Abstract:
A removable and reusable temporary protective covering for the read-write face of optical discs and the like which protects read-write face of said discs from being scratched or dirtied while discs are not in use and, at user&#39;s option, also allows discs to attach (via said covering) to certain other materials or objects. This protective disc covering consists of a resinous material in the form of a thin, flexible sheet which attaches to read/write side of disc by mechanism of static electric attraction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/337,387. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    There has been no federally sponsored research or development relating to this invention.  
         REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    This invention relates in general to the field of compact discs and similar media and specifically to temporary protective coverings for said discs. Throughout this application, the word “disc” or “discs” is intended to mean any disc-shaped data storage media, including but not limited to compact discs.  
           [0005]    It is known that discs must be protected from scratches, dust, dirt, marring or other damage that may occur to the disc and thereby render the disc unusable. A temporary, removable covering is desirable but, as yet, the industry has yet to provide a solution that would allow for quick and easy application of disc to protective device. The industry standard hard plastic “jewel cases” provided for compact discs, for instance, are unwieldy and often time consuming and difficult to use. A protective device that would be quickly and easily applied, and quickly and easily removed would be desirable.  
           [0006]    One example of a temporary protective disc covering is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 20010033915 (Ehmann and Alstad). This protector is defined in the CLAIMS section of the application as a “static cling polymer film of predetermined size containing an aperture”. the claims are not specific about the size of covering or of aperture. But in the SUMMARY portion of the application, under the heading “Objects and Advantages”, paragraph 0018 reads “to provide a protector that may be used with a substantial amount of cases without damaging or interfering with: the compact disc, the compact disc protector, or the compact disc case” (italics theirs). In the drawings for this same application (#20010033915) both the shape and the size of the compact disc protector are substantially similar to the shape and size of a compact disc, and a central aperture in the temporary covering aligns with the central aperture found in a compact disc. Further, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that it would be necessary to make the compact disc protector the same shape and size and compact disc, with protector not extending beyond edges of disc and including a central aperture in covering which is precisely the same size as or larger than aperture in disc in order to meet the requirements set forth in their paragraph 0018 (see above) and to not interfere with disc being placed into case and not interfere with action (closing) of case.  
           [0007]    The above disclosed invention by Ehmann and Alstad has several disadvantages. First, because the shape and size of covering is so close to that of actual compact disc and includes a matching central aperture, the user, while looking at top face of disc, may not notice that covering is in place on read/write face (bottom face) of disc and may inadvertently insert a disc into a disc read/write or play device with covering still affixed to disc. This could result in damage to or destruction of the compact disc and/or the read/write or play device. Second, these dimensions allow for very little, if any, area of the covering that will extend beyond the outside boundaries of the disc or even into aperture thereby requiring the use of great care, time, and some amount of technical skill by user in order to align covering properly and center it upon the disc. Third, if covering is not properly aligned and centered on disc, portions of the read/write face of the disc may remain uncovered and therefore unprotected. Fourth, because aperture appears in center of protector, seal to disc is not complete on the side of disc and care still must be taken to keep liquids, dirt, and the like away from that side of disc in order to keep the disc safe. Fifth, because edges of covering do not extend far, if at all, beyond edges of disc and the user must grasp edges of covering to remove it from disc, the risk of user dirtying disc with their fingers as they try to remove covering is higher than it would be with a design allowing for edges of covering to extend further beyond edges of disc.  
           [0008]    The present invention has none of these disadvantages by allowing for:  
           [0009]    1) a covering that is of size larger than compact disc:  
           [0010]    a) easily and quickly applied to and removed from compact disc by method of user grasping edge or edges of covering that protrude beyond perimeter of disc, and  
           [0011]    b) applied to and removed from disc with little chance that user will inadvertently touch read/write face of disc as they attempt to place or remove covering, and  
           [0012]    c) easily seen by user to be covering the disc, and  
           [0013]    d) effective in protecting disc by allowing all of disc surface to be covered even with less than accurate central placement of covering to disc by user  
           [0014]    2) a covering that has no aperture meant to align with central aperture of compact disc, allowing central apertured portion of disc to remain covered, thereby allowing covering to:  
           [0015]    a) be more easily seen to be covering the disc, especially if central area has coloring or printing or some sort, and  
           [0016]    b) more effectively protect disc by allowing all of disc surface to be entirely covered even with less than accurate central user placement of covering.  
