MXPA00010311A - Disk protective enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder (10) for a disk (22) having a central opening (25) and front and back surfaces (23, 24) includes a base (14) having a planar panel (19);and a pedestal (20) projecting forwardly from the base on a pedestal axis (21). The pedestal includes a central button (44) having radially outwardly projecting retainers (38), and axially extending stems (36) that are integrally formed as button segments (44) with corresponding ones of the retainers. A laterally spaced pair of arms (40) connected to each of the stems supports the button portion in cantilevered relation to the base, the arms sloping radially inwardly and axially forwardly from the panel of the base, the arms collectively having an extended position for retaining the disk by engagement of the front surface by the retainers proximate a central opening. Each pair of arms straddles a respective finger (42) of the pedestal for biasingly contacting the rear face surface of the disk proximate the central opening for displacing the disk axially forwardly relative to the retainers when the arms are in a depressed position, the fingers being deflectable into proximate coplanar relation with the arms, the conical projection of the base extending from the panel toward the button and including main portions of the arms and fingers, the conical projection further including a plurality of skirts (46) extending between adjacent pairs of the arms and being closely spaced therefrom for shielding the arms.

Description

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR DISC BACKGROUND The present invention is related to optical data discs such as compact discs (CDs) and video discs (DVDs) having circular central placement openings, and more particularly with devices so that said discs are protected in a protective manner for storage. Data discs such as compact discs or video discs typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that can be read optically through a transparent lower layer of the disc, by a moving head during disc rotation. The information is accommodated in one or more tracks that are covered by a protective thin upper layer of the disc that may have labels applied therein as by screen printing. The normal handling of the disk may result in scratching of the lower layer, resulting in loss of data by interference of the optical path as by loss of focus and / or lateral displacement of the image. The data may also be lost by scratching the protective layer, which is typically very thin, in the order of 20 microns, resulting in the removal of the information from a layer of metal deposited by steam that has only 0.1 micron. thickness, approximately. Protective containers for common use discs they have a central pedestal to support the disc with support, coupling the central opening without making contact with any of the sides of the disc in the regions thereof that contain data. Such containers typically have a protrusion to contact portions of an outer perimeter of the disc to stabilize the disc and not to tilt on the pedestal. The disc is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal, while the attachment coupling of the perimeter portions opposite the pedestal is typically effected by simultaneous pressing of the finger against one or more elements of the pedestal. The removal of the disc is effected as equals. way, by pressing the finger against the pedestal and simultaneously lifting it by the perimeter portions. The Patent of E.U.A. No. 5,685, 27 to Kuitems et al discloses a compact disc holder having a central post projecting from a shoulder surface, the post having an outwardly facing flange for holding the disc opposite the shoulder surface. The post is formed with spiral grooves for the contraction of the segments in response to the pressure exerted by the finger. A disadvantage of the Kuitems fastener is that it is difficult to use because excessive finger pressure is required to contract the segments; Conversely, if the segments are made long enough and thin enough to contract under reasonable finger pressure, then they are too weak for the grip to be effective. The Patent of E.U.A. No. 5,526,926 to Deja describes a disc storage cover having a central segment pin which is formed with a collar projecting outwards to hold the central support of the disc, the pin is connected to a plurality of lifting fingers projecting outwards, pivoting up when the pin is contracted by pressing on the central oppression button. A disadvantage of Deja's cover is that the fingers are not effective because they must be elastic enough to allow oppression of the oppression button before lifting the disc, and they do not retain enough elastic force to reliably lift the disc, and because they are Projection portions of the fingers have a limited length. UK Patent Application No. 2,291,640 by Fraser et al. discloses a compact disc holder having a bifurcated fastener button supported on respective spring arms projecting inwardly, the segments of the fastener are interconnected by means of a living hinge. Separated around the button fastener are a plurality of disk ejection spring arms. The fastener of Fraser et al. It has a number of disadvantages. For example: 1. The ejection spring arms are ineffective, because they make contact with the disc at a certain distance from the central hole, and must remedy the deflection of the disc to the point of any residual resistance by the user.; 2. The disc is subject to damage by the arms of ejection spring in regions that are far enough away from the central hole to compromise the integrity of the recorded data, and 3. The ejection spring arms are prone to being damaged as they may get stuck in objects such as the user's clothing. Therefore, there is a need for a protective disk container that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention meets this need by providing a molded fastener configuration where structural components are unlikely to get stuck or damaged during normal use and handling, and which is particularly easy to use. In one aspect of the invention, a fastener for a disc having a central opening and front and rear face surfaces includes a base having a flat panel portion; a pedestal projecting forward from the base on a pedestal axis, the pedestal includes a central button portion, a plurality of retention members projecting radially outwardly and a plurality of axially extending rod members; a plurality of arm members that support the retention members and the rod members of the button portion in a cantilever relationship with the base, the arm members are inclined radially inwardly and axially forwardly from the base panel portion, the arm members collectively have an extended position for retaining the disk by engaging the front face surface by means of the retaining members that are close to the central opening, free end ends of the arm members can be bent axially backwards from the extended position to a depressed position in response to a pressure applied against the button portion to produce sufficient axially backward movement and corresponding radially inward the retaining members and the rod members to allow the passage of the retaining portions and the rod portions through the central opening of the disk, and a plurality of finger members to, in a deviated manner, connect the surface of the rod. rear face of the disc near the central opening to displace the axial disc forwardly in relation to the holding portions, when the arm members are in the depressed position, the finger members are deflected in a coplanar relationship proximate to the arm members. Preferably, the free end ends of the finger members have enlarged laterally and radially extending surfaces formed therein to distribute the contact forces against the bottom surface of the disk. Preferably, the free end tips of the finger members have enlarged surfaces that extend laterally and radially, formed therein to distribute the contact forces against the lower surface of the disk. The rod portions may be integrally formed as button segments with corresponding retention members. Preferably, the fastener includes a pair of laterally spaced arm members connected to each of the rod portions, the arm members of each pair are mounted on each respective finger member, thereby preventing the finger members from sticking or otherwise they are damaged by contact with external objects. Preferably, the surfaces facing forward of the button surfaces are inclined forwardly and inwardly from the outer ends of the retaining members towards the respective forward ends of the segments. of the button, the front ends are sufficiently confined for a slope coupling with the central opening in the extended position of the arm members. Preferably, the base portion is formed with a generally tapered segment projection extending concentrically with the pedestal axis from the panel portion toward the button portion, the conical projection includes major portions of the arm and boom members. the finger members to provide a generally smooth front profile of the pedestal Preferably, the conical projection additionally includes a plurality of skirt members extending between the pairs adjacent to the arm members and which are closely spaced therefrom to protect the arm members.

