Compact disc package

A package for a compact disc having a sound or video recording (CD or VCD) on one face thereof, the unrecorded face of the disc having printed thereon a picture of a character, such as a figure of historical political or military importance. The recording on the disk is a story of other instructive matter related to the illustrated character, so that when the disc is played, a story or information relating to the character is visually or aurally presented. The disc is stored in a circular well formed in a rectangular card having printed thereon the identity of the pictured character and other identifying data relating thereto. The disc-loaded card is inserted in a transparent plastic sleeve having matching dimensions to provide a card-like package which may be manipulated in play activity as well as stored or displayed. To play the disc in an optical player, the card is removed from the sleeve and the disc withdrawn from the card.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates generally to packages for compact disc audio or 
video recordings, and in particular to a compact disc package which not 
only serves to protectively store the disc and to expose a picture printed 
on the disc, but also makes it possible to play with the card-like 
packages in the manner of baseball cards. 
2. Status of Prior Art 
Digital techniques are now widely used to make sound and video recordings. 
Thus when recording music or speech, the analog signal output of the 
microphone amplifier is sampled and converted into a stream of digital 
bits that are recorded on magnetic tape and then transferred from the tape 
to a rotating master disc. The recording on the master disc is in the form 
of microscopic indentations in a spiral track on one surface of the disc. 
The master disc is used to create stampers for pressing vinyl records, 
called compact discs or CD's. The player for the CD record uses a laser 
beam optical pick-up and makes no physical contact with the disc. A 
similar technique is used to make digital video recordings, the resultant 
video compact discs being referred to as VCD's. As used herein, the term 
compact disc encompasses both CD's and VCD's. 
The conventional package for a compact disc consists of a rectangular 
casing molded of transparent, flexible plastic material having two 
side-by-side compartments, one to accommodate a transparent, rigid plastic 
cassette housing the disc, the other containing a printed paper folder. 
Printed on the front and rear cover of the folder is a picture of the 
recorded performer, say, a rock star. The rear cover also has printed 
thereon the identity of the songs recorded on the disc. 
In order to obtain access to the disc in a conventional DC package, one 
must break open the sealed casing, and then remote the disc from its 
cassette, the ruptured casing being discarded. One can also discard the 
folder, for the identify of the performer and of the songs or music 
performed is printed on the unrecorded face of the compact disc. 
A conventional CD package, because of its nature, is relatively expensive 
to make. Moreover, the shelf or counter space taken by a conventional 
package in terms of length, width and depth is much greater than that 
taken by the disc itself. This presents a problem; for in the typical 
retail establishment, shelf and counter space are at a premium, and the 
dimensions of the conventional package limit the number of packages that 
can be kept in stock. 
A major concern of the present invention is with respect to the educational 
as well as the entertainment value of CD's or VCD's intended for children. 
Many children are avid collectors of so-called baseball cards. Each such 
card carries not only a picture of a well-known baseball player, but also 
some biographical material regarding the player and his past performance 
record. To the extent that studying and collecting baseball cards enlarges 
a child's knowledge of baseball, it has educational value, though some 
parents may regard such knowledge as trivia. 
A child who collects baseball cards usually seeks to add to his collection 
by trading with other collectors, or by competitive play in which the 
players flip baseball cards, very much in the fashion of playing heads or 
tails with coins. 
Thus a child who has a particular interest in the New York Yankees baseball 
team, to enlarge his collection of players on this team, will sell or play 
off cards he holds on "Giants" team players. The present invention 
provides a compact disc package in a card format so that the package may 
be manipulated by a child in the manner of a baseball card, yet provide 
educational benefits far greater than those afforded by baseball cards. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide a 
compact disc package in a card format whose dimensions are only slightly 
greater than that of the disc housed therein, whereby the package serves 
both to store and display the disc, and as a playing card. 
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a package of 
the above type in which printed on the unrecorded face of the disc is a 
picture of a character or personage such as that of Abraham Lincoln or 
Albert Einstein, the recording on the other face of the disc being a 
narrative account or story relating to the pictured character, so that the 
disc possesses educational as well as entertainment value. 
A significant feature of a CD package in a card format in accordance with 
the invention is that it lends itself to being traded or played with in 
the manner of baseball cards. 
Also an object of the invention is to provide compact disc packages that 
can be mounted on a wall or display board and thereby exhibited as a 
picture collection. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a compact disc package 
which fully protects the disc housed therein yet is inexpensive to 
manufacture and mass produce as compared to conventional packages. 
Briefly stated, these objects are attained in a package for a compact disc 
having a sound or video recording (CD or VCD) on one face thereof, the 
unrecorded face of the disc having printed thereon a picture of a 
character. This character may be a figure of historical, political or 
military importance, or a well-known sports figure, or a prehistoric 
animal such as a dinosaur. The recording on the disc is a story of other 
subject matter pertinent to the illustrated character. Hence when the disc 
is played, a story or information relating to the character is visually or 
aurally presented. 
