Abstract:
This invention relates to a sleeve for holding two or more digital video discs in a vertically aligned or stacked relationship on a first side of a carrying sleeve and the accompanying graphics on an opposing side.

Description:
This application is a continuation and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/180,116, which was filed on Apr. 17, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. D,493,658 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/180,115, which was filed on Apr. 17, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. D,495,183, and is a continuation-in-part and claims priority of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/238,454 which was filed on Sep. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,929, which claimed priority of U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,800 having a filing date of Jun. 1, 2001, which claimed priority of U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,086 having a filing date of May 12, 1999, which claimed priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/091,977, having a filing date of Jul. 7, 1998, each application being incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to sleeves for holding recording discs, and more specifically digital video discs and their accompanying graphics. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Compact discs, or “CD”&#39;s as they are commonly called, carry digital information such as sound and music recordings and more recently movies and video games with accompanying sound known as Digital Video Discs (hereinafter collectively “DVDs”). The DVDs replace popular video cassettes which are typically played on video cassette recorders (VCRs), and more commonly may be played on personal computers. 
   DVDs are generally sold to consumers in “jewel boxes” which are rigid plastic containers which carry both the DVD and accompanying graphics which identify the particular movie, video game or program contained on the DVD. The jewel boxes are bulky, difficult to store and are not conveniently opened or closed to remove the DVD. Furthermore, the graphics sold in association with the DVDs are oversized and generally resemble the size and shape of video cassettes as apposed to the width and length of the DVD. That is, the graphics are generally much longer than the DVD and additionally slightly wider. Thus, storing the DVD in a form of flexible, lightweight storage sleeve and the corresponding graphics in a sleeve with equal sized pockets is problematic. 
   Although lightweight, flexible storage sleeves which are designed specifically for CD&#39;s are known in the art, these devices are not designed to hold the larger graphics sold in association with DVDS. Further, if a sleeve is manufactured which is compatible in length and width for the DVD graphics, the DVD pocket which is designed for holding the DVD will generally be oversized and not overly useful. 
   Recent innovations have allowed DVD&#39;s and their associated longer graphics pages to be stored in a sleeve with two sizes of pockets, as disclosed in the Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,086, 6,446,800 and 6,267,234 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. However, these inventions do not allow for the multiple storage of DVD&#39;s in a “stacking” types of orientation, which provides greater storage capacity. 
   Thus, a lightweight, flexible storage sleeve for storing DVDs is needed which can additionally store the oversized graphics associated with the DVD in a similarly sized pocket, and additionally to allow the “stacking” of multiple DVD&#39;s on a storage sleeve. Further, the manufacturing of the DVD sleeve must be consistent with generally recognized sleeve manufacturing processes to maintain the low cost benefits associated with flexible storage sleeves as opposed to rigid plastic jewel boxes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, flexible sleeve to store DVDs and the accompanying oversized graphics in pockets with substantially similar widths. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention a sleeve is provided which is comprised of a front layer, an intermediate middle layer and a back layer. A pocket is provided between the front layer and middle layer for receiving a DVD while a second pocket is provided between the middle layer and back layer to receive the graphics. 
   It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a cost effective, non-woven material which is in contact with the DVD which prevents scratching, does not accumulate grit or other particles and which is firm enough not to require a backing sheet for support. In one aspect of the present invention a non-woven material known as “Veratec®” is provided to serve this purpose. 
   It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a DVD and accompanying graphics storage sleeve which has a storage pocket for the DVD and which has a “DVD stop seal” which allows the DVD to be stored at an elevated height, thus permitting the top edge of the DVD to be near the access opening of the DVD storage pocket for easy access. The stop seal prevents the DVD from falling into the DVD storage pocket and inhibiting removal. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the stop seal is provided by utilizing a back sheet with a back sheet aperture in conjunction with a conventional manufacturing process to minimize expenses during manufacturing. Alternatively, the sleeve with a stop seal may be manufactured without utilizing a back sheet aperture. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the same technology which provides the DVD stop seal in the DVD storage pocket is utilized to provide one or more “frictional nubs” to be provided in the DVD storage pocket. The “frictional nubs” prevent the DVD from falling out of the DVD storage pocket when the sleeve is turned upside down. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention the DVD storage pocket may utilize a top layer which is approximately the length of the DVD and which has a “thumb cut” or notch to allow access to the aperture of the DVD with a user&#39;s fingers or thumb. in this embodiment, there is no flap which overlays the DVD. Since the storage pocket has a diameter which is slightly larger than the DVD (as a result of the oversized graphics pocket), the DVD falls from the pocket when the sleeve is turned upside down. 
