GB2439541A

GB2439541A - Disc case with resiliently biased carrier tray

Info

Publication number: GB2439541A
Application number: GB0612891A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Naomitsu Sakaguchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: GB0612891D0; WO2008001514A1

Abstract

An optical disc case for accommodating optical discs such as CD ROMs, DVDs, etc, comprises a bottom tray, a lid section, and a middle tray 1T located therebetween. The middle tray 1T has an integrated moulded spring 1C which will rest on the bottom tray and will cause the middle tray 1T to rise at an angle from the bottom tray when the case is opened. The middle tray 1T is connected to the bottom tray by means of a hinge: this permits the middle tray 1T to pivoted upwards by depressing the area of the tray closest to the spine of the case - this may be in addition or alternative to the integrated moulded spring 1C.

Description

C

Automatic Disc Binder History The rationale for the new type optical disc case for accommodating optical discs such as musical compact discs, CD Rom, Computer Games and DVD was to create a case for easier access for consumers, cheaper for manufacturers and added value and improved marketing for retailers. It had also to accommodate the disc safely without contaminating the disc or fouling the paper material in the case.

Properties The bottom and top of the Optical Disk Case will be of the standard type used by the majority of Optical Disk Manufacturers and will need to be modified in the following way.

The bottom of the case will need to have the holes near the spine/hinge of the case where the upper is attached.

The top of the case will need pins near the spine/hinge of the case to correspond and to fit into the holes in the bottom of the case to allow the case to open and close around the hinge. See Figure IA The bottom tray wifi need a further hole, separate from the hole for the upper tray to accept the pins from the middle tray. These holes are smaller and approximately 2-3 millimeters further along from the hinge holes. See Figure lB The middle tray will be made of a moulded plastic with flexible qualities; polypropylene or other similar material. It will be attached to the bottom tray by means of pins which will correspond to the smaller holes in the bottom tray. See Figure lB The Optical Disk wifi rest on the middle tray.

The middle tray will have an integrated moulded spring, which will rest on the bottom tray and will cause the middle tray to rise at an angle of approximately twenty degrees from the bottom tray when the case is opened. The spring wifi allow the case to be opened and closed without forcing the case open or causing pressure of the Optical Case on the top tray. The spring will be positioned in the middle of the tray near the hinge and will be cut from the body of the middle tray. See Figure 1C and 2C. The rising of the middle tray wifi lift one end of the Optical Disk away from the bottom tray to allow easy removal of the Optical Disc. See Figure 2D The middle tray will be prevented from rising more than approximately twenty degrees by a hinge section. The top of the middle tray hinge section will be flat when the case is closed and be seen to rise at twenty degrees when the case is opened. See Figure 2A. (1)

When the case is closed the part of the hinge closest to the spine of the case. ( The left-hand side of the hinge) will be designed so that top half is vertical and the bottom half is angled away from the spine by approximately twenty degrees. See Figure 2B.

This wifi lock the middle tray when it is opened.

The hub of the middle tray is designed so that existing CD packaging machines do not need to be modified. The hub wifi be angled at ten degrees from the horizontal. See Figure 3A. When the case is opened and tray is raised twenty degrees. The hub is 3 millimeters from the centre of the case. See Figure 3B. The angled hub will catch the optical disc and allow it to be placed in the case without damage to the disc or the case.

See Figure 3 The middle tray will have a curved section from the hub in order to prevent damage to the recordable surface of the Optical Disc. See Figure iT (2) Manual System Disc Binder The middle tray will have the same function as the case with the integrated spring in the centre of the tray and will rise twenty degrees from the horizontal to allow the easy removal of the Optical Disk.

This tray is designed to be operated if there is no integrated moulded spring or if the spring breaks because of faulty materials or mishandling.

The tray acts on a hinge using the existing holes in the bottom of a standard Optical Disc bottom tray. Depressing the area of the tray closest to the spine of the case (see Figure 4A) causes the tray to rise at an angle of twenty degrees pivoting around the hinge (see Figure 4B) 1) The middle tray wifi fit any standard Optical Disc Case bottom and top sections.

2) The middle tray described in i) is designed to allow a rise of twenty degrees from the horizontal but more of less than twenty is acceptable and makes allowance for discrepancies in the manufacturing machinery or tooling and moulds.

Twenty-degree rise is the optimum.

3) The middle tray will work in the principal laid our in number 2) with either an integrated moulded spring or manually by the depression of the area closest to the pine 4) The middle tray as laid out in number 3) will be made from any material suitable for the task or which is used in the manufacturing of current Optical Disc middle trays. (3)

Drawings Figure IA The hinge showing the corresponding holes and pins in the top and bottom trays.

Figure lB The holes in the bottom tray which will fit the pins from the middle tray.

Figure 1C The integrated moulded spring in the middle tray.

Figure iT The curved area around the hub preventing damage to the disc.

Figure 2A The middle tray top of the hinge section seen closed and open.

Figure 2B Seen with the hinge on the left. The left side of the hinge top half vertical and the bottom half cut at twenty degrees.

Figure 2C The integrated moulded spring seen from the side with the case open.

Figure 2D The angle of the optical disc with the case open and the middle tray rising at an angle of twenty degrees.

Figure 3A The hub shown from the side when the middle tray is flat (the case is closed).

Figure 3B The hub shown from the side moving three miffimeters from the center when the case is open and the tray is raised twenty degrees.

Figure 4A Illustrated the area of depression and the angle of movement when depressed Figure 4B Illustrates the hinge around the tray is pivoted. (4)

Claims

Claims A disc binder for storage and retrieval of optical discs (such

as musical compact discs, CD ROMs, DVD, computer games and other software discs, and similar optical media) incorporating an integrated spring-like apparatus within the binder case that presents the disc to the user by partly raising it from the binder, thereby making disc retrieval easier and more accomodating for the user.

2 A disc binder according to claim 1, the spring apparatus integral to the body of the internal disc holder component, means of presentation of disc to user facilitated by the opening of case and releasing tension to raise disc from binder for easier removal and/or insertion of disc.

3 A disc binder according to claim 2, with optional construction including manual means, utilising a lever-type counterbalance to raise and present the disc to : * the user in event of spring failure or as alternative disc retrieval from binder. I...

4 A disc binder according to claim 3, manufactured in plastic (or similar) with minor modification to components to effect method of raising the disc without * * ** damage to disc, binder or other components. * *.

A disc binder according to claim 4, designed to conform with CD-type case construction standards, materials, dimensions, limitations and practices. 1 S

S IS..

S S 5* S S.