Unfolding disc holder

In the handling of a CD its withdrawal from and replacement into a storage compartment of a multi-panel CD holder is achieved with minimal user-handling of the CD and using, instead, the folding and unfolding of the holder panels to alternately project and withdraw the CD relative to the storage compartment.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the handling of 
a compact disc, popularly referred to as a CD which, by common experience, 
is known to require special handling to avoid scratching and marring of 
its recorded surface and, relates more particularly to a CD holder which 
in its operating mode provides not only a protective storage compartment 
for the CD but also, during insertion into, and removal from, the 
compartment effectively obviates any surface-marring contact with the CD. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
It is already known from prior patents, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 
2,384,633 issued to W. T. Markowski for "Article Storing Album" on Sep. 
11, 1945, that surface-marring of a phonograph disc record or the like is 
obviated by storage, during its non-use, in a protective storage 
compartment. For a CD aficionado, however, an unacceptable marring could 
consist of a simple fingerprint. 
In the '633 album or disc holder, there is manual handling of the disc 
during insertion into and withdrawal from its protective compartment, and 
also surface-to-surface sliding contact between the recorded disc surface 
and the walls bounding the storage compartment, both of which in addition 
to other circumstances, significantly contribute to the noted unacceptable 
marring of the disc. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,932,387 issued to B. F. Petersen for "Phonograph Record 
Extractor" on Apr. 12, 1960, is noted for its operating mode of avoiding 
manual contact with the record or disc during its removal from its storage 
compartment, but it still requires manual handling during replacement 
thereinto and does not to any significant extent avoid the 
surface-to-surface contact between the disc and the compartment walls. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a CD holder 
overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. 
More particularly, it is an object to provide a CD holder having a CD 
protective compartment, and into and out of which, there is only nominal 
manual handling of the CD which correspondingly minimizes recorded surface 
marring, all of which will be better understood as the description 
proceeds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A compact disc, commonly known as a CD or simply as a disc, requires 
storage during non-use so as to obviate scratching and even merely 
fingerprints marring the recorded areas of the disc. The disc-storage 
means of choice is a disc holder, of which the within significantly 
improved by construction and operating mode inventive holder is shown in 
FIG. 4 and designated generally as 10. Still referring to FIG. 4, holder 
10 includes, in a three panel version, a front panel 12 which folds open 
about a fold line 14 from a position in covering relation over an 
intermediate panel 16 into a clearance position therefrom as noted in FIG. 
4. This uncovering of the panel 16 allows corresponding unfolding 
movement, as noted by arrow 18, of the panel 16. A disc 20 is engaged, as 
at 22, in an interposed position between two facing panels 24 and 26 
attached to each other at an end-fold 28, which by function, as soon will 
be explained, serves as a sliding disc holder and is generally designated 
30. Disc 20 is centered in the sliding disc holder 30 by being seated in a 
notch 32 in end fold 28. 
In the remaining third or rear panel 34, use is made of two plies 36 and 
38, as better shown in the cross sectional views, which are attached along 
three confronting edges, as at 40, so as to bound a disc storage 
compartment 42 therebetween. A forth edge 44 of the top ply 38, in a 
preferred curved shape as shown, bounds with the bottom ply 36 an opening 
46 into the compartment 42. In use, the disc 20 in its operative position 
in the sliding disc holder 30 is urged in opposite directions into, as 
noted by arrow 48, and out of, as noted by arrow 50, the storage 
compartment 42. 
Underlying the present invention is the recognition that withdrawal from 
and replacement back into, the compartment 42 can be achieved with minimal 
handling of the disc 20 by using to advantage the movements 48 and 50 
resulting from corresponding folding and unfolding of the intermediate 
panel 16 about the fold line 19. More particularly, as measured from a 
reference line 52 underlying an edge 54 of the top panel 24 of the sliding 
disc holder 30 to a selected adhesive attachment site 56 on the 
intermediate panel 16, is a connecting strip 58. The length of the strip 
58 is selected to cooperate with the distance 62 of the attachment site 56 
beyond the fold line 19 to cause disc 20 to protrude, for convenient 
finger-gripping about its unrecorded peripheral edge 64 from the 
compartment 42 preparatory to sound-reproducing service of the disc 20. 
To return the disc 20 to compartment 42, it is inserted in the sliding disc 
holder notch 32, and panel 16 folded in covering relation over the panel 
34, after which in the three panel version, the panel 12 is folded closed 
over the panel 16, thus resulting in a compact storage condition of the 
disc holder 10 as shown in FIG. 1. 
In a contemplated two panel version, panel 12 can be dispensed with. 
While the disc holder herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable 
of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, 
it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently 
preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended 
to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined 
in the appended claims.