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WO2007009357A1 - Disk protective enclosure - Google Patents

Disk protective enclosure Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007009357A1
WO2007009357A1 PCT/CN2006/001670 CN2006001670W WO2007009357A1 WO 2007009357 A1 WO2007009357 A1 WO 2007009357A1 CN 2006001670 W CN2006001670 W CN 2006001670W WO 2007009357 A1 WO2007009357 A1 WO 2007009357A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tray
disk
tertiary
main
panel portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2006/001670
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kwok Din Lau
Original Assignee
Finest Products Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Finest Products Limited filed Critical Finest Products Limited
Priority to JP2008520698A priority Critical patent/JP2009500257A/en
Priority to EP06761422A priority patent/EP1913594A1/en
Publication of WO2007009357A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007009357A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B33/00Constructional parts, details or accessories not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • G11B33/02Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon
    • G11B33/04Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon modified to store record carriers
    • G11B33/0405Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon modified to store record carriers for storing discs
    • G11B33/0433Multiple disc containers
    • G11B33/0444Multiple disc containers for discs without cartridge
    • G11B33/045Multiple disc containers for discs without cartridge comprising centre hole locking means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to data disks such as optical data disks including for example, compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to devices for protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.
  • data disks such as optical data disks including for example, compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to devices for protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.
  • Data disks such as compact disks and video disks typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that is optically readable through a transparent bottom layer of the disk by a movable head during rotation of the disk.
  • the information is arranged in one or more tracks that are covered by a thin protective top layer of the disk that can have labeling applied thereto such as by silkscreening.
  • Normal handling of the disk can result in scratching of the bottom layer, resulting in loss of data by interference with the optical path such as by loss of focus and/or lateral image displacement.
  • data can be lost by scratching of the protective layer which is typically very thin, on the order of 20 microns, resulting in removal of information from a vapor deposited metal layer that is only about 0.1 micron thick.
  • Protective containers for the disks in common use have a central pedestal for supportively gripping the disc by engaging the central opening without contacting either side of the disk within data-containing regions thereof.
  • Such containers may have a ledge for contacting portions of an outer perimeter of the disk for stabilizing the disk against tipping on the pedestal.
  • the disk is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal while gripping opposite perimeter portions, engagement with the pedestal being typically effected by simultaneous finger pressure against the disk proximate the central opening. Removal of the disk is similarly effected by finger pressure against the pedestal, and simultaneous lifting at the perimeter portions.
  • Ajewel boxes® One class of containers, known as Ajewel boxes® have a clear plastic body and a pivotally connected clear plastic lid, an insert member fitting within the body and being formed with the various disk-contacting surfaces and associated members.
  • Another class of containers has the body and lid integrally formed and pivotally joined along opposite edges of a narrow, generally rectangular spine member, with disk-supporting structure integrally formed in the body, such containers referred to as ADVp boxes® being somewhat oversize as compared with the jewel boxes. These boxes have an important advantage of being less expensive to provide than jewel boxes.
  • disk containers with an interior partition for storage and access of a pair of disks.
  • such containers include a partition portion having disk retainers on opposite sides and a pair of transparent lids that are pivotally connected at respective opposite sides along opposite end edges of the partition portion.
  • the dual-disk storage boxes of the prior art are excessively expensive to provide in that they are significantly more complex and tooling costs must be amortized over much smaller quantities of production.
  • containers for three disks wherein one disk is supported in a fixed position relative to the container body, and a pair of disks are supported on opposite sides of a hinged tray.
  • One such example is configured as a DVD box, with the tray having a hinged connection to the spine member.
  • a particular disadvantage of this arrangement is that the tray slides laterally relative to the body as the lid is opened because the spine member pivots relative to the body as the lid is opened.
  • This sliding movement is objectionable in that damage to one or more disks can occur by scratching.
  • a further objection is that the sliding movement produces vibration and jarring which has a tendency to dislodge disks out of engagement with supporting structure, with a consequent likelihood of being dropped as the container is opened.
  • Compounding this problem is the fact that the one-piece DVD box configuration typically has snap-together structure for holding such boxes closed, and opening of those cases is somewhat difficult because there is little room for finger depressions that are gripped during opening of the boxes, particularly in view of extra space required inside the boxes for clearing the trays, the DVD box configuration having somewhat restrictive standard outside dimensions.
