Abstract:
This invention provides a disc case which may simplify the construction of the disc case, facilitate taking out the disc from the disc case, and reduce the cost of manufacturing the disc case, and the disc case, which is a disc case for enclosing the disc-like recording medium, includes an opening part for exposing a part of the disc-like recording medium to the outside and an elastic deformation part of a cantilever structure for holding the disc-like recording medium.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a disc case capable of enclosing a disc-like recording medium such as an optical disc, and a magneto-optical disc.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Most of the disc-like record media used in a recording and reproducing apparatus have heretofore been enclosed in a disc cartridge and used in order to prevent adhesion of fingerprints, oils and fats, or dust to the disc surface which will have an effect on recording performance. In the DVD-RAM specifications (DVD Specifications for Rewritable Disc, Version 2.1) standardized at DVD Forum, a cartridge enclosing a disc with a diameter of 12 cm (hereinafter referred to as 12 cm disc cartridge) and a cartridge enclosing a disc with a diameter of 8 cm (hereinafter referred to as 8 cm disc cartridge) are provided.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an 8 cm disc cartridge  100  conforming to the above specifications. In FIG. 1, the reference numeral  1  designates a quadrilateral case removably enclosing a disc  2 . The case  1  is provided with an opening part  3  for exposing a part of the disc  2  to the outside, positioning holes  4  and  5  for regulating the loading position to the recording and reproducing apparatus, a shutter  6  movably mounted on the case  1  to open and close the opening part  3 , a disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7  for detecting the history of taking out the disc  2  from the case  1 , a disc cartridge detecting sensor hole  8  for detecting loading of the disc cartridge  100  in installation on the recording and reproducing apparatus, a wrong record preventive detecting hole  9  for preventing wrong recording, a detent  10  concerned with the installation and discharge operation of the disc cartridge  100  to the recording and reproducing apparatus, and a wrong insertion preventing slot  11 . The reference numeral  12  designates a disc holder for closing an opening  13  of the case  1  for attaching and removing the disc  2  to form a back wall. The 8 cm disc cartridge  100  is formed to be turned over and inserted/mounted in the recording and reproducing apparatus so that record/reproduce operation is enabled to a both-sided record/reproduce disc.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of construction of the disc holder  12 . The disc holder  12  is provided with an arm  15  having a flange  14  for holding the disc  2 , an unlocking lever  17  for unlocking a locking part  16  on a recessed part (not shown) formed in the case  1 , an unlock preventing member  18  for preventing unlocking of the unlocking lever  17 , and a grip part  19 .  
           [0007]    In this arrangement, the unlock preventing member  18  is removable from the disc holder  12 . In the condition where the disc  2  is not yet taken out of the case  1 , the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7  is blocked by the unlock preventing member  18  to be put in the close state, and the movement of the unlocking lever  17  in the direction of releasing the engagement of the locking part  16  with the case  1  is prevented. In the case of taking out the disc  2  from the case  1 , first the unlock preventing member  18  is removed from the disc holder  12 . Thus, the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7  is irreversibly put in the open state (the state showing that the disc was taken out in the past), and the unlocking lever  17  can be moved in the direction of releasing the engagement of the locking part  16  with the case  1 . In this state, with the locking lever  17  held from both sides to release the engagement of the locking part  16  with the case  1 , the disc holder  12  is drawn out of the case  1 , whereby the disc  2  is taken out in the state of being held on the disc holder  12  from the case  1 . In storing the disc  2  in the case  1 , the disc  2  is held on the disc holder  12 , and then the disc holder  12  is inserted into the case  1 , or after the disc  2  is inserted into the case  1 , the disc holder  12  is inserted into the case  1 .  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a 12 cm disc cartridge in accordance with the above specifications. The 12 cm disc cartridge  200  also has the components of the same functions as those of the 8 cm disc cartridge, and those components are designated by the same reference numerals as those of 8 cm disc cartridge. In the 12 cm disc cartridge standards, however, the constitution for taking out the disc  2  from the case  1  is not regulated, and then in FIG. 4, a perspective view shows an example of schematic construction adopted in a cartridge on the market. In FIG. 4, the reference numeral  21  is an opening and closing door for closing the attaching and removing opening  13  for taking out the disc  2  from the case  1 , which is rotatably fitted to a pivot  22  mounted on the case  1 . The opening and closing door  21  is locked on the case  1  by engagement of the locking part  16  with a recessed part (not shown) formed in the case  1 . The reference numeral  23  is an opening preventing member for keeping the opening and closing door  21  in the closed state, which is removably planted on the opening and closing door  21 .  
