Abstract:
A compact disc storage and protective enclosure for securely positioning a disc having a flat circular shape. The enclosure incorporates a unitary element comprising of a single piece of durable and flexible material having a back section, a left section that folds across the back section, a right section that folds across both the left and back sections, a bottom section that folds across both the right and left sections, and a top section that folds across the bottom section. A disc is positioned within the enclosure that also includes a gap having a convex shape into which each of the left and right sections can flex in order to absorb an impact.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a protective enclosure for portable media such as a Compact Disc (CD) or other similar type of recording media. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     CD&#39;s and DVD&#39;s are among the most common medium for storing and transporting data from one location to another. Whether they contain music, movies or software, these discs are utilized by virtually every industry imaginable. Because data is written on the outside of a CD (and other such media), these discs can easily become scratched or damaged when dropped or impacted by foreign objects. Traditionally, packaging containers for CD&#39;s have come in two varieties which include the hard “jewel box” design and the soft “sleeve” design. 
     Jewel box containers typically comprise a cover manufactured of transparent plastic material as well as a hard plastic base for holding the disc in place. Typically, one end of the cover is attached to the base via a hinge, while the other end is secured to the base via a clip or other securing means, thus allowing the cover to be opened and closed at will. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,971 describes a storage holder having a rigid base and cover. However, traditional designs utilizing all rigid materials have drawbacks owing to the expense, weight and durability of the material. As such, recent designs have focused incorporating the use of lower cost materials into the traditional design. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,557; U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,286; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008-0017535 describe containers that utilize a traditional hard plastic base that is paired with a cover constructed from less expensive material, such as a light plastic flap or a paper covering. However, the financial and environmental costs associated with producing packaging of this type remain high due to the use of several different non-biodegradable materials such as injection molded plastic, composites and adhesive materials. Moreover, there remains a problem wherein the less expensive covers provide no protection to the disc against impact and oftentimes, the cover will separate from the base when the container is dropped, causing the disc to become dislodged which can result in damage to the disc. 
     Alternatively, sleeve packages are inexpensive to manufacture and typically comprise a lightweight paper material having a pocket into which the disc is inserted. Several examples include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,217; U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,284; U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,364; U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,319; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,226. Although these containers are lightweight and are at least partly biodegradable, there is a problem in which they provide virtually no protection against impact or pressure, provide little internal support for the disc and will quickly disintegrate when exposed to sufficient moisture. Moreover, any artwork or content list which typically accompanies the disc must be reproduced on the outside of the sleeve, thus increasing production costs and producing additional waste. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an improved disc package having a unitary design which is lightweight, biodegradable, moisture resistant and resistant to impact. It is also an objective of the invention to provide a disc enclosure which is simple to use and economical to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a protective device for securely enclosing a disc having a flat circular shape. One embodiment of the present invention can include a durable and flexible base member having a back section, a left section configured to fold across a portion of the back section, a right section configured to fold across a portion of both the left and back sections, a bottom section configured to fold across a portion of both the right and left sections, and a top section configured to fold across a portion of the bottom section. The protective enclosure can further include a gap having a convex shape into which each of the left and right sections can flex in order to absorb an impact. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention can include a method for manufacturing a protective enclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a disc storage and protective enclosure that is useful for understanding the embodiments disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view illustrating one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5   a  is a front view illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5   b  is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing a disc storage and protective enclosure in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     As used throughout this disclosure, a disc can include, for example, a CD, DVD, laser, optical or other similar device. Such discs are well known and typically include a circular body with a spindle receiving hole positioned in the center, a recording surface on a first side, and a non-recording surface on a second side. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a disc storage and protective enclosure that is useful for understanding the embodiments disclosed herein. As shown, the protective enclosure  10  can be constructed from a base pattern cut from a single piece of lightweight flexible material. The base pattern can be shaped to include back panel  11  comprising bends  11   a - 11   d , side panels  12  and  13 , top panel  14  and bottom panel  15 . 
     As illustrated by  FIG. 2 , side panel  12  can bend atop the front of back panel  11  via fold  11   a  (see arrow  21 ) so that side panel  12  overlaps approximately 60-90% of the surface area of back panel  11 . Likewise, side panel  13  can bend atop both back panel  11  and side panel  12  via fold  11   b  (see arrow  22 ) such that side panel  13  overlaps approximately 50-80% of the surface area of side panel  12 . As shown, a securing means  20  for securely positioning a disc within the enclosure can also be included. To this end, side panel  13  can include one half of the securing means  20   a  and bottom panel  15  can include the other half of the securing means  20   b.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , once disc  25  is positioned onto securing means  20   a , via the spindle receiving hole, the bottom panel  15  can bend along fold  11   d  (see arrow  23 ) until securing means  20   a  and  20   b  are aligned and make contact (See  FIG. 4 ). Moreover, when in this position, both side panels  12  and  13  form a flexible outward bow resulting in a convex air gap  40  between the back panel  11  and the side panels  12  and  13 . As will be described below in greater detail, gap  40  can act as a barrier to absorb the force of impact when the protective enclosure is dropped or receives an impact from a foreign object. Such a feature can greatly improve the survivability of a disc which is secured within the protective enclosure. 
