How Early Hard Disk Drives Accessed Data Quickly
A 1970 patent detailing a mechanical system for moving read-write heads across magnetic disks to retrieve stored information rapidly.
Original patent title: “Direct access magnetic disc storage device”
A 1970 patent detailing a mechanical system for moving read-write heads across magnetic disks to retrieve stored information rapidly. Granted to JOHN J LYNOTT in 1970 with 9 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a mechanical assembly for a magnetic disk storage device. It focuses on the movement of a transducer, or read-write head, across the surface of a rotating magnetic disk. By using a specific actuator mechanism, the device positions the head over precise tracks on the disk to read or write data. This allowed computers to access information stored at different locations on the disk without needing to read through all the data sequentially.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover solid-state storage or flash memory technologies.
- Does not cover software-based file systems or data organization methods.
- Does not cover the magnetic recording medium itself, only the mechanical positioning hardware.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention refined the mechanical linkage and control systems required to move a physical head to a specific track with high precision and speed, minimizing the time spent waiting for the disk to rotate.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Early IBM mainframe disk storage units
Hard disk drive mechanical head actuators
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology was foundational for the transition from slow, sequential tape storage to the high-speed random access storage that defines modern computing. It enabled the development of early mainframe disk drives, which allowed computers to retrieve files and execute programs much faster than previously possible.
Filed
September 16, 1968
Granted
March 24, 1970
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Western Digital, Seagate, and Toshiba continue to evolve the mechanical and magnetic principles of hard disk drives, though the industry has shifted significantly toward solid-state storage.
Market impact
This patent helped establish the architecture for direct-access storage devices, which became the standard for enterprise computing for decades. It provided a critical roadmap for the mechanical engineering required to make large-scale data storage commercially viable.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a mechanical assembly for a magnetic disk storage device. It focuses on the movement of a transducer, or read-write head, across the surface of a rotating magnetic disk. By using a specific actuator mechanism, the device positions the head over precise tracks on the disk to read or write data. This allowed computers to access information stored at different locations on the disk without needing to read through all the data sequentially.
The clever bit
The invention refined the mechanical linkage and control systems required to move a physical head to a specific track with high precision and speed, minimizing the time spent waiting for the disk to rotate.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover solid-state storage or flash memory technologies.
- Does not cover software-based file systems or data organization methods.
- Does not cover the magnetic recording medium itself, only the mechanical positioning hardware.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$7K – $23K
Midpoint $14K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lynott, J. J., & Goddard, W. A. (1970). How Early Hard Disk Drives Accessed Data Quickly (U.S. Patent No. 3,503,060). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3503060/hard-disk-drive
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Early Hard Disk Drives Accessed Data Quickly cover?
A 1970 patent detailing a mechanical system for moving read-write heads across magnetic disks to retrieve stored information rapidly.
Who owns patent US 3503060?
JOHN J LYNOTT owns this patent, granted in 1970.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3503060 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology was foundational for the transition from slow, sequential tape storage to the high-speed random access storage that defines modern computing. It enabled the development of early mainframe disk drives, which allowed computers to retrieve files and execute programs much faster than previously possible.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover solid-state storage or flash memory technologies.
Patent monitoring