           [0009]    In this arrangement, in the condition where the disc  2  is not yet taken out of the case  1 , the opening preventing member  23  is inserted to thereby put the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7  in the closed state and prevent the opening and closing door  21  from moving in the opening direction.  
           [0010]    In the case of taking out the disc  2  from the case  1 , first the opening preventing member  23  is removed from the opening and closing door  21 . Thus, the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7  is irreversibly put in the open state, and the opening and closing door  21  can be moved in the opening direction. In this state, the engagement of the locking part  16  with the recessed part (not shown) formed in the case  1  is released to open the opening and closing door  21 , so that the disc  2  can be taken out through the attaching and removing opening  13 .  
           [0011]    The disc  2  is stored in the case  1  by inserting the disc  2  into the case, and then closing the opening and closing the door  21 .  
           [0012]    In either case of the 8 cm cartridge  100  and 12 cm cartridge  200 , as described above, the disc  2  is removably stored in the case  1 . The reason for adopting the removable structure is that the disc mounting interchangeability is secured among various apparatus. For example, the disc recorded by the recording and reproducing apparatus for a disc cartridge can be mounted in a reproducing apparatus used by the disc simple body as to reproduce the record. Further, the disc recorded by the recording and reproducing apparatus for an 8 cm disc cartridge can be recorded or reproduced by the recording and reproducing apparatus for 12 cm disc cartridge having an 8 cm disc mounting part.  
           [0013]    In the conventional disc cartridge, as described above, adhesion of fingerprints, oils and fats, or dust to the disc surface which will have an effect on recording performance is prevented and simultaneously secured is the convenience that the recorded disc is taken out of the disc cartridge and mounted on another recording and reproducing apparatus or reproducing apparatus to be recorded or reproduced.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    In the conventional disc cartridge, however, the environment of the stored disc is surrounded with a case, so it is necessary to form the case by at least two, upper and lower pieces. Further, for the reason of needing a shutter for opening and closing an opening part provided in the case, there are limits to simplifying the constitution of the cartridge, facilitating the removal of the disc from the cartridge and reducing the cost of manufacturing the cartridge.  
           [0015]    As for error correcting technology, recently the reliability of recording and reproduction has been remarkably improved by the adaptive record control corresponding to the state of the disc surface for reducing data writing failure and enhancing the repeated reproduction of the same portion or error correcting processing for reducing the data wrong recognition. Thus, while it is not yet enough for compensating for deterioration of recording and reproducing performance due to adhesion of fingerprints to the disc surface, as for the adhesion of dust to the disc surface, with the recording density of about 3G bit per 1 inch 2 , in the case of recording an animation by the disc where dust adheres to the surface thereof in the normal storage or operational condition, the deterioration of recording and reproducing performance can be restrained to such a degree that the generation of block noise is not recognized on its reproduced screen, and further improvements have been expected in future.  
           [0016]    The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a disc case or a case which may simplify the constitution of the disc case, facilitate the removal of a disc from the disc case, and reduce the cost of manufacturing the disc case.  
           [0017]    Further, the invention secures the interchangeability with the existing disc cartridge in the disc case or the case.  
           [0018]    According to an aspect of the invention, the disc case enclosing a disc-like recording medium includes an opening part for exposing a part of the disc-like recording medium to the outside and a cantilever-structure elastic deformation part holding the disc-like recording medium and deformed in the direction of thickness of the disc-like recording medium.  
