JP7025643B2 - Protective container and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a protective container for accommodating a disc device and a method for manufacturing the same.

A disk drive such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) is a precision device and is required to be used in an environment having a certain dustproof effect. In addition, many disk devices, such as HDDs, have low resistance to external impact. Therefore, in the case of a so-called external HDD device that is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) or the like using a general-purpose interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), the HDD is supported in the container (protective container) via a cushioning material. As a result, it is a device with impact resistance.

Considering that the adhesive area of a small HDD cover is limited and the gasket may peel off, a shock absorber that protrudes outward in the radial direction is integrally molded with the gasket at the corner of the container. An example of the cover used is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-161942

However, in the above-mentioned conventional protective container, if the protective container itself is also miniaturized in accordance with the request for miniaturization of the device, the cushioning material must be thinned, and the shock transmission mitigation performance to the disk device housed inside must be thinned. Cannot be improved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a protective container and a manufacturing method thereof that can respond to a request for miniaturization of equipment and improve the mitigation performance of shock transmission to a disk device housed inside. Is one of the purposes.

One aspect of the present invention that solves the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example is a protective container for accommodating a disk device, which has at least a part of a multilayer structure including a cushioning member layer and a housing layer in order from the outside. It has a polyhedral shape, and the housing layer is formed with openings extending from the outside to the inside of the housing at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container, and the cushioning member layer is the predetermined. It has a convex portion that is convex from the surface of the housing layer, and has an extension portion that extends from the housing layer to the inside through the corresponding opening of the housing layer at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer. It was done.

In this way, since the cushioning member is stretched from the outside to the inside of the protective container through the opening formed in the protective container, the thickness of the cushioning member can be maintained even if the device is miniaturized, and the device can be miniaturized. While responding to requests, it is possible to improve the mitigation performance of shock transmission to the disk device stored inside.

Further, here, the cushioning member layer corresponds to a convex portion that is convex from a predetermined surface of the protective container at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer, and the housing layer from the convex portion. It may have a stretched portion extending to the inside through the opening.

In this way, by making it convex at the position corresponding to the opening, the thickness of the cushioning member can be maintained even if the device is miniaturized, the request for miniaturization of the device is met, and the impact on the disk device housed inside is impacted. The mitigation performance of transmission can be improved.

Further, the surface of the stretched portion of the cushioning member layer may be arranged with a gap in the disk device to be housed.

In this embodiment, since the stretched portion of the cushioning member layer is not in contact with the disc device, the impact given from the outside to the cushioning member layer is not directly transmitted to the disc device.

Further, the convex portions may be arranged at least at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container having a polyhedral shape.

Further, the opening may be formed over two or more surfaces of the housing layer. In this way, even if the protective container is dropped, whichever of the surfaces on which the openings are formed (hence, the portion through which the cushioning member penetrates) first collides with the floor surface or the like, the impact is generated. It can be relaxed by the cushioning member arranged at the corresponding position.

Further, at the end of the stretched portion inside the housing, a relief portion for placing a gap between the stretched portion and the disk device to be housed may be formed.

In this embodiment, since the stretched portion of the cushioning member layer is not in contact with the disc device, the impact given from the outside to the cushioning member layer is not directly transmitted to the disc device.

Further, one aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example is a method of manufacturing a protective container for accommodating a disk device, which is a multilayer including a polyhedral cushioning member layer and a housing layer in order from the outside. A step of forming an opening from the outside to the inside of the housing at a plurality of locations in the housing layer near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container when the structural portion is formed in at least a part of the protective container. A step of forming an extended portion of the cushioning member layer that reaches the inside of the housing through the corresponding opening of the housing layer at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer, and a step of forming the cushioning member layer. It is decided to include a step of forming a convex portion which is convex from the predetermined surface on the predetermined surface.

According to the present invention, it is possible to meet the demand for miniaturization of the device and improve the mitigation performance of shock transmission to the disk device housed inside.

It is a schematic exploded perspective view of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the lower casing of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the lower casing of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the housing layer of the lower casing of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the cushioning member layer of the lower casing of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic fracture | fracture drawing of the lower casing of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the shape example of the extended part of the cushioning member layer in the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the impact measurement example of the protective container which concerns on the comparative example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the impact measurement example of the protective container which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the size, ratio, arrangement, etc. of each part are examples, and the example of the present embodiment is not limited to the size, ratio, arrangement, etc. shown in the illustration.

