Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-12
2001-01-23
Renner, Craig A. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178067
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cartridge based data storage system in which a flexible magnetic disk is disposed within a cartridge shell. More particularly, the invention relates to a shutter shell latch mechanism for a disk cartridge and data storage device.
Flexible media disk cartridges with rotary shutters have been suggested for a decade or more. For example, a cartridge having a rotary shutter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re, 32,876 (Wakabayashi et al.). The Wakabayashi patent discloses a disk cassette that contains a flexible magnetic disk for storing information. The disk cassette comprises a flexible disk attached to a hub. The disk and hub assembly are sandwiched between an upper cover and a lower cover. Disk access openings are formed into the top and bottom covers for access by disk drive read/write heads. The Wakabayashi shutter rotates on the interior of the cartridge and comprises a metal sheet that slides over and thereby selectively covers the disk access openings. Such a shutter design may be operable for a flexible disk cartridge in which the media access opening is relatively small, and represents an alternative shutter design to the more common sliding shutter found in 1.44 megabyte floppy disks. For certain disk access openings, a different rotary shutter mechanism from the Wakabayashi shutter may be desirable.
More recently, a rotary shutter that is locked in a closed position has been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,095 (McGrath et al.) describes a rotary shutter that covers a significant percentage of the medium within the cartridge. The McGrath cartridge comprises a hard disk medium that is rotatably disposed within an outer shell. The shutter rotates within the outer shell to selectively expose and cover the medium. The shutter is locked in a closed position. During cartridge insertion, a pivoting arm engages the cartridge unlocking the shutter and rotating it open as the cartridge is inserted in to the drive. The pivoting arm rotates over the same arc as the opening shutter.
There is a need for an improved disk cartridge having a latched shutter shell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a data storage device that comprises a disk drive and removable cartridge. The cartridge for use with the drive comprises an outer shell having a spindle access opening, a substantially circular magnetic medium rotatably disposed within the outer shell, and a hub connected to the magnetic medium proximate the center of the medium. The cartridge also comprises an inner shell having a spindle access opening and a head access opening. The inner shell is rotatably coupled to the outer shell between first and second positions, and the spindle access openings of the inner and outer shells are substantially aligned. The inner shell is selectively rotatable to the first position so that the head access openings of the inner and outer shells substantially align and the second position so that the head access openings are substantially misaligned. The circular medium is rotatably disposed within the inner shell. The disk access opening in the outer shell and the inner shell are substantially wedge shaped.
The cartridge further comprises a latch disposed within the outer shell for locking the inner shutter shell in a closed position. The latch has an actuating point along a peripheral edge of said cartridge that unlocks the shutter shell when pressed. Preferably, the latch is disposed on a side peripheral edge of the cartridge and the actuating point is either recessed in a latch window in the outer shell or extends outwardly from the peripheral edge of the cartridge.
The data storage device preferably comprises a lever coupled to a base of the data storage device for operating the cartridge latch. The lever has a cartridge engagement portion disposed on a distal end thereof and comprises a spring portion that flexes during operational use. Preferably, the spring portion comprises a flexible shaft and aligned lengthwise along a length of the data storage device.
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Mayne Douglas
Schick Brian
Iomega Corporation
Renner Craig A.
Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
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