           [0019]    According to another aspect of the invention, the disc case has the elastic deformation part deformed to remove the disc-like recording medium.  
           [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention, the disc case is used in the same recording and reproducing apparatus as the disc cartridge, the disc cartridge has a first disc-like recording medium and a first quadrangular case removably enclosing the first disc-like recording medium, the first case is provided with a first opening part for exposing a part of the first disc-like recording medium to the outside, a first positioning hole for regulating the loading position to the recording and reproducing apparatus, a shutter movably mounted on the first case for opening and closing the first opening part, and a first sensor hole showing the take-out history of the first disc-like recording medium, the disc case has a second disc-like recording medium having the substantially same diameter as that of the first disc-like recording medium, and a second case having the substantially same shape as the first case removably enclosing the second disc-like recording medium, the second case is provided with a second opening part for exposing a part of the second disc-like recording medium to the outside, a second positioning hole provided in a portion corresponding to the first positioning hole for regulating the loading position to the recording and reproducing apparatus, a second sensor hole showing the take-out history of the second disc-like recording medium, and a cantilever-structure elastic deformation part deformed in the direction of thickness of the disc for removably enclosing the second disc-like recording medium.  
           [0021]    According to another aspect of the invention, a case capable of enclosing a disc-like recording medium includes an opening part for exposing a part of a disc-like recording medium to the outside, and a cantilever-structure elastic deformation part holding the disc-like recording medium and deformed in the direction of thickness of the disc-like recording medium.  
           [0022]    In the above case, the elastic deformation part is deformed to get the disc-like recording medium in and out.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the followings, wherein  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an 8 cm DVD-RAM disc cartridge;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the constitution of the 8 cm DVD-RAM disc holder;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a 12 cm DVD-RAM disc cartridge;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an opening and closing door of the 12 cm DVD-RAM disc cartridge;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the constitution of the surface side of a first embodiment;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the constitution of the back of the first embodiment;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the surface side of a disc case from which a disc is taken out in the first embodiment;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an elastic deformation part of the disc case shown in FIG. 8 to an enlarged scale;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the condition where the elastic deformation part of the disc case is deformed within the range of elasticity to abut on a deformation regulating part;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the condition in the course of storing and taking out the disc from and in the case in the first embodiment;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the condition of completing taking out the disc from the case in the first embodiment;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the constitution of the surface side of a second embodiment;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the constitution of the back of the second embodiment;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the condition of taking out the disc from the case in the second embodiment;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the constitution of the surface side of a third embodiment;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the constitution of the back of the third embodiment;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the constitution of the surface side of a fourth embodiment; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the constitution of the back of the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    First main reference numerals and symbols used in the drawings will now be described.  
         [0043]    [0043] 1 : case of a disc cartridge  2 : disc enclosed in the case  7 : disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  12 : disc holder  31 : case  32 : disc  36 : elastic deformation part  37 : disc take-out history detecting sensor  45 : guide part  46 : deformation regulating part  47 : elastic deformation part  54 : elastic deformation part  100 : 8 cm disc cartridge  200 : 12 cm disc cartridge  300 : a first embodiment of disc case  400 : a second embodiment of disc case  500 : third embodiment of disc case  600 : fourth embodiment of disc case  
         [0044]    The embodiments of disc cases according to the invention will now be described by the attached drawings.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the surface side of the first disc case  300 , and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the back thereof. In the drawings, the reference numeral  31  is a case integrally formed of plastics such as polycarbonate resin, which has the substantially same outline of the above 8 cm disc cartridge  100 . The disc  32  (either one-sided record/reproduce or both-sided record/reproduce) is removably held on the case  31  to constitute the disc case  300 .  
