Protective device

A method for protecting an interface means of a read and/or write head of a read and/or write unit from dirt, dust and shock when the read and/or write unit is not in use, the read and/or write unit comprising a receiving area for receiving a data carrier, the read and/or write head being located in or adjacent the receiving area for interfacing with the data carrier for reading from and/or writing to the data carrier, the method comprising providing a carrier means for inserting and locating in the receiving area of the read and/or write unit, providing a resilient protecting means on the carrier means for protecting the interface means of the read and/or write head against dirt, dust and shock, the protecting means comprising a base member and a plurality of fibres extending from the base member for engaging the interface means, resiliently mounting the base member on the carrier means with the fibres extending from the carrier means at a location which coincides in use with an inoperative position of the interface means, providing the protecting means to be of area when viewed in plan, so that when the read and/or write head is in the inoperative position with the read and/or write unit deactivated, the fibres of the protecting means engage and embrace the interface means, and inserting the carrier means into the receiving area when the read and/or write head is in the inoperative position so that the fibres of the protecting means engage and embrace the interface means with the interface means nesting in the fibres for protecting the interface means from dirt, dust and shock when the read and/or write unit is not in use.