Data storage device adaptor with securement mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11570924-B2
Application number	US-202016799757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Feb 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board. The apparatus also includes a first connector coupled to the printed circuit board. The first connector is configured to couple the apparatus to a computing device. The apparatus further includes a second connector coupled to the printed circuit board. The second connector is configured to couple the apparatus to a data storage device. The apparatus further includes a securement mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion. The securement mechanism is movable about the apparatus between a first position and a second position. The first portion is configured to maintain the securement mechanism at the first position. The second portion is configured to secure the data storage device to the apparatus when the securement mechanism is in the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a first connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the first connector couples the apparatus to a computing device;
a second connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the second connector couples the apparatus to a first data storage device; and
a plurality of securement mechanisms disposed at a proximal end of the apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of securement mechanisms is rotatable about a point on the apparatus between a first position and a second position, each of the plurality of securement mechanisms comprising:
a ledge comprising an aperture, wherein the aperture interacts with a component comprising one or more features of the apparatus to maintain a respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms in the first position, the component further comprising a guiding feature which aligns the apparatus when coupled to either the first or the second connector;
wherein the one or more features of the apparatus deforms to insert into at least one of the apertures;
a protrusion interacts with a retention feature of the apparatus; and
an engagement adjusts a respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms into the first position;
wherein the first position prevents each of the plurality of securement mechanisms from moving, and wherein the second position prevents the protrusion from interacting with the retention feature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms further comprises a tab.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms comprises a latch rotatable about the point on the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the point on the apparatus is offset from a center axis of the first data storage device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the third connector is couples the apparatus to a second data storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the protrusion secures the first data storage device to the apparatus when at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the first data storage device and the second data storage device are located on a same side of the printed circuit board;
at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is movable between a third position and a fourth position, and comprises a portion which maintains the at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms at the third position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first data storage device is irremovable from the apparatus when at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the first position; and
the first data storage device is removable from the apparatus when the at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the second position.

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lyons Everett
• Linnen Daniel
• Gillespie Randy

Classifications

• H05K5/0282

  Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard · CPC title

• H05K7/1402 Primary

  for securing or extracting printed circuit boards · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title

• G06F3/0607

  by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device · CPC title

• G06F3/0619

  in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors · CPC title