Abstrict An information storage cartridge to be utilized within an electronic
device so as to record and/or store information, the cartridge including
a housing with a hollow interior wherein an information storage
medium is movably and protectively contained for access by the electronic
device, the cartridge further including a desiccant material positioned
within the hollow interior of the housing, the desiccant material
being disposed in a position remote from the information storage
medium and being adapted to remove moisture from within the hollow
interior of the housing while not restricting the normal use of
the information storage cartridge within an orifice of a corresponding
electronic device.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. To be utilized with an electronic device so as to record and/or
store audio and/or visual information, an enhanced preservation,
audio and/or visual information storage cartridge comprising:
a housing, said housing being structured to be inserted into a
corresponding orifice within the electronic device,
said housing including a hollow interior and access means structured
and disposed to provide the electronic device with access to said
hollow interior of said housing,
an audio and/or visual information storage medium, corresponding
to the electronic device, said information storage medium being
functionally disposed within said hollow interior of said housing
so as to be movably and protectively contained therein for effective,
normal use with the electronic device,
said information storage medium being structured and disposed to
be accessed by the electronic device through said access means in
said housing such that the electronic device can record or retrieve
information on said information storage medium, and
a desiccant material securably disposed within said hollow interior
of said housing in a position remote from said access means and
said information storage medium so as to be non-obstructive and
non-contacting to the access, movement, and positioning of said
information storage medium within said hollow interior, said desiccant
material being structured and disposed to absorb moisture from within
said hollow interior of said housing before, during and after the
electronic device records or retrieves said information on said
information storage medium.
2. An information storage cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein
said desiccant material is silica gel.
3. An information storage cartridge as recited in claim 2 wherein
the information storage medium is videotape.
4. An information storage cartridge as recited in claim 2 wherein
said information storage medium is a computer disk.
5. An information storage cartridge as recited in claim 2 wherein
said information storage medium is an audio cassette.
6. An information storage cartridge as recited in claim 2 wherein
said information storage medium is photographic film.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information storage cartridge
to be used with an electronic device so as to record and/or store
information thereon, the information storage cartridge having a
longer life than conventional storage cartridges due to a decreased
quantity of moisture maintained within the cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information storage cartridges are utilized in a variety of different
mediums and accordingly have a variety of different uses and configurations.
These varied uses include video cassettes, audio cassettes, computer
disks, video game cartridges, film, or any other cartridge type
storage apparatus. Generally, a user has a number of the information
storage cartridges for use with a single electronic device, and
accordingly, the information storage cartridges are stored until
their use is required. Over time, however, the quality of the information
stored within the information storage cartridge can deteriorate
due to the environmental conditions regarding the location in which
the information storage cartridge is maintained. In particular,
the normal amounts of moisture contained within the air can significantly
deteriorate the information storage medium contained within the
cartridges over time. As a result, it would be highly beneficial
to have an improved information storage cartridge which minimizes
the quantities of moisture contained therein which affect the information
storage medium contained by the cartridge.
Similar to the need to maintain the information storage medium
within an information storage cartridge in a low moisture environment,
it is beneficial to maintain the electronic device itself in a proper
environment. Accordingly, devices such as that disclosed in the
patent to Schroder, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5189581 are provided.
The device of Schroder specifically provides a dummy cartridge having
a number of openings therein which are covered by a mesh-type material
so as to contain a moisture absorbing material therein. The plurality
of openings within the dummy cartridge are necessary to ensure that
moisture is drawn from the electronic device to the dummy cartridge,
thereby removing moisture from the electronic device. Further, such
a device draws in large quantities of moisture and must therefore
be replaced frequently. While such a device provides a better playing
environment for a real information storage cartridge, it does not
help to minimize the moisture which attacks the information storage
medium within the information storage cartridge, nor does it protect
the information storage cartridge when stored outside of the electronic
device, as is most common. Accordingly, there is a need for an information
storage cartridge which removes moisture from within itself to assist
in the preservation of an information storage medium contained therein,
both during use and storage within an electronic device as well
as during storage outside of the electronic device. Further, such
a device would assist in minimizing the quantities of moisture introduced
to the electronic device by the information storage cartridge during
use.
