Protective retainer for a compact disc

A protective retainer for a planar disc having an outer peripheral edge, an information containing area, and a central portion defining an aperture. The protective retainer includes a first cover having a first surface and a second cover having a second surface. The first cover also has a first and second layer. A retaining device includes a flange that is interdisposed between and retained by the first and second layers in order to prevent the retaining device from inadvertently becoming detached from the protective retainer after repeated use. The retaining device includes an outwardly projecting retainer button that is adapted to be engageable to the aperture of the disc so as to maintain the relative position of the disc and the first surface. The retainer button is also resiliently deformably detachable from the aperture of the disc when pressure is exerted on the retaining device. The retainer button includes a pair of opposing upright curved walls, each having a curved base and a curved rim. The curved rims have a radius of curvature greater than its respective curved base and define respective chords. Each of the chords and curved rims together define the periphery of a pair of opposed shoulders. The retainer button includes a central channel interdisposed between and interconnecting shoulders. The channel exerts outwardly directed pressure on the curved walls to maintain an engaged disc in position, while also being resiliently deformable to permit the retainer button to engage to and detach from the aperture of the disc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved compact disc holder. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to an improved retaining 
device and pliable protective retainer for a compact disc. 
Digitally encoded discs are frequently used for storing digital data. Audio 
recording discs, commonly referred to as compact discs, provide a storage 
medium that permits the reproduction of high quality sound and has a 
potentially infinite life span. Audio/visual recording discs, commonly 
referred to as video compact discs or CD-ROMs, provide a storage medium 
for high resolution digital pictures in addition to audio information. 
Video compact discs also have a potentially infinite life span. 
A central portion of the disc defines an aperture that allows the disc to 
be conveniently centered on a disc player. Immediately surrounding the 
central aperture are a pair of opposed, top and bottom, annular bearing 
surfaces containing no data in order to provide surfaces to engage a 
clamping mechanism for spinning the disc during playback on the disc 
player. 
It has long been recognized that scratches in the protective layer will 
disturb the scanning process causing audible clicks and emission sounds to 
occur. When the protective layer is damaged extensively, the disc may not 
be scanned at all. Accordingly, protective retainers or containers are 
used to store and transport discs to avoid incurring unnecessary damage. 
Clemens, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,829; Lim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,677; Whitehead 
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,991; Grobecker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 
4,874,085; and Otsuka et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,479, all disclose 
containers for compact discs constructed from rigid plastic materials 
normally formed using an injection molding process that is relatively time 
consuming and requires high tooling costs. These plastic containers are 
also generally not recyclable, include plastic hinges that are prone to 
breaking, and the weight of the plastic incurs significant shipping costs. 
O'Brien et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,074; O'Brien et al., U.S. Pat. No. 
5,188,230; O'Brien et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,405; and O'Brien et al., 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,417, disclose several compact disc packages 
incorporating the combination of multiple panels of paperboard material 
with a plastic vacuum formed disc tray including upright sides to retain 
the compact disc therein. The upright sides of the plastic holder inhibit 
the ability to grip the edge of the disc when removing the disc from the 
package. 
Tillett et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,089, discloses a storage container for 
a compact disc that includes a plurality of non-rigid foldable panels. A 
cylindrical holder for a disc is constructed from a resiliently 
compressible material, such as foam, and is fixedly secured to the surface 
of one of the panels. After repeated use, foam does not maintain its shape 
reducing its ability to properly engage and secure the disc. Further, the 
foam has a tendency to become detached from the surface of the panel after 
repeated use. 
What is desired, therefore, is a pliable protective retainer for a compact 
disc that is detachably engageable to a retaining device which does not 
have a tendency to become detached from the retainer. In addition, the 
protective retainer and retaining device should be inexpensive and 
recyclable. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior 
art by providing a protective retainer for a planar disc having an outer 
peripheral edge, an information containing area, and a central portion 
defining an aperture. In a first aspect of the present invention, the 
protective retainer includes a first cover having a first surface and a 
second cover having a second surface. The first cover also has a first and 
second layer. A retaining device includes a flange that is interdisposed 
between and retained by the first and second layers in order to prevent 
the retaining device from inadvertently becoming detached from the 
protective retainer after repeated use. The retaining device is detachably 
engageable with the aperture of the disc. The first cover and the second 
cover are engageable with one another so as to enclose at least a portion 
of the disc between the first surface and the second surface while the 
disc is engaged by the retaining device. The first cover is constructed 
from a pliable material so as to enable the first cover to bend away from 
the disc while the disc is detached from the retaining device. The 
pliability of the first cover allows the edge of the disc to be easily 
grasped when detached from the protective retainer. In the preferred 
embodiment, the covers are constructed of paperboard material which is 
inexpensive and recyclable. 
