Personal computer data storage card and method for transferring information between the data storage card and personal computers

Abstract

A personal computer data storage card includes a substrate layer, a magnetic medium layer, and a protective layer respectively affixed together. The data storage card is typically placed within an adapter and inserted into a personal computer floppy disk drive wherein the adapter includes dimensions compatible with the floppy disk drive to permit the data storage card to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the data storage card. During rotation of the data storage card within the floppy disk drive, the data storage card traverses floppy disk drive read/write heads for information storage and retrieval. Paper may be utilized as the protective layer of the data storage card and include text or graphics to have the data storage card simultaneously function as both a data storage device and a business card or other advertisement media. Further, the data storage card may be of any shape permitting rotation of the data storage card within the adapter, and may include an additional magnetic medium layer and protective layer to provide a storage capacity substantially similar to that of standard floppy disks.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A personal computer data card for insertion into a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between the personal computer and the card, said card comprising: 
       a first layer of a semi-rigid substrate;  
       a second layer of a magnetic medium affixed to a first side of said first layer for exchanging data with said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said card about an axis perpendicular to said first side and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to manipulate said magnetic medium; and  
       a third layer of protective material affixed to said second layer and permitting access by said personal computer to data on said magnetic medium of said second layer.  
     
     
       2. The card of  claim 1  wherein said card has the storage capacity of 0.75 megabytes of data. 
     
     
       3. The card of  claim 1  wherein said first layer includes a paper, plastic, or cardstock substrate. 
     
     
       4. The card of  claim 3  wherein said third layer includes paper, thermoplastic or a paper/synthetic composite. 
     
     
       5. The card of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       a fourth layer of a magnetic medium affixed to a second side of said first layer for exchanging data with said personal computer; and  
       a fifth layer of said protective material affixed to said fourth layer and permitting access to data on said magnetic medium of said fourth layer.  
     
     
       6. The card of  claim 5  wherein said protective material includes paper having printed text or graphics imprinted on said paper. 
     
     
       7. The card of  claim 5  wherein said card has a storage capacity of 1.44 megabytes of data. 
     
     
       8. The card of  claim 5  wherein said third and fifth layers include paper, thermoplastic or a paper/synthetic composite. 
     
     
       9. The card of  claim 8  wherein said third and fifth layers include paper having printed text or graphics imprinted on said paper. 
     
     
       10. The card of  claim 1  and further comprising an adapter for enabling said card to be inserted into said personal computer to permit data to be transferred between said personal computer and said card. 
     
     
       11. The card of  claim 1  wherein said personal computer includes a disk drive adapted to accommodate said card wherein said card is directly inserted into said drive for information storage and retrieval. 
     
     
       12. A method of storing and retrieving data from a personal computer data card inserted into a personal computer comprising the steps of: 
       (a) affixing a second layer of a magnetic medium to a first side of a first layer of a semi-rigid substrate;  
       (b) affixing a third layer of protective material to said second layer such that said protective materials permits access to data on said magnetic medium of said second layer;  
       and  
       (c) storing and retrieving data from said magnetic medium of said second layer in response to said personal computer rotating said card about an axis perpendicular to said first side and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to manipulate said magnetic medium of said second layer.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of: 
       (d) affixing a fourth layer of a magnetic medium to a second side of said first layer;  
       (e) affixing a fifth layer of protective material to said fourth layer such that said protective material permits access to data on said magnetic medium of said fourth layer; and  
       (f) storing and retrieving data from said magnetic medium of said fourth layer in response to said personal computer rotating said card.  
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein steps (c) and (f) include: 
       storing 1.44 megabytes of data on said card.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein step (c) further includes: 
       (c.1) placing said card within an adapter for insertion of said card into said personal computer to store and retrieve data from said magnetic medium.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein said personal computer includes a disk drive adapted to accommodate said card, and step (c) further includes: 
       (c.1) placing said card directly into said drive for information storage and retrieval.  
     
     
       17. A personal computer data card for insertion into an adapter for placement within a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between the personal computer and the card, said card comprising: 
       a first layer of a semi-rigid substrate;  
       a second layer of a magnetic medium affixed to a first side of said first layer for exchanging data with said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said card relative to said adapter to enable said personal computer to manipulate said magnetic medium; and  
       a third layer of protective material affixed to said second layer and permitting access by said personal computer to data on said magnetic medium of said second layer.  
     
     
       18. A method of storing and retrieving data from a personal computer data card inserted into an adapter for placement within a personal computer comprising the steps of: 
       (a) affixing a second layer of a magnetic medium to a first side of a first layer of a semi-rigid substrate;  
       (b) affixing a third layer of protective material to said second layer such that said protective material permits access to data on said magnetic medium of said second layer; and  
       (c) storing and retrieving data from said magnetic medium of said second layer in response to said personal computer rotating said card relative to said adapter to manipulate said magnetic medium of said second layer.  
     
