided at an opposite side of the first fastener, and an opening provided opposite to the first fastener away from the third fastener. Each of the first buckling element and the second buckling element comprises an elastic buckling part at one end thereof. The elastic buckling part is preferably a hook structure and secured by the first fastener of the first receiving element, the first buckling element at the other end away from its elastic buckling part is secured by the second fastener of the first receiving element, and the elastic buckling part of the second buckling element is secured by the third fastener of the first receiving element, thereby when the second receiving element is counter-clasped to the first receiving element, the opening of the first receiving element and the opening of the second receiving element are located at two sides opposite to each other, and the second buckling element at the other end away from its elastic buckling part is secured by the second fastener of the second receiving element.
The first fastener and the third fastener are structures vertically bent inwards from two sides of the respective first and second receiving element. The second fastener is an L-shaped structure vertically bent upwards from the bottom of the respective first and second receiving element. One side of the opening is a structure selected from the group consisting of a saw-tooth structure, a stepping structure, a rippling structure and a concave-convex structure. In one preferred embodiment, each of the first receiving element and the second receiving element further comprises a plurality of first joining parts, a plurality of second joining parts correspondingly provided to the first joining parts, a stopper provided at one side thereof, two third joining parts vertically bent upwards from respective side thereof. The first joining parts and second joining parts are corresponding concave-convex structures, and the stoppers are structures with corresponding concave and convex portions. Each of the first buckling element and the second buckling element further comprises a fourth joining part correspondingly engaging the respective third joining part. The fourth joining parts are concave structures for engaging the third joining parts and secured by the third joining parts.
Compared to the prior art, the installing structure for the modularized electronic devices of the present invention is designed with counter-clasping components with the same structure, eliminating the complicated structure of the prior art and simplifying the molding structure. Moreover, the present invention eliminates the need for extra tools and reduces the time consumed in assembling/disassembling screws or securing frames. Thus, the present invention provides an effective and simple installing structure that enables quick and easy assembling/disassembling of the modularized electronic devices, simplifies molding developing structure and reduces production cost.
The present invention will be described below with examples of detailed embodiments. Other advantages and effects of the present invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art via the disclosure of the present specification. The present invention can be practiced by other embodiments, and the various modifications and variations made to details of the present invention should therefore be within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows an exploding diagram of the installing structure for modularized electronic devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A to 2F show schematic diagrams of the first receiving element/second receiving element, wherein FIG. 2A shows the top view of the first receiving element/second receiving element, FIG. 2B show a front view of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2C shows a rear view of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2D shows a left side view of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2E shows a right side view of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2F shows a 3-D view of FIG. 2A;
FIGS. 3A and 3B show schematic diagrams of the first buckling element/second buckling element, wherein FIG. 3A shows a top view of the first buckling element/second buckling element and FIG. 3B shows a side view of FIG. 3A;
FIGS. 4A and 4B show assembling schematic diagrams for securing the modularized electronic device to the installing structure; and
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a status where the modularized electronic device is secured to the installing structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The various aspects of the present invention will now be described in detail, but they should not be construed as to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
It should be noted that the installing structure for modularized electronic devices of the present invention is applicable to any modularized electronic devices, such as FDDs, HDDs, and CDs that require data accessing. Since the structures and operating principles of these electronic devices are conventional except for the installing structure, only the structures directly related to the present invention are shown in the figures while the rest are omitted for conciseness and clarity of the descriptions.
FIGS. 1 to 5 are various aspects of the installing structure for modularized electronic devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an installing structure for modularized electronic devices of this embodiment comprises a first receiving element 1, a second receiving element 3, a first buckling element 5 and a second buckling element 7. A modularized electronic device 10 can be installed to a computer main board casing (not shown) by the installing structure. The first and second receiving elements 1 and 3 and the first and second buckling element 5 and 7 are respectively the same structures. However, The first and second receiving elements 1 and 3 and the first and second buckling element 5 and 7 and detailed structures thereof are respectively designated with different reference symbols to aid understanding of the descriptions and to accentuate the features of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F, the first receiving element 1 and the second receiving element 3 respectively has a first fastener 11, 31, a second fastener 13, 33 provided away from the first fastener 11, 31, a third fastener 15, 35 provided at the opposite side of the first fastener 11, 31, and an opening 17, 37 provided opposite to the first fastener 11, 31 and away from the third fastener 15, 35. The first receiving element 1 and the second receiving element 3 are selectively made from elastic material, such as plastic, but not limited to plastic only. The first fasteners 11, 31 and the third fasteners 15, 35 at the opposite side thereof can be of the same structure, for example, a structure that vertically bent inwards from two sides, but not limited to this. The second fasteners 13, 33 are L-shaped structures that are vertically bent upwards from the first receiving element 1 and the second receiving element 3, respectively. The openings 17, 37 can be saw-tooth, stepping, rippling, or other convex-concave structures. As shown in FIG. 2F, each of the first receiving element 1 and the third receiving element 3 may further comprise a plurality of first joining parts 12, 32, a plurality of second joining parts 14, 34 provided correspond to the first joining parts 12, 32, a stopper 16, 36 provided at a side of the first and second receiving elements 1, 3 between the first joining parts 12, 32 and the second joining parts 14, 34, and two third joining parts 18, 38 bent upwards from two sides of the first and second receiving elements 1, 3. In this embodiment, the first joining parts 12, 32 and the second joining parts 14, 34 are corresponding concave-convex structures, and the stopper 16 and stopper 36 are structures with corresponding concave and convex portions. However, in other embodiments, the first joining parts 12, 32 and the second joining parts 14, 34 and the stopper 16 and the stopper 36 can be any corresponding structures that allows the first receiving element 1 and the second receiving element 3 to join together correspondingly. For example, the first joining parts 12, 32 and the second joining parts 14, 34 can take the forms of wedging blocks and openings, respectively; the stopper 16 and stopper 36 can take the form of corresponding tenon and groove, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first buckling element 5 and the second buckling element 7 are provided with an elastic buckling part 51, 71 at a side thereof, respectively. Each of the elastic buckling parts 51, 71 can be for example a hook structure for abutting the first buckling element 5 and second buckling element 7, such that the elastic buckling part 51 is secured by the first fastener 11 of the first receiving element 1, the first buckling element 5 at the other side away from the elastic buckling part 51 is secured by the second fastener 13 of the first receiving element 1, and the elastic buckling part 71 of the second buckling element 7 is secured by the third fastener 15 of the first receiving element 1. When the second receiving element 3 counter-clasps to the first receiving element 1, the opening 17 of the first receiving element 1 and the opening 37 of the second receiving element 3 are located at opposite sides from each other, and the second buckling element 7 at the other side away from the elastic buckling part 71 is secured by the second fastener 33 of the second receiving element 3.
In FIG. 3A, the first buckling element 5 and the second buckling element 7 further comprises a fourth joining part 53, 73 correspondingly engaging the third joining part 18, 38, respectively. Although in this embodiment, the fourth joining parts 53, 73 are shown as concave structures for engaging the third joining parts 18, 38, thereby being secured by the third joining parts 18, 38. However, the fourth joining parts 53, 73 are not limited to the ones shown, but can be any suitable structures as long as they can correspondingly engage to the third joining parts 18, 38.
When the modularized electronic device 10 is to be assembled to the installing structure of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first buckling element 5 and the second buckling element 7 can be firstly put in place in one of the first receiving element 1 and the second receiving element 3. In this embodiment, the first buckling element 5 and the second buckling element 7 are incorporated to the first receiving element 1. Meanwhile, the elastic buckling part 51 is secured by the first fastener 11 of the first receiving element 1, and the first buckling element 5 at the other side away from the elastic buckling part 51 is secured by the second fastener 13 of the first receiving element 1, and the elastic buckling part 71 of the second buckling element 7 is secured by the third fastener 15 of the first receiving element 1.
Thereafter, one end of the modularized electronic device 10 is slide between the first fastener 11 and the third fastener 15, as shown in FIG. 4B. The other end of the modularized electronic device 10 is slightly titled upwards, so that after the entire modularized electronic device 10 is inserted, it can be pressed into the first receiving element 1. The stopper 16 in FIG. 4A abuts against the modularized electronic device 10 to prevent it from falling out. Finally, the second receiving element 3 is counter-clasped to the first receiving element 1, thereby completing the installation as shown in FIG. 5.
When one wishes to disassemble the modularized electronic device 10 from the installing structure of the present invention, one simply presses down the openings 17, 37, such that the first fasteners 11, 31 and the elastic buckling parts 51, 71 exert a push force on the modularized electronic device 10 to release it from the installing structure.
It should be noted that the above assembling procedure is only for illustrative purpose, and is not limited to those described. The order of assembling can be changed, which are only easy modifications and/or equivalents of the present invention made by one with ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention is different from the prior art in that the present invention uses a first receiving element 1 and a second receiving element 2 with the same structure, eliminating the need for preparing different molds, thus simplifying molding structure. Additionally, the cost of preparing the same structure is lower, therefore reducing the cost of production. Moreover, the present invention eliminates the need for extra tools and reduces the time consumed in assembling/disassembling screws or securing frames. Thus, the present invention provides an effective and simple installing structure.
In summary, compared to the prior art, the present invention simplifies the molding structure, reduces the production cost, and eliminates lengthy time and extra tools for assembling/disassembling.
The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the various features and effects of the present invention. Other advantages and effects will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art via the detailed description disclosed in this specification. The present invention can be practiced by other embodiments, and should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described details of the present invention, provided they fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. An installing structure for a modularized electronic device, comprising:

a first receiving element and a second receiving element, each comprising a first fastener, a second fastener provided away from the first fastener, a third fastener provided at an opposite side of the first fastener, and an opening provided opposite to the first fastener away from the third fastener; and

a first buckling element and a second buckling element, each comprising an elastic buckling part at one end thereof, wherein the elastic buckling part is secured by the first fastener of the first receiving element, the first buckling element at the other end away from its elastic buckling part is secured by the second fastener of the first receiving element, and the elastic buckling part of the second buckling element is secured by the third fastener of the first receiving element, whereby when the second receiving element is counter-clasped to the first receiving element, the opening of the first receiving element and the opening of the second receiving element are located at two sides opposite to each other, and the second buckling element at the other end away from its elastic buckling part is secured by the second fastener of the second receiving element.

2. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first receiving element and the second receiving element are structures made of elastic material.

3. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastener and the third fastener are structures vertically bent inwards from two sides of the respective first and second receiving element.

4. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fastener is an L-shaped structure vertically bent upwards from the bottom of the respective first and second receiving element.

5. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the opening is a structure selected from the group consisting of a saw-tooth structure, a stepping structure, a rippling structure and a concave-convex structure.

6. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first receiving element and the second receiving element further comprises a plurality of first joining parts, a plurality of second joining parts correspondingly provided to the first joining parts, a stopper provided at one side thereof, two third joining parts vertically bent upwards from respective side thereof.

7. The installing structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first joining parts and second joining parts are corresponding concave-convex structures, and the stoppers are structures with corresponding concave and convex portions.

8. The installing structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the first buckling element and the second buckling element further comprises a fourth joining part correspondingly engaging the respective third joining part.

9. The installing structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fourth joining parts are concave structures.

10. The installing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the elastic buckling parts is a hook structure.