Protective cartridge case having shock absorbing features

Abstract

A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge having at least one reel is provided. The protective cartridge case includes a housing for enclosing the storage cartridge therein, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion having opposing major inner surfaces in a closed position. A first absorbing member is disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion and a second absorbing member is disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion. The protective case further including a first absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion and a second absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion for absorbing forces on the cartridge during a shock event. Additional absorbing members may be disposed adjacent minor side surfaces of the housing for cushioning minor side surfaces of the cartridge.

1 . A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge having at least one reel, the protective cartridge case comprising:
 a housing for enclosing a cartridge having a reel disposed therein, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion having opposing major inner surfaces in a closed position;   a first absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion; and   a second absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , wherein the first absorbing member is disposed for opposing a first major surface of the storage cartridge and the second absorbing member is disposed for opposing a second major surface of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , further comprising a third absorbing member disposed adjacent a first minor inner surface of the housing and positioned for opposing at least one minor surface of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth absorbing member disposed adjacent at least one second minor inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel support member for engaging the reel of the storage cartridge within the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 5 , wherein the reel support member comprises a suspension spring. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second absorbing members each include a thickness along a direction parallel to the axis or rotation of the storage cartridge, the thickness greater than 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second absorbing members comprise a foam pad. 
     
     
         9 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second absorbing members comprise a living spring. 
     
     
         10 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage cartridge disposed between the top and bottom portion. 
     
     
         11 . A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge having at least one reel, the protective cartridge case comprising:
 a housing for enclosing a storage cartridge having a reel disposed therein, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion having opposing major inner surfaces in a closed position;   a first living spring disposed on the inner surface of the bottom portion, the living spring for engaging a portion of the storage cartridge.   
     
     
         12 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a second living spring on the inner surface of the bottom portion, the second living spring for engaging a portion of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second living springs are disposed to engage a corner region of a storage cartridge and suspend at least a portion of the storage cartridge from the inner surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         14 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising four pairs of living springs disposed on the inner surface of the bottom portion, each pair for engaging a corner region of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a reel support member for engaging a reel of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a storage cartridge disposed between the top and bottom portion. 
     
     
         17 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a first absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion. 
     
     
         18 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a second absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         19 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 11 , further comprising a third absorbing member disposed adjacent a first minor inner surface of the housing and positioned to oppose at least one minor surface of the storage cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge, the protective cartridge case comprising:
 a housing for enclosing a storage cartridge, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion having major surfaces;   a first absorbing member disposed adjacent the major surface of the top portion; and   a second absorbing member disposed adjacent the major surface of the bottom portion.   
     
     
         21 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 20 , wherein the first absorbing member is disposed on an exterior surface of the top portion and the second absorbing member is disposed on an exterior surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         22 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 20 , wherein the first absorbing member is disposed on an interior surface of the top portion and the second absorbing member is disposed on an interior surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         23 . The protective cartridge case of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and second absorbing members are overmolded on a portion of the housing.