Abstract:
A disk storage unit houses a plurality of sheet-like protective sleeves, each for storing a disk therein. Punched apertures are provided in the protective sleeves, to enable them to be bound in a binder type filing implement. An edge of each of the plurality of protective sleeves is removably affixed to a case by means of an adhesive, which can be peeled off, for example. The disk storage unit enables storage of a great number of recording media disks, such as CD&#39;s, in a limited space.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a disk storage unit, and particularly to a disk storage unit for storing recording media disks, such as CD&#39;s and DVD&#39;s.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A conventional CD storage case which is commonly in use (hereinafter, referred to as “standard case”) comprises: a case main body, of which the entirety of one side is an open surface, for storing a disk; and a lid, which is linked to the case main body by a hinge so as to open and close the open surface. A circular disk clamper, for elastically engaging a central aperture of the disk to detachably hold the disk, is provided at the central portion of the inner surface of the case main body.  
         [0005]     However, the standard case is capable of holding only a single disk therein. Therefore, a problem is arising in that as the number of disks increases, storage space is difficult to secure.  
         [0006]     In response to this problem, pluralities of disks are stored in sheet-like protective sleeves made of nonwoven cloth, paper, plastic and the like, which are then stored within a single case. Thereby, space is saved and the cost of the case is reduced. However, if the number of disks further increases, the presence of the case becomes a barrier to space efficiency.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk storage unit, which is capable of storing a great number of disks within a limited space.  
         [0008]     The disk storage unit of the present invention comprises: 
        a case; and     a plurality of sheet-like protective sleeves, each for storing a disk therein; characterized by:     the protective sleeves being housed within the case; and     punched apertures that enable filing of the protective sleeves in a binder type filing implement being provided in the protective sleeves.        
 
         [0013]     The plurality of protective sleeves may be housed in the case in a non-fixed manner, or one edge of each of the protective sleeves may be removably affixed to the case. The “non-fixed manner”, in which the protective sleeves are housed in the case refers to a state in which the protective sleeves are housed individually as loose items. The manner in which the protective sleeves are “removably affixed” to the case include: affixing with adhesive, which is capable of being peeled off; tearable perforations provided in the protective sleeves; affixing in a manner such that the protective sleeves can be cut away with scissors; and affixing with pressing springs, which are detachable. Two or more punched apertures are provided along a linear edge of each protective sleeve. A binding member, comprising: hollow cylinders having open ends, which are provided in the case at the same interval as that between the punched apertures; and engaging pieces having a plurality of protrusions, which are to be inserted into the hollow cylinders, may be provided in the case. The manner in which the protective sleeves are removably affixed to the case also includes a state in which the hollow cylinders are inserted through the punched apertures then engage the engaging pieces, to bind the protective sleeves within the case.  
         [0014]     According to the disk storage unit of the present invention, the punched apertures that enable filing of the protective sleeves in a binding type filing implement are provided in the plurality of protective sleeves. Therefore, in the case that the number of disks increases, the disks can be removed from the case along with the protective sleeves and organized in a filing implement. Thereby, storage of a great number of disks in a limited space is enabled.  
         [0015]     In addition, organization and filing of the disks according to users&#39; tastes are also enabled. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disk storage unit of the present invention, in a closed state.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a protective sleeve for a disk, which is housed within a case illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plan view that illustrates the state in which the disk is removed from the protective sleeve of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the disk storage unit of  FIG. 1 , in an open state.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view that illustrates a state in which the protective sleeve is removed from the case in the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view that illustrates a state in which the protective sleeve is filed within a binder.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view that illustrates a state in which the protective sleeve is filed within a binder different from that illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a plan view that illustrates an alternate embodiment of the protective sleeve.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the disk storage unit of the present invention, in a state prior to the protective sleeves being housed therein.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view that illustrates the disk storage unit of  FIG. 9 , housing the protective sleeves therein.  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of still another embodiment of the protective sleeve.  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a plan view that illustrates a modification of the protective sleeve of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disk storage unit of the present invention, in a closed state.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of a protective sleeve, which is stored within a case illustrated in  FIG. 1 , holding a disk therein.  FIG. 3  is a plan view that illustrates the state in which the disk is removed from the protective sleeve of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the disk storage unit of  FIG. 1 , in an open state.  