  • the shallow finger depressions of the prior art are also an impediment to automated loading of disks into the containers in that they are particularly difficult to grip for opening by machines.
  • Another problem associated with multiple disk storage containers is that separate tooling and parts inventory are required for containers holding each number of disks, and a container for a particular number of disks cannot ordinarily be converted for holding a greater number of disks.
  • the container includes a case having a base portion and a hingedly connected lid portion; a forwardly projecting base pedestal on a base panel portion of the base portion for retaining a first one of the disks by engaging its central opening with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case; a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks, the main tray having a hinged connection within the case for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case; and a hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the hinged
  • main tray includes rim portions projecting from the main tray panel portion and forming a cavity for receiving the secondary tray in flush relation to the main tray.
  • the container can include the secondary tray having a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from one side for retaining the third disk , the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.
  • the main tray also has another hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray.
  • the rim portions of the main tray project from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion, forming respective cavities for receiving the secondary and tertiary trays in flush relation to the main tray.
  • the container can further include the tertiary tray of like configuration as the secondary tray, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
  • the tertiary tray can be double sided for supporting a fifth disk that contacts only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
  • the secondary tray can also be double sided for supporting a sixth disk that contacts only the secondary tray in closing of the case.
  • the main tray also can be double sided for supporting a seventh disk that contacts only the main tray in closing of the case.
  • the container can further include a generally rectangular spine portion hingedly connected along opposite side extremities thereof between the base and lid portions.
  • the hinged connection of the main tray is to the base portion of the case, proximate the spine portion and in proximate alignment therewith.
  • the container in another aspect of the invention, includes a case having the base portion, the lid portion, and the spine portion hingedly connected therebetween; a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts connected to and projecting forwardly from the base portion; the main tray being pivotally connected to the main hinge structure; and the first and second hinge structures on the main tray in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting the secondary and tertiary trays holding third and fourth disks.
  • the container can include the secondary and/or tertiary trays.
  • the pedestals of each of the main, secondary, and tertiary trays can be double sided for retaining respective seventh, fifth, and sixth disks, each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh disks contacting only the tertiary, secondary, and main trays, respectively, in closing of the case.
  • Figure 1 is an oblique perspective view of a protective disk case according to the present invention, the case being in an open condition with internal hingedly connected trays thereof in respective intermediate positions;
  • Figure 2 is a bottom oblique perspective view of the case of Fig. I 5 in a closed condition;
  • Figure 3 is a lateral sectional elevational view of the case of Fig. 1 in the closed condition
  • Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail plan view of a portion of the case of
  • Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the case portion of Fig. 4;
  • Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on line 6-6 in Fig. 5;
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view as in Fig. 6, showing an alternative configuration of a hinge pedestal portion of the case.
  • Figure 8 is a plan view of the hinge pedestal portion of Fig. 7.
  • a DVD box 10 includes a case 12 that may have a transparent jacket (not shown) bonded thereto in a conventional manner for displaying printed material, the case having a base portion 14 a lid portion 16, and a spine portion 18 that movably connects the base and lid portions.
  • the case 12 is an integrally formed molded member, so-called Aliving hinges® being formed along opposite edges of the spine portion 18.
  • the base and lid portions 14 and 16 include respective lid panel and base panel portions 17 and 19, and respective perimeter side portions 17S and 19S that snap together in edgewise adjacency in a closed condition of the box 10, the spine portion 18 and the side portions 17S and 19S together forming four side walls of the case 12, the lid panel portion 17 forming a front wall, the base panel portion 19 forming a rear wall.
  • Mating pairs of holder structures provide the snap together engagement of the case, the holder structures of the lid portion 16 being designated 17H, an exemplary configuration thereof being respective grooves formed in the lid side portion 17S opposite the spine portion 18 as best shown in Fig. 3.
  • the mating holder structures of the base portion being designated 19H 5 an exemplary configuration being respective upstanding tabs that engage the grooves forming the holder structures 17H.
  • the case 12 is also formed with inwardly displaced portions 17 D and 19D opposite the spine portion for providing overhanging lips to facilitate opening of the case as further described in U.S. Patent No. 6,554,132, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
  • the terms Afront® and Aforward® with respect to the base refer to a direction toward the lid portion 16 in the closed condition of the box 10; conversely, Arear®, Arearward®, and Aback® refer to a direction away from the lid portion.
