Abstract:
A compact disc dispensing, retrieving and storage device comprising an outer cover, storage pockets, index arms, and spacing means. The storage pockets are located within the outer cover and can be rotated out of the outer cover into a dispensing or receiving position using an index arm. An index arm swivels around a pivot point and is rigidly connected to the storage pockets. The spacing means connect the upper and lower sides of the outer cover and provide structure to the invention. The present invention enables users to dispense and retrieve a compact disc from a compact disk player device using only one hand. The invention can contain multiple compact discs for storage and use.

Description:
[0001]    This present application is based on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/295,045 filed Jun. 1, 2001 and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)(1). 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to storing, dispensing and retrieving compact discs and to an apparatus for storing, dispensing and retrieving compact discs.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Audio compact discs, for example, those containing prerecorded music, are typically stored in plastic containers known in the trade as “jewel boxes.” Jewel boxes utilize front and rear plastic panels that are hinged together along adjacent edges. Although jewel boxes are an effective storage device for compact discs, they are prone to breakage and generally require the use of two hands for a user to open and remove a compact disc from the jewel box.  
           [0006]    Alternative compact disc storage devices have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,650 to Budnik discloses a booklet for housing compact discs. The booklet has a front and back cover attached to and at least partially rotatable about a spine or hinge and movable between an open and closed position. Although booklet type compact disc storage devices have the advantage of conveniently storing multiple compact discs, they also require the use of two hands to remove compact discs from or place compact discs into the storage device.  
           [0007]    The use of two hands to properly handle compact discs can be problematic when, for example, a user is operating a vehicle such as an automobile, truck or boat while handling the compact discs. The required use of two hands to handle the compact disc provides a significant distraction for the vehicle operator from attending to vehicle operation. The subsequent distraction can often lead to improper vehicle operation resulting in damage or injury to the vehicle operator, surrounding property or any other person or thing the vehicle may accidentally come in contact with.  
           [0008]    There is, therefore, a demonstrated need for a compact disc storage, dispensing and retrieval device that will cause minimal distraction and maximum ease of use for a compact disc user, especially when the user is multitasking compact disc usage with another activity.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention provides a compact disc storage, dispensing and retrieval device, which can be operated with one hand and offers minimal distraction to a multitasking compact disc user. The present compact disc storage device includes an outer cover, a spacing means, one or more storage pockets located within the outer cover and a pivot. The pivot extends through a pivot point on the storage pockets and attaches at an upper attachment point and a lower attachment point on the outer cover. The storage pockets are each able to rotate about the pivot by moving an index arm, which extends from the storage pocket. Movement of an index arm can rotate a storage pocket to a dispensing position for providing a compact disc to a compact disc user device or for removing a compact disc from the compact disc user device. The index arm may also be moved to place the storage pocket within the interior of the outer cover in a storage position. The compact disc dispensing/retrieving device can be held and operated with one hand, leaving the other hand free for other activities. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention without storage pockets;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a storage pocket used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a closure embodiment used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative closure embodiment used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a base of a storage pocket used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a pocket, without the index arm, used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a storage pocket holding a compact disc as used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a plan view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device in the storage position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention in the dispensing position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention in a partially dispensed position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pivot used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the storage pocket used in the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 14 is a side view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention without storage pockets, which shows a spacing means; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 15 is a plan view of another alternative closure embodiment of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 16 is a plan view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention showing an alternative spacing means.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 17 is a side view of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device of the present invention showing the alternative spacing means described in FIG. 16. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    For the purpose of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom” and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the invention as oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume alternate variations and step sequences except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes, illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification, is an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiment disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting the invention.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 1, the present compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  includes an outer cover  12 , one or more storage pockets  14 , spacing means  64 , and a pivot  16 . FIG. 2 shows outer cover  12 , which includes an upper side  18 , a lower side  20 , an upper pivot attachment  22 , a lower pivot attachment  24  and an interior  26 . FIG. 3 shows storage pockets  14  which include a base  28 , a pocket  30 , a pivot point  32 , and an index arm  34 .  
