Abstract:
A media disk storage case comprising a wallet having a base panel and a cover panel hingeably engaged to the base panel to be movable thereto from a closed condition wherein the panels are overlying to an open condition wherein the panels are outward lying of each other. The base panel has a mounting member which includes a rosette. The mounting member is engaged to a first major surfaces of the base panel by at least one mechanical fastening means secured to the mounting member and to the one of the first or second panels, so that when in the overlying condition the media storage disk on the rosette is captured between the base panel and the cover panel and the planes of the first major surfaces of the base panel and the cover panel are substantially parallel to the plane of the media storage disk.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to media storage disk case for storage of digital and the like media storage disks whether recorded or not.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Media storage disks such as CD&#39;s, DVD&#39;s, VCD&#39;s are normally packaged and presented for sale within packaging of a rigid form case. Such packaging will normally consist of a tray which has a rosette to mount a disk at its central aperture. The tray may form part of a wallet like enclosure which can be opened or closed. The packaging also serves to provide written or graphical information which may for example be information relevant to the contents of the disk and which may serve an advertising purpose. The wallet like nature of such packaging will normally consist of a back panel and a front panel which are secured to each other by a spine. The front and rear panels can move between an overlapping condition and an outwardly folded condition corresponding to a closed and open condition of the package. It is becoming increasingly popular to provide such wallets in the form where the front and back panels are made of a different material to the tray which carries the disk. The front and back panels may for example be made of a paperboard material which provides an advantage that it can be easily printed. Because of its complexity to securely and safely hold a disk, a tray is generally made of a plastics material. In a current form, the plastic tray is engaged to a surface of either the front or back panel of the wallet by an adhesive. An adhesive is applied in particular regions where mounting features of the tray are provided and between such mounting features and a surface of the paperboard material, the adhesive is applied. A spot application of adhesive in the appropriate places is hence required for the assembly of a package of such a known kind. The provision of an adhesive makes the process of assembly of the entire package more complex. The assembly machinery is required to incorporate adhesive applying equipment in addition to the material handling equipment that is required for the appropriate positioning of the tray with the paperboard. Precise control of the quantity of adhesive to be dispensed, temperature control and dwell time are all additional steps which a machine for the assembly of such known packaging types is required to incorporate. It will hence be an advantage to move away from an assembly process for packaging which includes provision of adhesive for assembling the at least two components of the overall package together.  
           [0003]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a media storage disk case of a kind which includes a separate tray or trays engaged to a wallet configuration wherein no adhesive is required to be used for securing the tray(s) to the wallet configuration.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists ins a media storage disk case comprising  
           [0005]    a wallet defining member comprising a base panel and a cover panel defining a cover hingably engaged to said base panel to be movable thereto from a closed condition wherein said panels are at least in part substantially overlying to an open condition wherein said panels are outward lying of each other,  
           [0006]    a media disk mounting member including a rosette to engage with the central aperture of said media disk,  
           [0007]    said mounting member engaged to a first major surface of said base panel by at least one mechanical fastening means secured to said mounting member and to said one of said first or second panels, such that when in said overlying condition  
           [0008]    (a) said media storage disk is captured between said base panel and said cover panel and  
           [0009]    (b) the planes of said first major surfaces of said base panel and said cover panel are substantially parallel to the plane of said media storage disk.  
           [0010]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means extends through said base panel and compressively holds said base panel against said media disk mounting member.  
           [0011]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means includes a shank portion which extends through an aperture of said base panel and between a region where it is engaged to said mounting member and a head portion which is located on the other side of said base panel to said first major surface, said head portion being trapped to prevent it from being retracted to the side of said first major surface.  
           [0012]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means is integral with said mounting member.  
           [0013]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means is a separate member of but engaged to said mounting member.  
           [0014]    Preferably said mounting member includes an aperture within which said region of said mechanical fastening means is located.  
           [0015]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means is engaged to said mounting member in a press fitted relationship.  
           [0016]    Preferably said mechanical fastening means is engaged to said mounting member in a threaded relationship.  
           [0017]    Preferably said region of said fastening means engaged to said mounting member includes barbed features positioned to prevent the extraction of said mechanical fastening means from said aperture of said mounting member.  
           [0018]    Preferably said fastening means is of a stronger material than said mounting member.  
           [0019]    Preferably said head portion is trapped by and against said other major surface of said base panel.  
           [0020]    Preferably said head portion is of a larger size than the size of said aperture.  
           [0021]    Preferably said head portion is of a diameter larger than the diameter of said shank.  
