Supports – Resilient support – Nonmetallic resilient element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-03-06
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Supports
Resilient support
Nonmetallic resilient element
C248S615000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196516
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cushioning device for a computer component, more particularly to one for mounting a hard disk drive onto a base body of a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As personal computers grow in popularity for family and business applications, the performance requirements for hard disk drives are getting more and more strict due to the vital role of the hard disk drive in a computer. Any failure of the hard disk drive would hinder proper operation of the computer. Apart from expansion of the memory capacity of the hard disk drive, the quality and reliability thereof are also the primary concerns in the computer industry. The quality and reliability requirements of a hard disk drive are even more strict in a notebook computer in view of the delicacy and portability of the latter.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional hard disk drive assembly
10
used in a computer (not shown), which includes a hard disk drive
12
and a support frame
14
. The hard disk drive
12
is mounted on the support frame
14
by means of screws
16
. The hard disk drive assembly
10
is then mounted onto a base body of the computer (not shown) by mechanical fastening means, such as screws, provided between the computer and the support frame
14
. Such an arrangement is inherent of some disadvantages as follows:
1. The hard disk drive is easily impaired.
Since the conventional hard disk drive is mounted directly on a support frame which, in turn, is mounted on a computer, any external impact applied on the computer is easily transmitted to the hard disk drive and might result in the damage to the hard disk drive, and in failure of the computer. Damages of this kind become much worse in a notebook computer due to the high portability of the latter.
2. The hard disk drive is expensive.
In order to avoid damages caused by an external impact, the quality of the hard disk drive must be improved. Such an approach, however, increases the manufacturing cost of the hard disk drive and is not considered to be a good solution to this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning device for mounting a hard disk drive onto a computer. The cushioning device is inexpensive, impact-resistant, and wear-resistant, and can prevent damages to the hard disk drive in the event of an external impact.
Accordingly, the cushioning device of this invention includes: a support frame having right and left anchoring walls which are spaced apart and which are adapted to be secured to right and left side walls of a computer component, respectively, at least one of the right and left anchoring walls having an inserting through hole; an impact absorbing member made of an elastomeric material and having a first annular flange and a second annular flange, the impact absorbing member being inserted into the inserting through hole with a portion of the anchoring wall around the inserting through hole being interposed between the first annular flange and the second annular flange; and a fastening member passing through a fastening through hole provided axially in the impact absorbing member for fastening the support frame onto one of the side walls of the computer component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2685178 (1954-08-01), Eck
patent: 5051075 (1996-03-01), Spies
patent: 5142447 (1992-08-01), Cooke
patent: 5751551 (1998-05-01), Hileman
patent: 844598 (1952-07-01), None
patent: 2519745 (1983-07-01), None
Chin-Shue Alvin
Ladas & Parry
Mitac International Corp
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