Compact disk drive head disk assembly with conformable tape seal

Claim 1

A sealed housing for enclosing the mechanical components of a high density disk drive data storage device of the type including a disk stack assembly, spindle motor, actuator assembly and actuator motor, comprising: a base, having a substantially rectangular shape and including a base plate with side walls, said base being adapted to receive the disk stack assembly, spindle motor, actuator assembly and actuator motor of the disk drive, said base plate including one or more openings to allow external control electronics to connect to the interior of the drive, said side walls having a recess indented from the outside upper surface of the side walls; a cover, having a substantially rectangular shape matching that of said base and side walls having a recess indented from the outside lower surface of the side walls to form a housing, said cover being adapted to mate with the base at the respective upper and lower surfaces of the respective side walls, said recesses providing a channel indented from the outside side wall surfaces, said channel having a depth dimension extending inwardly from the outside surfaces of the sidewalls, a width dimension generally parallel to the outside surfaces of the sidewalls, and a length dimension extending around the perimeter of the housing; and a tape seal, having an elongated shape with a length dimension, a width dimension and a thickness, said width dimension substantially corresponding to the width of said channel and said length dimension sufficient to extend around the perimeter of the housing, said tape seal having a substrate and an adhesive layer formed on said substrate, said adhesive layer being substantially thicker than said substrate, for adhering the tape seal to the outer surface of said housing in said channel and for providing a high degree of adhesive compliance so as to achieve a substantially air-tight seal.

Claim 9

A method for sealing a disk drive housing enclosing the mechanical components of a disk drive data storage device, said housing including a base, said base having a substantially rectangular shape and having side walls, said side walls having a recess indented from the outside upper surface of the side wall, and a cover, the cover having a substantially rectangular shape matching that of said base and side walls having a recess indented from the outside lower surface of the side walls, said cover being adapted to mate with the base so as to form a housing, said respective recesses in the cover and base providing a channel indented from the outside side wall surfaces, comprising the steps of: providing a tape seal, said tape seal having an elongated shape with a length dimension, a width dimension and a thickness, said tape seal length dimension being sufficient to extend around the perimeter of the housing, said tape seal having a substrate and an adhesive layer formed on said substrate, wherein said adhesive layer is thicker than said substrate; adhering the tape seal to the outer surface of said housing in said channel; and crimping an overlay region between the two ends of said tape seal; wherein the crimping of said tape seal, with said adhesive layer thicker than said substrate to provide a high degree of adhesive compliance, achieves a substantially air-tight seal.

Claim 10

A method for sealing a disk drive housing enclosing the mechanical components of a disk drive data storage device, said housing including a base, said base having a substantially rectangular shape and having side walls, said side walls having a recess indented from the outside upper surface of the side wall, and a cover, the cover having a substantially rectangular shape matching that of said base and side walls having a recess indented from the outside lower surface of the side walls, said cover being adapted to mate with the base so as to form a housing, said respective recesses in the cover and base providing a channel indented from the outside side wall surfaces, comprising the steps of: providing a tape seal, said tape seal having an elongated shape with a length dimension, a width dimension and a thickness, said tape seal length dimension being sufficient to extend around the perimeter of the housing, said tape seal having a substrate and an adhesive layer formed on said substrate, wherein said adhesive layer is thicker than said substrate; adhering the tape seal to the outer surface of said housing in said channel; and crimping an overlay region between the two ends of said tape seal; wherein the crimping of said tape seal, with said adhesive layer thicker than said substrate to provide a high degree of adhesive compliance, achieves a substantially air-tight seal.