Abstract:
A vibration dampening structure ( 10 ) for absorbing vibrations generated by an electronic device includes a screw ( 30 ) and a dampening element ( 50 ) placed around the screw. The screw includes a head ( 31 ) and a shank ( 32 ) extending from the head. A retaining slot is defined in the shank. The dampening element includes a resilient shock-absorbing member ( 53 ) fittingly surrounding the shank of the screw. At least one resilient hook ( 515 ) protrudes from a first end of the resilient shock-absorbing member and engages in the retaining slot of the screw. A plurality of shock-absorbing pads ( 531 ) protrudes from a second end of the resilient shock-absorbing member opposite to the first end. The shock-absorbing pads are configured for abutting on the electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to vibration dampening structures, and more particularly to a vibration dampening structure for an electronic device, such as a data storage device, etc. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Electronic devices, such as various data storage devices (for example, hard disk drives and floppy disk drives), are usually installed in a computer for communicating and handling data. When the data storage device is running, vibrations will be generated therefrom and may damage the data storage device. It is important to secure the data storage device stably in the computer for keeping stability and security of the computer. 
     Conventionally, the data storage device is secured in the computer by a plurality of methods. For example, data storage devices are screwed in mounting brackets of computers. However, gaps unavoidably exist between the screws and sides of the screw holes of the data storage device, thereby allowing vibrations when the data storage device is running, which can effect stability of the data storage device. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a convenient simple vibration dampening structure for use in an electronic device. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vibration dampening structure for absorbing vibrations generated by an electronic device includes a screw and a dampening element placed around the screw. The screw includes a head and a shank extending from the head. A retaining slot is defined in the shank. The dampening element includes a resilient shock-absorbing member fittingly surrounding the shank. At least one resilient hook protrudes from a first end of the resilient shock-absorbing member and engages in the retaining slot of the screw. A plurality of shock-absorbing pads protrudes from a second end of the resilient shock-absorbing member opposite to the first end. The shock-absorbing pads are configured for abutting on the electronic device. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a vibration dampening structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the vibration dampening structure; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the vibration dampening structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the vibration dampening structure; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded, isometric view of the vibration dampening structure with a data storage device and a mounting bracket; and 
         FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the vibration dampening structure with the data storage device and the mounting bracket of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vibration dampening structure  10  of an embodiment of the present invention includes a screw  30  and a dampening element  50  placed around the screw  30 . 
     The screw  30  includes a head  31  defining a recess  311  therein and a shank  32  extending perpendicularly from the head  31 . The shank  32  includes a connecting portion  33  connected to the head  31 , a shaft portion  35  connected to the connecting portion  33 , and a threaded portion  37  connected to the shaft portion  35 . The connecting portion  33  is located between the head  31  and the shaft portion  35 , and a diameter of the connecting portion  33  is less than diameters of the head  31  and the shaft portion  35 , thereby forming a ring-shaped retaining slot between the head  31  and the shaft portion  35 . 