         [0029]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the disk storage unit U comprises a case  1 , constituted by: a substantially square case main body  2 ; and a lid  4 , which is linked to an edge of the case main body  2  via a spine portion  3  so as to be openable and closable. The inner surface of the spine portion  3  forms a protective sleeve attaching portion  5  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). The two substantially parallel edges of the spine portion  3  constitute hinges of the case main body  2  and the lid  4 . A plurality of sheet-like protective sleeves  11 , such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each storing a disk  10  therein, are housed within the case  1 .  
         [0030]     The protective sleeves  11  storing the disks  10  therein are formed as substantially square sheets of nonwoven cloth. Each protective sleeve  11  comprises: an upper edge  11   a , a side edge  11   b , in which apertures  15 ,  15  to be described later are provided, a side edge  11   c  opposite the side edge  11   b , and a lower edge.  
         [0031]     A linear cut  12   a  that extends toward the center of the protective sleeve  11  from the vicinity of the upper edge  11   a  and the side edge  11   b  is formed in the front side of the protective sleeve  11 . A cut  12   b  that extends from the tip of the cut  12   a  to the side edge  11   c  in a line substantially parallel to the upper edge  11   a  is formed continuously with the cut  12   a . Further, the upper portion of the side edge  11   c  is cut open. An upwardly opening trap door lid  13  that exposes the upper portion of the disk  10  is formed by the cuts  12   a ,  12   b , and the cut open upper portion of the side edge  11   c . The trap door lid  13  is opened by bending along a bend line L, which is parallel to the upper edge  11   a . A narrow band-like region  14  is formed between the upper edge  11   a  of the protective sleeve  11  and the bend line L. The band-like region  14  slightly overlaps the upper end of the disk  10 .  
         [0032]     When removing the disk  10  from the protective sleeve  11 , first, the trap door lid  13  is opened as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Next, the lid  13  is pulled upward and backward toward the rear side of the protective sleeve  11 , to move the region  14  from the front side of the disk  10  to the rear side thereof, thereby exposing the upper end of the disk  10 . Then, the upper end of the disk  10  is gripped with fingers and pulled diagonally upward toward the right, in the direction of arrow A of  FIG. 3 . That is, the disk  10  is pulled toward the corner between the upper edge  11   a  and the side edge  11   c , to remove the disk  10  from the protective sleeve  11 .  
         [0033]     Two apertures  15 ,  15  (punched apertures) are formed in the vicinity of the side edge  11   b , with a predetermined interval therebetween. The apertures  15 ,  15  enable the protective sleeve  11  to be filed in a binding type filing implement (binder). The side edge  11   b  is attached to the protective sleeve attaching portion  5  at the inner surface of the spine portion  3  via an adhesive, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0034]     Accordingly, the protective sleeve  11  can be removed from the case  1 , by pulling the protective sleeve  11  in the direction indicated by arrow B of  FIG. 5 , to peel the side edge  11   b  off of the protective sleeve attaching portion  5 .  
         [0035]     The protective sleeve  11 , which has been removed from the case  1  and which stores a disk  10  therein, can be filed into a commercially available binder  20 , by feeding rings  21 ,  21  through the apertures  15 ,  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this case, commercially available labels  22  may be employed to attach tags  23  on to the protective sleeves  11 .  
         [0036]     Alternatively, the protective sleeves  11  may be filed in a commercially available binder  20 ′, having a structure such as that illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The binder  20 ′ is equipped with a binding member  24 , comprising: hollow cylinders  25 ,  25  having open ends, the number of which is the same as that of the apertures  15 ,  15  of the protective sleeves, and which are provided at the same interval as that of the apertures  15 ,  15 ; and engaging pieces  26 , having rods  27 ,  27  which are inserted into the hollow cylinders  25 ,  25  to engage therewith.  
