IP Library Granted Patent US 11,570,924
Granted Patent B2
US 11,570,924 · App. 16/799,757 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Data storage device adaptor with securement mechanism

Inventors: Everett Lyons (San Jose, CA); Daniel Linnen (Naperville, IL); Randy Gillespie (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
H05K7/1402G06F1/183G06F3/0607H05K5/0282
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,570,924
App. No.
16/799,757
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board. The apparatus also includes a first connector coupled to the printed circuit board. The first connector is configured to couple the apparatus to a computing device. The apparatus further includes a second connector coupled to the printed circuit board. The second connector is configured to couple the apparatus to a data storage device. The apparatus further includes a securement mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion. The securement mechanism is movable about the apparatus between a first position and a second position. The first portion is configured to maintain the securement mechanism at the first position. The second portion is configured to secure the data storage device to the apparatus when the securement mechanism is in the first position.

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a first connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the first connector couples the apparatus to a computing device;

a second connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the second connector couples the apparatus to a first data storage device; and

a plurality of securement mechanisms disposed at a proximal end of the apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of securement mechanisms is rotatable about a point on the apparatus between a first position and a second position, each of the plurality of securement mechanisms comprising:

a ledge comprising an aperture, wherein the aperture interacts with a component comprising one or more features of the apparatus to maintain a respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms in the first position, the component further comprising a guiding feature which aligns the apparatus when coupled to either the first or the second connector;

wherein the one or more features of the apparatus deforms to insert into at least one of the apertures;

a protrusion interacts with a retention feature of the apparatus; and

an engagement adjusts a respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms into the first position;

wherein the first position prevents each of the plurality of securement mechanisms from moving, and wherein the second position prevents the protrusion from interacting with the retention feature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms further comprises a tab.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the respective securement mechanism of the plurality of securement mechanisms comprises a latch rotatable about the point on the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the point on the apparatus is offset from a center axis of the first data storage device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third connector coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the third connector is couples the apparatus to a second data storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the protrusion secures the first data storage device to the apparatus when at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the first data storage device and the second data storage device are located on a same side of the printed circuit board;

at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is movable between a third position and a fourth position, and comprises a portion which maintains the at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms at the third position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first data storage device is irremovable from the apparatus when at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the first position; and

the first data storage device is removable from the apparatus when the at least one of the plurality of securement mechanisms is in the second position.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068762/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0032 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067567/0682 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 053482 FRAME 0453 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058966/0279 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 053482/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2020
From: LYONS, EVERETT; LINNEN, DANIEL; GILLESPIE, RANDY
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 052538/0121 →