Package with aligned discs on opposite covers

A package for housing two discs including a cover forming an elongated spine panel with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom such that the opposing panels selectively rotate between open and closed positions. First and second partial trays attach to the first and second opposing panels, respectively, and are laterally spaced so that when closed, the thickness of the package is approximately equal to that of one of the trays. Each partial tray has a planar surface forming a periphery and a recess, a rosette near a first side of the tray for engaging a central aperture to retain a disc within the recess and a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface. The spacing rim is U-shaped so that in the closed position, the spacing rims do not overlap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a closable storage package for a recording medium and, more particularly, to a package comprising a paper board cover assembled to multiple plastic disc holders for storing multiple discs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of planar discs are in use at the present time to record and store information which is to be retrieved by various means, such as by optical or magnetic means. Typical of such discs are compact discs in which information is digitally recorded by use of a laser beam and then read optically by a laser beam. Such discs are used to record audio information, such as musical renditions, video information such as visual images and digital information for use as read only and other memories for use in various applications; such as computer applications. In most instances, at the present time, such discs are sold with information already recorded thereon. In other applications, such discs are sold in blank form and are used by the customer to record information thereon. In the latter case, for example, optical discs are sold for use as computer storage media and are used in hard disc storage systems. As used herein, the term compact disc, CD or disc is intended to encompass all such discs, whatever their size, for all known or proposed uses.

Compact discs containing laser recorded information are typically packaged in injection molded plastic enclosures designed to hold one or more CDs for protecting the discs during storage and shipment. Enclosures commonly used at the present time, such as the well known “jewel box,” comprise a three piece assembly consisting of a base or bottom element, an insert or tray in the base/bottom element for positioning and supporting the disc in the base/bottom element, e.g., by a center projection (commonly referred to as a “rosette”) which engages the periphery of the aperture in the center of the disc, and a lid or cover which is hinged to the base/bottom element and is closed thereon after the disc is mounted therein on the tray. Other enclosures utilize only two pieces, omit the tray, and position and support the disc via the center projection directly on the base/bottom element. The enclosure is, typically, at least partially transparent and graphics relating to the disc and containing trademark and sales promotional information are usually inserted in such a manner as to be visible through the enclosure.

Except for the printed matter inserted therein, the “jewel box” is entirely plastic. For this reason, as well as because the typical jewel box requires three separately injection molded elements which must be manually assembled, the use of this type of enclosure is relatively expensive. Moreover, the use of such an enclosure is believed to be ecologically unacceptable by many because the plastic is non-biodegradable and, in view of the huge volume of such enclosures in use today, the disposal of these enclosures poses either a real or potential environmental problem. One solution to both of these problems has been the development of hybrid packages comprising both paperboard and plastic components. These hybrid packages provide a CD package which is suitable and attractive for display, sale and storage of compact discs, yet which is both simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812 to Kosterka, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a compact disc package formed from a prescored, preprinted unitary blank and at least one injection molded plastic compact disc holder or tray adhesively adhered to one segment of the blank, the blank being adapted to fold along fold lines to position a blank segment over the top of the disc holder to sandwich it, in book style, between the segment to which it is adhered and the overlying segment. The problem with this type of arrangement is that the book frequently opens and provides little protection for the disc there within.

When it is desired to have a disc package house multiple discs, it has become common to form a book like package having opposite panels connected by a spine panel and to adhesively or mechanically adhere an injection molded plastic disc holder or tray to each of the facing panels. In this manner, when the book is closed, the trays seat upon one another in face-to-face relationship. Typically the height of upstanding peripheral rims around at least a portion of at least one of the trays limits the thickness of the book when the book is in the closed position to assure that the discs on the panels do not contact each other. The problem with this sort of arrangement is that the thickness of each tray doubles the thickness of the package as compared to a package containing only a single disc holder. Such a double thickness package occupies more retail space than is desirable and is wasteful of plastic material.

It should be apparent, therefore, that efforts to date directed at hybrid packaging containing multiple discs suffer from one or more shortcomings which make the resulting CD packaging unsatisfactory. This is because prior art hybrid packaging is, typically, either uneconomical to manufacture and/or is expensive to transport, store and display in retail stores. Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple, inexpensive to manufacture, inexpensive to ship and display multiple-disc hybrid CD package which is reliable for use over the long term.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the subject disclosure to provide a package for holding discs that is relatively thin despite having co-axially aligned discs.

It is another object of the subject disclosure to provide a package for holding discs that is easy to manufacture because it has two parts that are unitary.

