Abstract:
A shock-absorbing device is provided. The shock-absorbing device that absorbs shock to an object includes a shock-absorbing member that surrounds the object and is elastically deformable and a switching mechanism that switches the shock-absorbing member to a flat state where a gap between the shock-absorbing member and the object is small and the shock-absorbing member is flat, or a bent state where the shock-absorbing member is bent toward the outside of the object so that the gap increases.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is related to and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-133391, filed on Jun. 2, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     1. Field 
     The embodiments discussed herein are directed to a shock-absorbing device, a storage medium holding device, and a system for enclosing a storage medium. 
     2. Background 
     Technologies to protect an object from shock are disclosed. For example, by surrounding an object with an air cushion, an elastic member, or the like, shock to the object may be absorbed. As a related art, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-256740 is cited. 
     When carrying or transporting an object, shock to the object is preferably absorbed. However, surrounding an object with a shock-absorbing member increases the size of the object including the shock-absorbing member. When an object is enclosed within another object or placed within another object, the need for shock absorption decreases. For example, when inserting an object into a limited space, a shock-absorbing member may interfere with the insertion. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an aspect of the embodiments discussed herein to provide a shock absorbing device a storage medium holding device, and a system for enclosing a storage medium. The aspect can be attached by a device that absorbs shock to an object including a shock-absorbing member that surrounds the object and is elastically deformable and a switching mechanism that switches the shock-absorbing member to a flat state where a gap between the shock-absorbing member and the object is small and the shock-absorbing member is flat, or a bent state where the shock-absorbing member is bent toward the outside of the object so that the gap increases. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a system for enclosing storage media. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a chassis. 
         FIG. 1C  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a hard disk (HDD) unit. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a HDD unit. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a HDD unit with a shock-absorbing member in a bent state. 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates an engaging hole. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a HDD unit with a shock-absorbing member in a flat state. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an engaging hole in the flat state. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate insertion of a HDD unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , a system for enclosing storage media includes hard disk units (hereinafter referred to as HDD units)  1 , for example three HDD units, and a chassis  100 . The HDD units are enclosed in the chassis  100 . The HDD units  1  correspond to storage medium holding devices. The system for enclosing storage media is used, for example, in a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the chassis  100  includes a top plate  110  and two side walls  140 . On the inner sides of the side walls  140 , guide rails  142  and  143  may be provided that guide the insertion of the HDD units  1 . In addition, on the inner sides of the side walls  140 , protrusions  148  are provided. The chassis  100  is formed, for example, of metal. The protrusions  148  correspond to contact portions.  FIG. 1C  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1B . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each HDD unit  1  includes a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD)  10 , a case  20 , a shock-absorbing member  30 , and multiple (e.g., two) restraining bodies  40 , although only one of the restraining bodies  40  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The HDD  10  corresponds to a storage medium. The case  20  holds the HDD  10 . The case  20  is formed, for example, of synthetic resin. The shock-absorbing member  30  covers, e.g., surrounds the HDD  10  and the case  20 . The shock-absorbing member  30  is, in the example of  FIG. 2 , formed of an elastically deformable metal. The restraining bodies  40 , switch the state of the shock-absorbing member  30 . The shock-absorbing member  30  and the restraining bodies  40  correspond to a shock-absorbing device. The HDD  10  and the case  20  correspond to an object of shock absorption. 
     The HDD  10  may be fixed to the case  20  with screws. The case  20  includes a bottom wall  22 , a front wall  23 , and two side walls  24 . The top surface  11  of the HDD  10  may be exposed from the case  20 . The front wall  23  may be provided with a lever  28 . The lever  28  is openable and closable with respect to the front wall  23 . The lever  28  may be supported rotatably about a pivot  285 . In addition, the front wall  23  includes a protruding wall  231 . The protruding wall  231  includes an engaging hole  233 . The lever  28  includes a tab  281  at the tip thereof. In addition, the lever  28  includes an engaging portion  283  that engages with the engaging hole  233  when the lever  28  is closed. The lever  28  corresponds to a pressing portion and an opening and closing body. 
