Abstract:
A disc operating device comprising a multi-part disc holding tray which extends and retracts from a housing, and a disc information handling mechanism. The disc holding tray further comprises a moveable tray portion for movement and support within the housing, a disc supporting portion for supporting a disc and a break-away mechanism coupling these two portions. The, break-away mechanism comprises a first coupling that allows the disc supporting portion to deflect and potentially separate from the remainder of the disc holding tray upon impact by an external force. The disc supporting portion can further comprise a second coupling allowing deflection in multiple directions upon impact by an external force. Deflection and separation by the disc supporting portion reduce the need for and cost of repair and replacement of the overall disc operating device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a disc drive or recorder, and in particular to a disc tray that is capable of breaking away from the drive/recorder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a disc operating device (DOD), such as a CD-ROM drive, optical disc recorder, or optical disc drive. Uses for these DOD&#39;s include playing music, loading software applications onto a computer, playing computer games, and storing information, such as data, video, photographs, etc. The DOD is normally operated by loading a disc, such as a compact disc or optical disc, hereinafter referred to as a CD, into the device. 
     Methods of disc loading include placing the CD horizontally onto a tray which extends out from the DOD during loading, and then retracts horizontally into the body of the DOD for operation, or placing the CD into a carrier device, such as a cartridge, which is then inserted into an opening in the DOD for operation. In either loading method, the CD is placed into a circular recess to support the disc. A tray loading device may include one or more circular recesses into which a CD may be placed, thereby enabling the DOD to access or store information on multiple discs, either in a sequential fashion, or in a pre-programmed or random fashion. 
     For the tray loading device, a problem can arise when an operator forgets to retract the tray, and the tray is left in the open or extended position. Since the tray is basically hanging out beyond the DOD, and in many cases beyond the surface on which the DOD is located, such as a computer chassis or stereo system, the tray is extremely vulnerable to being broken off after being contacted by an object, or body part of the operator. When the force of the contact is more than minimal, there is a risk that major damage may occur to either the tray, the tray&#39;s ejection/retraction mechanism, or to the DOD. Since the tray is usually an integral part of the DOD, any damage to the tray results in a major expense to repair the DOD. In the extreme case, the user may have to replace the entire DOD. 
     What is needed is a disc operating device which includes a disc loading tray device that eliminates, or limits, damage to the DOD when the tray is contacted in the extended position by a force that would normally damage the DOD. What is also needed is a disc loading tray device that limits damage to a more expensive chassis or system in which it is contained, when subjected to such forces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A disc operating device comprises a housing, in which a disc information handling mechanism is supported, and a disc holding tray. The disc holding tray is a multi-part unit including a first portion that is substantially internal and moveable within the housing, a second portion that supports the disc, and a break-away mechanism coupling the moveable tray portion to the disc supporting portion. 
     The break-away mechanism comprises a first hinged coupling allowing the disc supporting portion to deflect upon impact by an external force. Once this portion has deflected, it can be returned to its normal operating position automatically, or by operator intervention. 
     In a further embodiment, the break-away mechanism comprises a combination of detents and pins, fixed or spring, allowing the disc supporting portion to not only deflect, but also to potentially non-destructively separate from the moveable tray portion upon impact by an external force. Variations on the break-away mechanism include combinations of pins, detents and magnetic couplings. 