           [0022]    Preferably said head portion is engaged with a second mounting member which is positioned against the other major surface of said base panel, said base panel being captured between said first mentioned and said second mounting members.  
           [0023]    Preferably said head portion is engaged to said second mounting member in a push fit manner with an aperture of said second mounting member.  
           [0024]    Preferably said head portion is engaged to said second mounting member in a treaded manner with an aperture of said second mounting member.  
           [0025]    Preferably said head portion extends though an aperture of said second mounting member and is engaged onto and against a surface of surface of said second mounting member the normal of which projects away from the normal of said first mentioned major surface of said base panel.  
           [0026]    Preferably said wallet includes a second cover panel defining a cover hingably engaged to move relative to said base panel to be movable thereto from a closed condition wherein said second cover panel at least in part substantially overlies said base panel to an open condition wherein said second cover panel is outward lying of said base panel.  
           [0027]    Preferably said second cover panel is hingabley engaged to said base panel.  
           [0028]    Preferably said second cover panel is hingably engaged to said first mentioned cover panel.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a case in an open condition showing the wallet and the tray,  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1B is a plan view of a tray,  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a sectional view through section AA of FIG. 1 and wherein there is also shown a panel of a wallet with which the tray is to be engaged,  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of part of the tray and the panel in the process of assembly together,  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2,  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the top side of a tray of the present invention but wherein the rosette is not shown,  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 5,  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of the tray shown in the view of FIG. 6,  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 8 is a perspective and exploded view of a tray and wallet prior to assembly,  
         [0038]    FIGS.  9  to  15  illustrate alternative fastening means that may be utilised for fastening a tray or trays to a panel of the wallet,  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of tray of the present invention,  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fastening means of the tray of FIG. 16,  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the backside of the tray of FIG. 16 illustrating some of the detail of the fastening means of this preferred form,  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 illustrates a further fastening means which can be or is utilised with the tray of the form of FIG. 16,  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 20 is a cut away perspective view of the packaging of the present invention illustrating the wallet in a closed condition and illustrating the tray being captured between the front and rear panels,  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 21 is an exploded view of an alternative configuration of case of the present invention wherein two trays are engaged to one panel (against oppositely facing surfaces of the panel) and wherein two additional panels of the wallet are used for enclosing each of the trays independently,  
         [0045]    FIGS.  22  to  24  illustrates features in relation to the engagement of the two trays to be capturing a panel there between, and the means for fastening such panels together,  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 25 is an exploded view of the trays of FIG. 24 and wherein a panel of a wallet is captured there between,  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 26 is a view of one of the fastening means of this configuration,  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 27 shows the configuration in an assembled condition,  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 28 illustrates the provision of two trays engaged to a different panel of the wallet as that shown in FIG. 21,  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 29 illustrates the configuration of FIG. 28 in an exploded view,  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 30 shows an intermediate step in the enclosing of the two trays of the wallet,  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 31 illustrates the package in a fully closed condition wherein the wallet covers both of the trays, and  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate details of part of FIG. 31. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0054]    With reference to FIG. 1A there is shown a case of the present invention which includes a wallet structure  1  and with which a tray  2  is engaged. The wallet structure  1  consists of at least a first panel  3  which has provided onto at least one of its major surfaces, the tray  2 . The first panel  3  has disposed therefrom at least one additional panel (a second panel)  4  which is hingeably engaged to the first panel  3 . The panels are preferably of a rectangular or square plan shape and engagement of adjacent panels is preferably along the straight edges of the panels. With reference to FIG. 1A, it can be seen that each panel is substantially rectangular in shape, and the second panel  4  is engaged along one of its longer sides to one of the longer sides of the first panel  3 . Engagement may be directly between the first and second panels  3 ,  4  or a spine region  5  may be provided intermediate of the first and second panels. The spine region may be provided to allow for the two panels (in a closed condition) to be positioned substantially parallel to each other yet still have some distance there between. The provision of such a distance between the two panels when in a closed condition is necessary as the tray  2  is of a thickness which must be allowed for. When in a closed condition the second panel  4  overlies at least part of the first panel  3 . The second panel  4  is to overlie the first panel  3  on that major side of the first panel  3  at which the tray  2  is engaged. Whilst the second panel  4  may be substantially co-extensive with the first panel  3  when in the closed condition, the second panel  4  may alternatively overlie part of the first panel  3  and may merely overlie that region where the tray is provided. With reference to FIG. 1B, there is shown an example of a tray which may be engaged to the wallet structure. The tray includes a disk location region  6  including a disk mounting region  7  which is able to secure a disk to the tray by the location of fastening means of the tray with the central aperture of a disk. Commonly such a fastening means is called a rosette and can operate to secure yet allow for release of a disk from the tray as and when desired. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that many forms of rosette structures can be provided to perform the same or similar functions. The rosette feature has not been shown on any of the accompanying drawings. Indeed the tray structure of the present invention may be provided to allow for a separate rosette to be fastened to the tray structure during assembly.  