         [0046]    The case  31  includes an opening part  33  for exposing the disc  32  to the outside, positioning holes  4 , 5  provided in the 8 cm disc cartridge  100  for regulating the loading position to the recording and reproducing apparatus, the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  7 , the cartridge detecting sensor hole  8 , positioning holes  34  and  35  provided in portions corresponding to a detent  10  and a wrong insertion preventing slot  11 , respectively, the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  37 , a disc case detecting sensor hole  38   a , a detent  40  and a wrong insertion preventing slot  41 .  
         [0047]    In this arrangement, the disc take-out history detecting sensor hole  37  is set to the open state, and the information corresponding to the open state is always held therein. This is adopted in consideration of the possibility that in mounting the disc case  300  in the recording and reproducing apparatus, an operator touches the information recorded surface of the disc  32  through the opening part  33  by mistake even if there is no disc take-out history from the case  31 .  
         [0048]    The reference numeral  36  designates the elastic deformation part for removably holding the disc  32 , and the reference numeral  39  designates a fixed flange part for holding the disc  32  in co-operation with the elastic deformation part  36 . The disc  32  is regulated from being moved in the direction of thickness by the flange part  39 .  
         [0049]    The reference numeral  42  is a front end face of the case  31 , which has a linear part moving while sliding not to obstruct the movement of a shutter opening and closing mechanism (not shown) provided in the recording and reproducing apparatus when the recording and reproducing apparatus is loaded with the 8 cm disc cartridge  100 . The reference numeral  43  is a label area.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the surface side of the case  31  from which the disc  32  is taken out. In the drawing, the reference numeral  44  is a disc accommodating part for accommodating the disc  32 . FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the elastic deformation part  36  in FIG. 7 to an enlarged scale. The elastic deformation part  36  has a cantilever structure deformable in the direction of thickness of the disc  32  enclosed in the case  31 , and it is provided with a guide part  45  having a slant face at the forward end part thereof, a part of which always enters the thickness of the case  31 , whereby in the case of forming the forward end part of the cantilever to project over the top face of thecase 31 , in mounting or removing to and from the recording and reproducing apparatus, the forward end part is prevented from colliding with a member of the apparatus side to interrupt the mounting or removing operation. The guide part  45  also serves as a radial position regulating wall for regulating the radial position of the disc  32 , and the disc  32  enclosed in the case  31  is regulated in the radial position by the radial position regulating wall. The lower surface of the cantilever acts as a height direction regulating wall for the disc  32  to thereby regulate the position in the direction of height. Though the guide part  45  is provided with a function of the radial position regulating wall in the present embodiment, the radial position regulating wall may be constructed separately from the guide part  45 . The reference numeral  46  is a deformation regulating part for regulating the deformation of the elastic deformation part  36 , which abuts on the elastic deformation part  36  within the range of elastic deformation to prevent the elastic deformation part  36  from deforming beyond the elastic deformation range when the elastic deformation part  36  is deformed in the direction of thickness of the disc  32  enclosed in the case  31 . FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the condition where the elastic deformation part  36  is deformed within the range of elasticity to abut on the deformation regulating part  46 . In the drawing, the disc  32  causing the elastic deformation part  36  to be deformed is omitted for clearly showing the above abutting state. It is known from FIGS. 8 and 9 that the opposite part of the elastic deformation part  36  is opened like a window. This structure will produce the effect of easily making a metal mold for manufacturing a case having the elastic deformation part.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the condition in the course of taking out the disc  32  from the case  31  or storing the disc  32  in the case  31 . When an operator holds the disc  32  (the operator&#39;s hand is not shown) and lifts the disc  32  from the condition of FIG. 5, the elastic deformation part  36  of the case  31  is deformed in the direction of thickness of the disc (upward), so that a part of the disc  32  is out of the thickness of the case  31 . When the disc  32  is drawn out in the direction of an arrow A in FIG. 5 from the above condition, it enters the condition of FIG. 10. The disc  32  is further drawn out in the direction of the arrow A, thereby separating the disc  32  from the case  31  to complete taking out. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the condition of completing taking out.  
