Abstract:
The present invention discloses an optical disc storage device which comprises an upper and a lower casings of the size and shape allowing them to be assembled together and form an space for accommodating at least one optical disc; at least one protrusion disposed on an inner side of any of the two casings, such that the diameter of the protrusion restricts a positioning hole of the optical disc at the outer edge of the protrusion; a magnetic component disposed adjacent to the center of the protrusion, so that the optical disc storage device can be attached securely onto metal panel of any appliances, such as a refrigerator, an office appliance or a white board, by the action of the magnetic component for exhibitions and easy accesses, which also enables several optical disc storage devices to be adhered together and stacked or aligned neatly together for a convenient storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to optical disc storage devices, more particularly to an optical disc storage device with an adhesive capability.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In recent years, various optical discs (such as CD and DVD, etc) are introduced to the market. Since these optical discs feature a high storage capacity, easy-to-store and uneasy to be damaged by moisture, therefore they are welcome by the industry and consumers and used extensively for storing various videos, music and information. The optical discs gradually take over the position of the traditional floppy discs and become the trend of a mainstream storage medium. The present popular standard specifications for optical discs are taken for example; the diameter is about 12 cm; the thickness is about 1 mm; the storage capacity is about 650˜750 MB for CDs and 7˜8 GB for DVDs. Traditional devices for containing and storing these optical discs are usually made of a hard plastic material and generally called a compact disc holder  10 . Please refer to  FIG. 1  for the optical disc holder  10  which comprises an upper casing  11  and a lower casing  12 . One side of these two casings  11 ,  12  is pivotally coupled and an accommodating space is enclosed by these casings  11 ,  12  for storing an optical disc  13 . A resilient embedding member  14  protruded from an inner side of the lower casing  12  has a size precisely fitting into a positioning hole disposed at the center of the optical disc  13 , so that the optical disc  13  can be fixed onto the inner side of the lower casing  12 . Although such optical disc holder  10  is a common optical disc storage device, yet its size is large with a length of about 14.3 cm, a width of about 12.2 cm and a thickness of about 1 cm, and thus occupying a larger storage space. Since such optical disc holder  13  is made of a hard and brittle material, the housing will crack or the pivotal connection structure between two casings  11 ,  12  breaks very easily, if the optical disc holder  10  is collided or falls off onto the ground. The broken optical disc holder  10  is no longer usable or the casings cannot be closed for protecting the optical disc  10  stored therein.  
         [0005]     In view of the foregoing shortcomings, some manufacturers design such optical disc storage device as an insertion-type optical disc holder  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The optical disc holder  20  is a closed housing made of a plastic material, and a long slot  22  is disposed on an edge of the housing for inserting an optical disc  23  and accommodating and positioning the optical disc  23  in an accommodating space under the restriction of a resilient component  24 . Although such device can save the foregoing pivotal connection assembly and simplify its structure and operation, the storage method requires users to insert the optical disc  23  into the long slot  22  of the optical disc holder  20  and thus it is necessary to keep a gap T between two corresponding inner sidewalls of the optical disc holder  20  in order to prevent the surface of the optical disc  23  from being scraped or damaged when it is inserted into the optical disc holder  20 . Therefore, such design cannot effectively reduce the thickness of the optical disc storage device.  
         [0006]     Further, after the writeable and duplicable optical discs are introduced in recent years, people use these optical discs for storing huge information such as images, music and data for different applications. For example, a multimedia production program is used to produce the clippings of the personal life of related parties together with dialogues and background music for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, sports days, alumni and product announcement presentations. Sending an optical disc with audio and video information to relatives and friends as a gift or a souvenir has become a modern way of giving memorable gifts. Therefore, the way of designing a compact, simple, easy-to-operate, easy-to-store and convenient-to-display optical disc storage holder is an important topic and objective of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an optical disc storage device with an adhesive capability. The optical disc storage device comprises an upper casing and a lower casing, and the size and shape of these two casings allows them to be assembled together and form an accommodating space for accommodating at least one optical disc; at least one protrusion disposed on an inner side of any of the two casings, such that the diameter of the protrusion restricts a positioning hole disposed at the center of the optical disc at the outer edge of the protrusion; a magnetic component disposed adjacent to the center of the protrusion, so that the optical disc storage device can be attached securely onto any metal panel made of a material with a magnetic permeability such as a refrigerator, an office appliance or a white board by the action of the magnetic component for exhibitions and easy accesses. Such arrangement also can attach several optical disc storage devices together and stack or align the optical disc storage devices neatly together for a convenient storage.  
