Disc cartridge

Abstract

A disc cartridge having a shutter which can open/close an opening for access to a disc-shaped disc medium, which opening is formed in at least one surface of a case which rotatably accommodates the disc medium. A visual recognition means which enables visual recognition of recorded/unrecorded regions is provided at a disc medium recording surface side of the case. A push portion for fingers at a time of loading the disc cartridge into a drive device is provided at a rear surface of the case. An urging means for urging in a closing/opening direction is provided at the shutter which opens/closes the opening. The disc cartridge is provided in which an unrecorded amount of the disc medium can be visually recognized from an exterior, operation of the shutter is smooth, and loading of the disc cartridge into the drive device can be carried out smoothly and stably.

1 . (canceled).  
   
   
       2 . (canceled).  
   
   
       3 . (canceled).  
   
   
       4 . A disc cartridge having: 
 a case which is formed by joining a top shell and a bottom shell, and which rotatably accommodates a disc-shaped disc medium which can be recorded on at least one time and at which recorded/unrecorded regions can be visually identified;    an opening, provided in the case, for access to the disc medium;    a shutter portion which is provided at an outer side of the case and at a disc medium recording surface side of the case, and which opens and closes the opening; and    a covering plate portion in which an opening for access to the disc medium is formed, the shutter portion being movably accommodated between the covering plate portion and the case,    wherein the covering plate portion is formed by a transparent member, and one of an aperture and a cut-out portion, which enables visual recognition of the recorded/unrecorded regions of the disc medium, is provided at a region of one of the top shell and the bottom shell which region is other than a region where the shutter portion is disposed when the opening is closed.    
   
   
       5 . (canceled).  
   
   
       6 . (canceled).  
   
   
       7 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein the one of aperture and the cut-out portion is formed substantially radially in substantial correspondence with a length from an inner periphery to an outer periphery at a recording surface of the disc medium.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled).  
   
   
       9 . (canceled).  
   
   
       10 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein a scale, which enables recognition of a capacity of one of a recorded region and an unrecorded region of the disc medium, is provided at the transparent member.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled).  
   
   
       12 . (canceled).  
   
   
       13 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein the transparent member is formed of a material which attenuates transmission of neighboring wavelengths including a recording wavelength of the disc medium.  
   
   
       14 . (canceled).  
   
   
       15 . (canceled).  
   
   
       16 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein a substance, which attenuates transmission of neighboring wavelengths including a recording wavelength of the disc medium, is applied on a surface of the transparent member.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled).  
   
   
       18 . (canceled).  
   
   
       19 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein a substance, which attenuates transmission of neighboring wavelengths including a recording wavelength of the disc medium, is kneaded into the transparent member.  
   
   
       20 . (canceled).  
   
   
       21 . (canceled).  
   
   
       22 . (canceled).  
   
   
       23 . (canceled).  
   
   
       24 . (canceled).  
   
   
       25 . (canceled).  
   
   
       26 . (canceled).  
   
   
       27 . (canceled).  
   
   
       28 . (canceled).  
   
   
       29 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the push portion is formed in a convex shape.  
   
   
       30 . A disc cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the push portion is subjected to a surface roughening treatment.