         [0037]     In this manner, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of protective sleeves  11  are housed within the case  1  in a non-fixed manner. In addition, the protective sleeves  11  are provided with the apertures  15 , which enable filing within the binder  20 . Therefore, in the case that the number of disks  10  increases, the disks  10  can be removed from the case  1  along with the protective sleeves  11 , and filed in the binder  20 . Thereby, storage of a great number of disks  10  within a limited space is enabled. Another advantageous effect, in that classification and filing according to users&#39; tastes is enabled, is also obtained.  
         [0038]     Note that in the embodiment described above, the side edge  11   b  of the protective sleeve  11  is removably affixed to the case  1  with an adhesive. Alternatively, the side edge  11   b  of a protective sleeve  11 ′ may be permanently attached to the case  1 , while providing perforations  16  parallel to the side edge  11   b  in the vicinity thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The case  1  and the protective sleeve  11 ′ may be separated by tearing along the perforations  16  as necessary. As a further alternative, the perforations  16  need not be provided, and the portion in the vicinity of the side edge  11   b  may be cut with scissors or the like. As a still further alternative, the protective sleeves  11  may be housed in the case  1  in a non-fixed manner. That is, loose, individual protective sleeves  11  may be housed in the case  1 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  illustrate another embodiment of the disk storage unit according to the present invention.  FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the disk storage unit of the present invention, in a state prior to the protective sleeves being housed therein.  FIG. 10  is a perspective view that illustrates the disk storage unit of  FIG. 9 , housing the protective sleeves therein. The present embodiment is of a housing structure that utilizes the apertures  15 ,  15  of the protective sleeves  11 .  
         [0040]     The disk storage unit U′ illustrated in  FIG. 9  comprises a case  30 , constituted by: a case main body  31 ; and a lid member  32 , which is axially supported about an axis L so as to be openable and closable. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , two hollow cylinders  33 ,  33 , which are spaced at an interval and which have outer diameters that enable insertion into the apertures  15 ,  15  of the protective sleeves  11 , are erected on the inner surface of the case main body  31  in the vicinity of an edge that extends along the axis L. An aperture  33   a  is formed at the end of each hollow cylinder  33 . A strip-like engaging plate  34 , equipped with protrusions  35 ,  35 , which are capable of being simultaneously inserted into the apertures  33   a ,  33   a , is also provided.  
         [0041]     A desired number of protective sleeves  11  having disks stored therein are housed in the case main body  31  such that the hollow cylinders  33 ,  33  are inserted through the apertures  15 ,  15 . Then, the protrusions  35 ,  35 , of the engaging plate  34  are inserted into the apertures  33   a ,  33   a  of the hollow cylinders  33 ,  33 , so as to press the protective sleeves  11  down with the engaging plate  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Thereafter, the lid member  32  is closed. Thereby, a desired number of protective sleeves  11  having disks stored therein can be housed within the disk storage unit U′.  
         [0042]      FIG. 11  is a plan view that illustrates an alternate embodiment of the protective sleeve. The front side of a protective sleeve  11 ″ is provided with an opening  17  that extends from the corner between the side edge lic and the upper edge  11   a  toward the central portion of the disk  10 . The side edge  11   c  is opposite the side edge  11   b  which is removably affixed to the case  1 . A central aperture  10   a  of the disk  10  is exposed through the opening  17 . In addition, the upper edge  11   a  and the side edge  11   c  are cut open from the edges of the opening  17  through the ranges denoted by  18   a  and  18   c , respectively. This construction enables a finger to be inserted into the central aperture  10   a  of the disk  10 , to draw the disk  10  out diagonally upward in the direction indicated by arrow C.  
         [0043]     Note that in this case, a bag portion  19  having a region  19  that slightly overlaps an edge of the disk  10  may be provided at the corner between the side edge  11   c  and the upper edge  11   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Thereby, inadvertent removal of the disk  10  from the protective sleeve  11 ″ can be prevented. In this case also, the bag portion  19  can be pulled upward and backward toward the rear side of the protective sleeve  11 ″, to move the region  19  from the front side of the disk  10  to the rear side thereof, thereby exposing the upper right end of the disk  10 . Then, the disk can be drawn out in the upper right direction indicated by arrow C.