Abstract:
A fastening device for an optical disc holder according to the present invention includes a fixed clamp and at least a resilient clamp formed on a carrier. The fixed clamp and the resilient clamp are formed on opposite positions along a longitudinal direction on at least one side of the carrier for holding the rim of the disc by resilient force of the resilient clamp. The resilient clamp locates against the insertion direction of the optical disc so as to be moved for receiving the disc when being pressed, and retrieve to a normal position for fastening the disc in place by incorporation with the fixed clamp.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a device for fastening an optical disc to a disc carrier, and more particularly relates to a fastening device that can fasten the optical disc simply by one-hand operation of the user.  
         RELATED ART  
         [0002]    Optical discs, such as compact discs, versatile compact discs and CD-ROMs, are now a kind of widely used information storage media in our daily life for storing music video or digital information. Currently, an optical disc is generally a round plane disc with a diameter of about 120 mm and having a central through hole. Outside the center hole, there is a circular disused portion with a width about 15 mm. Outside the center disused portion, there is the circular data portion. Finally, at the periphery of the disc, there is a circular outer disused portion having a width about 1 mm. To prevent the disc from being spoiled or damaged, an optical disc can be generally stored in a disc cassette, as shown in FIG. 1. The disc cassette includes a base, a cover and a holder. The base and the cover are made of transparent plastic by an injection molding process as two separated elements and pivotally linked into a foldable box. The holder is mounted on the base for grasping the optical disc and prevent the disc from contacting its data and reflective surfaces to the surfaces of the holder. Some grasping fingers are formed in the center portion of the disc cassette for holding the disc at the center hole. The grasping fingers have to be elastic and strong enough for fixing the disc in position by the center hole. The center hole is an ideal portion for holding the disc since the adjacent disused portion has no data formed thereon. The holder is also made of plastic by injection molding and utilizes the elastic characteristics of plastic for the grasping force.  
           [0003]    In the aforesaid conventional disc cassette, in order to fasten the optical disc, the grasping fingers of the holder have to be elastic and strong enough. Therefore, when using, the user has to push the disc into or pull it out from the grasping fingers of the holder with a certain force against the grasping force of the fingers. As a result, unsuitable force may be applied to the disc and cause a bending or even damage to the disc.  
           [0004]    For storage of the optical discs, the user may use the original cassettes and collect them with a magazine, or use a storage tower or cabinet that includes a plurality of carriers for holding optical discs. The storage device generally holds the optical discs at the rims instead of the center holes.  
           [0005]    Some kinds of disc cassette or holder are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,511,194; 5,533,615; 5,845,771; 5,924,564 and 5,938,020.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,194 discloses a magazine and a plurality of disc holders for supporting a plurality of discs in the magazine. The magazine comprises a pair of opposite walls lying in parallel planes and having an open side between said walls through which the disc holders can be inserted in and removed from the magazine. The disc holders each comprises a plate with attachment means for attaching a disc to one side or each side of the plate. The attachment means comprise spring fingers lying on an imaginary circle having a diameter larger than that of the disc for engaging the disc at its peripheral.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,771 discloses a case for a compact disc, which has an upper cover provided with a number of first bars and a loser cover integrally formed and pivotally connected with the upper cover and provided with a number of second bars alternately displaced with the first bars of the upper cover such that two compact discs are able to be retained within the case. The bars for holding the discs still apply grasping force to the discs and could damage the discs if not being well operated.  
           [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,533.615, a disk storage case also comprises a cover, a planar surface with a receptacle, and retention means. The retention means include a fixed lip and a pivotable lip operated by a button. Instead of conventional retention means at the center hole, the retention means work at the rim of the disc. But the placing or releasing of the disc has to be operated by the user with one hand holding the disc, and the other hand operating the retention means.  
           [0009]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,564, the disk storage device applicable to a disc cassette includes a bottom shell, an upper shell and a disc holder plate. A further spring element is fastened to the disc holder plate for imparting a pressure to the stored disc and causing the center hole of the stored disc to be firmly retained in engagement with a retainer flange adapted to engage the center hole of the stored disc. The operations still require two hands of the user. And, the components are more complicated and costly.  
           [0010]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,020, a cassette for storing disc includes a lower shell and an upper shell that is pivotally connected to the lower shell. At least one release button, in a starting position, holds the upper shell in a fixed location relative to the lower shell. In a release position, the release button allows the pivoting of the upper shell relative to the lower shell. After pivoting the upper shell upwardly relative to the lower shell, the compact disk is released. The cassette won&#39;t apply significant clamping force to the disc, but it requires mechanisms of upper shell, lower shell and release button.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holder with simpler fastening construction that can hold an optical disc by the rim of the disc.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for an optical disc holder that can be operated by one hand of the user.  