The protective container 1 according to the present embodiment can accommodate a disk device 2 such as a hard disk drive provided with a rotation mechanism, as shown in a schematic exploded perspective view thereof in FIG. 1, and has an upper casing 10 and a lower side. It has a casing 20, and the upper casing 10 and the lower casing 20 are fitted to each other to be in a sealed state, forming a protective container 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lower casing 20. The lower casing 20 is a polyhedron including a substantially rectangular bottom surface portion 21 and a substantially rectangular side surface portion 22 formed by rising upward from each side edge 21f of the bottom surface portion 21 (6 in the example of FIG. 2). A pentahedron in which the upper surface of the facet is open) is formed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lower casing 20, and the lower casing 20 has a polyhedral shape having at least a part of a multilayer structure including a cushioning member layer 11 and a housing layer 12 in order from the outside (the present embodiment). In the example of the form of, the shape is substantially a rectangular parallelepiped). FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the housing layer 12, and FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the cushioning member layer 11. In the figure, for the sake of explanation, the stored disk device 2 is virtually shown by an imaginary line (dashed-dotted line).

The housing layer 12 is formed with openings 121 extending from the outside to the inside of the housing at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of the predetermined surface of the protective container 1. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, openings 121 are provided at a plurality of positions adjacent to the side surface portion 22 of the bottom surface portion 21 of the housing layer 12 (four locations corresponding to the corners of the bottom surface portion 21 in FIG. 4). Each opening 121 is formed and reaches an upper part (side opening 121S) of the side surface portion 22.

Further, the housing layer 12 is formed with a connector accommodating portion 122 for exchanging signals and the like with the accommodating disk device 2. A connector member C is arranged in the connector storage portion 122, and each terminal of the connector member C is electrically connected to a corresponding signal line or the like of the disk device 2 when the disk device 2 is stored. This connector member C is a member that performs conversion between USB (Universal Serial Bus) and SATA (Serial ATA), and a widely known member can be adopted.

Further, in an example of the present embodiment, a support 13 projecting from the side surface to the inside of the housing is provided on the inner side surface of the housing layer 12. The support 13 is provided with an inclination so as to be thinner toward the inside of the housing, with the upper side thereof (lower side in the housing layer 12 of the upper casing 10) cut off.

When the disk device 2 covers the lower casing 20 with the upper casing 10 facing each other and closes the lower casing 20, the support 13 provided on each of the lower casing 20 and the upper casing 10 is closed. It is supported in a state of being sandwiched between inclined surfaces. In this example, the disk device 2 is supported at a position away from the ceiling and the inside of the bottom surface portion 21 on the inner side of the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20 and the housing layer 12 of the upper casing 10.

In another example of the present embodiment, an elastic body such as a plate-shaped rubber may be further attached to the bottom surface portion 21 of the housing layer 12. In this case, the disk device 2 is supported by the support 13 protruding from the inner side surface of the housing layer 12 to the inside of the housing, and the vertical movement is attached to the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20. It is held in a regulated state by the elastic body and the elastic body similarly arranged in the housing layer 12 of the upper casing 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cushioning member layer 11 is in a state of being formed so as to cover the entire outer side of the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20. At each position corresponding to the opening 121 formed in the housing layer 12, there is an extending portion 111 extending from the housing layer 12 to the inside of the housing through the corresponding opening 121 of the housing layer 12. In the present embodiment, the stretched portion 111 is a casing from the bottom surface side so as to show a schematic shape when the protective container 1 is broken at the surface including the stretched portion 111 in FIG. 6 and viewed from the fracture surface. Not only does it have a portion 111b that is more convex toward the inside of the housing than the body layer 12, but it is also convex from the side toward the inside of the housing from the range that reaches the side surface of the opening 121 of the housing layer 12. It has a portion 111s. In FIG. 6, the disk device 2 is supported by a support 13 projecting from the inner side surface of the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20 to the inside of the housing to restrict the movement of the disk device 2 in the side surface direction, and to move up and down. An example is shown in which the movement in the direction is restricted by an elastic body attached to the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20 and an elastic body similarly arranged on the housing layer 12 of the upper casing 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, the stretched portion 111 of the cushioning member layer 11 is arranged with a gap G on any surface thereof with respect to the disk device 2 to be housed. That is, the cushioning member layer 11 is in a state where its end shape is processed so as not to come into contact with the disk device 2.