         [0029]    Storage pocket  14  can be any dimension and shape suitable for holding a compact disc  11  or similar item. In an embodiment of the present invention, storage pocket  14  is semicircular with a diameter  15  at least equivalent to that of the compact disc  11  to be stored. FIG. 6 shows base  28  with a diameter  42 , which may be at least 4.75 inches, typically from 4.75 to 7 inches, more typically from 4.75 to 6 inches and most typically from 4.75 to 5 inches. FIG. 7 shows pocket  30 , which is a similar shape as base  28  and has a similar diameter  44  that is the same as diameter  42 . Pocket  30  consists of two pieces: a bottom face  103 , and a top face  104 . Bottom face  103  and top face  104  are fastened together around their circumference. Examples of fastening methods include, but are not limited to: stitching, stapling, gluing, melting and snapping. Bottom face  103  is larger than top face  104 . A distance  105  separates bottom lip  106  of bottom face  103  from top lip  107  of top face  104 . Distance  105  may be at least 0.125 inch, typically from 0.125 inch to 1 inch, more typically from 0.25 inch to 1 inch, and most typically from 0.5 inch to 0.75 inch. Top lip  107  of top face  104  is not fastened to bottom face  103 , so that opening  29  is formed (FIG. 13). The bottom face  103  can be reflective to aid the user during dark conditions. Alternatively, the bottom face  103  and the top face  104  can have contrasting colors to aid users in receiving the compact disk  11 . Referring to FIG. 13, pocket  30  and base  28  are fastened together to form storage pocket  14 . Examples of fastening methods include, but are not limited to: stitching, stapling, gluing, melting and snapping. Alternatively bottom face  103  could be eliminated and the compact disk  11  could rest on base  28  instead. FIG. 8 shows storage pocket  14  with a compact disc  11  stored therein.  
         [0030]    Returning to FIGS. 1, 2,  3 , and  12  one or more storage pockets  14  are located in interior  26  of outer cover  12 . Shaft  36  of pivot  16  extends through lower pivot attachment  24 , pivot point  32  for each storage pocket  14 , and upper pivot attachment  22 . Pivot  16  is held in place by upper collar  38  and lower collar  40 . Upper collar  38  and lower collar  40  can be any device suitable for holding pivot  16  in place. Shaft  36  can be any diameter suitable for allowing storage pocket  14  to rotate about pivot point  32 . Shaft diameter  52  can be 0.01 to 1 inch, typically 0.05 to 0.75 inch, more typically 0.1 to 0.5 inch and most typically 0.1 to 0.25 inch. The length of shaft  36  will depend on the number of storage pockets  14  included in compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 .  
         [0031]    Compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  may optionally include a spacer  54  as shown in FIG. 14. One or more spacers  54  may be used. Typically, spacer  54  will be placed between each storage pocket  14 . Spacer  54  may be attached to an upper surface  56  of lower side  20  of outer cover  12  and to a lower surface  58  of upper side  18  of outer cover  12 . When two or more spacers  54  are used, an upper side  60  of a spacer  54  is attached to a lower side  62  of another spacer  54 . A spacing means  64  may be utilized to control the spacing between spacers  54 . When spacing means  64  is used, an upper side  66  and a lower side  68  of spacing means  64  is attached to the respective upper surface  56  of lower side  20  of outer cover  12 , lower surface  58  of upper side  18  of outer cover  12 , lower side  62  of spacer  54  and upper side  60  of spacer  54 . The height  55  of spacing means  64  is a height suitable to allow storage pocket  14  to rotate freely about pivot point  32 . The height of spacing means  64  may be from 0.01 inch to 1 inch, typically 0.05 inch to 0.75 inch, more typically 0.1 inch to 0.6 inch and most typically 0.15 inch to 0.5 inch.  
