Abstract:
A buffer member includes a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion and a second buffer portion. The pin is located on the first buffer portion. The bending portion is connected with the first buffer portion. The second buffer portion is connected with the bending portion, and the first buffer portion is connected with the second buffer portion via the bending portion. A reinforcing member is located inside the pin for raising the rigidity of the pin. The pin is used for fixing a vibration source. The first buffer portion and the second buffer portion reduce the transmission of the vibration energy from the vibration source.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional patent application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/170,181, filed on Jan. 31, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 102138641 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Oct. 25, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a buffer member and an electrical device, more particularly to an electrical device and its buffer member without screw. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A hard disk drive is generally mounted to a main body of a laptop by a screw. However, it takes extra expenditure in labor cost and material cost because the screw is not only too small to keep, but also needs to cooperate with the corresponding tool according to the sorts of the screws. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, the efficiency and the life span of the hard disk drive are easily affected by the external force or vibration when the hard disk drive operates. Therefore, how to prevent the hard disk drive from vibration is important. In general, the buffer member, such as rubber, is used as a frame for fixing the hard disk drive, which significantly enhances the protection of the hard disk drive against vibration. Specifically, if the rubber with lower elasticity (namely; flexible rubber) is chosen to be the frame of the hard disk drive, it may reduce the vibration but the hard disk drive may not be securely mounted, such that the hard disk drive is easily failed because of the movement. On the contrary, if the rubber with higher elasticity (namely; rigid rubber) is chosen to be the frame of the hard disk drive, it may be securely mounted but generates the vibration such that the hard disk drive is negatively affected because of the vibration. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is difficult to take the buffer and fixation effects into consideration at the same time. Accordingly, it is important to reduce the vibration when the hard disk drive is fixed on the laptop. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An embodiment of the disclosure provides a buffer member including a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion, a second buffer portion and a reinforcing member. The pin is located on the first buffer portion. The bending portion is connected with the first buffer portion. The second buffer portion is connected with the bending portion, and the first buffer portion is connected with the second buffer portion via the bending portion. The hardness of the reinforcing member is higher than that of the first buffer portion, the pin, the bending portion and the second buffer portion. The reinforcing member is located inside the pin. The reinforcing member is substantially coaxial with the pin. The pin has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The second end is closer to the first buffer portion than the first end, and the reinforcing member does not protrude from the first end. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the disclosure provides a buffer member including a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion, a second buffer portion and a reinforcing member. The pin is located on the first buffer portion. The bending portion is connected with the first buffer portion. The second buffer portion is connected with the bending portion, and the first buffer portion is connected with the second buffer portion via the bending portion. The hardness of the reinforcing member is higher than that of the first buffer portion, the pin, the bending portion and the second buffer portion. The reinforcing member is located inside the pin and has no screw thread. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the disclosure provides an electrical device including a speaker and a buffer member. The speaker comprises a top surface and a bottom surface which is opposite to the top surface, and the top surface comprises at least an opening. The buffer member comprises a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion and a second buffer portion. The pin is located on the first buffer portion, and the pin passes through the opening of the speaker. The bending portion is connected with the first buffer portion. The second buffer portion is connected with the bending portion. The first buffer portion is connected with the second buffer portion via the bending portion, and the second buffer portion is attached to the bottom surface of the bottom plate. 
         [0009]    According to the embodiments of buffer member, buffer frame and electrical device, the first buffer portion and the second buffer portion provide the buffer effect, which prevents the vibration source from being failed by the external force, or prevents other electrical components from being negatively affected by the vibration generated from the vibration source. In addition, the buffer member not only reduces the vibration but also fixes to the device at the same time, because the reinforcing member is located inside the pin. Moreover, the components of the electrical device are affixed to each other without any screw because of the fixation by the buffer member. Therefore, it saves the labor cost and material cost according to the embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]    The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the drawing are for illustration only, and thus does not limit the present disclosure, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is an exploded view of the electrical device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a buffer frame according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a buffer member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the buffer member according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of a buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of a buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an electrical device according to another embodiment of the disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is an exploded view of the electrical device according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
         [0022]    Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 1B  is an exploded view of the electrical device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, an electrical device  1  is a laptop, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the electrical device  1  is a server or other operation device in some other embodiments of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the electrical device  1  comprises a storage device  30 , a frame body  20 , a buffer member  10  and a main body  40 . 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, the storage device  30  is a hard disk drive, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the storage device  30  can be regarded as a vibration source. The storage device  30  has two openings  31  located on two opposite sides of the storage device  30 , respectively, but the number of the openings  31  in the disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of the openings  31  of the storage device  30  may be adjusted by one of the ordinary skill in the art according to actual requirement. 
