Removable protective cover for a video disc stylus cartridge

A protective cover for a record playback cartridge assembly, said cartridge assembly comprising:

• a cartridge body, having an elongated section;
• a stylus arm compliantly mounted at one end within said body;
• a pickup stylus including a conductive electrode mounted at the other end of said arm in the area of said elongated section;
• and an elongated conductive spring-like flylead member electrically connected at one end to said stylus electrode and electrically connected at the other end thereof to an electrode located on said elongated section, said flylead normally assuming a bow-like shape between said two electrodes with the bow extending toward said other end of said stylus arm, said cartridge assembly being inserted into a player for record playback, said protective cover comprising:
• a housing adapted to slide over and substantially enclose said elongated section when said cartridge assembly is not inserted into said player for record playback;
• and
• a protuberance within said housing adapted to extend toward said other end of said arm in the vicinity of said bow of said flylead and normally not touching said flylead when said housing is attached to said elongated section such that inversion of said bow-like shape of said flylead is prevented;
• said protective cover being removed when said cartridge assembly is inserted into said player for record playback.

Apparatus for use with a record playback cartridge assembly of the type comprising:

• a cartridge body;
• a stylus arm mounted on one end of said arm;
• and an elongated flylead member connected between said cartridge body and a certain point in the vicinity of said stylus, said flylead normally assuming a bow-like shape, said apparatus comprising:
• means positioned in the vicinity of said flylead but not normally touching said flylead for preventing the inversion of said bow-like shape of said flylead.