Abstract:
A picture frame type cover for a disk storage case includes a front surface frame, an upper press plate, an upper surface plate, a lower press plate, a lower surface plate and a stopper. The front surface frame has an opening. The upper press plate is disposed via the upper surface plate and is connected to an upper end of the front surface frame. The lower press plate is disposed via the lower surface plate and is connected to a lower end of the front surface frame. The front surface frame, the upper press plate, the upper surface plate, the lower press plate and the lower surface plate are connected to form a generally C-shaped configuration defining an opposing pair of generally C-shaped openings. The stopper is formed on one end of the lower surface plate and projects into one of the pair of generally C-shaped openings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case for standing, hanging or exhibiting a case which contains disks such as a compact disk (CD), a mini disk (MD), and a digital video disk (DVD). 
     As a conventional case for selling or storing various disks such as CD, MD, and DVD, in general a storage case formed by synthetic resin has been used. The disk storage case is structured such that a main body is rotatably connected to a lid in a side end portion, and a disk containing tray is fitted inside the main body. Held inside the lid is a jacket on which not only a title and explanation but also a photograph, picture, diagram, and the like are displayed. For the disk containing tray fitted inside the main body, a disk holding portion protruded from a middle portion is fitted into a disk through hole, and a disk recording surface is held in a floated state and a non-contact manner. Moreover, for the disk storage case, at least the lid is formed as a transparent member in such a manner that the attached jacket is visible. 
     The photograph, picture, diagram, and the like of the jacket are high in artistic properties, and the photograph or the picture is worth exhibiting alone to be appreciated, and can always be enjoyed as a part of interior design. However, the disk storage case is a case for containing the disk, and is not formed in a structure to be exhibited. Therefore, to exhibit the disk storage case, the case has to be leaned against a wall or the like. Only by leaning the case against the wall or the like in this manner, the case cannot be exhibited in an arbitrary place, and is unsuitable for appreciation. 
     Moreover, in order to exhibit the jacket itself, a method of taking the jacket out of the disk storage case and putting the jacket in a photograph stand or a picture frame, or another method has to be performed. When the jacket is taken out of the disk storage case, a problem arises that the jacket is separated from the disk storage case. 
     Furthermore, since the disk storage case is formed of a thin synthetic resin plate, the case is probably broken by impact when falling during transport or during carrying. When the disk storage case is broken, broken pieces probably damage the disk. 
     To solve the problem, the present inventor has proposed a “disk storage cover” by which the disk storage case can be exhibited and protected from the impact (Utility Model Registration No. 3069751). This “disk storage cover” is constituted by integrally forming one plate material by bending processing in such a manner that the disk is taken in or out via a front opening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been developed in consideration of the present circumstances, and provides the following object disk storage case picture frame type covers. 
     One of objects of the present invention is to provide a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case, in which the disk storage case is inserted as it is so that a photograph or a picture printed on a jacket can be appreciated. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case, via which the disk storage case is easily taken in or out. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case, which is easy to manufacture and is inexpensive. 
     Further object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case, by which CD desired to be listened to can freely be taken out of the case and listened to. 
     Still further object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame type cover for a disk storage case which prevents breakage by impact. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects the present invention is constituted as follows. Specifically, a picture frame type cover includes: a front surface frame provided with an opening so that a picture, photograph, and the like of a jacket can be seen; an upper press plate disposed via an upper surface plate connected to an upper end of the front surface frame; and a lower press plate disposed via a lower surface plate connected to a lower end of the front surface frame, and a stopper is formed on one end of the lower surface plate. A width dimension of the upper surface plate or the lower surface plate is formed to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than a thickness dimension of the disk storage case. To form the disk storage case by a metal plate, the case can be formed from one plate member by bending processing. The disk storage case is inserted and held between the front surface frame and the upper press plate and lower press plate from an opening of a side surface on which no stopper is formed. 
     For a shape of the opening of the front surface frame, in addition to a square shape, an arbitrary shape can be determined. A material for forming the picture frame type cover is not particularly limited as long as the material is provided with a spring action for holding the inserted disk storage case, but aluminum is preferable from appearance, durability, and the like. When the disk storage case is formed of aluminum, the case is protected from impact, lightweight, and convenient to carry. 
