Abstract:
A compact digital disk assembly having a label which extends over substantially all of the upper surface of the disk, thereby facilitating the display of artistic and textual information uninterrupted by a center cutout normally found on compact disks. The assembly includes a conventional compact disk having a center cutout, a CD plug insertable in the cutout, and a label having a removable portion extending over the cutout. The label is affixed to the upper surfaces of the CD and the CD plug with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention generally relates to compact digital disks and more particularly to a compact disk (CD) having a removable center plug and a label extending over the central portion of the CD thereby facilitating the display of artistic and textual information on the label uninterrupted by a conventional center cutout.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It has been common practice for many decades for record producers to include various types of printed matter with sound recordings intended for retail sale. When vinyl records were the medium of choice for sound recordings, the album covers or jackets in which the records were packaged provided ample space on which to print photographs, artistic works, and textual materials. It was also relatively easy with such albums to include multipage booklets within the albums. As sound recording technology evolved the recording medium became much more compact, thus eliminating much of the space for printed matter which had been available with the earlier technology. As a result, it became increasingly important to maximize use of the available space on the medium itself and its associated packaging.  
           [0003]    At present the most popular medium for sound recording is the digital compact disk (CD). A CD is most typically constructed from a thin, cylindrically shaped disk formed from polycarbonate. A cylindrical cutout is formed in the disk to facilitate handling of the disk during the manufacturing and duplication process. The cutout also permits it to be secured on a standardized hub formed in the plastic base of many CD containers to minimize the possibility of damage to the CD during shipping. Frequently, a circular label slightly smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the CD containing preprinted textual and/or graphical matter is applied by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive to the upper surface of the CD. In order that the label does not extend over the center cutout in the CD, a concentric cutout having a diameter somewhat greater than that of the CD cutout is made in the label. The label is normally made of paper or a plastic film, but other materials may be used.  
           [0004]    The presence of the center cutout in the label creates a significant problem in label design and layout. First, the cutout eliminates valuable space from the label surface on which space is already at a premium. Secondly, it requires that all artistic and graphical works incorporate the cutout in a visually pleasing manner and that textual material be arranged around the cutout.  
           [0005]    Numerous modifications to CD construction which would permit the elimination of the center cutout in the label have been proposed in the past. For example, it has been suggested that the CD could be manufactured as a one-piece unit including a filler plug disposed within the CD cutout and connected to the walls of the cutout by a plurality of small plastic ties. The CD and the plug would form a substantially continuous surface to which a label not having a center cutout could be applied. The label would remain intact until the center plug was removed by the first user of the CD. The principal difficulty with this solution was that the equipment used to manufacture the CD was dependent upon the presence of the center cutout in the CD blank. Attempts were also made to manufacture a center plug which engaged the center cutout of the CD with an interference fit and could be forced into place after manufacture of the CD to provide support for the center portion of a continuous label. Unfortunately, the stresses imposed on the CD by the plug ultimately resulted in cracking of the CD. In order to avoid the high stresses on the CD resulting from an interference fit between the plug and the CD, attempts were made to construct a plug having spring-like protrusions formed in its periphery for retaining it within the cutout. However, such designs proved to be too costly and impractical.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for a CD assembly which includes a label extending over substantially all of the upper surface of the CD so as to provide a substantially uninterrupted area for the presentation of artistic, graphical and textual information.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of this invention to provide for a CD assembly having a removable center plug which permits the CD to be manufactured and duplicated with conventional manufacturing equipment which requires a cutout at the center of the CD.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of this invention to provide for a CD assembly having a center plug which is removably retained within the center cutout by a label adhesively attached to the CD.  
           [0009]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide for a CD assembly having a label with a removable center portion and a center plug adhesively attachable to that center portion such that when removed from the cutout the plug may be repositioned and retained within the cutout substantially in its original position.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    This invention can be broadly summarized as providing for a CD assembly including a label extending uninterrupted over substantially all of the upper surface of the CD. The CD assembly includes a compact disk having a cutout, a plug removably insertable in the cutout and a label attachable to the upper surfaces of the compact disk and the plug and extending over the cutout for removably securing the plug within the cutout.  
           [0011]    In accordance with a more detailed aspect of this invention, the label includes a removable portion extending over the cutout and attachable to the upper surface of the plug. According to yet more detailed aspects of the invention, the removable portion is defined by an array of perforations which extend radially beyond the cutout when the label is attached to the compact disk.  
           [0012]    According to other more detailed aspects of the invention, the plug is a cylindrical in shape and has a thickness greater than the thickness of the CD. Other embodiments of the invention include a plug which is frusto-conical in shape and a plug which includes a plurality of radially extending tongs. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a compact disk assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of the compact disk assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same assembly.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken at  4 - 4  FIG. 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged view of the central portion of the assembly of FIG. 3.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the CD plug of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of the plug of FIG. 6.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 8 and 9 are top and side views, respectively, of an alternate embodiment of the CD plug.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 10 and 11 are top and side views, respectively, of a second alternate embodiment of the plug.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 12 and 13 are top and side views, respectively, of a third alternate embodiment of the plug.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 14 and 15 are bottom and side views, respectively, of a fourth alternate embodiment of the plug. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood and its various objects and advantages best appreciated by reference to the detailed description below in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0025]    In FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, a compact disk assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated and generally designated by the number  10 . The assembly includes compact disk  12 , CD plug  14 , and label  16 . The compact disk itself is of conventional construction having a preferably cylindrical base  18  formed of polycarbonate or another acceptable plastic. The base has a uniform thickness “t”, an outer peripheral surface  20 , and a centrally located cylindrical cutout  22  bounded by peripheral surface  23 . A recording medium in the form a thin, silver oxide coating  24  is uniformly applied to upper surface  26  of the base. A clear resin ultraviolet protective coating  28  is applied directly over the recording medium.  
