US6052255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic disk unit having anti-impact arrangement
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-10-05
•
Granted: 2000-04-18
•
Expires: 2015-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic disk unit is provided which can protect internal mechanisms from external force. A cover 11 covers the outer periphery of a base 12 which supports a spindle mechanism 2 and a head positioning mechanism 5. The cover 11 is connected to the base 12 elastically to reduce the possibility that the external force directly acts on the base and to assure that the external force acting on the cover is transmitted to the base via a cushioning material, whereby the spindle mechanism and the head positioning mechanism are protected from the external force.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiko Kawabe
- 👤 Shinobu Yoshida
- 👤 Yasuhiro Matsuda
- 👤 Hiroshi Ikeda
- 👤 Isao Shimizu
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/121; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043; G11B33/02; G11B33/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover and is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover and is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 1, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 10.5 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 1, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 3.3 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said impact cover and said base retaining plate is provided with a viewing window to observe said magnetic disk and said head positioning mechanism from outside.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 1, further comprising a seal connected to both said impact cover and said base to seal the joint portion therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
215 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein, wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover, said impact cover extends downward to have a lip substantially flush with a level of an underside of said base cover to cover an outer peripheral edge of said base cover in order to provide impact protection thereto, said base retaining plate is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
215 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein, wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover, said impact cover extends downward to have a lip substantially flush with a level of an underside of said base cover to cover an outer peripheral edge of said base cover in order to provide impact protection thereto, said base retaining plate is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 6, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 10.5 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 6, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 3.3 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said impact cover and said base retaining plate is provided with a viewing window to observe said magnetic disk and said head positioning mechanism from outside.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 6, further comprising a seal connected to both said impact cover and said base to seal the joint portion therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
209 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein, wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover, said impact cover extends downward beyond a level of an underside of said base cover to cover an outer peripheral edge of said base cover in order to provide impact protection thereto, said base retaining plate is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
209 words
A magnetic disk unit comprising a spindle mechanism for rotating a magnetic disk, a head positioning mechanism for positioning a magnetic head by shifting said magnetic head along a recording surface of said magnetic disk, a base supporting said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism, and an impact cover that covers in a non-contacting relationship said spindle mechanism and said head positioning mechanism supported on said base, wherein said base includes an oblong base plate and a base retaining plate for restraining said base plate, a joint portion of said base plate and said base retaining plate contains a cushioning material therein, wherein said base retaining plate extends to a lower edge portion of said impact cover, said impact cover extends downward beyond a level of an underside of said base cover to cover an outer peripheral edge of said base cover in order to provide impact protection thereto, said base retaining plate is fitted into and connected to said impact cover in an inner portion of said impact cover, and said base retaining plate is provided with openings defining plastically deformable base portions which are plastically deformed so as to engage portions of said impact cover to lock said base retaining plate and said impact cover together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 11, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 10.5 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 11, wherein an overall thickness of the unit is not greater than 3.3 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said impact cover and said base retaining plate is provided with a viewing window to observe said magnetic disk and said head positioning mechanism from outside.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The magnetic disk unit according to claim 11, further comprising a seal connected to both said impact cover and said base to seal the joint portion therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4712146A
Cited
JPS63211192A
Cited
EP0307136A2
Cited
US5079655A
Cited
WO1990005982A1
Cited
US4980786A
Cited
EP0381408A1
Cited
JPH02249192A
Cited
EP0428291A2
Cited
US5233491A
Cited
GB2245408A
Cited
US5097978A
Cited
US5469311A
Cited
US5187621A
Cited
DE4110399A1
Cited
US5270887A
Cited
US5339204A
Cited
US5223996A
Cited
US5366200A
Cited
US5546250A
Cited
US5587855A
Cited
US5703734A
Cited
US5483398A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-18 | 2003-10-18 | 2004-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-18 | 2007-10-18 | 2008-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-18 | 2011-10-18 | 2012-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |