Drive carrier and method therefor

1. A computer system having an enclosure configured to accept a plurality of mass storage devices, comprising:

a carrier assembly, assembled with one of the mass storage devices, adapted to actuate between a retracted state to an extended state, the carrier assembly comprises:

a front plate extending into an upper fixed plate;

a lower fixed plate;

an upper sliding rail attached to the upper fixed plate; and

a lower sliding rail slideably attached to the lower fixed plate; and

a scissor mechanism, secured to the carrier assembly, which actuates the carrier assembly between the retracted and the extended state;

wherein the retracted state is used to insert the carrier assembly into the enclosure, and

wherein the extended state is used to engage the mass storage device with a connector of the computer system;

wherein each of the upper and lower fixed plates of the carrier assembly have an elongated hole configured to allow for travel of a retaining structure securing the mass storage device within the carrier assembly.

2. The computer system of claim 1 ,

wherein the scissor mechanism comprises a first member pivoting against the front plate and a second member pivoting against the upper sliding rail;

wherein folding the scissor mechanism retracts the upper sliding rail towards the front plate; and

wherein flattening the scissor mechanism extends the upper sliding rail away from the front plate.

3. The carrier assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first fastening structure of the upper sliding rail to attach to mass storage device; and

a second fastening structure of the lower sliding rail to attach to the mass storage device;

wherein the lower sliding rail moving in the same manner as the upper slide rail when the scissor mechanism is actuated.

4. The carrier assembly of claim 3 , wherein the enclosure comprises:

a key; and

a key-hole, located in the lower fixed plate, where the key extends into the key-hole and secures the carrier assembly in the extended state within enclosure retention features to maintain alignment of the carrier assembly with the enclosure.

5. The carrier assembly of claim 1 , wherein a member of the scissor mechanism extends into a latch.

6. A method for inserting a mass storage device into a storage enclosure, the method comprising:

installing the mass storage device in a carrier assembly, the carrier assembly comprising:

a front plate extending into an upper fixed plate and a lower fixed plate;

an upper sliding rail attached to the upper fixed plate and a lower sliding rail attached to the lower fixed plate; and

wherein each of the upper and lower fixed plates of the carrier assembly have an elongated hole configured to allow for travel of a retaining structure securing the mass storage device within the carrier assembly; and

actuating a scissor mechanism on the carrier assembly from a flat configuration to a folded configuration to change the state of the carrier assembly from an extended state to a retracted state;

inserting the carrier assembly into a drive slot in the storage enclosure;

actuating the scissor mechanism from the folded configuration to the flat configuration to change the state of the carrier assembly from the retracted state to the extended state.

7. The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the scissor mechanism includes a first member pivoting against the front plate and a second member pivoting against the upper sliding rail;

wherein folding the scissor mechanism retracts the upper sliding rail towards the front plate; and

wherein flattening the scissor mechanism extends the upper sliding rail away from the front plate.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

using a first fastening structure of the upper sliding rail to attach to the mass storage device and a second fastening structure of the lower sliding rail to attach to the mass storage device; and wherein the lower sliding rail moves in the same way as the upper slide rail when the scissor mechanism is actuated.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

using a key extension of the lower sliding rail to engage with a key-hole in the enclosure, the key extension securing the carrier assembly in the extended state within the enclosure retention features to maintain alignment of the carrier assembly with a structure of the enclosure.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower fixed plates have an elongated hole configured to allow for travel of a retaining structure securing the mass storage device within the carrier assembly.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a member of the scissor mechanism extends into a latch.

12. A method for removing a mass storage device from a storage enclosure, the method comprising the following steps:

actuating a scissor mechanism on a carrier assembly securing the mass storage device in a drive slot of the storage enclosure from a flat configuration to a folded configuration to change the state of the carrier assembly from an extended state to a retracted state, wherein the carrier assembly comprises:

a front plate extending into an upper fixed plate and a lower fixed plate; and

an upper sliding rail attached to the upper fixed plate and a lower sliding rail attached to the lower fixed plate; and

removing the carrier assembly from the drive slot;

using a key extension of the lower sliding rail to engage with a key-hole in the enclosure, the key extension securing the carrier assembly in the extended state within the enclosure and retention features to maintain alignment of the carrier assembly with a structure of the enclosure.

13. The method of claim 12 ,

wherein the scissor mechanism has a first member pivoting against the front plate and a second member pivoting against the upper sliding rail;

wherein folding the scissor mechanism retracts the upper sliding rail towards the front plate; and

wherein flattening the scissor mechanism extends the upper sliding rail away from the front plate.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

using a first fastening structure of the upper sliding rail to attach to a mass storage device and a second fastening structure of the lower sliding rail to attach to the mass storage device; and

wherein the lower sliding rail moving in substantially the same way as the upper slide rail when the scissor mechanism is actuated.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the upper and lower fixed plates have an elongated hole configured to allow for travel of a retaining structure securing the mass storage device within the carrier assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a member of the scissor mechanism extends into a latch.