Disk protective enclosure

A holder for a disk having a central opening and front and back surfaces includes a base having a planar panel and a forwardly projecting pedestal including a ring for supporting the disk, an inwardly extending disk member, a plurality of stem members for engaging the disk opening, and a corresponding plurality of U-shaped connector segments supporting the stem members in cantilevered relation to the disk member. Alternating ones of the stem members have outwardly projecting retainer members and inwardly projecting tab members, collectively forming a button surface for receiving downward pressure whereby the disk is releasable. Deformation of the pedestal in response to the downward pressure is concentrated in the connector segments and, to a limited extent, an innermost portion of the disk member, providing improved structural integrity for a given downward force required to release the disk.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to optical data disks such as compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to devices for holding and/or protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.

Data disks such as compact disks and video disks typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that is optically readable through a transparent bottom layer of the disk by a movable head during rotation of the disk. The information is arranged in one or more tracks that are covered by a thin protective top layer of the disk that can have labeling applied thereto such as by silkscreening. Normal handling of the disk can result in scratching of the bottom layer, resulting in loss of data by interference with the optical path such as by loss of focus and/or lateral image displacement. Also, data can be lost by scratching of the protective layer which is typically very thin, on the order of 20 microns, resulting in removal of information from a vapor deposited metal layer that is only about 0.1 micron thick. Protective containers for the disks in common use have a central pedestal for supportively gripping the disc by engaging the central opening without contacting either side of the disk within data-containing regions thereof. Such containers typically have a ledge for contacting portions of an outer perimeter of the disk for stabilizing the disk against tipping on the pedestal. The disk is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal while gripping opposite perimeter portions, engagement with the pedestal being typically effected by simultaneous finger pressure against the disk proximate the central opening. Removal of the disk is similarly effected by finger pressure against the pedestal and simultaneous lifting at the perimeter portions.

Disk holders and containers of the prior art typically exhibit one or more of the following disadvantages:

1. They are ineffective in that the disk can easily become disengaged from the pedestal in normal and/or expected handling of the device;

2. They have structural components that are likely to be snagged or damaged during normal use and handling;

3. They are difficult to operate as to engagement and/or disengagement of the disk; and

4. They are excessively complex, involving high tooling costs, expensive quality control, and/or high rejection rates in production.

Thus there is a need for a protective disk container that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY

The present invention meets this need by providing a molded disk holder wherein structural components are unlikely to be snagged or damaged during normal use and handling, and that is particularly effective, inexpensive to produce, and easy to use. In one aspect of the invention, the holder includes a base having a base panel portion; a pedestal projecting forwardly from the panel portion on a pedestal axis and having a forwardly projecting ring member; a central button portion having a plurality of axially extending stem members for contacting a central opening of the disk. A plurality of retainer members project radially outwardly from at least some of the stem members for releasably retaining the disk on the pedestal; a disk member extends inwardly from the ring structure; and a plurality of connector segments support the stem members in cantilevered relation to the disk member, each connector segment having an upper surface including an outwardly facing portion joining an outwardly facing surface of a corresponding stem member, and an inwardly facing portion joining an upper surface of the disk member. Each connector segment also has a lower surface with an inwardly facing portion joining an inwardly facing surface of the corresponding stem member and an outwardly facing portion joining a lower surface of the disk member, the connector segments collectively having a relaxed condition, an engaged condition wherein the retainer members project outwardly from the central opening when the disk is supported on the ring structure, and, with respect to the at least some stem members having the retainer members, a flexed condition wherein the retainer members are deflected radially inwardly and axially downwardly from the relaxed position in response to external downward pressure applied to the button portion sufficient to permit passage of the retainer members through the central opening of the disk, thereby releasing the disk. Preferably the lower surfaces of the connector segments are elevated relative to the base panel portion. This facilitates facing planar external support of the base panel portion such as when the holder is placed on a table top or similar firm support during disk engagement and/or release. Preferably the disk member is inclined upwardly and inwardly about the pedestal axis for enhanced structural integrity. Preferably the disk member is inclined upwardly and inwardly about the pedestal axis for enhanced structural integrity.

The holder is typically used with disks having a data region extending inwardly from proximate an outer perimeter of the disk to a diameter of approximately twice that of the central opening, the ring member being preferably configured for contacting the disk between the central opening and the data region.

Preferably button structure also includes a tab member radially inwardly projecting from each of the stem members having retainer members for receiving respective portions of the external pressure applied to the button portion, a button surface being collectively formed by forwardly facing surfaces of the tab members, the retainer members, and the at least some stem members having the retainer members. Preferably the button surface slopes forwardly and inwardly from outer extremities of the retainer members sufficiently for ramped engagement with the central opening in the relaxed position of the connector segments. Also, or in the alternative, rearwardly facing engagement surfaces of the retainer members preferably have outwardly and forwardly extending extremity portions for facilitating disengagement from the disk.