           [0017]    c) completely cover read/write face of disk with no chance of penetration of contaminants through central aperture, because does not have central aperture.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    This invention seeks to produce a temporary, reusable protective covering for the read/write face of a compact disc or similar media and comprises a thin, flexible resinous sheet which adheres to the disc via mechanism of static electric attraction and therefore is quickly and easily attached and removed from disc, leaving no residue when removed and remaining reusable nearly indefinitely. This invention overcomes disadvantages in the prior art by removing the central aperture allowed for in prior art and also by enlarging size of covering to now exceed dimensions of disc that covering is intended to protect. These differences allow for a covering that is more quickly and easily applied and better protects the disc once applied. (A further explanation of these important differences is available in the BACKGROUND portion of this specification.)  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0019]    By way of example, three drawings depict one preferred embodiment (“CD Case Topper” Embodiment). Three figures are included: A, B, and C. In each of these three figures are shown: a disc ( 1 ), the temporary covering (invention herein disclosed) ( 2 ) and an object with a flat surface ( 3 ) to which covering may be attached, at user&#39;s option.  
         [0020]    Shown in FIGS. A, B, and C is a compact disc ( 1 ) with label-side facing upwards (toward top of page) and read/write side facing downwards (towards bottom of page). A temporary protective covering ( 2 ) consisting of a resinous material in the form of a thin, flexible sheet attaches to read/write face of compact disc by mechanism of static electric attraction. Optionally, this temporary covering ( 2 ), with disc attached ( 1 ), may be affixed to another flat surface such as (but not limited to) the outside of a compact disc case ( 3 ) via same mechanism of static electric attraction or by other, more permanent, means.  
         [0021]    FIG. A shows a view of these three components aligned yet separated: a disc ( 1 ), the temporary covering ( 2 ) and object with flat surface ( 3 ).  
         [0022]    FIG. B shows an overhead view of these three items: disc ( 1 ), attached to covering ( 2 ), attached to object ( 3 ).  
         [0023]    FIG. C shows a side view of these three items: disc ( 1 ), sitting atop of and attached to temporary covering ( 2 ), sitting atop of and attached to object with flat surface ( 3 ).  
         [0024]    The covering may be also be used alone with disc, that is, without covering then adhering to another object with flat surface.  
         [0025]    FIG. D shows a separated view of the disc ( 1 ) in relation to the covering ( 2 ), which would be applied to the underside of disc, that is, the read/write portion of disc. In this manner, the disc would remain protected.  
     
    
       [0026]    It should be noted that a compact disc ( 1 ) is shown by way of example, although this invention will work on other similar devices such as phonograph records. It should also be noted that the protective covering may be of any size or shape provided the outside dimensions of covering exceed the outside dimensions of disc or other object to be protected. A square shape is shown for the covering, but only by way of example. It should further be noted that the object with flat surface ( 3 ) to which covering ( 2 ) attaches may be of any shape or size, as well, provided dimensions of object ( 3 ) are of adequate size to allow for good adhesion of covering ( 2 ) to object ( 3 ).  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    Disclosed is a removable and reusable temporary covering for the read/write face of compact discs and the like. Said covering is intended to be placed upon read/write face of disc while disc is not in use (that is, while disc is not inside a read/write or play device such as computer disc drive or compact disc player, for example) thereby protecting disc from becoming scratched or dirtied while disc is not in use. The temporary covering is intended to be fully removed from disc prior to disc use (that is, prior to disc insertion into read/write or play device).  
