STORAGE CONTAINER FOR A RECORDING MEDIUM

Abstract: There is disclosed a storage container for a recording medium, e.g. a compact disc comprising (a) a base (12); (b) a recording medium holder (14) including means (16) for holding the recroding medium thereon and being pivotally attached at a first end (54) thereof to a first end (24) of the base such that a second, free end (64) thereof is adapted for movement between a first position and a second position; (c) a cover (20) pivotally attached at a first end (90) thereof to the first end (24) of the base; and (d) means (22) for actuating movement of the holder relative to the base, whereby, when the cover (20) is pivoted relative to the base (12), the actuating means (22) causes the holder (14) to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording medium (18) for use away from the base (12). There is also described a method of manufacturing such a storage container.

Description: This invention relates to a container for a recording disc and, more particularly, to an easier to use storage container for a compact, digital, audio disc. Containers are currently available for storing recording media, such as compact, digital audio discs. For example, currently the most successful storage container for a compact disc includes a rectangular base, a corresponding rectangular cover pivotally connected to the base, and a rectangular disc holder fixedly connected to the base. The rectangular holder includes a circular recess for receiving the disc and a central, circularly shaped, radially ribbed, clamp which receives the centre hole of the compact disc via an interference fit to hold the disc in the container. In addition, a small rib or projection is usually formed on the side walls of the cover to effect an interference fit with the side walls of the base to keep the container normally closed. To release the disc, one must pry open the cover, push down on the clamp with the index finger and simultaneously fit one's thumb and middle finger on opposite sides of the disc between the holder and the disc and pull up. The several following disadvantages associated with this conventional container are well known. First, the disc is difficult to remove and reattach, thus presenting a nuisance to the user and sometimes even causing breakage of the container, particularly where the cover is pivotally attached to the base. The breakage is partly due to the fact that these containers have been made of plastics with no impact resistance. Second, the closing rib or projection quickly breaks or wears away, causing the container to undesirably open. Third, the conventional storage container is relatively difficult to manufacture and assemble by automation due particularly to the difficulty in mating the pivot points between the cover and the base. In addition, automation has been particularly frustrated due to the difficulty in efficiently inserting an advertising card or information insert between the holder and base. Efforts have been made to facilitate removal of a recording medium such as spacing the recording medium from the base storage container when opened. For example, in the floppy disc art, the following patents disclose means for storing and presenting one or more floppy discs away from a base. DE-A-3414903 discloses a packing container which is intended for holding a disc with central bore (compact disc recording). It comprises a cover and a bottom with projections to locate an information sheet, and a disc carrier. The cover is hinged to the bottom via inwardly extending pivots on edge flanges on the cover portion facing the bottom. These pivots engage slots which are arranged in flanges on the disc carrier and the bottom respectively and have their centre lines at an angle to one another and preferably at an angle to the plane of the carrier and of the bottom respectively. U.S. Patent No. 4,496,050, issued to KIRCHNER et al., discloses a case for holding floppy discs having a cover hinged to the body to be pivoted upwardly from the body. A separate lid is also hinged to the cover near the cover's rear edge. To ensure that opening movement of the cover also opens the lid, the lid is provided on its sides with cams or pins, which engage respective cam tracks provided in the body. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,498,583 and 4,478,335, issued to LONG et al., also disclose a floppy disc storage container formed of three molded plastic parts which are pivotally connected together. That is, a disc support member is pivotally mounted to the cover and includes camming surfaces which ride on the cams as the cover is rotated toward its open position. A notch in the camming surface is positioned to engage the cams when the cover is fully opened to allow the disc support member to drop forward a predetermined distance, thereby improviding accessibility to the disc. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,369,879 and 4,449,628 issued to EGLY et al., disclose a floppy disc storage container which has a cover with a ledge for receiving a disc therein and a base. The cover is connected to the base by a resilient living hinge that allows for opening of the lid into a clam shell configuration. The lid is then supported by a stop member against one of the edge walls or by means of a channel groove in combination with a pin. Finally, U.S. patent No. 4,511,034, issued to PAN discloses a storage container for a floppy disc including an elastic tongue plate connected to the lower portion of a right half of the body of the container. A semi-circular opening is centrally formed in an upper end of the tongue plate, wherein the disc is clamped between the elastic tongue plate and the right half of the body. The elastic tongue plate can move outwardly under gravity to present the disc away from the body of the container. Although the prior art containers described above are reasonably reliable for storage purposes, they still do not teach a storage container for a recording medium, such as a compact disc, providing the easiest use by the consumer, the most cost and timeefficient manufacture, the most automated assembly and the greatest marketing appeal. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium which is easy to use by the consumer and appealing in its operation. According to the present invention there is provided a storage container for a recording disc, comprising: (a) a base having front wall, back wall and side walls, (b) a recording disc holder attached at a first end thereof to the back wall of the base and having a second, free end for movement between a first position and a second position, the holder including a first portion received within the side walls of the base adjacent the back wall and a second portion attached to the first, portion; (c) means formed on the second portion of the holder for holding the recording disc thereon, comprising a clamp for engaging an aperture formed in the recording disc; (d) a cover having side walls and being pivotally attached at one end thereof to the side walls of the base adjacent the back wall thereof, and (e) means for actuating movement of the holder relative to the base, whereby, when the cover is pivoted relative to the base, the actuating means causes the second end of the holder to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording disc for use away from the base, characterized in that the holder includes a tongue pivotally attached at a first end to the second end of the holder, the tongue having a raised portion adjacent the first end of the tongue which forms part of the clamp, whereby when the holder is in the first position, the raised portion is in engagement with the aperture of the recording disc to lock the recording disc thereon and, when the holder is moved into the second position, the tongue pivots downwardly to move the raised portion out of locking engagement with the recording disc aperture. The storage container of the present invention can be manufactured by a method which includes at least the steps of: forming a base having holes at a first end thereof and ramps leading to the holes; forming a disc holder with projections at a first end thereof and having its other end free for movement relative to the base; forming a cover with projections at a first end thereof; forming actuating means associated with the first end of the cover and holder; and inserting the projections of the cover and the holder into the holes formed in the base via the ramps formed in the base. The storage container desirably easily opens, so that when it contains a recording disc it automatically presents the disc to a user to facilitate removal of the disc from the container, and the container can be easily closed when the disc is replaced in the container. The storage container desirably meets all industry standards, such as size, and is compatible with standard information containing inserts, but is preferably stronger, more appealing and can receive an insert more easily than prior art storage containers. The storage container can be manufactured by a fully automated process. It may be manufactured by one-step assembly of the container's components. The accompanying drawings, illustrate embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 is a side view of the rear of the storage container of a second embodiment according to the present invention in the closed position; Fig. 2 is a cut away view of the rear of the storage container shown in Fig. 1 in the fully opened position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the storage container shown in Fig. 1 in the fully opened position; Fig. 4 is an exploded, cut away view of the rear of the storage container shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a top, plan view of one embodiment of the tongue member used with the storage container according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tongue shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a top, plan view of the recording medium holder according to the present invention incorporating another embodiment of the tongue member; Fig. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side, cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a side, cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a cut away, exploded view of the tongue and corresponding slot according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a rear, cut away, exploded view of another embodiment of storage container according to the present invention in the partially opened position; Fig. 14 is a side, cross-sectional view of the rear of the storage container shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the recording medium holder shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a side, cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23 in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is an enlarged area taken from Fig. 16; and Fig. 18 is a side view of still another embodiment of the storage container according to the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1-12 a recording medium holder 14 includes a tongue 140 pivotally attached at a first end 142 thereof to the second end 64 of the holder 14. The recording medium holder 14 is preferably made of a dark, medium impact styrene. The tongue 140 has a raised semicircular portion 144 