Preferably, a gusset member is formed between each tab member and the corresponding stem member for substantially preventing deformation of each combined tab member and stem member during application of the external pressure. More preferably each gusset member is one of a spaced pair of gusset members formed between each tab member and the corresponding stem member.

Respective slots can be formed as spaces between the stem members, each slot extending radially only partway outwardly within the disk member. Preferably the slots extend less than half a radial distance between the connector segments and the ring member for limiting flexure of the disk member. More preferably, the slots extend not more than approximately 30 percent of the radial distance between the stem members and the ring member.

Preferably the upper surface of each connector segment smoothly and continuously slopes from substantially vertical at the corresponding stem member to approximately vertical proximate the disk member, being concave upwardly therebetween, and the lower surface of each connector segment is smoothly convex downwardly in approximate cross-sectional concentricity with the upper surface of the connector segment. The retainer members can be on alternating ones of the stem members.

The base can also have an edge support structure projecting forwardly from the base panel portion, the edge support structure being adapted for contacting the rear surface of the disk proximate its perimeter, a portion of the edge support structure extending forwardly of the disk in concentric relation to the pedestal axis for protecting an edge portion of the disk, a pair of finger depressions being formed therein on opposite sides of the pedestal axis for permitting the disk to be gripped by a user's fingers.

The holder of the present invention can also be incorporated in a case having a lid movably connected to the base for accessing the disk.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a disk holder, an exemplary embodiment being in the form of a container or case that is particularly effective for protectively storing disks such as CDS and DVDs. With reference toFIGS. 1-7of the drawings, a protective disk case10, which may have a transparent jacket (not shown) bonded thereto for displaying printed material, includes a base12, a lid14, and a spine15that movably connects the base and lid. In an exemplary configuration, the case10is an integrally formed molded member, so-called “living hinges” being formed along opposite edges of the spine15. The base12and lid14include respective panel portions16and18, and respective perimeter side portions17and19that snap together in edgewise adjacency in a closed condition of the case10, the spine15and the side portions17and19together forming four side walls of the case10, the lid panel portion18forming a front wall, the base panel portion16forming a rear wall. In further description of the case10, the terms “front” and “forward” with respect to the base refer to a direction toward the lid14in the closed condition of the case10; conversely, “rear”, “rearward”, and “back” refer to a direction away from the lid portion.

A hub or pedestal20of the case projects forwardly from the base panel portion16on a pedestal axis21for supportively engaging an optical data disk22having front and rear face surfaces23and24, a circular central opening25, and a periphery26, a data region27of the disk extending inwardly from proximate the periphery and having an inside diameter somewhat greater than that of the central opening25. An edge-support portion28of case10also projects forwardly on the base panel portion16in concentric relation to the pedestal axis21proximate the periphery26of the disk22. The edge-support portion28is formed with a circumferentially spaced plurality of supports30for stabilizing the disk22against tipping, and a rim portion32that projects forwardly of the supports30for protecting the disk22proximate the periphery26while the disk is engaged with the pedestal20. The edge-support portion is also formed with at least one pair of finger depressions34for permitting opposite perimeter portions of the disk22to be grasped by a user of the container10, the rim portion32being interrupted by the finger depressions34.

According to the present invention, the pedestal20includes a ring structure40for supporting the disk22in elevated relation to the base panel portion, a button portion42having a plurality of stem members44for engaging the central opening25, a disk member46projecting inwardly from the ring structure, and respective connector segments48flexibly supporting the stem members at an inward extremity50of the disk member. At least some of the stem members, designated44A, have outwardly projecting retainer members52thereon for holding the disk22proximate the ring structure40. Each of the stem members44A also has a tab member54extending therefrom generally inwardly toward the pedestal axis21, the tab members collectively being adapted for receiving downwardly directed finger pressure to produce inward deflection of the retainer members whereby the disk22is releasable from the pedestal20as further described below. Also, upper surfaces of the stem members44A, the retainer members52and the tab members54collectively form a button surface56, the button surface being tapered upwardly and inwardly from outer extremities of the retainer members for facilitating concentric engagement of the disk22. Also, rearwardly facing engagement surfaces57of the retainer members have outwardly and forwardly extending extremity portions for facilitating disengagement from the disk. Some others of the stem members, designated44B, optionally do not have retainer members or tab members, and preferably remain substantially stationary when the retainer members52are inwardly deflected in response to the downwardly directed finger pressure, for maintaining the disk22proximately concentric with the pedestal axis21when the disk is being released. Accordingly, the connector segments for the stem members44A, designated48A, are connected to the disk member46independently of those connector segments, designated48B, that support the stem members44B. More particularly, the stem members44are spaced apart, respective slots58being formed therebetween. Further in the exemplary and preferred configuration shown in the drawings, the slots58extend a distance S radially partway into the disk member46as shown inFIG. 4, insuring independent support of the connector segments48, and imparting a slight flexibility to the disk member proximate the inner extremity thereof. Preferably the distance S is not more than approximately 30 percent of the radial distance between the inward extremity50of the disk member and the inside of the ring structure40for substantially confining flexibility of the disk member to proximate the inward extremity50thereof.

