Abstract:
A storage media disk case comprising a tray adapted to receive at least one storage media disk a cover slidable with respect to said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said disk, and an apparatus associated with said cover or actuated by said cover adapted to limit or prevent movement of said disk in said closed condition and present said disk in a removal position in said open condition.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to storage systems particularly though not solely to a enclosure, case or box for storing media disk such as Digital Video Disks (DVDs) and Compact Disks (CDs).  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Media storage disk cases such as DVD boxes or CD boxes or CD-Rom boxes are a common form of providing protection to a disk contained within the box or case. DVD boxes are commonly made from a plastics material which has been injection moulded can be from a single piece and provide a base and lid portion defining covers. These can move relative to each other by a hinge structure which allows the pivoting movement of the base and lid to assume a closed condition providing an case to the interior of the case and an opened condition allowing the contents of the case to be accessed by a user. Such boxes or cases will include a rosette onto which a disk is mounted. The rosette is normally contained on either the lid or base and allows for the releasable fastening of a disk with the case. Some DVD&#39;s or CD-Rom&#39;s or the like cannot contain all the data desired to be provided in a single retail pack. In such situations it becomes necessary for a case to be capable of retaining more than one disk. Where more than one disk is retained by the case, accessibility to both disks becomes an issue such that when the case is in an opened condition a person can conveniently have access to both disks as and when desired. DVD cases often include a booklet of information and graphics relating to the contents of the disk and such a booklet is normally provided to the inside surface of the lid of the covers. The booklet is normally clipped in place and as a consequence of the booklet being provided to one of the covers, it is not possible for a second rosette feature to be provided to the other cover for holding a disk. With reference to for example  FIG. 1 , where there is shown a CD case in the opened condition, it can be seen that the base is provided with a disk mounting region whereas the lid is absent of such a feature since this is where the booklet will be clipped.  
         [0003]     A typical problem with such cases is the difficulty in removing the disk. Even with the rosette disengaged the disk is quite close to the surface and is not easy to grasp the edge of. Also even when disengaged the rosette still requires a significant force to remove the disk.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a media storage disk case which goes some way to overcoming any disadvantages in the prior art or to at least provide the public with a use of choice.  
         [0005]     Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists in a storage media disk case comprising  
         [0006]     a tray adapted to receive at least one storage media disk  
         [0007]     a cover slidable with respect to said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said disk, and  
         [0008]     an apparatus associated with said cover or actuated by said cover wherein the movement of said disk in said closed condition is limited or prevented by said apparatus.  
         [0009]     Alternatively elastic member attached to or integral with said tray adapted to retain said disk in said closed condition and present said disk in a removal position in said open condition  
         [0010]     Preferably said apparatus comprises retaining means for urging said disk against said elastic member in said closed condition, said retaining means located on the underside of said cover.  
         [0011]     Preferably said retaining means located proximate the edge of said cover.  
         [0012]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least one pair of clips on opposing edges.  
         [0013]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least two pair of clips on opposing edges of said cover adapted to locate on the periphery of said disc in said closed condition.  
         [0014]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least a leading (during closing) pair of clips, said leading clips including an angled face which contacts the periphery of said disc during closing.  
         [0015]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least a leading (during closing) pair of clips, said leading clips including an flat face which contacts the periphery of said disc in said closed condition.  
         [0016]     Preferably said retaining means further adapted to retain a booklet or display media to the underside of said cover.  
         [0017]     Preferably said cover is at least partially transparent.  
         [0018]     Preferably said retaining means further comprising at least one further pair of clips on opposing edges of said cover adapted to adapted to retain a booklet or display media to the underside of said cover separately from said disc in said closed condition.  
         [0019]     Preferably said cover further comprising a rail to sliding engage said tray and locking means for securing or retaining said cover in said closed condition.  
         [0020]     Alternatively said indentation in said cover for a user to remove the cover.  
         [0021]     Preferably said indentation including indicia.  
         [0022]     Preferably said tray adapted to receive a second storage media disk on its underside and said case further comprising a second lower cover slidable with respect to the underside of said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said second disk.  
         [0023]     In a second aspect the present invention consists of a storage media disk case comprising  
         [0024]     a tray adapted to receive at least one storage media disc  
         [0025]     a cover slidable with respect to said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said disk, and  
         [0026]     an elastic member attached to or integral with said tray adapted to retain said disk in said closed condition and present said disk in a removal position in said open condition.  
         [0027]     Alternatively said apparatus associated with said cover or actuated by said cover wherein the movement of said disk in said closed condition is limited or prevented by said apparatus.  
         [0028]     Preferably said elastic member comprising a portion of plastic normally biased in at least a partially upward direction.  