adjacent its first end 142 which forms part of a two part clamp 180, the second part 182 being a raised semicircular portion integrally moulded of the holder 14. The base 12 of the holder 14 includes two identical side walls 146 and 148 (not shown) each of which has a solid portion 150 attached to the first end 24 of the base 12, and a cut out portion 152 adjacent the solid portion 150. The base 12 is preferably made of a transparent, smoky-coloured, impact resistant polycarbonate. Each solid portion 150 has a hole 154 formed therein with a ramp 156 formed in the outside surface thereof leading up to the hole 154. Two side walls 158 and 160 (not shown) are also formed in a cover 20 for the base 12, each of which has a pin 162, 164 (not shown) extending inwardly therefrom adapted to fit into a corresponding one of the holes 154 formed in the side walls 146 and 148 of the base 12. The ramps 156 provide a path for the pins 162 to follow when fitting them into the holes 154 to attach the cover 20 to the base 12. The first end 163 of the holder 14 is connected to the first end 24 of the base 12 by a living hinge 130. The cover 20 is shaped to correspond substantially to that of the base 12 and is also made of transparent, smoky-coloured, impact-resistant polycarbonate. The actuating means 22 in this second embodiment is a cam means 110 including a cam 111 formed on each side wall 158, 160 of the cover 20, and a cam follower 114 formed on the holder 14 to cooperate with the cam 111 during opening of the storage container. That is, when the cover 20 is raised a certain degree relative to the base 12, the cams 111 abut the respective cam followers 114 and cause the holder 14 with the compact disc 80 mounted thereon to move upwardly away from the base 12. The tongue 140 can take several different forms as described below. In one form the tongue 140 shown specifically in FIGS. 5-7, the tongue 140 is pivotally attached to the holder 14 by means of a rod 166 formed at the first end 142 thereof which fits into a groove 168 formed in the holder 14 adjacent the second end 64 thereof. The pivot point is below the raised portion 144 so that the raised portion 144 falls away as the tongue 140 pivots. In another form shown in FIGS. 8-10 the tongue 140 is pivotally attached to the holder 14 by a living hinge 169 instead of the rod 166 and groove 168 combination shown in FIGS. 5-7. As particularly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a slot 172 can also be formed in the holder 14 to accommodate the tongue 140 as shown in FIG. 12, in order to prevent the tongue 140 from pivoting upwardly through the slot 172, tabs 174 are formed to extend outwardly from each side of the tongue 140 and a recess 176 is formed on each side of the slot 172 on the bottom of the holder 14 to receive each tab 174. In an alternate version of the slot 172, each side of the tongue 140 is configured to slope downwardly and outwardly from the top thereof and each side of the tongue 140 also slopes downwardly and outwardly from the top thereof to permit the tongue 140 to be matingly received in the slot 172 without passing therethrough, as shown in FIG. 11. In a second embodiment shown specifically in Figs. 13-17 the holder 14 is entirely a one-piece construction. As such, the tongue 140 is connected to the holder 14 by a living hinge 169 and separate first and second portions 196 and 198 of the holder 14 are connected via a living hinge 186. Further, the second portion 198 of the holder 14 incorporates pins 188 and 190 (not shown) at the ends 192 and 194 thereof which are received by holes 200 formed in the base 12 as described above for the first embodiment. An information containing insert 122a can be easily captured between the second portion 198 of the holder 14 and the first end 24 of the base 12 during assembly of the holder. The raised portion 144 of the tongue 140 may also include a compressible plug 170 mounted therein so as to extend outwardly from the periphery thereof. The plug 170 compressibly engages a portion of the compact disc central aperture 82 when the holder 14 is in the first, closed position. As would be understood by one having ordinary skill in this art, the clamp 180 of this embodiment can be opened by any number of linkages, cams, wires, etc. that are capable of converting the movement of the cover 20 to a motion which opens the clamp 180. In addition, the clamp 180 can take several forms as long as it can prevent the disc 80 from moving in the storage container 10. The operation of the embodiments described above employing a tongue 140 is as follows. When the holder 14 is in the first, closed position, the raised portion 144 of the tongue 140 and the second portion 182 of the clamp 180 are in engagement with the recording medium central aperture 82 to lock the recording medium 18 thereon. When the latch 97 is released as described above and the cover 20 is opened to about 45° relative to the base 12, the cams 111, of the cover 20 abut the cam followers 114 of the holder 14 and the holder 14 is pivoted relative to the base 12 to the second position. In addition, the tongue 140 pivots out of the slot 172 toward the base 12 under gravity, to move the raised portion 144 out of locking engagement with the aperture 82. The user can then easily remove the disc 80 from the container 10. The user may then replace the disc 80 by placing it on the second portion 182 of the clamp 180. The tongue 140 can then be moved back via a finger and, when the cover 20 is again closed, the tongue 140 moves again into the slot 172, such that the raised portion 144 again forms part of the clamp 180 to hold the compact disc 80 in place. Fig. 18 