Specifically, in an example of the present embodiment, a relief portion 115 for placing a gap G between the stretched portion 111 and the disk device 2 to be housed is formed at the end portion inside the housing of the stretched portion 111. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the relief portion 115 is formed by performing a process of forming a step 111P on the tip surface of the stretched portion 111. In FIG. 7, from the end face of the rectangular parallelepiped stretched portion 111, the processing range of the rectangular parallelepiped shape having the same bottom surface shape and shorter than the stretched portion 111 is formed along the diagonal line from the center of the end face of the stretched portion 111. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the shape of the end portion (relief portion 115) of the stretched portion 111 is determined by shifting the center of the stretched portion 111 and scraping off the portion including one vertex of the stretched portion 111. Any shape may be used as long as a gap G is formed between the disk device 2 and the disk device 2.

For example, the tip surface of the stretched portion 11 may have the shape of a three-sided corner having a step, as illustrated in FIG. The front end surface of the stretched portion 11 has a cross section broken at a surface parallel to at least one of the four sides constituting the bottom surface of the disk device 2, and has a cross section, a spoon surface, an inner round surface, a rugged surface, a bottom surface, a gourd surface, and a corner. It suffices if the corner portion on the disk device 2 side has a shape cut out so as not to come into contact with the disk device 2, such as a surface shape.

Further, the cushioning member layer 11 is in a state of being formed on the outer surface of the housing layer 12 into a planar body 110 having a substantially uniform thickness along the outer surface of the housing layer 12. Among the surfaces of the shape 110 (the surface of the protective container 1), the convex portions 112 which are convex from the predetermined surface (at least the bottom surface in the example of FIG. 5) are partially provided at one or a plurality of locations. The convex portion 112 may be integrally formed with the planar body 110 (that is, the planar body 110, the stretched portion 111, and the convex portion 112 of the cushioning member layer 11 may be integrally formed).

In an example of this embodiment, the convex portion 112 of the cushioning member layer 11 is provided at a position corresponding to the opening 121 of the housing layer 12. That is, in this example, the convex portion 112 to the stretched portion 111 are continuously formed, and the cushioning member layer 11 is a convex portion from the bottom surface at each position corresponding to the opening 121 of the housing layer 12. Inside the housing, the thickness extends from the position protruding by the height of 112 to the end face of the extending portion 111 extending from the housing layer 12 to the inside of the housing through the corresponding opening 121 of the housing layer 12.

For example, when the cushioning member layer 11 is formed of a rubber-like material such as TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), the spring constant of the rubber is inversely proportional to the height (length) of the rubber if the elastic limit is approximated as a spring. It is known to do. That is, the thicker the cushioning member layer 11, the better the cushioning performance. In the present embodiment, even if the protective container 1 is formed thin in response to a request for miniaturization, the thickness of the cushioning member layer 11 (the height of the rubber) is higher than that of the housing layer 12 from the height of the convex portion 112. The thickness is up to the end face of the stretched portion 111 inside the housing, and the impact transmission to the disk device 2 housed inside is compared with the case where the cushioning member layer 11 is formed only on the surface of the protective container 1. The mitigation performance can be improved.

Further, the cushioning member layer 11 may be partially formed with an opening E or a notch X for the purpose of arranging the connector member C or the like or for design purposes.

In the example of this embodiment, the material forming the cushioning member layer 11 is a melt-moldable material, and as an example, a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin is used. The resin may be a urethane resin, a styrene resin, an olefin resin, an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, or the like. Further, the thermoplastic resin may be a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) in consideration of the cushioning performance based on the elastic deformation. In addition, this thermoplastic resin is a thermoplastic elastomer such as TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), particularly an acrylic elastomer composed of a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate. The material may be a material whose hardness and elastic ratio can be adjusted by changing the compounding ratio.

For example, since an acrylic elastomer composed of a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate is a highly transparent material, it is possible to increase the transparency of the entire protective container 1 and to form a so-called skeleton structure. ..

Further, the material forming the housing layer 12 is different from the material forming the cushioning member layer 11. The material forming the housing layer 12 is, for example, a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin. As the resin that is the material forming the housing layer 12, for example, a polycarbonate resin, an ABS resin, or the like can be used.

When the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20 is formed of a thermoplastic resin, the housing layer 12 of the lower casing 20 is first formed by injection molding or the like, and then the outer surface of the housing layer 12 is covered. Further, the cushioning member layer 11 having the extending portion 111 that penetrates the opening 121 of the casing layer 12 and extends from the casing layer 12 to the inside of the casing is injection-molded (so-called two-color molding). In this case, it is preferable that the melting point or the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin forming the housing layer 12 is higher than the melting point or the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin forming the cushioning member layer 11.

Further, the upper casing 10 may have the same structure as the lower casing 20. Alternatively, for the upper casing 10, the housing layer 12 has almost the same shape as the lower casing 20, but the opening 121 is not formed, and the cushioning member layer 11 only covers the outer surface of the housing layer 12. It may be the one.

