Chucking mechanism, brushless motor having the chucking mechanism, and disk driving apparatus having the brushless motor

A chucking mechanism operable to detachably set thereon a discoid disk including a central opening portion, the chucking mechanism comprising:

• a center case arranged concentrically with a predetermined central axis, including:
• a cylindrical portion which fits the central opening portion;
• a top plate portion covering an axially upper side of the cylindrical portion;
• a plurality of openings arranged in a circumferential direction extending from the cylindrical portion to an outer circumferential side of the top plate portion;
• and
• a movement support receiving portion having an upper movement support surface extending such that the further radially outward a portion thereof is, the axially lower the portion is;
• a claw member movable with respect to the opening, protruding in a radially outward direction from the cylindrical portion, and making contact with the central opening portion of the disk, wherein the claw member is a separate member from the center case;
• an elastic member providing radial force to the claw member;
• and
• a turn table including a disk setting surface setting thereon the disk,
• wherein the claw member includes:
• a claw portion making contact with the disk;
• a movement support portion arranged radially inwardly of and continuously with the claw portion, wherein the movement support portion makes contact with the movement support receiving portion, such that the movement support portion slides with the upper movement support surface in the radial direction when the claw portion is pressed downwardly, and
• a tip portion at a radially outermost portion of the claw portion moves in an axially downward direction and in radially inward direction when the movement support portion slides with respect to the upper movement support surface in the radial direction.