Disk clamp for disk drive

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body defining top and bottom faces and a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends;
• said body also defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance and spaced radially outward from said center bore;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• said protuberance being a continuous, annular portion of the body and the pair of grooves being continuous and annular;
• said body further defining at least one securing bore that extends through the body and spaced radially from the center bore;
• and
• said body defining at least one force distributing groove in its top face, proximate the securing bore for distributing the securing force provided by a securing member that extends through the securing bore.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a substantially planar body having top and bottom faces, and a central bore for receiving the hub, said body having
• (i) a circumferential protuberance formed on said bottom face, said protuberance having a flat surface for engaging a disk;
• (ii) at least one first circumferential groove formed on said bottom face and radially spaced outward from said protuberance;
• and
• (iii) at least one force distributing groove formed in said top face;
• and (iv) at least one securing bore spaced radially outward from said central bore.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• an annular central portion including at least one securing bore formed through said central portion to secure said clamp to the hub;
• a perimeter portion spaced radially outward from said central portion, said perimeter portion defining a peripheral edge of said clamp;
• and
• a web interconnecting said central portion to said perimeter portion, said web having a thickness which is less than a thickness of said central portion, and less than a thickness of said perimeter portion, said web extending circumferentially around said central portion.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body having top and bottom faces and a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends;
• said body also defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• the body further defining at least one securing bore that extends through the body and is spaced from the center bore;
• the body further including at least one force distributing groove formed in its top face, proximate the securing bore for distributing the securing force provided by a securing member that extends through the securing bore;
• and
• wherein the force distributing groove is arcuate shaped and lies radially outward from the securing bore.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body defining top and bottom faces, a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends, a plurality of securing bores for receiving members that secure the clamp to the hub, and at least one groove formed in the top face proximate the securing bores for distributing the securing force provided by the securing members;
• the body further defining at least one access bore providing access to weights used to balance the weight of the clamp during rotation;
• and
• wherein the centers of the access bore and the securing bores lie generally on the same circumference.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body having top and bottom faces, a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends, and a plurality of securing bores spaced from the center bore;
• said body also defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• the body further defining at least one access bore for providing access to weights used to balance the weight of the clamp during rotation;
• and
• wherein the centers of the at least one access bore and the securing bores lie generally on the same circumference.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body having top and bottom faces and a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends;
• said body also defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• and
• one groove of said pair of grooves extends to said bottom face, and another groove of said pair of grooves terminates at its lower end at a selected distance below said bottom face.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a flat body defining top and bottom faces, a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends, a plurality of securing bores for receiving members that secure the clamp to the hub, and at least one groove formed in the top face proximate the securing bores for distributing the securing force provided by the securing members;
• the body further defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite sides of the protuberance;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• and
• one groove of said pair of grooves extends to said bottom face, and another groove of said pair of grooves terminates at its lower end at a selected distance below said bottom face.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive said clamp comprising:

• a flat body having top and bottom faces and a center bore through which a portion of the hub extends;
• said body also defining in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance;
• said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk;
• said protuberance being a continuous, annular portion of the body and the pair of grooves being continuous and annular;
• said body further defining at least one securing bore that extends through the body and spaced radially from the center bore;
• said body defining at least one force distributing groove in its top face, proximate the securing bore for distributing the securing force provided by a securing member that extends through the securing bore;
• and
• one groove of said pair of grooves extending to said bottom face, and another groove of said pair of grooves terminating at its lower end at a selected distance below said bottom face.

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive, said clamp comprising:

• a substantially planar body having top and bottom faces and a central bore for receiving the hub, said body having a circumferential protuberance formed on said bottom face, said protuberance having a flat surface for engaging a disk, and said body further having at least one first circumferential groove formed on said bottom face and communicating with said protuberance;
• said at least one first circumferential groove includes a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of said protuberance;
• and
• one groove of said pair of grooves extends to said bottom face, and another groove of said pair of grooves terminates at its lower end at a selected distance below said bottom face.