Abstract:
Storage devices or holders for discs are described which provide for ease of insertion and removal and which protect the optical surface of the stored compact disc from scratches and dust accumulation. The devices provide for compression of a preferably soft fabric-like material upon insertion of a disc into the holder and frictional engagement between the surfaces of the disc and the inner material which is capable of cleaning the disc surfaces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to cases for holding discs, and, more particularly, to such cases which slidably receive discs.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Discs have become the dominant recording medium in music, video, computer programming and data storage. Typically a digitally encoded rendering of the audio, video or data signal is transferred onto a disc of polycarbonate plastic. The encoded surface is then uniformly coated with aluminum and coated with a sealant such as lacquer. The aluminum on the stamped surface creates a reflective surface which is read by a laser beam through the opposite side of the polycarbonate disc. The laser reflection is converted to an audio, video or data signal.  
           [0003]    The use of a laser beam as the transducer results in little if any degradation of the disc playing surface during playback. The playback properties of the disc will thus remain essentially unchanged, even after extensive use. However, there are factors which interfere with the reflection of the laser beam from the aluminum sputtered surface and adversely affect CD playback performance. Several such factors are scratches, dust, and fingerprints.  
           [0004]    Because of the need to protect the surface of the compact disc through which the laser reflects, i.e., the optical surface, various compact disc storage devices have been developed. Compact discs typically are supplied to consumers in some kind of storage case to protect the disc&#39;s optical layer from scratches. The case seeks to allow for easy stocking, transportation, display, home storage and use.  
           [0005]    The most prevalent storage device is a package known as the jewel box. The jewel box typically consists of two pieces of molded polycarbonate which are hinged along a common side to permit the opening of the box as one would open a book. Snap fit inside one of the polycarbonate pieces is a styrene tray with a center hub which engages the center aperture of the compact disc. The jewel box is slightly larger than the 4.7″ diameter of the compact disc. Though the jewel box serves to protect the compact disc, the box itself suffers from the following disadvantages.  
           [0006]    The jewel box is difficult to open and is virtually impossible to open with one hand. The box is relatively fragile which leads to breakage of the hinges or the polycarbonate pieces themselves when manipulated during opening, or when accidentally dropped.  
           [0007]    Once opened, this type of box does not reliably hold discs. The center hub piece is notoriously weak and ceases to clasp the disc through use because its plastic prongs break or bend out of clasping position. For newer boxes, the prongs typically hold the disc so tightly that the disc must be bent to be grasped for removal. The prongs are also typically sensitive to adverse temperatures encountered during shipping or during storage in an automobile. When adverse temperatures typically do not affect the actual disc, the prongs of the gripping hub can shrink and cease to hold the disc in place.  
           [0008]    Once the center hub fails to hold the disc in place, the prongs and other hard surfaces of the box become barbs which can scratch the disc. In addition, because the user cannot tell if the disc is held securely within the box he may open the box without taking particular care for the disc. If the disc is not securely held it can slide off of the interior surface fall to the ground leading to further damage.  
           [0009]    Beyond protection concerns, the jewel box also lacks convenience for the user. In order to determine if a disc is in a jewel box, the case typically must be opened. While this may seem to be a minor annoyance, such a limitation is significant when a user attempts to find a disc among numerous boxes.  
           [0010]    Another problem with jewel boxes is the rattling encountered when such boxes are transported in an automobile. Because the discs are not completely engaged by the box (being engaged only at the center hub) vibration of the disc results in contact between the outer edge of the disc and the box and a rattling sound. Transportation of a number of boxes can result in a cacophony which irritates the driver and passengers. The vibration of the disc can also lead to damage of the outer edge of the disc and sufficiently shorten the disc&#39;s lifetime.  
           [0011]    Jewel boxes typically include a tabbed cover portion which holds an informational booklet relating to the enclosed disc. Due to the construction of these tabs it is very difficult to remove the booklet. Typically, the booklet must be damaged to be removed or reinserted into the tabbed portion.  
