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:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2000
David Larson, Boulder, CO (US);
Benchmark Storage Innovations, Inc., Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
A flexible takeup leader that prevents a deformation in the takeup leader from causing a tape drive failure. The takeup leader comprises an elongated main body integrally formed between a first end and a second end. The elongated main body includes a plurality of apertures formed in at least one section of the elongated main body that corresponds to at least one curvilinear point around a guide roller when the tape drive is in the unloaded condition. The apertures increase the flexibility of the takeup leader to prevent tape drives from realizing erratic behavior caused by a deformed takeup leader. The increased flexibility permits the tape drive to pull a deformed takeup leader through a curvilinear tape path with a substantially smooth motion.