The base portion may further include an edge support member projecting forward from the panel portion and having a shoulder surface to contact the back surface of the disk, proximate a perimeter end thereof and a surface Cylindrical location extending forward of the shoulder surface in concentric relation with the axis of the pedestal to increase the lateral support of the disc, a pair of finger depressions formed in the edge support member on opposite sides of the axis of the pedestal, each finger depression interrupts the locating surface to allow the disc to be held by a user's fingers when the disc extends into the locating surface. The shoulder surface can be interrupted by the finger depressions. Preferably, the shoulder surface is separated from the disk in the engaged position of the arm members to limit the deflection of the disk when the arm members move to the depressed position.

DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be better understood by reference to the following description, appended claims, and drawings. companions, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protective disk container according to the present invention, the container is in its open condition; Figure 2 is a perspective view detailing a central pedestal portion of the container of Figure 1, the pedestal portion is in its relaxed condition; Figure 3 is a plan view of the pedestal portion of Figure 2, Figure 4 is an elevation view, sectioned along line 4-4 of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a view in elevation, in section, fragmented showing a disc placed ready to be coupled with the pedestal portion of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a detailed view as in Figure 5, showing the disc pressed in engagement with the pedestal; Figure 7 is a detailed view as in Figure 5, showing the pedestal portion deformed to a contraction condition, the disc is released therefrom; Figure 8 is a perspective view as shown in Figure 2, showing the pedestal portion and the disc (drawn with a reduced outer diameter) in relation to Figure 7; Y Figure 9 is an elevation, sectional view of the container of Figure 1 in its closed condition with the pedestal supporting the disc as in Figure 6.

DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to a disk container that is particularly effective for protecting discs like CDs and DVDs. Referring to Figures 1-9 of the drawings, a DVD case 10 includes a cover 12 having a dust jacket 13 attached thereto to deploy printed material (not shown), the cover has a base portion 14 and a portion thereof. of lid 16, and a hinge portion 18 that is movably connected to the base and hinge portions. In an exemplary configuration, the cover 12 is a molded, integrally formed member, the so-called "living hinges" are formed along opposite edges of the hinge portion 18. The base and lid portions 1 and 16 include portions of respective panel 17 and 19, and respective perimeter side portions 17S and 19S which conventionally adjust under pressure in adjacency in the direction of the edge in a closed condition of box 10, hinge portion 18 and side portions 17s and 18S form the four side walls of the cover 12, the lid panel portion 17 forms a front wall, the base panel portion 19 forms a rear wall. The dust jacket 13 is attached to the panel portions 17 and 19 along the respective perimeter edge portions thereof, opposite the hinge portion, being otherwise opened to facilitate the insertion of the printed material which is configured to cover substantially ^ ¿N ^^^ g ^. the entire outer surface of the panel portions 17 and 19 and the hinge portion 18. In another description of the cover 12, the terms "front" and "forward" with respect to the base refer to a direction toward the lid portion 16 in the closed condition of box 10; to the contrary, "rear", "backward", and "behind" refer to a direction away from the lid portion A pedestal 20 of the cover projects forwardly of the panel portion 19 of the base 14 at the top. pedestal axis 21 for supportingly supporting a digital video disc 22 having front and rear face surfaces 23 and 2, a circular central opening 25, and a periphery 26. An edge support portion 28 of the cover 12 also it projects forward in the panel portion 19 in a concentric relation to the pedestal axis 21 to contact the disk 22 with the periphery 26. The edge support portion 28 is formed with an edge shoulder 30 to stabilize the disk 22 for that does not tilt, and a cylindrical locating surface 30 for increasing the lateral support of the disc 22 while the disc is engaged with the pedestal 20. This edge support portion is also formed with at least one pair of depre In order to allow the opposite perimeter portions of the disc 22 to be held by the user of the container 10, the edge shoulder 30 and the cylindrical location surface 32 are interrupted by the finger depressions 3. According to the present invention, the pedestal 20 is formed with a plurality of rod portions 36, and retaining portions 38 that are angularly spaced about the axis of the pedestal 21 and that are supported on the free ends of the angularly spaced arm members 0, the arm members are cantilevered and inclined radially inwardly and axially forwardly from the base 14 and are sufficiently flexible for movement between an extended position wherein the retaining portions 38 contact the front surface 23 of the disk 22 with the rod portions 36 projecting into the opening central 25 as shown in Figures 6 and 9, and a depressed position wherein the retaining portions 28 and the rod portions 36 are displaced axially rearwardly and radially inward to release the central opening 25 as shown in the Figures 7 and 8. The inner limbs of the arm members 0 are formed with respect to the po Contact rations 41 generally extending in coplanar relationship parallel to the base panel portion 19. The pedestal 20 also includes a plurality of finger members 2 having respective contact portions 43 for pushing the disc 22 axially forward with respect to to the retaining portions 38, thereby facilitating decoupling of the retaining portions 38 from the upper surface of disc 23 and the passage of the retaining portions within the central opening 25. The contact portions 43 of the finger members are laterally enlarged as best shown in Figure 3 dttk ^ W to limit the concentrations of diverting forces against the rear surface 24 of the disk 22. The disk members 2 are protected from damage by being placed in close proximity to the arm members and being oriented approximately in parallel therewith as will be further described. ahead. In the exemplary and preferred configuration of the pedestal 20 as shown and described here, the rod portions 20 and the respective retaining portions 38 are integrally formed as corresponding button segments 44, each button segment 44 having a conical chamfer surface 39 which extends towards the outer ends of the rod and the holding portions 36 and 38. Each of the button segments 4 is supported by a separate pair., generally parallel to arm members 0, and each finger member 42 extends between a corresponding pair of arm members 40 in a separate relationship generally parallel thereto. In a relaxed condition of the pedestal 20, as best shown in Figure 2, the finger members 42 extend slightly forward of the arm members 40, the outer ends of the arm members 40 and the finger members 42 extending to the base panel portion 19 and joining thereto along a circular outer perimeter 45 of the pedestal 20, the perimeter 45 is coplanar to a front surface of the panel portion 19. Thus, the members of finger 42 are protected against breakage by being located in a generally co-conical relationship with arm members ... aa & , When the disc 22 locks onto the pedestal 20 with the retaining portions 38 making contact with the front surface of the disc 23, the back surface of the disc 24 rests on or near the contact portions 41 of the arm members 40, the contact portions 41, in this way, are approximately coplanar to the contact portions 43 of the finger members 42. In this condition of the pedestal 20, further downward deflection of the finger members 42 with respect to the arm members 40 by means of the disc 22 making contact with the contact portions of the arm member 43 Further, the combination of the arm members 40 and the finger members 42 advantageously provides a highly increased resistance for further downward movement of the arm member 40. disc next to the central opening 25 thereof. The arm members 40 are also protected against breakage or permanent deformation by the pedestal 20 which further includes a plurality of skirt members 46 extending in and out of the perimeter 44 in an approximately co-conical relationship with the members of the arm. arm 44, each skirt member 46 is closely spaced, in the direction of the edge of a divergent pair of arm members 40. In the relaxed condition of the pedestal 20, the arm members 40 together with the skirt members 46 form a front face advantageously smooth frustoconical of the pedestal 20 extending from the base panel 19 at the outer perimeter 44 inwards and outwards with the contact portions 41 of the arm members 40. In this way, the arm members 40 as well as the button portions 41 are protected so that they do not snag and possibly be damaged by contact with objects such as clothing of the user of the container 10. The finger members 42, in addition to the protections described above, extend inward to approach the retaining portions 38 in the relaxed condition of the pedestal 20. This further protects the finger members, the retaining portions 38 serve to protect the ends 43 of the finger members so that they do not collide or stick to foreign objects during normal handling of the container 10 when the disc 22 is removed and the lid portion 16 is opened.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims (11)

