Abstract:
A CD case with guitar pick display capability is disclosed. The CD case includes a first cover and a second cover attached to the first cover. A tray is provided on the first cover, and at least one guitar pick cavity is provided in the tray for holding and displaying at least one guitar pick through the case. A method of packaging a compact disk is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to CD (compact disk) cases for the packaging and/or storage of compact disks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a CD case which is capable of containing and displaying a compact disk and one or multiple guitar picks for packaging, marketing and/or storage purposes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A conventional CD (compact disk) case, also known as a “jewel case”, typically includes a base and a lid which is pivotally attached to the base. A tray provided in the base includes a circular depression which receives a compact disk. A projection or tab typically extends from the center of the depression and snaps into an opening extending through the middle of the compact disk to detachably snap-fit the compact disk in the depression. The lid is pivoted shut on the base to enclose the compact disk in the case. 
   In those jewel cases which are adapted to hold two compact disks, a depression is typically provided in both surfaces of the tray for holding the respective compact disks. The tray is pivotally attached to the base to render accessible the depressions on the respective surfaces of the tray. Compact disks of all varieties are packaged in CD jewel cases, including those which hold music recorded by popular musical artists as well as those which are used to train persons in guitar playing methods. 
   Guitar picks are thin, flat pieces of plastic or wood which are used to strum the strings of an acoustic or electric guitar during guitar play and are frequently used by beginners of guitar playing as well as by experienced players. Typically, guitar picks are packaged in large counter displays, clamshells and/or poly bags with header cards and are sold separately from compact disks used to teach guitar playing methods. 
   What is needed is a CD case which is capable of containing and displaying a compact disk as well as one or multiple guitar picks for packaging, marketing and/or storage purposes. Such a CD case would enhance the marketability of guitar training CDs, for example, by offering one or an assortment of guitar picks along with the guitar training CD. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is generally directed to a CD case with guitar pick display capability. The CD case includes a first cover and a second cover which is attached to the first cover. A tray is provided on the first cover. At least one guitar pick cavity is provided in the tray for holding and displaying at least one guitar pick through the case. 
   The present invention is further directed to a method of packaging a compact disk. The method includes providing a CD case having a first cover and a tray and a second cover attached to the first cover, providing a compact disk and at least one guitar pick on the tray and displaying the compact disk and the at least one guitar pick through the CD case. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks according to the present invention, with the CD case with guitar picks in the closed position, more particularly illustrating a CD depression for holding a compact disk (not illustrated) visible through the lid of the CD case; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks according to the present invention, with the CD case with guitar picks in the closed position, more particularly illustrating multiple guitar pick cavities for holding respective guitar picks (not illustrated) visible through the base of the CD case; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the CD case with guitar picks, with the lid pivoted to the open position on the base and the tray component of the CD case shown in a generally vertical position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the opened CD case illustrated in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a compact disk depression provided in the upper surface of the tray; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the opened CD case illustrated in  FIG. 3 , illustrating multiple guitar pick cavities provided in the lower surface of the tray; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the closed CD case, with a compact disk inserted in the compact disk depression provided in the upper surface of the tray; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the closed CD case, with multiple guitar picks inserted in the respective guitar pick cavities provided in the lower surface of the tray; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the tray component of the CD case, taken along section lines  8 - 8  in  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom view of another embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks according to the present invention, illustrating multiple guitar picks detachably connected to respective guitar pick cavities through connecting tabs. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks, hereinafter CD case, of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the CD case  1  includes a bottom cover  2  which is typically transparent plastic and has a generally rectangular bottom cover panel  3 , side walls  4  and a rear wall  5  which spans the side walls  4 . A pair of spaced-apart insert tabs  6  may extend from the inner surfaces of the respective side walls  4  to retain an insert label (not illustrated) in the bottom cover  2  for display through the bottom cover panel  3 , as is known by those skilled in the art. 
