CD case with guitar pick display capability

A CD case with guitar pick display capability is disclosed. The CD case includes a first cover and a second cover attached to the first cover. A tray is provided on the first cover, and at least one guitar pick cavity is provided in the tray for holding and displaying at least one guitar pick through the case. A method of packaging a compact disk is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to CD (compact disk) cases for the packaging and/or storage of compact disks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a CD case which is capable of containing and displaying a compact disk and one or multiple guitar picks for packaging, marketing and/or storage purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional CD (compact disk) case, also known as a “jewel case”, typically includes a base and a lid which is pivotally attached to the base. A tray provided in the base includes a circular depression which receives a compact disk. A projection or tab typically extends from the center of the depression and snaps into an opening extending through the middle of the compact disk to detachably snap-fit the compact disk in the depression. The lid is pivoted shut on the base to enclose the compact disk in the case.

In those jewel cases which are adapted to hold two compact disks, a depression is typically provided in both surfaces of the tray for holding the respective compact disks. The tray is pivotally attached to the base to render accessible the depressions on the respective surfaces of the tray. Compact disks of all varieties are packaged in CD jewel cases, including those which hold music recorded by popular musical artists as well as those which are used to train persons in guitar playing methods.

Guitar picks are thin, flat pieces of plastic or wood which are used to strum the strings of an acoustic or electric guitar during guitar play and are frequently used by beginners of guitar playing as well as by experienced players. Typically, guitar picks are packaged in large counter displays, clamshells and/or poly bags with header cards and are sold separately from compact disks used to teach guitar playing methods.

What is needed is a CD case which is capable of containing and displaying a compact disk as well as one or multiple guitar picks for packaging, marketing and/or storage purposes. Such a CD case would enhance the marketability of guitar training CDs, for example, by offering one or an assortment of guitar picks along with the guitar training CD.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a CD case with guitar pick display capability. The CD case includes a first cover and a second cover which is attached to the first cover. A tray is provided on the first cover. At least one guitar pick cavity is provided in the tray for holding and displaying at least one guitar pick through the case.

The present invention is further directed to a method of packaging a compact disk. The method includes providing a CD case having a first cover and a tray and a second cover attached to the first cover, providing a compact disk and at least one guitar pick on the tray and displaying the compact disk and the at least one guitar pick through the CD case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-5of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks, hereinafter CD case, of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral1. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the CD case1includes a bottom cover2which is typically transparent plastic and has a generally rectangular bottom cover panel3, side walls4and a rear wall5which spans the side walls4. A pair of spaced-apart insert tabs6may extend from the inner surfaces of the respective side walls4to retain an insert label (not illustrated) in the bottom cover2for display through the bottom cover panel3, as is known by those skilled in the art.

A tray8, which is typically plastic, is pivotally attached to the bottom cover2at a hinge13. The tray8has an upper surface9and a lower surface14. As illustrated inFIGS. 1,3and4, a generally circular CD depression10may be provided in the upper surface9of the tray8. A CD support surface12is provided at the bottom of the CD depression10. A CD attachment tab11extends from the CD support surface12, at substantially the center of the CD depression10. Accordingly, the CD depression10is sized and configured to receive and hold a standard compact disk26(FIG. 6) in the tray8as the CD attachment tab11is inserted through a central opening27in the compact disk26, typically in conventional fashion as will be hereinafter further described. However, it will be understood that the tray8may be provided with any attachment mechanism which is known by those skilled in the art and is suitable for detachably mounting the compact disk26on the tray8. This may include embodiments in which the CD depression10is omitted.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5, a CD support surface elevation15, which corresponds to the bottom of the CD depression10provided in the upper surface9of the tray8, may extend from the plane of the lower surface14of the tray8. As illustrated inFIG. 8, at least one, and preferably, multiple guitar pick cavities16extend into the CD support surface elevation15. Alternatively, the guitar pick cavities16may extend directly into the lower surface14of the tray8, such as in embodiments in which the CD depression10is omitted from the upper surface9of the tray8and replaced by an alternative CD attachment mechanism. The guitar pick cavities16may be molded, vacuum-formed or otherwise provided in the tray8according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In a typical arrangement, the multiple guitar pick cavities16are arranged around the circumference of the CD support surface elevation15in spaced-apart relationship to each other, with a wide end16aof each guitar pick cavity16located adjacent to the outer edge of the CD support surface elevation15and a narrow end16bof each guitar pick cavity16located adjacent to the center15aof the CD support surface elevation15. Accordingly, each of the guitar pick cavity16is sized and configured to receive a correspondingly-shaped guitar pick30(FIG. 7) typically in a snap-fit. The guitar picks30may have a conventional size and shape or may be any desired size and shape, in which case the guitar pick cavities16may be appropriately sized and configured to receive the guitar picks30typically in a snap-fit.