         [0024]    In addition, the frame body  20  and the buffer member  10  together form a buffer frame. Specifically, please refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a buffer frame according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a buffer member according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 3B  is a side view of the buffer member according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the frame body  20  has a lateral plate  21 , four bottom plates  22  and two top plates  23 . The lateral plate  21  is substantially a U-shaped configuration. An accommodation space  210  is formed within the area where the lateral plate  21  surrounds. The accommodation space  210  is used for accommodating the storage device  30 . Moreover, the lateral plate  21  has a perforation hole  213 , an inner side surface  211  and an outer side surface  212  which is opposite to the inner side surface  211 . The inner side surface  211  faces toward the accommodation space  210  and the perforation hole  213  is formed between the inner side surface  211  and the outer side surface  212 . 
         [0025]    Each of the four bottom plates  22  connects with the lateral plate  21 , and each of the four bottom plates  22  is substantially perpendicular to the lateral plate  21 . The bottom plate  22  has a top surface  221  and a bottom surface  222  which is opposite to the top surface  221 , and the top surface  221  faces toward the accommodation space  210 . Each of the four bottom plates  22  further includes an engaging hole  223  facing toward the top surface  221  from the bottom surface  222  of the bottom plate  22 . It is noted that the characteristic of the engaging hole  223  facing the bottom plate  22  in the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments of the disclosure, the engaging hole  223  is recessed toward the top surface  221  from the bottom surface  222  instead of being a through hole in the bottom plate  22 . Furthermore, the frame body  20  further includes four connecting holes  224 . Each of the four connecting holes  224  is a through hole formed between the bottom plate  22  and the lateral plate  21 , and the two opposite sides of the connecting holes  224  are connected with the perforation hole  213  and the engaging hole  223 , respectively. In this embodiment, the number of the bottom plate  22  is four. It is also noted that the number of the bottom plate  22  in the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the number of the bottom plate  22  may be adjusted by one of the ordinary skill in the art according to actual requirement. 
         [0026]    Each of the top plates  23  is connected with the lateral plate  21  as well as substantially perpendicular to the lateral plate  21 . Moreover, the top plate  23  and the bottom plate  22  are located on the two opposite sides of the accommodation space  210 , respectively. In other words, the accommodation space  210  is formed between the top plate  23  and the bottom plate  22 . The storage device  30  is sandwiched between (namely, enclosed by) the top plate  23  and the bottom plate  22  when the storage device  30  is located inside the accommodation space  210 . It is noted that the number of the top plates  23  in this embodiment is two, but the number of the top plate  23  in the disclosure is not limited thereto. The number of the top plate  23  may be adjusted according to actual requirement. In addition, the number of the top plates  23  in this embodiment is substantially different from that of the bottom plate  22 , and the top plate  23  and the bottom plate  22  are in a staggered arrangement (namely, the top plate  23  and the bottom plate  22  do not face to each other) rather than in a corresponding arrangement, but this feature in this embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the top plate  23  is oppositely located to the bottom plate  22  (face to face with each other) if the number of the top plate  23  is equal to that of the bottom plate  22 . 
         [0027]    Furthermore, in this embodiment, the frame body  20  further includes a first holding portion  24  located on the outer side surface  212  of the lateral plate  21 . In this embodiment, the first holding portion  24  is a spring clip such that the frame body  20  is securely located on the main body  40  by the spring clip. The configuration of how the frame body  20  is located on the main body  40  by the first holding portion  24  is going to be illustrated as follows. In addition, the material of the frame body  20  in this embodiment is metal, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments of the disclosure, the nonmetallic material with higher rigidity is used as frame body  20 . 
