IMPROVED PERIPHERAL RIM FOR DISC RECORDS

Abstract: A protective strip (2) for a record, the strip being of "U" shaped configuration with limbs (9) extending from the base portion, the limbs being shaped so that the lead in groove (4) of the recording is not unduly restricted by the edge of the limbs.

Description: "IMPROVED PERIPHERAL RIM FOR DISC RECORDS' This invention relates to disc records of either audio, laser beam or video disc records, and more particularly to a peripheral rim which is provided around the peripheral of th 5. record in order to protect the surface thereof. It is well known that damage to a recording surface may occur during the normal course of handling of a record disc and is mainly due to the contact of the recording surface with the surface or edge of an adjacent record 10. that this damage occurs. Damage can occur when the records are placed one upon the other during handling, when the record is placed on an uneven surface or on a surface such as a cabinet or table top, when one record is dragged across another causing scratching, when removing and 15. replacing records in covers or sleeves, allowing finger nails to scratch the surface, or entangling on a record - sleeve or cover. Damage can also occur during the stacking of records on an automatic record player and also as a result of 20. frictional contact between the records when they are progressively stacked on the turntable of an automatic player. Further damage can occur due to dust and static attraction of dust, and warpage due to incorrect stacking of the records. 25. Some presently produced records have a slightly thickened or beaded peripheral edge on the record which could separate the surfaces of the two adjacently stacked records but this does not eliminate the possibility of damage by contact of an edge of one record on the recording surface of an adjacent record. It is also -known to provide a protective rim of rubber, plastics material or the like soft and flexible material and to fit this around the edge of a record. 5. However in order to obtain the required protection for records of the type produced now and also to ensure that the protective strip remains in position on the record the protective strip must pass over the face of the record to a certain degree, and thus overlap at least 10. the lead-in groove or track to the record and this interfere with the correct positioning of the needle on the lead-in groove. It is the object therefore of this invention to provide a protective strip for a record which will overcome 15. at least .some of the above problems. There is provided therefore according to the invention a protective strip to serve as a peripheral guard for protecting the recorded . • surface of a record disc having recording on at least one side thereof, the strip being of a "U" shaped cross-section 20. including a base portion and limbs extending from the base portion along its length and being of the required length an flexibility to enable the strip to be wrapped around the rim of the record disc to which the strip is to be applied, the limbs of the "IT" section being intended to embrace a rim 25. portion of the record disc, characterized according to this invention in that the limbs of the "U" section are shaped so as to ensure that a lead—in groove for the recording on at least one side of the record is not unduly restricted by the limb or limbs. 30. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the shaping of the limbs is such that the limbs increase in length from a minimum length adjacent the commencement of the lead-in groove. hen placed on a record, around the peripher of the record disc to a maximum length immediately before the commencement of the lead-in groove and having a step 5 ^ from the maximum to minimum length. It will be seen that by providing such a step in the limb and providing a tapered limb from the smallest to the largest width then the protective strip may be placed around a record with the beginning of the lead-in 10. groove adjacent the step so that no interference with the lead-in groove may occur. While it is desirable for the strip to coincide with the beginning of the lead in groove, it is not essential that this be so. In a further preferred form of the invention the 15. strip may be comprised of two separate parts joined at the base portion each of the parts having one limb thereon • - such that the narrowest portion on each part may be positioned in the correct position adjacent the lead-in groove on each side of a record disc and including means to 20. join the two parts when so positioned. In a preferred embodiment the limbs of the protective - strip taper from the base to the ends of the limbs . The protective strip may further include securing means for securing the ends of the strip together after 25. the strip has been wound around the rim of the record disc to which it is intended to be applied. Such a securing means may comprise adhesive means, snap or force fit or inter-locking means. The securing means may be capable of releasably securing the two ends of the strip. In a further embodiment the securing strip may be a generally continuous circular or annular shape which 5. may be resilient so that it may be expanded to fit around a record disc and then clamp on. The strip or ring may be injection moulded, cast, or extruded and welded as desired, also the strips may be made in varying colours for easy identificatio . 