US5319630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light-tight optical disk cartridge
Assignee: Calimetrics Inc
•
Filing: 1991-12-24
•
Granted: 1994-06-07
•
Expires: 2011-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A light-tight optical disk cartridge is disclosed for use with ETOM erasable and other optical disks in which light baffles incorporating a snap lock feature are utilized in the assembly of the optical disk cartridge in order to provide structural integrity to the cartridge as well as to prevent the entry of light into the cartridge. A snap close slide and latching mechanism is incorporated in order to prevent accidental opening of the access mechanism of the optical disk cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen M. Earman
- 👤 William R. A. Ziegler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/0301; G11B23/0308; G11B23/0313; G11B23/0316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A removable optical disk cartridge for providing a light-tight environment for an optical disk, comprising: top and bottom disk cartridge portions secured together by a continuous light-tight seam structure; an optical disk rotatably secured within said secured together top and bottom disk cartridge portions; a slide rail having a top portion located on said top disk cartridge portion and a bottom portion located on said bottom disk cartridge portion; and a slide movably secured to said top and bottom portions of said slide rail by an edge baffle structure, wherein said edge baffle structure is light-tight and wherein an edge of said slide fits snugly into a baffle formed as part of said slide rail to form at least one light-tight edge baffle structure which prevents light from penetrating into said removable optical disk cartridge when said slide is in a closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A removable optical disk cartridge for providing a light-tight environment for an optical disk, comprising: top and bottom disk cartridge portions secured together by a continuous light-tight seam structure; an optical disk rotatably secured within said secured together top and bottom disk cartridge portions; a slide rail having a top portion located on said top disk cartridge portion and a bottom portion located on said bottom disk cartridge portion; and a slide movably secured to said top and bottom portions of said slide rail by an edge baffle structure, wherein said edge baffle structure is light-tight and wherein an edge of said slide fits snugly into a baffle formed as part of said slide rail to form at least one light-tight edge baffle structure which prevents light from penetrating into said removable optical disk cartridge when said slide is in a closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, further including means for preventing the opening of said slide when said removable optical disk cartridge is outside of an optical disk drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 2, wherein said means for preventing the opening of said slide comprises a slide latch assembly secured at a front end of said removable optical disk cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, wherein said light-tight seam structure is comprised of an edge bead formed in one of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions and a receiving light baffle formed in the other of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 4, wherein said edge bead and said receiving light baffle snap securely together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, wherein said slide, when in an open position, permits access to said optical disk by both a spindle drive mechanism and drive optics for operatively utilizing said optical disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, wherein said optical disk is an ETOM optical disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, further including at least one write protect tab provided on at least one side of said optical disk cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, wherein said edge baffle structure of said slide is light-tight and includes a soft snap mechanism for maintaining said slide in a closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 1, wherein said edge baffle structure of said slide is formed by a rounded edge on said slide meeting with a groove in said slide rail.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for providing a light-tight removable optical disk cartridge for an optical disk rotatingly secured within said disk cartridge, comprising the steps of: assembling said cartridge from top and bottom disk cartridge portions using a continuous light-tight seam structure to secure together said top and bottom disk cartridge portions; securing a top and a bottom slide rail respectively, to said top and bottom disk cartridge portions; and slidably securing a slide to said top and bottom slide rails by means of a light-tight seam edge such that said light-tight seam edge and said top and bottom slide rails prevent any light from entering said light-tight removable optical disk cartridge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for providing a light-tight removable optical disk cartridge for an optical disk rotatingly secured within said disk cartridge, comprising the steps of: assembling said cartridge from top and bottom disk cartridge portions using a continuous light-tight seam structure to secure together said top and bottom disk cartridge portions; securing a top and a bottom slide rail respectively, to said top and bottom disk cartridge portions; and slidably securing a slide to said top and bottom slide rails by means of a light-tight seam edge such that said light-tight seam edge and said top and bottom slide rails prevent any light from entering said light-tight removable optical disk cartridge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing a slide latch mechanism to prevent the accidental opening of said slide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 11, further including the step of forming a continuous edge in one of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions and forming a corresponding continuous groove of light baffles in the other of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions for receiving said continuous edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said seam edge and said light baffle snap together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing at least one write protect tab for at least one side of said light-tight removable optical disk cartridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
A removable optical disk cartridge for providing a light-tight environment for an optical disk, comprising: top and bottom disk cartridge portions secured together by a continuous light-tight seam structure; an optical disk rotatably secured within said secured together top and bottom disk cartridge portions; a slide rail having a top portion located on said top disk cartridge portion and a bottom portion located on said bottom disk cartridge portion; and a slide movably secured to said top and bottom portions of said slide rail by an edge baffle structure, wherein said edge baffle structure of said slide is light-tight and includes a soft snap mechanism for maintaining said slide in a closed position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
A removable optical disk cartridge for providing a light-tight environment for an optical disk, comprising: top and bottom disk cartridge portions secured together by a continuous light-tight seam structure; an optical disk rotatably secured within said secured together top and bottom disk cartridge portions; a slide rail having a top portion located on said top disk cartridge portion and a bottom portion located on said bottom disk cartridge portion; and a slide movably secured to said top and bottom portions of said slide rail by an edge baffle structure, wherein said edge baffle structure of said slide is light-tight and includes a soft snap mechanism for maintaining said slide in a closed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, further including means for preventing the opening of said slide when said removable optical disk cartridge is outside of an optical disk drive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 17, wherein said means for preventing the opening of said slide comprises a slide latch assembly secured at a front end of said removable optical disk cartridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, wherein said light-tight seam structure is comprised of an edge bead formed in one of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions and a receiving light baffle formed in the other of said top and bottom disk cartridge portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 19, wherein said edge bead and said receiving light baffle snap securely together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, wherein said slide, when in an open position, permits access to said optical disk by both a spindle drive mechanism and drive optics for operatively utilizing said optical disk.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, wherein said optical disk is an ETOM optical disk.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, further including at least one write protect tab provided on at least one side of said optical disk cartridge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The removable optical disk cartridge of claim 16, wherein said edge baffle structure of said slide is formed by a rounded edge on said slide meeting with a groove in said slide rail.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-06 | 1997-12-06 | 1998-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-06 | 2001-12-06 | 2002-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-06 | 2005-12-06 | 2006-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |