Opticord, Inc.

Patrick B Sandell

Albert F Ditzig

Mohamed Agha

Curtis G Olsen

A protective cartridge for a data information disk having a disk containing case and a door moveable on said case between a closed position covering the disk and an open position for exposing the disk during a read operation. The door is supported on a subassembly comprising a slider, a support rod upon which said slider is mounted, and a biasing spring for urging the slider toward a door closing position. The subassembly is mountable as a unit with easy snap action engagement into said case.

Data information disk cartridge and method of assembly and use

A storage case for a compact optical disc retains trays for the disc in a spring loaded arrangement that is released by a latch mechanism easily activated using one hand. The case is formed by top and bottom portions of alternative configurations. A storage system is provided for storing and displaying the trays. The storage system has a base, and rails which engage slots in the tray. A shipping container is provided for shipping either the tray or the individual compact disc.

Storage case for compact discs

A rewritable optical disk is protectively enclosed in a cartridge having a base and having a hinged cover which is swingable to an open position permitting removal of the disk from the cartridge. A door with shutters is slidable on the cartridge between open and closed positions relative to access apertures formed in the cover and the base. The shutter for the access aperture in the cover is hinged relative to the remainder of the sliding door to enable that shutter to swing as the cover is opened and closed. The cover carries an axially and radially floatable hub which co-acts with the optical disk and the spindle of the disk drive to establish a precisely concentric relation between the disk and the spindle.

Protective cartridge for rewritable optical disk

A rewritable optical disk is protectively enclosed in a cartridge having a base and having a hinged cover which is swingable to an open position permitting removal of the disk from the cartridge. A door with shutters is slidable on the cartridge between open and closed positions relative to access apertures formed in the cover and the base. The shutter for the access aperture in the cover is hinged relative to the remainder of the sliding door to enable that shutter to swing as the cover is opened and closed. The cover carries an axially and radially floatable hub which coacts with the optical disk and the spindle of the disk drive to establish a precisely concentric relation between the disk and the spindle.

A rewritable optical disk is protectively enclosed in a cartridge formed in part by two plastic shells disposed in face-to-face relation and defining a compartment for the disk. A door with shutters is slidable on the shells between open and closed positions relative to access apertures formed in the shells. The shutters are molded integrally with a connecting web to enable the door to be manufactured as a single-piece unit. A tongue molded integrally with the web enables the door to be assembled to the shells with a slip-in fit and coacts with the shells to mount the door for sliding between its open and closed positions.

Method of assembling disk cartridge with one-piece plastic molded door

A storage case for a compact optical disc retains trays for the disc in a spring loaded arrangement that is released by a latch mechanism easily activated using one hand. The case is formed by top and bottom portions of alternative configurations. By selecting different combinations of configurations, the case provides storage for two, four or six compact discs.

An optical data disc is enclosed in a protective cartridge including a pair of interlocking plastic shells. The shells have integral resilient fastening hooks which are locked by plugs to prevent disassembly. A two-piece sliding door is opened for exposing the disc during a read operation. In one embodiment, the sliding door includes two metal shutters having forward portions stamped with resilient hooks which are permanently retained in an undercut groove formed in a plastic slider engaged in a track defined by two plastic shells. The rear portions of the metal shutters are overlapped by respective shutter retainer strips secured to ledges formed in the shells. The door is urged towards a closed position by a double coil torsion spring providing a substantially constant closing force along the range of travel of the slider. A pivot having detent positions is provided for selectible blocking of a write protect hole formed through the shells. An alternative embodiment of sliding door is disclosed which comprises two molded plastic shutters that each have an integrally formed slider which are adapted for innerfitting engagement and for supporting the door for sliding movement relative to the cartridge shells. A locking lever also is disclosed for engaging the disc in response to movement of the door to a closed position for retaining the disc against movement during periods of non-use of the cartridge.

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Bartlett, IL, United States of America

Patrick B Sandell