In another aspect of the present invention, the retaining device includes a 
retainer button that projects outwardly from a substantially flat surface, 
such as the first cover. The retainer button is adapted to be engageable 
to the aperture of the disc so as to maintain the relative position of the 
disc and the flat surface. The retainer button is also resiliently 
deformably detachable from the aperture of the disc when pressure is 
exerted on the retainer button. 
In a further aspect of the present invention, the retainer button includes 
a pair of opposing upright curved walls, each having a curved base and a 
curved rim. The curved rims have a radius of curvature greater than their 
respective curved bases and define respective chords. Respective 
combinations of chords and curved rims together define the periphery of a 
pair of opposed shoulders. The retainer button includes a central channel 
interdisposed between and interconnecting the top shoulders together. 
Sloping sidewalls of the central channel exert outwardly directed pressure 
on the curved walls to maintain an engaged disc in position, while also 
being resiliently deformable to permit the retainer button to engage to 
and detach from the aperture of the disc. 
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the 
invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the 
following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with 
the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a protective disc holder or protective retainer 20 is 
constructed from a blank of paperboard material with score (fold) lines 
22a-22g defining eight separate portions 24a-24h. Turning to FIG. 2, left 
end portion 24a is folded over and adhered along edge 26 to left end 
portion 24b to create a pocket 25 suitable for storing printed materials 
therein, such as instructions. Right end portion 24d is folded over and 
adhered to right end portion 24c to form a right end cover 27. Central 
portion 24f defines a centrally located circular opening 28, and the 
central portion 24f is folded over and adhered to central portion 24e with 
opening 28 encircling a protruding retainer button 32 of a retaining 
device 30. The retaining device 30 includes a flange 34 that extends 
outwardly from the protruding retainer button 32. The central portions 24e 
and 24f combine to prevent the retaining device 30 from inadvertently 
detaching from the disc holder 20 after repeated use, and maintain its 
proper position. 
In addition, the disc holder 20 is suitable for assembly with automated 
machinery to fold and adhere the portions of the disc holder 20 together 
while properly positioning the retaining device 30 therein. The retainer 
button 32 of the retaining device 30 is adapted to detachably engage the 
aperture of the disc, as described later. The disc holder 20 is preferably 
larger than the periphery of the disc so that the disc does not extend 
beyond the holder where it could be damaged. Referring to FIG. 3, the 
pocket 25 is folded over the central portion 24f and the right end cover 
27 is folded over the pocket 25. Side portions 22g and 22h form the right 
and left ends, respectively. 
The disc holder 20, and in particular the central panel 24f, is constructed 
of a pliable semi rigid material, such as paperboard. The right end 
portions 24c, 24d and left end portions 24a, 24b may be constructed from a 
single layer of paperboard material, if desired. Alternatively, the 
central portion may include an alternative engaging system for the flange 
34 to maintain it in position. The paperboard is typically coated for 
printing on both surfaces to provide an attractive color printed package. 
Referring to FIGS. 4-8, a preferred embodiment of the retaining device 31 
is shown that includes a pair of chamfers, as described later. The 
retaining device 31 has a pair of opposing upright curved walls 40a and 
40b. The upright curved walls 40a and 40b are preferably circular with the 
same radius of curvature. Each of the curved walls 40a and 40b has a 
curved base 42a and 42b and a curved rim 44a and 44b. The radius of 
curvature each of the curved rims is greater than the radius of curvature 
of its respective curved base 42a and 42b. Accordingly, the curved walls 
40a and 40b together resemble a segment of an inverted cone so that the 
aperture of the disc is securely retained thereon, as described below. 
Each of the curved rims 44a and 44b defines a respective chord 46a and 
46b, which together with the respective rim 44a and 44b define the 
periphery of a pair of opposed shoulders 48a and 48b. The shoulders 48a 
and 48b are preferably flat on top and parallel to the flange 34. A 
central channel 52 is interposed between and interconnects the shoulders 
48a and 48b. The central channel 52 is preferably v-shaped with a pair of 
inclined flat sides 54a and 54b and a generally flat channel floor surface 
56. The angle between the inclined sides 54a and 54b of the central 
channel 52 is preferably between 80 and 160 degrees. 