         [0029]     Preferably said portion of plastic comprises a part annular member, wherein insertion of the disk and closing of the cover configures said annular member into a compressed condition forcing said disk against said apparatus.  
         [0030]     Alternatively said annular member into an uncompressed condition thereby raising said disk to said removal position.  
         [0031]     Preferably said tray further comprising at least a partial wall around the periphery of said disk.  
         [0032]     Preferably said annular member at least partly encircles said stub.  
         [0033]     Preferably said tray further comprising a rail to sliding engage said cover and locking means for securing or retaining said cover in said closed condition.  
         [0034]     Preferably said tray adapted to receive a second storage media disk on its underside and said case further comprising a second lower cover slidable with respect to the underside of said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said second disk.  
         [0035]     In a third aspect the present invention consists of a storage media disk case comprising  
         [0036]     a tray adapted to receive at least one storage media disk  
         [0037]     a cover slidable with respect to said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said disk, and  
         [0038]     an apparatus associated with said cover or actuated by said cover adapted to limit or prevent movement of said disk in said closed condition and present said disk in a removal position in said open condition.  
         [0039]     Preferably said apparatus further comprising an elastic member attached to or integral with said tray adapted to retain said disk in said closed condition and present said disk in a removal position in said open condition  
         [0040]     Preferably said apparatus further comprises retaining means for urging said disk against said elastic member in said closed condition, said retaining means located on the underside of said cover.  
         [0041]     Preferably said retaining means located proximate the edge of said cover.  
         [0042]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least one pair of clips on opposing edges of said cover.  
         [0043]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least two pair of clips on opposing edges of said cover adapted to locate on the periphery of said disc in said closed condition.  
         [0044]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least a leading (during closing) pair of clips, said leading clips including an angled face which contacts the periphery of said disc during closing.  
         [0045]     Preferably said retaining means comprising at least a leading (during closing) pair of clips, said leading clips including an flat face which contacts the periphery of said disc in said closed condition.  
         [0046]     Preferably said elastic member comprising a portion of plastic normally biased in at least a partially upward direction.  
         [0047]     Preferably portion of plastic comprises a part annular member, wherein insertion of the disk and closing of the cover configures said annular member into a compressed condition forcing said disk against said apparatus.  
         [0048]     Alternatively said annular member into an uncompressed condition thereby raising said disk to said removal position.  
         [0049]     Preferably said tray adapted to receive a second storage media disk on its underside and said case further comprising a second lower cover slidable with respect to the underside of said tray between at least an open condition and a closed condition, in said closed condition said tray and said cover fully enclosing said second disk.  
         [0050]     Preferably each said media storage disk case according to claim  26 .  
         [0051]     Alternatively said flange on the side thereof configured to engage said media storage disk case.  
         [0052]     In a further alternative said tabs on the tabs facing inwardly from said flange configured to engage slots in the side of said media storage disk case.  
         [0053]     In a further alternative said set of at least one set of clips configured to engage a first lower media storage disk case to at least one upper media storage.  
         [0054]     Preferably said clip comprising inwardly facing tabs configured to engage said slots in the sides of said media storage disk cases.  
         [0055]     To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.  
         [0056]     The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0057]     One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;  
         [0058]      FIG. 1  is an example of a prior art cd case,  
         [0059]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the top of the cover according to the first embodiment,  
         [0060]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the underside of the cover according to a first embodiment,  
         [0061]      FIG. 4  shows a view looking into the cover from the leading edge  
         [0062]      FIG. 5  shows a cutaway side view of the cover  
         [0063]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the tray according to the first embodiment,  
         [0064]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view showing the cover partially installed on the tray with the disk installed in the tray and the cover being slid into a closed condition,  
         [0065]      FIG. 8  shows the cover in a closed condition with respect to the tray,  
         [0066]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the current invention, with an upper and lower tray, the upper tray in a partially open configuration the lower slide cover closed,  
         [0067]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a single stacked case,  
         [0068]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a multiple stacked case, and  
         [0069]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the receptacle for stacked cases. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0070]     The present invention is an enclosure or case for disks or other storage medium of the like. It is generally of the sliding cover type where the disk is located on a tray and a separate cover slides over top to cover the disk in a closed condition.  
         [0071]      FIG. 7  shows a case  700  which includes a cover  702  and a tray  704  which are slidably engaged to each other. The tray and cover are of a quadrilateral shape in plan view. With reference to  FIG. 7  it can be seen that the tray and cover are preferably of a rectangular shape in plan view.  
         [0072]     The tray and cover are preferably made from similar plastics material and are preferably formed by injection moulding. Both the cover and the tray may be opaque or transparent. Preferably the cover is at least partially transparent to allow viewing of a booklet or display media located within.  
