Abstract:
An ejectable compact disc container comprises a housing, an ejector arm, and an ejector link. The housing is solid on five of its six sides, the sixth side of the housing is articulated on one of its ends to a lateral side of the housing and constitutes a lid of the housing. The ejector arm is located in the housing and engages the edge of the compact disc distant from the lid. The ejector arm is operable through a pivotal connection to the ejector link, which is connected to and actuated by the lid. Thus, upon opening the lid, the compact disc is pushed out of the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the storage of recording media, for example compact discs. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact disc (CD) container. Still more particularly, it relates to a container that allows ejecting compact discs upon opening the container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Containers currently being used to store compact discs comprise a base member having a cover or top member hingeably connected along one edge thereof. A generally circular formation of a plurality of upwardly extending resiliently deformable fingers is generally centrally located within the base member. In moving from the base member, the fingers first extend inwardly and at their uppermost ends extend outwardly. The upper parts of the fingers define a support, on which a compact disc may be located. The support is resiliently deformed as a compact disc is pushed onto it with the fingers flexing inwardly and then outwardly to bear against the central aperture in the disc and allow the disc to be held firmly in position. 
     To remove a disc from such a container, a user must uncouple the top and bottom members of the container and pivot the top member about the hinge connection. The user then must push down on the upper ends of the fingers of the support for the compact disc and, at the same time, grasp the edges of the disc and lift it away from the support. It will be appreciated that these disc containers can be difficult to open to enable releasing a disc being stored therein. After it has been opened, young children with small hands find it particularly difficult to apply the necessary force to extract a compact disc from the container. 
     Arrangements seeking to alleviate or overcome the noted difficulties are also known in the art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,344 discloses a housing for a plurality of holders for compact discs. Each holder for a compact disc is provided with a helical torsion spring, with the longer spring arm extending obliquely toward the rear wall of the housing. Each holder is biased in the ejection direction since the spring is normally in the “loaded” condition. There is also a release button, and it is possible to release the holder from the locked position within the housing by pressing the release button. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,157 discloses an ejectable compact disc case. To remove the disc from the case, an actuator bar, whose end projects outside the case, is pushed toward rear wall of the case. A pivot arm of a drive lever cooperates with the actuator bar in a rack-and-pinion manner. The pivot arm rotates, and the rotation is translated into a linear movement of a sliding arm in the direction opposite to that of the actuator bar. A ring secured thereto supports a disc. Therefore, the disc, in its linear movement towards a front wall of the case, which is hinged to a top or bottom wall thereof, opens the front wall. A spindle is also provided within the ring. Once the spindle passes the end of the bottom wall, it pivots downwardly and thereby frees the disc. 
     An ejectable compact disc container according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,721 allows the user to open the container and eject the disc into a CD player using only one hand. The user opens a front wall of the container pivotally connected thereto and slides a knob in a slot made in a cover portion of the container. The knob is secured to a tray portion carrying the disc. The user then holds the container adjacent to the player so as to enable the latter to grasp the disc and remove it from the tray portion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,939 improved the previous one in terms of at providing means for stopping the forward movement of the disc-supporting tray. 
     International Publication No. WO 95/05661 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,246 disclose a compact disc container having a slot in one edge through which the disc can be slid into and out of the container and a pivotally mounted ejector for engaging an edge of the disc to displace it at least partly from the container. The disc ejector comprises an arm movable in the container and having a curved portion complementary to the shape of the edge of the disc. The arm is coupled by a web to a user operable trigger located outside the container and pivotally secured thereto. 
     UK Pat. Application No. 2 297 079 discloses a compact disc container in the form of a shallow box, the entry to which is arranged through one of the narrow sides so that the disc is slid in and out edgewise. There is a thin flexible liner shielding the disc, or it may be received in a tray. The main face of the container is provided with a slot so that the disc can be worked by finger or thumb. 
     International Pat. Publication No. WO 95/06608 discloses a compact disc storage box, in which side walls have thin flexible end portions for allowing the release of the disc by pushing inwardly on the end portion, making the bottom wall return to a molded curvature and partially ejecting the disc. International Pat. Publication No. WO 99/29594 discloses a compact disc storage case including a plastic box and a spring inside the box adjacent its rear side. One part of the spring is fixedly secured to the box, whereas a movable part when released can eject the disc. 