   To alleviate this problem, the frictional nubs engage the side edges of the DVD and prevent the DVD from inadvertently falling out of the DVD pocket. In one embodiment of the present invention the frictional nubs are provided by the sealing of the front sheet and middle sheet at one or more predetermined locations to create a DVD pocket diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the DVD yet provides sufficient frictional resistance to prevent the DVD from inadvertently falling out. The frictional nubs may be provided during an ultrasonic or RF welding process by providing one or more apertures in the back sheet which allow the ultrasonic welding to occur at a predetermined location without welding any other portion of the front, middle or back sheet. Alternatively, the frictional nubs may be provided without utilizing back sheet apertures by utilizing a two stage manufacturing technique which first welds the front sheet and middle sheet together while creating the frictional nubs. The back sheet is then welded in a second stage to the front and middle sheets to complete the DVD sleeve. 
   It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a manufacturing process for producing a sleeve design for DVDs and accompanying graphics which utilizes a “cutout” portion in the back sheet to provide either the DVD stop seal or frictional nubs on the front sheet as discussed above. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention a “cutout” or aperture in the back sheet is utilized in combination with a sheet bonding process to interconnect the front sheet and middle sheet at preselected positions to either provide a DVD stop seal in one sleeve design or one or more frictional nubs in another embodiment of the invention. Alternatively, a manufacturing process is provided which does not utilize or require a back sheet aperture to create either the DVD stop seal on the functional nubs. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, a “write-on” title strip is provided either along the upper edge or lateral edge of the DVD sleeve which is made of a material which permits the recordation of information related to the stored DVD either in pen, ink, or pencil. 
   It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a storage sleeve which creates two or more distinct pockets on the same side of a storage sleeve to facilitate the “stacking” of two or more DVD&#39;s in an overlapping relationship, yet which allows finger access to at least a portion of a perimeter edge of each DVD to facilitate removal. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1 . is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a multiple DVD storage sleeve; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a right elevation view of the DVD storage sleeve of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 1 , and showing a first and second opening for receiving a first DVD and second DVD; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , with a larger flap positioned proximate to the upper edge of a first DVD storage pocket; 
       FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of the sleeve shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of an alternative DVD storage sleeve adapted to hold two graphics pages and four DVD&#39;s; 
       FIG. 10  is a left elevation view of the sleeve shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a rear elevation view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the DVD storage sleeve shown in  FIG. 9 , and identifying a plurality of openings for receiving, wherein the sleeve can store 4 DVD&#39;s on one side. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-6  are depictions of one embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the drawing shows a DVD storage sleeve  2  capable of holding two DVD discs  4  on a front side of the sleeve  2 , and the associated graphics  26  stored in a graphics pocket  24  on the opposite side of the sleeve  2 . 
   The DVD sleeve  2  is generally comprised of a front or top sheet  6 , a middle sheet  18  and a back sheet  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , two or more DVD pockets  22  or sleeves capable of holding a DVD is formed between the front sheet  6  and middle sheet  18 , while a second graphics pocket  24  or sleeve is formed between the middle sheet  18  and back sheet  20  for holding the graphics  22  associated with the two DVDs.  FIG. 2  depicts a top plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , while  FIG. 3  represents a right elevation view and  FIG. 4  depicts a rear elevation view which reveals the second graphics pocket  24  which is adapted to receive and store a graphics page  22  (not shown). 
   In one aspect of the present invention, both the front sheet  6  and middle sheet  18  are comprised of a spun-bonded, non-woven material to prevent scratching of the DVD. In another embodiment, a non-woven material such as Veratece is provided. Alternatively, woven materials or other non-woven materials such as Sontara® can be used with or without any type of reinforced backing sheet made of polypropylene or other similar materials. The back sheet  20  is preferably a transparent polypropylene or other similar material which enables the user to clearly see the graphics positioned in the graphics storage pocket  24 . Alternatively, any other type of transparent material may be used as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the present invention sleeve design which have a configuration for storing multiple DVDs on each side of the sleeve, and without the accompanying graphics would preferably use non-woven materials for the front sheet  6 , middle sheet  18  and back sheet  20 . 