It is still another object of the subject disclosure to provide a package for holding discs that minimizes the required materials.

The present disclosure is directed to a package for housing two discs including a cover forming an elongated spine panel with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom such that the opposing panels selectively rotate between open and closed positions. First and second partial trays attach to the first and second opposing panels, respectively, each partial tray having a planar surface forming a periphery and a recess, a rosette near a first side of the tray for engaging a central aperture to retain a disc at least partially within the recess, and a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface. The spacing rim includes a lateral side opposing the first side, and two transverse sides, wherein in the closed position, the spacing rims do not overlap. Preferably, in the closed position, a thickness of the package is approximately equal to the first and second opposing panels plus a height of the spacing rim of the first partial tray. In further embodiments, the recesses are semi-circular and the package has means for retaining the package in the closed position.

In another embodiment, the subject disclosure is directed to a package for housing two discs including a cover forming an elongated spine panel in a plane with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom such that the opposing panels selectively rotate between an open position in which the opposing panels are substantially in the plane and a closed position in which the opposing panels are substantially perpendicular to the plane. A first partial tray attaches to the first opposing panel at a first end. The first partial tray has a planar surface forming a periphery, a substantially semi-circular recess opening to the periphery on a first side and finger wells opening to the recess, a rosette located centrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging a central aperture of a disc, a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing the first side and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sides being near the periphery, and a male projection for retaining the package closed. A second partial tray attaches to the second opposing panel at a second end opposing the first end. The second partial tray has a planar surface forming a periphery, a substantially semi-circular recess opening to the periphery on a first side and finger wells opening to the recess, a rosette located centrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging a central aperture of a disc such that the rosettes are substantially co-axial in the closed position, a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing the first side and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sides being near the periphery, and a female receptacle for engaging the male projection to selectively retain the package closed.

It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, and a method for applications now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the system disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with CD packages. The advantages, and other features of the packages disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present invention and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements whenever possible.

All relative descriptions herein such as left, right, up, down, topside, underside and the like are with reference to the Figures, and not meant in a limiting sense. The illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, elements, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise combined, interconnected, sequenced, separated, interchanged, positioned, and/or rearranged without materially departing from the disclosed systems or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes of components are also exemplary and unless otherwise specified, can be altered without materially affecting or limiting the disclosed technology to holding discs exclusively.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 1-10, in which there is shown an improved CD package10for housing two discs. In brief overview, the package10includes two injection molded plastic partial trays12,14and a paper board cover100which is, in the preferred embodiment, adhesively attached to each of the trays12,14in such a manner that the plastic and paper components form a CD package, configured to resemble a book of a substantially single disk package thickness, which presents no alignment problems between the trays when the package is repetitively opened and closed.

Referring generally toFIGS. 1-10, tray12is a relatively rectangular, thin, plate-like member which is formed with a partial circular recess20defined by a partial circular side wall22extending downwardly from surrounding planar surface24to base26. A rosette28for gripping a CD and holding it within recess20is molded on raised CD seat30which, itself, is molded on base26. Rosette28is, typically, a vertical cylindrical section including radically outwardly biased gripping fingers for engaging the central opening of a CD placed thereon. Raised seat30provides a circular surface on which the annular area of the CD which is immediately adjacent the central disc aperture can be supported above the base26. This area of the CD typically contains no recorded information and, therefore, contact between the CD in this area and the raised seat will not damage the CD. The CD may also be peripherally supported at its outer edges by a peripheral shelf (not shown) formed in circular sidewall22. The outer edges of a CD also, typically, contain no recorded information in order to provide further assurance that contact of the recorded areas of the CD with the tray will be avoided. Planar surface24of tray12includes finger wells34which open to the base26of recess20to facilitate a user removing a disc from the recess20. Recess20, rosette28and finger wells34are all well known in the CD packaging art and need not be described in detail herein.

It is noteworthy that tray12is only a partial tray with one lateral side36and two connecting transverse sides40,42having upstanding wall portions36a,40a,42afor defining a spacing rim at or just inside the marginal edges of the tray periphery. Wall portions40a,42aextend from wall portion36ato a position close to but spaced from opposite lateral side38, which has no upstanding wall portion. As will be seen, when package10is closed, the wall portions assure a sufficient spacing between a CD mounted on the rosette28of tray12and a CD mounted on the rosette28of tray14that neither of the CDs become damaged by contact with the other. In addition, a male projection50rises from planar surface24adjacent the free end40bof wall portion40aand a female receptacle52is defined in planar surface24adjacent the free end42bof wall portion42afor engaging with a corresponding female/male receptacle/projection on tray14.

