Cover mechanism for data storage devices

Abstract

A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed in an electronic device includes a bezel, a cover, an elastic member and a button. The bezel defines an opening for the data storage device passing therethrough. The cover is slidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in a vertical direction. The cover includes a body covering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member. The stressed member includes a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device. The elastic member is connected between the bezel and the cover. The button is mounted to the cover. A trigger portion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protrudes rearward from the button.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “DUSTCOVER DEVICE FOR DATA STORAGE DEVICES” with a Ser. No. 11/022,499 and filed on Dec. 23, 2004, assigned to the same assignee with this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cover mechanisms, and particularly to a cover mechanism which can protect data storage devices from contamination and humidity.

2. Background of the Invention

Data storage devices, such as optical disk drives, are installed in a computer enclosure for communication and processing data. An optical disk drive includes a case and a tray received in the case. The tray can accommodate an optical disk therein, and read data from the optical disk. A front bezel is positioned in front of the optical disk drive. An opening is defined in the front bezel. The tray can be moved into or out of the case through the opening of the front bezel.

For example, a typical personal computer includes an enclosure for protection of internal devices, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, motherboard, and the like. To access the CD-ROM drive, an opening is defined in the enclosure. However, contamination and humidity often harm the personal computer via the opening.

To address aforementioned problem, an enclosure having a protective cover as described in China Patent No. 98220678.X is invented. The enclosure includes a front panel defining an opening, and a cover is pivotably attached to the front panel via pivots for shielding the opening. However, the cover includes a protruding part which always extends out of a front bezel no matter the cover is open or closed so that the cover is prone to be damaged in transportation or in use due to any accidental impact. This contingency usually leads to a short life and an unpleasant appearance of the cover.

What is needed is to provide a cover mechanism protecting data storage devices from any accidental damage.

SUMMARY

An exemplary cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed in an electronic device includes a bezel, a cover, an elastic member and a button. The bezel defines an opening for the data storage device passing therethrough. The cover is slidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in a vertical direction. The cover includes a body covering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member. The stressed member includes a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device. The elastic member is connected between the bezel and the cover. The button is mounted to the cover. A trigger portion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protrudes rearward from the button.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a cover mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, together with a data storage device in a closed state; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, showing the data storage device mounted therein in an open state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover mechanism of an electronic device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for protecting a functional part like a data storage device 50 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) installed in the electronic device from accidental damage. In this preferred embodiment, the data storage device 50 is an optical driver. The cover mechanism includes a bezel 10, a cover 20 attached to the bezel 10, a button 40 mounted to the cover 20, and a pair of elastic members 60 connected between the bezel 10 and the cover 20.

The bezel 10 includes an opening 12 for the data storage device 50 passing therethrough, and a pair of L-shaped slide rails 14 formed from an inner surface of the bezel 10 and at opposite sides of the opening 12. A pair of first suspension rods 16 protrudes from two ends of a top of the bezel 10. A first hooking hole 18 is defined in each first suspension rod 16.

The cover 20 includes a body 22 covering the opening 12 of the bezel 10, a pair of stressed members 28 protruding rearward from two opposite sides of the body 22. A pair of second suspension rods 24 protrudes rearward from the body 22. Each second suspension rod 24 is located between a corresponding edge of the body and the corresponding stressed member 28. A second hooking hole 240 is defined in each second suspension rod 24. Each stressed member 28 includes a horizontal connecting part 282 protruding rearward from a bottom of the body 22, a first guiding surface 286 slanting upwardly and forwardly from a free end of the connecting part 282, and a second guiding surface 284 slanting downwardly and forwardly from a top end of the first guiding surface 286. An end of the second guiding surface 284 is connected to an inner surface of the body 22. A through hole 21 is defined in the body 22. A fixing pole 26 protrudes rearward from the body 22 at an upward side of the through hole 21.

The button 40 includes a securing portion 42 and a trigger portion 44. A fixing hole 46 is defined in an upper part of the securing portion 42, corresponding to the fixing pole 26 of the cover 20. A pushed member 48 (see FIGS. 3 and, 4) protrudes forwardly from a lower part of the securing portion 42, corresponding to the through hole 21 of the cover 20.

Referring also to FIG. 3, in assembling, two sides of the cover 20 are accommodated in the corresponding slide rails 14. One end 62 of each elastic member 60 is engaged in the first hooking hole 18 of the corresponding first suspension rod 16 of the bezel 10. The other end 64 of each elastic member 60 is engaged in the second hooking hole 240 of the corresponding second suspension rod 24 of the cover 20. The button 40 is mounted to the fixing pole 26 via the fixing hole 46. The pushed member 48 is received in the through hole 21. When a tray 51 of the data storage device 50 does not extend out of the bezel 10, the body 22 of the cover 20 covers the opening 12 of the bezel 10. A free end of the trigger portion 44 of the button 40 aligns with a switch 52 of the data storage device 50.