         [0055]    The tray  2 , includes regions for fastening  8  which allow the tray to be fastened to a panel of the wallet structure. Such regions for fastening (fastening points) may be provided at appropriately located regions of the tray structure so that once engaged to the wallet structure, the tray is securely and will remain securely fastened to the wallet. In the most preferred form four fastening points are provided. In the most preferred form the tray structure is also rectangular or square in plan shape and the fastening points  8  are provided proximate to each of the four comers of the tray. The tray structure may alternatively be of a different shape including a five-sided, six-sided polygon or circular or oval in shape. One and preferably at least two fastening points may be utilised for fastening the tray to the wallet. The tray itself is preferably of a thin structure and this can for example be seen in FIG. 2. Although some relief features are provided, the tray is substantially planar in shape and when engaged to the panel of the wallet, the plane of both the panel and the tray are substantially parallel. The panel of the wallet which the tray is engaged may be of the same plan shape or of a larger plan shape than the tray. If of a substantially similar shape, the tray is engaged to the panel of the wallet to be substantially co-extensive therewith. Fastening of the tray with one of the major surfaces of a panel of the wallet is achieved by a mechanical fastening means  9 . The mechanical fastening means is of a kind which includes an elongated shank  10  and a head  11  provided at one end of the shank  10 . The fastening means is moved in a direction axial and parallel to the elongated direction for engagement with the wallet and tray. With reference to FIG. 4, the fastening means  9  is shown pre-engagement and is aligned with an aperture  12  of the panel  3  through which the shank  10  will at least in part, pass. The fastening means is advanced from a major side  13  of the panel  3  opposite to the major side  14  at which the tray  2  is engaged. The fastening points  8  include an aperture  15  into which a fastening feature  16  of the shank  10  of the fastening means  9  will engage. The apertures  12  of the panel  3  are provided in locations which correspond to the locations of the fastening points  8 . Hence the apertures  12  and  15  will be aligned for the fastening of the tray  2 , to the panel  3 . The aperture  15  of each fastening point  8  is preferably an elongate aperture as shown in FIG. 4. It may be a blind aperture or it may be a through hole. The aperture includes longitudinally extending side walls which provide the engagement regions with which the fastening feature  16  of the fastening means can locate. The aperture  15  is of a similar shape to the sectional shape (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the shank  10 . The shank  10  includes fastening features  16  which are to engage with the aperture  15  of the fastening points  8 . In the most preferred form the fastening means  9  is press fitted with the tray. The fastening features  16  are preferably of a slightly larger size than the size of the aperture  15 . The fastening features  16  are for example barbed features which are shaped to allow for the press fitting of the fastening means  9  into the aperture  15  but significantly prevent the retraction of the fastening means  9  away from the tray  2  once they are fully engaged. The head  11  is of a larger size than the aperture  12  of the panel  3  and accordingly the head is pressed against the surface  13  once the fastening means  9  has been engaged with the tray  2 . The panel  3  is then captured between the head  9  and the tray  2  thereby securing the tray  2  and panel  3  together. Once the assembly has been completed, the first panel  3  will be pressed against the tray  2 . As for example shown in FIG. 3, the tray is pressed against an edge  17  of the tray when the fastening means  9  are fully engaged with the fastening points  8 . The shank  10  of the fastening means is sufficiently long so as to allow for the fastening features  16  to extend sufficiently into the aperture  15  of the fastening points  8 . The head  11  may form part of the fastening means  9  or may alternatively be engaged therewith, but nevertheless is of a shape to prevent the shank from being fully drawn or pushed through the aperture  12 . In the most preferred form the fit between the fastening features  16  and the aperture  15  is of an interference kind which may be achieved by a press fitting of the fastening means into the aperture  15 . A snap or clip fitting may be provided or a material deformation type engagement may alternatively be provided. With reference to FIGS.  11 - 15 , alternative forms of fastening features are shown including a snap fitting arrangement as shown in FIG. 14 wherein a pair or pairs of legs  18  are provided on two legs of the shank which can move towards and away from each other.  