     
       19. A storage device for insertion into a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between said personal computer and said storage device, said storage device comprising: 
       
         a data card including a computer readable storage medium to store data pertaining to a business or product and facilitate transfer of said data between said data card and said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage medium, and a material layer having information thereon indicating said business or product associated with said data stored within said storage medium;  
       
         wherein said card is in the form of a non - circular business type card to advertise and provide information pertaining to said business or product to card recipients via said material layer information and said data stored within said storage medium, and wherein said card is directly insertable into a personal computer drive for transfer of information between said card and said personal computer.    
     
     
       20. The storage device of  claim 19 , wherein said storage medium is configured to store data over substantially the entire area of said card.  
     
     
       21. The storage device of  claim 19 , wherein said data card has a shape selected from the group consisting of a polygon and an ellipse.  
     
     
       22. The storage device of  claim 19 , wherein said data card is substantially rectangular.  
     
     
       23. The storage device of  claim 19 , wherein said data card has a shape including at least one linear edge and at least one curved edge.  
     
     
       24. A storage device for insertion into a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between said personal computer and said storage device, said storage device comprising: 
         a data card including a computer readable storage medium to store data and facilitate transfer of said data between said data card and said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage medium, wherein said storage medium includes and stores said data within a storage area including a non - circular configuration.    
     
     
       25. The storage device of  claim 24 , wherein said storage medium is configured to store data over substantially the entire area of said card.  
     
     
       26. The storage device of  claim 24 , wherein said data card includes a configuration selected from the group consisting of a polygon and an ellipse.  
     
     
       27. The storage device of  claim 24 , wherein said data card is substantially rectangular.  
     
     
       28. The storage device of  claim 24 , wherein said data card includes a configuration with at least one linear edge and at least one curved edge.  
     
     
       29. The storage device of  claim 24 , wherein said personal computer includes a drive configured to accommodate said card and said card is directly inserted into said drive for transfer of information between said card and said personal computer.  
     
     
       30. A method of transferring data between a storage device and a personal computer comprising the steps of: 
       ( a )  forming a data card including a material layer and a computer readable storage medium to store data pertaining to a business or product, wherein said storage medium facilitates transfer of said data to said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage medium;    
       ( b )  printing information on said material layer indicating said business or product associated with said data stored within said storage medium; and    
       ( c )  configuring said card in the form of a non - circular business type card to advertise and provide information pertaining to said business or product to card recipients via said printed information and said data stored within said storage medium, wherein said card is directly insertable into a personal computer drive for transfer of information between said card and said personal computer.    
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein step ( a )  further includes:    
       ( a. 1   )  configuring said storage medium to store data over substantially the entire area of said card.    
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein step ( c )  further includes:    
       ( c. 1   )  configuring said card in a shape selected from the group consisting of a polygon and an ellipse.    
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 30 , wherein step ( c )  further includes:    
       ( c. 1   )  configuring said data card to be substantially rectangular.    
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 30 , wherein step ( c )  further includes:    
       ( c. 1   )  configuring said data card in a shape including at least one linear edge and at least one curved edge.    
     
     
       35. A method of transferring data between a storage device and a personal computer comprising the steps of: 
       ( a )  forming a data card including a computer readable storage medium to store data and facilitate transfer of said data between said data card and said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage medium; and    
       ( b )  configuring said storage medium to include and store said data within a data storage area including a non - circular configuration.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein step ( b ) further includes: 
       ( b. 1   )  configuring said storage medium to store data over substantially the entire area of said card.    
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , wherein step ( a )  further includes:    
       ( a. 1   )  configuring said data card to include a configuration selected from the group consisting of a polygon and an ellipse.    
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 35 , wherein step ( a )  further includes:    
       ( a. 1   )  configuring said data card to be substantially rectangular.    
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 35 , wherein step ( a )  further includes:    
       ( a. 1   )  configuring said data card to include at least one linear edge and at least one curved edge.    
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 35 , wherein said personal computer includes a drive configured to accommodate said card, and step ( a )  further includes:    
       ( a. 1   )  configuring said card for direct insertion into said drive for transfer of information between said data card and said personal computer.    
     
     
       41. A storage device for insertion into a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between said personal computer and said storage device, said storage device comprising: 
       
         a data card including computer readable storage means for storing data pertaining to a business or product and facilitating transfer of said data between said data card and said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage means, and a material layer having information thereon indicating said business said product associated with said data stored within said storage means;  
       
         wherein said card is in the form of a non - circular business type card to advertise and provide information pertaining to said business or product to card recipients via said material layer information and said data stored within said storage means, and wherein said card is directly insertable into a personal computer drive for transfer of information between said card and said personal computer.    
     
     
       42. A storage device for insertion into a personal computer to permit data to be transferred between said personal computer and said storage device, said storage device comprising: 
         a data card including computer readable storage means for storing data and facilitating transfer of said data between said data card and said personal computer in response to said personal computer rotating said data card about an axis perpendicular to and passing through said card to enable said personal computer to access said storage means, wherein said storage means includes and stores said data within a data storage area including a non - circular configuration.