# US 7,612,994 B2 · Hard drive cartridge protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,994 B2 - Document ID: US7612994B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/865,473 - Filed: 2007-10-01 - Published: 2008-05-01 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-31 - Assignees: ProStor Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Michael H. Ulrich; Steven P. Georgis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612994B2 ## CPC - G11B 33/122: {Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches} - G11B 33/08: Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds - G11B 33/124: {of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract According to the invention, a removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data is disclosed. The cartridge may include a chassis, a shock absorption media and a rotational storage disk. The chassis may define an interior space and may be configured to be detachably and mechanically coupled with a cartridge drive. The shock absorption media may be deposited at least partially within the interior space of the chassis and may be a flexible material. The rotational storage disk may be configured to store computer readable data and may be deposited at least partially within the shock absorption media. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data, the removable rotational disk storage cartridge comprising: a chassis, wherein: the chassis defines an interior space; and the chassis is configured to be detachably and mechanically coupled with a cartridge drive; a shock absorption media, wherein: the shock absorption media is deposited at least partially within the interior space of the chassis; and the shock absorption media comprises a flexible material; and a rotational storage disk drive; wherein: the rotational storage disk drive is configured to store computer readable data; the rotational storage disk drive comprises a power interface configured to receive power from the cartridge drive when the rotational disk storage cartridge is coupled to the cartridge drive; and the rotational storage disk drive is deposited at least partially within the shock absorption media such that the shock absorption media at least partially encases the rotational disk storage drive and resides between the rotational disk storage drive and the chassis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein: the rotational storage disk drive comprises a plurality of datum points, wherein the plurality of datum points are configured to be coupled with another device; and the shock absorption media further comprises a plurality of protrusions, wherein: at least one of the plurality of protrusions is in proximity to at least one of the plurality of datum points; and at least one of the plurality of protrusions is configured to be substantially between at least one of the plurality of datum points and the chassis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the shock absorption media is configured to prevent the rotational storage disk drive from experiencing greater than about 900 g-forces (8.82 kilometers/square-second; 5.48 miles/square-second) shock when the removable rotational disk storage cartridge free falls from a height of about 36 inches onto a rigid surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the rotational storage disk drive will experience greater than about 900 g-forces (8.82 kilometers/square-second; 5.48 miles/square-second) shock when the rotational storage disk drive free falls by itself from a height of about 36 inches onto a rigid surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein: the rotational storage disk drive comprises six sides; and the shock absorption media comprises six protrusions, wherein at least one protrusion is located between each side of the rotational storage disk drive and the chassis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein: the rotational storage disk drive comprises eight corners; and the shock absorption media comprises four protrusions, wherein at least one protrusion is proximate to each corner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein: the rotational storage disk drive comprises four sets of corners, wherein each set of corners comprises two proximate corners; and the shock absorption media comprises sixteen protrusions, wherein at least four protrusions are proximate to each set of corners. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the shock absorption media comprises a plurality of individual shock absorbent components. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the shock absorption media is coupled with the rotational storage disk drive via an interference fit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the shock absorption media is at least partially compressed between the chassis and the rotational storage disk drive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, the removable rotational disk storage cartridge further comprising: a data interface fixedly coupled with the chassis, wherein the data interface is configured to detachably couple with the cartridge drive; and a data conduit flexibly coupling the data interface with the rotational storage disk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 11, wherein the data conduit comprises an electrical conductor or an optical medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the rotational storage disk drive comprises a retractable head assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The removable rotational disk storage cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 1, wherein the rotational storage disk drive comprises a magnetic storage disk or an optical storage disk. ### Claim 15 A removable cartridge for storing computer readable data, the removable cartridge comprising: a first means for defining an interior space, wherein the first means is configured to be detachably and mechanically coupled with a cartridge drive; a second means for storing computer readable data, wherein the second means is located at least partially within the interior space, wherein the second means comprises a power interface configured to receive electrical power for operating the second means when the removable cartridge for storing computer readable data is coupled with the cartridge drive; a third means for reducing the amount of mechanical shock transferred from the first means to the second means, wherein the third means is disposed between the first means and the second means, and at least partially surrounds the second means; and a fourth means for communicating computer readable data between the second means and the cartridge drive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 15, wherein the third means is configured to prevent the second means from experiencing greater than about 900 g-forces (8.82 kilometers/square-second; 5.48 miles/square-second) shock when the removable cartridge free falls from a height of about 36 inches onto a rigid surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 15, wherein the third means comprises a plurality of individual shock absorbent components. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 15, wherein the fourth means comprises: a data interface means for communicating computer readable data with the cartridge drive; and a data conduit means for flexibly coupling the data interface means with the second means. ### Claim 19 A kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data, the kit comprising: a shock absorption media, wherein the shock absorption media comprises a flexible material, the shock absorption media configured to accommodate a computer readable data storage device deposited at least partially within the shock absorption media and at least partially encased by the shock absorption media; and a plurality of chassis components, wherein: the plurality of chassis components are configured to be assembled to make an assembled chassis, wherein the assembled chassis defines an interior space; the assembled chassis is configured to be detachably and mechanically coupled with a cartridge drive; and the shock absorption media is configured to be deposited at least partially within the interior space of the assembled chassis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 19, wherein: the computer readable data storage device comprises a plurality of datum points, wherein the plurality of datum points are configured to be coupled with another device; and the shock absorption media further comprises a plurality of protrusions, wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions is configured to be in proximity to at least one of the plurality of datum points when the computer readable data storage device is deposited at least partially within the shock absorption media. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 19, wherein the computer readable data storage device has a maximum width of about 2.76 inches, and a maximum length of about 3.955 inches. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 19, further comprising the computer readable data storage device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 19, further comprising: a data interface, wherein the data interface is configured to be fixedly coupled with the assembled chassis, wherein the data interface is configured to detachably couple with the cartridge drive; and a flexible data conduit, wherein the flexible data conduit is configured to couple the data interface with the computer readable data storage device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The kit for making a removable cartridge for storing computer readable data of claim 19, wherein the shock absorption media is configured to be at least partially compressed between the assembled chassis and the computer readable data storage device.