IP Library Granted Patent US 8,264,824
Granted Patent B2
US 8,264,824 · App. 12/729,406 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Drive bay assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,264,824
App. No.
12/729,406
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exemplary assembly includes a drive that includes two substantially parallel sides and, for receipt of media, a substantially rectangular opening; a plate that includes a tab; a positioning mechanism to position the plate with respect to either one of the two parallel sides of the drive; and a bay configured to at least partially receive the drive, with the plate, in first and second orientations of the substantially rectangular opening with respect to the bay where the bay includes a lower slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to one of the two parallel sides of the drive in the first orientation of the opening and where the bay includes an upper slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to the other of the two parallel sides of the drive in the second orientation of the opening. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Claims (41)

1. An assembly comprising:

a drive that comprises two substantially parallel sides and, for receipt of media, a substantially rectangular opening;

a plate that comprises a tab;

a positioning mechanism to position the plate with respect to either one of the two parallel sides of the drive;

a bay configured to at least partially receive the drive, with the plate, in first and second orientations of the substantially rectangular opening with respect to the bay

wherein the bay comprises a lower slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to one of the two parallel sides of the drive in the first orientation of the opening and

wherein the bay comprises an upper slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to the other of the two parallel sides of the drive in the second orientation of the opening; and

a locking mechanism to lock the tab in either the lower slot or the upper slot.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive comprises a tray seated at least partially in the substantially rectangular opening, the tray configured to receive a disk from one of two opposing sides of the tray.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the positioning mechanism comprises one or more prongs that extend outward from a plane defined by the plate and one or more openings in each of the two substantially parallel sides of the drive, each of the one or more openings configured for receipt of one of the one or more prongs.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the slots comprises an opening configured for receipt of a portion of the locking mechanism to lock the drive in the bay.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plate comprises a stop that extends outward from a plane defined by the plate wherein the stop abuts an edge of the bay to limit movement of the drive in the bay.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive comprises one or more threaded openings on each of the substantially parallel sides.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a threaded component configured for receipt by one of the threaded openings to position the plate with respect to the drive.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plate comprises a stamped metal plate.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive comprises an optical drive configured for receipt of an optical disk.

10. A method comprising:

positioning a plate with respect to one of two substantially parallel sides of a removable media drive to thereby determine an orientation for the drive in a bay of a computer;

sliding the removable media drive into a bay of a computer with the plate positioned wherein the sliding comprises aligning a tab of the plate with one of two parallel slots of the bay; and

locking the removable media drive in the bay of the computer wherein the locking comprises positioning an obstruction to obstruct movement of the tab in one of the two parallel slots of the bay.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the positioning comprises inserting prongs of the plate into openings of one of the two substantially parallel sides of the removable media drive.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising unlocking the removable media drive by removing the obstruction.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising instructing the removable media drive to extend a tray configured for receipt of removable media.

14. A computer comprising:

a case;

a drive bay;

a drive configured for receipt of a removable storage medium

wherein the drive comprises a plate positioned with respect to one of two substantially parallel sides of the drive,

wherein the plate comprises a protrusion, and

wherein the drive bay comprises a receptacle configured to receive the protrusion in first and second orientations, dictated by position of the plate with respect to the drive, to mount the drive in first and second orientations with respect to the case; and

a locking mechanism to lock the drive in the drive bay.

15. The computer of claim 14 wherein the receptacle comprises two substantially parallel slots.

16. The computer of claim 14 wherein the drive comprises a tray configured to extend outwardly from a surface of the computer, the tray configured to receive the removable storage medium from one of two opposing sides.

17. The computer of claim 16 wherein the first and second orientations of the drive with respect to the case correspond to first and second orientations of the tray.

18. An assembly comprising:

a drive that comprises two substantially parallel sides, a substantially rectangular opening for receipt of media, and a tray seated at least partially in the substantially rectangular opening, the tray configured to receive a disk from one of two opposing sides of the tray;

a plate that comprises a tab;

a positioning mechanism to position the plate with respect to either one of the two parallel sides of the drive; and

a bay configured to at least partially receive the drive, with the plate, in first and second orientations of the substantially rectangular opening with respect to the bay

wherein the bay comprises a lower slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to one of the two parallel sides of the drive in the first orientation of the opening and

wherein the bay comprises an upper slot configured to receive the tab if the plate is positioned with respect to the other of the two parallel sides of the drive in the second orientation of the opening.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 037160/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2010
From: MAKLEY, ALBERT V.; MARTIN-OTTO, WILLIAM F.; PAMLEY, MARC R.; FARROW, TIMOTHY S.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 024214/0020 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2010
From: MAKLEY, ALBERT V.; MARTIN-OTTO, WILLIAM F.; PAMLEY, MARC R.; FARROW, TIMOTHY S.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 024131/0939 →