     The disc supporting portion of the disc holding tray can also be a multi-part unit wherein the disc holding portion connects to an intermediate coupling portion by a second hinged coupling substantially perpendicular to the first hinged coupling. This second hinge also allows deflection of the disc holding portion about the hinge upon impact by an external force. After deflection about the second hinged coupling, the disc holding portion returns to its normal operating position automatically, or by operator intervention. The addition of the second hinged coupling allows the disc supporting tray to withstand impact of external forces from any direction. 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides a disc operating device including a disc holding tray that eliminates or limits damage to the DOD when the tray is contacted in the extended position by an external force that would normally damage the DOD. The present invention also provides a disc holding tray including a stress relief mechanism capable of isolating the DOD from the impact of an external force, in order to limit damage to the DOD. In addition, the present invention provides a disc holding tray with a stress relief mechanism serving as a break-away point for the tray from the DOD such that the tray can deflect or separate from the DOD upon impact by an external force. Also provided is a disc supporting tray design that is easy to reattach, or inexpensive to repair or replace. When a DOD becomes damaged internally due to a force applied to an open tray, the cost of the damage can extend far beyond the tray itself. In many cases, the DOD is an integral part of a larger unit, such as a stereo or computer, thus increasing the complexity and cost of repair or replacement astronomically. The present invention eliminates the worries associated with possible damage to costly electronic equipment, and brings the potential repair costs within a reasonable and manageable limit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is an perspective view of a prior art disc operating device showing a disc supporting tray which extends and retracts from a housing; 
     FIG. 1B is an perspective view of a disc operating device showing a multi-part disc holding tray of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a disc operating device showing various deflections of a disc supporting tray; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of a disc supporting tray separated from a moveable tray portion at a break-away mechanism which includes pins and detents; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view of a break-away mechanism with spring-loaded pins and detents; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of a disc supporting tray showing an alternate configuration of a break-away mechanism with pins and detents; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of a disc supporting tray showing an alternate configuration of a break-away mechanism with pins, detents and magnets; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a disc operating device showing a disc supporting tray which includes a hinged coupling about which a disc holding portion of the tray can deflect on impact. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 a  illustrates a disc operating device (DOD)  110  of the prior art, such as a CD-ROM drive, an optical disc recorder, or an optical disc drive. The DOD  110  includes a housing  112  containing a disc information handling mechanism, and a disc holding tray  114  including a recess or other method for supporting a disc  119 . The disc holding tray  114  is a single unit which moves within the housing  112  such that the area containing the disc extends beyond the housing  112  to enable loading and unloading of the disc. The disc holding tray  114  engages a support and movement mechanism within the housing  112 , thus allowing extension and retraction of the disc holding tray  114 , but also causing this tray  114  to be an integral part of the DOD  110 , such that any damage to this tray  114  requires repair or replacement of the entire DOD  110 , at great expense. 
     FIG. 1 b  illustrates a disc operating device  10  incorporating the present invention. This DOD  10  also includes a housing  12  which contains a disc information handling mechanism, and a disc holding tray  15  including a recess or other method for supporting a disc  19 . However, in the present invention, the disc holding tray  15  is a multi-part unit including a first portion  16  and a second portion  18  coupled together by a break-away mechanism  20 , fabricated from a light-weight, break resistant material compatible with the operation of the DOD. Several different embodiments of the break-away mechanism  20  will be discussed below. The first portion  16 , or moveable tray portion, moves within the housing  12 , is substantially internal to the housing  12 , has a section  17  external to the housing  12  when the disc holding tray  15  is in the extended position, and passes through a housing opening  13 . The second portion  18 , or disc supporting tray, supports the disc  19  and extends and retracts from the housing. 
     In the present invention, the requirement of total repair or replacement of the DOD  10  is overcome by use of this multi-part disc holding tray  15 . The moveable tray portion  16  engages a support and movement mechanism within the housing  12  of the DOD  10 , similar to the single unit disc holding tray  114 , shown in FIG. 1 a . However, the disc supporting tray  18 , which extends beyond the housing  12  for loading and unloading of a disc  19 , is not directly connected to the support and movement mechanism within the housing  12 , but is coupled to it through the breakaway mechanism  20 . This break-away mechanism  20  serves as a stress relief for the entire disc holding tray  15  by isolating the moveable tray portion  16  from external contact forces that would normally damage the tray  15  and the DOD  10 . Upon impact by these external forces, when the disc holding tray  15  is in the extended or open position, the break-away mechanism  20  allows the disc supporting tray  18  to deflect or to separate from the moveable tray portion  16 , thus eliminating or limiting damage to the DOD  10 . After separation, the disc supporting tray  18  can then be easily reattached if not significantly damaged, or if necessary, repaired or replaced in less time and at less expense than the DOD  10 . 
     In FIG. 2, the break-away mechanism  20  is shown coupling the moveable tray portion  16  to the disc supporting tray  18  with a first hinged coupling  21 . The connection between the break-away mechanism  20  and the moveable tray portion  16  occurs at the tray&#39;s external section  17 . This hinge-type connection allows the disc supporting tray  18  to deflect about the first hinged coupling  21  as shown, upon impact by an external force. Once the disc supporting tray  18  is in a deflected position, it can return to a normal operating position automatically, using a spring mechanism for example, or by electronic or manual operator intervention. Unless the return of the disc supporting tray  18  to a normal operating position is coupled to the retraction mechanism, retraction of the disc holding tray  15  should be disabled anytime the disc supporting tray  18  is not in the normal operating position in order to eliminate further damage to the DOD  10 . Detection of the disc supporting tray  18  being in other than the normal operating position is possible by use of a microswitch, for example. When the return of the disc supporting tray  18  is coupled to the retraction mechanism, operator initiated retraction causes either automatic return to a normal position prior to retraction, or gradual return to a normal position as the housing opening  13  guides the disc supporting tray  18  into the normal position during retraction. 