           [0012]    There have been attempts to provide compact disc holders that overcome the disadvantages of the jewel box. Several alternate cases include versions of envelope and sleeve type enclosures which involve a simple folded cardboard or similar paper-type material to enclose the disc. Although compact, these disc holders provide little room for printed information and any such information must be printed on the front and back covers only. In addition, the spines of these types of cases are typically too small to accommodate the industry standard for filing discs (like books) in shelves for easy access. Their size is also too small for industry standard displays which have adopted the dimensions of the jewel box.  
           [0013]    In addition, these enclosures typically do not offer sufficient protection to the surface of the discs. For instance, the cavity of the sleeve typically has a maximum width which is similar to the thickness of the disc. However, the cavity is necessarily tighter at its extremities and looser in its center. Therefore, the edges of the disc undergo increased friction and increased wear over the center portion of the disc. Furthermore, upon use of the enclosure, the disc “breaks in” the sleeve and is less securely held in position. Even when brand new, such sleeve enclosures typically fail to sufficiently grasp the disc since they are not intended to hold discs when upside-down, i.e., when the opening to the sleeve cavity faces the ground.  
           [0014]    Such sleeve enclosures also lead to increased scratching and damage to discs since any foreign substance on the disc comes into contact with the sleeve and it pressed or dragged between the disc and the sleeve. Because these sleeve enclosures typically require the user to squeeze the sides of the sleeve to allow the disc to be grasped between the opposing surfaces of the sleeve, the foreign substance falls more deeply into the sleeve where it accumulates and does further damage.  
           [0015]    An improved disc holder which addresses the problems of disc cases and holders would be an important advance in the art. The present invention is directed to a disc holder which overcomes the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    It is an object of the invention to provide a disc holder which overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings of prior art disc cases and holders.  
           [0017]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which allows for easy insertion and withdrawal of discs.  
           [0018]    Another object of the invention is to provide a durable disc holder which cannot be broken by normal use.  
           [0019]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which utilizes friction on the disc&#39;s surfaces to prevent the disc from being dislodged from the holder.  
           [0020]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which utilizes balanced friction on the disc&#39;s surfaces to prevent the disc from being dislodged from the holder.  
           [0021]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which eliminates relative movement between the disc and holder to reduce damage and rattling.  
           [0022]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which cleans and protects the surfaces of the disc during insertion and withdrawal of the disc.  
           [0023]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which allows visual determination of the presence of a disc in the holder without any physical manipulation of the holder.  
           [0024]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which allows for easy insertion and removal of printed material related to the disc.  
           [0025]    Another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which slidably receives a disc.  
           [0026]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a disc holder which is suited for use with industry standard case racks.  
           [0027]    How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0028]    This invention is an improved disc holder for slidably receiving, storing, protecting and cleaning a disc, including a compact disc, digital versatile/video disc, cd-rom, or the like. The invention represents a significant advance over the state of the art by providing novel elements, including a material for frictionally holding the disc within the holder.  
           [0029]    The disc holder includes a top panel, a bottom panel which is connected with respect to the top panel to form a cavity, and a material positioned in the cavity and forming a disc-receiving slot which is substantially in alignment with the cavity. The disc-receiving slot is preferably dimensioned such that the material frictionally holds the top and bottom surfaces of the disc when the disc is received within the slot so that the disc is not unintentionally removed. The disc is preferably engaged by the top and bottom surfaces in a balanced manner such that no portion of the disc experiences a relatively high compression force.  
           [0030]    The cavity is preferably defined by inner faces of the top and bottom panels. The material is preferably positioned along both inner faces. The material is also preferably compressible, and is more preferably fabric or similar material. The fabric may include fibers which extend away from the inner face toward the center of the cavity. The fabric preferably fills most of the cavity between the inner faces such that when the disc is received in the slot the fabric is compressed. The compression offers increased friction between the surfaces of the disc and the fabric to prevent the disc from being unintentionally dislodged from the holder.  
