Abstract:
A folded paper board compact disc carrier for carrying a plurality of compact discs. A compact disc carrier formed from a single piece of stock comprises a paper board blank having a central portion divided by a fold line into first and second planar portions. Each portion includes a side edge having a tab and a pair of opposing flaps foldable along a fold line lying perpendicular to the central portion fold line. Each flap is foldable to an inward position wherein the flaps define with their corresponding planar half an enclosure adapted to receive a compact disc. Upon folding the first and second planar portions along the central portion told line the enclosures are placed in spaced apart parallel relationship with the side edge tabs of each planar half disposed adjacent each other. The compact disc carrier so formed requires no glue or other adhesives and will hold a plurality of compact discs.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims continuation from earlier filed U.S. application Ser. No. 09/208,938, filed Dec. 10, 1998 , now U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,085. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a folded paper board device for carrying compact discs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Compact discs, which are commonly referred to as “CD&#39;s” are generally well known in the art. Standard CD&#39;s having a diameter of four and three quarters (4¾) inches are commonly used to store prerecorded music, prerecorded video, and data for reading by a computer. Due to technical advances, a CD can store an incredible amount of data and thus CD&#39;s are greatly preferred over other storage mediums, such as magnetic recording tape. 
     Most CD&#39;s are packaged in rigid plastic containers or boxes. The rigid containers serve to protect the CD from inadvertent damage, such as scratching or impact damage. However, in actuality the CD&#39;s stored therein are relatively durable and thus do not need such a rigid container. Moreover, the standard container is bulky, has many sharp corners, has a hinge which frequently comes apart or breaks altogether, and is generally disliked by many consumers. Accordingly, many consumers have long desired a more convenient, less bulky and altogether more user friendly alternative for storing CD&#39;s. 
     One solution has been to provide a CD carrier made from paper or from a paperboard material. Such containers are softer, less bulky, and have the added advantage of being made from recycled material. A variety of such folded paper CD carriers have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,419,433 and 5,421,453 show paper board CD carriers formed from a sheet of material which is folded and then glued together to form a pocket sized to hold a CD. However, the gluing process is very difficult to control, and thus many such prior art CD carriers are not well suited for mass production. 
     Accordingly, there exists a continuing need for an improved paper board CD carrier. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the course of the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like parts and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a CD carrier constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIG. 1 shown in its unfolded state; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in a partially folded state with the edge flaps folded along their respective fold lines; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIGS. 1 through 3 shown with the planar panels being folded along the central fold line and with the locking tab being folded along its fold line; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  1  and showing a CD disposed in each of the spaced apart parallel enclosures; the CD carrier is shown attached to a conventional ring binder; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a CD carrier constructed in accordance with the teachings of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIG. 6 shown in its unfolded state: 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIGS. 6 and 7 shown in a partially folded state; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the CD carrier of FIGS. 6 through 8 shown with the planar halves being folded along the central fold line and with the locking tab being folded along its fold line; and 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG. 6 showing a CD disposed in each of the spaced apart parallel enclosures. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The embodiment described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed. The embodiment has been chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical use in order to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, a CD carrier constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral  10 . As shown in FIG. 2, the CD carrier  10  is constructed of a paper blank  12 , which is a single piece of stock and which is preferably constructed of eight ( 8 ) point stock. The blank  12  includes a central portion  14  which is generally divided or bisected by a fold line  16  to form a pair of planar panels  18  and  20 . 
     The panel  18  includes an inside edge  22  lying generally contiguous with the fold line  16  and also includes an outside edge  24 . The panel  18  also includes a pair of opposing edge flaps  28 ,  30 , each of which is foldable along a fold line  32 ,  34 , respectively. The fold lines  32 ,  34  are preferably substantially perpendicular to the fold line  16 , with normal angular deviations therefrom being tolerated. The edge flap  28  includes an edge  29 , while the flap  30  includes an edge  31 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, all or a portion of the outside edge  24  protrudes outwardly past the edges  29 ,  31  to form a tab  26 . 
     The panel  20  includes an inside edge  36  lying generally contiguous with the fold line  16  and also includes an outside edge  38 . The panel  20  includes a pair of opposing end flaps  46 ,  48 , each of which is foldable along a fold line  50 ,  52 , respectively. The fold lines  50 ,  52  preferably are substantially perpendicular to the fold line  16 . Again, normal angular deviations therefrom will be tolerated. The flap  46  includes an edge  47 , while the flap  48  includes an edge  49 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, all or a portion of the outside edge  38  protrudes outwardly past the edges  29 ,  31  to form a tab  40 . The tab  40  is preferably longer than the tab  26  and includes a fold line  42 , such that an outer portion of the tab  40  is foldable along the fold line  42  to form a retaining or locking tab  44 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edge flaps  28  and  30  are foldable along the fold lines  32  and  34 , respectively. Similarly, the flaps  46  and  48  are inwardly foldable along their respective fold lines  50  and  52 . When folded inwardly to the position of FIG. 3, the edge flaps  28  and  30  define with the panel  18  an enclosure  51 , while the edge flaps  46  and  48  define with the panel  20  an enclosure  53 . Each of the enclosures is sized to hold therein a standard CD such that movement of the CD is substantially prevented. The edge flaps may be slightly longer than ½ of the width of their corresponding panel  18 ,  20 , such that the edge flaps  28 ,  30  and  46 ,  48  slightly overlap each other when folded inwardly to the position shown in FIG.  3 . Alternatively, the edge flaps  28 ,  30  and the edge flaps  46 ,  48  may be sized such that they do not touch or engage each other when folded inwardly. Shorter flaps may be used, but the length disclosed is preferred in that such a length will minimize scratching of CD&#39;s held within the carrier  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the blank  12  is folded along the fold line  16  (subsequent to the inward folding of the edge flaps  28 ,  30 ,  46  and  48  to create the enclosures  51  and  53 ). 