   A tray  8 , which is typically plastic, is pivotally attached to the bottom cover  2  at a hinge  13 . The tray  8  has an upper surface  9  and a lower surface  14 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , a generally circular CD depression  10  may be provided in the upper surface  9  of the tray  8 . A CD support surface  12  is provided at the bottom of the CD depression  10 . A CD attachment tab  11  extends from the CD support surface  12 , at substantially the center of the CD depression  10 . Accordingly, the CD depression  10  is sized and configured to receive and hold a standard compact disk  26  ( FIG. 6 ) in the tray  8  as the CD attachment tab  11  is inserted through a central opening  27  in the compact disk  26 , typically in conventional fashion as will be hereinafter further described. However, it will be understood that the tray  8  may be provided with any attachment mechanism which is known by those skilled in the art and is suitable for detachably mounting the compact disk  26  on the tray  8 . This may include embodiments in which the CD depression  10  is omitted. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a CD support surface elevation  15 , which corresponds to the bottom of the CD depression  10  provided in the upper surface  9  of the tray  8 , may extend from the plane of the lower surface  14  of the tray  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , at least one, and preferably, multiple guitar pick cavities  16  extend into the CD support surface elevation  15 . Alternatively, the guitar pick cavities  16  may extend directly into the lower surface  14  of the tray  8 , such as in embodiments in which the CD depression  10  is omitted from the upper surface  9  of the tray  8  and replaced by an alternative CD attachment mechanism. The guitar pick cavities  16  may be molded, vacuum-formed or otherwise provided in the tray  8  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In a typical arrangement, the multiple guitar pick cavities  16  are arranged around the circumference of the CD support surface elevation  15  in spaced-apart relationship to each other, with a wide end  16   a  of each guitar pick cavity  16  located adjacent to the outer edge of the CD support surface elevation  15  and a narrow end  16   b  of each guitar pick cavity  16  located adjacent to the center  15   a  of the CD support surface elevation  15 . Accordingly, each of the guitar pick cavity  16  is sized and configured to receive a correspondingly-shaped guitar pick  30  ( FIG. 7 ) typically in a snap-fit. The guitar picks  30  may have a conventional size and shape or may be any desired size and shape, in which case the guitar pick cavities  16  may be appropriately sized and configured to receive the guitar picks  30  typically in a snap-fit. 
   A top cover  20  is pivotally attached to the bottom cover  2  at the hinge  13 . The top cover  20  typically includes a top cover panel  21 . A side wall  22  extends upwardly from each side edge of the top cover panel  21 , and the side walls  22  are spanned by a rear wall  23 . Accordingly, the top cover  20  is capable of being pivoted on the hinge  13  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the tray  8  is seated in the bottom cover  2  and the top cover  20  covers the CD depression  10  in the upper surface  9  of the tray  8 , and the opened position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in which the CD depression  10  is exposed. It will be understood that the positions of the CD depression  10  and the guitar pick cavities  16  in the tray  8  may be reversed, in which case the CD depression  10  may be provided in the lower surface  14  of the tray  8  and the guitar pick cavities  16  may be provided in the upper surface  9  of the tray  8 . 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings, in typical use of the CD case with guitar picks  1 , a compact disk  26  is inserted in the CD depression  10  in the upper surface  9  of the tray  8  as the CD attachment tab  11  is inserted through the central opening  27  of the compact disk  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The compact disk  26  may be that of a musical band, for example, or alternatively, may be a guitar methods training CD. Multiple guitar picks  30  are snap-fitted or inserted into the respective guitar pick cavities  16 , with the wide end of each guitar pick  30  seated in the wide end  16   a  of the guitar pick cavity  16  and the narrow end of each guitar pick  30  seated in the narrow end  16   b  of the guitar pick cavity  16 . The tray  8  is seated in the bottom cover  2  and the top cover  20  is closed over the tray  8 . Accordingly, the compact disk  26  is visible through the transparent top cover panel  21  of the top cover  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , whereas the guitar picks  30  are visible through the transparent bottom cover panel  3  of the bottom cover  2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The compact disk  26  and guitar picks  30  can then be marketed in the CD case  1 . 
   It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the visibility of the compact disk  26  and the guitar picks  30  in the CD case  1  allows the compact disk  26  to be marketed in a number of ways. For example, in cases in which the compact disk  26  is that of a musical band or a guitar methods training CD, the name of the band may be printed on each of the guitar picks  30  to attract potential buyers. Furthermore, in cases in which the compact disk  26  is a guitar teaching methods CD, the added bonus of the guitar picks  30  in the CD case  1  renders the compact disk  26  more attractive to potential customers. Moreover, the display characteristics of the CD case  1  facilitates entry of the CD case  1  into mass merchandising outlets and allows for easier placement of RFID (radio frequency identification) tags in or on the CD case  1 . 
   A purchaser (not illustrated) of the CD case  1  accesses the compact disk  26  by pivoting the top cover  20  to the open position on the tray  8 . The compact disk  26  is removed from the tray  8  by lifting the compact disk  26  from the CD depression  10 , thereby removing the CD attachment tab  11  from the central opening  27  of the compact disk  26 . The guitar picks  30  are accessed by pivoting the bottom cover  2  to the open position on the tray  8 . The guitar picks  30  can be individually removed from the guitar pick cavities  16  by manually applying upward pressure to each guitar pick  30 . In cases in which the compact disk  26  is that of a musical band or a guitar teaching methods CD, the compact disk  26  can be played as the purchaser or other user plays a guitar (not illustrated) using one of the guitar picks  30 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the CD case with guitar picks according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1   a . The CD case  1   a  may have the same design as that of the CD case  1 , except that in the CD case  1   a , the guitar picks  30  are injection-molded in the respective guitar pick cavities  16 . Each guitar pick  30  remains detachably connected to the edges of the corresponding guitar pick cavity  16  typically through multiple connecting tabs  32 . The guitar picks  30  can be individually removed from the respective guitar pick cavities  16  by breaking the connecting tabs  32  which attach each guitar pick  30  to the guitar pick cavity  16  and removing the guitar pick  30  from the guitar pick cavity  16 . 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.