           [0013]    A fastening device for an optical disc holder according to the present invention includes a fixed clamp and at least a resilient clamp formed on a carrier. The fixed clamp and the resilient clamp are formed on opposite positions along a longitudinal direction on one side of the carrier for holding the rim of the disc by resilient force of the resilient clamp. The resilient clamp locates against the insertion direction of the optical disc so as to be moved for receiving the disc when being pressed and retrieve to a normal position for fastening the disc in place by incorporating with the fixed clamp.  
           [0014]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional disc cassette;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 2A, 2B are perspective and plane views of an first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2B;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of a resilient clamp in the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 5A, 5B are functional front and side views of the present invention showing a disc being inserted;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 6A, 6B are functional front and side views of the present invention showing a disc already inserted;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an application example of the present invention:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a usage view of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a usage view of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows a conventional optical disc cassette, which has been described above.  
         [0028]    The present invention provides a fastening device for an optical disc holder. The disc holder mainly includes a carrier  20 . Different embodiments of the carrier  20  are shown in FIGS. 2A, 8 and  10 , and will be described as follows.  
         [0029]    First Embodiment  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 2A, a carrier  20  for holding at least an optical disc is a plate made of plastic by injection molding process. One end of the carrier  20  is extended with a hook  21  for hanging the carrier  20  on a rod  50  or a rope as shown in FIG. 7. The end for the hook  21  will be defined as top of the carrier  20 . A through hole  22  larger enough for a finger to pass through is formed on the center portion of the carrier  20 . A ring  23  with a suitable height from surface of the carrier  20  is formed around the through hole  22 . A marking portion  24  is formed near the hook  21  at the rim of the carrier  20  for adhering a unshown label or sticker registering name or others of the disc so that the user can easily identify the disc. A protection wall  25  is formed at the bottom (opposite to the top) of the carrier  20 . The stall  25  has a width larger than that of the carrier  20  for strengthen the carrier  20  and prevent it from being broken if falling to the ground.  
         [0031]    As Shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, the fastening device for an optical disc holder according to the present invention includes a fixed clamp  11  and at least a resilient clamp  12  formed on a carrier  20 . The fixed clamp  11  locates near the hook  21  and the top of the carrier  20 . The fixed clamp  11 , as shown in FIG. 3, is formed with a first wall  111  extruding perpendicularly from surface of the carrier  20 , and a second wall  112  extending from first wall  111  in a direction facing the bottom side of carrier  20 . The height of the first wall  111  is larger than the thickness of the optical disc  40  so as to receive the disc  40 . The first wall  111  is formed into a curve corresponding to the shape of the disc  40  in order to clamp the rim of the disc  40 .  
         [0032]    The resilient clamp  12  is formed on the bottom, i.e., the opposite side to the fixed clamp  11 , of the carrier  20 . As shown in FIG. 4, the resilient clamp  12  includes a connecting portion  121  extending from the carrier  20 , and a resilient portion  122  suspending from the connecting portion  121 . By the suspension and the characteristics of plastic material, the resilient portion  122  is movable upon being forced downward till limited by the protection wall  25 , and retrievable upon being released. The resilient portion  122  is also formed into a curve corresponding to the shape of the disc  40 . A clamp portion  123  is formed on end of the resilient portion  122  extending in the direction to the top of the carrier  20  so as to clamp the optical disc  40 . Practically, at least two resilient clamps  12  are formed (as shown).  
         [0033]    As described above, in a fastening position, the fixed clamp  11  and the resilient clamps  12  will hold the rim of the disc  40  by resilient force of the resilient clamps  12 . In a release position, the resilient clamps  12  can be pressed downward to an enlarged diameter for receiving the optical disc  40  moving into the fixed clamp  11  or releasing the optical disc  40  therefrom. In other words, the resilient clamps  12  locate at a head direction of insertion of the optical disc  40 , while the fixes clamp locates at a tail direction of the insertion.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B when the optical disc  40  is to be stored into the carrier  20  the user can hold the disc  40  with the index finger passing through the center hole  41 . Then hold the carrier  20  with thumb at the protection wall  25 , and insert the rim of the disc  40  into the resilient clamps  12 . Further press downward the disc  40  till the top of the disc  40  moving into the fixed clamp  11 . Finally, release the disc  40 . The disc  40  is then fastened by the resilient clamps  12  that is retrieving upward and incorporating with the fixed clamp  11  to hold the rim of the disc  40 , as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B. On the contrary, when releasing the optical disc  40 , the user can hold the disc  40  and the carrier  20  with the index finger and the thumb of one hand, then press the disc  40  downward to release it from the fixed clamp  11 . Therefore, whenever fastening or releasing the optical disc  40 , only one hand is needed for the operations. When the user holds the disc  40  by the index finger passing through the center hole  41  of the disc  40 , and moves the disc  40  to the carrier  20 , the center hole  41  corresponds to the center hole  22  of the carrier  20  so as to be free from interference to the operation. The ring  23  formed on the carrier  20  keeps the optical disc  40  a space from the carrier  20  so that the data portions of the disc  40  won&#39;t contact the carrier  20 , and won&#39;t be ruined or damaged by friction.  
