Abstract:
A case for retaining a disk-like electronic storage medium. The case includes front and back portions, each portion including a planar panel having a peripheral flange. The portions are joined at a hinge that is fixed to peripheral edges of the planar front and back panels and arranged so that, the peripheral flanges are mutually aligned to define an interior space. An interior housing within the interior space is provided for receiving at least one source of light and an electrical circuit for intermittently energizing the source of light.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to cases for the display and packaging of cassettes, DVD&#39;s and CD&#39;s. More particularly, this invention pertains to a case that incorporates active illumination for attracting the attention of consumers. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The proliferation of electronic entertainment media, including videos and games, has resulted in the omnipresence of such storage devices as DVD&#39;s and CD&#39;s. Such devices comprise planar disks whose content is suitable for reading by means of a laser output device. 
         [0005]    Retail marketing of such storage devices commonly includes packaging of the device within a square boxlike case. The case is routinely fabricated of transparent plastic. This allows the insertion of identifying and advertising material as opposed to reliance upon the “naked” disk. 
         [0006]    Retailers commonly carry voluminous numbers of encased DVD&#39;s and CD&#39;s. While some regularizing of the process of consumer searching is provided by the use of alphabetized bins and posters routinely adorn stores marketing these goods, the immense scope of this market renders the incorporation of means for attracting the consumer&#39;s eye into this process extremely valuable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a case. Such case includes a front portion that has a planar front panel with a peripheral flange. A back portion includes a planar back panel having a peripheral flange. 
         [0008]    A hinge is flexibly joined to a peripheral edge of each of the planar front and back panels. The front and back portions of the case are arranged so that the peripheral flanges of the planar front and back panels are mutually aligned and inclined toward one another to define an interior space within the case. 
         [0009]    At least one source of light is provided as well as an electrical circuit for intermittently energizing the source of light. An interior housing is provided within the interior space for receiving the source of light and the electrical circuit. 
         [0010]    The preceding and other features of the invention are described in a detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawing figures, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the features of the invention. Like numerals refer to like features throughout both the written description and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a case (closed configuration) in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the case (open configuration) illustrating the interior space and accompanying features (with internal cover removed) in accordance with the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3(   a ),  3 ( b ) and  3 ( c ) are planar, frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of an internal cover of the interior housing of a case in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the interior housing of a case in accordance with the invention taken at line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a case  10  (closed configuration) in accordance with the invention. The case  10  is suitable for storage of a disk-like storage medium such as a CD or DVD and includes a plurality of sources of light  12  through  18 , such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are sequentially energized to catch the attention of a shopper. 
         [0016]    The case  10  includes a front portion  20  and a mating back portion  22 , each of which is preferably of molded plastic. The front and back portions  20 ,  22  may include a thin transparent overlay of transparent, flexible material that permits the insertion of printed materials to cover the planar front and/or back panels. Such materials give the complete packaging the appearance of an album or book with descriptive and/or decorative cover(s). 
         [0017]    The front portion  20  generally comprises a planar front panel  24  bounded by peripheral flanges  26  through  30  while the back portion  22  includes a planar back panel  32  with peripheral flanges  34  through  38  that are arranged to align with and face corresponding flanges of the planar front panel  24 . The front portion  20  is flexibly joined to the back portion  22  by at edge  39  of a common hinge  40  while the back portion  22  is flexibly joined to the hinge at an edge  41 . The facing peripheral flanges  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  34 ,  36 ,  38  respectively and the hinge  40 , in combination, cause the planar front and back panels  24 ,  32  to assume a generally parallel, spaced-apart configuration when the case  10  is in the closed configuration of  FIG. 1 , to create an interior space  42  therebetween. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the case  10  (open configuration) illustrating the interior space  42  and accompanying features (with an internal cover removed) in accordance with the invention. The interior surface of the back panel  32  of the case  10  appears on the right-hand side of this view while the interior of the front panel  24  appears on the left-hand side of the view of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0019]    As can be seen, a generally circular holder  44  is formed at the interior of the back panel  32  for receiving and holding a disk-shaped CD or DVD. Such a holder  44  is conventionally configured in cases for holding disk-shaped media. 
         [0020]    Turning to the interior surface of the front panel  24 , an interior housing  50  includes an upper compartment  52  for mounting a circuit board that includes electronics for sequentially energizing the plurality of LEDs  12  through  18  and a lower compartment  54  for mounting batteries for energizing the electronics. Each of the compartments is defined by interior flanges that form walls within the interior space  42 .  FIGS. 3(   a ),  3 ( b ) and  3 ( c ) are planar, frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of an internal cover  56  of the interior housing  50  while  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the interior housing  50  taken at line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  with the internal cover  56  engaged to the housing  50  and batteries and electronics fitted therein. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ( a ) through  3 ( c ) and  4  in combination, upstanding flanges  58  and  60  define the lower and upper boundaries of the lower compartment  54  while the upper compartment  52  exists between the upstanding flange  60  and the flanged peripheral edge  28  of the planar front panel  24 . A representative sleeve  62  recedes from the front planar panel  24  into the upper compartment  52 , mating with, and receiving the representative LED  16  that is, in turn, mounted to the circuit board  64  that is seated atop the sleeve  62  (as well as sleeves provided for the remaining LEDs  12 ,  14  and  18 ). Turning to the lower compartment  54 , a plurality of d.c. batteries  66  (only one visible in  FIG. 4 ) rests on a plurality of semicircular support ribs  68 . 
         [0022]    The internal cover  56  is fixed to the interior housing  50  by means of snap tabs  70  that are received in aligned apertures  72  within the upstanding flange  58  of the lower or battery compartment  54  of the internal housing  50 . It is additionally secured by means of a pair or screws (not shown) that are received in holes  74  within the internal cover  56  that are aligned with internally-threaded sleeves  76  positioned within the upper or circuit board compartment  52  of the internal housing  50 . 
         [0023]    A spring electrode  78  is aligned with a fixed electrode  80  at the opposed ends of the lower or battery compartment  54 . The electrodes  78 ,  80  sandwich an aligned pair of batteries therebetween, providing an electrical path to the electronics of the circuit board  64 . 
         [0024]    The electronics of the circuit board  64 , including the LEDs  12  through  18 , are preferably energized to provide a sequentially-illuminated display that greatly attracts the attention of shoppers. Alternative modes of energizing one of more of the LEDs, including periodic flashing of multiple LEDs, random sequencing of flashing, etc. may be achieved to attract the attention of shippers in accordance with the invention. The design of, preferably digital, circuitry for energizing the LEDs in accordance with any predetermined sequence is well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]    Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a case for a disk-like storage medium, such as a CD or DVD that is attractive to the eye of a shopper. By employing the teachings of this invention, one may facilitate the sale of goods by means of packaging that diverts the shopper&#39;s attention from competitors&#39; goods and fixes his attention on the seller&#39;s goods. As a consequence, the marketing of CDs and DVDs is of enhanced effectiveness. 
         [0026]    While this invention has been described with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.