Ergonomic safety mechanism for handling micro-sized computer hard disk drives

• US 6,545,839 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gordon James
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Tianjie
• Application Number:
  US10/054,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 360/97.01, 360/99.01, 360/137, 369/75.1, 369/77.1, 369/292, 361/683, 361/684, 361/685, 708/140, 312/223.2, 312/223.1, 248/682, 174/50, D14/369
• US Class Current: 360/97.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases

Abstract

A hard disk microdrive is equipped with an ergonomic assist mechanism for safe handling of the microdrive while removing it from a system. The mechanism is located on one end of the microdrive, opposite the system connector. In one version, the mechanism is a flat, two-piece design having a slide extending through a slot in a strap. One end of each of the slide and strap is mounted to the microdrive and their other ends are unattached and free to move relative to each other and the microdrive. When the microdrive is to be removed from the system, the user grasps the free end of the slide and lifts it away from the microdrive. As the user continues to pull on the slide, the slot in the strap allows the slide to move to the middle of the microdrive, thereby lifting the strap in the process. The force provided by the user is centralized on the microdrive for a smooth, safe extraction from the system while the connectors disengage. Since the user maintains a grip on the mechanism at all times, the risk of mishandling and dropping the microdrive is minimized. After the microdrive is removed from the system, the mechanism collapses to a flat, stowed position against the microdrive.

Claims

1. An ergonomic safety assist mechanism for removing a microdrive from a host system, the microdrive having a rotatable disk, a pivot actuator with an arm and a head for interacting with the disk, and a connector on one end for interconnection with the host system, the mechanism comprising:

a flexible strap having a strap stationary end that is adapted to be mounted to the microdrive opposite the connector, a strap free end opposite the strap stationary end, and a slot located between the strap stationary and free ends;

a flexible slide having a slide stationary end that is adapted to be mounted to the microdrive opposite the connector and adjacent to the strap, and a slide free end opposite the slide stationary end, wherein the slide extends through the slot in the strap; and

wherein

the mechanism has a stowed position wherein the strap and the slide are flush with the microdrive, and an extended position wherein the slide is adapted to be two grasped by a user and slidably moved through the, slot for extracting the microdrive from the host system.

2. The ergonomic safety assist mechanism of claim 1 wherein the strap and the slide automatically return to the stowed position when the slide is released by the user.

3. The ergonomic safety assist mechanism of claim 1 wherein the strap and the slide are inelastic.

4. The ergonomic safety assist mechanism of claim 1 wherein the mechanism is adapted to disconnect the connector of the microdrive from the host system as it moves from the stowed position to the extended position.

5. The ergonomic safety assist mechanism of claim 1 wherein the slide is adapted to centrally align relative to the microdrive in the extended position such that the mechanism exerts a symmetric force on the microdrive.