10. The material of construction of a protective strip according to this invention may be selected from a group comprising natural rubber, synthetic rubber, pclyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane or mixtures thereof. 15. In an alternative form an invention may be said - to reside in an improvement in a method of protecting a record disc having a recording thereon comprising the steps of providing a peripheral protective strip suitable for fitting around the periphery of the record disc, 20. the strip having a substantially "U" shaped cross-section including limbs and a base portion'with the limbs extending from the base portion and fastening this protective strip around the periphery of the record disc, the improvement in which method includes the steps of providing at least 25. on a portion of the limbs a relief area such that in use the protective strip does not interfere with the lead-in groove for the recording on the record disc. It will be seen that according to this invention there is provided a strip which is made flexible so that O PI it can be easily wrapped around the rim of a record to which the strip is to be applied and the strip can be retained in position for example by joining the ends of the strip. Thus the ends can be joined by some mechani 5_ inter—locking means or by the ends being tapered and for example adhesive being applied between the two taper surfaces. In an alternative form the strip can be a circular strip covered in soft resilient material which when opened • j _0_ up allows it to be positioned on the record edge and when in equilibrium firmly and positively engaged on the record edge. The protective strip can be applied by the user of the record after purchase or can be applied by the τ_ > ' manufacturer or retailer before the sale of the record and this application of the protective strip can be done either manually or by a specifically designed machine. . -- Thus the strip can be moulded directly onto the record and future records embodying the invention be 20. produced in this manner, while the strip being annular or in long lengths can be applied to the numerous records already produced. ( OMP lfrnm lP The outer surface of the base may be flat or alter¬ natively could be concave, convex or recessed such that a label or the like may be inserted in the recess. Alternatively the outer surface of the limbs may be 5. planar, convex or concave, while the inner surfaces can be made to conform with the record outer surface. It will be realised of course that the protective strip may be made from antistatic or non-antistatic materia so that the rim has the effect of not attracting or in lo , the alternative repelling dust particles from the record. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying illustrations which show various embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 shows a view of a protective strip applied 15. to a record. Figure 2 shows a protective strip removed from a record. Figure 3 shows the two ends of a protective strip adjacent each other as they would be when placed around 2o a record. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show one embodiment of a cross- section of the protective strip. Figure 6 and Figure 7 show an alternative embodiment of a protective strip. 25 Figure 8 shows one method by which a protective strip may be joined. Now looking at the drawings in more detail, Figure 1 shows a record 1 having a continuous screw extending from the outside of the record to the centre. A protectiv strip 2 is applied around the edge of the record. 5. The protective strip 2 is narrowest at position 3 where the lead-in groove 4 commences and is widest at 5 immediately before the commencement of the lead-in groove 4. As indicated by arrow 6 the record travels in a clockwise direction and hence a needle placed in 10. the lead-in groove 4 will travel towards the centre of the record. It will be seen that there is a step 7 betwee the widest portion of the protective strip 5 and the narrowest portion 6. Figure 2 shows a protective strip when not applied 1 ^ to- a record and we se.e that the protective strip 8 has two tapering limbs 9 and 10 which go respectively on each side of the record. It will be realised of course * " that the taper must be the opposite way on the other side of the record as in use a needle will be travelling 20. in the opposite direction along the edge of the limb. When applied to a record the ends 11 and 12 must be abutted as shown in Figure 3 and joining means not shown will be provided between the two ends. Figure 4 shows one embodiment of a cross-section of a suitable protection strip and we see that there is provided a hollow 13 of greater width than the opening to the limbs 14 so that various sizes of rim can be 5. accommodated with the limbs 15 and 16 clamping onto the edge of the rim of a record 17 as shown in Figure 5. An alternative embodiment of the protective strip is shown in Figure 6 and in this embodiment bulbous pro¬ jections 18 and 19 are provided on either side of the 10. protective strip to provide more cushioning between adjacen records. A recess 20 is provided to fit a label so that the edge of the record may be inspected to tell what the recording on the record is. As with the earlier embodiment the limbs 21 and 15. 