         [0000]     Cover  
         [0073]     Referring to  FIG. 2  the cover  702  is shown. It includes a rebated leading edge  300 . The corners protrude to form an abutment  302 , having a lip  304  to overlay the front edge of the tray. Along the side or major edges, the external portion includes slots  306  to avoid deformation during molding. Each slot matches a major feature on the interior to reduce the overall thickness at that point. The slots can also reduce the overall weight of the case.  
         [0074]     Referring to  FIG. 3  the cover  702  is shown, including an overhanging lip  400  extending the length of the trailing edge. The lip  400  forms the back wall of the closed case.  
         [0075]     Along the side or major edges, the internal portion includes a facing lip  404  running the entire length. The rail  402  is connected via a facing lip  404  to the cover  702 . The rails  402  are preferably of a significant length of the major edge and face towards the tray  704  in use. In the preferred embodiment the cover rails  402  run almost the entire length of the major edge. Preferably the cover rail  402  is of a similar length to the tray rail  630 , although this may not necessarily be the case so long as in an enclosed condition the cover  702  is securely held against the tray  704 .  
         [0076]     At the trailing end of the cover rail  402 , a wedge or protrusion  406  is provided to lock the cover  702  in place in the closed position. The protrusion  406  is preferably triangular shaped to provide a firm lock which can only be dislodged by intentional opening. Each rail  402  preferably includes a flat upper face  610 , and an angled or curved lower portion  612 . The angled surfaces allow the cover rails to engage with the tray rails by pressing the cover and the tray together when the cover is lying on top of the tray. This is an alternative method of engaging the cover rails with the tray rails.  
         [0077]     Facing inwardly from the facing lips  404  are at least two, preferably four sloped book clips or tabs  410  preferably two on each of the facing lips  404 . Seen in  FIG. 4  each book clip  410  is mainly hollow and includes an upper facing surface  413  for engaging a booklet or other display media, and a lower surface  411  for engaging a disc in the closed position. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the leading edge of the leading book clip  410  includes a bevel or slope  415  on its lower surface. The positive incline is provided to improve the sliding motion over the disc during closing. At the base  417  of the lower surface is a small flat portion, on which the disk will finally rest, when fully closed. The area of this flat portion is minimized to reduce the touching surface onto the disc thereby avoiding or reducing scratching to the disk. It is also intended that the portion of the disk which contacts the book clip is preferably a non data area, or at least a non crucial data area.  
         [0078]     The upper surface  413  of the clip may be flat or alternatively may include biased griping means for retaining a booklet or display media. In the flat embodiment there is preferably a gap between the upper surface of the clip and the undersurface of the cover  702 . This gap is adjusted to suit typical booklet or display media thickness, for example 2.5 mm or below.  
         [0079]     Preferably the cover includes at least one trailing book clip  419 , set back from the leading book clip  410 . The trailing book clip  419  may be flat, or the following edge may include a bevel or slope on its bottom surface  421 . This is to improve the sliding motion over the disc during opening. Preferably at the base of the lower surface has a small flat portion  423 , on which the disk will finally rest, when fully closed.  
         [0080]     Further book clips  416  may be provided to hold the booklet or display media in place, following of the disc engaging clips  410 . Preferably these additional clips do not engage the disk but are simply provided to retain the booklet or other display media.  
         [0081]     The facing lip  404  also includes a guiding portion  418 , provided to slide against the bottom surface of the tray  704  during the closing procedure. The guiding portion  418  ensures correct alignment of the case rails  402  to the tray rails  630 . Preferably the guiding portion is at least provided at the leading end of the facing lip  404 , to initially guide the case rail when first installed. The leading corner  420  of the guiding portion is preferably angled or rounded to assist initial insertion into the tray.  
         [0000]     Tray  
         [0082]     Referring to  FIG. 6  the tray  704  includes a disk mounting region which is capable of receiving a disk on stub  602  within walls  604 . Preferably walls  604  extend around a portion of the periphery of the disk once installed leaving at least a portion free for access to the disk for removal. The walls  604  are preferably part annular, and include a steep slope on the interior circumference  614 , and a lesser slope on the exterior circumference  616 . A raised portion  621  within the wall contains a surface sloping down towards the bottom edge of the wall facing the disk. This facilitates gripping of the perimeter of the disk by a finger when the disk is to be removed. A circular indentation  623  is for receiving the tip of a finger.  
         [0083]     Provided adjacent the stub is a clip, lifter or lever  606  which provides an upward force on the disk once installed. The clip is preferably integrally molded with the tray. The clip is normally oriented in an unbiased position approximately ten degrees from horizontal and therefore provides an elastic or spring characteristic when pressed downward. When the disk is installed the clip is compressed thereby providing a restoring force upwardly on the disk, against the book clips. Alternatively this function may be provided by a spring or other elastic device. The thickness of the elastic clip is preferably slightly lower than the thickness of the base of the tray in order to provide elasticity to the clip.  