Referring also to FIG. 4, when the tray 51 of the data storage device 50 is needed to extend out of the bezel 10 to load or unload an optical disk, the pushed member 48 is pushed. The trigger portion 44 of the button 40 triggers the switch 52. The tray 51 extends toward the opening 12. The tray 51 moves on the first guiding surface 286 of the stressed member 28 and compels the cover 20 to slide downwardly along the slide rails 14. The elastic members 60 are elastically stretched. After the tray 51 rises above the stressed member 28, the tray 51 can extend out of the bezel 10. The cover 20 moves upwardly via the elastic members 60 and a top of the stressed member 28 props a bottom of the tray 51. The tray 51 is pushed when the tray 51 is needed to retract. The tray 51 moves on the second guiding surface 284 of the stressed member 28 and compels the cover 20 to slide downwardly. After the tray 51 rises above the stressed member 28, the tray 51 can retract to the data storage device 50. The cover 20 moves upwardly along the slide rails 14 via the elastic members 60 to cover the opening 12 of the bezel 10.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed in an electronic device, the cover mechanism comprising:

a bezel defining an opening for the data storage device passing therethrough;

a cover slidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in an vertical direction, the cover comprising a body covering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member, the stressed member comprising a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device;

an elastic member connected between the bezel and the cover; and

a button mounted to the cover, a trigger portion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protruding rearward from the button.

2. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a through hole is defined in a lower portion of the body of the cover, the button comprises a pushed member received in the through hole.

3. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the button further comprises a securing portion, the button is mounted to the cover via the securing portion, the pushed member protrudes from the securing portion.

4. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein a fixing pole protrudes rearward from the cover, a fixing hole is defined in an upper part of the securing portion of the button, corresponding to the fixing pole of the cover.

5. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the trigger portion of the button extends from a bottom end of the securing portion.

6. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of L-shaped slide rails is formed from an inner surface of the bezel and at opposite sides of the opening.

7. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second guiding portion extends slantingly downwardly and forwardly from a top end of the first guiding portion and coordinates with the tray of the data storage device.

8. A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed in an electronic device, the cover mechanism comprising:

a bezel defining an opening for the data storage device passing therethrough;

a cover elastically slidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in an vertical direction, the cover comprising a body covering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member, the stressed member comprising a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device when the tray extending out of the data storage device, and a second guiding surface slanting downwardly and forwardly and coordinating with the tray when the tray retracting to the data storage device; and

a button mounted to the cover, a trigger portion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protruding rearward therefrom.

9. The cover mechanism claimed in claim 8, further comprises an elastic member connected between the bezel and the cover.

10. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein a through hole is defined in a lower portion of the body of the cover, the button comprises a pushed member received in the through hole.

11. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the button further comprises a securing portion, the button is mounted to the cover via the securing portion, the pushed member protrudes from the securing portion.

12. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein a fixing pole protrudes rearward from the cover, a fixing hole is defined in an upper part of the securing portion of the button, corresponding to the fixing pole of the cover.

13. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the trigger portion of the button extends from a bottom end of the securing portion.

14. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein a pair of L-shaped slide rails is formed from an inner surface of the bezel and at opposite sides of the opening.

15. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second guiding surface extends from a top of the first guiding surface.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a bezel forming along a side of said electronic device, said bezel defining an opening thereon;

a functional part installable in said electronic device next to said opening of said bezel, and capable of extending a portion thereof to pass through said opening toward an outside of said electronic device;

a cover attachable to said bezel and movable along said side of said electronic device between a first position thereof to cover said opening of said bezel, and a second position thereof to reveal said functional part and allow said extending of said portion of said functional part through said opening; and

a button movably attachable to said cover, and comprising a trigger portion extending from said cover toward said functional part so as to trigger said extending of said portion of said functional part through said opening.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said cover comprises at least one stressed member extending therefrom toward said functional part, and interaction between said at least one stressed member and said portion of said functional part is capable of controlling movement of said cover between said first and second positions thereof.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least one stressed member comprises a first guide surface facing said functional part and a second guide surface facing said opening, said interaction between said at least one stressed member and said portion of said functional part includes a first interaction between said first guide surface and said portion of said functional part to move said cover from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, and a second interaction between said second guide surface and said portion of said functional part to allow said cover moving back to said first position thereof from said second position thereof.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a pushed member is formed on said button and exposable to said outside of said electronic device so as to allow user-accessibility to said button for triggering of said trigger portion of said button.