Abstract:
A label for a media disk storage device having more than one pocket moveably attached to a binder in a stacked arrangement includes an insertion card insertable within the pocket and an identifier tab extending from the insertion card to a position beyond an edge of the pocket when the insertion card is inserted in the pocket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/534411 filed on Jan. 7, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention described herein relates to labeling systems, and more specifically, to labeling of compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs) and other digital media stored in organizers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     CDs and DVDs are frequently stored in various types of organizers. A popular type of CD organizer has a front and back cover with a spine. Multiple pockets are attached to the spine between the covers, similar to the pages of a book. The user can then flip through their CD collection to locate a desired selection. However, as the number of CDs increase, it becomes more difficult to locate a specific CD by flipping through each pocket. Thus, a need exists for a labeling system to quickly locate a desired CD.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In one general aspect, a label for a media disk storage device having more than one pocket moveably attached to a binder in a stacked arrangement includes an insertion card insertable within the pocket and an identifier tab extending from the insertion card to a position beyond an edge of the pocket when the insertion card is inserted in the pocket.  
         [0005]     Implementation may include one or more of the following features. For example, the identifier tab may have a printable surface and an identifier on the identifier tab may be a symbol. The identifier tab also may have a semi-circular shape or rectangular shape. The insertion card may have a rectangular, circular, or square shape.  
         [0006]     In another general aspect, a media disk label system for a media disk organizer having a first pocket, a second pocket, and a third pocket moveably attached to a binder in a stacked arrangement includes a first label having a first insert portion and a first tab extending from a left side of the first insert portion to a position beyond an edge of the first pocket when the first insert portion is positioned in the first pocket, a second label having a second insert portion and a second tab extending from a middle-portion of the second insert portion to a position beyond an edge of the second pocket when the second insert portion is positioned in the second pocket, and a third label having a third insert portion and a third tab extending from a right side of the third insert portion to a position beyond an edge of the third pocket when the third insert portion is positioned in the third pocket.  
         [0007]     Implementation may include one or more of the following features or any of the features described above. For example, the label system may include an index referencing a location of media disks stored in the first pocket, the second pocket, and the third pocket, the index being attachable to the organizer. The label system may also include a sheet having perforations configured for separation into the first label, the second label, and the third label, each of the labels having a printable surface.  
         [0008]     In a further general aspect, a method of organizing media disks in a disk holder having more than one pocket moveably attached to a binder includes providing a label having an insert portion and an identifier tab extending from the insert portion, the identifier tab being visible when the insert portion is inserted in the pocket.  
         [0009]     The method may include one or more of the following features or any of the features described above. For example, the method may include printing an identifier on the tab and providing an index having the identifier identifying a media disk stored in the pocket. The method may also include inserting the insert portion of the label into each pocket of the disk holder and/or providing a computer program operable to instruct a computer system having a printer to print an identifier on the label.  
         [0010]     In another general aspect, the computer program may include instructions to cause a printer to print an outline of a label having an insert portion and a tab extending from the insert portion.  
         [0011]     The computer program may also include one or more of the following features or any of the features described above. For example, the instructions may cause a computer user interface to prompt a user for an identifier and cause the printer to print the identifier on a printable surface of the identifier tab. The instructions may also cause the printer to print an index having the identifier.  
         [0012]     In another implementation the instructions may cause a computer user interface to prompt a user to load a sheet of label stock in a printer, the label stock having perforations configured in the shape of the label. The instructions may also assign an identifier to each label and cause the printer to print the identifier on each label and on an index. The instructions may further cause a computer user interface to prompt the user to print the label. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Reference numerals in the drawings correspond to numbers in the Detailed Description for ease of reference.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate labels for a media organizer.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate media organizers with the labels shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  inserted in separate pockets.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a series of labels.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate media organizers with the labels shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8 . illustrates a media organizer with labels and an index.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates a method of producing labels for a media organizer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a label  100 ,  200  for a CD organizer includes an insertion card  105 ,  205  with an identifier tab  110 ,  210  extending from the insertion card. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the shape of the insertion card  105  may be rectangular or, referring to  FIG. 2 , the shape of the insertion card  205  may also be circular.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the label  100 ,  200  can be inserted into an organizer  300 ,  400 . The organizer  300 ,  400  has square pockets  115  or rounded pockets  215  attached to an outer case  120 ,  220 . Preferably, when the insertion card  105 ,  205 , is inserted in the pockets,  115 ,  215 , the identifier tab  110 ,  210 , extends to a position between the edge of the pockets  115 ,  215  and the outer case  120 ,  220 .  
         [0022]     The insertion cards may also have other shapes that are configured to fit into a pocket of an organizer. The identifier tab may also have varying shapes, but, preferably, includes a writing surface to identify the contents of the pocket with a symbol, text, or other printed identification.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , a series of labels  125 ,  130 ,  135  may be used to identify CDs in organizers  600 ,  700  with multiple pockets. In this implementation, each label  125 ,  130 ,  135  may have an identifier tab  110  extending from the insertion card  105  at different positions. For example, the first label  125  has an identifier tab  110  extending from an upper portion of the insertion card  105 . The second label  130  has an identifier tab  110  extending from a mid-portion of the insertion card  105 . The third label  135  has an identifier tab  110  extending from a lower portion of the insertion card  105 . Thus, when the labels  125 ,  130 ,  135  are inserted into multiple pockets of the organizer, each identifier tab  110  is at least partly visible without obstruction from the other identifier tabs  110 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  shows an organizer  800  having multiple circular pockets. The insertion cards  205  are inserted in each pocket  215  in a rotational pattern relative to each other such that each identifier tab  210  is visible when the pockets  215  are stacked on top of each other.  
         [0025]     The organizer  800  also may have a separate index  805  that identifies the contents of each pocket  215 . The index  805  can be attached to the organizer  800  with an adhesive or may be inserted into a separate pocket on the inside of the front cover of the organizer. As shown, the index  805  is rectangular but also may be another shape suited to fit inside the front cover, the back cover, or an outside surface of the front or back cover. In another implementation, more than one index  805  is inserted between groups of pockets  215  of the organizer.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a software program  900  can be utilized as a method to prepare CD organizer labels. In operation  910 , the program  900  prompts the user to add a sheet of label stock to a printer. The user is then prompted to input a label identifier in operation  920 . The label identifier may be text or a symbol and may correspond to the same information that is printed on an index in the front of the organizer.  
         [0027]     The user is prompted to identify a shape of the insertion card portion of the label in operation  930 . Typically, the insertion card may be square, rectangular, or circular. However, any shape may be used that allows the insertion card to be inserted into the pocket.  
         [0028]     The user is prompted to input a position of the identifier tab relative to the insertion card in operation  940 . The position of the identifier tab may be varied by the user depending on the number of pockets in the organizer. Then, an outline of the label is printed on the cardstock in operation  950  and the identifier is printed on the identifier tab in operation  960 .  
         [0029]     Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus and program without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if operations of the computer program were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.