Abstract:
A disc apparatus includes a player and a holder. The player is configured for reading an optical disc, the player comprising a first latching portion. The holder is configured for holding extra optical discs, the holder comprising a second latching portion. The first latching portion and the second latching portion are capable of attaching the holder to the player cooperatively.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a disc apparatus for reading and holding optical discs. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most portable optical disc players are single disc players. As such, when a user is on the road and wants to listen to more than one disc he/she must have a separate holder/case to carry the extra discs. In practice, however, the holder or case is frequently forgotten or lost. 
     Therefore, an improved disc holding apparatus is needed in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     A disc apparatus includes a player and a holder. The player is configured for reading an optical disc, the player comprising a first latching portion. The holder is configured for holding extra optical discs, the holder comprising a second latching portion. The first latching portion and the second latching portion are capable of attaching the holder to the player cooperatively. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a disc apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, schematic diagram showing the disc apparatus of  FIG. 1 , and the disc apparatus includes a lid and a holder. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a disassembled, schematic diagram showing the lid and the cartridge of  FIG. 2 , viewed from an inversed side. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view of a circled portion V of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged view of the cartridge of  FIG. 4  from another side. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial disassembled, schematic diagram showing the disc apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the disc apparatus of  FIG. 2  during an assembling procedure, but the cross-sectional view is taken along line A-A of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the disc apparatus of  FIG. 2  after the assembling procedure, but the cross-sectional view is taken along line A-A of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a disc apparatus  99  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a player  100  and a holder  800  attached to the player  100 . The player  100  includes a mainbody  10 , a lid  20 , and a pivot mechanism  70 . The lid  20  is pivotally connected to the mainbody  10 . In a closed state, the lid  20  is folded over the mainbody  10 . The holder  800  is on the outer side of the lid  20  away from the mainbody  10 . In an opened state, the lid  20  is flipped open from the mainbody  10 . 
     Further referring to  FIG. 2 , the mainbody  10  includes a tray  11  for receiving an optical disc (not shown) and a cover  13  for protecting the optical disc. The tray  11  and the cover  13  cooperatively accommodate the optical disc. The lid  20  includes an upper plate  21 , a lower plate  23 , and a display screen  25 . The display screen  25  is fixed between the upper plate  21  and the lower plate  23 . The lower plate  23  also defines a window (not shown) for exposing a part of the display screen  25 , thus information displayed by the display screen  25  can be viewed. An outer surface of the upper plate  21  forms two female latching portions  30  for latching the holder  800 . 
     The holder  800  includes a disc rack  801 . Five receiving slots  810  are defined in the disc rack  801  for accommodating optical discs. Three receiving slots  810   a  (see  FIG. 1 ) are defined in a side of the disc rack  801 , and two receiving slots  810   b  are defined in another side of the disc rack  801  opposite to the  810   a . Furthermore, the three receiving slots  810   a  and the second receiving slots  810   b  are interleaved arranged in a middle superposed area. In another embodiment, the number and the arrangement of the receiving slots  810  can be other values and shapes, respectively. 
     Further referring to  FIG. 6 , two male latching pieces  40  are formed on a bottom plate  802  of the disc rack  801  corresponding to the female latching portions  30  of the lid  20 . Each female latching portion  30  and a corresponding male latching portion  40  cooperatively latch together to attach the holder  800  to the lid  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , also, each female latching portion  30  is formed in the upper plate  21 . To more clearly describe the exemplary embodiment, only one of the female latching portion  30  is detailed. The female latching portion  30  defines a latching space  37  in the outer surface of the upper plate  21 . The latching space  37  is formed by an interior structure  31 , two portions  33   a ,  33   b  extending from the outer surface of the upper plate  21  partially over the latching space  37  and towards each other. The interior structure  31  includes two sidewalls  313 , a base floor  311  extending from the two sidewalls  313 , and a cantilever  35  extending from the base floor  311 . The base floor  311  and the cantilever  35  are parallel to the upper plate  21 . The cantilever  35  and the base floor  311  compose of a supporting board  39  corresponding to the latching space  37 . The portions  33   a ,  33   b  define a gap  371  therebetween corresponding to the cantilever  35 . The gap  371  is a part of the latching space  37 . 
     Each male latching portion  40  includes a L-hook portion  41  for hooking inner surfaces of the portions  33   a ,  33   b , and a neck portion  43  connecting the L-hook portion  41  and the bottom plate  802 . The L-hook portion  41  includes a head part  411  and a base part  413  formed on the bottom plate  802 . The head part  411  extending from the base part  413  is a plate parallel to the bottom plate  802 . A midline area of the head part  411  is connected to the bottom plate  802  via the neck portion  43 . The head part  411  includes two hooking members  411   a ,  411   b  arranged in two sides of the midline area of the head part  411 . A width of the head part  411  is bigger than that of the gap  371  along a first direction D 1  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6 ), and a width of the neck portion  43  is smaller than that of the gap  371  along the direction D 1 . 
     Further referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , in assembly, the male latching portion  40  of the holder  800  is inserted into the interior structure  31  of the upper plate  21  of the female latching portion  30 . Subsequently, the holder  800  is forced to move along a second direction D 2 . The neck portion  43  is inserted in the gap  371 , and the hooking members  411   a ,  411   b  are restricted under the portions  33   a ,  33   b  respectively. As a result, the holder  800  is attached to the lid  20 . 
     As mentioned above, the female latching portions  30  and the male latching portions  40  cooperatively attach the holder  800  to the lid  20 . Therefore, optical disc can be carried along with the disc apparatus  99 . In other embodiments, the female latching portion  30  may be positioned on the lid  20  and the male latching portion  40  correspondingly positioned on the holder  800  or one female latching portion  30  and one male latching portion  40  can be positioned on the lid  20  and the holder  800 . In addition, the female latching portions  30  and the male latching portions  40  can also be used to attach the holder  800  to the mainbody  10 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.