Telescoping disk drive assembly

Claim 1

A compact apparatus for writing and/or reading information on a disk, said apparatus comprising: a housing including a first housing section having a first opening, a telescoping second housing section, and means for mounting said second housing section on said first housing section to move by sliding through said first opening between a compact operative position and an extended disk insertion and withdrawal position; means for defining a second opening in said first housing section serving as an access opening through which a disk is moved for insertion and withdrawal; a disk drive within said housing for writing and/or reading information on a disk inserted thereinto through said access opening, said disk drive including at least first and second components mounted, respectively, on said first and second housing sections for relative movement therewith between said compact position, wherein said first and second components are in operative relation with the disk for write and/or read operations, and said extended position wherein at least one of said first and second components is spaced further away from the disk, than when said first and second components are in said operative position, for facilitating disk insertion and withdrawal operations; means on said first housing section for applying a biasing force on said second housing section urging it toward said extended position; latching means for releasably latching said second housing section, said latching means being movable between a latching position wherein it retains said second housing section in said compact position against the urging of said applied biasing force, and an unlatching position wherein it releases said second housing section for movement to said extended position under the influence of said biasing force; and a door mounted on said housing for movement between a closed position blocking said access opening and an open position unblocking said access opening.