         [0028]    Covering consists of a resinous material in the form of a thin, flexible sheet which attaches to read/write face of compact discs by mechanism of static electric attraction. Covering, in its preferred embodiment, is of dimensions that exceed outside dimensions of disc so that entire read/write surface of disc may be in contact with covering when covering is attached to disc. Covering need not be annular and, in fact, may be any shape or size provided the preceding conditions are met. Covering will also be of material that accepts the printing of words or images to its surface.  
         [0029]    Covering also allows disc to be affixed, via covering and same mechanism of static electric attraction, to another object with a smooth flat or near flat surface such as, but not limited to, computer monitor screens, the outside of certain “jewel case” type compact disc cases, and the inside of certain compact disc cases or racks. Covering may also be attached to other flat surfaces by other, more permanent means (not static electric attraction) on one face and still accept a disc attachment by means of static electric attraction on the other face.  
         [0030]    To apply covering to disc, user places covering so that it contacts disc, covering entire read/write face of disc. Covering adheres by mechanism of static electric attraction. User may wish to smooth across surface of covering, ensuring better overall contact. Disc is now protected and may be safely stored, stacked or otherwise placed outside the read/write device. If user desires disc to be attached to a smooth surface such as, for example, the outside of a “jewel case” type compact disc case, user would simply place covered disc (covered side towards compact disc case) on compact disc case and press gently until covering adheres. Disc is now attached to outside of compact disc case. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this method may be varied, as may the objects to which the discs are attached, but that the common factor is that a disc is being attached to another smooth object via this temporary covering and mechanism of static electric attraction. It will also be apparent that the covering may be permanently attached to another object, smooth or otherwise, by mechanism other than static electric attraction, and that the disc may then temporarily attach to the covering by mechanism of static electric attraction. In this case, the same method of static electric attraction between disc and covering would be employed.  
         [0031]    In order to remove disc from covering, user grasps the edges of disc and also grasps covering and/or the object to which covering is adhering, gently peeling or lifting covering and disc away from one another. Disc would then be ready for insertion into read/write device.  
         [0032]    In all embodiments, covering is of size larger than that of standard compact disc (or object to be protected with covering) and contains no aperture in area meant to be in contact with area bounded by external edges of disc, including no central aperture meant to align with central aperture of disc.  
         [0033]    In one preferred embodiment of the invention (“CD Case Topper” Embodiment), the covering would be intended to work in conjunction with the industry standard hard case (called jewel cases) for compact discs. In this embodiment, covering would still be of size larger than compact disc but would also be of size and shape substantially similar to that of a closed jewel case. Covering would be attached to read/write face of disc, then covering could be attached to outside of jewel case, thereby temporarily attaching disc to outside of jewel case.  
         [0034]    It should be noted that once the temporary protective covering is applied to disc, disc may be stacked or stored in a variety of different ways. These ways may or may not include a disc case as additional component. For one example, discs attached to protective coverings may simply be stacked together in a pile (each disc being attached to its own covering).  
         [0035]    Another preferred embodiment would allow disc covering to nestle inside a hard compact disc case which in turn is designed with an inner flat surface to accommodate one of these coverings being placed against one inner wall of case. The disc covering would then hold the disc temporarily in place (by mechanism of static electric attraction). The hard outer case would then close around disc, further protecting against damage. The means of disc attachment to covering would be temporary (via mechanism of static electric attraction). The means of covering attachment to inner surface of disc case might be temporary (via mechanism of static electric attraction) or more permanent (via other means).  
         [0036]    Another preferred embodiment would be a covering large enough to accommodate many discs attaching to the covering. Potentially, many discs could attach to one side of the covering while the covering attaches to another smooth, flat or near flat object, such as, for example, a window or table or wall. The means of disc attachment to covering would be temporary (via mechanism of static electric attraction). The means of covering attachment to other surface might be temporary (via mechanism of static electric attraction) or more permanent (via other means).