           [0031]    The fabric is preferably soft so that the disc is not damaged during insertion or removal. Furthermore, the fabric preferably serves to dust or clean the disc during insertion and removal. The fabric contacts the surfaces of the disc so that no dust or dirt may reach the disc while being stored (except for the portion of the disc adjacent to the slot). In a highly preferred embodiment, the fabric is comprised of polymeric microfiber. The fabric may also be polyester or the like.  
           [0032]    In a preferred embodiment the disc holder includes a first side panel connected the top and bottom panels at their first side, a second side panel connected the top and bottom panels at their second side, and a rear panel connecting the top and bottom panels at their rear. Each panel is preferably rigid so as to protect a stored disc from damage.  
           [0033]    In this preferred embodiment, the top and bottom panels each include a front side where an opening leads to the cavity such that the disc passes through the opening when received in the cavity. It is also preferred that at least a portion of the disc received within the slot is visible from the outside of the holder so that a person can visually determine whether a disc is in the slot.  
           [0034]    In another preferred embodiment, at least one of the top and bottom panels includes a notch extending from the front side toward the center of the panel. The notch is defined by an inner edge along the panel and it provides access to the slot to enable a person to remove the disc from the slot, preferably by engaging the spindle hole in the disc. In this embodiment it is preferred that the fabric on the inner face of the notched panel includes a void corresponding to the notch in the panel so that the disc can be freely grasped by the user. To offer protection to the disc, it is preferred that the holder include a shield extending across the notch and allowing access to the slot. The shield may include resilient bristles which extend from the inner edge of the panel and terminate at a position at the notch, preferably near the center of the notch.  
           [0035]    The invention can alternatively be described as a disc holder which includes a top panel and a bottom panel having inner faces and being connected with respect to one another such that the inner faces form a cavity. In this description the cavity is preferably dimensioned to slidably receive a disc and frictionally hold the surfaces of the disc to prevent the unintentional removal of the disc from the cavity.  
           [0036]    The inner faces of the top and bottom panels are preferably non-rigid, more preferably fabric, and most preferably polymeric microfiber which cleans the disc when inserted or removed from the cavity. The top and bottom panels preferably have an outer edge and further include a slot along the outer edge which leads to the cavity. A fabric slot face is preferably positioned at the slot along the outer edge  
           [0037]    The invention can also be alternatively described as a disc holder which includes a rigid top panel and bottom panel connected to form a cavity, and a compressible material positioned in the cavity and forming a slot. The slot is preferably dimensioned to slidably receive a disc and frictionally hold the surfaces of the disc. The compressible material is selected such that the material cleans the disc when the disc slides into and out of the slot. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the disc holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top side of the disc holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the disc holder without the inner material in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the disc holder without the inner material in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top side of an alternative embodiment of the disc holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the disc holder as the disc holder receives a disc in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 shows the disc holder  10  as viewed from below. Disc holder  10  includes a bottom panel  20 , front end  40 , first side panel  60 , rear panel  50  (shown in FIG. 5) and top panel  30  and second side panel  70  (shown in FIG. 2). Bottom panel  20  and top panel  30  include inner faces,  24  and  34  respectively, which define cavity  14  (FIG. 4). Bottom panel  20  and top panel  30  are interconnected by first side panel  60 , second side panel  70  and rear panel  50 , all of which include inner faces which further define cavity  14 .  
         [0045]    Bottom panel  20  and top panel  30  each include a front side,  22 ,  32  respectively. Front sides  22 ,  32  are substantially unconnected and define opening  12  (FIG. 4). Opening  12  leads to cavity  14 .  
         [0046]    Bottom panel  20  further includes notch  25  which extends from front side  22  toward the center of bottom panel  20 . Notch  25  is defined by inner edge  26 . Notch  25  provides access to cavity  14  to allow a user to grasp a disc contained therein for removal. Shield  80  may extend from inner edge  26  across notch  25  to provide protection against unintended contact between a disc contained therein and the outside environment. Shield  80  is preferably a soft rubber or polymeric material which can be in bristle form or other flexible and resilient construction to allow a user&#39;s finger to contact a disc  100  (FIG. 6) contained in cavity  14  and draw disc  100  out of the cavity  14  through opening  12 .  