         [0084]     The clip may be located within a recess  608 , preferably a semi annular recess partially surrounding the stub. The recess is preferably of a sufficient depth to accommodate the thickness of the clip.  
         [0085]     The sides or major edges of the tray are connected via rails  630  to the complimentary cover rails  402 . The tray rails  630  are preferably inwardly facing and run for a substantial portion of the side or major edge. Each of the tray rails  630  preferably includes a flat lower face  610 , and an angled or curved upper portion  612 . The distance between the external portion of the side edge of the cover  702  and each of the cover rails  402  should provide at least enough room for the tray rail  630 , although preferably the tolerance is small to ensure the rails  402  and  630  fit tightly together in the closed condition. Preferably the tray rails  630  end before the leading or front edge of the tray  704 .  
         [0086]     Underneath the back or trailing end of the tray rail  630  is a depression or notch  631  which locates the case protrusion  406  in the closed position.  
         [0087]     At the leading edge of the tray is an abutment flange  618 , upon which the leading edge of the cover  702  rests in the closed position. The flange  618  forms the front wall of the closed case. It includes a cut away section  620  in the corner to accommodate the case corner abutments and a notch  622  for the corner abutment lip.  
         [0088]     At the back or trailing edge of the tray a partial lip  624  is provided in at least the center, for the case trailing lip to rest against in the closed position. Preferably near the side edges it is lower or is not present to allow for the access of the cover rails  402 .  
         [0000]     Operation  
         [0089]     As seen in  FIG. 7  the disk  700  is dropped into the tray  704  to rest on lifter  606 . The disk central hole lines up with stud  602  and the disk is retained loosely within the walls  604 . The cover  702  is then moved into position relative to the tray  704  so that the cover rails  402  can engage with the tray rails  630 . Once the rails are engaged the tray  704  is then slid towards the cover  702 , or vice versa. Near the end of the sliding operation the sloped book clips will engage the edge of the disk  700 . This also pushes the disk down onto the lifter  606  towards a fully compressed condition where the disk is rigidly retained in position. The cover  702  will click closed into the tray  704  at the end of its travel as shown in  FIG. 8  which represents the closed condition.  
         [0090]     The open condition is represented with the cover slid back fully to uncover the disk, or removed altogether.  
         [0000]     Double Disk Embodiment  
         [0091]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a further embodiment is shown for accommodating more than one disk with a similar arrangement to that previously described provided on the underside of the tray  1000 , so that the tray  1000  has an upper cover  1002  and a lower cover  1008 . In this configuration, to access the second disk, the tray  1000  is simply turned over and the same procedure as described above followed.  
         [0092]     An upper indentation  1001  may be provided on the side of the upper cover  1002  near the leading edge  1004 . Similarly a lower indentation  1006  may be provided on the side of the lower cover  1008 . The indentations provide purchase for a users fingers when installing and removing the covers  1002  and  1008  from the tray  1000 . The indentations may include indicia, for example indicating which direction to slide the cover  1002  or  1008  to open the case. The indicia may include raised or lowered writing to provide further purchase for the users fingers. To open the double disk embodiment, two fingers of a hand can respectively grip the two indentations  1001  on the side of the upper cover while another two fingers of another hand can respectively grip the two indentations  1006  on the side of the lower cover.  
         [0000]     Stacking Embodiment  
         [0093]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the present invention is shown including a receptacle  1020  for receiving at least one of the previously described case for storing media disks. The receptacle includes at least one flange  1024  and preferably a second flange  1026  on the sides thereof to engage the sides of the media storage disk case  1022 . Once engaged, the case may be opened by withdrawing the leading edge  1028  of the tray. Alternatively if the flanges engage the tray, the cover may be withdrawn as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.  
         [0094]     Referring to  FIG. 11  the receptacle is shown receiving a second media storage disk case  1102  and a third media storage disk case  1104 . The receptacle may either engage the lower media storage disk case in isolation or alternatively may engage the sides of all received media storage disk cases. In the preferred embodiment only the lower media storage disk case is engaged to the receptacle and the upper media storage disk cases are retained through clips  1100  which engage the lower media storage disk case to each immediately above media storage disk case in turn. Each media storage disk case may be opened by withdrawing the leading edge  1106  of the tray for each case.  
         [0095]     As seen in  FIG. 12  the receptacle  1204  includes engaging tabs  1200  extending inwardly from each of the flanges  1202 . The tabs are designed to engage the various slots in the side of the cover of each of the cases.