  • a pedestal 20 of the case 12 projects forwardly from the panel portion 19 of the base 14 for supportively engaging a compact disk (CD) or digital video disk (DVD) 22 in any suitable manner.
  • a shroud formation 28 of case 12 also projects forwardly on the panel portion 19 in generally concentric relation to the pedestal 20 proximate the periphery of a disk being supported on the pedestal 20, the shroud formation 28 projecting forwardly of the disk 22 for blocking inadvertent contact with the disk.
  • the shroud formation 28 has at least one pair of finger depressions 34 for permitting opposite perimeter portions of the disk 22 to be grasped by a user of the container 10.
  • the base portion 14 is formed with a main hinge structure 35 projecting forwardly therefrom as schematically shown in Fig.
  • each hinge post 36 includes a pair of forwardly extending leaf members 38 (respectively designated 38A and 38B) for pivotally locating a main tray 40 of the container 10 within the case 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
  • the hinge posts 36 are oriented with the leaf members 38 thereof in alignment parallel to the spine 18 and being contoured for removable snap engagement with respective main j ournals 43 that may be integrally molded with the main tray 40. It will be understood that other configurations of the hinge posts and the pivotal engagement with the main tray 40 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
  • the main tray 40 is formed having a tray panel portion 19', oppositely facing counterparts of the pedestal 20, designated 20', and preferably including corresponding shroud formations 28' having finger depressions 34' (those on one side only being shown in Fig. 1). It will be understood that the main tray 40 can be configured with a single pedestal 20' on either the front or rear side of the tray. Also, the container 10 can be initially provided without the main tray 40, which can be added whenever it is desired to accommodate more than one of the disks 22.
  • the exemplary and preferred configuration of the main tray 40 also has a forwardly and rearwardly projecting rim portions 48 that define a perimeter of the tray as well as creating respective cavities 49 for receiving auxiliary trays as described below, the rim also reinforcing the tray 40, as well as defining limits of pivotal movement thereof relative to the base portion 14 and the lid portion 16.
  • the rim 18 has arch profiles 50 along opposite side portions thereof for facilitating pivotal lifting of the main tray 40 away from the base portion 14.
  • the disk container 10 of the present invention is configured for conventional disks having an outside diameter of 120mm, an inside diameter of 15mm, and a thickness of between 1.2mm and 1.3mm.
  • a suitable material for both the case 12 and the tray 40 of the disk container 10 is polypropylene plastic.
  • the case 12 has a length A which can be 191.2mm (7.53 inches), a width B which can be 136.2mm (5.36 inches), and a 5 thickness C which can be only approximately 30mm (1.18 inches).
  • the container 10 of the present invention is provided with the main tray having at least one secondary hinge structure 41 for providing hinged support of at least one secondary tray 42, there being two such
  • secondary hinge structures designated 41 A and 4 IB, and corresponding secondary trays, designated 42A and 42B in the preferred configuration of the disk container 10 shown in the drawings.
  • the secondary hinge structures 41 are located in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure so that the trays 40 and 42 can be flipped much as the pages of a book, thereby facilitating rapid identification and
  • each of the secondary hinge structures 41 includes an oppositely opening pair of secondary journal cavities (or through holes) 44 that are formed on the main tray 40 proximate respective ones of the main journals 43 for snap engagement with respective stub journals 45 that project oppositely from a secondary tray 42 to be mounted thereon
  • journal cavities 44 are displaced sufficiently in a direction perpendicular to the tray panel portion 19' thereof for locating the corresponding secondary tray 42 to permit pivoting into stacked relation with the main tray 40.
  • the secondary trays 42 are in the stacked relation with the main tray 40, the secondary trays are nested in the above-described cavities 49 that are formed by the rim portions 48 of the main tray.
  • opening and closing of the case 12 does not produce sliding 30 contact between the main tray 40 and the case 12, or between either of the secondary trays 42 and the main tray 40 and/or the case 12.
  • the disks are not subjected to vibrations and jarring that might otherwise occur during opening of the case 12 due to such sliding contact; consequently, the present invention provides enhanced protection against disks being inadvertently dropped when the case is opened.
  • each of the secondary trays 42 when closed against the main tray 40, is approximately flush with the rim 48 thereof, being nested in a corresponding cavity 49 of the main tray.