         [0047]    Bottom panel  20  and top panel  30  are preferably rigid and are dimensioned such that disc holder  10  is substantially the same size as an industry standard jewel box. A disc  100  contained within cavity  14  is well protected from the outside environment due to this rigidity.  
         [0048]    Along the inner faces  24 ,  34  of panels  20 ,  30  is a material  45  which is able to hold disc  100  within disc holder  10  via friction. Material  45  may be fabric, microfiber or a similar compressible material. Material  45  preferably has cleaning properties which help to keep disc  100  clean and scratch-free. Material  45  is positioned in the cavity and forms a disc-receiving slot  42 . Slot  42  extends from opening  12  to near rear panel  50  to allow complete receipt of disc  100  within holder  10 .  
         [0049]    In alternative embodiment, bottom and top panels  20 ,  30  may include inner faces  24 ,  34  which are comprised of material  45 . In such an embodiment slot faces  27 ,  37  are positioned along the front sides  22 ,  32 .  
         [0050]    When received within disc holder  10 , disc  100  is at least partially visible from the outside environment. Disc  100  may be viewed through slot  42  at front end  40 , or it may be viewed through one of the panels  20 ,  30 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 . To enable such viewing, panels  20 ,  30 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70  may be at least partially transparent or translucent.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view which more clearly shows the details of the panels  20 ,  30 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 . FIG. 4 shows the elements of FIG. 3 positioned for use, but without including inner material  40  to facilitate understanding. As shown, cavity  14  is defined by the inner faces of panels  20 ,  30 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70 . Opening  12  is defined by panels  20 ,  30 ,  60 ,  70  at front side  40 . Opening  12  and cavity  14  are dimensioned such that a disc of standard size can be received therein. When inner compressible material  45  is positioned in disc holder  10 , opening  12  and cavity  14  are substantially filled such that insertion of a disc  100  into slot  42  causes material  45  to be compressed and to exert a strong force against top and bottom surfaces  101 ,  102  of disc  100  (see FIG. 6). The strong compression force causes increased friction between top and bottom surfaces  101 ,  102  of disc  100  and prevent unintentionally removal of disc  100  from disc holder  10 , even when held upside-down (with opening  12  facing the ground).  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 5 displays an alternative embodiment in which top panel  30  includes a booklet-receiving gap  38  for receiving a booklet of the type commonly distributed with audio or video discs. The arrow shows how a booklet (not shown) can be inserted beneath top panel  30 . The booklet may be positioned between top panel  30  and inner material  45  or simply between two portions of top panel  30 . This alternative embodiment allows for efficient storage of such booklets without tearing or otherwise damaging the booklet since these is no use of tabs which engage only a portion of the booklet.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6 demonstrates the insertion into or removal from holder  10  of a disc  100  which has an outer edge  103  and top and bottom surfaces  101 ,  102 . As can be seen, central bore  104  can be engaged through notch  25  when disc  100  is received within slot  42 . At the same time, disc  100  is substantially protected from the environment by shield  80 . Insertion into slot  42  is very easy and can be performed using only one hand. If disc  100  is forced into slot  42  with sufficient force, disc  100  will reach the end of slot  42  and cause a “pop” sound which notifies the user that the disc is fully received within slot  42 . Such a noise is caused by the compression of inner material  45  at the end of slot  42  against rear panel  50 .  
         [0054]    Inner material  45  prevents vibration of disc  100  or any unintended relative movement between disc  100  and holder  10 . The user may rotate disc  100  within holder  10  to allow inner material  45  to thoroughly clean disc  100 . While inner material  45  is engineered to provide sufficient resilience, compression and cleaning capabilities for the lifetime of a disc&#39;s use, it is contemplated that a back-up material used to replace inner material  45  will fits snugly within cavity  14 .  
         [0055]    Thus, it should be apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a disc holder for slidably receiving, storing and protecting discs by frictionally engaging the surfaces of the disc to prevent inadvertent removal that fully satisfies the objectives and advantages set forth above.  
         [0056]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.