# US 6,297,928 B1 · Mounting assembly for a disk drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,297,928 B1 - Document ID: US6297928B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/203,775 - Filed: 1998-12-02 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1998-12-02 - Assignees: Maxtor Corporation - Inventors: Peter Hahn; Arthur Lin; Shin John Choi; Rodney Ngai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6297928B1 ## CPC - G11B 33/121: {the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device} - G11B 33/08: Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A mounting assembly for securing a disk drive to a frame of a computer is provided herein. The mounting assembly includes three rigid mounts and a single flexible mount. Each rigid mount rigidly secures the drive housing to the frame and prevents degradation of performance of the disk drive. The flexible mount diminishes the level of vibration transferred from the frame to drive housing. Further, the flexible mount facilitates flexing of the drive housing intermediate the flexible mount and the rigid mounts. This reduces the effects of a shock pulse to the disk drive and inhibits head slap between a transducer head and a storage disk. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mounting assembly for attaching a disk drive to a frame, the disk drive including a drive housing having a first mounting location and a second mounting location, the mounting assembly comprising: a first rigid mount adapted to rigidly secure the second mounting location to the frame; and a flexible mount adapted to flexibly secure the first mounting location to the frame, the flexible mount diminishing the level of vibration transferred from the frame to the drive housing and facilitating flexing of the drive housing intermediate the first mounting location and the second mounting location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible mount flexes in a direction substantially perpendicular to a base of the drive housing and inhibits flexing in a direction substantially parallel to the base of the drive housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible mount includes a deflecting clip for attaching the first mounting location to the drive housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mounting assembly of claim 3 wherein the deflecting clip includes a clip guide which interacts with a housing aperture in the drive housing to inhibit the deflecting clip from moving in a direction substantially parallel to a base of the drive housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mounting assembly of claim 1 including a second rigid mount and a third rigid mount for securing the drive housing to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A disk drive comprising (i) a drive housing including the first mounting location and the second mounting location and (ii) the mounting assembly of claim 1 for securing the drive housing to the frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The disk drive of claim 6 wherein the mounting assembly facilitates flexing of the drive housing along a housing flex line which extends across the drive housing in between the first mounting location and the second mounting location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The disk drive of claim 7 including a storage disk secured to the drive housing and the housing flex line extends under a portion of the storage disk. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A computer including the frame and the disk drive of claim 6 secured to the frame with the mounting assembly. ### Claim 10 A disk drive which is adapted to be secured to a frame, the disk drive comprising: a drive housing including a first mounting location, a second mounting location, a third mounting location and a fourth mounting location which are spaced apart; an actuator assembly including an actuator shaft which is secured to the drive housing, wherein the actuator shaft is positioned near the first mounting location and the second mounting location; and a mounting assembly securing the drive housing to the frame, the mounting assembly facilitating flexing of the drive housing along a flex line that includes a point positioned directly between the first mounting location and the second mounting location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The disk drive of claim 10 wherein the mounting assembly facilitates flexing of the drive housing along the flex line which extends across the drive housing in between the first mounting location and the second mounting location. ### Claim 12 A method for attaching a disk drive to a frame, the method comprising the steps of: providing a drive housing for the disk drive, the drive housing including a first mounting location, a second mounting location, a third mounting location and a fourth mounting location which are spaced apart; and fixedly securing the second, third and fourth mounting locations to the frame so that the drive housing flexes along a housing flex line that includes a point positioned directly between the first mounting location and the second mounting location upon a sufficient shock to the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 including the step of flexibly securing the first mounting location to the frame. ### Claim 14 A disk drive which is adapted to be secured to a frame, the disk drive comprising: a drive housing including a first mounting location, a second mounting location, a third mounting location and a fourth mounting location which are spaced apart; an actuator assembly including an actuator shaft which is secured to the drive housing, wherein the actuator shaft is positioned near the first mounting location and the second mounting location; and a mounting assembly securing the drive housing to the frame, the mounting assembly including a first rigid mount adapted to rigidly secure the second mounting location to the frame and a flexible mount adapted to flexibly secure the first mounting location to the frame, the flexible mount diminishing the level of vibration transferred from the frame to the drive housing and facilitating flexing of the drive housing intermediate the first mounting location and the second mounting location. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The disk drive of claim 14 wherein the flexible mount flexes in a direction substantially perpendicular to a base of the drive housing and inhibits flexing in a direction substantially parallel to the base of the drive housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The disk drive of claim 14 wherein the flexible mount includes a deflecting clip for attaching the first mounting location to the drive housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The disk drive of claim 14 including a second rigid mount and a third rigid mount for rigidly securing the third mounting location and the fourth mounting location to the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A computer including the frame and the disk drive of claim 14 secured to the frame with the mounting assembly. ### Claim 19 A method for attaching a disk drive to a frame, the method comprising the steps of: providing a drive housing for the disk drive, the drive housing including a first mounting location, a second mounting location, a third mounting location and a fourth mounting location which are spaced apart, the drive housing including a base; fixedly securing the second, third and fourth mounting locations to the frame so that the drive housing flexes along a housing flex line which is positioned between the first mounting location and the other mounting locations upon a sufficient shock to the frame; and flexibly securing the first mounting location to the frame with a flexible mount which flexes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base of the drive housing and inhibits flexing in a direction substantially parallel to the base of the drive housing.