The protective container 1 of the present embodiment includes the above-mentioned upper casing 10 and lower casing 20, houses the disk device 2 in the lower casing 20, connects the connector C, and connects the upper casing 10 to the lower casing 20. It is closed by covering it with a casing.

According to such a protective container 1, for example, when the bottom surface is parallel to the landing surface such as the floor surface after falling, the convex portion 112 of the cushioning member layer 11 protruding from the bottom surface is formed. Therefore, the convex portion 112 is first subjected to an impact, and the impact is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the portion of the cushioning member layer 11 up to the stretched portion 111. Therefore, the impact is applied only by the cushioning member layer 11 arranged on the outer surface. Impact resistance can be increased compared to when receiving.

Further, since the stretched portion 111 is not in contact with the disc device 2 and has a gap G, this impact does not directly act on the disc device 2. Further, since the relief portion 115 is formed and the gap G is provided between the stretched portion 115 and the disk device 2, the stretched portion 111 can be elastically deformed freely regardless of the shape of the disk device 2, and therefore the impact absorption efficiency is also improved. do.

Further, if the convex portion 112 is not provided, the entire bottom surface receives the total impact energy, the housing repeats irregular and relatively large elastic deformation, and the vibration transmitted to the disk device is compared. In the example of the present embodiment, the impact received by the convex portion 112 is transmitted to the housing layer 12, but in this case, the impact received convex portion 112 Since the housing layer 12 is elastically deformed sequentially from the position adjacent to the housing layer 12, the impact is dispersed. Further, even if the product falls on a surface, the impact is received by the plurality of convex portions 112, so that the energy of the impact received by each of the convex portions 112 is further dispersed to the stored disk device 2. Impact transmission can be made smaller.

[Modification example]
Further, in the present embodiment, the convex portion 112 of the cushioning member layer 11 is not only convex (112b) from the bottom surface of the planar body 110, but also the side surface of the planar body 110 (opening on the side surface of the housing portion 12). It may be convex (112s) from the range corresponding to 121) (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 (a), its cross section and approximate shape).

Further, the convex portion 112 in this case may also be provided at a position corresponding to the opening 121 of the housing layer 12, and may be integrally formed from the convex portion 112 to the extended portion 111 inside the housing. By doing so, even if it falls from the side surface, the impact can be absorbed.

Further, when the opening 121 is formed at the apex (three-sided corner) of the housing layer 12 (in this case, the opening 121 is the bottom surface of the planar body 110 forming the three-sided corner, and the three first and second side surfaces. The convex portion 112 of the cushioning member layer 11 (formed over the surface) is also a plate that is convex from the bottom surface of the planar body 110 of the cushioning member layer 11, as shown in FIG. 6B to outline the outer shape thereof. The shaped portion 112b is formed in a shape integrally including the plate-shaped portions 112s-1 and 112s-2 that are convex from the first side surface and the second side surface of the planar body 110 of the cushioning member layer 11. In this case, the impact is absorbed not only on the bottom surface and the side surface but also when dropped from the apex. In this example as well, the convex portion 112 may be integrally formed with the planar body 110 and the stretched portion 111 extending to the inside of the housing layer 12 (inside the housing).

In FIG. 6B, the planar body 110 and the stretched portion 111 are shown by broken lines, and the planar body 110 is shown in a partially broken state.

Further, in the description of the present embodiment so far, the cushioning member layer 11 is assumed to be one layer, but the outer cushioning member layer 11 (the portion including the convex portion 112, hereinafter referred to as the first cushioning member layer 11). ) And the cushioning member layer 11 (referred to as a second cushioning member layer 11) inside the housing from the housing layer 12 including the stretched portion 111, and the first cushioning member layer 11, It may be formed as three or more layers of the second cushioning member layer 11 and the housing layer 12.

Further, a metal layer may be separately formed on the inner side of the housing of both the upper casing 10 and the lower casing 20. By covering the inner surface of the protective container 1 with a metal case in this way, noise from the disk device 2 and the like housed in the protective container 1 can be blocked.

Further, the outer surface of the protective container 1 may be formed so as to be covered with a metal case. In this case, noise from the disk device 2 and the like can be blocked, and heat generation can be diffused to the outside.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the cushioning member layer 11, that is, the surface of the protective container 1 may be covered with a coating member. This coating member can maintain the cushioning performance of the protective container 1, and if the outer surface of the coating member, that is, the surface is anti-slip processed, or if the coating member itself is made of a material that exhibits anti-slip performance, it is protected. It is possible to bring about the anti-slip effect of the entire container 1.