1. A disc holder having a central opening and front and rear face surfaces, the holder comprises: a) a base having a flat panel portion; b) a pedestal projecting forward from the base on the pedestal axis, the pedestal includes; i) a central button portion having a plurality of retention members projecting radially outwardly and a plurality of axially extending shank members; I) a plurality of arm members supporting the retention members and the rod members of the button portion in cantilever relationship with the base, the arm members are inclined radially inwardly and axially forwardly of the panel portion of the base, the arm members have a collectively extended position for retaining the disc by engaging the front face surface by the retaining members close to the central aperture, the free end extremities of the arm members are deviated axially backward from the extended position to a depressed position in response to the pressure applied against the button portion to produce sufficient corresponding radially inward and axially backward movement of the retaining members and the rod members to allow the passage of the retaining portions and the portions of the rod through the central opening of the disk; and iii) a plurality of finger members for contacting, in a deflected manner, the rear face surface of the disc proximate the central aperture for displacing the disc axially forward relative to the retaining portions when the arm members are in the Oppressed position, the finger members deviate in a coplanar relationship next to the arm members.

The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the free end ends of the finger members have extending radially and laterally extending surfaces thereon to distribute the contact forces against the bottom surface of the disk.

The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the rod portions are integrally formed as button segments with corresponding retention members.

The fastener according to claim 3, comprising a laterally spaced pair of arm members connected to each portion of the rod, the arm members of each pair is mounted on each respective finger member.