     Now turning to FIGS. 3-5, in one of the preferred embodiments, the break-away mechanism  20  further comprises a combination of mating pins  24  and detents  22  allowing separation of the disc supporting tray  18  from the moveable tray portion  16  upon impact, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. There may be fixed pins  24  or spring pins  26 , depending on the corresponding structure and requirements. Detents  22  intended for coupling with fixed pins  24  must have at least one flexible side wall to allow release at a desired force. Spring pins  26  are also formed with a desired spring constant to provide retentive force when subjected to normal operating forces, and release when subjected to predetermined, normally harmful forces. 
     Those skilled in the art can come up with unlimited possible connection variations, so only a few illustrative examples are shown. FIG. 3 shows a combination of fixed pins  24 , spring pins  26  and detents  22  distributed on both the moveable tray portion  16  and the disc supporting tray  18 . The fixed pins  24  are symmetrically located on opposite sides of protrusions  23 , which reside near the outer edges of the disc supporting tray  18 . The mating detents  22  are correspondingly located on the facing sides of insets  27  near the outer edges of the moveable tray portion  16 . The spring pins  26  are located on opposite sides of a center protrusion  25  on the moveable tray portion  16 , with the mating detents  22  located on facing sides of a center inset  29  on the disc supporting tray  18 . FIG. 4 shows only spring pins  26  mounted on the moveable tray portion  16  and detents embedded on the disc supporting tray  18 . FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of the breakaway mechanism  20 , where both a fixed pin  24  and a spring pin  26  are mounted on the disc supporting tray  18 , and corresponding detents  22  are embedded in the moveable tray portion  16 . The fixed pin  24  and detent  22  combination provide the desired hinge-type action. A split  41  in the disc supporting tray  18  creates a tension element  40  on which the fixed pin  24  is mounted allowing for both this fixed pin  24  and the spring pin  26  to provide appropriate tension to hold the disc supporting tray  18  in the normal operating position until impact causes deflection or separation. 
     In addition to or in place of pins and detents, numerous other couplings could be used to provide the desired characteristics of deflectability, positionability and separability. FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate preferred embodiment where the break-away mechanism  20  uses magnetic couplings  28 ,  30 , in addition to the pin  24  and detent  22  pairs to provide the desired characteristics. The moveable tray portion  16  includes at least one magnet  28 , while the disc supporting tray  18  includes at least one corresponding area of magnetic material  30 , such as steel or another magnet. The magnetic couplings  28 ,  30  could be located on either portion, in any combination. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a DOD  10  with a multi-part disc holding tray  15 , where the disc supporting tray  18  is also a multi-part unit. A disc holding portion  32  includes a recess or other method of supporting a disc  19 . An intermediate coupling portion  34  engages the break-away mechanism  20  on one side and the disc holding portion  32  on the other side. A second hinged coupling  36  is substantially perpendicular to the first hinged coupling  21 , and connects the intermediate coupling portion  34  to the disc holding portion  32 . 
     As with the first hinged coupling  21 , the second hinged coupling  36  allows the disc holding portion  32  to deflect upon impact by an external force, thereby further isolating the moveable tray portion  16  from external contact forces that would normally damage the tray  15  and the DOD  10 . The direction of deflection about the second hinged coupling  36  is substantially perpendicular to the direction of deflection about the first hinged coupling  21 , thus increasing the disc supporting tray&#39;s  18  ability to withstand external forces from any direction. Once the disc holding portion  32  is in a deflected position, it can return to a normal operating position automatically, using a spring mechanism for example, or by operator intervention, either electronically or manually. Unless the return of the disc holding portion  32  to a normal operating position is coupled to the retraction mechanism, retraction of the disc holding tray  15  should be disabled anytime the disc holding portion  32  is not in the normal operating position in order to eliminate further damage to the DOD  10 . Detection of the disc holding portion  32  being in other than the normal operating position is possible by use of a microswitch, for example. When the return of the disc holding portion  32  is coupled to the retraction mechanism, operator initiated retraction causes either automatic return to a normal position prior to retraction, or gradual return to a normal position as the housing opening  13  guides the disc holding portion  32  into the normal position during retraction. 
     As can be seen from the above description, the advantages of the present invention are apparent. The break-away mechanism of the multi-part disc holding tray absorbs the impact of external forces by allowing the deflection or separation of the disc supporting tray. Therefore, when a disc operating device is left in the open or extended position and comes in contact with an external force, instead of damaging the entire DOD requiring costly repair or even replacement, the disc supporting tray will deflect or break off. This results in potential damage only to the separated disc supporting tray, which is easy to reattach, or if necessary, inexpensive and quick to repair or replace, and not to the expensive DOD. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.