     The shock-absorbing member  30  includes an upper portion  31 , a lower portion  32 , a front portion  33 , and two side portions  34 . The front portion  33  is located at the front end of the shock-absorbing member  30 . The side portions  34  are located at the back end of the shock-absorbing member  30 . In the upper portion  31 , the lower portion  32 , and the front portion  33 , a plurality of holes may bee formed in order to facilitate the elastic deformation and to reduce the weight. In each of the side portions  34 , an engaging hole  35  may be formed. 
     The restraining bodies  40  engage with the engaging holes  35  formed in the side portions  34 . Each restraining body  40  includes a thin portion  41 , a tip portion  42 , and a bent portion  43 . The thin portion  41  is slightly thinner than the tip portion  42 . On the thin portion  41 , a substantially circular engaging protrusion  45  is formed. In the lower part of the tip portion  42 , a sloping portion  48  is formed. The bent portion  43  is bent substantially perpendicularly to the tip portion  42 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate an HDD unit  1 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a state where lever  28  is open. 
     The shock-absorbing member  30  covers the HDD  10  and the case  20 . When the shock-absorbing member  30  covers, e.g., surrounds the HDD  10  and the case  20 , the front portion  33  and the front wall  23  face each other, and the top surface  11  and the upper portion  31  face each other. The lower portion  32  is not in contact with the bottom wall  22 . The shock-absorbing member  30  may be slidable, for example, in the longitudinal direction relative to the HDD  10  and the case  20 . 
     Each restraining body  40  s located between a corresponding one of the side portions  34  and a corresponding one of the side surfaces  14  of the HDD  10 . In  FIG. 3A , the engaging hole  35  and the engaging protrusion  45  are engaged with each other. In  FIG. 3A , the bent portion  43  and the end of the side wall  24  are in contact with each other. The posture of the restraining body  40  is thereby maintained. As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , when the lever  28  is open, the upper portion  31  and the lower portion  32  (not illustrated) are substantially flat. Therefore, the gap between each of the upper portion  31  and the lower portion  32  (not illustrated) and the HDD  10  is small. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an HDD unit  1  with the shock-absorbing member  30  in a bent state. 
     Closing the lever  28  engages the engaging portion  283  and the engaging hole  233  with each other. The front portion  33  is thereby pressed in the longitudinal direction of the shock-absorbing member  30 , and the front portion  33  and the front wall  23  come into contact with each other. The restraining bodies  40  restrain the shock-absorbing member  30  from being slid by the pressure of the lever  28 . Therefore, the shock-absorbing member  30  is compressed by the lever  28  and the restraining bodies  40 , and the upper portion  31  and the lower portion  32  are bent, for example, away from an outer surface of the HDD  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     Bending the shock-absorbing member  30  increases the gap between each of the upper portion  31  and the lower portion  32  and corresponding surfaces of the HDD  10 . The shock-absorbing member  30  is elastically deformable and protects the HDD  10  and the case  20  from shock by bending outward with respect to the HDD  10 . For example, when carrying the HDD unit  1 , the HDD  10  and the case  20  can be protected from shock by bringing the shock-absorbing member  30  into the bent state. Bending the shock-absorbing member  30  increases the thickness of the HDD unit  1 . When giving priority to shock absorption, the shock-absorbing member  30  may be brought into the bent state. 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates the engaging hole  35  in a bent state where the shock-absorbing member  30  is bent. The engaging hole  35  is substantially L-shaped and imay be formed in the side portion  34 . The engaging hole  35  includes a first region  35   a  that extends substantially vertically and a second region  35   b  that extends substantially horizontally. The first region  35   a  and the second region  35   b  are substantially perpendicular to each other. When the shock-absorbing member  30  is in the bent state, the engaging protrusion  45  is located at the lower end of the first region  35   a . Therefore, in the bent state, the restraining body  40  is located at the lowest position with respect to the shock-absorbing member  30 . By locating the engaging protrusion  45  at the lower end of the first region  35   a , the shock-absorbing member  30  is restrained from being slid by the pressure of the lever  28 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate views of an HDD unit  50  with the shock-absorbing member  30  in the flat state.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the state where the lever  28  is open. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the position of the engaging protrusion  45  in the engaging hole  35  is different from that illustrated in  FIG. 4C . As the lever  28  in the state illustrated in  FIG. 5A  is closed, the shock-absorbing member  30  is pressed and slid by the lever  28 , and is brought into the state illustrated in  FIG. 5B . As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , even when the lever  28  is closed, the shock-absorbing member  30  is maintained in the flat state. In the flat state, the shock-absorbing effect of the shock-absorbing member  30  on the HDD  10  and the case  20  is small. The thickness of the HDD  50  when the shock-absorbing member  30  in the flat state is thin compared to when the shock-absorbing member  30  in the bent state. Accordingly, when n giving priority to size reduction, the shock-absorbing member  30  may be brought into the flat state. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate views of the engaging hole  35  in the flat state.  FIG. 6A  illustrates the state before the lever  28  is closed, and  FIG. 6B  illustrates the state after the lever  28  is closed. 
     In  FIG. 6A , the engaging protrusion  45  is located between the first region  35   a  and the second region  35   b . As the lever  28  is closed, the engaging protrusion  45  relatively moves in the second region  35   b . This allows the shock-absorbing member  30  to slide, and the engaging protrusion  45  is located in the second region  35   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . Since the shock-absorbing member  30  is allowed to be slid by the pressure of the lever  28 , the shock-absorbing member  30  is maintained flat without bending. The restraining bodies  40  switch the shock-absorbing member  30  to the bent state or the flat state according to the positional relationship with the shock-absorbing member  30 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate insertion of an HDD unit  70 . When inserting the HDD unit  70  into the chassis  100 , the levers  28  are open. Inserting the HDD unit  70  with the lever  28  open into the chassis  100  brings the sloping portion  48  of the restraining body  40  into contact with the protrusion  148 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7A . Owing to the protrusion  148 , further insertion of the HDD unit  70  moves the restraining body  40  upward with respect to the shock-absorbing member  30 . For example, the engaging protrusion  45  moves from a position illustrated in  FIG. 4C  (the lower end of the first region  35   a ) to a position illustrated in  FIG. 6A . Since the shock-absorbing member  30  is allowed to slide, the shock-absorbing member  30  may be maintained in the flat state even after the lever  28  is closed. 
     Since the shock-absorbing member  30  is maintained in the flat state when the HDD unit is inserted, many HDD units can be enclosed in a limited space. In a case where an HDD unit is not enclosed in the chassis  100 , the HDD unit can be stably placed by bringing the shock-absorbing member  30  into the flat state. 
     An HDD unit according to an exemplary embodiment can be switched between a state where priority is given to shock absorption and a state where priority is given to size reduction. In the state where priority is given to size reduction, the shock-absorbing member is in a flat state, and therefore the size of the HDD unit including the shock-absorbing member can be kept relatively small. 
     The shock-absorbing member can be switched to a bent state or a flat state according to the position of each restraining body relative to the shock-absorbing member. Therefore, the state of the shock-absorbing member can be switched with a simple operation. 
     As an example, shock to an object may be s absorbed by using an air cushion surrounding the object. By discharging air from the air cushion or introducing air into the air cushion, switching can be performed to a state where shock to the object is absorbed or to a state where shock to the object is not absorbed. However, it may be difficult to discharge air from the air cushion or to introduce air into the air cushion with a simple operation. In addition, it may be difficult to discharge air from the air cushion or to introduce air into the air cushion in a short time. According to an exemplary embodiment, switching can be easily performed to a state where shock is absorbed or a state where shock is not absorbed, simply by changing the position of each restraining body  40  and closing the lever  28 . 
     The shock-absorbing member  30  is pressed by the lever  28 . By pressing the shock-absorbing member  30  with the lever  28 , the shock-absorbing member  30  can be brought into the bent state with a small force. 
     When the lever  28  is open, that is, when the lever  28  is not pressing the shock-absorbing member  30 , the position of each restraining body  40  relative to the shock-absorbing member  30  can be easily changed. 
     Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 
     The object protected from shock is not limited to a storage medium. Although the lever  28  may be provided in the case  20 , a pressing member may be used that is provided separately from the case  20  and that can press the shock-absorbing member  30  in the sliding direction by engaging with the case  20 . 
     Examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment(s) of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, according to an aspect of the embodiments, any combinations of the described features, functions and/or operations can be provided. 
     The many features and advantages of the embodiments are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventive embodiments to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope thereof.