         [0026]    CD plug  14  is preferably cylindrical in shape and has a thickness “T” slightly greater than the thickness of the compact disk for reasons to be discussed in greater detail below. It is slightly smaller in diameter than cutout  22  so as to provide a loose fit or at most a slip fit when inserted in the cutout. Also it is preferably formed of polycarbonate, which may be optically clear, translucent or opaque, but other suitable plastics or other materials may be substituted.  
         [0027]    The label, which may be formed of plastic film or paper with or without an overlaying laminate film, is preferably circular with a diameter somewhat less than that of base  18 . Typically the label would be preprinted on its upper surface  30  with artistic, graphical and/or textual material. The label includes a removable portion  32  which is centrally located on the label and bounded by a circular array  34  of perforations. The array has a diameter “d” which exceeds the diameter of the CD plug by a predetermined amount “x”. A pressure sensitive adhesive  36  is applied to the entire undersurface of the label to facilitate attachment of the label to upper surface  26  of the base and upper surface  40  of the CD plug.  
         [0028]    In the manufacture of compact disk assembly  10 , CD plug  14  is inserted either manually or by machine into cutout  22  of base  18  such that lower surface  42  of the plug is substantially flush or coplanar with lower surface  44  of the base. As shown in FIG. 4 it can be seen that when the base and the CD plug are so positioned, upper surface  40  of the plug extends a distance of (T-t) above upper surface  26  from the base. Next, the label is concentrically positioned over compact disk  12  and CD plug  14  and adhered in that position to CD coating  28  and upper surface  40  of the plug by adhesive  36 . Because the surface  40  extends slightly above upper surface  26 , a small air space  50  bounded by upper surface  26  of the base under surface  38  of the label and peripheral surface  52  of the plug is formed. The purpose of the air space is to assist the user in removing and attaching the CD plug from the CD assembly, as discussed below. It can be seen that the CD plug is now retained within cutout  22  by its adhesive attachment to the label.  
         [0029]    The compact disk assembly is packaged for sale in the assembled position as described above in a CD container not having a hub. In such a container the CD is retained merely by frictional engagement of outer periphery  20  of the disk to mating portions of the container. Most modern CD players do not require that CDs be mounted on a hub when being loaded into the machine, so most users will have no need to remove the CD plug in order to play the CD. Thus they can continue to view and enjoy the material printed on the label which is uninterrupted by the usual center cutout in the label.  
         [0030]    Should it become necessary for the user to remove the CD plug, he or she may simply do so by holding the outer periphery of the CD with the fingers of one hand, grasping the CD plug between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand and applying a slight pressure in an upward direction. Such pressure will cause the label material between the perforations to part along the locus of the array and release the plug from the CD assembly. The release is facilitated by air space  50  because the label is not adhered to upper surface  26  in the narrow annular area adjoining cutout  22 . After the disk is used, the compact disk assembly may be reassembled by simply inserting the CD plug back into cutout  22  and pressing overhanging portion  54  of the label into contact with that annular area so as to secure the CD plug in position. The continuity of the printed material in the label may be reestablished by simply aligning or registering the printed materials on removable portion  32  of the label with other material on the remainder of the label. The CD plug can be removed and replaced repeatedly in the CD for so long as the adhesive continues to function.  
         [0031]    An apparent advantage of this invention is that it permits the user to maintain the CD assembly in its original condition with an unbroken label, thus enhancing its value if the CD is regarded as a collector&#39;s item.  
         [0032]    Another advantage of this invention is that it provides for a means for verifying that the CD is in unused condition if such use would necessitate removal of the CD plug. Such use would be obvious from a cursory examination of the perforated area of the label. Detection of use could not be avoided by removal of the entire label from the assembly because due to the aggressiveness of the adhesive, such removal would necessarily result in the simultaneous removal of portions of the underlying recording medium.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 8 through 15 illustrate four alternate embodiments of the CD plug. FIGS. 8 and 9 show plug  50  having a plurality of arcuate peripheral portions such as portion  62  and a plurality of flexible tongs such as tong  64  spaced around that periphery. The purpose of the tongs is to engage inner periphery  23  of CD  12  and thereby assist in retaining the plug within cutout  22 . FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a plug  70  which is frusto-conical in shape. In this embodiment base  72  includes mating frusto-conical cutout  74 . FIGS. 12 and 13 show CD plug  80  which includes a plurality of arcuate peripheral portions, such as portion  82 , which are spaced by a plurality of cutouts such as cutout  84 . Finally, FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate alternate plug embodiment  90  which includes a thin, cylindrical cap portion  92  and a plurality of spaced wall-like projections, such as projection  94 , extending downward from the bottom of cap  92 . When inserted in cutout  22  of the base, cap  92  would rest on upper surface  26  and the wall like projections would extend down into the cutout so as to center the plug in position.  
         [0034]    Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides for an improved compact disk assembly which incorporates many novel features and offers significant advantages over the prior art. Although only five embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that obvious modifications could be made of it without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.