A particularly advantageous feature of the present invention is the connector segments, and especially those designated48A and supporting the stem members44A, being formed for providing a preponderance of the compliance associated with the inward deflection of the retainer members, yet providing robust structural integrity. As best shown inFIG. 3, the connector segments48A are generally U-shaped in cross-section, having an upper surface60including an outwardly facing portion60A smoothly joining an outwardly facing surface of a corresponding stem member, and an inwardly facing portion60B, and a lower surface62having an inwardly facing portion62A smoothly joining an inwardly facing surface of the corresponding stem member and an outwardly facing portion62B, the connector segments48A collectively having a relaxed condition as shown inFIG. 3, an engaged condition wherein the retainer members project outwardly from the central opening when the disk22is supported on the ring structure, and a flexed condition wherein the retainer members52are deflected radially inwardly and axially downwardly from the relaxed position as shown inFIG. 8in response to external downward pressure applied to the tab members54sufficient to permit passage of the retainer members through the central opening25of the disk. The engaged condition differs from the relaxed condition only to the extent that the stem members44are an interference fit within the central opening of the disk25. Typically the fit is “line-to-line” or slightly loose, that condition of the stem members also being shown inFIG. 3.

Preferably the upper surface60of each connector segment smoothly and continuously slopes from substantially vertical at the corresponding stem member44to approximately vertical proximate the disk member46, being concave upwardly therebetween, and the lower surface62of each connector segment is smoothly convex downwardly in approximate cross-sectional concentricity with the upper surface of the connector segment. This configuration advantageously avoids excessive stress concentrations and contributes to the robust structural integrity of the pedestal20, further described below.

Preferably the button portion42includes at least one gusset member64connecting and reinforcing each of the tab members54and corresponding stem members44A. As shown inFIGS. 4,5, and7, an exemplary and preferred configuration of the pedestal20has a spaced pair of the gusset members64connected between each tab member54and the stem member48A from which it extends. Advantageously, the gusset members substantially prevent the combination of each tab member54and the corresponding stem member48A from flexing during application of the external downward pressure, without requiring excessive section thicknesses that would potentially give rise to difficulties in molding the case10.

By concentrating flexure of the pedestal20within the connector segments48A, and to a limited extent within an innermost region of the disk member46, the present invention provides predominantly inward movement, and a lesser amount of downward movement, of the retainer members52in response to the downward pressure applied to the tab members54. Consequently, the pedestal20can have greater structural integrity for a given required downward pressure sufficient to release the disk22.

In the exemplary configuration of the pedestal20shown in the drawings, the connector segments48B are of the same cross-sectional form as the segments44A, although it will be understood that the segments48B can also be formed differently than the segments48A. Also in the exemplary configuration, the disk member46is located in raised relation to the base panel portion46, being slightly inclined uniformly upwardly and inwardly to the inward extremity50, the top of the disk member being slightly below an upper extremity of the ring structure40as best shown inFIG. 3. The slight upward and inward inclination of the disk member46also advantageously provides enhanced stiffness for a given thickness of the disk member. Other configurations of the disk member46are also contemplated, the inward extremity50of the disk member being preferably sufficiently elevated that the lower surfaces62of the connector segments48do not project below the base panel portion16; otherwise, it would not be possible to place the case10on a planar supporting surface with the base panel portion solidly supported thereby, as is normally desired. Further, although the exemplary disk member46shown in the drawings is of uniform cross-sectional thickness, local thinning and/or thickening, particularly near the connector segments48, can be employed to decrease and/or increase the effective stiffness of selected ones of the stem members44.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the case10can be configured for incorporating an additional pedestal20on the lid panel portion18, and/or receiving disk-carrying trays, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,132 to the present inventor and pending application Ser. No. 11/182,541, entitled Disk Protective Enclosure, which was filed Jul. 15, 2005. Both disclosures are incorporated herein in their entirety by these references. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.