WO1988003696A1 - Floppy disk - Google Patents

Abstract

A floppy disk has a magnetic medium disc (2) encased in a transparent polyvinylchloride jacket (4). A mark (8) and serial number (9) are printed on an inside surface of the jacket so as to be visible against a background of cleaning material (3). This provision of the mark and serial number inside the jacket renders counterfeiting more difficult.

Description

FLOPPY DISK

Field of the Invention v The present invention relates to a so-called "floppy

5 disk", also known as a flexible disk cartridge/cassette or diskette.

A floppy disk comprises a disc of flexible magnetic medium for recordal of data and a jacket or shell enclosing the disc for its protection. 10

Background of the Invention

Floppy disks are extensively used for selling software, which is recorded on the disc as sold. Recordal of the information is straightforward. For this reason, software 15 is susceptible of being copied from a legitimate floppy disk to a pirate floppy disk. Such a pirate copy will usually have a copied/counterfeit label or print applied to the jacket/shell of the disk or to its sleeve or other container.

20 The Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a floppy disk marked or labelled in a manner more difficult to copy.

A floppy disk of the invention comprises a disc of 25 flexible magnetic medium for recordal of data, and a jacket or shell enclosing the disc for its protection, the jacket or shell being at least partially transparent or translucent and bearing inside a mark or label visible therethrough. Marking/labelling of the jacket/shell inside entails 30 such marking or labelling being carried out during the manufacture of the floppy disk. This results in the disk being more difficult to counterfeit, since either the counterfeiter must open and reσlose the disk (which is a practical impossibility) or mark or label it on the outside. 35 Both of these make a counterfeit disk much more easy to detect.

In the preferred embodiment, the mark or label is provided between the jacket or shell and disc lining mat- erial. This material is normally spot-welded to the jacket, in the case of 5 1/4" or 8" disks where the jacket is of folded sheet plastics material, or to the shell in the case of 3" and 3%" disks where the shell is of moulded plastics material.

The mark or label can be in the form of printing on the inside of the jacket or shell or of a separate label secured to its inside. The disc lining material itself may bear printing or other marking.

Although it is envisaged that the jacket or shell may be partially opaque with a transparent or translucent window on one side for instance, it is preferred that the jacket or shell be entirely of transparent or translucent material.

The Drawing

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a floppy disk according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view (with an exaggerated thickness scale) on the line II-II in Figure 1 of the disk of that Figure, and;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an alterna¬ tive disk.

Preferred Embodiment

.. Referring first to Figure 1, the floppy disk 1 is of conventional construction as regards its magnetic medium disc 2, cleaning material 3 spot-welded to the inside of the jacket faces 4 which are interconnected by a hinge section 5 at one edge and marginal tabs 6 folded and adhered in place at the other three edges. However, unconventionally, _ the jacket material is transparent, being of matt surface, printing grade polyvinylchloride sheet material. The \ jacket material being transparent, the spot-weld array 7 can

5 be seen. The jacket material is 0.25 mm thick.

Printed on the inside of the jacket is a mark 8 and serial number 9. It will be noted that the mark and number are so positioned as to be visible through the jacket face 4 against a background of the cleaning material.

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Alternative

In the alternative of Figure 3, a separate label 10 bearing the mark and serial number is provided between the jacket face 14 and the cleaning material 13. It is secured 15 in position by the spot-welding and is visible through the jacket face.

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Claims

1. A floppy disk comprising a disc of flexible magnetic medium for recordal of data, and a jacket or shell enclosing the disc for its protection, the jacket or shell being at least partially transparent or translucent and bearing inside a mark or label visible therethrough.

2. A floppy disk as claimed in claim 1, including lining material arranged between the jacket or shell and the magnetic medium disc, the mark or label being provided between the jacket or shell and the lining material.

3. A floppy disk as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the mark or label being secured to an inside surface of the jacket or shell.

4. A floppy disk as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mark or label is spot-welded to the inside surface of the jacket or shell.

5. A floppy disk as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the mark or label being printed onto an inside surface of the jacket or shell.

6. A floppy disk as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jacket or shell is of transparent or translucent material.

7. A floppy disk as claimed in claim 6, wherein the jacket is of transparent polyvinylchloride sheet material.

8. A floppy disk as claimed, in claim 7, wherein the polyvinylchloride sheet material is matt surface printing grade sheet material.