Patent Abstract:
An in-dash compact disc retriever that is used to remove compact discs or digital video discs from compact disc or digital video disc players when they are stuck and cannot be ejected by normal means.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/205,362 filed on May 18, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to accessories for compact disc players. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compact disc removal tool that removes compact discs from compact disc players and/or recorders when they will not eject by normal means. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern hi-fidelity audio systems have made their way to the realm of automobile audio. In fact, it is not uncommon to find people that spend thousands of dollars to install the latest AM/FM receivers, compact disc (CD) players and changers, mini-disc systems, cassette players, power amplifiers, speakers and a variety of other components in their vehicles. 
     While the electronic portion of these devices are usually trouble free, the mechanical portion often suffers from glitches due to the somewhat more harsh atmosphere and temperature extremes encountered in a motor vehicle. One particularly affected device is the dash mounted compact disc player. Often, discs may become lodged or jammed inside the unit. The most common way to remove the disc in such an instance is to remove the entire dashboard, the unit and the faceplate. Such repairs may run into the hundreds of dollars. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a means by which compact discs and/or digital video discs (DVDs) that have become jammed inside players can be removed with minimal effort and cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, the in-dash compact disc retriever, is an apparatus that is used to remove compact discs or digital video discs from compact disc or digital video disc players when they are stuck and cannot be ejected by normal means. The in-dash compact disc retriever is thin and flat and has a soft hook attached to one end for hooking onto the center aperture of a CD or DVD and causing the removal thereof from a CD or DVD player. It is preferred that the apparatus have increments on the body thereof as well as a small flashlight or pen light that will aid the user in finding the center aperture of a CD or DVD. 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a device for removing a CD or DVD that is jammed and/or stuck in a CD or DVD player without damaging the CD or DVD or the CD or DVD player. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for removing a CD or DVD that is jammed and/or stuck in a CD or DVD player without causing great expense and inconvenience. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the In-Dash Compact Disc Retriever; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the In-Dash Compact Disc Retriever; and 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the In-Dash Compact Disc Retriever in use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the In-Dash Compact Disc Retriever  10  has a thin flat body  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  is not wider than the width of an opening  32  for a compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD)  40  in a CD or DVD player  30 ; such a width is commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the body  20  is flat, not thicker than the height of an opening  32  for a CD or DVD  40  in a CD or DVD player  30  less the thickness of a CD or DVD; such a thickness is commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     It is preferred that the body  20  is made out of a hard smooth plastic. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other materials, including, but not limited to, wood, can be used to construct the body  20 . It is also preferred that the body  20  be rectangular in shape, although it can be other shapes, including, but not limited to, oval. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the body  20  has ruler type incremental markings  22  on both sides thereof The incremental markings aid the user in finding the center aperture  42  of a compact disc or digital video disc  40  since the average distance between the edge of the CD or DVD  40  to the center aperture  42  is approximately two and one-eighth inches. Consequently, it is preferred that the ruler type incremental markings  22  each be one-eighth of an inch apart. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, however, that the body  20  need not have ruler type incremental markings  22  or could have incremental markings  22  on only one side thereof and would further recognize that when the body  20  does have ruler type incremental markings  22 , said markings  22  can be in any number of increments. It is preferred, however, that said markings  22  not be further than one inch apart. In an alternative embodiment, the body  20  has only one predetermined mark thereupon that marks the average distance to the center aperture  42  of a CD or DVD  40  when said CD or DVD  40  is jammed in a CD or DVD player  30 . 
     The length of the body  20  is such that it can be inserted into an opening  32  for a CD or DVD  40  in a CD or DVD player  30  and reach the center aperture  42  of the CD or DVD  40  and still be held by the hand of the user with no risk of losing the In-Dash Compact Disc Retriever  10  inside of the CD or DVD player  30 ; such a length is commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1, at one end of the body  20 , preferably centered width-wise on the body  20 , is a hook  50 . It is preferred that the hook  50  is made out of felt. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize, however, that a number of different materials, including, but not limited to foam can be used instead of felt to make the hook. It is preferred, however, that the material be such that it will not injure the inside of the CD or DVD player  30  and will not scratch or otherwise injure the CD or DVD  40 , but will be strong enough to pull the CD or DVD  40  free from the CD or DVD player  30 . As seen in FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the hook  50  is formed such that when the in-dash compact disc retriever  10  is manually inserted in the opening  32  for a CD or DVD  40  in a CD or DVD player  30 , it will smoothly glide over the CD or DVD  40  without scratching said CD or DVD  40 . The ruler type incremental markings  22 , preferably begin at the hook  50 . This allows the user to evaluate how far the hook  50  is in the CD or DVD player  30 . When the increments state two and one-eighth inches plus the estimated distance from the CD or DVD  40  to the outside of the CD or DVD player  30 , the user will slightly twist the in-dash compact disc retriever  10  such that the hook  50  catches the center aperture  42  of the CD or DVD  40 . Once the user is sure that he/she has caught the center aperture  42 , he/she pulls the in-dash compact disc retriever  10  out of the CD or DVD player  30  and the CD or DVD  40  that was stuck therein is easily removed from the CD or DVD player  30 . 
     One embodiment of the in-dash compact disc retriever  10  also has a small flashlight or pen light  60  attached to the body  20 . The pen light  60  is of the type commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be attached to the body  20  in any number of ways, including but not limited to, via an adhesive or formed to the body  20  in manufacture as one piece. The pen light  60  allows the user to see inside the CD or DVD player  30  to aid the user in finding the center aperture  42  of the CD or DVD  40 . The pen light  60  can be of a size too large to enter the opening for insertion of a CD or DVD  32  and therefore is most preferably located on the body  20  behind the ruler type incremental markings  22  or is attached to the body  20  so that it is moveable, or the pen light  60  can be of a size small enough to enter the opening  32  and therefore is most preferably located on the body  20  close to the hook  50 . 
     Although this invention has certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1