<< European patents typically issue sooner than their US counterparts.
Watch for the US patent to issue (say, in about 3 months)>>
Not true, at least thus far for Iomega. Many more U.S. patents for Zip and Jaz technology than in Europe. The relevant U.S. patent (I think) is Patent No. 5650899 : Cam mechanism to clamp magnetic disk against cartridge shell
-------------------------------------------------------
INVENTORS:
Schick; Brian R., Eden, UT
Bracken; Allen T., Layton, UT
Rich; Edward L., Ogden, UT
Sumner; Wayne A., Ogden, UT
ASSIGNEES:Iomega Corporation, Roy, UT
ISSUED:Julyÿ22,ÿ1997ÿFILED: Oct.ÿ31,ÿ1995
SERIAL NUMBER: 550818ÿMAINT. STATUS:
INTL.ÿCLASS (Ed.ÿ6): G11B 023/03;
U.S. CLASS:360/133; 369/291;
FIELD OF SEARCH:360-133 ; 369-291,290,289,270 ;
ABSTRACT:ÿÿ A cartridge for a magnetic disk drive has a clamping mechanism which is actuated as the door to the cartridge is closed when the cartridge is removed from the drive. The door covers the opening
through which the cartridge is accessed by read/write heads. When the cartridge is removed from the drive, the mechanism of the present invention clamps the recording disk against the cartridge shell to prevent rattle, which might otherwise damage the recording disk. |