         [0052]    In the case of storing the disc  32  in the case  31 , the disc  32  is stored in the disc accommodating part  44  while hiding under the elastic deformation part  36 , which results in completion of storing of FIG. 5 through the condition of FIG. 10.  
         [0053]    The flexural strength of the elastic deformation part  36  will now be described. In order to take out the disc  32  from the present embodiment of the case  31 , it is necessary that the elastic deformation part  36  is deformed 1 mm in the direction of thickness. When the above deformation amount is obtained with the force of about 0.5 to 0.6 N, the disc is easily put in and out, so it is favorable in view of operation. That is, preferably the elastic deformation part is designed so that the Mises stress is 22 MPa (load of 0.55 N). This value has enough allowance as compared with the Mises stress (80 to 90 MPa) taken as general flexural strength. It is desirable that the fixed flange part  39  will not be elastically deformed even if the same force is applied thereto. It is considered that when the elastic deformation amount is under 0.002 mm with the application of force of about 0.5 to 0.6N, the above requirements can be satisfied. That is, it is preferable to design so that the Mises stress of the fixed flange part  39  is equal to or smaller than 1.5 MPa (load of 0.55 N).  
         [0054]    As described above, the case  31  has the substantially same outline as the 8 cm disc cartridge  100 , so that it can be reversed and inserted/mounted in the recording and reproducing apparatus. That is, in mounting the both-sided record/reproduce disc on the case  31  to be used, it can be reversed and inserted/mounted in the recording and reproducing apparatus, whereby record/reproduce operation can be performed for the recording/reproducing surface on the opposite side without taking out the disc from the case  31 .  
         [0055]    A second embodiment of the invention will now be described. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the surface side of a second disc case  400 , and FIG. 13 is a plan view of the back thereof. In the drawings, the components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment of the disc case  300  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is the constitution of the elastic deformation part  47  for removably holding the disc  32 . The elastic deformation part  47  is elastically deformed in the directions of arrows C and D by moving the enclosed disc  32  in the direction of an arrow B by an operator. A flange  48  mounted on the elastic deformation part  47  regulates the position in the direction of height of the disc  32 , and a cylindrical part  49  mounted on the elastic deformation part  47  regulates the radial position thereof. In this arrangement, being deformed in the directions of the arrows C and D or in the opposite directions to the arrows C and D, the elastic deformation part  47  abuts on regulating walls  50  and  51 , whereby the elastic deformation part  47  is prevented from being deformed beyond the range of elasticity.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 14 shows the process of taking out the disc  32  from the case  31  in the second embodiment. The disc  32  held by the operator (the operator&#39;s hand is not shown) is moved to abut  5  on a raised part of a disc accommodating part  44  while being pressed to the elastic deformation part  47  to apply bending deformation in the directions of the arrows C and D shown in FIG. 1. When the disc  32  is lifted upward as shown in FIG. 14( b ), the disc  32  gets over the fixed flange part  39 . The disc  32  is moved from this state in the opposite direction to the arrow B shown in FIG. 12, whereby the disc  32  is separated from the elastic deformation part  47  as well to be taken out of the case  31  (FIG. 14( c )).  
         [0057]    In the case of storing the disc  32  in the case  31 , the disc  32  is inserted between the flange  48  of the elastic deformation part  47  and the disc accommodating part  44 . The disc  32  is moved from this state in the direction of the arrow B to abut on the raised part of the disc accommodating part  44  while being pressed to the elastic deformation part  47  to apply bending deformation in the directions of the arrows C and D. The disc  32  is pushed downward from this state below the fixed flange  39 . When the energizing force in the direction of the arrow B applied to the disc  32  is removed, the disc  32  is moved to the opposite side to the arrow B by the elastic returning force of the elastic deformation part  47  to enter below the fixed flange  39 . Thus, storing is completed.  
         [0058]    In the second embodiment, as described above, two steps of operation for deforming the elastic deformation part and lifting (pushing down) the disc are required for taking out or storing the disc  32 , so that the disc  32  can be held more surely as compared with the first embodiment in which the disc is taken out or stored by one step of operation.  
