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:
Oct. 01, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1998
Bruce M. Harper, San Jose, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
One aspect of the present invention provides a removable cartridge device having an elastically deformable, protective enclosure containing a data-storage medium. A normally closed opening or slit extends along a front edge region of the enclosure. The opening is expandable from the closed condition to an opened condition upon application of a compressive force from opposing lateral sides of the enclosure. In the closed condition, the enclosure substantially shields the medium from contaminants in the external environment. In the opened condition, a transducer may enter the enclosure, through the expanded opening, to address the medium. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for accessing a data-storage medium housed within a resiliently flexible, protective enclosure having a normally closed front edge region. According to one embodiment, the enclosure is compressed at opposing lateral side-edge regions, thereby causing upper and lower confronting surfaces of the enclosure to arc outward to form an opening along the front edge region of the cartridge. A transducer can be inserted through the opening in order to address the medium.