JP4703366B2 - Protective layer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of protective materials.

For example, a protective material using an elastic resin material is used to protect an electronic device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) from an impact or vibration.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17870 (Patent Document 1) describes a buffer member that is formed in a U shape by an elastic material and is attached to the edge of the HDD so as to cover the corner of the HDD. Yes.
JP 2003-17870 A

  By the way, the protective material attached to the edge portion like the buffer member described in Patent Document 1 has a size smaller than that of the electronic device to be attached to prevent the protective material from being detached from the electronic device. Therefore, the protective material must be extended and attached.

Moreover, since the elastic resin material used for a protective material generally has a large frictional resistance, it has been difficult to smoothly attach it.
For these reasons, it has been difficult to mount accurately.

The protective material according to claim 1 is:
In a protective material that includes a buffer member formed of an elastic resin material and is attached to the outer surface of the electronic device to protect the electronic device,
The buffer member and a molded product having a smaller surface frictional resistance than the buffer member,
The molded product is inserted in the buffer member in a state in which a part thereof is exposed from the buffer member,
When the electronic device is attached to the electronic device, the molded product contacts an outer surface of the electronic device , and the molded product is fixed to a predetermined position of the electronic device by sandwiching the electronic device. And

  A molded product made of a material different from that of the buffer member is inserted into the buffer member in a state where a part of the molded product is exposed from the buffer member. When the molded product is attached to the electronic device, the molded product contacts the outer surface of the electronic device. That is, since the frictional resistance can be made smaller than that of the buffer member at the portion where the molded product contacts the outer surface of the electronic device, smooth attachment is possible and accurate attachment can be realized.

  Examples of elastic resin materials that can be used as cushioning members include rubber, thermoplastic elastomer with rubber elasticity, and a gel with a three-dimensional network structure in which a number of polymers are partially connected to each other by bonding of specific parts on the chain. Etc. can be used.

  The above rubbers include natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene / styrene rubber, butadiene / acrylonitrile rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene / vinyl acetate rubber, polysulfide rubber, urethane rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene / propylene rubber Examples thereof include polymers, gutta percha, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, silicone rubber, butadiene rubber, fluorine rubber, polyisobutylene, and acrylic rubber.

  Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include styrene block copolymer (SBC), thermopolyolefin (TPO), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and thermoplastic vulcanized elastomer (TPV).

The gel is preferably a gel in which the fluidity is lost by including a softening agent (for example, an oil component) in the gaps of the network structure of the base polymer having a three-dimensional network structure.
Examples of the base polymer include various thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene, olefin, ester, amide, and urethane, and hydrogenated or other modified products thereof, or styrene, ABS, and olefin. , Vinyl chloride, acrylic, carbonate, acetal, nylon, halogenated olefin (tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated-ethylene chloride, fluorinated ethylenepropylene, etc.), cellulose (ethylcellulose, etc.) ), And rubber modified products of these resins. In addition, these various thermoplastic resins may be used independently, or 2 or more types may be blended and used.

  Examples of the softener include various rubber or resin softeners such as mineral oil, vegetable oil, and synthetic. Examples of mineral oils include paraffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic process oils, and vegetable oils include castor oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, palm oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, wood wax, Examples include pine oil and olive oil. These softeners may be used alone or in combination of two or more having good compatibility with each other. In addition, since the hardness of a gel becomes so low that there is much addition amount of a softening agent, what is necessary is just to prepare so that it may become desired hardness.

  Moreover, tackiness can be imparted or adjusted by using various tackifiers (tackfire) such as coumarone resin, coumarone-indene resin, phenol resin, terpene resin, petroleum resin, rosin resin and the like.

  Furthermore, in addition to the base polymer, softener, various tackifiers, additives such as known resin components can be used in combination for improving various properties. As the resin component, for example, a polyolefin resin or a polystyrene resin can be used in combination. By adding these, workability and heat resistance can be improved. Examples of the polyolefin resin include polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, a copolymer of propylene and a small amount of other α-olefin (for example, propylene-ethylene copolymer, propylene / 4-methyl-1-pentene copolymer). ), Poly (4-methyl-1-pentene), polybutene-1, and the like.