         [0032]    Alternatively the spacing means  64  may be comprised of spacing pins  250 , a spacing/restricting pin  251 , and washers  252 . The spacing pins  250  may be but are not limited to: dowels, rods, screws and bolts. The spacing/restricting pin  251  is similar to spacing pins  250 , but is placed in a particular position to prevent the compact disks  11  from sliding out of the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 . Referring to FIG. 16, the spacing/restricting pin  251  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  is positioned so that when storage pocket  14  is in a compact disc storage position  86 , the minimum distance between spacing pin  251  and the upper tip  66  of storage pocket  14  is always less than the diameter of a compact disc, digital video disc (DVD) or other similar item. This feature ensures that the storage pocket  14  cannot rotate out of the outer cover  12 , when storage pocket  14  is in a storage position  86 . Spacing/restricting pin  251  accomplishes a similar function as leading edge  65 , in the other alternative spacing embodiment.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 17, the spacing pins  250  and  251  may also include washers  252  or other similar means to separate the spacers  54 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , outer cover  12  can be made using any suitable material or combination of materials, so long as outer cover  12  is sufficiently rigid to protect interior  26  and to allow storage pockets  14  to rotate freely about pivot point  32 . Outer cover  12  must also be flexible enough to allow a user to compress the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  during retrieval of the compact disk  11 . Examples of material from which outer cover  12  may be constructed include, but are not limited to: laminated cardboard, plastic, vinyl, leather and metal. The base  28  of storage pocket  14  can be made using any suitable material sufficiently rigid to allow storage pocket  14  to rotate freely about pivot point  32 .  
         [0035]    Pocket  30  of storage pocket  14  is made from a material sufficient to protect inserted compact discs from damage. Suitable materials for pocket  30  include leather, plastic, vinyl, rubber (natural and synthetic), cotton cloth and synthetic fiber cloth. In an embodiment of the present invention, the coefficient of friction between base  28  and pocket  30  with a compact disc is high enough to minimize the occurrence of a compact disc accidentally falling out of storage pocket  14 , but not so high as to prevent easy removal of a compact disc from storage pocket  14 .  
         [0036]    A closure embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, closure strap  96  is attached to lower side  20  of cover  12 . Closure strap  96  is positioned approximately at the center of opening  72 . Attaching snap  98  is attached near an end of closure strap  96  such that it is able to form a closure with receiving snap  99 , which is attached to upper side  18  of cover  12 . Closure strap  96  may be attached at either end by any suitable device. Suitable devices include, but are not limited to, VELCRO™, snaps, sewing, buttons, and magnets. Attaching snap  98  and receiving snap  99  is the preferred method of attachment but not meant to serve at the sole attaching means. For example, closure strap  96  could be attached at one end by VELCRO™ and attached at the other end by buttons.  
         [0037]    An alternative closure embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, upper side  18  of outer cover  12  is sloped toward lower side  20  of outer cover  12 , so that the distance between upper side  18  and lower side  20  is reduced at leading edge  65 . The upper side  18  is sloped between 5 and 35 degrees, preferably between 10 and 20 degrees, towards the lower side  20 . Alternatively the lower side  20  may be sloped towards the upper side  18 , or both sides  18  and  20  may be sloped towards each other at said angles. This sloping serves to reduce the size of opening  72 . When several storage pockets  14  are inserted into interior  26  of cover  12 , the fact that the outer cover  12  is sloped toward leading edge  65  compresses the storage pockets  14  together and friction tends to prevent the storage pockets  14  from rotating out of outer cover  12 , thus keeping compact disc  11  safely stored within compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 .  
