Shutter locking mechanism for a miniature compact disk cartridge or the like and a method of manufacturing the same

Claim 1

A protective cartridge for housing an information storage disk comprising: a protective shell adapted to enclose the disk; at least one read/write port incorporated into said shell for allowing a read/write device access to the disk; a shutter slidably coupled to said shell and adapted to move into a closed position to cover said read/write port, and move into an open position to allow access to said read/write port; and a shutter-lock integrally formed with said shell and adapted to releasably lock said shutter into the closed position, wherein said shutter-lock includes a first elongated portion including first and second ends, means for releasably engaging said shutter into the closed position, and a first stiffness associated with said first elongated portion, a second elongated portion including a first end connected to said second end of said first elongated portion, a second end, and a second stiffness associated with said second elongated portion, wherein said second stiffness is substantially less than said first stiffness, and a third portion formed on said second end of said second elongated portion of said shutter lock, wherein said third portion of said shutter-lock is integrally formed with said lower shell, wherein said first, second and third portions of said shutter-lock and said shell comprise a single unitary piece, and wherein said second portion of said shutter-lock is adapted to bend for allowing said first portion of said shutter-lock to rigidly translate and disengage from said shutter and to allow said shutter to slide into the open position.