To engage the aperture of the disc on the retaining device, pressure from 
the annular opening of the disc is exerted simultaneously on the curved 
rims of both shoulders 48a and 48b. Such forces cause the shoulders to 
incline downwardly and inwardly toward the central channel 52. The 
inclined sides 54a and 54b are hinged at their respective joints 58a and 
58b with the floor 56 as the shoulders 48a and 48b are inclined inwardly. 
When the top portions 48a and 48b are inclined, the distance between the 
curved rims 44a and 44b is sufficiently decreased to permit the aperture 
of the disc to pass the curved rims and be positioned near the lower end 
of the curved walls 40a and 40b. The disc is preferably pressed downwardly 
to the curved bases 42a and 42b. 
With the disc in position near the base of the curved walls, the pressure 
on the shoulders 48a and 48b is relieved allowing the channel 52, and in 
particular the combination of the inclined sides 54a and 54b, and floor 
56, to exert outwardly directed pressure locking the curved walls 40a and 
40b against the aperture of the disc. The angle of incline of the inclined 
sides 54a and 54b, and the width of the 46 are selected so that sufficient 
pressure is exerted to retain the disc on the retaining device 30. If the 
pressure exerted by the channel 52 is insufficient, then the disc may 
inadvertently detach from the retaining device. In contrast, if the 
pressure exerted by the channel 52 is too great, then it may be difficult 
to engage and to disengage the disc from the retaining device. 
The retaining device is preferably formed with a vacuum forming thermo 
process, which is relatively inexpensive, fast, and permits several 
retaining devices to be molded simultaneously using one mold. 
It is difficult to accurately control the precise thickness of the plastic 
material across the retaining device, which may result in variations in 
the pressure exerted by channels created with the same mold. To decrease 
the variations in pressure as a result of different material thicknesses, 
a pair of chamfers 60a and 60b are molded into the floor 56. The chamfers 
60a and 60b provide a pair of transverse edges 62a and 62b aligned at an 
angle to the channel floor 56 to further resist deformation of the channel 
52. Varying of the length and angle of the chamfers 60a and 60b allows 
greater control over the pressure, both resisting deformation when 
engaging and disengaging the disc, and the outward pressure exerted by the 
curved walls. 
To detach the disc from the retaining device, pressure is simultaneously 
exerted on the shoulders 48a and 48b disengaging the curved walls 40a and 
40b from forceably engaging the aperture of the disc. To complete removal 
of the disc from the retaining device, upwardly directed pressure is 
exerted on the outer peripheral edge of the disc. The pliable material of 
the protective retainer will flex away from the disc permitting easier 
access to the peripheral edge of the disc. With a substantially flat 
central panel, no upright edges interfere with the ability to grasp the 
edge of the disc at any desired location. 
The flange 34 is secured within the two layers of pliable paperboard 
material 24e and 24f. When pressure is exerted on the top portions 48a and 
48b the flange 50 will flex in a concave manner about an axis 
substantially defined by the channel, which assists in permitting the 
curved walls 40a and 40b, and in particular the curved rims 44a and 44b, 
to move toward one another when engaging and disengaging the disc. 
The retaining device shown in FIGS. 4-8 is adapted especially for audio 
compact discs and has the following dimensions: 
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1.625 inches Diameter of the flange 
0.612 inches Diameter of the curved rims 
0.590 inches Diameter of the curved bases 
0.413 inches Length of the channel floor 
0.080 inches Width of the channel floor 
0.250 inches Distance between chords 
0.050 inches Distance between the top of the 
flange and the top of the channel 
floor 
0.170 inches Distance between the bottom of the 
flange and the top of the top portion 
0.150 inches Distance between the top of the 
flange and the top of the top portion 
80 degrees Angle between the inclined sides 
24 degrees Angle of the incline of the chamfers 
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FIGS. 1-3 and 9-15 show an alternative retaining device without the chamfer 
as shown in FIGS. 4-8. 
Referring to FIGS. 9-11 an alternative protective retainer 80 is shown that 
includes a central portion 82 and an end portion 82 that fold together 
like a book to secure and protect a disc 86 therein. 
Referring to FIGS. 12-15 another protective retainer 90 is shown 
particularly suited for mailing a disc therein. The retainer 90 is folded 
together as shown with a adhesive material 92 securing the retainer 
together. A rip portion 94 is pulled in order to open the retainer 90. 
Thereafter, the right end portion 96 may be removed by tearing along 
perforation 98 leaving the retainer 96 similar to that shown in FIGS. 10 
and 11. 
The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing 
specification are used therein as terms of description and not of 
limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and 
expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described 
or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention 
is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.