Memory disk shipping container with improved contaminant control

A container for holding a plurality of memory disks, the container comprising:

• (a) a cassette with two sidewalls adjoining two end walls, the cassette having an open top and an open bottom, slots formed on the inside of each of said side walls for receiving memory disks, a channel formed along the top edge of said side walls, said end walls having a top edge and a bottom edge, an opening in each end wall extending downwardly from the top edge toward the bottom edge providing access to the memory disks;
• (b) a bottom cover for closing the open bottom;
• and
• (c) a top cover removably engagable with the cassette to close the open top and the openings in said end walls, the top cover having a generally rectangular top portion and two opposite end portions, a skirt extending downwardly from said top portion along the long edges of said top portion, said skirt nesting within said channel of said cassette sidewalls when said top cover engages said cassette, the end portions shaped to close the opening in the end walls.

A container for holding disks, the container comprising:

• (a) a cassette with two sidewalls adjoining two end walls, the cassette having an open top and an open bottom, slots formed on the inside of each of said side walls for receiving memory disks, said sidewalls having a top edge and a bottom edge, a guard member disposed outside of and proximate the top edge of said sidewalls, said end walls having a top edge and a bottom edge, an opening in each end wall extending downwardly from the top edge toward the bottom edge providing access to the memory disks;
• (b) a bottom cover for closing the open bottom;
• and
• (c) a top cover removably engagable with the cassette to close the open top and the openings in said end walls, the top cover having a generally rectangular top portion and two opposite end portions, said top portion defined by two long edges and two shorter edges, said long edges positioned behind said guard member when said top cover engages said cassette.

A method of latching and unlatching a cover to a container for holding memory disks, the method comprising:

• providing a container for holding memory disks, said container having an open top and an opening in at least one end wall;
• providing a cover having a top portion and at least one end portion to enclose the open top and the opening in the at least one end wall;
• providing a latching mechanism is association with the container and the cover;
• latching said cover to said container by movement of said cover relative to said container in a single dimension.

A system for storing and/or transporting hard memory disks in axial alignment, comprising:

• (a) a cassette with two sidewalls adjoining two end walls, the cassette having an open top and an open bottom, grooves disposed on the inside surface of each sidewall for receiving memory disks, each end wall having a top edge, a bottom edge and an opening extending downwardly from the top edge toward the bottom edge on at least one end wall;
• (b) a top cover removably engagable with the cassette to close the open top and open end walls, the top cover having a generally rectangular top portion and at least one end portion integral with the top portion and extending downwardly from said top portion, for closing said at least one opening in the end walls;
• (c) locking means disposed on at least one end of the top cover for securing the top cover to the cassette;
• and
• (d) a bottom cover for closing the bottom opening.