Removable cartridge disk drive with a 2.5 inch form factor utilizing a cartridge having a rotatable disk access door

A removable cartridge adapted for insertion into a cartridge receiver of a disk drive comprising:

• said cartridge containing a disk with a planar surface;
• said cartridge including a cartridge door and with the cartridge having a door opening lever;
• means for mounting said door for movement between an open and a closed position with the door in the open position being substantially parallel to said planar surface of said disk;
• said cartridge including an external planar surface that is substantially parallel to the planar surface-of the disk contained therein;
• a lever groove into which said door opening lever is positionable, said lever groove provided in said external planar surface of said cartridge;
• and
• said lever groove adapted for receiving a door opening rail defined by a cartridge receiver of the disk drive which is disposable into said lever groove as said cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receiver in order to engage said opening lever and urge said cartridge door to an open position.

A disk drive system including a disk drive and a removable cartridge containing a disk for storing data, the disk having a planar surface, which system includes:

• said disk drive having means for receiving said removable cartridge;
• said cartridge having a housing, a door and means for pivotally mounting said door to said housing so that in a closed position the door is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the disk and with said door being pivotable from a closed position to an open position where the door is substantially parallel to the planar surface of the disk so that said disk drive can access said disk;
• said cartridge door having a tab extending therefrom;
• said disk drive receiving means including a door opening means extending therefrom for causing said tab to pivot about said mounting means and to thereby cause said door to pivot from said closed position to said open position as said cartridge is received in said receiving means.

A cartridge adapted for insertion into a disk drive comprising:

• a housing with a disk mounted for rotation therein, the disk defining a planar surface;
• a door;
• means for pivotally mounting said door to said housing so that said door can be pivoted from a closed position to an open position in order to allow access to the disk mounted in the housing;
• a tab upstanding from said door such that with the door closed the tab is upstanding in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the disk and with the door open the tab is upstanding in a direction substantially parallel to the planar surface of said disk, said tab being pivotable in order to pivot the door from the closed position to the open position.

A cartridge adapted for insertion into a disk drive comprising:

• a housing with a disk and a planar surface, said disk mounted for rotation in said housing;
• a door;
• means for pivotally mounting said door to said housing so that in a closed position the door is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the disk and so that said door can be pivoted from the closed position to an open position where the door is substantially parallel to the planar surface of the disk in order to allow access to the disk mounted in the housing;
• and
• a tab upstanding from said door in such a manner that said tab can be moved in order to pivot said door from the closed position to the open position.