     In order to exhibit the disk storage case like a photograph stand, the lower press plate is provided with a support leg formed by cutting off three ways by a slit. For a direction of the support leg, the support leg may be formed in either a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. Moreover, one support leg may be formed, but it is preferable to form two legs in consideration of stability when the cover stands. By disposing the support leg in this manner, the photograph, picture, or the like of the jacket inserted in the storage case for various disks such as CD, MD, DVD can be exhibited as a part of interior design and appreciated. 
     Moreover, a through hole is formed in the upper press plate together in the support leg, or independently of the support leg. The through hole is preferably formed in a bulging portion disposed on the upper press plate. When the bulging portion is disposed in this manner, a head of a thumbtack or a pin can be embedded. Moreover, instead of the through hole, the upper press plate may be provided with a turned piece constituted by cutting three ways by a slit. The turned piece can also be disposed on the upper surface plate together with the upper press plate or instead of the upper press plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various objects and advantages of the present invention described above will fully be understood by referring to the following description and drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a back view of the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A—A of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B—B of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view seen from a front surface; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen from a back surface according to a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view seen from the back surface according to a third embodiment; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a use state according to the first embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A picture frame type cover for a disk storage case according to the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 to  5  show a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     A picture frame type cover  10  is provided with an upper press plate  13  disposed via an upper surface plate  12  connected to an upper end of a front surface frame  11 , and a lower press plate  15  disposed via a lower surface plate  14  connected to a lower end of the front surface frame  11 . The upper press plate  13  and lower press plate  15  are formed substantially parallel to the front surface frame  11 , respectively. The front surface frame  11  is a frame member like a picture frame in which an opening  16  is formed in a middle portion, and a width dimension of the upper surface plate  12  or the lower surface plate  14  is formed to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than a thickness dimension of the disk storage case. Both side surfaces of the picture frame type cover  10  are open, but a stopper  17  is protruded from one edge of the lower surface plate  14 . When the picture frame type cover  10  is formed by a plate of aluminum or another metal, the cover can be formed from one plate-like material by bending processing. 
     Since intervals for width dimensions of the upper surface plate  12  and lower surface plate  14  are formed between the front surface frame  11  and the upper press plate  13  and lower press plate  15 , the disk storage case may be inserted via an opening of a side surface from which no stopper  17  is protruded. The inserted disk storage case is engaged by the stopper  17 , and securely held by a spring action of the upper press plate  13  and lower press plate  15 . 
     The lower press plate  15  is provided with support legs  20 ,  20  for standing the picture frame type cover  10 . The support legs  20 ,  20  are structured by cutting off three ways by slits  21 ,  21 , connected to each other in the middle portion of the lower press plate  15 , and formed symmetrically in a horizontal direction. In use, the support legs  20 ,  20  may be bent from a connected portion and protruded to the outside. Additionally, a slit shape is not limited to that of the shown embodiment, and an arbitrary shape can be formed. Moreover, instead of symmetrically forming the support legs  20  in the horizontal direction, the support leg may be formed only on one side. 
     Moreover, bulging portions  30 ,  30  are formed in the vicinity of both ends of the upper press plate  13 , and through holes  31 ,  31  are formed substantially in middle portions of the bulging portions  30 ,  30 . By inserting a thumbtack or a pin into the through hole  31 , the cover can be attached to a wall surface or the like. Since a head of the thumbtack or the pin can be embedded in the bulging portions  30 ,  30 , the cover with the disk storage case inserted therein can easily be attached to the wall surface or the like and displayed. Additionally, the through holes  31 ,  31  may be formed directly in the upper press plate  13 , not via the bulging portions  30 ,  30 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a picture frame type cover  10   a  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in constitutions of a support leg  20   a  formed on the lower press plate  15  and a turned piece  33  formed on the upper press plate  13 . Therefore, the same constitution is denoted with the same reference numeral, and description thereof is omitted. 
     The support leg  20   a  is the same as the support leg  20  in that three ways are cut off and formed by slits  21   a ,  21   a , but different therefrom in that the legs are connected to each other in both ends of the lower press plate  15  and formed in a direction opposite to that of the support leg  20 . The support leg  20   a  is also formed horizontally in the horizontal direction, but may be formed only on one side without being symmetrically formed in the horizontal direction. 