illustrates another embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the storage container 10 again includes: a rectangular base 12; a recording medium holder 14; means 16 for holding a recording medium 18 thereon; a cover 20 pivotally attached to the base 12; and actuating means 22. The recording medium holder 14 includes projections 202, 204 (not shown) at the first end 206 thereof, which are received by holes 208 and 210 (not shown) formed in the base 12 to allow the holder 14 to pivot relative to the base 12. The actuating means 22 in this embodiment includes an arched leaf spring 212, a first end 214 of which is fixedly attached near the first end 206 of the holder 14 and the second end 216 of which is a free end normally abutting the base 12. As with the first embodiment described above, the cover 20 is pivotally connected to the base 12 via the same pin and hole combinations. During operation, the cover 20 is opened relative to the base 12 by releasing the latch 97. As the cover 20 is raised, the leaf spring 212 biasing against the base 12 causes the holder 14 to piot upward via the projections 202, 204 since the holder 24 is no loner confined by the cover 20. Again, the disc 80 is automatically provided away from the base 12 to facilitate removal. The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the invention. For example, although the above-description of the preferred embodiments relates particularly to application of the invention with compact audio discs, the present invention can also be applied a a storage container for other recording media, such as video discs, floppy discs, record albums and "45" records. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. For example, although the preferred embodiment described above is directed to a smokey-colored cover and base and an opaque holder, various smokey, clear and/or color combinations can be used.

Claims: A storage container for a recording disc, comprising: (a) a base (12) having front wall (26), back wall (24) and side walls (146,148), (b) a recording disc holder (14) attached at a first end (163) thereof to the back wall (24) of the base (12) and having a second, free end (64) for movement between a first position and a second position, the holder (14) including a first portion (150) received within the side walls (146,148) of the base (12) adjacent the back wall (24) and a second portion (152) attached to the first portion (150); (c) means (182) formed on the second portion (152) of the holder (14) for holding the recording disc thereon, comprising a clamp (180) for engaging an aperture formed in the recording disc; (d) a cover (20) having side walls (158,160) and being pivotally attached at one end thereof to the side walls (146,148) of the base (12) adjacent the back wall (24) thereof, and (e) means (22) for actuating movement of the holder (14) relative to the base (12), whereby, when the cover (20) is pivoted relative to the base (12), the actuating means (22) causes the second end (64) of the holder (14) to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording disc for use away from the base (12), characterized in that the holder (14) includes a tongue (140) pivotally attached at a first end (142) to the second end (64) of the holder (14), the tongue (140) having a raised portion (144) adjacent the first end (142) of the tongue (140) which forms part of the clamp (180), whereby when the holder (14) is in the first position, the raised portion (144) is in engagement with the aperture of the recording disc to lock the recording disc thereon and, when the holder (14) is moved into the second position, the tongue (140) pivots downwardly to move the raised portion (144) out of locking engagement with the recording disc aperture. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue (140) is pivotally attached to the holder by a living hinge (169). A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue (140) is pivotally attached to the holder (14) by a rod (166) attached to the tongue (140) which fits into a groove (168) formed in the holder (14). A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the raised portion (144) includes a compressible plug (170) mounted therein extending outwardly which engages a portion of the compact disc aperture when the holder (14) is in the first position. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holder (14) further comprises: (i) a slot (172) to accommodate the tongue (140), (ii) at least one tab (174) formed on the tongue (140), and (iii) at least one recess (176) formed adjacaent the slot (172) to receive the at least one tab (174) in order to prevent the tongue (140) from passing through the slot (172). A container as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holder further comprises: a slot (172) to accommodate the tongue (140), each side of the slot (172) being configured to slope downwardly and outwardly from a top thereof, wherein the sides of the tongue (140) also slope downwardly and outwardly from a top thereof to permit the tongue to be matingly received in the slot (172) without passing therethrough. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in that the cover (20) and base (12) are transparent to allow viewing of the interior of the container, and the holder (14) is opaque. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one information-containing insert (122a). A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is a compact-disc container.

Inventors: GELARDI, ANTHONY L., GELARDI, JOHN, LOVECKY, CRAIG, LOWRY, ALAN B., ROLFE, RICHARD
Applicants: SHAPE INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G11B33
IPC codes: G11B23, G11B33