         [0008]     Another objective of the present invention is to install another metal plate or magnetic component made of a magnetic material onto one of the two casings that does not have the protrusion at a position corresponding to the protrusion, so that when the two casings are engaged as a whole, the magnetic component attaches onto the metal plate or another magnetic component. Therefore, the two casings can be engaged closely together without requiring other latch components, and thus effectively simplifying the assembling structure and operation of the optical disc storage device.  
         [0009]     A further objective of the present invention is to install at least one corresponding latch component on the periphery of the two casings, such that when the two casings are engaged, the corresponding latch components can be engaged with each other while the magnetic component is attached onto the metal plate or another magnetic component; and the two casings can be connected closely with each other into a whole by the latch component, and also make the closing and opening of the optical disc storage device easier and smoother.  
         [0010]     Another further objective of the present invention is to install at least one positioning plate between the two casings, and one side of the positioning plate is connected to one side of the two casings. After the two casings are engaged, each positioning plate is accommodated in the accommodating space enclosed by the two casings. Each positioning plate has at least one protrusion protruded from an inner side of the positioning plate, and the diameter of the protrusion restricts a positioning hole disposed at the center of an optical disc at the outer periphery of the protrusion. A magnetic component is installed adjacent to the center of the protrusion. Therefore, the adjacent casings and the positioning plates (or adjacent positioning plates) can be attached together by the action of the magnetic component, such that the optical disc is restricted between the adjacent casings and positioning plates (or adjacent positioning plates), and the optical disc will not fall off from the protrusion easily.  
         [0011]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the prior-art optical disc holder.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the prior-art optical disc holder.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the structure of the optical disc storage device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the optical disc storage device being in use as depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the optical disc storage device being in use as depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a further perspective view of the optical disc storage device being in use as depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the optical disc storage device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the optical disc storage device being opened according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the optical disc storage device as depicted in  FIG. 8  when optical disc storage device is closed.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the optical disc storage device as depicted in  FIG. 8  when the optical disc storage device is closed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the optical disc storage device as depicted in  FIG. 8  when the optical disc storage device is closed.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the optical disc storage device according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the optical disc storage device according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Please refer to  FIG. 3  for an optical disc storage device with an adhesive capability according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc storage device  30  comprises an upper casing  31  and a lower casing  32 , and the two casings  31 ,  32  have the size and shape precisely fit for engaging with each other and forming an accommodating space in between them for storing at least one optical disc  33  after the two casings  31 ,  32  are engaged. In the first preferred embodiment, two optical discs stored into the optical disc storage device are used as an example for the illustration. A protrusion  34  is disposed on the inner side of the lower casing  32  at the position of a positioning hole corresponding to the center of each optical disc  33 , and the diameter of the protrusion  34  can fix the positioning hole of the optical disc  33  precisely at the outer periphery of the protrusion. A magnetic component  35  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  34 , such that the magnetic component  35  can attach the optical disc storage device  30  securely onto any metal panel made of a material having a magnetic permeability. Therefore, the optical disc storage device  30  according to the present invention can be fixed and positioned freely onto the metal panel of a refrigerator or a computer system etc. for being displayed and exhibited or for easy access, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Please refer to  FIG. 5  again, the optical disc storage devices  30  can also be mutually adhered, or neatly stacked or aligned with each other on a table for being stored and arranged conveniently.  
         [0026]     Please refer to  FIG. 3  again for a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The two casings  31 ,  32  are formed integrally and have one side coupled with each other, so that the two casings can be opened or closed. However, such arrangement is not limited by the embodiment, and those skilled in the art can separate the two casings or divide the upper casing  31  into corresponding sub-casings  311 ,  312  for protecting the corresponding optical discs. Please refer to  FIG. 6 . As long as the size and shape of the two casings  31 ,  32  fit for their engagement and has the foregoing accommodating space, protrusion  34  and magnetic component  35  for storing at least one optical disc  33 , the optical disc storage devices of this sort fall into the scope of the present invention.  
