Case for a disc cartridge

Abstract: A case (11) for a disc cartridge (C) comprises a cover (21), and a case body (12) having the cover (21) rotatably attached thereto and having integrally formed on its bottom wall (12 d ) a plurality of resilient holding members (15 a to 15 d ) resiliently to hold the disc cartridge (C).

Description: The invention relates to a case for a disc cartridge, which disc cartridge includes a disc as a recording medium, to accommodate the disc cartridge when it is not in use. A conventional disc accommodating case to accommodate therein an optical disc, such as a compact disc (CD), recording medium has an engagement projection that is in resilient engagement with a central aperture of the CD and is provided at a middle portion of a case body. A recess into which the CD is fitted is formed in the case body so as to surround the engagement projection, and a lid made of a transparent synthetic resin is provided on the case body so as to be freely rotatable (see patent specifications US-A-4,874,085 and US-A-4,535,888). When the optical disc is accommodated in a disc cartridge, an opening portion through which a central aperture of the disc is exposed is generally closed by a shutter in order to protect the optical disc, ie in order to prevent dust from entering the disc cartridge and to prevent the disc from being directly smudged by finger contact. For this reason, in a conventional disc cartridge case, the optical disc cannot be held at the central aperture thereof unlike the aforesaid disc accommodating case. Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show a case that accommodates therein a disc cartridge. A case 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a case body 4, formed of a cartridge holding frame 2 and a bottom plate 3, and a transparent cover 5. In the case 1, the cartridge holding frame 2 of the case body 4 has in its middle portion an accommodating recess portion 2 a of rectangular configuration that is matched with the outer configuration of a disc cartridge C to be accommodated. Further recesses 2 b , 2 c are integrally communicated with the accommodating recess 2 a so that a user can withdraw the disc cartridge C accommodated within the accommodating recess 2 a by engaging fingers in the further recesses 2 b , 2 c . Projections 2 f , 2 g , which serve as hinges for coupling the transparent cover 5 to the case body 4, are respectively formed on the rear end inner surfaces of two side wall portions 2 e , 2 d . The bottom plate 3 is made of a transparent synthetic resin and comprises a bottom wall portion 3 a corresponding to a lower surface of the support frame 2 and a front wall portion 3 b corresponding to a front wall portion of the holding frame 2 in an L-shaped configuration in cross section so that the user can visually confirm from the outside an index sheet disposed between the lower surface of the holding frame 2 and the bottom wall portion 3 a . The transparent cover 5 is made of a transparent synthetic resin and comprises a flat surface portion 5 a corresponding to the upper surface of the holding frame 2 and two side wall portions 5 b , 5 c corresponding to inside surfaces of the two side wall portions 2 d , 2 e of the holding frame 2 in a U-configuration in cross section. A plurality of ratchets 5 d , 5 e , which project inwardly, are provided on the two side wall portions 5 b , 5 c , to hold a song text card, an index card or the like inserted from the front edge of the flat portion 5 a . The transparent cover 5 is rotatably coupled to the holding frame 2, ie the case body 4 by fitting recesses 5 f , 5 g formed on the rear end outer surfaces of the two side wall portions 5 b , 5 c onto the projections 2 f , 2 g , thereby to assemble the case 1. The recesses 5 f , 5 g and the projections 2 f , 2 g may be replaced by projections formed on the transparent cover 5 and recesses formed through the holding frame 2. If the disc cartridge C should be a little larger than the accommodating recess 2 a of the cartridge holding frame 2, then it may not be possible to accommodate the disc cartridge C in the disc cartridge case 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in extreme cases. Even if the disc cartridge C can be accommodated, it possibly cannot be withdrawn from the disc cartridge case 1. Further, when the disc cartridge C is inserted into and withdrawn from the disc cartridge case 1, there is then the risk that the disc cartridge C itself will be deformed or damaged by an undesirable load applied thereto. Because the disc cartridge C itself is thin, the depth of the accommodating recess 2 a and of the further recesses 2 b , 2 c of the cartridge hold frame 2 is also reduced. Consequently, if the outer dimension of the disc cartridge C is a little larger than the size of the accommodating recess 2 a as described above, then the user inserts and withdraws the disc cartridge C from the disc cartridge case 1 using only two fingers. Moreover, the strength with which the user can hold the disc cartridge C through the further recesses 2 b , 2 c , ie the force which can be applied by fingers, is reduced so that the user cannot withdraw the disc cartridge C from the disc cartridge case 1. In addition, those who have large fingers cannot withdraw the disc cartridge C from the disc cartridge case 1 at all. Conversely, if the accommodating concave portion 2a is made much larger than the disc cartridge C, then the disc cartridge C cannot be stably accommodated in the disc cartridge case 1, such as when the disc cartridge C is loose in the accommodating concave portion 2 a and can be dropped therefrom. Patent Specification EP-A-0 186 359 discloses a case of transparent plastics material for a floppy disc comprising two planar members joined by integral hinges to a spine portion, one of the planar members having end walls joined by a side wall and having a plurality of integral resilient holding members to hold a disc cartridge, the other planar member has a pocket to hold a sheet of identification material. Patent Specification GB-A-2 129 779 discloses a case for holding recording media comprising a tray with a pivoted lid, members being provided to project from the base of the tray to sub-divide the tray into holders for recording media and informative or promotional material. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a case for a disc cartridge comprising: a cover; and a case body having the cover rotatably attached thereto and having integrally formed on its bottom wall a plurality of resilient holding members resiliently to hold a disc cartridge; characterised in that slots are formed through the bottom wall of the case body around and adjacent outer circumferential surfaces of the resilient holding members so that portions of the bottom wall on which the resilient members are formed can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall. Since the disc cartridge is resiliently held by the resilient holding members, the disc cartridge can be reliably accommodated within the case so that the disc cartridge is prevented from being violently moved and from being dropped from the case. Also, the disc cartridge can be taken out from the case by pulling the disc cartridge against the resilient force of the resilient holding members. With such a case a disc cartridge can be accommodated and withdrawn with ease regardless of the size of the user's fingers. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional disc cartridge case; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional disc cartridge case shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a disc cartridge case according to a first embodiment of the invention and illustrating a condition in which a cover of the case is open; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the disc cartridge case of the first embodiment; Figure 5 is a plan view of a case body of the disc cartridge case of the first embodiment; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the case body of the disc cartridge case of the first embodiment; Figure 7 is a rear view of the case body of the disc cartridge case of the first embodiment; Figures 8A and 8B are diagrams used to explain a resilient holding portion provided in a case body resiliently to hold a disc cartridge; Figure 9 is a diagram used to explain a modified example of the resilient holding portion; Figure 10 is a plan view of a case body of a disc cartridge case according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is a plan view of a case body of a disc cartridge case according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a further example of an elastic holding portion of the case body; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a case body of a disc cartridge case according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 is a schematic plan view illustrating a case body of the fourth embodiment; and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional vie taken on line XV-XV in Figure 14. A disc cartridge case 11 according to a first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 9. The disc cartridge case comprises a one piece case body 12 and a transparent cover 21 that is attached to the case body 12 so as to be freely rotatable. As illustrated, the case body 12 of the case 11 has, extending at right angles from a bottom wall 12 d , respective wall portions 12 a , 12 b and 12 c to form an accommodating space a . End portions 12 a 1 , 12 b 1 of the pair of opposing side walls (hereinafter referred to as two side wall portions) 12 a , 12 b project outwardly beyond the end edge of the bottom wall 12 d by a predetermined length. The side wall portions 12 a , 12 b , 12 c and the bottom wall 12 d are integrally moulded of a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) to form the case body 12. On the facing surfaces of the projecting end portions 12 a 1 , 12 b 1 of the two side wall portions 12 a , 12 b , hinge projections (or recesses) 13 a , 13 b are coaxially provided to engage hinge recesses (or projections) of the transparent cover 21. Further, on the facing surfaces of the two side wall portions 12 a , 12 b , engagement recesses (or projections) 14 a , 14 b are formed spaced inwardly from the hinge projections (or concave portions) 13 a , 13 b . A resilient holder 15 resiliently to hold a disc cartridge C is disposed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. The resilient holder 15 comprises resilient holding members 15 a , 15 b , 15 c , 15 d which are integrally formed with the bottom wall 12 d at four positions corresponding to four corners of the disc cartridge C to be accommodated. Each of the resilient holding members 15 a , 15 b , 15 c , 15 d is substantially L-shaped in cross section. Four slots 16 a , 16 b , 16 c , 16 d are formed through the bottom wall 12 d around the outer circumferential surfaces of the resilient holding members 15 a , 15 b , 15 c . 15 d , respectively, whereby portions 12 d 1 , 12 d 2 , 12 d 3 , 12 d 4 (Figures 4 and 5) of the bottom wall 12 d on which the resilient members 15 a , 15 b , 15 c , 15 d are formed can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall 12 d . In the middle of the outer edge of the wall portion 12 c (hereinafter referred to as the front wall portion) that couples the two side wall portions 12 a , 12 b , a concave portion 17, which is concave toward the edge adjacent the bottom wall 12 d , is formed so as to grip the finger when the user opens the transparent cover 21. If the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d provided on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12 have a substantially right-angled square inner surface as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, then a disc cartridge C whose front and rear corners are different in shape can be accommodated in the resilient holder 15 in opposite orientations. Alternatively, the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d may respectively be formed in association with the shapes of the corresponding corners of the disc cartridge C. That is, as shown in the modified embodiment of Figure 9, inner surfaces 15 a 1 , 15 b 1 of the resilient holding members 15 a , 15 b corresponding to the two front corners may be rounded, whereas inner surfaces 15 c 1 , 15 d 1 of the resilient holding members 15 c , 15 d corresponding to the two rear corners may be substantially right-angled square. In this case, the orientation in which the disc cartridge C can be accommodated into the case 1 is restricted to a predetermined orientation. The transparent cover 21 which can be rotatably attached to the case body 12 is integrally moulded of a transparent synthetic resin material. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the transparent cover 21 comprises a flat wall portion 21 a , two side wall portions 21 b , 21 c inclined upwardly from substantially central portions to the rear portions of the two side wall portions 21 b , 21 c and a pocket portion 21 d formed between the rear end portions of the two side wall portions 21 b , 21 c . On the rear outer surfaces of the two side wall portions 21 b , 21 c of the transparent cover 21, coaxial hinge recesses (or projection) 22 a , 22 b are provided to be engaged with the hinge projections (or concave portions) 13 a , 13 b of the case body 12. Further, on the outer surfaces of the two side wall portions 21 b , 21 c , engagement projections (or recesses) 23 a , 23 b are provided to engage the engagement recesses (or projections) 14 a , 14 b of the case body 12. The hinge recesses (or projections) 22 a , 22 b of the transparent cover 21 are engaged with the hinge projections (or concave portions) 13 a , 13 b of the case body 12 rotatably to attach the transparent cover 21 to the case body 12, to form the accommodating case 11. The transparent cover 21 is rotated toward the open case body 12 so as to close the accommodating space a in the direction shown by an arrow A in Figure 3. Then, the engagement projections (or recesses) 23 a , 23 b are engaged with the engagement recesses (or projections) of the case body 12, whereby the transparent cover 21 is brought to a position at which it closes the accommodating space a of the case body 12. When the disc cartridge C is accommodated in the accommodating case 11, the disc cartridge C engages at its four corner portions in the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d disposed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12 by the resilient biasing-force under the condition that the transparent cover 21 is opened. A song text card or index sheet S is accommodated in the pocket portion 21 d on the inner surface of the transparent cover 21 as shown by an arrow B in Figure 3. A label L also can be accommodated within the pocket portion 21 d . Since the disc cartridge case 11 of the first embodiment holds and accommodates the disc cartridge C at four corners by the four resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d disposed on the case body 12, the circumferential side surfaces of the disc cartridge C are very widely exposed between the resilient hold members 15 a to 15 d . Therefore, the user can hold the disc cartridge C easily and reliably regardless of size of fingers when accommodating or withdrawing the disc cartridge C. Accordingly, the disc cartridge C can be smoothly inserted into and withdrawn from the disc cartridge case 11. Further, under the condition that the disc cartridge C is accommodated in the disc cartridge case 11, the disc cartridge C is held by the resilient biasing-force of the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d with the result that the disc cartridge C can be prevented from being violently moved and from being dropped out of the disc cartridge case 11. Hence, the disc cartridge C can be held within the disc cartridge case 11 reliably. Also, when the song text card or the index sheet S is to be accommodated in the pocket portion 21 d of the transparent cover 21, the user merely has to insert them into the pocket portion 21 d . Thus, they can be inserted into and taken out from the pocket portion 21 d of the transparent cover 21 with great ease. In addition, since the disc cartridge case 11 of the first embodiment is composed of only two members comprising the case body 12 and the transparent cover 21, the cost of materials thereof can be reduced and the assembly process thereof can be simplified, which can provide an inexpensive disc cartridge case. While four resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d are disposed on the bottom wall portion of the case body in association with the respective corners of the disc cartridge as described above, the number of the resilient hold members can be reduced, as will be described below. Figure 10 shows a second embodiment in which the disc cartridge C can be held by two resilient holding members 31 a , 31 b disposed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12 so as to oppose each other along a line diagonally across the disc cartridge C. In this case, the width of the disc cartridge C becomes different in front and rear and in left and right so that, if the disc cartridge C is incorrectly orientated as shown by a one-dot chain line in Figure 10, then the disc cartridge C cannot be accommodated within the disc cartridge case 11. If the disc cartridge C is inserted into the disc cartridge case 11 from the reverse direction in front and rear, the disc cartridge C can be accommodated into the disc cartridge case 11. Figure 11 shows a third embodiment in which three resilient holding members 31 a , 31 b , 31 c are disposed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. The resilient holding members 31 a , 31 b are angular in cross section to hold the corner portions and are provided on the bottom wall 12 d at its portions corresponding to two corner portions at the ends of one side surface of four front, rear, left and right side surfaces. The third resilient holding member 31 c , which is rectangular in cross section to hold a flat surface, is in contact with substantially a middle part of the other side surface opposing the