         [0038]    A second alternative closure embodiment is shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, base  28  of storage pocket  14  has a notch  100 , which can accept a locking pin  101 . Locking pin  101  can be mounted to spacer  64 , or alternatively can be separate from the compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  but engageable with it. Locking pin  101  simply must be long enough so that, when front tip  200  of locking pin  101  is inserted into notch  100  of storage pocket  14 , back tip  201  of locking pin  101  is still in contact with spacer  64 . When front tip  200  of locking pin  101  is inserted into notch  100  of storage pocket  14 , storage pocket  14  cannot rotate freely on pivot  16  about pivot point  32 , thus ensuring that compact disc  11  will not rotate out of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 , while in the storage position  86 .  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in an embodiment of the present invention, each storage pocket  14  may have a return device  82 . Return device  82  facilitates the automatic movement of storage pocket  14  from a compact disc dispensing position  84  to a compact disc storage position  86 . A first end  88  of return device  82  is attached to an attachment position  92  on storage pocket  14  and a second end  90  of return device  82  is attached to a second attachment position  94  on spacing means  64 . Return device  82  can be any material or object that will facilitate the automatic movement of storage pocket  14  from a compact disc dispensing position  84  (FIG. 10) to a compact disc storage position  86  (FIG. 9). Examples of return devices  82  that may be used in the present invention include, but are not limited to rubber bands, synthetic elastic bands and springs.  
         [0040]    Referring to FIG. 9, a leading edge  65  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  is formed by an end of spacing means  64 . When storage pocket  14  is in a compact disc storage position  86 , the minimum distance between leading edge  65  and the upper tip  66  of storage pocket  14  is always less than the diameter of a compact disc, digital video disc (DVD) or other similar item. This feature ensures that the storage pocket  14  cannot rotate out of the outer cover  12 , when storage pocket  14  is in a storage position  86 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 11, a leading edge  65  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  is formed by an end of spacing means  64 . Leading edge  65  is positioned such that it does not impede the rotation of storage pocket  14 , especially when storage pocket  14  contains compact disc  11  and is in partially a opened position  87  as shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0042]    The present invention is further related to a method of storing and dispensing compact discs using the apparatus of the present invention. The method of storing generally includes the steps of:  
         [0043]    moving index arm  34  of storage pocket  14  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  in a direction generally towards spacing means  64  to expose opening  29  of storage pocket  14  at a position in front of leading edge  65  of outer cover  12  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 ;  
         [0044]    receiving compact disc  11  from a compact disc user device into opening  29  of storage pocket  14 ;  
         [0045]    withdrawing compact disc  11  from the device; and  
         [0046]    moving index arm  34  in the general direction away from spacing means  64  to place storage pocket  14  with compact disc  11  at a position in interior  26  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 , which is in storage position  86 .  
         [0047]    To aid in retrieval of compact disc  11 , pressure may be applied to upper side  18  and lower side  20  of outer cover  12 , when storage pocket  14  is in dispensing position  84 . The pressure applied to upper side  18  and lower side  20  of outer cover  12  deforms each side in the general direction of storage pocket  14 . In this way, the applied pressure is transferred to storage pocket  14 , improving the gripping power of the interior of storage pocket  14 .  
         [0048]    The method of dispensing compact disc  11  from compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  includes the steps of:  
         [0049]    moving index arm  34  of storage pocket  14  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  in a direction generally toward spacing means  64  to expose compact disc  11  and storage pocket  14  in a dispensing position  84 ;  
         [0050]    inserting compact disc  11  into a compact disc user device;  
         [0051]    withdrawing storage pocket  14  and compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10  from the compact disc user device and compact disc  11 ; and  
         [0052]    moving index arm  34  in the general direction away from spacing means  64  to place storage pocket  14  at a position in interior  26  of compact disc dispensing/retrieving device  10 , which is storage position  86 .  
         [0053]    The present method can be used with any compact disc user device including stereos, computers and digital video disc (DVD) players. In an embodiment of the present invention, the present method is used with a compact disc player in a vehicle, such as a car, truck or boat. In this embodiment, the user can select the desired compact disc based on which of several index arms  34  he or she selects. The index arms  34  can be color-coded, labeled, textured, or have various shaped tips to aid the user in selecting the appropriate compact disk or digital video disk (DVD), or other similar item. The present method allows for one handed selection, dispensing and/or retrieval of compact discs from the compact disc device. The present method is particularly advantageous in that it provides a method for a user to change/play compact discs in a vehicle with minimal disruption from the operation of the vehicle.  
         [0054]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description.