         [0035]    Therefore, the user can remove an optical disc 40  from its original cassette, and store into a carrier  20  of the present invention. The carrier  20  having an optical disc stored thereon can be labeled with name at the marking portion  24  of the carrier  20 , then hung on a rod  50  or a rope as shown in FIG. 7. The rod  70  or rope is mounted in an unshown cabinet or drawer for collecting a plurality of carriers of optical disc that can be easily searched through the labels.  
         [0036]    Still referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, two resilient clamps  12 ,  12   a  are formed symmetrically on the carrier  20  for more stable clamp function. Further, both surfaces of the carrier  20  are formed with fixed clamp  11  and resilient clamps  12 ,  12   a  so as to store two optical discs  40 .  
         [0037]    Second Embodiment  
         [0038]    Different from the first embodiment of a plate carrier hanging on a rod or rope, the carrier of the second embodiment is a carrier mounted in a cassette.  
         [0039]    As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a fastening device for an optical disc holder according to the present invention includes a carrier  20 ′ fixedly mounted in a cassette  60 . The cassette  60  is composed of a base shell  61  and a cover  62 . The base shell  61  includes a cavity for containing the carrier  20 ′. The cover  62  is pivotally mounted on one side of the base shell  61  so as to be folded for covering the base shell  61 , or opened for access of the carrier  20 ′. The carrier  20 ′ is preferably made of plastic as a unit having a circular receptacle  26 ′ in the center for receiving an optical disc  40 . The diameter and depth of the recess  26 ′ fit with the size of the optical disc  40 . A ring  23 ′ is formed around the center of the receptacle  26 ′ so as to keep a space between the optical disc  40  and the receptacle  26 ′. Two openings  261 ′,  262 ′ are formed on opposite sides of the receptacle  26  so that the optical disc  40  stored in the receptacle  26  can expose its rim therein for user to handle. The fastening device of the present invention includes a fixed clamp  11 ′ and at least a resilient clamps  12 ′. The fixed clamp  11 ′ extrudes from top of the rim of the receptacle  26  in radial direction toward center of the receptacle  26 . Same as in the first embodiment, the resilient clamp  12 ′ locates opposite to the fixed clamp  11 ′ and forms a space for receiving the optical disc  40 . After storing the optical disc  40  on the carrier  20 ′, the base shell  61  and cover  62  can be closed to protect the optical disc  40 .  
         [0040]    Third Embodiment  
         [0041]    Different from the first and second embodiments of carriers only for hanging or locating in a cassette, the carrier of the third embodiment is a carrier usable for both hanging and mounting in a cassette.  
         [0042]    As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a fastening device for an optical disc holder according to the present invention includes a carrier  20 ″ removably mounted in a box  70 . The box  70  includes an upper shell  71 , a lower shell  72  and a connecting wall  73 , which is made of plastic into a unit. The upper shell  71  and the lower shell  72  form a cavity for holding the carrier  20 ″. The connecting wall  73  pivotally connects the upper shell  71  and the lower shell  72 , so that the upper shell  71  and the louver shell  72  can be folded to close, and opened to receive the optical disc  40 .  
         [0043]    The carrier  20 ″ is similar to the carrier  20  of the first embodiment, but a marking portion  24 ″ is formed on top of the carrier  20 ″. Both sides of the marking portion  24 ″ are formed with hooks  21 ″. The fixed clamp  11 ″ and resilient clamps  12 ″ are similar to those of the first embodiment, and will not be detailedly described herein. Two linking elements  27 ″ are further formed on the connecting wall  73  for linking the carrier  20 ″. Each linking elements  27  includes a clamp  271 ″ formed on the connecting wall  73 , and a rod  272 ″ fixed into a through hole  273 ″ formed on bottom of the carrier  20 ″. The clamp  271 ″ can hold the rod  272 ″ so as to fix the carrier  20 ″ to the cassette  70 , or release the rod  272 ″ so as to remove the carrier  20 ″ from the carrier  20 ″.  
         [0044]    Therefore, the user can selectively leave the carrier  20 ″ in the cassette  70  for storing at least an optical disc  40 , or remove the carrier  20 ″ from the cassette  70 , then hang the carrier  20 ″ to an unshown rod or rope for storing the optical disc  40 .  
         [0045]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.