Shock absorbing holder and information processor having same

• US 6,283,438 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Takeshi, Nakayama, Masayuki, Fukukawa, Yoshihiro, Karumai, Mitsuaki, Shimada, Isao, Harada, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZUMNY, JONATHON A
• Application Number:
  US09/266,930
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 248/632, 248/694, 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 361/679, 361/725, 361/726, 360/97.02, 312/9.9, 312/223.2, 312/351, 312/223.1, 312/319.1
• US Class Current: 248/694
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds

Abstract

A shock absorbing holder for holding a device vulnerable to an effect by shock so as to wrap it up and protect it against shock. The shock absorbing holder includes a frame body structured smaller than an outer shape of the device, a holding portion having a shape similar to the outer shape of the device defined by inner wall surfaces of the frame body, and protruding portions provided on outer surface walls of the frame body. With the frame body extended, the device is accommodated in the holding portion, being intimately contacted to the inner wall surfaces of the frame body. When shock is imported from outside, the protruding portions are deformed to absorb the shock, protecting the accommodated device from the shock.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing holder apparatus for use in holding and protecting a shock-sensitive device having a predetermined size, said shock absorbing holder apparatus comprising:

a frame body defining therewithin an accommodation space for accommodating the shock-sensitive device having the predetermined size;

wherein said frame body is formed in a shape and of an elastically deformable material which is expandable such that, when relaxed and with the shock-sensitive device not accommodated in said accommodation space, said accommodation space is adapted to be too small to accommodate the shock-sensitive device having the predetermined size, such that said frame body can be stretched to expand said accommodation space to allow for insertion of the shock-sensitive device thereinto, and such that, when the shock-sensitive device is inserted in said accommodation space, said frame body can be relaxed so that said accommodation space is shrunk to be adapted to tightly fit about the shock-sensitive device;

wherein said elastically deformable material and said shape of said frame body is further such that said frame body is deformable to absorb shock from outside said frame body to thereby protect the shock-sensitive device when accommodated in said accommodation space of said frame body; and

wherein said frame body is provided with a holding arrangement comprising inner wall surfaces of said frame body for holding the shock-sensitive device;

wherein said frame body comprises walls forming a ring shape and having a U-shaped section opening inwardly, and said holding arrangement is defined by said U-shaped section;

wherein said walls of said frame body comprise;

side walls having a shape adapted to correspond to side surfaces of the shock-sensitive device;

and a top wall extending in an approximately perpendicular direction from upper end portions of said side walls for a first predetermined length, part of said top wall is provided with a concave portion having a predetermined depth.

2. In combination with the shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, a shock-sensitive device,

the shock-sensitive device having the predetermined size, said shock-sensitive device being accommodated in said accommodation space of said frame body such that said frame body is tightly fit about the shock-sensitive device with said inner wall surfaces intimately contacting, with outer surfaces of said shock-sensitive device.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein

said shock-sensitive device is structured in a shape defined by two surfaces approximately parallel to each other and a plurality of side surfaces approximately perpendicular to the two surfaces;

said walls of said frame body further comprise;

a bottom wall extending in an approximately perpendicular direction from lower end portions of said side walls for a second predetermined length; and

said side walls, said top wall and said bottom wall of said frame body form said U-shaped section.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

an elastic body arranged between said shock-sensitive device and said frame body, said elastic body having a different hardness or a different repulsion coefficient from that of said frame body;

wherein shock to said shock-sensitive device is transferred through said elastic body to said frame body.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein

a protruding portion is formed on an outer wall surface of said frame body and said protruding portion is deformable to absorb shock from outside said frame body to protect the shock-sensitive device.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein

at least one opening is formed in said frame body.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein

said frame body is integrally molded of two or more materials having different hardnesses or different repulsion coefficient properties.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

a case for wrapping up the shock-sensitive device accommodated in said frame body.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8, further comprising

a box-shaped chassis having an engaging portion for engaging in said case;

wherein said case is inserted in said engaging portion.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein

said case is formed to make a space in a predetermined size with said frame body accommodating device the shock-sensitive, and when the shock-sensitive device receives shock from outside, said frame body is deformed along said space to absorb the shock.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein

said shock-sensitive device comprises a disk drive device.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said elastically deformable material comprises gel polystyrene of a hardness ASKER/FP of 30 to 80.

13. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said elastically deformable material comprises a thermally conductive material.

14. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein

said thermally conductive material includes a metal filler.

15. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a protruding portion is formed on an outer wall surface of said frame body and said protruding portion is deformable to absorb shock from outside said frame body to protect the shock-sensitive device.

16. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein

said frame body comprises side walls having a shape that is adapted to correspond to said side surfaces of said shock-sensitive device, a top wall extending in an approximately perpendicular direction from upper end portions of said side walls for a first predetermined length, a bottom wall extending in an approximately perpendicular direction from lower end portions of said side walls for a second predetermined length, and said side walls, said top wall and said bottom wall of said frame body form said U-shaped section;

and

said protruding portion is provided on at least any one of said side walls, said top wall and said bottom wall of said frame body.

17. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said protruding portion is provided in at least one direction on a ring-shaped outer rim of said frame body.

18. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

at least one opening is formed in said frame body.

19. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said frame body is integrally molded of two or more materials having different hardnesses or different repulsion coefficient properties.

20. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein

said materials are elastic bodies and insert-molded.

21. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

a case for wrapping up the shock-sensitive device accommodated in said frame body.

22. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising

a box-shaped chassis having an engaging portion for engaging in said case;

wherein said case is inserted in said engaging portion.

23. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein

said case is structured by a sheet material being folded.

24. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein

said case is provided with an opening.

25. An apparatus comprising:

an information processor; and

said shock absorbing holder apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing holder apparatus is embedded in said information processor.

26. In combination with the apparatus as claimed in claim 25, a shock-sensitive device,

the shock-sensitive device being accommodated in said frame body.

27. A shock absorbing holder apparatus for use in holding and protecting a shock-sensitive device having a predetermined size, said shock absorbing holder apparatus comprising:

a shock absorbing holder comprising a box defining therewithin an accommodation space sized for accommodating the shock-sensitive device without deformation of said box;

wherein said box is formed of a deformable material having low hardness and low repulsion properties such that, when the shock-sensitive device is accommodated in said accommodation space and a shock is imparted thereto, said box will deform to absorb the shock; and

wherein said box is provided with a holding arrangement comprising inner wall surfaces of said box for holding the shock-sensitive device;

wherein an elastic body is adapted to be arranged between the shock-sensitive device and said shock absorbing holder, said elastic body has at least one surface among surfaces adapted to be opposed to the shock-sensitive device that is adapted to be larger than a corresponding opposed surface of the shock-sensitive device.

28. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, further comprising

the shock-sensitive device having the predetermined size;

wherein said accommodation space of said box is larger than said predetermined size of said shock-sensitive device, and said shock-sensitive device is disposed in said accommodation space of said box.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 28, wherein

at least one hole is formed in a side wall of said box such that, when a shock is imparted, the deformation of said box to absorb the shock includes deformation of said at least one opening to absorb the shock.

30. The combination as claimed in claim 29, wherein

said box includes side walls, and said at least one opening is formed in said side walls.

31. The combination as claimed in claim 28, comprising:

said elastic body having a different hardness or a different repulsion coefficient from that of said shock absorbing holder;

wherein shock to said shock-sensitive device is transferred through said elastic body to said shock absorbing holder.

32. The combination as claimed in claim 31, wherein

said elastic body has higher hardness or a higher repulsion coefficient than that of said shock absorbing holder.

33. The combination as claimed in claim 31, wherein

said elastic body intimately contacts with said holding arrangement.

34. The combination as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

a case with hardness higher than that of said elastic body;

wherein said shock-sensitive device held by said holding arrangement is inserted in said case.

35. The combination as claimed in claim 34, wherein

a length of a signal cable for use in connection between a connector arranged outside said case and said shock-sensitive device is longer than a creepage distance between a lead opening of the signal cable in said shock-sensitive device and said connector for no less than a maximum amount of deformation of said shock absorbing holder.

36. The combination as claimed in claim 28, further comprising

a case for wrapping up the shock-sensitive device accommodated in said box.

37. The combination as claimed in claim 36, wherein

said case is formed so as to make a space in predetermined size with said shock absorbing holder accommodating the shock-sensitive device, and when the shock-sensitive device receives shock from outside, said shock absorbing holder is deformed along said space to absorb the shock.

38. The combination as claimed in claim 28, wherein

said shock-sensitive device comprises a disk drive device.

39. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein

said deformable material comprises gel polystyrene of a hardness ASKER/FP of 30 to 80.

40. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein

said deformable material comprises a thermally conductive material for dissipating heat from the shock-sensitive device to outside of said box.

41. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein

said thermally conductive material includes a metal filler.

42. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein

said deformable material includes a metal filler.

43. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein

said box is integrally molded of two or more materials having different hardnesses or different repulsion coefficient properties.

44. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein

said materials are elastic bodies and insert-molded.

45. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, further comprising

a case for wrapping up the shock-sensitive device accommodated in said box.

46. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein

said case is structured by a sheet material being folded.

47. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein

said case is structured of metal.

48. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein

said case is provided with an opening.

49. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein

said case is formed so as to make a space in predetermined size with said shock absorbing holder accommodating the shock-sensitive device, and when the shock-sensitive device receives shock from outside, said shock absorbing holder is deformed along said space to absorb the shock.

50. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein

at least one hole is formed in a side wall of said box such that, when a shock is imparted, the deformation of said box to absorb the shock includes deformation of said at least one opening to absorb the shock.

51. The shock absorbing holder apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein

said box includes side walls, and said at least one opening is formed in said side walls.

52. An apparatus comprising an information processor;

and said shock absorbing holder apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said shock absorbing holder apparatus is embedded in said information processor.

53. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein

said shock absorbing holder apparatus includes the shock-sensitive device accommodated in said box.