         [0059]    A third embodiment will now be described. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the surface side of a third disc case  500 , and FIG. 16 is a plan view of the back. In FIGS. 15 and 16, the components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment of the disc case  300  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is the constitution of the elastic deformation part  54  for removably holding the disc  32 . The elastic deformation part  54  is elastically deformed in the direction of an arrow E by moving the enclosed disc  32  by the operator. A flange  55  mounted on the elastic deformation part  54  regulates the position in the direction of height of the disc  32 . Being deformed in the direction of the arrow E or in the opposite direction to the arrow E, the elastic deformation part  54  abuts on regulating walls  52  and  53  provided on the case  31  within the range of elasticity, whereby the elastic deformation part  54  is prevented from being deformed beyond the range of elasticity.  
         [0060]    Also in the third embodiment, the disc  32  is taken out and stored by conducting the operation similar to that of the second embodiment (FIG. 14).  
         [0061]    A fourth embodiment will now be described. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the surface side of the disc case  600 , and FIG. 18 is a plan view of the back. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment of the disc case  300  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is the constitution of a front edge  42  of the case. In the fourth embodiment of the disc case  600 , the front edge  42  of the case is formed of material easy to elastically deform, so that after the case is elastically deformed in the directions of arrows F and G, the enclosed disc  32  is moved by the operator to take out and store the disc  32 .  
         [0062]    In the above embodiments, the disc  32  stored in the case  31  may be of a type in which information is recorded on one side of the disc and/or information is reproduced from one side of the disc, or a type in which information is recorded on both sides of the disc and/or information is reproduced from both sides of the disc. Corresponding to the above conditions, the case  31  is constructed to be mounted on the recording and reproducing apparatus so that the information recording surface of the enclosed disc  32  to be recorded or reproduced is opposite to an optical head in the recording and reproducing apparatus. The case  31 , as described above, has the substantially same outline as the 8 cm disc cartridge  100 . To be concrete, the case  31  shown in FIG. 5 has a width W of about 89 mm, and a depth D of about 91 mm, which are respectively about 1.11 and 1.14 times as large as the diameter φ about 80 mm of the enclosed disc  32 , and both of which are 1.2 times or less so that the case is small-sized. In addition, when the diameter φ of the disc  32  is set to 80 mm and the thickness thereof is set to about 1.2 mm, and the type is selected from DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW, it is possible to construct a system enhanced in disc mounting interchangeability between the apparatus.  
         [0063]    Though the case  31  is constructed to be serviceable to the same recording and reproducing apparatus as the 8 cm disc cartridge  100  in the embodiments, it may be constructed to be serviceable to the same recording and reproducing apparatus as the 12 cm disc cartridge  200 . The case is not limited to the construction usable in the same recording and reproducing apparatus as the disc cartridge, and only the disc case of the invention is constructed to be serviceable to the recording and reproducing apparatus, which will cause no problem. In the case of constructing the case serviceable to the same recording and reproducing apparatus as the 12 cm disc cartridge  200 , it is suitable that the outline of the case  31  is made substantially equal to that of the 12 cm disc cartridge, the diameter φ of the disc  32  to be enclosed is about 120 mm, the thickness thereof is about 1.2 mm and the type is selected from DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. In the case of constructing the disc case  300  only to be serviceable to the recording and reproducing apparatus, the outline of the case  31  and the diameter and thickness of the enclosed disc  32  may be arbitrarily set, and for reduction of size, however, the outline dimension of at least one portion of the case  31  in the radial direction of the disc (outline dimensions corresponding to W or D in FIG. 5) is set 1.2 times or less as larger as the diameter φ of the enclosed disc  32 .  
         [0064]    According to the invention, as described above, it is possible to obtain the disc case simple in structure, and capable of facilitating taking out the disc. Since the disc case has interchangeability with the existing disc cartridge, it can be mounted on the existing recording and reproducing apparatus.