Further, in the present embodiment, the shape of the convex portion 112 does not have to be a rectangular parallelepiped, an L-shape, or a shape along a three-sided corner, and is a cylindrical shape or a long cylindrical shape protruding from each surface of the planar body 110. May be formed in. Further, each of the plurality of convex portions 112 may be formed into different shapes from each other. As a result, the resonance frequencies of the convex portions 112 can be made different from each other, and the impact resistance can be further improved.

8 and 9 show the results of measuring the impact of free-falling the protective container according to the comparative example and the embodiment of the present invention from a height of 5 cm toward the bottom surface onto the landing surface of wood plywood, respectively. It is explanatory drawing which shows.

The protective container according to the comparative example has legs made of rubber attached to the vicinity of the four corners of the outer bottom surface of the housing layer. The height of the foot is the same as the height of the convex portions formed at a plurality of locations on the outer periphery of the cushioning member layer 11 of the protective container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Further, the disk device to be stored inside is sandwiched by a plate-shaped elastic body attached to the bottom surface inside the housing layer and the ceiling.

That is, unlike the protective container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, this protective container does not have a cushioning member layer having convex portions formed at a plurality of locations on the outer circumference, and is open to the housing layer. And does not have a cushioning member layer that penetrates inside the housing layer. Therefore, the impact is absorbed only by the thickness of the foot.

When the protective container according to this comparative example is dropped under the above conditions, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a relatively large impact is measured especially in the frequency region of 1 kHz or higher.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a measurement of the impact when the protective container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is dropped under the above conditions. In the protective container 1 according to this embodiment, the cushioning member layer 11 and the housing layer 12 are multi-layered, and convex portions 112 are formed at a plurality of locations on the outer periphery of the cushioning member layer 11 and also from the convex portions 112. The stretched portion 111 extending to the inside of the housing layer through the housing layer is continuously formed.

The cushioning member layer 11 of this example and the comparative example is formed by using TPE, and the housing layer 12 is basically formed of polycarbonate and ABS.

When the protective container 1 according to this embodiment is dropped under the above conditions, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the impact in the frequency region of 1 kHz or higher is alleviated as compared with the comparative example.

1 Protective vessel, 2 disc device, 10 upper casing, 11 cushioning member layer, 12 housing layer, 13 support, 20 lower casing, 21 bottom surface, 22 side surface, 110 surface, 111 extension, 112 convex Part, 115 relief part, 121 opening, 122 connector storage part.

Claims (7)

A protective container for storing disc devices
In order from the outside, it has a polyhedral shape having at least a part of a multilayer structure including a cushioning member layer and a housing layer.
In the housing layer, openings extending from the outside to the inside of the housing are formed at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container.
The cushioning member layer is provided inside at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer through a convex portion that is convex from a predetermined surface of the protective container and the corresponding opening of the housing layer from the convex portion. A protective container having a stretched portion to reach . The protective container according to claim 1.
The surface of the stretched portion of the cushioning member layer is a protective container arranged with a gap in the disk device to be housed. The protective container according to claim 1 or 2.
The convex portions are protective containers arranged at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container having at least a polyhedral shape. A protective container for storing disc devices
In order from the outside, it has a polyhedral shape having at least a part of a multilayer structure including a cushioning member layer and a housing layer.
In the housing layer, openings extending from the outside to the inside of the housing are formed at a plurality of locations near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container.
The cushioning member layer has a convex portion that is convex from the predetermined surface, and is inside the housing layer through the corresponding opening of the housing layer at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer. Has a stretched portion leading to
The surface of the stretched portion of the cushioning member layer is a protective container arranged with a gap in the disk device to be housed. The protective container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The opening is a protective container formed over two or more surfaces of the housing layer. The protective container according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A protective container in which a relief portion for placing a gap between the stretched portion and the disk device to be accommodated is formed at an end portion inside the housing. A method of manufacturing a protective container for storing disc devices.
When forming a multi-layered structure including a polyhedral cushioning member layer and a housing layer in at least a part of a protective container in order from the outside,
A step of forming openings from the outside to the inside of the housing at a plurality of locations in the housing layer near the outer periphery of a predetermined surface of the protective container.
A convex portion that is convex from a predetermined surface of the protective container at a position corresponding to the opening formed in the housing layer, and the cushioning member layer that extends from the convex portion to the inside through the corresponding opening of the housing layer. The process of forming the stretched portion and
Manufacturing method of protective container including.

Images