Abstract:
A folder is described which holds and protects media, such as multiple disks, during and subsequent to shipping. An insert is provided that may be assembled with the folder and which increases the disk storage capacity of the folder assembly. A pocket is also provided to hold documentation associated with the disks.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a folder for holding and protecting media, such as computer disks and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Computer software, including various types of digitally encoded information used with computers, is often bought and sold. To transfer this software to the customer, the seller typically stores the software on a media, such as compact discs or floppy disks. This media must then be packaged for sale and shipment. The software product may also include periodic updates, requiring that updates be shipped to each customer several times per year. In addition to the significant number of shipments that may be required, there is also variation among different software products and their updates. While some shipments may include only one disk, others, containing multiple or complex products, may require several disks. As existing products are enhanced, and future products are produced, an increasing number of disks are often required. 
     A number of package types have been used to hold media, such as compact discs. One such package, used in the software industry, is a laminated thermoformed binder, made of four layers of laminated plastic. One layer is thermal formed to create cavities that hold compact discs. This binder effectively holds and protects the discs, but, because of its materials and manufacturing process, it is relatively expensive to produce. The binder is also bulky, which reduces its suitability for software update shipping. Provisions for including full-size documentation, such as A4 size paper, are also lacking. 
     The music industry, which routinely ships compact discs, offers additional package types. The most common compact disc package is called a jewel box. The jewel box is a three piece assembly of molded polycarbonate and styrene. Generally, two clear pieces are hinged along a common side and a compact disc holder is snap fit into the assembly While the jewel box protects an enclosed compact disc, it is fragile, expensive to manufacture, and lacks provisions for holding A4 or similar sized documentation. 
     U.S Pat. No. 4,694,954, issued on Sep. 22, 1987 to Moss, discloses a low cost compact disc enclosure as an alternative to the jewel box. It is formed from a folded and bonded blank of rigid material The enclosure does not include provisions for holding A4 or similarly sized documentation. In addition, no device or method is disclosed that would allow the compact disc storage capacity of the enclosure to be increased. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812, issued on Dec. 1, 1987 to Kosterka, discloses a package for one or more compact discs only, no provision being made for documentation. The package is formed from a rectangular sheet and one or more compact disc holders. The compact disc holder itself is preferably an injection molded plastic element, similar to the compact disc holder found in the jewel box. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,731, issued on Jul. 25, 1989 to Youngs, discloses a storage device for a single compact disc. Also disclosed is a storage device for one or more compact discs. Both storage devices are formed from a rectangular nonwoven fabric, a backing sheet, a transparent front sheet, and a pocket forming sheet. The disclosed storage device for one or more compact discs is also securable in a binding device. To provide expanded storage, multiple storage devices must be secured in a binding device, such as a ring binder. 
     Accordingly, the above described devices for packaging compact discs are either expensive or limited in storage capacity. The one mentioned device with provisions for increased compact disc storage capacity requires the use of an additional binding device which increases the cost of the assembly. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to have an inexpensive device that can hold the media, protect the media during shipping, and provide an easily expandable media storage capacity. It is further desirable that this device be capable of holding both media and A4 or similar sized documentation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a broad aspect, the invention relates to a folder for holding media, such as multiple computer disks. In this regard, the folder includes one disk pocket for each disk to be held. The folder may also include a pocket to hold A4 or similarly sized documentation. The folder is suitable for both shipment and storage of the media. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to an insert for holding media, such as one or more computer disks. The insert includes one disk pocket for each disk to be held in the insert, and includes one or more insert tabs. The insert is removably held in the folder by placing an insert tab, or tabs, in a corresponding disk pocket, or pockets, of the folder. Additional inserts may be assembled with the folder by placing an insert tab, or tabs, of each additional insert in a corresponding disk pocket, or pockets, of a previously assembled insert. Accordingly, the addition of inserts to a folder increases the disk storage capacity of the folder assembly. The resulting folder assembly, like the folder, is suitable for both shipment and storage of media. 
     As disclosed, both the folder and inserts are suitable for holding a variety of media, such as optical discs or magnetic floppy disks. 