     The above-described compact disc containers are fairly complex in design that presents certain disadvantages in the process of manufacturing them. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an ejectable compact disc container that, while preserving the advantages of the known compact disc containers, would be free of their drawbacks. 
     The above objective is met in the invention by virtue of an ejectable compact disc container comprising a housing and means for ejecting a compact disc from the housing. The housing is made in the form of a parallelepiped that is closed on five of its six sides, whereas the sixth side of the housing is articulated on one of its ends to a side wall of the housing, thus constituting a lid of the housing. The ejecting means engage the compact disc and are operated by the lid. Due to that, the compact disc is being received into the container upon closing the lid, and the disc is pushed out of the container upon opening the lid. 
     The ejecting means include an ejector arm, and an ejector link. The ejector arm is located in the housing, adapted to engage an edge of the compact disc distant from the lid, and operable through a pivotal connection to the ejector link, which in turn is adapted to be actuated by the lid. 
     The container also comprises a divider placed within the housing. The plane of the divider is substantially parallel to planes of front and back panels of the housing, so two compartments are formed within the housing. One of the compartments accommodates the compact disc, and it is in this compartment that the ejector arm and ejector link are located. 
     The surface of the back panel and a surface of the divider facing each other can be covered with a protective lining. 
     To facilitate placing the disc into the container, the edge of the divider adjacent to the lid can be beveled to form a lead-in area for the disc. 
     The compartment accommodating the compact disc is located between the divider and the back panel, whereas in the compartment located between the divider and the front panel the latter is made clear to thus allow contents of this compartment to be visible from outside. 
     The ratio of dimensions between the ejector link and the ejector arm, as well as the stroke of the ejector link between its extreme positions at a full-open and full-closed positions of the lid are selected in such a way that the compact disc be ejected past its center hole to facilitate easy removal of the disc. 
     It will be understood that overall dimensions of the case according to the present invention will not depart from those adopted by the industry, so the case can be readily kept in storage racks, cabinets, etc., now on the market. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the ensuing description when considered with the reference to accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion  5  of the container as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are a schematic back view of the container according to the present invention, a back cover being removed, showing the container with a closed and opened lid, respectively; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion  10  of the container as shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11, is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG. 10; and 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic perspective views of the container according to the present invention that show the container with a closed and opened lid, respectively. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIGS. 1,  6 ,  7 ,  12 , and  13 , an ejectable compact disc container (which term for the purposes of the present invention defines the container capable of ejecting a compact disc stored therein) includes a housing, preferably in the form of a parallelepiped, indicated generally at  20 . It is preferably made of plastic. The housing  20  has a front panel  22 , a back panel  24  (shown in fragments thereof in FIGS. 3,  5 ,  8 ,  9 , and  11 ), a bottom wall  26  (shown in a fragment thereof in FIG.  8 ), and a pair of sidewalls  28  and  30 . For the reason that will be explained in more detail further below, the front cover  22  is preferably made clear. The bottom wall  26  and side walls  28  and  30  are formed each of two portions, one of which is made integrally with the front panel  22 , whereas another portion is made integrally with the back panel  24 . One of those portions is made with beak-like projections, or tabs  32  (FIG.  5 ), evenly distributed over the perimeter of the front panel  22 , whereas the other is made with step-like recessions  34  to receive and be engaged by those projections  32 . In this way, the front panel  22  and the back panel  24  are fastened to each other. A top wall  36  including a lid  38  is pivotally secured by its end  40  at the housing  20  and thus is adapted to turn around an axis  42  (FIGS. 3,  6 ). 
     Located inside the housing  20  is a center divider  44 . It is embedded in the side walls  28  and  30 , as, for the wall  30 , shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, and has its plane preferably parallel to those of the front  22  and back  24  panels. Thus, two compartments are formed inside the housing  20 : a compartment  46  between the center divider  44  and the back panel  24  that accommodates a compact disc  48 , and a compartment  50  for reference literature  52  that is formed between the center divider  44  and the front panel  22 . It is just for the reference literature to be visible through the front panel  22  that the latter is suggested to be made clear. 
