Self-biasing storage device sled

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9888607-B2
Application number	US-201514871282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A self-biasing storage device sled for mounting a storage device within a chassis is provided. The self-biasing storage device sled includes a bezel, which includes a first portion that is stationary relative to a storage device, a second portion vertically captured within the first portion and configured to slide between unlatching and latching positions, and a spring configured to push the latch outwardly from the bezel. The second portion includes a finger-movable member, a latch, and a horizontal biasing feature adjacent to the latch and configured to move in concert with the latch. When the storage device is installed in the chassis, the horizontal biasing feature exerts force against a first chassis interior side surface and biases the storage device sled against a second chassis interior side surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A self-biasing storage device sled for mounting a storage device within a chassis, comprising:
a bezel forming a front surface of the storage device sled, comprising:
a first portion that is stationary relative to a storage device mounted within the storage device sled;
a second portion vertically captured within the first portion and configured to slide transversely between an unlatching and a latching position, comprising:
a finger-movable member;
a latch, configured to engage a matching opening in a first chassis interior side surface when the storage device sled is installed in the chassis; and
a horizontal biasing feature adjacent to the latch and configured to move in concert with the latch; and

a spring retained between the bezel first and second portions and configured to push the latch outwardly from the bezel,
wherein when the storage device is mounted to the storage device sled and installed in the chassis, the horizontal biasing feature exerts force against the first chassis interior side surface and biases the storage device sled against a second chassis interior side surface, wherein the second chassis interior side surface is on an opposite side of the storage device from the first chassis interior side surface.

2. The self-biasing storage device sled of claim 1 , wherein the latch protrudes outwardly from the first portion of the bezel more than the horizontal biasing feature.

3. The self-biasing storage device sled of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the bezel limits the transverse travel of the second portion, wherein when the second portion is moved to the latching position the latch and the horizontal biasing feature extend outward from the first portion, wherein when the second portion is moved to the unlatching position the latch and the horizontal biasing feature are within the first portion and do not extend outward from the first portion.

4. The self-biasing storage device sled of claim 2 , wherein the finger-movable member, the latch, and the horizontal biasing feature are formed from the same piece of material.

5. The self-biasing storage device sled of claim 2 , wherein the spring is always in compression, wherein the travel limits between the first and second portions prevent over-compression and yield of the spring.

6. A method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled from a chassis, comprising:
moving, by a finger, a finger-movable member of a second portion of a storage device sled bezel horizontally toward the center of a first portion of the storage device sled bezel, wherein the second portion is vertically captured within the first portion and is configured to slide transversely between an unlatching and a latching position, the second portion comprising:
a latch, configured to engage a matching opening in a first chassis interior side surface when the storage device sled is installed in the chassis; and
a horizontal biasing feature adjacent to the latch and configured to move in concert with the latch, the horizontal biasing feature exerting force against the first chassis interior side surface and biasing the storage device sled against a second chassis interior side surface;
unloading, by the second portion, the horizontal biasing feature away from the first interior side surface of the chassis, wherein the horizontal biasing feature does not exert force against chassis interior side surfaces when unloaded;
unlatching, by the second portion, the latch from the matching opening in the first chassis interior side surface; and
pulling the storage device sled from the chassis.

7. The method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled of claim 6 , wherein the latch protrudes outwardly from the bezel more than the horizontal biasing feature.

8. The method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the bezel limits transverse movement of the second portion, wherein when the second portion is moved to the latching position the latch and the horizontal biasing feature extend outward from the first portion, wherein when the second portion is moved to the unlatching position the latch and the horizontal biasing feature are within the first portion and do not extend outward from the first portion.

9. The method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled of claim 7 , wherein the finger-movable member, the latch, and the horizontal biasing feature are formed from the same piece of material.

10. The method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled of claim 7 , wherein the storage device sled comprises a spring coupled between the bezel first and second portions and configured to push the latch outwardly from the bezel.

11. The method for removing a self-biasing storage device sled of claim 8 , wherein the spring is always in compression, wherein the travel limits between the first and second portion prevent over-compression and yield of the spring.

Assignees

• Dot Hill Systems Corp
• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Van Pelt Kevin Lee
• Schroeder Christopher Ellis

Classifications

• H05K7/18

  Construction of rack or frame · CPC title

• H05K7/1489 Primary

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title