  • the main tray 40 is confined in the closed condition of the case 12 in the same position, whether or not either of the secondary trays 42 is present.
  • an alternative and preferred configuration of the hinge posts 36 includes a bridge member 46 that integrally connects the leaf members 38 for reinforcement thereof, and for supporting the main journal 43 against movement toward the base panel portion 19.
  • the container 10 can be furnished initially with fewer than a full complement of the trays 40 and 42, with subsequent assembly being contemplated according to a desired number of disks 22 to be accommodated. More particularly, with the case 12 provided with neither the main tray 40 or a secondary tray 42, a single disk, designated 22 A may be received on the pedestal 20. With the main tray
  • an additional disk designated 22B may also be mounted, two in all.
  • addition of the secondary tray 42B in the same single pedestal configuration permits one more disk, designated 22D, four in all.
  • the secondary tray 42B in the double-sided configuration having two of the secondary pedestals 20' permits another disk, designated 22E, to be mounted, five in all.
  • having the secondary tray 42A also in double-sided configuration provides yet another disk, designated 22F to be added, sis in all.
  • the main tray 40 can have the double-sided configuration, for accommodating one more disk, designated 22G, seven in all. It will be understood that other arrangements of differently configured trays 40 and or 42 can be assembled to provide for mounting from three to six of the disks 22 within the scope of the present invention.
  • the case 12 can be formed having reduced thickness C.
  • a five-disk configuration (which can be provided by omitting either of the secondary trays 42 and correspondingly reducing the thickness of the main tray 40) can have the thickness C reduced to 22.5mm (0.886 inch).
  • the lid panel portion 17 can be formed with counterparts of the pedestal 20 and the shroud formation 28, so as to accommodate one additional disk 22, with an appropriate increase in the thickness C of the case 12. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Landscapes

  • Packaging For Recording Disks (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A container for CDs or DVDs includes a case having lid, spine, and base portions, and a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts projecting forwardly from the base portion; and a main tray pivotally connected to the main hinge structure and having a secondary hinge structure pivotally supporting a secondary tray, the trays being movable as pages of a book. The main tray can have an additional secondary hinge structure engaging another secondary tray. Each of the trays can be double sided for retaining up to seven disks that contact their supporting structures in closing of the case. The main tray can have oppositely projecting rim portions for nesting the secondary trays flush with the main tray.

Description

DISK PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE
FILED OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to data disks such as optical data disks including for example, compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to devices for protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.
BACKGROUND
Data disks such as compact disks and video disks typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that is optically readable through a transparent bottom layer of the disk by a movable head during rotation of the disk. The information is arranged in one or more tracks that are covered by a thin protective top layer of the disk that can have labeling applied thereto such as by silkscreening. Normal handling of the disk can result in scratching of the bottom layer, resulting in loss of data by interference with the optical path such as by loss of focus and/or lateral image displacement. Also, data can be lost by scratching of the protective layer which is typically very thin, on the order of 20 microns, resulting in removal of information from a vapor deposited metal layer that is only about 0.1 micron thick. Protective containers for the disks in common use have a central pedestal for supportively gripping the disc by engaging the central opening without contacting either side of the disk within data-containing regions thereof. Such containers may have a ledge for contacting portions of an outer perimeter of the disk for stabilizing the disk against tipping on the pedestal. The disk is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal while gripping opposite perimeter portions, engagement with the pedestal being typically effected by simultaneous finger pressure against the disk proximate the central opening. Removal of the disk is similarly effected by finger pressure against the pedestal, and simultaneous lifting at the perimeter portions.
One class of containers, known as Ajewel boxes® have a clear plastic body and a pivotally connected clear plastic lid, an insert member fitting within the body and being formed with the various disk-contacting surfaces and associated members. Another class of containers has the body and lid integrally formed and pivotally joined along opposite edges of a narrow, generally rectangular spine member, with disk-supporting structure integrally formed in the body, such containers referred to as ADVp boxes® being somewhat oversize as compared with the jewel boxes. These boxes have an important advantage of being less expensive to provide than jewel boxes.