22 resiliently expand onto the record 23 to clamp the protective strip to the record. Figure 8 shows one method by which the ends of a protective strip may be joined and that is by means of . . an inter-locking knob 24 and recess 25 in the ends 26 20. and 27 of a protective strip. The length of the protective strip around the record would be accurately gauged to ensure that the knob 24 and recess 25 fitted securely and resiliently together once the strip was applied to a record. 25. The taper on the edges of the protective strip may not extend for the circumference of the record, but the taper m only extend for example three-quarters, one-half or one- quarter or less of the circumference, the length of the tap being sufficient to expose the lead in groove and 30. appropriately guide the needle. Also the taper on the elongated strip may not necessarily be from end to end, but the taper may begin at the centre of the strip, the stop or abutment thus being i the centre of the strip. In this way, when the strip is 5. applied to the record, the ends of the strip are of identi configuration to thus facilitate the joining of the ends. The limbs 16 of the strip may also be tapered towards the face of the record, so that the needle if placed on th rim will move toward the lead in groove. 10. It will be realised as indicated earlier that the protective strip according to this invention may be made from any suitable material which has resiliency and suf¬ ficient softness to prevent scratching of a record when the edge of a record having a protective strip is dragged 15. across a record and suitable materials may include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments the base and clip means may be of a more rigid material with an outer coating 20. of a soft material suitable for padding. O P s, WIP

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A protective strip to serve as a peripheral guard for protecting the recording surface of a record disc having a recording on at least one side thereof the strip being of "U" shaped cross-section including a base portion , and limbs extending from the base portion along its length and being of the required length and flexibility to enable the strip to be wrapped around the rim of a record disc to which the strip is to be applied, the limbs of the "U" section being intended to embrace a rim portion of 0 the record disc characterized according to this invention in that the limbs of the "U" section are shaped so as to ensure that a lead-in groove for the recording on at least one side of the record is not unduly restricted by the limb or limbs. 2. The strip as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the shaped limbs is such that the limb increases in length from a minimum length adjacent the commencement of the lead-in groove when placed on a record around the periphery _ of the record disc to a maximum length immediately before the commencement of the lead-in groove and having a step from the maximum to minumum length. 3. A strip -as in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the strip is comprised of two separate parts joined at the base portion each of the parts having one limb thereon such that the narrowest portion on each part may be _ positioned in the correct position adjacent the lead-in groove on each side of the record disc and including means to join the two parts when so positioned. gfRE OMPI 4. A protective strip as in any preceding claim wherein the outer shape of the "U" section is such that the limbs decrease in thickness from the base to the ends of the limbs. 5. A protective strip arrangement comprising a protective strip as defined in any preceding claim in combination with securing means for securing the ends of the strip together after the strip has been wound around the rim of the record disc to which it is intended to be applied. 6. A protective strip arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the securing means comprises adhesive means, snap or force fit or inter-locking means. 7. A protective strip as in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the securing means are capable of releasably securing the two ends of the strip together. 8. A protective strip as in claims 1 to 4 wherein the strip is of generally continuous annular shape. 9. A protective strip as in any previous claim wherein the material of the strip is selected from a group comprisi natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane or mixtures thereof. 10. An improvement in a method of protecting a record disc having a recording thereon comprising the steps of providing a peripheral protective strip suitable for fitting around the periphery of the record disc, the strip having a substantially "U" shaped cross-section including limbs and a base portion with the limbs extending "gJRE OMPI from the base portion, and fastening the protective strip around the periphery of the record disc, the improvement in which includes the step of providing at least on a 10. portion of the limbs a relief area such that in use the protective strip does not interfere with a lead-in groove for the recording on the record disc. OMPI

Inventors: PETTIT GARTH DERWOOD, PETTIT, GARTH, DERWOOD
Applicants: PETTIT GARTH DERWOOD, PETTIT, GARTH, DERWOOD
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G11B25
IPC codes: G11B3