Disk cartridge

Claim 2

A disk cartridge comprising: a pair of cartridge halves (12, 13); a sliding shutter (15) adapted to open and close a window portion (12a, 13a) which is formed through one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for exposing a part of a disk (14) accommodated in said disk cartridge; a sliding member (16) slidably fitted to one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for supporting said sliding shutter (15) relative to said disk cartridge; and a spring (20) engaged at one of its ends with one of the cartridge halves (12, 13); characterised by a first rack .(17) provided on said sliding member (16); a second rack (18) provided on one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) and facing said first rack; and a rotatable pinion (19) arranged between said first rack and said second rack; said spring (20) having its other end engaged with said pinion (19).

Claim 3

A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second rack is provided on one of cartridge halves.

Claim 4

A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said rotatable pinion (19) consists of a pinion wheel (19a) and a rotary body (19b/c) rotatable relative to said pinion wheel (19a), one end of said spring (20) being engaged with said rotary body (19b/c).

Claim 5

A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a locking means (23) which locks said sliding shutter (15) at a position whereat said sliding shutter (15) closes the window portion.

Claim 6

A disk cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a disk chucking hub (14a) is also exposed through said window portion (12a, 13a).

Claim 7

A disk cartridge as claimed in claim 5, wherein said window portion (12a, 13a) is respectively provided through each of the cartridge halves (12, 13).

Claim 8

A disk cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spring (20) is a torsion spring.

Claim 9

A disk cartridge comprising: a pair of cartridge halves (12, 13) a sliding shutter (15) adapted to open and close a window portion (12a, 13a) which is formed through one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for exposing a part of a disk (14) accommodated in said disk cartridge; a sliding member (16) slidably fitted to one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for supporting said sliding shutter (15) relative to said disk cartridge; and a spring (20) engaged at one of its ends with one of the cartridge halves (12, 13); characterised by a gearing mechanism (17, 18, 19) operatively interposed between the other end of the spring (20) and the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) for transferring the spring force to the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) and for reducing the range of movement of the spring (20) which corresponds to the range of movement of the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) between their open and closed positions.

Claim 10

A disk cartridge comprising: a pair of cartridge halves (12, 13) a sliding shutter (15) adapted to open and close a window portion (12a, 13a) which is formed through one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for exposing a part of a disk (14) accommodated in said disk cartridge; a sliding member (16) slidably fitted to one of the cartridge halves (12, 13) for supporting said sliding shutter (15) relative to said disk cartridge; and a spring (20) engaged at one of its ends with one of the cartridge halves (12, 13); characterised by a gearing mechanism (17, 18, 19) operatively interposed between the other end of the spring (20) and the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) for transferring the spring force to the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) and for reducing the range of movement of the spring (20) which corresponds to the range of movement of the sliding member (16) and shutter (15) between their open and closed positions.