     Moreover, the turned piece  33  is formed, similarly as the support leg, by cutting three ways by a slit  34  and connecting the side of the upper surface plate  12 , and a through hole  35  is formed in a tip end. The turned piece  33  is usually formed on the same plane as that of the upper press plate  13 , during use the piece is bent upward from its root, and the cover is attached by inserting a hook or a pin into the through hole  35  or hung by passing a string through the hole. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a picture frame type cover  10   b  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in constitutions of a support leg  20   b  formed on the lower press plate  15  and a turned piece  33   a  formed on the upper surface plate  12 . Therefore, the same constitution is denoted with the same reference numeral and description thereof is omitted. 
     The support leg  20   b  is formed substantially on the middle portion of the lower press plate  15  in a vertical direction. Specifically, three ways are cut off by a slit  21   b , and the leg is connected to the lower press plate  15  in its upper end. To use the support leg  20   b , the leg is bent from the connected portion in such a manner that its tip end is protruded to the outside. Additionally, two or more support legs  20   b  may be formed. 
     The turned piece  33   a  is constituted similarly as the turned piece  33 , and formed by cutting off three ways by a slit  34   a , and connecting the side of the upper press plate  13 , and a through hole  35   a  is formed in the tip end. The turned piece  33   a  is usually formed on the same plane as that of the upper surface plate  12 , and bent upward from its root during use so that the cover may be attached by inserting the hook or the pin into the through hole  35   a , or hung by passing the string through the hole. 
     FIG. 8 next shows one example of a use state of the picture frame type cover  10  of the first embodiment. As clearly seen from the drawing, the support leg  20  is bent from its root, the tip end thereof is protruded to the outside, and the cover stands like a photograph stand. 
     For the support leg of the lower press plate, the through hole and turned piece of the upper press plate and the turned piece of the upper surface plate in the aforementioned embodiment, either one may only be formed, or these may appropriately be combined and formed. 
     The picture frame type cover for the disk storage case according to the present invention can be formed by aluminum or another metal, but when the cover is entirely formed by a transparent or translucent material, or at least the front surface frame is formed by the transparent or translucent material, the inserted disk case can be seen also from the front surface frame  11 . 
     Additionally, in the aforementioned embodiments, for the shape of the opening  16  of the front surface frame  11 , the formation in the square shape has been described, but the shape of the opening  16  is not limited to the square shape, and a heart shape, a diamond shape, or another arbitrary shape can be formed. Moreover, the opening  16  may be formed of a plurality of windows. When the opening  16  is constituted of the plurality of windows, the respective arbitrary shapes can be combined. Furthermore, for the material of the picture frame type cover, the cover can be formed by synthetic resin, aluminum, paper or another arbitrary material as long as the cover is provided with the spring action. 
     As described above, according to the picture frame type cover for the disk storage case of the present invention, the storage case for various disks such as CD, MD and DVD is inserted into the cover to frame a peripheral edge of the jacket, the cover is used as if it were a picture frame, and the photograph, picture or the like of the jacket can be appreciated as a part of interior design. Moreover, by utilizing the support leg or the like, the cover can be displayed in an arbitrary place. Since an interval between the upper press plate and the lower press plate is open, and both side surfaces are also open, the disk storage case can easily be taken in or out only by sliding the case. Furthermore, the disk storage case can also be inserted in the picture frame type cover and carried. The picture frame type cover protects the disk storage case from any impact, and can prevent breakage even when falling. 
     Additionally, according to the picture frame type cover for the disk storage case of the present invention, in a rental shop in which music or movie is lent on business, the cover can also be used as a display case cover. Specifically, a disk title sheet is inserted between the disk storage case and the upper press plate and lower press plate, and exhibited in a predetermined position on a showcase. A user can read letters put on the title sheet between the upper press plate and the lower press plate to confirm a disk content, and can see if the disk storage case is inserted, that is, if the disk is being rented. When the user rents out the disk, one may pull the disk storage case out of the picture frame type cover, return only the picture frame type cover back to the showcase, and bring the pulled disk storage case to a rent-out counter. Thereafter, rent-out is performed following a usual rent-out procedure.