The fastener according to claim 3, wherein the forwardly facing surfaces of the button surfaces are inclined forward and inwardly from the ends of the retaining members to the front ends of the button segments, the front ends are sufficiently confined for a sloping coupling with the central opening in the extended position of the arm members.

The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is formed with a generally tapered segment projection extending concentrically with the pedestal axis from the panel portion toward the button portion, the conical projection includes major portions of the arm members and the finger members 7.

The fastener according to claim 6, wherein the conical projection further includes a plurality of skirt members extending between adjacent pairs of the arm members and closely separated from them to protect the arm members.

The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the base portion further comprises an edge support member projecting forward of the panel portion, the edge support member having a shoulder surface for contacting the the back surface of the disc proximate the perimeter end thereof and a cylindrical location surface extending forward of the shoulder surface in a concentric relationship with the axis of the pedestal to increase the lateral support of the disc, the support member of the disc. edge has a couple of finger depressions formed thereon on opposite sides of the pedestal axis, each finger depression interrupts the locating surface to allow the disc to be held by the user's finger when the disc extends into the locating surface.

The fastener according to claim 8, wherein the shoulder surface is interrupted by finger depressions

10. The fastener according to claim 8, wherein the shoulder surface is separated from the disk in the engaged position of the arm members to limit the deflection of the disk when the arm members move to the depressed position.

11. A fastener for a disc having a central opening and front and rear face surfaces, the fastener comprises. a) a base having a flat panel portion; b) a pedestal projecting forward from the base on the pedestal axis, the pedestal includes: i) a central button portion having a plurality of retention members projecting radially outwardly and a plurality of rod members extending axially, the rod members are integrally formed as button segments with corresponding retention members; ii) a pair of laterally spaced arm members connected to each portion of the rod to support the button portion in a cantilever relationship with the base, the arm members are inclined radially inwardly and axially forwardly of the panel portion of the base, the arm members collectively have an extended position to retain the disk by engaging the the front face surface by the retaining members near the central opening, the free end ends of the arm members are axially deflected backwardly from the extended position to a depressed position in response to the pressure applied against the button portion to produce sufficient corresponding radially inward and axially backward movement of the retaining members and rod members to allow the passage of the retaining portions and the rod portions through the central opening of the disc, the surfaces oriented towards in front of the button segments lean forward and make to the inside of the outer ends of the holding members to the respective segments button forelimbs, the forelimbs are so confined enough for a sloping coupling with the central opening in the extended position of the arm members; Ii) a plurality of finger members, each pair of arm member is mounted on each respective finger member, to, in a deviated manner, contact the back face surface of the disk proximal to the central opening to move the disk axially towards front in relation to the holding portions when the arm members are in the oppressed position, the finger members are deflected in a coplanar relation next to the arm members; and iv) a plurality of skirt members extending between the adjacent pairs of the arm members and being closely spaced therefrom to protect the arm members, the arm members, the finger members, and the skirt members. they form a generally conical projection extending concentrically with the pedestal axis from the panel portion to the button portion SUMMARY A fastener 10 for a disk 22 having a central opening 25 and front and rear surfaces 23, 24 including a base 14 having a flat panel 19; and a pedestal 20 projecting forward from the base on the axis of the pedestal 21. The pedestal includes a central button 44 having retention members 38 projecting radially outwardly, and axially extending rods 36, which are integrally formed as button segments 44 with corresponding retention members A pair of laterally spaced arms 40, connected to each rod supports the button portion in a cantilever relationship to the base, the arms are inclined radially inward and axially forward of the base panel, the arms collectively have an extended position to retain the disk by engaging the front surface by the retaining members close to the central opening. Each pair of arms is mounted on a respective finger 42 of the pedestal to, in a deviated manner, contact the back face surface of the disk proximal to the central opening to move the disk axially forward relative to the retention members when the arms are in the depressed position, the fingers deviate in a coplanar relationship close to the arms, the conical projection of the base extends from the panel to the button and includes major portions of the arms and fingers, the conical projection further includes a plurality of skirts 46 that extend between the adjacent pairs of the arms and are closely spaced therefrom to protect the arms