As other additives, antibacterial agents, hindered amine light stabilizers, ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants, inorganic fillers, and colorants can be added as necessary.
On the other hand, as the material of the molded product, synthetic resin such as PP, PE, PC, PS, ABS, PBT, and PMMA and rubber such as EPDM, NBR, and CR can be used. However, the material of the buffer member must be different.

The protective material according to claim 2 is the protective material according to claim 1,
The protective material has a structure in contact with the three side surfaces of the rectangular electronic device, and an opening is provided in a portion corresponding to the remaining one side surface of the electronic device. Variations that enlarge the opening are possible. Therefore, it is not necessary to stretch and attach the protective material, so that smoother attachment is possible and more accurate attachment can be realized.

  The protective material according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the protective material according to claim 1, the protective material is divided into a plurality of parts connected by a connecting part. Since the protective material does not have to be extended, smoother installation is possible and more accurate installation can be realized.

  The protective material according to claim 4 is the protective material according to claim 3, wherein the protective material is divided into two in the thickness direction of the electronic device and connected by a hinge as the connecting portion. The protective material can be attached in such a manner that it can be sandwiched, enabling smoother attachment and achieving more accurate attachment.

  The protective material according to claim 5 is the protective material according to claim 3, wherein the protective material is divided into a plurality of parts that are attached to different corners or side surfaces of the electronic device, so that the attachment is smoother. Can be realized, and more accurate mounting can be realized.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the following examples and the like, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Example 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the protective material 1 of this embodiment is composed of a buffer member 2 and a molded product 3. The buffer member 2 of the present embodiment uses the gel described above, and the molded product 3 uses PP resin.

  The shock-absorbing member 2 is substantially U-shaped, facing opposite shock-absorbing portions 21a, 21b, a connecting shock-absorbing portion 22 having both ends connected to one end of the facing shock-absorbing portions 21a, 21b, and the facing shock-absorbing portions 21a, 21b. Extension portions 23a and 23b extending from the other end portion of the first and second ends, and an opening portion 24 is provided between the extension portions 23a and 23b.

  The molded product 3 is also U-shaped, and includes embedded facing portions 31 a and 31 b in the facing buffer portions 21 a and 21 b of the buffer member 2 and an embedded connecting portion 32 in the connecting buffer portion 22. The facing portions 31a and 31b are provided with ridges 33a and 33b along the longitudinal center line.

  The surface of the molded product 3 is exposed on the inner peripheral side of the buffer member 2, and no step is formed between the surface of the molded product 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the buffer member 2. That is, the surfaces of each other are substantially a series of surfaces. Only the ridges 33a and 33b protrude from the surface.

The protective material 1 is manufactured by first molding a molded product 3 by, for example, injection molding, placing the molded product 3 in a mold, and insert molding the buffer member 2.
Since the buffer member 2 uses a gel, it is elastic and flexible and has a high degree of freedom of deformation. On the other hand, since the molded product 3 is a PP resin, it has a spring property but has little elasticity and flexibility. For this reason, as the protective material 1, the distance between the extending portions 23a and 23b, that is, elastic deformation that widens or narrows the open portion 24 is easy, but the facing buffer portions 21a and 21b and the facing portions 31a and 31b or the coupling buffer It is not easy to bend the part 22 and the connecting part 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the protective material 1 is attached to a hard disk drive (HDD) and used to protect the HDD from impact and vibration.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer periphery of the HDD is fitted, but when the protective material 1 is attached to the HDD, the distance between the extending portions 23a and 23b, that is, the open portion 24 is widened. Since the facing buffer portions 21a and 21b and the facing portions 31a and 31b can be elastically deformed in the direction, the mounting operation is easy and the mounting position is also accurate. Further, during and after the work of attaching the protective material 1 to the HDD, the surface exposed from the buffer member 2 of the molded product 3 comes into contact with the outer surface of the HDD, but the molded product 3 (PP resin) is used as the buffer member 2 ( Since the frictional resistance is smaller than that of gel, smooth installation is possible.