     Where the central divider  44  is adjacent to the lid  38 , there is a lead-in area  54  (FIG. 4) formed by a beveled edge  56  of the divider  44 , which area facilitates disc&#39;s entering the compartment  46 . In the compartment  46 , an inside surface  58  of the back panel  24  and an opposite surface  60  of the divider  44  are covered with a lining that protects and cleans the compact disc. 
     The lid  38  is provided with an arm  62  (FIGS. 6,  7 ), to which an ejector link  64  is pivotally attached by its end  66  so it can turn around an axis  68  whenever the lid  38  turns around its axis  42 . The divider  44  is made with a depressed area  70  (FIG.  8 ), whose boundaries are indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7 with a reference  72 . The ejector link  64  is recessed into the area  70 . In its extreme positions, the ejector link  64  is adjacent to either of the opposite boundaries  72  (FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively). 
     At a lower area of the housing  20  and adjacent to the bottom wall  26 , an ejector arm  74  is placed. It is pivotally attached to the divider  44  at  76  and is also pivotally secured to another end  78  (FIG. 8) of the ejector link  64  at  80 . Spatially, the ejector arm  74  is located within the disc compartment  46  and outside the depression area  70 . An upper (as viewed in FIG. 6) surface  82  of the ejector arm  74  is made into a cam-like shape to ensure its smooth interaction with the disc  48 . 
     Pivotally attached to the lid  38  at another end  84  thereof is a latch  86  (FIGS. 7,  10 ,  13 ). By its tooth  88 , the latch  86  engages a flange  90  of the divider  44  being urged to remain at this closed position of the lid  38  by the force of a living spring  92 . The heavy-duty latch, along with substantially large hinges contribute to durability of the container. 
     Also shown in FIGS. 1,  12 , and  13  is a notch  94  used to facilitate pushing the literature  52  out of the case. 
     In action, when opening the case and removing the disc, the latch  86  is rotated upward from its closed position to unlock the lid  38 . The latch  86  is briefly held open while lifting the lid  38 . As the latch  86  is released, the living spring  92  returns it to “locked” position. Upon lifting the lid  38  open, the ejector link  64  carried along by the lid  38  pulls the ejector arm  74  upward, which in turn pushes the compact disc  48  upward. As the disc  48  is being ejected, the protective linings on the surfaces  58 ,  60  clean the disc. The cam-like surface  82  of the ejector arm  74  always contacts the disc  48  at the bottom in order to apply upward motion. The dimension ratio between the ejector link  64  and ejector arm  74 , as well as the stroke of the ejector link  64  between its extreme positions at the full-open and full-closed positions of the lid  38  are selected in such a way that the disc  48  be ejected past its center hole  96  to facilitate its easy removal. 
     The lid  38  can be held in the open position by a detent (not shown). 
     When inserting the disc  48  into the case, with the lid  38  in full-open position, the disc is let lie against the beveled edge  56  of the center divider  44  and gently slide into the disc compartment  46  until it contacts the ejector arm  74  by its edge. Upon closing the lid  38 , as the ejector arm  74  is moving toward the bottom wall  26 , the disc  48  is being let more space to slide further so its inserting into the case is being controlled insuring its safety. After the lid  38  is closed, the spring-actuated latch  86  locks the lid automatically. 
     With respect to the above disclosure, it is appropriate to summarize the following advantages of the container resulting from the present invention: 
     the container enables simple, one-handed operation, the feature being especially useful for retrieving a CD while operating a motor vehicle; 
     container dimensions are identical to existing CD jewel boxes, thus allowing the container to be stored in any conventional multi-unit storage or carrying case or cabinet, etc.; 
     the container can be opened without removing it from a storage or carrying case; 
     the container protects the CD by minimizing the possibility of dust entry; 
     the CD is cleaned by the lining as it ejected from or inserted into the container; 
     large hinges and heavy-duty latch mechanism provide durability; 
     full-open lid detent holds the lid open for easy removal or insertion of the disc; 
     transparent literature compartment accepts any standard sized CD literature. 
     With regard to the embodiment of the present invention that was disclosed hereinabove, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and additions to the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present contribution to the art. Accordingly, it is to be realized that the patent protection sought and to be afforded hereby shall be deemed to extend to the subject matter claimed and all equivalence thereof fairly within the scope of the invention.