Shock-cushioning structure

Abstract

A small-volumed shock-cushioning structure SA of the present invention guarantees absorption of shocks of different magnitudes associated with two different states of a hard disk, and thereby to effectively protect the hard disk from the shocks of different magnitudes. The shock-cushioning structure SA includes a first shock-cushioning material CAL having a first stress-strain characteristic AL with a first effective cushioning stress, and a second shock-cushioning material CAH having a second stress-strain characteristic AH with a second effective cushioning stress greater than the first effective cushioning stress of the first stress-strain characteristic AL.

1 . A shock-cushioning structure formed by first and second shock-cushioning materials which are strained under impact stress to absorb the impact stress, 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a first stress-strain characteristic with a first effective cushioning stress, and    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a second stress-strain characteristic with a second effective cushioning stress greater than the first effective cushioning stress of the first stress-strain characteristic.    
     
     
         2 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shock-absorbing materials and simultaneously undergo the impact stress.  
     
     
         3 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a shape of a solid having a first prescribed length in a direction along which the impact stress is applied,    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a shape of a solid having a second prescribed length, which is shorter than the first prescribed length, in the direction along which the impact stress is applied, and    wherein the first and second shock-cushioning materials are connected in a connection plane substantially perpendicular to the direction along which the impact stress is applied.    
     
     
         4 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a wedge-like shape having a planar base substantially perpendicular to a direction along which the impact stress is applied,    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a wedge-like shape having a planar base substantially perpendicular to the direction along which the impact stress is applied, and    wherein the first and second shock-cushioning materials are connected by their inclined surfaces having a prescribed angle to the planar bases.    
     
     
         5 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the first shock-cushioning structure is longer than the second shock-cushioning material in the direction along which the impact stress is applied.  
     
     
         6 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the inclined surface of the first shock-cushioning material is convex and curved, and    wherein the inclined surface of the second shock-cushioning material is concave and curved.    
     
     
         7 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first shock-cushioning material undergoes the impact stress before the second shock-cushioning material does.  
     
     
         8 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a shape of a solid having a first prescribed length in a direction along which the impact stress is applied;    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a shape of a solid having a second prescribed length, which is shorter than the first prescribed length, in the direction along which the impact stress is applied, and    wherein the first and second shock-cushioning materials are connected in a connection plane substantially parallel to the direction along which the impact stress is applied.    
     
     
         9 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a shape of a cube, and    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a concave and curved surface for receiving the impact strain.    
     
     
         10 . The shock-cushioning structure according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the first shock-cushioning material has a surface which is opposed to and smaller than the connection surface, and    wherein the second shock-cushioning material has a surface which is opposed to and smaller than the connection surface.