  When the protective material 1 is attached to the HDD, the ridges 33a and 33b are fitted into groove-shaped recesses provided on the outer periphery of the HDD, so that the protective material 1 is displaced in the axial direction of the HDD. To prevent.

After the protective material 1 is attached to the HDD, the buffer member 2 on the outer surface portion absorbs external impacts and vibrations to protect the HDD.
[Example 2]
A protective member 40 having a structure that is divided into two in the thickness direction of the electronic device and connected by a hinge will be described as a second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the protective material 40 of this embodiment has a two-part structure in which a first portion 41 and a second portion 42 are connected by a hinge 43 that is a connecting portion.
The first portion 41 includes an interior portion 45 that is a molded product of PP resin and an exterior portion 46 that is made of gel and serves as a buffer member, and is substantially U-shaped. Similarly, the 2nd part 42 is comprised by the interior part 47 which is a molded product of PP resin, and the exterior part 48 which is a product made from a gel, and becomes a buffer member, and is a substantially U shape. The hinge 43 is a PP resin integral with the interior portions 45 and 46.

A locking projection 49 is provided on the interior portion 45 of the first portion 41. In addition, a projection 51 is provided on the interior portion 47 of the second portion, and a locking hole 52 is provided in the projection 51.
The protective material 40 is manufactured by first integrally molding the interior portions 45 and 47 and the hinge 43 by, for example, injection molding, placing them in a mold, and insert molding the exterior portions 46 and 48. .

  Since the exterior parts 46 and 48 are made of gel, they are elastic and flexible and have a high degree of freedom of deformation. On the other hand, since the interior portions 45 and 47 are made of PP resin, they have springiness but have little elasticity and flexibility. The hinge 43 is also made of PP resin, but is easily bent by being thin. For this reason, as the protective material 40, it is easy to deform the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 with the hinge 43 as the center, but the shape of the first portion 41 or the second portion 42 is changed. Such deformation is not easy.

  Then, when the protective member 40 is folded around the hinge 43 and the locking projection 49 is locked in the locking hole 52 as shown in FIG. 4B, the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 are separated. It joins face-to-face and the protective material 40 is closed.

  Therefore, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4A, after the hard disk drive (HDD) is stored in the first part 41 or the second part 42, the first part 41 and the first part 41 are connected to each other as shown in FIG. When the second portion 42 is joined in a face-to-face manner and the protective material 1 is closed, the HDD is sandwiched between the first portion 41 and the second portion 42. This HDD cannot be taken out unless the locking between the locking hole 52 and the locking projection 49 is released and the protective material 40 is opened. That is, the protective material 40 is attached to the HDD.

  Note that the inner surface dimensions of the interior portion 45 and the interior portion 47 when the protective material 40 is closed are aligned with a slight clearance with respect to the outer surface size of the HDD, and the HDD is not loosened inside the closed protective material 40. Retained.

  Thus, since the protective material 40 is closed and the HDD is accommodated, the work of attaching the protective material 40 to the HDD is easy and the mounting position is also accurate. In addition, during and after the work of attaching the protective material 40 to the HDD, the interior parts 45 and 47 that are molded products come into contact with the outer surface of the HDD, but the interior parts 45 and 47 (PP resin) are the exterior parts 46 and 48 ( Since the frictional resistance is smaller than that of gel, smooth installation is possible.

After the protective material 40 is attached to the HDD, the exterior portions 46 and 48 of the outer surface part absorb external shocks and vibrations to protect the HDD.
[Example 3]
Although the point divided | segmented into several parts is the same as that of Example 2, the protective material 60 of the structure divided | segmented into the several parts attached to the different corner | angular part of an electronic device is demonstrated as Example 3. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the protective material 60 of this embodiment has a two-part structure in which two corner blocks 61 a and 61 b are connected by a strip-shaped connecting portion 62, and both ends of the connecting portion 62 are respectively The fitting part 63 is installed.

The corner blocks 61a and 61b are molded products of gel, and the connecting portion 62 and the fitting portion 63 are molded products of PP resin.
Each of the corner blocks 61a and 61b has a shape in which two large and small rectangular parallelepipeds are connected to each other, and includes concave portions 64a and 64b that are recessed at a right angle.