     Each of the panels  18 .  20  includes an insert aperture or cutout  54 ,  56 , respectively (see FIG.  2 ). The cutout  54  includes a generally straight edge  58  with an interconnecting arcuate or curved edge  60 , while the cutout  56  includes a generally straight edge  62  with an interconnecting arcuate or curved edge  64 . Each of the cutouts  54 ,  56  are sized so that a standard, commercially available CD having a nominal diameter of 4¾ inches will fit through the cutout. The cutouts  54 ,  56  will provide an avenue for inserting a CD into the enclosures  51  and  53 , respectively. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 2, a pair of apertures  66  are located on the tab  26  adjacent the edge  24  of half  18 , while a pair of apertures  68  are located on tab  40  adjacent the edge  38 . Another pair of apertures  70  are located on the locking tab  44 . An aperture from each of the pairs of apertures  66 ,  68  and  70  will be aligned with corresponding apertures from the other pairs when the CD carrier is in the folded state of FIGS. 1 and 5. The apertures  66 ,  68 , and  70  are adapted to permit the CD carrier to be attached to the rings  71  of a ring binder (not shown) or other supporting structure. 
     Preferably, a cutout  72  is located between adjacent flaps  28  and  46 , while a cutout  74  is located between adjacent flaps  30  and  48 . Although the cutouts  72  and  74  may be dispensed with, the cutouts  72  and  74  provide for better folding along the fold line  16  by reducing buckling and or bunching of the paper stock when the blank  12  is folded. The cutouts  72 ,  74  also permit the flap  28  to be folded independently of the flap  46 , and permit the flap  30  to be folded independently of the flap  48 . Also, preferably, each of the cutouts  54 ,  56 , the apertures  66 ,  68 , and  70 , and the cutouts  72  and  74  are formed by stamping of the blank  12  using well accepted and conventional practices. 
     It will be appreciated that the CD carrier  10  preferably is formed from a single paper blank  12 . The cutouts  54 ,  56 ,  72 , and  74 , as well as the apertures  66 ,  68  and  70  are all preferably stamped or otherwise cut from the blank  12  using well accepted practices as previously mentioned. For purposes of efficiency in forming the CD carrier  10 , each of the fold lines  16 ,  32 ,  34 ,  42 ,  50  and  52  are preferably machine formed using well known and commercially available folding machines and techniques. Alternatively, each of the above-described fold lines may be formed using a series of aligned perforations, or by using other well known methods which may be well suited to forming a foldable line or hinge. 
     In operation, the CD carrier  10  may be prepared for use as follows. The enclosure  51  is prepared by folding the flaps  28  and  30  inwardly along the fold lines  32  and  34 , respectively, while the enclosure  53  is prepared by folding the flaps  46  and  48  inwardly along the fold lines  50 ,  52 , which changes the CD carrier  10  from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 to the configuration shown in FIG.  3 . The CD carrier  10  is then folded along the fold line  16  from the configuration shown in FIG. 3 to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, with the side edges  24  and  38 , and tabs  26  and  40  being generally adjacent to each other. In such a configuration, corresponding ones of the apertures  66  and  68  are aligned. 
     The locking tab  44  is then folded along the fold line  42  in order to overlap and thus secure the tab  26  in its position adjacent to the tab  40  with the side edges  24  and  38  also disposed adjacent each other. When the locking tab  44  is folded over, the apertures  70  are aligned with corresponding ones of the previously aligned apertures  66  and  68 . The CD carrier will now assume the configuration of FIG. 1 with the enclosures  51  and  53  being disposed in generally spaced apart, generally parallel relationship substantially as shown in FIG. 5. A CD (such as is shown in each of FIGS. 1 and 5) may now be inserted into each of the enclosures  51  and  53  through their respective insertion cutouts  54  and  56 . Preferably, the CD carrier may now be attached (with or without the CD&#39;s inserted therein) to the rings  71  of a ring binder (not shown) for storage and/or transport. 
     It will be appreciated that the CD carrier  10 , by virtue of the above described construction, does not require any glues, adhesives or binders whatsoever, and further does not require any form of mechanical fasteners. 
     Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 through 10, a CD carrier constructed in accordance with the teachings of a second embodiment of the present invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral  110 . As shown in FIG. 7, the CD carrier  110  is constructed of paper blank  112 , which is formed from a single piece of stock and which as outlined above is preferably constructed of eight point stock. The blank  112  includes a central portion  114  which is generally divided or bisected by a fold line  116  to form a pair of planar portions or halves  118  and  120 . The planar half  118  includes an inside edge  122  lying generally contiguous with the fold line  116  and also includes an outside edge  124 . The planar half  118  also includes a pair of opposing flaps or panels  128 ,  130 , each of which is foldable along a fold line  132 ,  134 , respectively. The fold lines  132 ,  134  are preferably substantially perpendicular to the fold line  116 , with normal angular deviations therefrom being tolerated. Each panel  128 ,  130  also includes an end tab  129 ,  131 , respectively. Each tab  129 ,  131  is foldable along a fold line  133 ,  135 , respectively. The fold lines  133 ,  135  are generally parallel to the fold lines  132 ,  134 . 
     The planar half  120  includes an inside edge  136  lying generally contiguous with the fold line  116  and further includes an outside edge  138 . A portion of the outside edge  138  protrudes outwardly to form a tab  140 . The tab  140  includes a fold line  142 , such that an outer portion of the tab  140  is foldable along the fold line  142  to form a retaining or locking tab  144 . The planar half  120  also includes a pair of opposing flaps or panels  146 ,  148 , each of which is foldable along a fold line  150 ,  152 , respectively. The fold lines  150 ,  152  preferably are substantially perpendicular to the fold line  116 . Each panel  146 ,  148  also includes an end tab  147 ,  149 , respectively. Each tab  147 ,  149  is foldable along a fold line  151 ,  153 , respectively. The fold lines  151 ,  153  are generally parallel to the fold lines  150 ,  152 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, tabs  129 ,  131 ,  147  and  149  are inwardly foldable along their respective fold lines  133 ,  135 ,  151 , and  153 . Note that in FIG. 8, by virtue of the cutouts  188 , each of the tabs  129  and  131  are concealed from view. Subsequently, the panels  128 ,  130 ,  146 , and  148  are foldable along their respective fold lines  132 ,  134 ,  150 , and  152 . When folded inwardly to the position of FIGS. 8 and 9, each panel forms with an adjacent portion of its respective planar half an enclosure. Specifically, the panels  128 ,  130  form enclosures  155 ,  157  with their respective planar half  118 . Similarly, the panels  146 ,  148  form with their respective planar half  120  the enclosures  159 ,  161 . The end tab  129  serves to define a lateral edge of the enclosure  155 , while the tab  131  serves to define a lateral edge of the enclosure  157 . Similarly, the tab  147  serves to define a lateral edge of the enclosure  159 , while the tab  149  serves to define a lateral edge of the enclosure  161 . Each of the enclosures is sized to hold therein a standard CD such that movement of the CD is substantially prevented. Preferably, the panels  128 ,  130 ,  146  and  148  are all substantially equal to the diameter of a standard CD, or roughly equal to ½ of the lengthwise dimension of their corresponding planar half  118 ,  120 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6,  8  and  9 , the enclosures  155 ,  157 ,  159 , and  161  are created from the blank  112  by first inwardly folding the tabs  129 ,  131 ,  147 , and  149 , followed by the inward folding of the panels  128 ,  130 ,  146 , and  148 . As can be appreciated from FIGS. 7 through 9, when the components described above are folded, the enclosures  155  and  157  are generally coplanar, while the enclosures  159  and  161  are likewise coplanar. It will further be appreciated that the pair of enclosures  155  and  157  is disposed in spaced apart and parallel relationship with the pair of enclosures  159  and  161 . The CD carrier  110  is thus equipped to carry four ( 4 ) CD&#39;s. 
     The planar half  118  includes a pair of insertion apertures or cutouts  180 ,  182 , while the planar half  120  includes a pair of insertion apertures or cutouts  184 ,  186 . respectively. Each cutout  180 ,  182 ,  184 , and  186  is sized to receive a standard CD. and includes a generally straight edge  158  with an interconnecting arcuate or curved edge  160 . As can be seen in FIG. 7, each of the tabs  129 ,  131 ,  147  and  149  includes an arcuate cutout  188 , which is located and sized so that none of the tabs will interfere with their adjacent cutouts  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  when the tabs are in the inwardly folded position. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a series of apertures  168  is located on the tab  140  adjacent the edge  138 . Another series of apertures  170  is located on the locking tab  144 . As can be seen in FIG. 9, the series of apertures  168 ,  170  will be aligned with each other when the locking tab  144  is folded to the position of FIG.  9 . The apertures  168  and  170  are adapted to permit the CD carrier  110  to be attached to the rings of a ring binder (not shown) or other supporting structure. 
     Preferably, a cutout  172  is located between adjacent panels  128  and  146 , while a cutout  174  is located between adjacent panels  130  and  148 . Although the cutouts  172  and  174  may be dispensed with, the cutouts  172  and  174  provide for better folding along all of the fold lines by reducing buckling. The cutouts  172 ,  174  also permit the panels and the tabs to be folded independently of each other.