Abstract:
A type of conventional optical storage media such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD) or any type of optical-based digital storage media is provided having a raised ring is provided along the outer perimeter of the media. The ring is approximately 1/64 to ⅛ of an inch higher than the recording surface and is approximately 3/32 of an inch in width. The ring is located in the blank space on the media where no recording is possible, thus the total playing time or storage space of the media is not affected.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/652,180, filed on Feb. 14, 2005 and incorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for protection of surfaces, and, more particularly, to a system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Modern technology continually produces products that revolutionize virtually every aspect of our lives. Of all of the many improvements produced by these ever evolving technological advancements, entertainment products are among the most popular and frequently used among the general public. Perhaps the most popular of these entertainment products of recent times is the compact disc or CD. Their superior fidelity, coupled with their ease of track access, and the wide variety of music styles available, make them the preferred choice when listening to music. While CD&#39;s are relatively durable, they are still subject to damage especially from scratches. “Jewel” cases provide some protection, but work only if the user is diligent about returning the CD to the case if it is not in the player. More often than not, many people are tempted to lay the CD on a table or other flat surface which is where scratches develop due to contact of the surface of the CD with the flat surface. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which CD&#39;s can be protected from damage and scratches resulting from being set upon a flat surface in a manner which is quick, easy and effective.  
                                                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY                                10   system and method for   15   optical media disk           surface protection of optical-   20   access surface           based digital storage media   40   horizontal surface       25   outer protective barrier   45   air space       30   inner protective barrier       35   spindle hole                  
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as viewed from the playable side of an optical media disk  15 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as seen along a line I-I as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and,  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as seen resting on a horizontal surface  40 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0010]     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the  FIGS. 1 through 3 .  
         [0000]     1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
         [0011]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  an isometric view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as viewed from the playable side of a optical media disk  15 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The optical media disk  15  can be any type of optical media and is envisioned to be of the type such as a compact disc CD), digital versatile disc (DVD) or any type of optical-based digital storage media that may be used in gaming systems or the like. It is capable of being used on writable or re-writable disks as well as read or play only discs commonly associated with movies or music albums. However, other or future types of optical media could also benefit from the features of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. An access surface  20  is clearly visible in this FIG. and is the surface through which the laser or other optical reading device accesses through a read or write condition, the digital information stored on the optical media disk  15 . An outer protective barrier  25  is located around the outer perimeter of the optical media disk  15 . The cross sectional size of the outer protective barrier  25  is envisioned to be approximately 1/64 to ⅛ of an inch higher than the access surface  20  and is approximately 3/32 of an inch in width, though such dimensions are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. An inner protective barrier  30  is located around the perimeter of a spindle hole  35 . The cross sectional size of the inner protective barrier  30  is envisioned to be approximately 1/64 to ⅛ of an inch higher than the access surface  20  and is approximately 3/32 of an inch in width, though such dimensions are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. The spindle hole  35  is commonly used by drive motors to spin the optical media disk  15 . It should be noted that either or both of the outer protective barrier  25  or inner protective barrier  30  provides the protective nature of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10 . As such the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  can be implemented on a optical media disk  15  using one or the other of the outer protective barrier  25  or inner protective barrier  30 . While the use of both the outer protective barrier  25  and inner protective barrier  30  will provide the most effective physical protection of the access surface  20  of the optical media disk  15  as will be seen below, it is not intended to restrict the use of outer protective barrier  25  or the inner protective barrier  30  on a separate individual basis.  
         [0012]     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a sectional view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as seen along a line I-I as shown in  FIG. 1  is depicted. This FIG. clearly depicts the recessed nature of the access surface  20  of the optical media disk  15  when compared to the protruding nature of both the outer protective barrier  25  and the inner protective barrier  30 . It is envisioned that the small nature of the outer protective barrier  25  and the inner protective barrier  30  will not impact the requirements of current playback or recording devices which use the optical media disk  15 . If such interferences should exist or occur, it is envisioned that the mechanica playback mechanism of the playback/reading or recording/writing device would be modified in a minor manner to accommodate the optical media disk  15  equipped with the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10 .  
         [0013]     Referring finally to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10  as seen resting on a horizontal surface  40 . The horizontal surface  40  is envisioned to be almost any horizontal surface upon which a optical media disk  15  may commonly be set, but is envisioned to be a table top, a desk top, the top of a video monitor, atop of a optical media disk player, or even such surfaces as a vehicle dashboard, a kitchen sink, a chair or the like. The outer protective barrier  25  and the inner protective barrier  30  form supporting “leg-like” structures which hold the access surface  20  above the horizontal surface  40  forming an air space  45 . As such, the air space  45  prevents any surface irregularities, dust, dirt or the like present on the horizontal surface  40  from scratching the access surface  20  of the optical media disk  15 .  
         [0014]     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.  
         [0000]     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0015]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. Those familiar with a conventional optical media disk  15  commonly used in computers, CD players, DVD players, gaming systems, and the like will notice no ready difference between the conventional optical media disk  15  and a optical media disk  15  equipped with the features of the system and method for surface protection of optical-based digital storage media  10 . It is envisioned that the outer protective barrier  25  and the inner protective barrier  30  would be molded as an integral part of the optical media disk  15  during the manufacturing process of the optical media disk  15 , but also may be added in a separate process using adhesive or other mechanical type fastener. When the user removes the optical media disk  15  equipped with the outer protective barrier  25  and/or the inner protective barrier  30  from a reading or writing device, it may be set with the access surface  20  down and facing a flat horizontal surface  40  without danger of damage, scratches, nicks or the like occurring to the access surface  20 . The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.