Optical disk cassette with disk retention device

Abstract

An optical disk cassette has a cassette case with a disk retention device. A free end of the disk retention device acts upon an edge of the optical disk, opposably displacing during insertion and ejection of the optical disk. The device and disk are at equilibrium when the free end is displaced by the full diameter of the disk. When the disk is displaced in the insertion or ejection direction, the free end urges the disk in the insertion or ejection direction, assisting with the optical disk insertion or ejection respectively. Embodiments may have the disk retention device including one or more retainers. Each retainer may have a free end and opposing fixed end, and be flexible or have a flexible region. The free end slides along or otherwise contacts the circumferential edge of the optical disk, exerting a force upon it during optical disk insertion, retention and ejection.

1 . An optical disk cassette comprising:
 a cassette case configured to house an optical disk, said cassette case having a front edge with a disk entry/exit slot; and   a disk retention device acting upon an edge of the optical disk so as to opposably displace a free end of the disk retention device during insertion of the optical disk in an insertion direction through the disk entry/exit slot and during ejection of the optical disk in an opposing ejection direction, the disk retention device and the optical disk being in an equilibrium condition when the free end is displaced by the full diameter of the optical disk, the free end urging the optical disk in the insertion direction when the optical disk is displaced from the equilibrium condition in the insertion direction and urging the optical disk in the ejection direction when the optical disk is displaced from the equilibrium condition in the ejection direction.   
     
     
         2 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 1  wherein the disk retention device includes a retainer, the retainer including the free end of the disk retention device and being compliant. 
     
     
         3 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 2  wherein the free end of the retainer slides along the edge of the optical disk during each of optical disk insertion and ejection and contacts the edge of the optical disk during optical disk retention. 
     
     
         4 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 2  wherein the disk retention device has a first retainer with a first free end and an opposing second retainer with a second free end. 
     
     
         5 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 2  wherein the retainer has a fixed end fastened distal to the disk entry/exit slot and within the cassette case. 
     
     
         6 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 2  wherein the retainer is plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 2  wherein the retainer is partially curved and contacts a portion of the edge of the optical disk during optical disk retention. 
     
     
         8 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 1  further comprising a disk eject mechanism at least partially within the cassette case. 
     
     
         9 . An optical disk cassette comprising:
 a cassette case having a configuration for housing an optical disk in a seating area, the cassette case having a front edge with a disk entry/exit slot and having a side edge; and   a disk retention device that includes a retainer proximate to the seating area, the retainer having a fixed end attached within the cassette case and having a flexible region and a free end opposite from said fixed end, the retainer being resilient and being positioned and directed to assist optical disk insertion, retention and ejection by exerting a force upon the circumferential edge of the optical disk.   
     
     
         10 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 9  wherein the disk retention device includes two retainers, the two retainers being a first retainer and a second retainer opposing the first retainer. 
     
     
         11 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 10  wherein the first retainer is proximate to the side edge and the second retainer is distal to the first retainer, the fixed end of the first retainer and the fixed end of the second retainer being distal to the disk entry/exit slot. 
     
     
         12 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 9  wherein the retainer is plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 9  wherein the free end of the retainer contacts the optical disk during each of optical disk insertion and ejection, and the free end and the flexible region of the retainer contact the optical disk during optical disk retention. 
     
     
         14 . The optical disk cassette of  claim 9  wherein the optical disk cassette includes a disk eject mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . An optical disk cassette having an integrated disk retention device comprising:
 a cassette case configured to house an optical disk, said cassette case having a front edge with a disk entry/exit slot and having a side edge;   a disk retention device having a first retainer proximate to the side edge and a second retainer distal to the side edge, each retainer being affixed at a fixed end inside the cassette case and having an opposing free end, the retainer being continuous, flexible and configured so that the free end slidably contacts the peripheral edge of the optical disk during each of optical disk insertion, retention and ejection.   
     
     
         16 . The optical disk cassette having an integrated disk retention device of  claim 15  wherein the free end of each retainer is closer to the disk entry/exit slot than is the fixed end of the retainer. 
     
     
         17 . The optical disk cassette having an integrated disk retention device of  claim 15  wherein each retainer is plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The optical disk cassette having an integrated disk retention device of  claim 15  wherein each retainer includes a curved shape conforming to a portion of the peripheral edge of the optical disk. 
     
     
         19 . The optical disk cassette having an integrated disk retention device of  claim 15  wherein the optical disk cassette has a disk eject mechanism enclosed within the cassette case.