It is also known to provide disk containers with an interior partition for storage and access of a pair of disks. In a typical configuration, such containers include a partition portion having disk retainers on opposite sides and a pair of transparent lids that are pivotally connected at respective opposite sides along opposite end edges of the partition portion. Unfortunately, the dual-disk storage boxes of the prior art are excessively expensive to provide in that they are significantly more complex and tooling costs must be amortized over much smaller quantities of production. There are also containers for three disks, wherein one disk is supported in a fixed position relative to the container body, and a pair of disks are supported on opposite sides of a hinged tray. One such example is configured as a DVD box, with the tray having a hinged connection to the spine member. A particular disadvantage of this arrangement is that the tray slides laterally relative to the body as the lid is opened because the spine member pivots relative to the body as the lid is opened. This sliding movement is objectionable in that damage to one or more disks can occur by scratching. A further objection is that the sliding movement produces vibration and jarring which has a tendency to dislodge disks out of engagement with supporting structure, with a consequent likelihood of being dropped as the container is opened. Compounding this problem is the fact that the one-piece DVD box configuration typically has snap-together structure for holding such boxes closed, and opening of those cases is somewhat difficult because there is little room for finger depressions that are gripped during opening of the boxes, particularly in view of extra space required inside the boxes for clearing the trays, the DVD box configuration having somewhat restrictive standard outside dimensions. The shallow finger depressions of the prior art are also an impediment to automated loading of disks into the containers in that they are particularly difficult to grip for opening by machines.
Another problem associated with multiple disk storage containers is that separate tooling and parts inventory are required for containers holding each number of disks, and a container for a particular number of disks cannot ordinarily be converted for holding a greater number of disks.
Thus there is a need for a protective disk container that has an integrally formed enclosure, that can be inexpensively converted for multiple disk storage, and that otherwise overcomes at least some disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY
The present invention meets this need by providing an inexpensive molded disk container for storage and convenient access to plural CDs, DVDs and the like without subjecting the disks held in the container to sliding contact during opening and closing of the container. In one aspect of the invention, the container includes a case having a base portion and a hingedly connected lid portion; a forwardly projecting base pedestal on a base panel portion of the base portion for retaining a first one of the disks by engaging its central opening with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case; a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks, the main tray having a hinged connection within the case for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case; and a hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for engaging and pivotally supporting a secondary tray holding a third disk being yet another of the disks, the secondary tray engaging the hinge structure while holding the third disk. The proximate alignment of the hinge structure for the secondary tray with the hinged connection of the main tray to the case advantageously facilitates access to disks mounted in the case by convenient movement of the trays in like manner to pages of a book. Preferably main tray includes rim portions projecting from the main tray panel portion and forming a cavity for receiving the secondary tray in flush relation to the main tray.
The container can include the secondary tray having a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from one side for retaining the third disk , the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case. Preferably the main tray also has another hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray. Preferably the rim portions of the main tray project from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion, forming respective cavities for receiving the secondary and tertiary trays in flush relation to the main tray. The container can further include the tertiary tray of like configuration as the secondary tray, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case. The tertiary tray can be double sided for supporting a fifth disk that contacts only the tertiary tray in closing of the case. The secondary tray can also be double sided for supporting a sixth disk that contacts only the secondary tray in closing of the case. The main tray also can be double sided for supporting a seventh disk that contacts only the main tray in closing of the case.
The container can further include a generally rectangular spine portion hingedly connected along opposite side extremities thereof between the base and lid portions. Preferably the hinged connection of the main tray is to the base portion of the case, proximate the spine portion and in proximate alignment therewith.
In another aspect of the invention, the container includes a case having the base portion, the lid portion, and the spine portion hingedly connected therebetween; a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts connected to and projecting forwardly from the base portion; the main tray being pivotally connected to the main hinge structure; and the first and second hinge structures on the main tray in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting the secondary and tertiary trays holding third and fourth disks.
The container can include the secondary and/or tertiary trays. The pedestals of each of the main, secondary, and tertiary trays can be double sided for retaining respective seventh, fifth, and sixth disks, each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh disks contacting only the tertiary, secondary, and main trays, respectively, in closing of the case.
DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is an oblique perspective view of a protective disk case according to the present invention, the case being in an open condition with internal hingedly connected trays thereof in respective intermediate positions; Figure 2 is a bottom oblique perspective view of the case of Fig. I5 in a closed condition;
Figure 3 is a lateral sectional elevational view of the case of Fig. 1 in the closed condition;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail plan view of a portion of the case of
Fig. 1 under line 4-4 in Fig. 3;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the case portion of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on line 6-6 in Fig. 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view as in Fig. 6, showing an alternative configuration of a hinge pedestal portion of the case; and
Figure 8 is a plan view of the hinge pedestal portion of Fig. 7.
DESCRIPTION
The present invention is directed to a disk container that is particularly effective and configurable for protectively storing different numbers of disks such as CDS and DVDs. With reference to Figs. 1-6 of the drawings, a DVD box 10 includes a case 12 that may have a transparent jacket (not shown) bonded thereto in a conventional manner for displaying printed material, the case having a base portion 14 a lid portion 16, and a spine portion 18 that movably connects the base and lid portions. In an exemplary configuration, the case 12 is an integrally formed molded member, so-called Aliving hinges® being formed along opposite edges of the spine portion 18. The base and lid portions 14 and 16 include respective lid panel and base panel portions 17 and 19, and respective perimeter side portions 17S and 19S that snap together in edgewise adjacency in a closed condition of the box 10, the spine portion 18 and the side portions 17S and 19S together forming four side walls of the case 12, the lid panel portion 17 forming a front wall, the base panel portion 19 forming a rear wall.
Mating pairs of holder structures provide the snap together engagement of the case, the holder structures of the lid portion 16 being designated 17H, an exemplary configuration thereof being respective grooves formed in the lid side portion 17S opposite the spine portion 18 as best shown in Fig. 3. The mating holder structures of the base portion being designated 19H5 an exemplary configuration being respective upstanding tabs that engage the grooves forming the holder structures 17H.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the case 12 is also formed with inwardly displaced portions 17 D and 19D opposite the spine portion for providing overhanging lips to facilitate opening of the case as further described in U.S. Patent No. 6,554,132, which is incorporated herein by this reference. In further description of the case 12, the terms Afront® and Aforward® with respect to the base refer to a direction toward the lid portion 16 in the closed condition of the box 10; conversely, Arear®, Arearward®, and Aback® refer to a direction away from the lid portion.
A pedestal 20 of the case 12 projects forwardly from the panel portion 19 of the base 14 for supportively engaging a compact disk (CD) or digital video disk (DVD) 22 in any suitable manner. A shroud formation 28 of case 12 also projects forwardly on the panel portion 19 in generally concentric relation to the pedestal 20 proximate the periphery of a disk being supported on the pedestal 20, the shroud formation 28 projecting forwardly of the disk 22 for blocking inadvertent contact with the disk. The shroud formation 28 has at least one pair of finger depressions 34 for permitting opposite perimeter portions of the disk 22 to be grasped by a user of the container 10. The base portion 14 is formed with a main hinge structure 35 projecting forwardly therefrom as schematically shown in Fig. 3, an exemplary and preferred configuration thereof being a spaced pair of hinge posts 36 being equally spaced slightly away from the spine portion 18. As best shown in Figs. 4-6, each hinge post 36 includes a pair of forwardly extending leaf members 38 (respectively designated 38A and 38B) for pivotally locating a main tray 40 of the container 10 within the case 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The hinge posts 36 are oriented with the leaf members 38 thereof in alignment parallel to the spine 18 and being contoured for removable snap engagement with respective main j ournals 43 that may be integrally molded with the main tray 40. It will be understood that other configurations of the hinge posts and the pivotal engagement with the main tray 40 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The main tray 40 is formed having a tray panel portion 19', oppositely facing counterparts of the pedestal 20, designated 20', and preferably including corresponding shroud formations 28' having finger depressions 34' (those on one side only being shown in Fig. 1). It will be understood that the main tray 40 can be configured with a single pedestal 20' on either the front or rear side of the tray. Also, the container 10 can be initially provided without the main tray 40, which can be added whenever it is desired to accommodate more than one of the disks 22. The exemplary and preferred configuration of the main tray 40 also has a forwardly and rearwardly projecting rim portions 48 that define a perimeter of the tray as well as creating respective cavities 49 for receiving auxiliary trays as described below, the rim also reinforcing the tray 40, as well as defining limits of pivotal movement thereof relative to the base portion 14 and the lid portion 16. The rim 18 has arch profiles 50 along opposite side portions thereof for facilitating pivotal lifting of the main tray 40 away from the base portion 14. Typically, the disk container 10 of the present invention is configured for conventional disks having an outside diameter of 120mm, an inside diameter of 15mm, and a thickness of between 1.2mm and 1.3mm. A suitable material for both the case 12 and the tray 40 of the disk container 10 is polypropylene plastic. In the exemplary configuration described herein for holding up to seven of the disks 22, the case 12 has a length A which can be 191.2mm (7.53 inches), a width B which can be 136.2mm (5.36 inches), and a 5 thickness C which can be only approximately 30mm (1.18 inches).