     The dampening element  50  includes a resilient shock-absorbing member  53  and a bowl-shaped enclosure  51  enclosing the resilient shock-absorbing member  53  therein. The resilient shock-absorbing member  53  has a top wall  511 , and a top portion of the enclosure  51  is embedded in borders of the top wall  511  of the resilient shock-absorbing member  53 , thereby the enclosure  51  being integrally formed with the resilient shock-absorbing member  53 . The enclosure  51  has a circular body  517  extending from edges of the top portion thereof and an opening  512  defined in a bottom portion thereof for the resilient shock-absorbing member  53  extending therethrough. The diameter of the body  517  increases gradually from the top portion to the opening  512  of the bottom portion of the enclosure  51 . A through hole  513  is defined in the center of the top wall  511  of the resilient shock-absorbing member  53  and runs through the resilient shock-absorbing member  53 . The diameter of the through hole  513  is the same as that of the shaft portion  35  of the screw  30 . A plurality of resilient hooks  515  protrudes from the top wall  511  around the through hole  513  of the resilient shock-absorbing member  53 . Each resilient hook  515  includes a supporting portion  5153  extending from the top wall  511  and a clasp  5151  bent perpendicularly from a free end of the supporting portion  5153 . A width of each clasp  5151  is equal to a vertical distance of outer surfaces between the shaft portion  35  and the connecting portion  33 , a height of each clasp  5151  is equal to a distance from the head  31  to the shaft portion  35 , thereby the clasp  5151  of each resilient hook  515  is secured in the retaining slot formed between the head  31  and the shaft portion  35  of the screw  30 . The body  517  of the enclosure  51  has an inner surface  52 . The resilient shock-absorbing member  53  is in the shape of a tapered tube with the wide end (referring also to  FIG. 6 ) abutting the inner surface  52  of the body  517 , and the narrow end exposed outside of the opening  512  of the enclosure  51 . Space is left between the enclosure  51  and the shock-absorbing member  53  of the dampening element  50 . A plurality of shock-absorbing pads  531  protrudes from the bottom edges around the through hole  513  of the resilient shock-absorbing member  53  to be exposed outside of the opening  512 . The plurality of shock-absorbing pads  531  extend into the through hole  513 . Each shock-absorbing pad  531  has a protruding block  532  extending from an end thereof to an inner surface of the through hole  513 , and each protruding block  532  abuts on the threaded portion  37  of the screw  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , in assembly, the screw  30  is inserted into the through hole  513  of the dampening element  50  from the top portion thereof to force the resilient hooks  515  of the dampening element  50  to deform elastically away from the screw  30 . When the clasps  5151  of the resilient hooks  515  are coplanar with the connecting portion  33  of the screw  30 , the resilient hooks  515  will rebound back to their initial states to be clasped in the retaining slot formed between the head  31  and the shaft portion  35  of the screw  30 . Thereby preventing the dampening element  50  moving radially or axially along the screw  30 . At this time, the inner surface of the through hole  513  abuts against the outer surface of the shaft portion  35  of the screw  30 , and the ends of the shock-absorbing pads  531  of the resilient shock-absorbing member  53  and the corresponding protruding blocks  532  abut the threaded portion  37  adjacent to the shaft portion  35  of the screw  30 . Thereby securing the dampening element  50  onto the screw  30 , and composing the vibration dampening structure  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the vibration dampening structure  10  of the present invention can be installed on an electronic device for absorbing vibration when the electronic device is running. For example, the vibration dampening structure  10  is installed on a data storage device  20 , and then the data storage device  20  is secured in a mounting bracket  40 . The data storage device  20  includes two opposite sidewalls  21 , each sidewall  21  defines two screw holes  211 . The mounting bracket  40  includes a bottom panel  41 , and two side panels  43  extending perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the bottom panel  41 . Each side panel  43  defines an L-shaped securing slot  42 , each securing slot  42  includes a guide portion  421  perpendicular to the bottom panel  41  and a securing portion  423  parallel to the bottom panel. A width of each guide portion  421  is larger than a diameter of the enclosure  51  of the dampening element  50 , and a width of each securing portion  423  is equal to the diameter of the enclosure  51 . In assembly, the vibration dampening structures  10  are respectively secured into the screw holes  211  of the data storage device  20 , and the shock-absorbing pads  531  of each vibration dampening structure  10  abut against the sidewall  21  of the data storage device  20 . The data storage device  20  with the vibration dampening structures  10  thereon is pushed towards the bottom panel  41  of the mounting bracket  40  to drive the enclosures  51  of each vibration dampening structure  10  to slide through the guide portions  421  of the corresponding securing slots  42 , and then the data storage device  20  is pushed parallel to the bottom panel  41  to drive the vibration dampening structures  10  to be secured into the securing portions  423  of the corresponding securing slots  42 . When the data storage device  20  is running, the vibration generated by the data storage device  20  will be absorbed by the vibration dampening structures  10  because of the shock-absorbing pads  531  of the vibration dampening structures  10  engaging with the sidewalls  21  of the data storage device  20 . In this embodiment, the enclosure  51  of the vibration dampening structure  10  is made of a durable material, such as a metal, for preventing the enclosure  51  being abraded when the enclosure  51  slides into the securing slot  42 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.