Disk drive cover with spring force compression feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10373652-B2
Application number	US-201715809548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus includes a drive base. A drive cover overlies the drive base. A fastener secures the drive cover to the drive base. The fastener extends through the drive cover and into the drive base. A gasket is between the drive base and the drive cover. The gasket is compressed by the drive base and the drive cover. A spring feature is formed in the drive cover. The spring feature exerts a first force on the fastener and a second force on the base. The first force is opposite the second force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a drive base;
a drive cover overlying the drive base;
a fastener securing the drive cover to the drive base, wherein the fastener extends through the drive cover and into the drive base;
a gasket between the drive base and the drive cover, wherein the gasket is compressed by the drive base and the drive cover; and
a spring feature formed in the drive cover, wherein
the spring feature exerts a first force on the fastener and a second force on the base,
the spring feature exerts the first force in a first region surrounding the fastener,
the spring feature exerts the second force in a second region surrounding the first region, and
the first force is opposite the second force.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second force prevents the gasket from further compression.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring feature is a first region of the drive cover that is thinner than a second region of the drive cover.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring feature includes cutouts.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gasket surrounds a disc pack assembly.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a storage device cover overlying a storage device base;
a first region of a spring feature in the storage device cover exerting a first force on a loosened fastener, wherein
the first region extends around the loosened fastener, and
the first region stretches away from the storage device base to form a gap between the first region and the storage device base, wherein the spring feature exerts the first force on the loosened fastener;

a second region of the spring feature in the storage device cover exerting a second force on the storage device base, wherein
the first force and the second force are in opposing directions,
the second region extends around the first region, and
the second region is in overlying contact with the storage device base; and

a gasket between the second region and a storage device, wherein the gasket is compressed by the storage device cover and the storage device base.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second region prevents the gasket from further compression.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the fastener is a screw.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first region is thinner than the second region.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first region is thinner than the second region.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first region includes cutouts.

12. A method comprising:
positioning a cover over a base and a gasket between the cover and the base, wherein
the cover includes a cover fastener hole, and
the cover includes a spring region extending away from the base around the cover fastener hole;

inserting a fastener to a first position through the cover fastener hole and into the base, wherein
the spring region remains extending away from the base and exerts a first force on the fastener,
the cover and the base are in overlying contact in a contact region around the spring region, and
the inserting compresses the gasket to a compressed height; and

further inserting the fastener to a second position through the cover fastener hole and further into the base, wherein
the further inserting flattens the spring region and brings the spring region of the cover into overlying contact with the base,
the spring feature exerts a second force on the base,
the spring feature exerts the first force in a first region surrounding the fastener,
the spring feature exerts the second force in a second region surrounding the first region, and
the compressed height of the gasket remains the same in response to the further inserting.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising loosening the fastener to a third position, wherein
the spring region extends away from the base, and
in response to the first force exerted by the spring region on the fastener, the cover and the base remain in overlying contact in the contact region during the loosening of the fastener to the third position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the compressed height of the gasket remains the same in response to the loosening.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the loosening is in response to heat.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the spring region is thinner than the contact region.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gasket surrounds a disc pack assembly.

Assignees

• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Yap Pow Ming
• Su Ying
• Cho Kok Liang
• Lim Jun Long
• Oo Kyi Ayar
• Lee Chee Xian
• Wang Xiangzhi
• Lee Chuen Buan

Classifications

• G11B33/1433 Primary

  by reducing the effects of the thermal expansion · CPC title

• G11B23/0326

  Assembling of containers · CPC title

• G11B33/027

  Covers (G11B33/022 takes precedence; with means for guiding the record carrier G11B17/34) · CPC title

• G11B33/1466

  sealing gaskets, (gasket in general F16J) · CPC title