         [0027]     Please refer to  FIG. 7  for the optical disc storage device  70  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc storage device  70  comprises an upper casing  71  and a lower casing  72 , and the two casings  71 ,  72  have the size and shape precisely fit for engaging with each other and forming an accommodating space  74  in between them for storing at least one optical disc  33  after the two casings  71 ,  72  are engaged. A protrusion  75  is disposed on the inner side of the lower casing  72  at the position of a positioning hole  731  corresponding to the center of each optical disc  33 , and the diameter of the protrusion  75  can fix the positioning hole  731  of the optical disc  33  precisely at the outer periphery of the protrusion  75 . A magnetic component  76  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  75 , and a metal plate made of a material having a magnetic permeability (or another magnetic component)  77  is installed on the upper casing  71  at a position corresponding to the protrusion  75  such that the magnetic component  76  of the lower casing  72  can attach onto the metal plate (or another magnetic component)  77  of the upper casing  71 . Therefore, under the condition not necessary to install any latch components on the two casings  71 ,  72 , it is still able to securely engage the two casings  71 ,  72  and effectively simplify the assembly, structure and operation of the optical disc storage device.  
         [0028]     Please refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9  for the optical disc storage device  80  according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc storage device  80  comprises an upper casing  81 , a lower casing  82 , and at least one mutually embedded corresponding latch component  83  disposed at the periphery of the two casings  81 ,  82 . This embodiment adopts three mutually embedded corresponding latch components  83  as an example for the illustration. At least one protrusion  84  is protruded from the inner side of the lower casing  82 , and the diameter of the protrusion  84  fixes a positioning hole  851  disposed at the center of an optical disc  85  at the external periphery of the protrusion  84 . A magnetic component  86  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  84 , and a metal plate made of a material having a magnetic permeability (or another magnetic component)  87  on the upper casing  81  at the position corresponding to the protrusion  84 , such that when the two casings  81 ,  82  are engaged as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the upper casing  81  is pushed towards the lower casing  82  with a bias shift, and the latch component  83  of the upper casing  81  is embedded into the corresponding position of the latch component  83  of the lower casing  82  with an appropriate gap G in between. In the meantime, since the center position of the magnetic component  86  of the lower casing  82  has a bias shift with respect to the metal plate (or another magnetic component)  87  of the upper casing  81 , therefore when the magnetic component  86  adheres the metal plate (or another magnetic component)  87  to engage the two casings  81 ,  82  as a whole, the three corresponding latch components  83  at the periphery of the two casings  81 ,  82  are embedded with each other as shown in  FIG. 11 , so that the two casings  81 ,  82  can be coupled more securely as a whole by the latch components  83  and makes the operations of opening or closing the optical disc storage device  80  easier and smoother.  
         [0029]     Please refer to  FIG. 12  for the optical disc storage device  90  according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc storage device  90  comprises an upper casing  91 , at least one positioning plate  93  having an adhesive capability and a lower casing  92 , and one side of the two casings  91 ,  92  is coupled to one side of the positioning plate  93 , such that when the two casings are engaged, the positioning plate  93  is accommodated precisely into an accommodating space formed between the two casings  91 ,  92 . The fourth preferred embodiment adopts two positioning plates  93  as an example for the illustration, wherein each positioning plate  93  has at least one protrusion  94  protruded from an inner side, and the diameter of the protrusion  94  fixes a positioning hole  951  disposed at the center of an optical disc  95  at the external periphery of the protrusion  94 . A magnetic component  96  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  94 . Therefore, the adjacent casings  91 ,  92  and the positioning plates  93  (or adjacent positioning plates) can be attached together by the action of the magnetic component  96 , such that the optical disc  95  is restricted between the adjacent casings  91 ,  92  and positioning plates  93  (or adjacent positioning plates), and the optical disc  95  will not fall off easily from the protrusion.  
         [0030]     Please refer to  FIG. 12  for the fourth preferred embodiment again. The lower casing  92  also has at least one protrusion  94  at its inner side, and the diameter of the protrusion  94  fixes a positioning hole  951  disposed at the center of an optical disc  95  at the external periphery of the protrusion  94 . A magnetic component  96  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  94 , such that the lower casing  92  and the adjacent positioning plate  93  can be securely attached together by the action of the magnetic components  96 . The position of the inner side of the upper casing  91  corresponding to the protrusion  94  disposed on the adjacent positioning plate  93  can fix a metal plate made of a material having a magnetic permeability (or another magnetic component  97 ), so that when the upper casing  91  is engaged with the lower casing  92 , the upper casing  91  is adhered and engaged with the lower casing  92  by the magnetic effect of the magnetic component  96 .  