         [0056]    As the tray  2  is preferably made of a plastics material and is preferably injection moulded, it is of the most simple construction to provide an engagement of the fastening means with the tray which is of a press fitted relationship wherein material deformation occurs. Snap fitting engagement will require some form of undercutting which may not necessarily be convenient to achieve in an injection moulded configuration of the tray. Where the engagement is of a material deformation press fitting kind, the fastening means  9  is preferably made of a stronger material than the material of the tray  2 . The fastening means will hence deform the material of the tray at the aperture  15  to achieve the press fitted engagement. Most preferably the fastening means  9  is hence made of a metal or polycarbonate material. The tray may for example be made of a GPPS or a PP material. Where the material of the tray is sufficiently elastic, fastening means such as that shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B may be utilised which do not carry any barbed features but which carry bulbous features which when pressed into the aperture  15  will elastically deform the material of the tray and allow such material to be captured about the bulbous features.  
         [0057]    The fastening points  8  are preferably of a reinforced kind as shown in FIG. 7 which includes webs  20  which extend radially from the aperture to a concentric reinforcement ring  21 . The webs  20  provide an increased wall strength to the aperture  15  to prevent the aperture from fracturing or displacing to much, to thereby allow a secure fastening of the fastening means therewith.  
         [0058]    Furthermore if cracks do appear in the wall of the aperture  15 , then the webs  20  will ensure some form of integrity to the aperture  15  should still prevent any significant loosening of the fastening means therewith.  
         [0059]    The fastening means may also be of a sufficient strength which may allow for it to be punched through the panel  3  to define the aperture  12 . Hence the aperture  12  may not be pre-cut for the purposes of allowing the fastening means to be inserted there through. Machinery may be set up to allow for the fastening means to be driven through the material of the first panel  3  to create such an aperture  12 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the panel  3  prior to being engaged with the tray  2  wherein the apertures  12  are aligned with the apertures  15  so that the fastening means can be driven for engagement from the side  13  of the panel  3  through the panel  3  and into the apertures  15 . Assembly preferably occurs where the panels  3  and  4  are substantially co-planar as shown in FIG. 8, and after assembly has occurred of the tray with the wallet structure, the panel  4  can be folded relative to the panel  3  and tray  2 , to become positioned to overlie the tray which will then be captured between the panels  3  and  4 . Once in a closed condition, the panel  4  will overlie the other side of the tray  2  as for example shown in FIG. 20.  
         [0061]    With reference to FIG. 21, the packaging may also be provided to carry at least two trays  2 A and  2 B. In the most preferred form where at least two trays are provided to the wallet structure of the present invention, the trays are preferably provided against opposing surfaces of the same panel of the wallet structure. With reference to FIG. 21, it can be seen that the trays  2 A and  2 B are aligned for engagement to the first panel  3  of the wallet structure. The first panel  2 A will be engaged against the surface  14  of the panel  3  and the second panel  2 B will be engaged to the surface  13  of the panel  3 . In such a configuration, it is desirable to take advantage of a simultaneous fastening which can be achieved between the two trays. Each of the trays preferably includes fastening points  8  which are provided in substantially the same locations such that when the two trays are positioned parallel adjacent and substantially co-extensive with each other, the fastening points  8  are also in alignment. With the provision of an intermediate fastening means  29  and which are shown for example in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fastening of the two trays together can be achieved. Fastening is similar to that which has previously been described which may include a clip or snap fitting or material deformation fitting. The fastening of the two trays together will also capture the panel  3  between the two trays. The trays will be prevented from moving away from each other because of the fastening features of the fastening means  29  thereby ensuring that the structure remains securely fastened together and the panel  3  of the wallet structure remains captured between the two trays.  
         [0062]    Press fitting of the fastening means is the most preferred form although in an alternative form a threaded engagement which will require a rotational tool to achieve such an engagement may also be utilised. However press fitting is the most convenient form as or it will keep the assembly process more simplified. With reference to FIG. 21, the wallet structure includes the second panel  4  as well as a further panel  24 . The first panel  4  can be manipulated to move and overlie the first tray  2 A whereas the further panel  24  can be manipulated to be folded relative to the first panel  3  to overlie the second tray  2 B. In a configuration where for example two trays are provided, it is most convenient to provide such trays to be engaged against opposite spacing surfaces of the first panel  3 . However it will be appreciated that such trays may alternatively be provided to be engaged against different panels such as against the second panel  4  and against the further panel  24 . The second tray  2 A may be engaged against the lower surface of the panel  4  and the second tray  2 B may be engaged to the upper surface of the further panel  24 . A folding of the two panels in the same directions as indicated in FIG. 21 will still achieve a similar configuration of the case in the closed condition although the location of the disk on the tray will be in a different orientation. In a further configuration incorporating two panels of the package of the present invention reference is made to FIG. 29 wherein the first panel  3  is situated at the end of the wallet structure and wherein the second panel  4  and further panel  24  are not engaged to each side of the third panel  3  but extends from one side of the first panel. The second panel  4  is moved to overlie the first tray  2 A by a folding to a condition as shown in FIG. 30 and thereafter the further panel  24  is folded to overlie the second tray  2 B to a condition as shown in FIGS.  31 - 33 . The spine  5 B between the second panel  4  and further panel  24  will be of a width which is greater than the spine  5 A since the spine  5 B needs to be of a thickness which is substantially twice the thickness of one of the trays.  