   Since the DVD graphics  26  are generally wider and substantially longer than the diameter of the DVD  4  which is stored in the opposing DVD storage pocket, modifications must be made to the DVD storage pocket to facilitate access to the DVD  4  and/or prevent the DVD from falling out of the storage sleeve if the sleeve is inverted. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-14 , a flap  14  or lip is provided in the front sheet  6  to cover at least a portion of the DVD, and to prevent dust and other foreign materials from entering the pocket. Further, the flap  14  prevents the DVD from falling out if the sleeve is inadvertently inverted. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the flap  14  has an arcuate shape at the point of termination to resist tearing when the flap is repeatedly opened and closed. 
   Since a DVD  4  has a diameter which is generally less than the length of a DVD graphics sheet  26  associated with the DVD  4 , the overall DVD pocket  22  length must be substantially reduced to prevent the DVD  4  from falling into the pocket an excessive distance. Thus, a DVD “stop seal”  28  is provided and positioned at a distance which is approximately the diameter of a DVD from the sleeve upper edge  8  to hold the DVD  4  at an elevation which allows removal of the DVD  4  when the flap  14  is lifted upward. Preferably the DVD stop seal  28  is positioned at a location which places a top edge of the DVD proximate to the sleeve upper edge  8 . As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a first DVD pocket  22  is provided near an upper portion of the sleeve  2 , while a second DVD pocket  36  is provided in a lower portion of the DVD sleeve  2 . To support a DVD in an elevated position in the first DVD pocket  22 , a DVD stop seal  28  is provided which interconnects the front sheet  6  and middle sheet  18  at a predetermined location. 
   The DVD stop seal  28  is created by interconnecting the flexible front sheet  6  to the middle sheet  18  at a predetermined location, yet not interconnecting the middle sheet  18  to the flexible back sheet  20  and hence reducing the size of the graphics pocket  24 . The interconnection may be accomplished by individually sewing, heat bonding or otherwise interconnecting the front sheet  6  and middle sheet  18  prior to interconnecting the back layer. Preferably, the front sheet  6  is first interconnected to the middle sheet  18  by welding or other similar techniques commonly known in the art. The back sheet is then interconnected to the middle sheet  18  along the lateral edges  12  by welding, serving, stitching, head bonding or other similar means known in the art to complete the DVD sleeve in a two stage manufacturing process. 
   Although in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  the DVD stop seal  28  is substantially oval in shape, as appreciated by one skilled in the art the geometric shape and size of the DVD stop seal  28  can be any variety of sizes and shape. For example, it is possible to use straight lines, circles, arcuate lines, triangular or rectangular shapes as long as the DVD stop seal  28  serves the purpose of interconnecting the front sheet  6  and middle sheet  18  at a position which elevates the DVD in the first DVD pocket  22  above the second DVD pocket  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the second DVD rests on a lower portion of the DVD pocket, while the first DVD is elevated above the second DVD. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the actual positioning of the stop seal and each DVD is not critical to the invention, but rather the concept that two or more DVD&#39;s can be “stacked”, juxtapositioned, or otherwise stored on one side of the DVD sleeve  2 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7-8 , an alternative embodiment is provided herein which utilizes a different shaped flap  14  which is positioned over the first DVD pocket  22 , while the second DVD pocket  36  has a thumb notch  32  to facilitate removal of a second DVD  16 . More specifically, the flap  14  is designed to extend substantially over the entire diameter of the DVD  4 , and on an upper portion has a termination point which is substantially arcuate in shape to prevent tearing after repeated opening and closing. As further seen in  FIG. 7 , a DVD  4  is shown positioned in a second DVD pocket  36 , and which additionally includes a thumb notch  32  to facilitate removal of the DVD. Additionally seen in both  FIGS. 7 and 8  is a binding strip  34  positioned along at least one of two lateral edges  12  of the DVD sleeve  2  and which alternatively may be positioned along an upper edge  8  or a bottom edge  10 . The binding strip  34  is designed to facilitate the insertion of the sleeve  2  into a wallet or notebook, and which may include one or more binding apertures  30  for use with a three-ring binder, for example. Alternatively, other geometric shapes such as the oval cut outs shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  may be used in conjunction with strap type binding mechanisms found in some wallets and notebooks. As shown in  FIG. 8 , it is additionally preferable that the back sheet  20  be comprised of a transparent material such as a polypropylene, polyethylene or other plastic type material which allows viewing of the graphics sheet and to provide a reference to a user regarding the contents of the DVDs  4  positioned on the opposing sides. Alternatively, opaque type materials could also be used. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9-14 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is provided herein, and which is generally designed to hold two graphic sheets on one side of the sleeve  2 , and four DVDs  4  on an opposing side. More specifically,  FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, while  FIG. 10  is a left elevation view, and  FIG. 11  is a rear elevation view of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the invention shown in  FIG. 9 , while  FIG. 13  is a front perspective view and  FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the sleeve  2  identified in  FIG. 9 . 
