The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2000
David Harwood McMurtry, San Juan Bautista, CA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A disk drive has a base containing disks that are mounted on a central drive hub. A cover is mounted and sealed to the base. The cover has an aperture that is sealed with a flexible membrane. The membrane is selectively deflected into contact with the hub or one of the disks by a displacement device. The displacement device is completely external to the sealed drive to avoid contaminating the drive. In one version, a disposable plastic snap clamp is secured to the drive to lock the disks from rotation. A pusher finger on the clamp automatically engages and deflects the membrane into frictional engagement with the disk to immobilize it. The locked position is used during periods of non-operation of the drive. When the drive is operational, the clamp is removed to release the disks for rotation.