         [0031]     Please refer to  FIG. 13  for an optical disc storage device  100  according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The optical disc storage device  100  comprises an upper casing  101 , at least two positioning plates  103  having an adhesive capability. The fifth preferred embodiment adopts three positioning plates  103  as an example for the illustration. One side of the upper casing  101  is coupled with one side of a first positioning plate  103 , such that the upper casing  101  is engaged precisely onto the first positioning plate  103  and form an accommodating space in between. At least one protrusion  104  is protruded from the first positioning plate  103  on the side facing the upper casing  101 , and the diameter of the protrusion  104  fixes a positioning hole  1051  disposed at the center of an optical disc  105  at the external periphery of the protrusion  104 . A magnetic component  106  is installed adjacent to the center position of the protrusion  104 , and a metal plate  107  made of a material having a magnetic permeability (or another magnetic component) is fixed on the inner side of the upper casing  101  at the position corresponding to the protrusion  104  of the first positioning plate  103 , such that when the upper casing  101  is engaged with the first positioning plate  103 , the upper casing  101  is adhered and engaged with the first positioning plate  103  by the magnetic effect of the magnetic component  106 . Another side of the first positioning plate  103  is coupled with a side of a second positioning plate  113 , and the first positioning plate  103  is engaged precisely onto the second positioning plate  113  and an accommodating space is formed in between. At least one protrusion  114  is protruded from the second positioning plate  113  at the side facing the first positioning plate  103  and the diameter of the protrusion  114  fixes a positioning hole  1051  disposed at the center of an optical disc  105  at the outer periphery of the protrusion  114  and a magnetic component  116  is installed adjacent to the center of the protrusion  114 , such that when the first positioning plate  103  is engaged with the second positioning plate  113 , the magnetic components  106 ,  116  are attracted to each other to engage the two successfully. Another side of the second positioning plate  113  is coupled with a side of a third positioning plate  123 , and the second positioning plate  113  is engaged precisely with the third positioning plate  123  to form an accommodating space in between. At least one protrusion  124  is protruded from the third positioning plate  123  at a side facing the second positioning plate  113 , and the diameter of the protrusion  124  can fix a positioning hole  1051  disposed at the center of an optical disc  105  at the outer periphery of the protrusion  124 , and a magnetic component  126  is installed adjacent to the center of the protrusion  124 , so that when the second positioning plate  113  is engaged with the third positioning plate  123 , the two positioning plates are engaged as a whole due to the mutual attraction of the magnetic components  116 ,  126 . Since the adjacent positioning plates according to the fifth preferred embodiment can fix each optical disc by means of the mutual attraction of the magnetic components, the optical disc will not fall off easily from the protrusion.  
         [0032]     In the fifth preferred embodiment, the upper casing  101  and each positioning plate  103 ,  113 ,  123  individually comprises at least one mutually embedded corresponding latch component (not shown in the figure) at its periphery, and the latch component on the upper casing  101  or each positioning plate  103 ,  113 ,  123  is shifted to the position mutually engaged with the corresponding latch component of the adjacent positioning plate when a force is exerted on the corresponding casing or positioning plate to produce a bias shift. Then, since the center position of the metal plate  107  of the upper casing  101  has a bias shift with respect to the center position of the magnetic component  106  of the first positioning plate  103  or the center position of the magnetic component of the adjacent positioning plate, therefore when the magnetic component is aligned and attached to the metal plate or the adjacent magnetic component as a whole, the mutually embedded corresponding latch components at their periphery are mutually engaged.  
         [0033]     It is noteworthy that the design position and quantity of the magnetic components and metal plates described in the foregoing preferred embodiment can be changed or modified according to the actual need. However, no matter what changes or modifications are made, it will still fall into the scope of the claims as long as the magnetic components and metal plates are disposed adjacent to the protrusion and its corresponding position such that the adjacent casings, or adjacent casing and positioning plate or adjacent positioning plates are adhered with each other due to the magnetic force.  
         [0034]     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.