Audio-visual box

Details Audio-visual box Audio-visual box

2000-02-02

2001-05-08

Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

For holding a machine readable recording medium

For holding an optical disc

C206S310000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227362

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for holding media storage disks of a kind having a central hole.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Media storage disks such as compact disks (CD), digital video disks (DVD) or video compact disks (VCD) have rapidly gained popularity with consumers. For the purposes of retail, transportation, and storage by the end user, such disks are normally provided contained within a case. Different types of CD, VCD or DVD cases are known. Such normally include a disk engaging means which is arranged such that when it is pressed, the perimeter profile of the engaging means changes and reduces the degree of hold that it provides to the disk. The construction of DVDs means that known disk engaging means relying on friction at an edge of the disks has become undesirable. The fact that DVDs consist of two laminated layers of polycarbonate, a frictional edge engagement and/or bending of the disk for engagement and removal can cause disk and hence data damage.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvements in or relating to apparatus for holding media storage disks of a kind having a central hole which will overcome the abovementioned disadvantages and/or at least provide the public with a useful choice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consist in an apparatus for holding a media storage disk of a kind having a central hole said apparatus comprising:
base portion
at least two arms each resiliently cantilevered upwardly from the base portion
a disk locating means consisting of at least two portions which each include at least one disk engagable region, said at least two portions articulated to each other about at least one articulation axis and each pivotally connected to a respective arm about a pivot axis, one pivot axis for each portion and located outwardly of said articulation axis, said at least two portions movable in a manner that moves said at least one articulation axis between a position above said at least two pivot axis wherein said two portions are in a disk securing condition, and a position below said at least two pivot axis wherein said two portions are in a disk releasing condition.
Preferably said disk engagable regions each include a central hole engagable region and a lip to, in securing condition, provide a retention of said disk from moving upwardly. Preferably said disk engagable regions of said two portions are, in said disk releasing condition, more proximate to each other than in said disk securing condition.
Preferably said lips of said disk engagable regions, when said two portions are in said disk securing condition, are further apart from each other than said central hole engagable region.
Preferably said lips of said disk engagable regions, when said two portions are in said disk releasing condition, are closer to each other than said central hole engagable region of said disk engaging regions.
Preferably there is one articulation axis.
Preferably each of said at least two portions includes a member extending from said at least one disk engaging region and pivotably connected at said at least one articulation axis, to the like member of the other portion(s).
Preferably said members provide a location where said disk locating means call be toggled by the user of the apparatus from at least said disk securing condition to said disk releasing condition.
Preferably a disk lifting arm extends radially outwardly from each said portion to underlie a disk (when one is located with said apparatus) and each to move integrally with their respective portion between
a position below said central hole engagable region in said disk securing condition, and
a position above said central hole engagable region in said disk releasing condition.
Preferably said lifting arms locate against the downwardly facing surface of a disk in said disk releasing condition, and on application of a downward force to said disk, toggle said disk locating means from said disk releasing condition to said disk securing condition.
Preferably there are two portions and for each a respective pivot axis provided at the ends of said at least two arms.
Preferably when viewed in a direction along said axes, each of said two portion provides said articulation axis, pivot axis and said lip in a spatial arrangement to be at an apex of an imaginary triangular.
In a second aspect the present invention consists in a disk engaging apparatus to engage a disk of a kind having a central aperture said apparatus comprising
a base,
a disk fastening member consisting of at least two portions articulated to each other about and extending outwardly from at least one central articulation axis
each portion being pivotably secured outwardly of said at least one central articulation axis to mounting members provided from said base,
said mountings members are adapted to allow the pivot axis to displace inwardly and outwardly to each other but are biased towards a condition wherein the distance between the pivot axis of each portion and the articulation axis is greater than the horizontal distance component between the said pivot axis and the articulation axis,
each portion of said disk fastening member presenting disk engagable regions to rotate inwardly and outwardly to each other about their respective pivot axis and to thereby respectively engage and disengage with the central aperture of the disk.
Preferably said disk fastening member also includes for each of said portions a disk lifting member having a region to contact the downwardly facing surface of a disk outwardly from said disk engagable region, and pivot axis, said disk lifting member integrally movable with its respective portion about the pivot axis.
Preferably each said disk lifting member is an arm extending radially outwardly from its respective portion and positions said disk in a disengaged condition above the disk engagable regions of each said portion.
This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents arc deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.


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Japanese Patent Office Patent Abstracts of Japan for Pub. No. 1122288 A, Applicant Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd., 2pp*.

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