IP Library Granted Patent US 9,305,599
Granted Patent B2
US 9,305,599 · App. 14/798,779 · Granted Apr 5, 2016

Storage device with a cover supporting portion

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,305,599
App. No.
14/798,779
Granted
Apr 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disk drive assembly having a base; a voice coil motor assembly (VCM) comprising a VCM cover; a post extending from the base toward the VCM cover; and a latch movable mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to support the VCM cover, and prevent the VCM cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch to contact both the VCM cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the VCM cover above the latch.

Claims (36)

1. A disk drive assembly comprising:

a base;

a voice coil motor assembly (VCM) comprising a VCM cover;

a post extending from the base toward the VCM cover; and

a latch movable mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to:

support the VCM cover, and

prevent the VCM cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch to contact both the VCM cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the VCM cover above the latch, and

wherein the post is configured to define a gap between the cover supporting portion and the VCM cover such that the VCM cover and the cover supporting portion only contact when an external load is applied.

2. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein post is configured to have a height greater than the height of the latch.

3. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises at least one VCM cover contacting portion configured to extend toward the VCM cover and provide a reduced contact area between the latch and the VCM cover.

4. The disk drive assembly of claim 3 , wherein the latch comprises at least one base contacting portion configured to extend toward the base and provide a reduced contact area between the latch and the base.

5. The disk drive assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the at least one base contacting portion and the at least one VCM cover contacting portion comprises a hemi-spherical structure formed on a surface of the latch.

6. The disk drive assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one VCM cover contacting portion comprises a hemi-spherical structure formed on a surface of the latch.

7. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the VCM cover supporting portion comprises:

a substantially flat surface disposed at an end of the post; and

a tapered sidewall adjacent the substantially flat surface, which increases in radius along at least a portion of a height of the post.

8. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the VCM cover supporting portion comprises: a curved upper surface disposed at an end of the post.

9. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the post is formed as a pin inserted through the base.

10. The disk drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the post is formed as machined extension feature of the base.

11. A disk drive assembly comprising:

a base;

a voice coil motor assembly (VCM) comprising a VCM cover;

a post extending from the base toward the VCM cover; and

a latch movable mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a VCM cover supporting portion configured to:

support the VCM cover, and

prevent the VCM cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch to contact both the VCM cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the VCM cover above the latch; and

wherein the VCM cover supporting portion comprises:

a substantially flat surface disposed at an end of the post; and

a tapered sidewall adjacent the substantially flat surface, which increases in radius along at least a portion of a height of the post.

12. The disk drive assembly of claim 11 , wherein post is configured to have a height greater than the height of the latch.

13. The disk drive assembly of claim 11 , wherein the latch comprises at least one VCM cover contacting portion configured to extend toward the VCM cover and provide a reduced contact area between the latch and the VCM cover.

14. The disk drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein the latch comprises at least one base contacting portion configured to extend toward the base and provide a reduced contact area between the latch and the base.

15. The disk drive assembly of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the at least one base contacting portion and the at least one VCM cover contacting portion comprises a hemi-spherical structure formed on a surface of the latch.

16. The disk drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one VCM cover contacting portion comprises a hemi-spherical structure formed on a surface of the latch.

17. The disk drive assembly of claim 11 , wherein the post is formed as a pin inserted through the base.

18. The disk drive assembly of claim 11 , wherein the post is formed as machined extension feature of the base.

Assignments (8)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2015
From: SMYTH, NICHOLAS D.; NGUYEN, DANIEL T.; MYERS, DAVID K.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036121/0823 →