Patent ID: 6721266
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disc cartridge for enclosing an optical disc comprising:(a) a cartridge body having (1) a first and second halves and for accommodating said optical disc in which said optical disc has a diameter of approximately 64 mm, (2) a first guide groove formed in a lateral side of said cartridge body, said first half having a generally rectangular shape, (3) a first opening for inserting a disc rotational driving means, a second opening to allow passage of a light beam to said optical disc, and (4) a second guide groove formed along one side of said first half, said second half formed in a generally rectangular shape and having a flat outer surface on which a label may be affixed and without an opening, and said second half being connected to said first half thereby defining a space to accommodate said optical disc; (b) a shutter member molded integrally of synthetic resin and mounted on only said first half of said cartridge body for opening and closing said second opening of the first half, and wherein said shutter member being moveable along said first and second guide grooves, said shutter member having a continuous plate portion having a substantially T-shape with two arms for opening and closing said second opening of the first half and engaging portions formed parallel to the continuous plate portion and engaging with the first guide groove formed in the lateral side of the cartridge body for holding said shutter member to the lateral side of said cartridge body; (c) a connecting portion interconnecting the continuous plate portion and the engaging portions and extending along the sliding direction of the shutter member; and (d) projection portions formed on said two arms of said continuous plate portion, said projection portions extending at a right angle from said continuous plate portion to form generally L-shaped cross section and engaged to said second guide groove formed along one side of said first half, said continuous plate portion, said engaging portions and said projection portions operating together to hold and to prevent disengagement of said shutter member from said cartridge body.