Abstract: A system for protecting a dock from ice damage. The system includes a circumferentially fluted, water-impermeable housing capable of longitudinal and radial expansion and contraction. The housing defines a cavity with upper and lower openings into the cavity through the housing. The openings are configured and arranged to engage a dock-supporting post at longitudinally spaced upper and lower points along the length of the post with the upper point positioned above the water line and the lower point positioned below the frost line.

Abstract: A hybrid base plate and electronic circuit board is disclosed for use in the low profile disk drives as used in computers. The hybrid base plate/circuit board is fabricated of a rigid metal insert serving as the base plate and an electronic circuit board, provided with an aperture configured to mate with the perimeter of the metal base plate. The metal base plate is electrically connected to the circuit board to provide grounding; and the circuit board provides support to the base plate, thus permitting the elimination of one thickness of the base plate and the separate circuit board as previously used in disk drives.