The disc is stored in a circular well formed in a rectangular card having 
printed thereon the identity of the pictured character and other 
identifying data relating thereto. The disc-loaded card is inserted in a 
transparent plastic sleeve having matching dimensions to provide a 
card-like package which may be manipulated in play activity as well as 
stored or displayed. To play the the disc in an optical player, the card 
is removed from the sleeve and the disc withdrawn from the card.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a compact disc 10 in accordance 
with the invention, the disc having a center hub hole 11 so that the disc 
can be mounted on the spindle of an optical player. The disc is formed of 
transparent plastic material whose recording face (not shown) has a spiral 
track formed thereon that is coated with a reflective film. 
Printed on the unrecorded face of the disc is a picture 12 of a character 
about whom revolves the story or other subject matter recorded on the 
other face of the disc. 
By way of example, picture 12 is that of George Washington, and the 
recorded story is a biographical sketch of President Washington and his 
participation in the American Revolution. Since the record is intended for 
children of primary school age, the recording will be at the appropriate 
teaching level. 
The term "character" as used herein refers to any figure or personage of 
historical, political, scientific or military importance, as well as any 
well-known actor or sports figure that children wish or ought to know more 
about. The term "character" also includes animals, such as prehistoric 
dinosaurs and apes who play a role in the evolution of man. Hence the disc 
recording in all cases is germane to the particular character that is 
pictured on the disc. 
Thus if the picture on the disc is that of Babe Ruth, the legendary batter 
with the New York Yankees, then the CD recording may start out with the 
theme "Take Me Out to The Ball Game" or Frank Sinatra singing "New York, 
New York," followed by the roar of the crowd at a baseball stadium, and 
then a narrative account of Babe Ruth's career. 
Whether the recording is that of a sports figure or a historical figure, 
the recording, since it is intended to entertain as well as to educate, 
should not be in the form of school room lecture but should include 
dramatic effects to heighten interest in the character, and in doing so, 
induce the listener to listen to the entire recording. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a compact disc 10 (whether a CD or VCD) is 
seated in a circular well 13 die cut or otherwise created in a rectangular 
card 14 fabricated of flexible material such as paperboard or plastic. The 
diameter of the well substantially matches that of the disc so that the 
disc is snugly received therein. In practice, the well may take the form 
of a depression in the card having at its center a raised hub defined by 
spring fingers to engage the center hole 11 in the disc. In order to 
remove the disc from the well, one has only to flex the card to release 
the disc. 
Card 14 is provided with small holes 15 and 16 at its upper corners. 
Assuming that card 14 has a depressed well on one side to record the CD 
record, printed on the opposite side of card 14, as shown in FIG. 4, is 
the same picture of George Washington (or whatever other character is 
involved in the recording) as well as printed matter to identify the 
record and its manufacturer. When, in the alternative, the card is die cut 
to provide a circular opening to accommodate the record, in that case, 
identifying data is printed on the card in the region surrounding the 
record. But in all cases, the disc is flush with the card and does not 
protrude therefrom. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the disc-loaded card 14 is inserted in a pocket 
or sleeve 17 whose dimensions substantially match those of the card. 
Sleeve 17 is fabricated of relatively soft, transparent, synthetic plastic 
material such as polyethylene so that both sides of the card and the disc 
therein are viewable through the sleeve. 
Sleeve 17 is provided at its upper end on either side with a finger notch 
18 to facilitate removal of the disc-loaded card from the sleeve. 
Thus the card-like package is constituted by the disc-loaded card jacketed 
within the sleeve. This assembly or package, because it is card-like and 
relatively stiff, may be manipulated or flipped in the manner of a 
baseball card, so that a child with a stack of such packages can enter 
into card trading and flip-play activity. 
To play a recording, the child removes the disc-loaded card from its 
sleeve, then takes the disc out of the card and inserts it in a player. 
Upon completion of play, the child returns the disc to the card and 
inserts the disc-loaded card back into its sleeve for storage and 
transportation purposes. In practice, the package may be sealed in a 
transparent plastic film envelope or jacket. 
A child who takes pride in his collection may wish to display it on a wall 
or board, as shown in FIG. 6. Because of mounting holes 15 and 16 in the 
card which are visible through the clear sleeve, it is a simple matter to 
pin the package to a wall or board, the pins going through the soft 
plastic sleeve corners and the mounting holes in the card. In this display 
mode, the pictures on the discs face out so that one can exhibit a set of 
American presidents or famous sports figures, or whatever other characters 
are in the child's collection. 
Whatever the character pictured on the CD or VCD, the sound or video 
recording is directly related to this character. And since the recording 
has a duration of at least a half hour, a great deal of information can be 
supplied in regard to the character; hence the educational value of the 
disc is high. 
While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of a 
compact disc assembly or package in accordance with the invention, it will 
be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein 
without, however, departing from the essential spirit thereof.