   The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 9-14  are designed to hold two graphic sheets and four DVDs  4  in one sleeve  2  which is adapted for use in a wallet or notebook. Accordingly, in  FIGS. 9 and 11 , two specific graphic pockets are identified which include a thumb cut  32  positioned proximate to a right lateral edge, and which is designed to facilitate insertion and removal of the graphics page. A binding strip  34  is additionally shown positioned on a left lateral edge of the sleeve  2 , and which includes a plurality of apertures  30  which maybe used for insertion in a three-ring binder, or other type of wallet or notebook. Alternatively, a plurality of longitudinal apertures are provided herein for insertion into a DVD storage wallet or notebook which has a strap-type binding mechanism. As additionally shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11 , the back sheet  20  is preferably comprised of a transparent material such as a plastic or polyethylene to view the graphics sheet and to allow identification for a user. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a front perspective and front elevation view of the sleeve  2  of the present invention is provided herein. As identified in these drawings, the front sheet  6  is preferably comprised of a non-woven material, which is non-scratching and suitable for interconnection with a middle sheet  18 , which is made of a similar non-woven material, which is not likely to scratch the recording surface of the DVD. As previously discussed, different woven or non-woven materials may additionally be used for the same purpose. As seen in  FIG. 13 , at least one DVD stop seal  28  is provided at substantially a mid-point between an upper edge and a lower edge of the DVD sleeve  2 . The DVD stop seal  28  is designed to interconnect the middle sheet  18  to the front sheet  6 , and hence define a first DVD pocket  22  which supports one DVD, while the second DVD pocket  36  is defined by a bottom edge  10  of the DVD sleeve  2 . Thus a first DVD may be inserted in the first DVD pocket  22 , a second DVD may be inserted in a second DVD pocket  36 , a third DVD may be inserted in a third DVD pocket, and a fourth DVD may be inserted in a fourth DVD pocket. Accordingly, four individual DVDs may be positioned on one side of the DVD sleeve  2  of the present invention, while two graphic sheets associated with the DVDs may be positioned in a fifth graphics pocket and a sixth graphics pocket on the opposite side of the DVD sleeve  2 . The fifth and sixth pockets having a larger storage area than that at least one said first second, third and forth pockets. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, additional numbers of pockets may be designed and positioned in various combinations of sheets to facilitate additionally storage, and is dictated only by the size of the sleeve  2 , and the number of pockets created to hold individual DVDs. 
   To assist the reader in the understanding of the present invention, the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings are provided hereinbelow: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Number 
               Component 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               2 
               Sleeve 
             
             
               4 
               Digital video disc 
             
             
               6 
               Front sheet 
             
             
               8 
               Upper edge 
             
             
               10 
               Bottom edge 
             
             
               12 
               Lateral edge 
             
             
               14 
               Flap 
             
             
               16 
               Digital video disc front surface 
             
             
               18 
               Middle sheet 
             
             
               20 
               Back sheet 
             
             
               22 
               First DVD pocket 
             
             
               24 
               Graphics pocket 
             
             
               26 
               Graphics 
             
             
               28 
               DVD stop seal 
             
             
               30 
               Binding aperture 
             
             
               32 
               Thumb notch 
             
             
               34 
               Binding strip 
             
             
               36 
               Second DVD pocket 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, the invention and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The preferred embodiment described above is also intended to explain the best mode known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with the various modifications required by their particular applications for use of the invention. It is intended that the claims be construed to include all alternative embodiments as permitted by the prior art.