     In a preferred form, the folder is constructed from a shaped blank of foldable material separated into various regions by score lines. The folder includes one disk pocket for each disk to be held. The pocket arrangement of the folder is formed between to overlaying panels, which are joined together in selected regions to define the pockets. The folder may also be assembled with one or more inserts, which may also be formed from a blank of foldable material, to increase the disk capacity of the folder assembly. The insert includes additional disk pockets. The pocket arrangement of the insert is also formed between two overlaying panels which are joined together in selected regions to define the pockets. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unfolded blank of foldable material from which a folder according to the present invention is formed. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric diagram of a folder formed from the blank of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of an unfolded blank of foldable material from which an insert according to the present invention is formed. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric diagram of an insert formed from the blank of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric assembly diagram of the insert of FIG. 4 positioned for placement in the folder of FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric diagram of the assembled folder and insert of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric diagram of a folder assembly containing two inserts, with the folder assembly holding documentation, disks, and other materials. 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closed folder assembly of FIG. 7 without the documentation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A folder according to the invention can be constructed from a variety of materials and can include a combination of materials. For example, such a folder may be constructed of individual sections of paperboard hingedly joined together and covered in cloth or plastic covering material. Pockets for holding media and included in the folder construction can be formed by cloth or plastic material bonded or adhered at appropriate locations to the hingedly joined sections. Then too, a variety of foldable materials can be used to form a folder according to the invention. Solid bleached sulfate chipboard, with a thickness of approximately 0.018 inches, is the preferred foldable material. However, machine clay coated white back, gloss laminated solid sulfate, and the like are also suitable, as are various thicknesses of these and other materials. Construction materials suitable for such a folder are also suitable for an insert in accordance with the invention. Accordingly, disclosure of the invention constructed from a blank of paperboard is illustrative. 
     FIG. 1 shows an unfolded blank 1 of foldable paperboard shaped and scored to be folded and bonded together to form a folder 90 as shown in FIG. 2. The blank 1 can be either plain or preprinted. In lieu of, or in addition to, preprinting, other suitable techniques of expressing words or images on the surfaces of the blank 1 may be used. These techniques include embossing, stamping, labeling, and the like. 
     Gluing is the preferred method of bonding the folded blank. Solvent based glue, water soluble glue, hot melt glue, or the like are suitable. Adhesive taping and other methods may also be used. Heat sealing techniques are also appropriate if the folder is formed from plastic materials. 
     As shown, the blank 1 is comprised of five sections. Each section is separated from adjacent sections by a score line, such as a fold line, a flex line, or a hinge line. Referring to FIG. 1, from left to right, the five sections are identified as a pocket panel 2, a first panel 4, a spine 6, a second panel 8, and a disk panel 10. The pocket panel 2 includes a slot 12, and the first panel 4 includes a pocket flap 14. A first pocket fold line 16 separates the pocket panel 2 from the first panel 4, and a second pocket fold line 18 separates the pocket flap 14 from the first panel 4. First and second hinge lines 20, 22 separate the spine 6 from the first and second panels 4, 8 respectively. Finally, a disk fold line 24 separates the second panel 8 from the disk panel 10. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the disk panel 10 includes a first disk flap 26 and a second disk flap 28. The first and second disk flaps 26, 28 are separated from the remainder of the disk panel 10 by first and second flap fold lines 30, 32 respectively. In addition, the disk panel 10 includes four disk retainers 34, 36, 38, 40 positioned in two rows of two, and a bonding region 42. Locking tabs 44, 50, each formed by a cut 46, 52 and a flex line 48, 54, may also be included for some or for all of the disk retainers. In FIG. 1, two disk retainers 38, 40 include locking tabs 44, 50. These two disk retainers 38, 40 are also referred to as inner disk retainers because of their position adjacent to the spine 8 after assembly of the blank 1. 
     Fold lines 24, 30, 32 separate the bonding region from the second panel 8 and from the disk flaps 26, 28. Flex lines 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 separate the bonding region from the disk retainers 34, 36, 38, 40. The bonding region 42 in FIG. 1 is further separated from two disk retainers 34, 36 by first and second cutout patterns 56, 58 respectively in the blank 1. Each disk retainer 34, 36, 38, 40 includes one edge, the first edge 72, second edge 74, third edge 76, and fourth edge 78 respectively. The first and second edges 72, 74 are formed by two cut lines bordering the first and second cutout patterns 56, 58 respectively. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pocket 80 is formed by folding and bonding portions of the blank 1. First, the pocket flap 14 is folded inwardly along its fold line 18 into an overlaying relationship with the major surface of the first panel 4. Next, the pocket panel 2 is folded inwardly along its fold line 16, toward the first panel 4 and pocket flap 14, such that the pocket panel 2 overlays the pocket flap 14. The pocket panel 2 and the pocket flap 14 are secured in their inwardly folded positions by suitable bonding, completing the formation of the pocket 80, with the opening of the pocket 80 generally facing toward the spine 6. Bonding may be accomplished by gluing, taping, laminating, or the like. 
