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Disk holding deviceRelated Patent Categories: Special Receptacle Or Package, Holder For A Removable Electrical Component, For A Semiconductor Wafer, Having Plural Grooves For Retaining WafersDisk holding device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187288, Disk holding device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention generally relates to a disk holding device. More particularly, this invention relates to a locking mechanism for a disk holding device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Hard drive disks and semi-conductor wafers typically are manufactured in one location and packaged in disk holding devices, which are subsequently placed in a container for shipment to another location. The disk holding devices eventually are removed from the containers and used to store the hard drive disks during distribution in a production process. The hard drive disks must be protected during all phases of a normal production cycle. [0003] A variety of disk holding devices have been developed for packaging, shipping and distributing disks. Typical disk holding devices include a cassette portion, a cover, a base portion and a latch to lock the device closed. As is known, hard drive disks are received within a plurality of slots within the cassette portion interior. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,059. Other disk holding devices are also known. [0004] During the production process, it is often necessary for the cover to be removed from the cassette portion of the disk holding device to access the hard drive disks stored within. Automated machinery is often utilized to unlock and remove the cover of the disk holding device. To achieve this result, and because of the locking design of the latch arm of known disk holding devices, the automated machinery must manipulate the latch arm by applying an outward pulling force on the latch arm in a direction away from the interior of the disk holding device to unlock and remove the cover. The manipulation applied by the automated machinery may fail to unlock the latch arm in a relatively large number of instances. Disadvantageously, this may result in decreased production efficiency and increased manufacturing complaints concerning the disk holding devices. [0005] As such, there is a need for an improved arrangement for locking a disk holding device that achieves improved interaction with automated machinery used in the distribution process. This invention provides an improved latch arm that satisfies that need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] An exemplary disclosed disk holding device includes a latch arm for locking the disk holding device. The latch arm has a locking tab near an end of the latch arm that extends in a direction facing away from an interior of the disk holding device. This orientation of the locking tab is the opposite of what has been the standard approach. [0007] One example disk holding device comprises a cassette portion having side walls and includes a base portion on one side of the cassette portion and a cover on the opposite side of the cassette portion. [0008] In one example, the latch arm extends from the cover toward the base portion and selectively engages at least one locking surface on the base portion. In one example, a locking tab of the latch arm selectively engages the locking surface on the base portion. With such an arrangement a force toward the interior of the cassette applied to the latch arm enables unlocking the disk holding device. [0009] One example latch arm includes a lifting ledge that extends from the latch arm in substantially the same direction as the locking tab. [0010] One disclosed example includes a disk holding device having a cover including a latch arm near one end of the cover. The latch arm of this example includes a first surface that faces generally toward an opposite end of the cover and a second surface that faces opposite of the first surface. A locking tab protrudes from the second surface in a direction away from the cover. [0011] The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can briefly be described as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 schematically shows a disk holding device including a latch arm designed according to one embodiment of this invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cover for the disk holding device of FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 3 illustrates the disk holding device of FIG. 1 in an assembled condition. [0015] FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a process for unlocking the example disk holding device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0016] FIG. 1 schematically shows a disk holding device 10 for housing a plurality of disks 12. The illustrated disk holding device 10 comprises a cassette portion 14, a base portion 16 and a cover 18. The cassette portion 14 includes two side walls 20, 22 and two end walls 24, 26 which are configured to form an interior 28 for safely packaging the plurality of disks 12. The side walls 20, 22 are aligned generally parallel to one another and are designed to minimize contact between and provide support to the plurality of disks 12, keeping them spaced apart from one another and in a generally stable position within the disk holding device 10. The disks 12 are received in a plurality of slots 30 formed in the side walls 20, 22 of the cassette portion 14. [0017] At least one of the opposing end walls 24, 26 includes a channel 34. In one example, both end walls 24 and 26 include a channel 34. In the illustrated example, the channel 34 is generally U-shaped. The channel 34 is provided on at least one end wall 24, 26 for access to the hard drive disks 12 when packaged in the cassette portion 14. [0018] In the illustrated example, the base portion 16 is secured on one side of the cassette portion 14 using an interference fit, for example. In another example, the base portion 16 is formed as a single piece, integral with the cassette portion 14. The cover 18 is received against an opposite side of the cassette portion 14 from the base portion 16. The cover 18 includes a latch arm 32 for locking the disk holding device 10 that extends toward the base portion 16 and is selectively secured to a locking surface 36 of the base portion 16. In one example, the cover 18 includes two latch arms 32, with one latch arm 32 positioned at each end of the cover 18. [0019] 3. In one disclosed example, Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch arm 32A is positioned near one end 38 of the cover 18. The latch arm 32A extends transversely from the cover 18 (i.e., toward the base portion 16). A first surface 40 of the latch arm 32A faces generally toward an end 42 of the cover 18 which is opposite the end 38. The latch arm 32A includes a second surface 44 which faces opposite the first surface 40. In other words, the second surface 44 faces away from the end 42 of the cover 18. Continue reading about Disk holding device... Full patent description for Disk holding device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Disk holding device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Disk holding device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Wafer storage container and apparatus Next Patent Application: Substrate storage container Industry Class: Special receptacle or package ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Disk holding device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13214 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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