Tray14is a relatively thin plate-like member which is substantially similar to tray12. The configuration and elements of tray12apply equally to tray14and, therefore, like reference numerals denote like parts. The only difference is that tray14has a female receptacle54defined in planar surface24adjacent the free end40bof wall portion40afor engaging with the male projection50on tray12when the package10is closed. In like manner, tray14has a male projection56arising from planar surface24adjacent the free end42bof wall portion42afor engaging with female receptacle52on tray12when package10is closed. As a result, package10may be latched in the closed position when it is desired to do so.

In one embodiment, the engagement of male projection56on tray14with female receptacle52on tray12is weaker than the engagement of male projection50on tray12with female receptacle54on tray14(as by making projection56shorter than projection50) so that, when the engagement of projection/receptacle50/54is overcome to open package10, the engagement of projection/receptacle56/52does not interfere with the smooth opening of the package. Indeed, in most instances, the engagement of male projection50on tray12with female receptacle54on tray14is itself sufficient to maintain package10latched in the closed position and the engagement of projection56with receptacle52serves to facilitate assembly of the trays12,14to paper board100, as will be discussed more fully hereinafter. In another embodiment, projection56does not actually engage receptacle52but, rather, fits within receptacle52to serve as an alignment aid between trays12and14.

The paper board100comprises a plurality of paper panels which are desirably formed from a presized, pre-printed unitary blank. In one embodiment of the invention, the blank includes two panels102,104onto which the plastic trays12,14are adhesively or mechanically attached, separated by a spine panel106. Fold lines108,110separate panels102,104, respectively, from spine panel106and allow the panels to be pivoted between package open and package closed positions. The panels may be single ply although, in some instances, it may be desirable for one or both of these panels to be two or multiple ply.

To assemble the paper board100and trays12,14, in a preferred embodiment, first and second trays12,14are assembled to each other by causing the rosettes28to face each other with the free ends40b,42bof transverse wall portions40a,42aon each tray adjacent but spaced apart from each other, and with projection50of tray12and projection56of tray14inserted within, respectively, receptacle54of tray14and receptacle52of tray12. As the rosettes are pressed toward each other, as can be seen fromFIGS. 4 and 8, the projection50on tray12engages receptacle54on tray14(and, in one embodiment, projection56on tray14engages receptacle52on tray12) to maintain the assembled CD package10in the closed position. A plurality of glue posts (not shown) are desirably provided on the underside of each tray for receiving adhesive. Alternatively, dabs of adhesive are applied directly to the tray undersides. The adhesive-bearing underside of tray14is pressed onto the desired position on panel104with the wall portions42aof the trays adjacent fold line110, after which the paper board cover is stretched around the spine edge42aof the trays and panel102is pressed into adhesive contact with the adhesive-bearing underside of tray12. With the trays dimensioned and configured so that, with rosettes28in face-to-face relationship, the free ends40b,42bon each tray12,14are adjacent but spaced apart and the projections50,56and receptacles52,54are aligned or engaged. Discs (seeFIG. 4) mount on the rosettes in a coaxially aligned orientation. The discs, however, do not touch each other because the height of wall portions36a,40aand42ais sufficient to avoid their touching.

With reference toFIG. 4, it can be seen that with package10in the closed position, the tops36c,40c,42cof wall portions36a,40a,42aof each tray12,14contact the surface of panel102,104to which the other tray is mounted. Thus, the height of wall portions36a,40a,42adetermines the separation between discs43mounted on rosettes28and, when properly selected, assures that the discs43do not touch when package10is closed.

In one embodiment, each of trays12,14is approximately one half the length of panels102,104between its lateral sides102a,óand104a,b. In this embodiment, wall portions36aof trays12,14are positioned closely adjacent the lateral marginal edges102a,104bof panels102,104. In other embodiments, panels102,104may be longer than twice the length of the trays12,14, in which case wall portions36aof trays12,14are positioned a greater distance inwardly of the lateral marginal edges102a,104bof panels102,104. Typically, the length of panels102,104is at least twice the combined length of trays12,14so that overlap is generally avoided. Preferably, the trays are so positioned on panels102,104and the rosettes28are so positioned on the trays that, when package10is closed, the free ends40b,42bof transverse wall portions40a,42aof trays12,14are positioned adjacent to, but spaced from, each other and rosettes28on each of trays12,14are in face-to-face relationship. This assures that discs43mounted on these rosettes are in coaxial alignment.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.