     The disk pockets 82, 84, 86, 88 are formed by folding and bonding the blank 1 in a manner similar to the formation of the pocket 80. The disk flaps 26, 28 are first folded inwardly along their respective fold lines 30, 32 into an overlaying relationship with the major surface of the disk panel 10. The disk panel 10 is then folded inwardly, along the disk fold line 24, toward the second panel 8, such that the disk flaps 26, 28 overlay the major surface of the second panel 8, and the disk panel 10 overlays the disk flaps 26, 28. Finally, the second panel 8 is bonded to the disk flaps 26, 28 and to the bonding region 42 of the disk panel 10. The disk pockets 82, 84, 86, 88 are thus formed between the major surfaces of the second panel 8 and the disk panel 10, which are joined together along the bonding region 42 and along the disk flaps 26, 28 to define the disk pockets 82, 84, 86, 88. The bonding may be accomplished by gluing, taping, laminating, or the like. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the folder 90 includes four disk pockets 82, 84, 86, 88. However, the number of disk pockets may be varied. If smaller diameter disks are to be held, correspondingly smaller disk pockets are required. This reduction in disk pocket size may allow an increased number of disk pockets to be formed by a disk panel. Alternatively, larger disks may be held by forming fewer, but larger, disk pockets. 
     FIG. 3 shows an infolded insert blank 100 of paperboard shaped and scored to be folded and bonded together to form the insert 190 shown in FIG. 4. The insert blank 100 can be either plain or preprinted. In lieu of, or in addition to, preprinting, other suitable techniques of expressing words or images on the surfaces of the insert blank 100 may be used. These techniques include embossing, stamping, labeling, and the like. 
     The insert blank 100 shown in FIG. 3 is comprised of three sections. Each section is separated from adjacent sections by a score line, such as a fold line or a hinge line. Beginning at the left side of FIG. 3, two insert tabs 102, 104 are separated from an insert panel 108 by a hinge line 106. The insert panel 108 is in turn separated from an insert disk panel 110 by an insert fold line 124. 
     The insert disk panel 110 includes first and second insert flaps 126, 128. An insert disk panel also includes one or more insert disk retainers and may include one or more insert locking tabs. As shown in FIG. 3, the insert disk panel 110 includes four insert disk retainers 134, 136, 138, 140, two insert locking tabs 144, 150, and an insert bonding region 142. The insert disk panel 110 is identical to the disk panel 10 of the folder 90, shown in FIG. 1. However, the configuration of an insert disk panel can differ from the configuration of a folder. 
     The insert disk panel 110 of FIG. 3 includes four insert disk retainers 134, 136, 138, 140, one for each disk to be held. However, the number of insert disk retainers may be varied. If smaller diameter disks are to be held, correspondingly smaller insert disk retainers are required. This reduction in insert disk retainer size may allow an increased number of insert disk retainers to be formed by a disk panel. Alternatively, larger disks may be held by forming fewer, but larger, insert disk retainers. The number and size of insert disk retainers formed on an insert disk panel need not match the number and size of disk retainers formed on the disk panel of a folder. 
     Insert disk pockets 182, 184, 186, 188 of FIG. 4 are formed from the insert blank 100 in the same way as the disk pockets 82, 84, 86, 88 of the folder 90 are formed from the blank 1 of FIG. 1. The insert flaps 126, 128 are first folded along their respective insert flap fold lines 130, 132 into an overlaying relationship with the major surface of the insert disk panel 110. The insert disk panel 110 is then folded inwardly, along the insert fold line 124, toward the insert panel 108, such that the insert flaps 126, 128 overlay the major surface of the insert panel 108, and the insert disk panel 110 overlays the insert flaps 126, 128. Finally, the insert panel 108 is bonded to the insert flaps 126, 128, and to the insert bonding region 142 of the insert disk panel 110. The insert disk pockets 182, 184, 186, 188 are thus formed between the major surfaces of the insert panel 108 and the insert disk panel 110, which are joined together along the insert bonding region 142 and along the insert flaps 126, 128 to define the insert disk pockets 182, 184, 186, 188. The bonding may be accomplished by gluing, taping, laminating, or the like. 
