Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a CD case for either polishing or cleaning a stored CD comprising a tray; a platter pivotably provided on a top of the tray with the CD placed thereon; and a lid hingedly secured to an edge of the tray, the lid including an actuating assembly rotatably provided on its bottom facing the tray, an actuating unit moveably mounted on the actuating assembly and adapted to press onto one surface of the CD when the lid is closed onto the tray, and a driving assembly rotatably provided at the lid and having one end extended beyond the lid and the other end connected to both the platter and the actuating assembly such that turning one end of the driving assembly will turn the platter, the actuating assembly, and the actuating unit through its other end for move the actuating unit relative to one surface of the CD immediately therebelow for either polishing or cleaning the CD.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to compact disc (CD) containers and more particularly to a CD case having a polishing and cleaning device with improved characteristics. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Computer technology has known a rapid, spectacular development in recent several decades. Both operating speed and storage space of a computer are increased significantly. And in turn, the amount of data for various programs is increased greatly. Traditional diskettes of small capacity are thus insufficient. For solving this problem, many types of advanced data storage medium are developed by manufacturers of the art. These types of advanced data storage medium not only have a high capacity but also have an increased read-write speed. One typical type of the advanced data storage medium is optical disk (of which CD-ROM is the most common kind). Also, an optical burner is required to write data into a CD-R or the like. The operating speed of an optical burner is increased steadily and also capacity of an optical disk (e.g., compact disc (CD)) is increased steadily as technology makes progress. And in turn, selling price of a single CD is decreased greatly. As a result, the sales of CDs is increased steadily. 
         [0003]    Nowadays, CDs gradually become a means for learning, entertainment, listening to music, watching movies, and storing data. Thus, it is a critical issue to store CDs in a safe place. It is known that a read-write surface of a CD tends to be scraped or scratched due to invasion of dust or collision. A correct data reading from CD is made impossible if its read-write surface is damaged. Thus, a variety of CD cases for storing CDs are commercially available. Further, a type of CD case having a cleaning feature is developed by some manufacturers of the art. The type of CD case not only can store CDs but also can clean same. 
         [0004]    A conventional CD case is shown in its open position in  FIG. 1 . The circular CD case comprises a tray  1  and a lid  2  hingedly secured to an edge of the tray  1 . The tray  1  comprises a circular platter  10  for carrying a CD  12 , and a turning table  11 . The turning table  11  has an outer diameter smaller than that of the platter  10 . The platter  10  is pivotably provided on a center of the tray  1 . The platter  10  comprises a drive gear  100  provided around its annular edge, and an annular flange  102  on its top center. The turning table  11  is provided proximate the platter  10 . A driven gear (not shown) is provided on a bottom center of the turning table  11  and is in mesh with the drive gear  100 . An annular resilient member  111  is provided around a top edge of the turning table  11 . A polishing member (or cleaning member)  112  is provided on a top of the resilient member  111 . A revolution of the platter  10  will turn the turning table  11  a plurality of revolutions. As a result, a read-write surface of the CD  12  is either polished by the polishing member  112  or cleaned by the cleaning member  112 . 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1  again, the lid  2  comprises a fastening member  20  on a bottom, a ring-shaped pressing member  22  on the bottom, and an L-shaped crank  24 . The fastening member  20  is projected inward from a bottom center of the lid  2  facing the tray  1 . The pressing member  22  is provided around the fastening member  20  and is spaced therefrom. The crank  24  is provided on a top of the lid  2  and has one end connected to the fastening member  20 . The lid  2  is pivotably secured to an edge of the tray  1  by means of a hinge. The polishing member (or cleaning member)  112  is pressed onto a read-write surface of the CD  12  and the fastening member  20  is securely engaged in a tooth-shaped central opening of the flange  102  (i.e., the fastening member  20  and the platter  10  are secured together) when the tray  1  is closed by the lid  2  by pivoting. Then, turning the crank  24  will turn the pressing member  22 , the platter  10 , and the turning table  11  in sequence. As a result, the CD  12  is either cleaned or polished. 