above-mentioned one side surface. Thus, the disc cartridge C is held at three positions. In the second and third embodiments shown in Figures 10 and 11, the area in which the circumferential side surface of the disc cartridge C is exposed under the condition that the disc cartridge C is held by the resilient holding members is increased compared with that of the first embodiment in which the disc cartridge C is held at the four corner portions. Therefore, the user can engage the disc cartridge C with fingers more easily. Hence, the disc cartridge C can be inserted into and taken out from the disc cartridge case 11 more easily. Figure 12 shows a modified resilient holding member wherein a step 32 is formed in the inner side corner portion of the rectangular resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d , 31 a and 31 b which hold the corner portions of the disc cartridge C, so that the resilient holding members can be prevented from contacting the label L bonded onto the disc cartridge C. Hence, the label L will not be damaged or torn off. In the case body 12 of the first to third embodiments, a plurality of resilient holding members 15 are formed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12 and the disc cartridge C is accommodated within the space formed by these resilient holding members 15. The major surface portion of the disc cartridge C is brought into contact with the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. When the disc cartridge C is to be withdrawn from the case body 12, the user removes the disc cartridge C from the case body 12 by engaging fingers in the spacings between the outer circumferential surface of the disc cartridge C and the two side wall portions 12 a , 12 b of the case body 12. If, however, the disc cartridge C is thin and no spacing is formed between the major surface portion of the disc cartridge C and the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12, it may be difficult to remove the disc cartridge C from the disc case 12 satisfactorily. A fourth embodiment of disc cartridge case, which can obviate this disadvantage is shown in Figures 13 to 15 in which like parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are marked with the same references and therefore are not again described in detail. Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the case body 12; Figure 14 shows a plan view of the case body; and Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the case body 12 taken on line XV-XV in Figure 14. As illustrated, the transparent cover 21 is rotatably attached to the case body 12 as in the first embodiment. A plurality of resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d which are substantially L-shaped in cross-section are integrally formed on the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. The resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d have integrally formed therewith support pads 40 a to 40 d on which the disc cartridge C is supported. The support pads 40 a to 40 d are formed on the inner L-shaped portions of the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d of substantially L-shaped configuration in cross section with a predetermined level difference from the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. Accordingly, when the disc cartridge C is accommodated in the case body 12, the disc cartridge C is resiliently held by the resilient holding members 15 a to 15 d and supported on the support pads 40 a to 40 d . A predetermined spacing is thus set between the disc cartridge C and the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12 with the result that the disc cartridge C is held spaced apart from the bottom wall 12 d of the case body 12. In the fourth embodiment when the disc cartridge C is to be removed from the case body 12, it can be removed from the disc case 12 more easily due to the spacing between the case body 12 and the bottom wall 12 d . The synthetic resin to be used to mould the case body and the cover is not limited to those described above and a wide variety of synthetic resins may be utilized. The disc cartridge case of the invention is particularly suitable as a portable disc cartridge case.

Claims: A case (11) for a disc cartridge comprising: a cover (21); and a case body (12) having the cover (21) rotatably attached thereto and having integrally formed on its bottom wall (12 d ) a plurality of resilient holding members (15 a to 15 d ) resiliently to hold a disc cartridge (C); characterised in that slots (16 a to 16 d ) are formed through the bottom wall (12 d ) of the case body (12) around and adjacent outer circumferential surfaces of the resilient holding members (15 a to 15 d ) so that portions of the bottom wall (12 d ) on which the resilient members (15 a to 15 d ) are formed can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom wall (12 d ). A case according to claim 1, wherein the case body (12) further includes means (40 a to 40 d ) to form a predetermined spacing between the disc cartridge (C) and the bottom wall (12 d ) of the case body. A case according to claim 3, wherein said means are support pads (40 a to 40 d ) formed on the resilient holding members (15 a to 15 d ). A case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the cover (21) is made of a transparent synthetic resin and has on its inside wall a pocket (21 d ) in which a paper slip (S) can be accommodated; and the case body (12) includes a pair of parallel side walls (12 a , 12 b ) by which the first member (21) is rotatably attached and a wall portion (12c) to couple the pair of side walls (12 a , 12 b ), the plurality of resilient holding members (15 a to 15 d ) being formed on corner regions of the bottom wall (12 d ).

Inventors: KOBAYASHI SHINKICHI, MIZUNO TOMIO, KOBAYASHI, SHINKICHI, MIZUNO, TOMIO, Kobayashi, Shinkichi, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp., Mizuno, Tomio, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp.
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11B33
IPC codes: B65D85, G11B23, G11B33