     Finally, top panel  14  can bend along fold  11   c  (see arrow  24 ) so that top panel  14  overlaps approximately 25-50% of the surface area of bottom panel  15 . When in this (closed) position, top panel  14  can act to prevent the enclosure from unintentionally opening as well as preventing moisture from entering the enclosure. Moreover, in another embodiment, top panel  14  and bottom panel  15  can further include one or more locking means  26  which can act in a similar manner as the securing means  20  described above. To this end, locking means  26  can provide additional security against unintentional/inadvertent opening of the enclosure. As shown in  FIG. 4 , one portion of the locking means  26   a  can be positioned on the inside of top panel  14 , and another portion of the locking means  26   b  can be positioned on the outside of bottom panel  15  such that elements  26   a  and  26   b  align and engage when top panel  14  is folded across bottom panel  15  (See  FIG. 5   a ). 
     As used herein, the securing means  20  can preferably include magnetic elements and/or strips of Velcro® and the locking means  26  can include a variety of known elements in order to create an attachment point between two objects. Several non limiting examples include: magnetic elements, adhesive material, and compression fittings such as buttons, snaps, and Velcro®, for example. Each of these elements and other similar attachments are known. To this end, it is preferable that elements  20  and  26  be permanently affixed to the protective enclosure  10  via a strong adhesive at the time of manufacture. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the protective enclosure  10  can comprise a unitary design constructed from a single piece of durable lightweight malleable material. For instance, the protective enclosure  10  can be constructed of for example, recyclable plastic, Cellulose Acetate or another known material that is inexpensive to produce, has excellent water resistance, is flexible, biodegradable and/or recyclable as well as having excellent durability. Additionally, in another preferred embodiment, bends  11   c  and  11   d  can be pre-scored to include a channel having a width ranging from approximately 0.5 centimeters to 1 centimeter in order to maintain the shape of the enclosure. Such channels and their associated uses are well known in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , the protective enclosure  10 , according to one embodiment can act to securely enclose a disc in order to protect the disc from damage resulting from an impact with a foreign object as well as to protect the disc from adverse elements such as water or dust, for example. To this end, when impacted by a foreign object, the side panels  12  and  13  which form an outward bow (see  FIG. 4 ), can bend within the confines of the convex gap  40  in order to absorb the force associated with the impact. In other words, the bowed shape of the side panels  12  and  13 , when folded act like a cushion or spring in order to reduce the force of an impact before it can be transferred to the disc. As such, a disc securely positioned within the enclosure can escape damage and the enclosure itself will not inadvertently open. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a protective enclosure  10  that includes a molded disc holder  60 . Disc holders, such as element  60  are well known in the art and can be made from a single piece of injection molded plastic and typically include a hub for securely attaching a disc. As shown, disc holder  60  can be affixed to the inside of bottom panel  15  such that the enclosure  10  can incorporate the rigid disc holder  60  when in a closed position. To this end, such an embodiment can provide additional rigidity to the enclosure while maintaining the novel features described above. 
     A method of manufacturing a protective enclosure is now described. Method  70  can begin at step  71  where a suitable material and color selection can be made. 
     In step  72 , the base pattern of the protective enclosure can be cut from the material selected in step  71 . To this end, a plurality of panels can be formed including back panel  11 , side panels  12  and  13 , top panel  14  and bottom panel  15 , as described above. 
     In step  73 , a determination is made as to whether the protective enclosure is to include a hard molded disc holder. If a disc holder is to be included, the method proceeds to step  75  where the molded disc holder is attached to the back panel  11  and the method then proceeds to step  76 . 
     If, in step  73 , a molded disc holder is not to be included, the method proceeds to step  74  where a securing means is selected and attached to the base pattern. As used herein, the securing means incorporates both the means for securing the disc within the enclosure and the means for securely closing (locking) the enclosure, as described above. 
     In step  76 , the base pattern is pressed/formed to create a series of bends (such as bends  11   a - 11   d ) interposed between the back panel and each of the top, bottom and side panels. 
     In step  77 , the panels are folded across the series of bends to create the shape of the protective enclosure in a closed position. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.