         [0006]    However, the prior art CD case suffered from several disadvantages and consumers are thus not satisfied with its quality. For example, the crank  24  is in gear engagement with a center of the platter  10  for turning same in operation through the fastening member  20  and the flange  102 . Hence, an excessive force is exerted upon the gear connection. As such, rotation of the platter  10  is not smooth, resulting in a poor polishing or cleaning effect. Consumers are thus frustrated. Further, both the fastening member  20  and the flange  102  tend to damage due to excessive force exertion. Furthermore, a distance between the hinge and the turning table  11  is relatively long. Hence, the CD  12  is not pressed by the polishing member (or cleaning member)  112  of the turning table  11  when the lid  2  is closed onto the tray  1 . As such, the polishing or cleaning capability of the polishing member (or cleaning member)  112  is poor. Moreover, an area of the platter  10  is smaller than that of the CD  12 . Hence, the CD  12  carried by the platter  10  is not reliable (i.e., tend to shake). And in turn, the CD  12  is not securely pressed by the polishing member (or cleaning member)  112 . This further lowers the polishing or cleaning effect. Thus, it is desirable to provide a novel CD case having an improved polishing and cleaning device in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art, satisfy vast consumers, and increase sales of the product produced by manufacturers of the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    After considerable research and experimentation, a CD case having a polishing and cleaning device according to the present invention has been devised so as to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a CD case for either polishing or cleaning a stored CD comprising a tray; a platter pivotably provided on a top of the tray with the CD placed thereon; and a lid hingedly secured to an edge of the tray, the lid including an actuating assembly rotatably provided on its bottom facing the tray, an actuating unit moveably mounted on the actuating assembly and adapted to press onto one surface of the CD when the lid is closed onto the tray, and a driving assembly rotatably provided at the lid and having one end extended beyond the lid and the other end connected to both the platter and the actuating assembly such that turning one end of the driving assembly will turn the platter, the actuating assembly, and the actuating unit through its other end for move the actuating unit relative to one surface of the CD immediately therebelow for either polishing or cleaning the CD. 
         [0009]    In one aspect of the present invention both the platter and the actuating assembly are adapted to turn together. The driving assembly comprises a spindle received in a channel of the lid, the spindle having one end extended through the bottom of the lid and the other end extended beyond a top of the lid, a first drive gear put on one end of the spindle to be in mesh with an edge of the actuating assembly, a second drive gear put on one end of the spindle adjacent the first drive gear to be in mesh with an edge of the platter, and a crank provided on the other end of the spindle such that turning the crank will turn both the actuating assembly and the platter by turning both the first drive gear and the second drive gear on the spindle respectively. 
         [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional CD case in its open position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of CD case according to the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the CD case of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled CD case of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a CD case having a polishing and cleaning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a circular tray  3 , a lid  6  hingedly secured to an edge of the tray  3  such that the lid  6  is adapted to pivot to close or open the tray  3 , a platter  4  pivotably provided on a top the tray  3 , a CD  5  adapted to place on a top of the platter  4  opposite the tray  3 , an actuating assembly  7 , and a driving assembly  9  both provided on the lid  6 . The actuating assembly  7  is rotatably provided on a bottom of the lid  6  facing the tray  3 . An actuating unit  8  moveably mounted on the actuating assembly  7  is pressed onto one surface of the CD  5  when the lid  6  is closed onto the tray  3 . The driving assembly  9  is rotatably provided at the lid  6  and is extended to both faces of the lid  6 . One end of the driving assembly  9  is extended beyond the lid  6  and the other end thereof is extended within the lid  6 . Also, the driving assembly  9  is connected to both the platter  4  and the actuating assembly  7 . In response to turning one end of the driving assembly  9 , the other end of the driving assembly  9  turns same to turn the platter  4 , the actuating assembly  7 , and the actuating unit  8 . As a result, the actuating unit  8  either polishes or cleans on the CD  5 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention the driving assembly  9  comprises a spindle  91 , a first drive gear  93 , a second drive gear  95 , and a crank  97 . The spindle  91  is received in a channel  60  of the lid  6 . One end of the spindle  91  is extended downward through the lid  6  facing the top of the tray  3  and the other end thereof is extended upward to top of the lid  6 . The first drive gear  93  is put on one end of the spindle  91  to be in mesh with an edge of the actuating assembly  7 . The second drive gear  95  is put on one end of the spindle  91  adjacent the first drive gear  93  to be in mesh with an edge of the platter  4 . The crank  97  is provided on the other end of the spindle  91 . Thus, turning the crank  97  will turn the spindle  91 , the first drive gear  93 , and the second drive gear  95 . And in turn, both the actuating assembly  7  and the platter  4  are turned. As compared to the prior art which exerts a great force on a center of the platter  4  for rotation, only a minimum force exerted by the invention is capable of effecting a smooth rotation of the platter  4 . Also, the polishing or cleaning operation of the CD  5  is smooth and consistent. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the crank  97  comprises a projection  971  at one end, a yoke  973  having one end pivotably secured to the projection  971  by a pivot pin, and a cylinder  975  provided at the other end of the yoke  973 . The yoke  973  is adapted to pivot about the projection  971  on their pivot joint in one direction to insert the cylinder  975  into a cavity  62  on a face of the lid  6 . As a result, a complete CD case is formed. The CD case is easy to store in a minimum space. Also, the yoke  973  is adapted to pivot about the projection  971  on their pivot joint in the other opposite direction to cause the cylinder  975  to clear the cavity  62 . Then, a user may hold the cylinder  975  to turn the projection  971  and thus the spindle  91 . By configuring as above, a user may easily either polish or clean the CD  5  by turning the crank  97 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, in the preferred embodiment the actuating assembly  7  comprises a first disc  71  and a second disc  73  having an annular riser  731 . The first disc  71  is affixed to the bottom of the lid  6  facing top of the tray  3  and is spaced from the lid  6  by a gap. The second disc  73  is pivotably provided in the gap and has its periphery extended to periphery of the first disc  71 . The riser  731  is provided on the periphery of the first disc  71  and is formed on a face of the second disc  73  facing the top of the tray  3 . A first driven gear  733  formed on a periphery of the riser  731  is in mesh with the first drive gear  93 . Thus, the second disc  73  may turn in response to turning the first drive gear  93 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the actuating unit  8  comprises at least one hollow cylinder  80  having one end pivotably secured to a position proximate a periphery of the first disc  71 . The hollow cylinder  80  comprises a drive gear  800  and a pressing disc  82 . The drive gear  800  is formed on a periphery of the hollow cylinder  80  and is in mesh with a second driven gear  735  formed at an inner side of the riser  731 . The hollow cylinder  80  is turned by the second driven gear  735  when the second disc  73  turns. The pressing disc  82  is resiliently provided at the other end of the hollow cylinder  80 . A cleaning pad or polishing pad is adhered to bottom of the pressing disc  82  facing top of the tray  3 . Thus, the pressing disc  82  may turn as the hollow cylinder  80  turns. As an end, the polishing or cleaning pad may thoroughly and uniformly polish or clean the CD  5 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3  again, in the preferred embodiment one face of the pressing disc  82  facing the hollow cylinder  80  comprises a plurality of hooks  822  extended to the other end of the hollow cylinder  80  and inserted into a plurality of holes  802  formed proximate the other end face of the hollow cylinder  80 . The pressing disc  82  is mounted on the hollow cylinder  80 . The hollow cylinder  80  further comprises an elastic member  84  having one end urged against one end of the hollow cylinder  80  and the other end received in a space confined by the hooks  822  to urge against one face of the pressing disc  82  facing the hollow cylinder  80 . By configuring as above, an elastic force exerted by the elastic member  84  may urge the pressing disc  82  to continuously press onto one surface of the CD  5 . The cleaning pad or polishing pad is disposed in close proximity to the surface of the CD  5  when both the platter  4  and the pressing disc  82  turn. As a result, cleaning or polishing effect is improved. Also, it is possible of replacing a polishing pad with a cleaning pad or vice versa in any time by cooperating the pressing disc  82  with the hollow cylinder  80 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the platter  4  comprises a rotation hole  40 , a flexible latch  42 , and a third driven gear  44 . The rotation hole  40  is provided on a center of the platter  4  and is located on a face of the platter  4  facing top of the tray  3 . A center post  31  of the tray  3  is rotatably provided in the rotation hole  40 . Thus, the platter  4  may turn on the tray  3 . The latch  42  is provided on center of the platter  4  and is located on a face of the platter  4  facing a bottom of the lid  6 . A center hole  51  of the CD  5  is put on the latch  42  for securing the CD  5  onto the platter  4 . The third driven gear  44  is formed around a periphery of the platter  4  and is in mesh with the second drive gear  95 . The platter  4  turns on the tray  3  when the second drive gear  95  turns. And in turn, the CD  5  turns as the platter  4  turns. Thus the actuating unit  8  cleans or polishes one surface of the CD  5 . A surface area of the platter  4  is larger than that of the conventional platter. Hence, a more even force is exerted on the CD  5  by the actuating unit  8 . As an end, the polishing or cleaning effect is greatly improved. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment a hinge  64  is provided at a joining portion of the lid  6  and the tray  3 . The hinge  64  comprises two spaced first protrusions  642  and two spaced second protrusions  33 . The first protrusions  642  are provided on one face of the lid  6  facing top of the tray  3 . Each of the first protrusions  642  comprises a first pivot member  644  on one side facing the first pivot member  644  of the other first protrusion  642 . The second protrusions  33  are spaced apart and are provided at one edge on one face of the tray  3 . Each of the second protrusions  33  comprises a second pivot member  35  on the other side distal the second pivot member  35  of the other second protrusion  33 . The second protrusions  33  are fitted between the first protrusions  642  when the lid  6  is closed onto the tray  3 . Also, the pivot members  644  and  35  are pivotably secured together. As such, the lid  6  and the tray  3  are hingedly secured together at one edge. Therefore, the lid  6  is adapted to pivot in one direction to close onto the tray  3  or pivot in the other opposite direction or open the tray  3 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the lid  6  further comprises a peripheral flange  66  on one face facing top of the tray  3 . The flange  66  is integrally formed with the lid  6 . The flange  66  comprises a central well  660  and an elongate trough  661  besides the well  660 . The well  660  is provided on one face of the flange  66  facing top of the tray  3 . The well  660  has one face formed on one face of the lid  6  and the other face formed on the other face of the lid  6 . The well  660  is adapted to receive the tray  3 . The lid  6  and the tray  3  are formed as a unitary member when the lid  6  is closed onto the tray  3 . The trough, 661  is provided between the well  660  and one edge of the lid  6 . The protrusions  642  and  33  pass the trough  661  to extend between the lid  6  and the flange  66  when the lid  6  is closed onto the tray  3 . By constructing as above, the lid  6  is hingedly connected to the tray  3  at one edge. As such, the lid  6  and the tray  3  are formed as a unitary member with both the driving assembly  9  and the actuating assembly  7  are concealed in a space defined by the lid  6  and the flange  66 . The CD case is thus not only aesthetic but also is prevented from being damaged or losing its components by concealing both the driving assembly  9  and the actuating assembly  7 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the flange  66  further comprises a cut  662  and at least one hole  663 . The cut  662  is provided on an edge at one face of the well  660  such that the second drive gear  95  may pass the flange  66  to be in mesh with the third driven gear  44 . As such, the platter  4  can be turned. The holes  663  are provided facing the other end of the actuating unit  8  which passes the flange  66  for urging the pressing disc  82  against one surface of the CD  5 . By configuring as above, both the second drive gear  95  and the other end of the actuating unit  8  are easy to pass the flange  66  to turn the platter  4  to clean or polish the CD  5 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the flange  66  further comprises a switch  67  proximate the other face of the well  660 . The switch  67  comprises a groove  671 , a push button  672 , and a second elastic member  675 . The groove  671  is provided on the flange  66 . One end of the groove  671  is proximate the well  660 . The push button  672  is moveably provided on the groove  671 . The push button  672  comprises a push block  673  at one face of the flange  66 . A latch piece  674  is provided at the other face of the flange  66 . Thus, the push button  672  moveably provided in the groove  671  is prevented from being dislodged. Also, one end of the push button  672  directly faces a tunnel  664  on a periphery of the well  660 . One end of the second elastic member  675  urges against the push block  673  and the other end thereof urges against a protuberance  665  formed at the other face of the flange  66  in which the protuberance  665  is proximate the groove  671 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4  again, an elastic force exerted by the second elastic member  675  is adapted to push one end of the push button  672  through the tunnel  661  and the well  660  until insert same into a slot  37  on a bottom of the tray  3 . As such, the lid  6  is lockingly secured to the base  3 . It is possible of opening the lid  6  only by pushing the push button  672  toward the protuberance  665  to cause one end of the push button  672  to clear the tunnel  664 , the slot  37 , and the well  660 . Further, the switch  67 , the driving assembly  9 , and the actuating assembly  7  are proximate bottom of the lid  6 . The lid  6  is securely closed onto the tray  3  by the switch  67 . And in turn, the actuating unit  8  on the actuating assembly  7  is further close to the CD  5 . As an end, the polishing or cleaning effect on the CD  5  is improved greatly. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the preferred embodiment the lid  6  further comprises two arcuate first recesses  68  proximate two edges. A transparent cover  680  is provided on each first recess  68 . The flange  66  further comprises two arcuate second recesses  666  facing the first recesses  68 . A transparent cover  667  is provided on each second recess  666 . Thus, a user may clearly see the CD  5  being polished or cleaned through the recesses  68  and  666  and the transparent covers  680  and  667 . 
         [0028]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.