         [0063]    In an alternative form of the present invention the fastening means may be provided as a unitary part of the tray. The fastening means of such a configuration may up stand from the substantially planar nature of the tray to present a shank with a fastening feature to protrude through the panel  3  of the wallet structure. The fastening feature in such a configuration may then be engaged with a fastening member to thereby capture the panel  3  between the fastening member and the tray  2 . Such a fastening member may indeed be a second tray with which the fastening feature of the fastening member of the first tray may engage. The fastening means in such a configuration may include a press fit engagement feature of a similar kind as previously discussed wherein the second tray is engaged onto such a fastening feature to secure the second tray to the first tray and capture the first panel  3  between the trays.  
         [0064]    With reference to FIGS.  16 - 19 ,  22 - 27 , a similar such fastening arrangement is shown. A tray may include an up stand fastening feature  31  which is unitary with the tray and which presents a fastening region  32  at a distance from the substantially planar region of the tray. The fastening feature  32  is positioned sufficiently distal from the planar regions of the tray so that when it is extended through the panel  3 , it can be engaged with a suitable fastening feature on the other side of the panel  3  to which the tray is located. The shank  33  provides such a spacing relationship. The fastening feature  32  includes an undercut which can be engaged with a lip  34  of a second try which is to engage on the other side of the panel  3 . The second tray  2 B provides for engagement of the fastening up stands  31  of the first tray  2 A, such lips  34 . Once the fastening up stands  31  are extended sufficiently through the panel  3 , the lips  34  can engage with the undercut  32  and clip fit under such an undercut to there and then prevent the retraction of the fastening up stands therefrom. With the prevention of such a retraction, the panel  3  remains captured between the two trays  2 A and  2 B. The fastened relationship between the undercut and the lip is for example shown in FIG. 26. In the preferred form, each tray  2 A and  2 B includes a pair of fastening up stands  31  and a pair of clipping features  35 . This is for example shown in FIG. 18. Alternatively however a first tray  2 A may include fastening up stands  31  only and the second tray  2 B may provide clipping features  35  only.  
         [0065]    In an alternative form, the fastening means may be a separate member which will be driven from one side of a first tray through that tray, then through the panel  3  and become engaged with the second tray. A head of such a fastening means will then be visible and positioned at the top of the first tray through which it is initially driven however in the most preferred back to back  2  tray form, the fastening means will remain blind to the exterior facing surfaces of the tray and hence a fastening a means as for example shown in FIG. 21 is preferred.  
         [0066]    The trays are preferably made of a transparent material which will allow a user to see through the tray and be able to see the surface of the panel  3 . The panel  3  is preferably made of a paper or card material which preferably has been printed or laminated with a printed material which may for example be advertising, information or graphically appealing images. Such images can be provided on the panel beneath the tray and since the tray is transparent, it will be visible to a user once the wallet has been opened. The mechanical fastening means are positioned so as to reduce any interference of the view to the tray of the graphics material on the panel  3 .  
         [0067]    Assembly of the packaging of the present invention can be easily achieved by machinery which will align the tray(s) with the panel(s) of the wallet structure preferably when the wallet structure is in an open and substantially planar condition as for example shown in FIG. 21. The fastening means are then advanced to become engaged appropriately for securing the tray(s) to the panel(s) by advancement of the fastening means is in one direction only and preferably is in the same direction as the trays are advanced for positioning against the wallet structure. Hence a simplified assembly process of the present invention can be achieved wherein the components of the packaging are, during their engagement process clamped and/or advanced in a direction which is substantially parallel to the elongate direction of the fastening means. Pre-processing of the wallet structure may include the punching of holes through which the fastening means are to extend.  
         [0068]    It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction, operation or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art.