# US 6,724,568 B1 · Disk clamp for disk drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,724,568 B1 - Document ID: US6724568B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/864,531 - Filed: 2001-05-23 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-13 - Assignees: Maxtor Corporation - Inventors: Wantjinarjo Suwito; James D. Fahey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724568B1 ## CPC - G11B 17/02: Details - G11B 17/038: Centering or locking of a plurality of discs in a single cartridge - 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 clamp for securing data storage disks to a hub of a disk drive mechanism includes a flat body with a protuberance that defines a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk. The body also includes bores that receive members for securing the clamp to the hub and at least one groove for distributing the securing force of the securing members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 circumferential edge, 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; said pair of grooves being spaced radially outward from said hub and spaced radially inward from said circumferential edge, and positioned on opposite radial sides of the protuberance; said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk; and at least one securing bore formed in said body and radially spaced outward from said center bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clamp of claim 1, wherein the protuberance is continuous and annular, and the pair of grooves are each continuous and annular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clamp of claim 2, wherein the protuberance has a generally trapezoidal shape in cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The clamp of claim 3, wherein the body is a circular, one-piece, integrally formed unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The clamp of claim 1, wherein the body further includes at least one force distributing groove formed in its top face, proximate the securing bore for distributing a securing force provided by a securing member that extends through the securing bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The clamp of claim 5, wherein the force distributing groove is arcuate shaped and lies radially outward from the securing bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The clamp of claim 1, wherein the body further defines at least one access bore for providing access to weights used to balance the weight of the clamp during rotation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A clamp, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A clamp, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A clamp, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has an orthogonal shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A clamp, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a V-shape in cross-section. ### Claim 12 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 spaced radially outward from said center bore for receiving securing members that clamp to the hub, at least one top groove spaced radially outward from said plurality of securing bores and formed in the top face proximate the securing bores for distributing a securing force provided by the securing members, and a bottom groove formed on said bottom face and spaced radially outward from the hub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The clamp of claim 12, wherein the top groove is arcuate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The clamp of claim 12, wherein the body further defines in its bottom face a protuberance and a pair of grooves positioned on opposite sides of the protuberance, said bottom groove being one of said pair of grooves; and said protuberance having a flat distal surface for engaging a data storage disk. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The clamp of claim 14, wherein the protuberance is continuous and annular, and the pair of grooves are each continuous and annular. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clamp of claim 15, wherein the protuberance has a generally trapezoidal shape in cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The clamp of claim 16, wherein the body is a circular, one-piece, integrally formed unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The clamp of claim 12, wherein the body further defines at least one access bore providing access to weights used to balance the weight of the clamp during rotation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The clamp of claim 18, wherein the centers of the at least one access bore and the securing bores lie generally on the same circumference. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A clamp, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) A clamp, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) A clamp, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has an orthogonal shape. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) A clamp, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a V-shape in cross-section. ### Claim 24 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. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A clamp, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: 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. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A clamp, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) A clamp, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has an orthogonal shape. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) A clamp, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: one groove of said pair of grooves has a V-shape in cross-section. ### Claim 29 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. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one first circumferential groove is a groove spaced radially outward from said protuberance. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one circumferential groove is a groove spaced radially inward from said protuberance. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one first circumferential groove includes a pair of grooves positioned on opposite radial sides of said protuberance. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said force distributing groove formed on said top face is spaced radially outward from said central bore. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one first circumferential groove has a trapezoidal shape. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one first circumferential groove has an orthogonal shape. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) A clamp, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said at least one first circumferential groove has a V-shape in cross-section. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) A clamp, as claimed in claim 32, wherein: 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. ### Claim 38 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. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A clamp as claimed in claim 38, further including: an undercut formed on said perimeter portion and lying radially outward from said web. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) A clamp, as claimed in claim 39, wherein: said undercut is V-shape in cross-section. ### Claim 41 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. ### Claim 42 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; and wherein the force distributing groove is arcuate and lies radially outward of the securing bores. ### Claim 43 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. ### Claim 44 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. ### Claim 45 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. ### Claim 46 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. ### Claim 47 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. ### Claim 48 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.