Abstract:
A storage container for items of recorded media has at least two book-like pages connected by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the pages to lie flat in the open configuration. The hinge assembly is formed in a manner that eliminates the material of the inner plastic sheet during the vacuum-forming process to create a hinge assembly having little or no memory to allow the container to lie flat in an open condition.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application serial No. 60/336,595 filed Dec. 4, 2001; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to storage containers for recorded media and, more particularly, containers that are vacuum-formed. Specifically, the present invention relates to a storage container for recorded media that unfolds in a book-like manner and lies flat when it is in the open position.  
           [0004]    2. Background Information  
           [0005]    Numerous types of vacuum-formed storage containers are known in the art which typically include a substrate sandwiched between inner and outer plastic sheets to form the container. The inner plastic sheet is typically vacuum-formed with appropriate walls and retention devices configured to hold the item being disposed in the storage container. The hinges are typically thin areas with recessed portions that allow the three sheets of material to bend about the hinge. The problem in the art is that these types of hinges tend to return to their closed position when the container is opened. The material that is used for the inner and outer sheets has a memory that prevents the container from lying flat. The art thus desires a vacuum-formed container having a hinge that allows the container to lie flat when it is opened.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides a storage container for items of recorded media having at least two book-like pages connected by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the pages to lie flat in the open configuration. The hinge assembly is formed in a manner that eliminates the material of the inner plastic sheet during the vacuum-forming process to create a hinge assembly having little or no memory to allow the container to lie flat in an open condition.  
           [0007]    In one embodiment of the invention, the storage container is configured to hold two items of recorded media with cover pages associated with each portion of the storage container that holds the item of recorded media. In other embodiments of the invention, the storage container may be configured to hold three or four items of recorded media. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the storage container for recorded media of the present invention in a closed configuration.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the storage container for recorded media in an open configuration.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a first alternative embodiment of the storage container for recorded media.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a second alternative embodiment of the storage container for recorded media.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the storage container for recorded media in an open configuration.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a section view taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 7.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the storage container for recorded media in an open configuration.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the storage container for recorded media in an open configuration. 
     
    
       [0019]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    The first embodiment of the storage container for recorded media of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in FIGS.  1 - 4 . Media storage container  10  is fabricated by a known vacuum-form method wherein an inner sheet  12  and an outer sheet  14  are sandwiched around an intermediate body sheet  16  to form the body of container  10 . Sheets  12  and  14  are connected about substantially all of their perimeters to hold the body together. Inner sheet  12  is fabricated with a plurality of walls  18  and retention members  20  that are configured to hold items of recorded media. Walls  18  also provide structural strength to container  10 . In the embodiments depicted in the drawings, each of the containers uses base pages  21  or a base page  21  and a lid page  23  on either side of a central hinge  30 . Base  21  includes retention member  20 . Lid  23  hinges between an open position wherein member  20  is accessible and a closed position where member  20  is covered. The hinge of the invention may be used without lid  23 . Body sheet  16  is optional. When body sheet  16  is used, its front and/or rear side may be printed with information related to the media stored in container  10 . Body sheet  16  may be fabricated from a paper-based material that has little memory when folded.  
         [0021]    Container  10  differs from those known in the art because central hinge  30  allows container  10  to lie flat in an open configuration. Central hinge  30  is different than lateral hinges  32  because inner sheet  12  is removed at central hinge as depicted in FIG. 4. Inner sheet  12  may be removed after hinge  30  is formed with inner sheet  12  or hinge  30  may be formed in a manner that is free of inner sheet  12 . The lack of the material from inner sheet  12  at hinge  30  allows container  10  to remain flat because hinge  30  does not have sufficient memory forces in the material of outer sheet  14  and intermediate body sheet  16  to close itself.  
         [0022]    Inner sheet  12  includes two portions  12 A and  12 B disposed on either side of the central hinge assembly  30  such that inner sheet  12  defines a single slot with opposed inner edges  34 . Outer sheet  14  and inner sheet  16  pivot about inner edges  34  and form living hinges  36  at these locations. Living hinges  36  do not have enough memory to force container  10  closed and container  10  thus lies flat when in the open configuration. Hinge  30  is thus compared to hinge  32  wherein living hinges  38  are formed with three layers of material. Living hinges  38  have memory and will not lie flat.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of hinge  30  with opposed inner edges  34 . Each portion  12 A and  12 B of inner sheet  12  is disposed directly against intermediate body sheet  16  adjacent edge  34 . The adjacent areas  40  may be connected to intermediate body sheet  16  with an adhesive or other suitable connectors. The stepped areas  42  next to adjacent areas  40  are spaced from intermediate body sheet  16 .  
         [0024]    A first alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 5 and is indicated generally by the numeral  50 . Container  50  includes central hinge assembly  30  so that container  50  lays flat in the open configuration. Container  50  is configured to hold three items of recorded media and thus includes three bases  21  and a single lid  23 . The second alternative embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by the numeral  60  in FIG. 6. Storage container  60  also includes central hinge assembly  30 . Storage container  60  is configured to hold four items of recorded media and includes four bases  21 .  
         [0025]    A third alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS.  7 - 9  and is indicated generally by the numeral  70 . Container  70  includes a central hinge assembly  72  so that container  70  lays flat in the open configuration. Hinge assembly  72  differs from hinge  30  in that all of the material of inner sheet  12  is not removed in hinge  72 . In hinge  72 , inner sheet  12  defines slots  74  positioned over living hinges  36  and in the longitudinal direction of living hinges  36 . Container  70  includes two spaced slots  74  for each living hinge  36 . Bridges  76  separate slots  74 . The combined longitudinal length of slots  74  is substantially greater than the combined longitudinal length of bridges  76  such that bridges  76  do not have enough memory to cause hinge  72  to close by itself. A fourth alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 10 and is indicated generally by the numeral  80 . Container  80  includes a central hinge assembly  82  so that container  80  lays flat in the open configuration. Hinge  82  includes three slots  74  over each living hinge  36 . A fifth alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 11 and is indicated generally by the numeral  90 . Container  90  includes a central hinge assembly  92  so that container  90  lays flat in the open configuration. Hinge  92  includes three slots  74  over each living hinge  36 .  
         [0026]    In any of the embodiments described above, any of the hinges  32  may be formed to have the structure of central hinge  30 ,  72 ,  82 ,  92  such that each of the containers described above may include three of these hinges so that each of the portions lies flat in the open configuration. Furthermore, each container may include only two pages if desired.  
         [0027]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0028]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.