         [0028]    The buffer member  10  includes a first buffer portion  11 , a pin  12 , a bending portion  13 , a second buffer portion  14  and a reinforcing member  17 . The pin  12  is located on one side of the first buffer portion  11 . The width of the bending portion  13  is smaller than that of the first buffer portion  11  and the second buffer portion  14 , and the two opposite sides of the bending portion  13  are connected with the first buffer portion  11  and the second buffer portion  14 , respectively, such that the first buffer portion  11  is connected with the second buffer portion  14  via the bending portion  13 . The first buffer portion  11  may be shifted relative to the second buffer portion  14  because the bending portion  13  is bent. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the first buffer portion  11 , the pin  12 , the bending portion  13 , and the second buffer portion  14  are integrally formed into one piece and the hardness of it is smaller than that of the frame body  20 . Specifically, the first buffer portion  11 , the pin  12 , the bending portion  13 , and the second buffer portion  14  are made from the same elastic material such as rubber or silicone. In this embodiment, the hardness of the reinforcing member  17  is higher than that of the first buffer portion  11 , the pin  12 , the bending portion  13 , and the second buffer portion  14 , and the material of the reinforcing member  17  is metal. The reinforcing member  17  is located inside the pin  12 , and the reinforcing member  17  is used for enhancing the rigidity and the strength. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member  17  is integrally formed with the pin  12 , for example, by insert molding, but the configuration of the reinforcing member  17  being located inside the pin  12  by integrated form in the disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the pin  12  passes through the openings  31  of the storage device  30  such that the storage device  30  is securely located on the frame body  20 . The configuration of how the storage device  30  is securely located on the frame body  20  is going to be illustrated in the following description. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the pin  12  is gradually increased along a direction facing toward the first buffer portion  11  (as shown in  FIG. 3B ). Namely, the pin  12  is in pyramidal shape such that the pin  12  is easily inserted into the opening  31 . It is noted that the configuration of the outer diameter of the pin  12  gradually increasing toward the first buffer portion  11  in the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments of the disclosure, the outer diameter of the pin  12  keeps constant. 
         [0031]    In addition, in this embodiment, an outer surface  121  of the pin  12  further includes a thread  122  for enhancing the joint strength when the pin  12  is inserted into the openings  31 . 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the buffer member  10  further includes an engaging projection  15  and an adhesive layer  16 . Both of the engaging projection  15  and the adhesive layer  16  are located at the same side of the second buffer portion  14  and the adhesive layer  16  surrounds the engaging projection  15 . It is noted that the configuration of the adhesive layer  16  surrounding the engaging projection  15  in the disclosure is not limited thereto. One of the ordinary skill in the art may adjust the relative position between the adhesive layer  16  and the engaging projection  15 . 
         [0033]    The second buffer portion  14  of the buffer member  10  is attached to the bottom surface  222  of the bottom plate  22  of the frame body  20 , and the engaging projection  15  is engaged with the engaging hole  223  of the bottom plate  22 , such that a buffer frame is formed by the combination of the buffer member  10  and the frame body  20 . 
         [0034]    The main body  40  has a bearing portion  41  and at least a second holding portion  42  located on the bearing portion  41 , and the second holding portion  42  is a wall which is erected on the bearing portion  41 .The number of the second holding portion  42  of the main body  40  corresponds to that of the first holding portion  24 , such that the frame body  20  is securely connected with the main body  40  by the combination of the first holding portion  24  and the second holding portion  42 . The method for combining the frame body  20  with the main body  40  is going to be illustrated in the following description. 
         [0035]    Please refer to the  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 2 , the assembling method of the electrical device  1  is going to be described in the following description. First, the storage device  30  is located inside the accommodation space  210  of the frame body  20  of the buffer frame  5  by a user, such that the storage device  30  is sandwiched (namely, enclosed by) between the bottom plate  22  and the top plate  23 . Specifically, the bottom plate  22  and the top plate  23  may limit the displacement of the storage device  30  in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the openings  31  of the storage device  30  are fitted to the perforation holes  213  of the frame body  20  after the storage device  30  is located inside the accommodation space  210 . At this moment, the bending portion  13  of the buffer member  10  is bent by the user, such that the pin passes through the perforation hole  213  and inserts into the opening  31  of the storage device  30 , and the first buffer portion  11  of the buffer member  10  is attached to the outer side surface  212  of the frame body  20 . Therefore, the storage device  30  is securely located inside the accommodation space  210  of the frame body  20  and the bending portion  13  is located inside the connecting hole  224  at the same time. Specifically, the connecting hole  224  is used for accommodating the bending portion  13  which is bent in order to prevent the bending portion  13  from protruding the outer side surface  212  of the lateral plate  21 , thus, the bending portion  13  does not interfere with other components (not shown) inside the electrical device  1 . 
         [0036]    It is worth noting that the opening  31  of the storage device  30  is a threaded hole and the thread  122  is located on an outer surface  121  of the pin  12 , thus, the joint strength between the pin  12  and the opening  31  is raised. 
         [0037]    Please refer to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B ,  FIG. 4A  is a side view of a buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 4B  is a side view of a buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 4A ), a texture  123   a  is located on an outer surface  121   a  of the pin  12   a  and the texture  123   a  also raises the joint strength between the pin  12   a  and the opening  31 . Furthermore, in this embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 4B ), a plurality of projections  124   b  are located on an outer surface  121   b  of the pin  12   b  and the plurality of projections  124   b  also raise the joint strength between the pin  12   b  and the opening  31 . 