According to the present invention, the container 10 of the present invention is provided with the main tray having at least one secondary hinge structure 41 for providing hinged support of at least one secondary tray 42, there being two such
10 secondary hinge structures, designated 41 A and 4 IB, and corresponding secondary trays, designated 42A and 42B in the preferred configuration of the disk container 10 shown in the drawings. Preferably, the secondary hinge structures 41 are located in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure so that the trays 40 and 42 can be flipped much as the pages of a book, thereby facilitating rapid identification and
*15 access to particular ones of the disks 22. More particularly, each of the secondary hinge structures 41 includes an oppositely opening pair of secondary journal cavities (or through holes) 44 that are formed on the main tray 40 proximate respective ones of the main journals 43 for snap engagement with respective stub journals 45 that project oppositely from a secondary tray 42 to be mounted thereon
20 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 5, one of the stub journals, designated 45A, is shown projecting from the tray 42A, and another, designated 45B, projects from the tray 42B. The journal cavities 44 are displaced sufficiently in a direction perpendicular to the tray panel portion 19' thereof for locating the corresponding secondary tray 42 to permit pivoting into stacked relation with the main tray 40.
25 Preferably, when secondary trays 42 are in the stacked relation with the main tray 40, the secondary trays are nested in the above-described cavities 49 that are formed by the rim portions 48 of the main tray.
Advantageously, opening and closing of the case 12 does not produce sliding 30 contact between the main tray 40 and the case 12, or between either of the secondary trays 42 and the main tray 40 and/or the case 12. Thus the disks are not subjected to vibrations and jarring that might otherwise occur during opening of the case 12 due to such sliding contact; consequently, the present invention provides enhanced protection against disks being inadvertently dropped when the case is opened. Also, each of the secondary trays 42, when closed against the main tray 40, is approximately flush with the rim 48 thereof, being nested in a corresponding cavity 49 of the main tray. Thus the main tray 40 is confined in the closed condition of the case 12 in the same position, whether or not either of the secondary trays 42 is present. It will be appreciated that rearward movement of the main tray 40 toward the base panel portion 19 during pivoting of the main tray is advantageously blocked by appropriately forming one of the hinge post leaf members (38 A, for example) to support the main journal 43 against such movement as shown in Fig. 6.
With further reference to Figs. 7 and 8, an alternative and preferred configuration of the hinge posts 36 includes a bridge member 46 that integrally connects the leaf members 38 for reinforcement thereof, and for supporting the main journal 43 against movement toward the base panel portion 19.
Of course, the container 10 can be furnished initially with fewer than a full complement of the trays 40 and 42, with subsequent assembly being contemplated according to a desired number of disks 22 to be accommodated. More particularly, with the case 12 provided with neither the main tray 40 or a secondary tray 42, a single disk, designated 22 A may be received on the pedestal 20. With the main tray
40 (having a secondary pedestal 20' on one side only) an additional disk, designated 22B may also be mounted, two in all. The addition of the secondary tray 42 (also having a secondary pedestal 20' on one side only) another disk, designated 22C may be mounted, three in all. Similarly, addition of the secondary tray 42B in the same single pedestal configuration permits one more disk, designated 22D, four in all.
Further, providing the secondary tray 42B in the double-sided configuration having two of the secondary pedestals 20' permits another disk, designated 22E, to be mounted, five in all. Similarly, having the secondary tray 42A also in double-sided configuration provides yet another disk, designated 22F to be added, sis in all. Finally, the main tray 40 can have the double-sided configuration, for accommodating one more disk, designated 22G, seven in all. It will be understood that other arrangements of differently configured trays 40 and or 42 can be assembled to provide for mounting from three to six of the disks 22 within the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, when fewer than seven disks are contemplated, the case 12 can be formed having reduced thickness C. For example, a five-disk configuration (which can be provided by omitting either of the secondary trays 42 and correspondingly reducing the thickness of the main tray 40) can have the thickness C reduced to 22.5mm (0.886 inch).