  The fitting part 63 has a substantially U-shape comprising a back part 65 and a pair of clamping pieces 66. The back portion 65 is attached to the connecting portion 62, and the sandwiching piece 66 extends from the back portion 65 on the side opposite to the connecting portion 62. The sandwiching piece 66 is refracted into a square shape, and the distance between the ridge lines is minimized.

  The protective member 60 is manufactured by first integrally forming the connecting portion 62 and the fitting portion 63 by, for example, injection molding, placing them in a mold, and insert molding the corner blocks 61a and 61b. .

  Since the corner blocks 61a and 61b use gel, the corner blocks 61a and 61b are elastic and flexible and have a high degree of freedom of deformation. For this reason, the elastic deformation of the corner blocks 61a and 61b is easy. On the other hand, since the connecting portion 62 and the fitting portion 63 are made of PP resin, they are springy, but have little elasticity and flexibility, so that the deformation of bending the connecting portion 62 and the distance between the tips of the holding pieces 66 can be increased. Narrowing deformation is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 6, two protective members 60 are used as a set, and the respective concave portions 64a and 64b are brought into contact with the corners of the hard disk drive (HDD), so that the holding pieces 66 of the fitting portion 63 Then, the upper and lower surfaces of the HDD are sandwiched and attached to the HDD.

  Since the corner blocks 61a and 61b are gels, the surfaces thereof are sticky, and the recesses 64a and 64b are in close contact with the surface of the HDD. Further, since the interval between the ridge lines of the pair of holding pieces 66 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the HDD, when the upper and lower surfaces of the HDD are held, the holding pieces 66 are elastically deformed so that the intervals between the holding pieces 66 are increased. The upper and lower surfaces of the HDD are clamped by the repulsive force. Therefore, there is no possibility that the protective material 60 is detached from the HDD. Further, the work of attaching the protective material 60 to the HDD is easy, and the attachment position is also accurate.

  After the protective material 60 is attached to the HDD, the corner blocks 61a and 61b absorb external shocks and vibrations to protect the HDD.

Front view (a), plan view (b), left side view (c), bottom view (d), right side view (e), AA sectional view (f), B- of the protective material of Example 1 B sectional drawing (g). 1 is a perspective view of a protective material according to Embodiment 1. FIG. Front view (a), top view (b), left side view (c), bottom view (d), right side view (e), AA sectional view (f), B- of the protective material of Example 2 B sectional drawing (g), CC sectional drawing (h), rear view (i). The use explanatory drawing of the protective material of Example 2. FIG. Front view (a), plan view (b), left side view (c), bottom view (d), right side view (e), rear view (f), AA sectional view of the protective material of Example 3 (G), perspective view (h). The use explanatory drawing of the protective material of Example 3. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... protective material,
2 ... buffer member,
3 ... Molded product,
24 ... Open part,
32 ... connection part,
40 ... protective material,
41 ... 1st part,
42 ... the second part,
43 ... Hinge (connection part),
45, 47 ... interior part (molded product),
46, 48 ... exterior part (buffer member),
60 ... Protective material,
61a, 61b ... corner block (buffer member),
62 ... connecting part,
63 ... fitting part (molded article).

Claims (5)

In a protective material that includes a buffer member formed of an elastic resin material and is attached to the outer surface of the electronic device to protect the electronic device,
The buffer member and a molded product having a smaller surface frictional resistance than the buffer member,
The molded product is inserted in the buffer member in a state in which a part thereof is exposed from the buffer member,
When the electronic device is attached to the electronic device, the molded product contacts an outer surface of the electronic device , and the molded product is fixed to a predetermined position of the electronic device by sandwiching the electronic device. Protective material. The protective material according to claim 1,
The protective material has a structure in contact with three side surfaces of the rectangular electronic device, and an opening is provided in a portion corresponding to the remaining one side surface of the electronic device. The protective material according to claim 1,
The protective material is divided into a plurality of parts connected by a connecting portion. In the protective material according to claim 3,
The protective material is divided into two in the thickness direction of the electronic device and is connected by a hinge as the connecting portion. In the protective material according to claim 3,
The protective material is divided into a plurality of parts each attached to a different corner or side surface of the electronic device.

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