Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

John R Bradshaw

Robert J Hastings

Paily T Varghese

Dennis J Alexander

James F Babb

A series of hard disk drives are secured atop molded plastic support trays slidably and removably received in opposing guide channel member pairs snap-fitted into opposite side walls of a sheet metal cage structure externally used in conjunction with a file server or other computer device. Snap-fitted into rear end portions of the trays are small printed circuit boards that are insertable into hot plug sockets at the rear of the cage. Forwardly projecting guard plates on the rear end of the cage block manual access to the board/socket interface, and the surface mounted grounding leads on the board extend rearwardly beyond its signal leads to enhance grounding safety during disk drive installation and removal. At the front end of each tray is a vertical support plate upon which LED indicating lights are conveniently mounted for the associated disk drive. Each guide channel member has a metal grounding clip portion that is pressed against the adjacent cage wall and is contacted by grounding portions of the disk drive and support tray as they are slid into the housing. To assist in installing and removing each disk drive, its associated support tray is provided at its front corners with pivotable ejection latch members removably and self-lockingly secured thereto using a molded connection structure that eliminates the requirement for attachment screws or rivets.

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Tomball, TX, United States of America

John R Bradshaw