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the lid panel portion 17 can be formed with counterparts of the pedestal 20 and the shroud formation 28, so as to accommodate one additional disk 22, with an appropriate increase in the thickness C of the case 12. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A container for disks of the type having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising: (a) a case comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected for opening and closing of the case, the base portion including a base panel portion;
(b) a base pedestal projecting forwardly from the base panel portion for retaining a first disk being one of the disks by engagement with the central opening thereof with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case;
(c) a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks, the main tray having a hinged connection within the case for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case; and
(d) a hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for engaging and pivotally supporting a secondary tray holding a third disk being yet another of the disks, the secondary tray engaging the hinge structure while holding the third disk.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from the main tray panel portion, the rim portion forming a cavity for receiving the secondary tray in flush relation to the main tray.
3. The container of claim 1, in combination with the secondary tray comprising a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the secondary tray panel portion for retaining the third disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion and forming respective first and second cavities for receiving the secondary and tertiary trays in flush relation to the main tray.
6. The container of claim 4, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
8. The container of claim 3, wherein the secondary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a sixth disk on a second side of the secondary tray panel portion, the sixth disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
10. The container of claim 9, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
12. The container of claim 8, wherein the main tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a seventh disk on a second side of the main tray panel portion, the seventh disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
14. The container of claim 13, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
16. The container of claim 3, wherein the main tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a seventh disk on a second side of the main tray panel portion, the seventh disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
18. The container of claim 17, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
20. The container of claim 1, wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
21. The container of claim 20, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
22. The container of claim 21 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.
23. The container of claim 1, further comprising a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion.
24. The container of claim 23, wherein the hinged connection of the main tray is to the base portion of the case, proximate the spine portion and in proximate alignment therewith.
25. A container for a disk having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising:
(a) a case comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion, for opening and closing of the case, the base portion including a base panel portion;
(b) a base pedestal projecting forwardly from the base panel portion for retaining a first disk being one of the disks by engagement with the central opening thereof with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case;
(c) a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts connected to and projecting forwardly from the base portion;
(d) a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks, the main tray being pivotally connected to the main hinge structure for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case;
(e) a first hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting a secondary tray holding a third disk being yet another of the disks, the secondary tray engaging the first hinge structure while holding the third disk; and
(f) a second hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray opposite the main tray panel portion from the first hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk being a further one of the disks, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.
26. The container of claim 25,in combination with the secondary tray comprising a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the secondary tray panel portion for retaining the third disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.
27. The container of claim 26, wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from the main tray panel portion, the rim portion forming a cavity, the secondary tray being in flush relation to the main tray in closing of the case.
28. The container of claim 26, in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case, the main tray also having rim portions projecting from opposite sided of the main panel portion for forming respective first and second tray-receiving cavities.
29. The container of claim 26, wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion and forming respective first and second cavities, the secondary and tertiary trays being in flush relation to the main tray wherein the cavity of the main tray is a first cavity, the rim portion of the main tray projecting from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion for forming a second cavity opposite the first cavity, the tertiary tray being in flush relation to the main tray in closing of the case.
30. The container of claim 28, wherein the pedestals of each of the main, secondary, and tertiary trays are double sided for retaining respective seventh, fifth, and sixth disks, each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh disks contacting only the tertiary, secondary, and main trays, respectively, in closing of the case.
PCT/CN2006/001670 2005-07-15 2006-07-14 Disk protective enclosure WO2007009357A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

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JP2008520698A JP2009500257A (en) 2005-07-15 2006-07-14 Disc protective container
EP06761422A EP1913594A1 (en) 2005-07-15 2006-07-14 Disk protective enclosure

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/182,541 US20070012582A1 (en) 2005-07-15 2005-07-15 Disk protective enclosure
US11/182,541 2005-07-15

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KR102443975B1 (en) * 2016-04-12 2022-09-19 삼성전자주식회사 protective cover
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US20070012582A1 (en) 2007-01-18
EP1913594A1 (en) 2008-04-23

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