A top cover20is pivotally attached to the bottom cover2at the hinge13. The top cover20typically includes a top cover panel21. A side wall22extends upwardly from each side edge of the top cover panel21, and the side walls22are spanned by a rear wall23. Accordingly, the top cover20is capable of being pivoted on the hinge13from the closed position shown inFIG. 1, in which the tray8is seated in the bottom cover2and the top cover20covers the CD depression10in the upper surface9of the tray8, and the opened position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, in which the CD depression10is exposed. It will be understood that the positions of the CD depression10and the guitar pick cavities16in the tray8may be reversed, in which case the CD depression10may be provided in the lower surface14of the tray8and the guitar pick cavities16may be provided in the upper surface9of the tray8.

Referring next toFIGS. 6 and 7of the drawings, in typical use of the CD case with guitar picks1, a compact disk26is inserted in the CD depression10in the upper surface9of the tray8as the CD attachment tab11is inserted through the central opening27of the compact disk26, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The compact disk26may be that of a musical band, for example, or alternatively, may be a guitar methods training CD. Multiple guitar picks30are snap-fitted or inserted into the respective guitar pick cavities16, with the wide end of each guitar pick30seated in the wide end16aof the guitar pick cavity16and the narrow end of each guitar pick30seated in the narrow end16bof the guitar pick cavity16. The tray8is seated in the bottom cover2and the top cover20is closed over the tray8. Accordingly, the compact disk26is visible through the transparent top cover panel21of the top cover20, as illustrated inFIG. 6, whereas the guitar picks30are visible through the transparent bottom cover panel3of the bottom cover2, as illustrated inFIG. 7. The compact disk26and guitar picks30can then be marketed in the CD case1.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the visibility of the compact disk26and the guitar picks30in the CD case1allows the compact disk26to be marketed in a number of ways. For example, in cases in which the compact disk26is that of a musical band or a guitar methods training CD, the name of the band may be printed on each of the guitar picks30to attract potential buyers. Furthermore, in cases in which the compact disk26is a guitar teaching methods CD, the added bonus of the guitar picks30in the CD case1renders the compact disk26more attractive to potential customers. Moreover, the display characteristics of the CD case1facilitates entry of the CD case1into mass merchandising outlets and allows for easier placement of RFID (radio frequency identification) tags in or on the CD case1.

A purchaser (not illustrated) of the CD case1accesses the compact disk26by pivoting the top cover20to the open position on the tray8. The compact disk26is removed from the tray8by lifting the compact disk26from the CD depression10, thereby removing the CD attachment tab11from the central opening27of the compact disk26. The guitar picks30are accessed by pivoting the bottom cover2to the open position on the tray8. The guitar picks30can be individually removed from the guitar pick cavities16by manually applying upward pressure to each guitar pick30. In cases in which the compact disk26is that of a musical band or a guitar teaching methods CD, the compact disk26can be played as the purchaser or other user plays a guitar (not illustrated) using one of the guitar picks30.

Referring next toFIG. 9of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral1a. The CD case1amay have the same design as that of the CD case1, except that in the CD case1a, the guitar picks30are injection-molded in the respective guitar pick cavities16. Each guitar pick30remains detachably connected to the edges of the corresponding guitar pick cavity16typically through multiple connecting tabs32. The guitar picks30can be individually removed from the respective guitar pick cavities16by breaking the connecting tabs32which attach each guitar pick30to the guitar pick cavity16and removing the guitar pick30from the guitar pick cavity16.