     FIG. 4 shows the insert 190 with four insert disk pockets 182, 184, 186, 188. However, the size and the number of the insert disk pockets formed in an insert may be varied. The degree of possible variation matches the variation described for the folder of FIG. 2. The size and number of insert disk pockets chosen for an insert need not match the configuration of disk pockets chosen for a folder. 
     FIG. 5 shows the insert 190 positioned for placement in the folder 90. The insert 190 increases the disk storage capacity of the resulting folder assembly 200 shown in FIG. 6. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the insert tabs 102, 104 are used to removably secure the insert 190 of FIG. 4 to the folder 90. This is done by placing each insert tab 102, 104 in a corresponding disk pocket 86, 88 of the folder 90. The insert 190 includes two insert tabs 102, 104 whose size and relative spacing match that of the two inner disk pockets 86, 88 of the folder 90, respectively. The two inner disk pockets 86, 88 may each contain a disk in addition to the respective insert tabs 102, 104. 
     FIG. 6 shows the completed folder assembly 200, including the folder 90 and one insert 190. The folder assembly 200 opens and closes like a book, with the insert 190 acting as a stiff page. Additional inserts may be added to the folder assembly (see FIG. 7.) This is done in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5. However, the insert tabs of each successive insert are placed into the corresponding insert disk pockets of the previously assembled insert. This requires that the size and relative spacing of the insert tabs of the successive inserts match the respective insert disk pockets of the previously assembled insert. 
     To accommodate the thickness of multiple inserts, the width of the spine 6 may be increased. Alternatively, the spine 6 may include a series of parallel scores, running the length of the spine 6. Much like a standard office file folder, a spine including parallel scores may accommodate a variety of thicknesses. The width of the spine may then be chosen based on the thickness of the documentation to be held, as well as on the number of inserts and disks to be held. 
     FIG. 7 shows a folder assembly 300 that includes two inserts 190, 290. This folder assembly 300 is shown with its contents in place. The contents of this folder assembly 300 may include up to twelve disks and documentation. Additional material may also be held in the slot 12. This additional material may include adhesive labels to be applied to the spine 6 for identification of the folder assembly 300, and other items. Six disks 92, 192, 292, 294, 296, 298, documentation 303, and additional material 305 are shown in the folder assembly 300 in FIG. 7. 
     Disks located farthest from the spine are secured by locking tabs. This prevents these disks from becoming dislodged during shipment. Two disks 292, 294 are shown to be secured by locking tabs 244, 250 in FIG. 7. Disks located nearest to the spine do not require locking tabs. When the folder assembly is folded closed for shipment, the spine traps these disks in their respective disk pockets, preventing the disks from becoming dislodged. Two disks 296, 298 are shown to be so trapped by the spine 6 in FIG. 7. 
     When compact discs are to be held in a folder or in an insert, additional protection of the compact disc surface may be desired. To minimize abrasion and contamination of the compact disk surface, it is preferred that the compact disc be placed in a protective envelope having a smooth surface finish. Such an envelope may be made from low density polyethylene or coated paper. The envelope, containing the compact disc, is then inserted into a disk pocket of a folder or into an insert disk pocket of an insert. Alternatively, the surface of the blanks, from which the folder and insert are formed, may be coated with plastic. Instead of using a plastic coating, varnish may be applied to the blanks using a printing process. 
     The folder assembly 300 of FIG. 7 is shown holding compact discs. The invention is also suited to holding other types of disks, such as floppy disks of various sizes. 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a folder assembly 400 including a folder 90 and two inserts 190, 290. The folder assembly is shown holding disks. The back insert 190 is secured to the folder 90 by locating the insert tabs of the back insert 190 into the corresponding disk pockets of the folder 90. The front insert 290 is then secured to the back insert 190. This is done by locating the insert tabs of the front insert 290 into the corresponding disk pockets of the back insert 290.