         [0038]    In some other embodiments of the disclosure, it is noted that the pin  12  is tightly fitted (interference fit) with the opening  31  for enhancing the joint strength, and there is no other protrusion structure located on the outer surface  121  of the pin  12 . 
         [0039]    After the storage device  30  is combined with the frame body  20  and the buffer member  10 , the frame body  20  and the storage device  30  regarded as a whole is located on the bearing portion  41  of the main body  40 , such that second holding portion  42  is sandwiched (namely, enclosed by) between the first holding portion  24  and the lateral plate  21  of the frame body  20 . Therefore, the assembly of electrical device  1  is completed according to the above procedure. 
         [0040]    In this embodiment, it is noted that the first buffer portion  11  of the buffer member  10  reduces the vibration of the storage device  30  in the horizontal direction, and the second buffer portion  14  of the buffer member  10  reduces the vibration of the storage device  30  in the vertical direction, thus it prevents the storage device  30  from failure by the external force, or prevents other components inside the storage device  30  from being negatively affected by the vibration generated from the operation of the storage device  30 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reinforcing member  17  is located inside the pin  12 , thus, the pin  12  still keeps enough rigidity and strength even the flexible rubber is chosen to be the first buffer portion  11 , the pin  12 , the bending portion  13  and the second buffer portion  14 . Therefore, the buffer and fixation effects of the buffer member  10  are taken into consideration at the same time according to the embodiment of the disclosure. In other words, it maintains the balance between the buffer and fixation effects. 
         [0041]    In addition, the components of the electrical device  1  mentioned above are affixed to each other without any other screw or bolt. Therefore, it saves the labor cost and material cost according to the embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0042]    In this embodiment, it is noted that the reinforcing member  17  is integrally formed to be located inside the pin  12 , but the configuration of the reinforcing member  17  located inside the pin  12  by integrally formed in the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, please refer to  FIG. 5 , which is an exploded view of the buffer member according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In other embodiment of the disclosure, the pin  12   c  has a mounting hole  125   c  which passes through the first buffer portion  11   c.  The reinforcing member  17   c  passes through the mounting hole  125   c  via one side of the first buffer portion  11   c  such that the reinforcing member  17   c  is located inside the pin  12       
         [0043]    Furthermore, the buffer member  10  in this embodiment is applied to the storage device, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the buffer member  10  is also applied to other vibration source. Please refer to  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B ,  FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an electrical device according to another embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 6B  is an exploded view of the electrical device according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the electrical device  1 ′ further comprises a speaker  50  and a buffer member  10 ′. Specifically, the vibration source in this embodiment is the speaker  50 . The speaker  50  has a top surface  51 , a bottom surface  52  opposite to the top surface  51  and a lateral surface  53 . The lateral surface  53  is located between the top surface  51  and the bottom surface  52 . The top surface  51  of the speaker  50  has a recess  511  and at least an opening  512 , and the opening  512  is located inside the recess  511 . The lateral surface  53  of the speaker  50  has a groove  531  which extends toward the bottom surface  52  from the top surface  51 . 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the configuration of the buffer member  10 ′ is substantially similar to the embodiment shown as  FIG. 3A , and the similar description is not repeated herein again. The first buffer portion  11 ′ of the buffer member  10 ′ is attached to the recess  511  and the pin  12 ′ is inserted into the opening  512  when the buffer member  10 ′ is located inside the speaker  50 . The bending portion  13 ′ is located on the groove  531  of the lateral surface  53  and the second buffer portion  14 ′ is attached to the bottom surface  52  of the speaker  50 . The buffer member  10 ′ is located on the main body (not shown) of the electrical device by any feasible measure, such that the speaker  50  is securely located on the main body of the electrical device. Specifically, the buffer member  10 ′ in this embodiment provides both the buffer and fixation effects for the speaker  50 . Furthermore, the disposing of the recess  511  of the top surface  51  of the speaker  50  and the groove  531  of the lateral surface  53  prevents the first buffer portion  11 ′ of the buffer member  10 ′ from protruding the top surface  51  of the speaker  50 , and prevents the bending portion  13 ′ of the buffer member  10 ′ from protruding the lateral surface  53  of the speaker  50 . 
         [0045]    According to the embodiments of buffer member, buffer frame and electrical device, the first buffer portion and the second buffer portion provide the buffer effect, which prevents the vibration source from being failed by the external force, or prevents other electrical components from being negatively affected by the vibration generated from the vibration source. In addition, the buffer member not only reduces the vibration but also fixes to the device at the same time, because the reinforcing member is located inside the pin. Moreover, the components of the electrical device are affixed to each other without any screw because of the fixation by the buffer member. Therefore, it saves the labor cost and material cost according to the embodiment of the disclosure.