Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-23
2001-10-09
Miller, Brian E. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
C369S291100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301078
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a disc cartridge, and more particularly to a disc cartridge having a disc-like medium such as an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc or the like rotatably received in a casing and including a shutter arranged so as to selectively close openings of the casing which permits a recording/reproducing device of a recording/reproducing apparatus to be accessible to the disc-like medium.
In general, a disc cartridge having a disc-like medium such as, for example, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc or the like received therein is kept charged in a recording/reproducing apparatus in use. Unfortunately, such a disc cartridge conventionally tends to readily cause adhering of dust or the like thereto and damage thereto during handling thereof. Also, it is substantially affected by a variation in temperature. Thus, the disc cartridge typically includes a shutter slidably arranged so as to hold openings of the casing such as a head insertion hole, a drive shaft insertion hole and the like open in use and hold them closed in non-use.
In the conventional disc cartridge including such a shutter as described above, the shutter is adapted to be slid on an outer surface of the casing. For this purpose, the shutter includes an upper plate arranged so as to be opposite to an outer surface of an upper casing member and a lower plate opposite to that of a lower casing member, as well as a connection plate for connecting the upper and lower plates to each other therethrough, resulting in being formed to have a substantially U-shape in section. The lower plate is provided thereon with two holding pawls in a manner to be spaced from each other at a predetermined interval in a direction of sliding of the shutter. The holding pawls are engagedly fitted in a recessed slide groove of the lower casing member to guide sliding of the shutter on the casing and prevent dislocation of the shutter therefrom. Also, the upper and lower casing members are so formed that side surfaces thereof opposite to an inner surface of the connection plate of the shutter are flush with each other and the upper and lower plates are bent at substantially the same angle from the connection plate.
Nevertheless, the side surface of the upper casing member is often caused to be outwardly projected as compared with the side surface of the lower casing member due to a variation in dimensions of molding dies for the casing and shutter, a variation in molding conditions thereof, a slight amount of misregistration between the upper casing member and the lower casing member during assembling of the disc cartridge, and the like. Also, the conventional disc cartridge causes an angle of bending of the upper plate from the connection plate to be increased as compared with that of the lower plate therefrom. This causes each of the holding pawls provided on the lower plate of the shutter to be caught on an inner surface of the slide groove and the connection plate to be caught on the side surface of the upper casing member, leading to a failure in smooth sliding of the shutter on the casing. Also, it hinders smooth mounting of the shutter on the casing, resulting in assembling of the disc cartridge being deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disc cartridge which is capable of ensuring smooth sliding of a shutter on a casing irrespective of a variation in dimensions of a portion of a casing on which the shutter is mounted, a variation in angles of bending of the shutter and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disc cartridge which is capable of exhibiting increased reliability in operation thereof.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disc cartridge which is capable of enhancing safety and reliability in both assembling and operation of the disc cartridge.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disc cartridge which is capable of facilitating manufacturing thereof while preventing an increase in manufacturing cost thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, a disc cartridge is provided. The disc cartridge includes a casing constituted of an upper casing member and a lower casing member, and a disc-like medium rotatably received in the casing. The casing is provided with openings through which a recording/reproducing device is accessible to the disc-like medium. The disc cartridge also includes a shutter constructed of an upper plate, a lower plate and a connection plate for connecting the upper and lower plates therethrough and formed to have a substantially U-shape in section. The upper and lower plates are movably supported on the casing and moved in slide recesses formed on an outer surface of the casing to selectively close the openings. The lower plate of the shutter is provided with a holding pawl and the lower casing member is formed on an outer surface thereof with a slide groove, so that the holding pawl of the lower plate is slidably fitted in the slide groove of the lower casing member. Also, the upper and lower casing members are so formed that a side surface of the lower casing member on which the connection plate of the shutter is slid is outwardly projected toward the connection plate of the shutter beyond a side surface of the upper casing member on which the connection plate is likewise slid.
Alternatively or additionally, the shutter may be so formed that a bending angle between the lower plate and the connection plate is larger than that between the upper plate and the connection plate.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection plate of the shutter is provided thereon with a bent element in a manner to inwardly extend therefrom and the upper and lower casing members of the casing are formed on the side surfaces thereof with a recess. The bent element of the connection plate is inserted in the recess of the side surfaces of the upper and lower casing members while being abutted against a recess forming portion of the lower casing member, whereby the shutter is slidably arranged on the casing while straddling the upper and lower casing members.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4849844 (1989-07-01), Kato
patent: 5786969 (1998-07-01), Fukushima et al.
patent: 5805566 (1998-09-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5822297 (1998-10-01), Fujisawa
patent: 0 353 000 A2 (1990-01-01), None
patent: 0 502 702 A1 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 8-335382 (1996-12-01), None
Ikebe Masaru
Miyazaki Yukio
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Miller Brian E.
TDK Corporation
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