Applicant's invention is designed precisely to meet the needs which
still remain in light of the related art. Specifically, applicant's
device enables an information storage medium contained within an
information storage cartridge to function normally within its necessary,
contained cartridge environment, while also ensuring that moisture
build-up within the contained cartridge is substantially minimized
so as to extend the life of the information storage medium. Also,
as it is not working to remove moisture from outside the cartridge,
the moisture absorbing quality will be maintained during the life
of the information storage medium within the cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards an information storage
cartridge to be utilized within an electronic device so as to record
and/or store information. In particular, the information storage
cartridge includes a housing and an information storage medium adapted
to record and/or store the information. Specifically, the housing
is structured to be inserted into a corresponding orifice within
the electronic device to permit subsequent storage and retrieval
of information on the information storage medium. The housing includes
a hollow interior wherein the information storage medium is movably
and protectively contained, and access means which provide the electronic
device with access to the hollow interior of the housing and accordingly
the information storage medium contained within the hollow interior
of the housing. Also securely disposed within the hollow interior
of the housing is a desiccant material. The desiccant material is
positioned in a position remote from the access means and the information
storage medium so as to be non-obstructive and non-contacting to
the access, movement, and positioning of the information storage
medium within the hollow interior. The desiccant material is structured
such that it absorbs moisture substantially from the hollow interior
of the housing, thereby removing moisture from the cartridge for
an extended period of time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information
storage cartridge which has an extended life-span due to minimization
of moisture which directly affects an information storage medium
of the information storage cartridge.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
information storage cartridge which will have substantially reduced
moisture quantities therein for an extended period of time due to
the fact that excess moisture is drawn from within a hollow interior
of the cartridge, rather than from the ambient air or electronic
device exterior of the cartridge.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
information storage cartridge which has substantially reduced moisture
levels therein, thereby extending the life of the information storage
cartridge, without effecting the functioning and quality of the
information storage capabilities of the storage medium.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an information
storage cartridge which has an extended life due to the reduction
of moisture contained therein and which is easy and cost-effective
to adapt for the moisture reduction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the re of the present invention,
reference should be had to the following detailed description taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cartridge
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cartridge
of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the cartridge
of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several
views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Shown throughout FIGS. 1-6 the present invention is directed towards
an information storage cartridge, generally indicated as 10. Specifically,
the information storage cartridge 10 is of the type to be utilized
within an electronic device so as to record and/or store information.
As shown in the figures, the information storage cartridge 10 can
be a video cassette (see FIG. 1), a video game cartridge 10' (see
FIG. 3), or a computer disk cartridge 10'', (see FIG. 5) These embodiments,
however, are only illustrative of the numerous types of information
storage cartridges 10 which could be effectively utilized. In fact,
any type of information storage cartridge, such as audio cassettes,
film, compact discs, distal audio tape, or any other type cartridge,
which presently exists or is developed, that is inserted into an
electronic device, is within the scope of the present invention.
Turning to the embodiments illustrated throughout the drawings,
the information storage cartridge 10 includes primarily a housing
20. This housing 20 is sized as a conventional type information
storage cartridge for use with a particular electronic device and
is accordingly structured to be inserted into a corresponding orifice
within the electronic device. The housing 20 includes a hollow interior
22 wherein an information storage medium 30 is contained. Specifically,
the information storage medium 30 corresponds the electronic device
within which the cartridge 10 is utilized, and accordingly, may
be a video tape, as illustrated in FIG. 2 an array of circuitry
and computer chips as utilized in a particular video game, as illustrated
in FIG. 4 or a computer disk, as utilized in a floppy disk, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. The information storage medium 30 is movably
and protectively contained within the hollow interior 22 of the
housing 20 and is accessible to an exterior of the housing 20 through
access means 24 formed in the housing 20. Specifically, the access
means 24 provide the electronic device with access to the hollow
interior 22 of the housing 20 and accordingly, to the information
storage medium 30. Generally, the access means 24 is in the form
of an opening or exposed portion as is commonly employed and utilized
with various types of information storage cartridges. Further, the
access means can also include a movable shield 25 as is commonly
utilized with video cassettes 10 and computer disks 10''. The shield
25 is adapted to be moved during use so as to expose the hollow
interior 22 of the housing 20 and accordingly, the information
storage medium 30 contained therein.
Finally, included within the hollow interior 22 of the housing
20 is a desiccant material 40. This desiccant material 40 is secured
within the hollow interior 22 of the housing 20 in a position remote
from the access means 24 and from the information storage medium
30. Accordingly, the desiccant material is positioned such that
it will not obstruct, contact, or otherwise affect the access, movement
and position of the information storage medium 30 within the hollow
interior 22 of the housing 20. In such a manner, the desiccant material
40 will absorb moisture primarily from the hollow interior 22 of
the housing 20 so as to provide an improved environmental condition
within the housing 20 and accordingly, increase the duration and
effective use of the information storage medium 30 contained within
the housing 20. It is important that the desiccant material 40 be
disposed remote from the information storage medium 30 such that
the information storage cartridge 10 can function as normally and
will not effect normal operation of the electronic device when an
information storage cartridge 10 of the present invention is utilized.
Further, since the desiccant material 40 is disposed to collect
moisture from the hollow interior 22 of the housing 20 a small
quantity will be able to absorb moisture for an extended period
of time, as it is not working to absorb moisture from the ambient
air outside of the housing 20 or from an interior of the electronic
device within which the housing 20 is placed. In this manner, whether
the information storage cartridge 10 is stored within an electronic
device or merely on a shelf, the moisture build up within the housing
20 will be minimized so as to extend the life of the information
storage medium 30 contained therein. Also, the desiccant material
40 can be disposed within the housing 20 or the housing 20 can
be adapted, so that the desiccant material 40 is removable for replacement
after extended use. Specifically, the desiccant material 40 can
be any type of material which will absorb moisture from moisture
humid air, however, the preferred embodiment includes silica gel
in granular or particle form. Further, the silica gel is preferably
contained in a small pouch or bundle within the hollow interior
22 of the housing 20 so as to assure that its secured location within
the housing 20 is maintained, while ensuring that the silica gel
is exposed for maximum absorbing potential. |