Hard Drive Tray With Movable Sidewall and Securing Wire

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing component carriers, such as hard drive trays, often have bulk designs that prevent easy decoupling of components, making it difficult to securely and efficiently install and remove components like hard disk drives from the carrier.

Innovation Solution

A low-profile component carrier with a single sidewall and a securing wire opposite the sidewall, which can transition between unsecured and secured positions, using a support bracket to assist in securing the component, allowing for easy installation and secure retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If component carriers have bulk designs with sidewalls forming a receiving space, then the component is securely retained, but the component carrier prevents easy decoupling of the component

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent retentionVSAvoidcomponent decoupling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sidewall is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic structure enables the carrier to adapt its configuration: when the sidewall is extended, it provides secure retention; when retracted, it allows easy decoupling of the component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If component carriers have bulk designs, then structural strength is improved, but the profile height increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidprofile height

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bulk design is transformed into a dynamic low-profile structure where the sidewall can extend when needed for strength and retention, then retract to minimize profile height. This allows the carrier to maintain structural integrity while achieving a compact form factor for easy installation in confined spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple sidewalls are used to secure the component, then retention reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent retentionVSAvoidcarrier structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple sidewalls, the invention extracts the retention function to a single movable sidewall that can be positioned as needed. This single sidewall provides sufficient retention reliability when extended, while allowing easy decoupling when retracted, thereby simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3232296B1Hard drive tray

Publication Date: 2022.07.06 QUANTA COMPUTER INC

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AI summary

A hard drive tray (100) has a bracket (102) with a front surface (104), a bottom surface (106), and a sidewall (108) forming a receiving space (110) configured to receive a hard disk drive (200). At least one protrusion (112) extends into the receiving space from the sidewall and is configured to engage the hard disk drive. A securing wire (114) is coupled with the bottom surface opposite the sidewall and the securing wire has a securing end (116) configured to be at least partially received within the hard disk drive, thereby securing the hard disk drive to the bracket.