Box for packaging or storing DVDs CDs and/or VCDs

Details Box for packaging or storing DVDs CDs and/or VCDs Box for packaging or storing DVDs CDs and/or VCDs

2000-08-24

2002-04-02

Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

For holding a machine readable recording medium

For holding a grooved phonograph disc

C206S308100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06364108

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a box for storage or packaging of DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), CDs (Compact Discs) and/or VCDs (Video Compact Discs). In particular, the present invention relates to a new box design that is able to house different sized and/or shaped discs, offers better disc protection and is easier to manufacture than conventional DVD, CD or VCD boxes.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2
depict a conventional DVD box composed of a box body
10
a cover
20
and a frame
11
. Cover
20
is connected to box body
10
by a molded hinge mechanism while frame
11
is connected to box body
10
at its perimeter to form the box shape. The primary functions of the box are storage and protection of the contents (the disc). A recess
111
is formed on frame
11
allowing the user a way to open the box. Further, an annular rib
12
comprised of inner flange
121
is inside the box for the purpose of supporting the disc
30
. A pair of engaging elements
13
are provided inside the area surrounded by rib
12
. Each engaging element
13
has a cantilever beam
130
, a hemicycle-shaped portion
131
connected to the free end of the cantilever beam(s)
130
, and a protrusion
132
formed at the rim of the hemicycle-shaped portion
131
. It is noted that a gap is provided between the pair of engaging elements
13
.
FIG. 3
shows the box with a disc mounted therein, wherein disc
30
is affixed by engaging elements
13
via disc
30
's central hole
31
. Also note that the rim of disc
30
rests on inner flange
121
of the annular rib
12
.
To remove disc
30
from the box, the user pushes down the hemicycle-shaped portion
131
of the engaging elements
13
thereby rotating the cantilever beams
130
of the engaging elements
13
in the direction(s) of A, A′. Disc
30
, supported by annular rib
12
, does not move downward but rather temporarily deforms. Gap
14
is designed to allow the hemicycle-shaped portions
131
to move closer during the lowering of the engaging elements
13
. Disc
30
is thereby released from protrusions
132
of engaging elements
13
and springs upward. The user can now remove the disc
30
.
A conventional DVD, CD or VCD box has the following flaws: (1) Disc
30
is supported by inner flange
121
of the annular rib
12
. The contact area is over-sized to the extent that stored media could be damaged or destroyed by friction between disc
30
and the flange
121
. (2) Disc
30
springs upward from reaction force generated by flange
121
as a result of the user pushing down hemicycle-shaped portions
131
of engaging elements
13
. However, if disc
30
is small in size or not circular as shown in
FIG. 4
, the edges of disc
30
do not come into contact with inner flange
121
of rib
12
. Hence, the user cannot remove such a disc
30
simply by pushing down the hemicycle-shaped portions
131
of engaging elements
13
. Therefore, a smaller sized disc
30
or a non-circular disc
30
may not be suitably stored or protected by the conventional box as described above. (3) The cantilever beams
130
of engaging elements
13
extend upward at an inclined angle. Such a structure complicates the building of production molds and separating the box from the mold is inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a DVD, CD or VCD box in which the contact area between the disc and the box is relatively small thereby protecting the disc and any data stored thereupon.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a DVD, CD or VCD box suitable for discs of different size and/or shape.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a DVD, CD or VCD box having no elements extending at inclined angles thereby simplifying the manufacturing process.
The DVD, CD or VCD box of the present invention includes a body, a cover, an annular peak element, a push-down platform, at least one cantilever beam and a surface. The cover is connected to the box body by a molded hinge-type mechanism. The peak element is located in the box body to support a disc. The push-down platform is encircled by the peak element. The cantilever beam is also surrounded by the annular peak element and is connected to the surface at a right angle. Furthermore, the cantilever beam has a free end with a protrusion formed at the free end to constrain the disc. The surface is connected between the push-down platform and the cantilever beam whereby the disk is released from the protrusion of the cantilever beam when a load is applied to the push-down platform.
As mentioned above, the disc is supported by the annular peak element. The contact area between the disc and the annular peak element is minimized to protect the disc and any data stored thereupon. Furthermore, the annular peak element encircles the push-down platform thereby supporting the disc. Even if the disc is small in size or is not circular, the annular peak element provides a physical contact with the disc so that the disc can spring up and release as a result of the reaction force generated by the peak element. It is therefore understood that every kind of known DVD, CD or VCD is suitable for storage or protection using the box of the present invention.
Lastly, the cantilever beam extends from the surface at a right angle as opposed to an inclined angle. Such a structure is more suitable for the building of molds used in manufacturing and, separating the box from the mold is considerably easier.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5377825 (1995-01-01), Sykes et al.
patent: 5400902 (1995-03-01), Kaminski
patent: 5586651 (1996-12-01), Krummenacher
patent: 5685427 (1997-11-01), Kuitems et al.
patent: 5988375 (1999-11-01), Chang
patent: 5996788 (1999-12-01), Belden, Jr. et al.
patent: 6065594 (2000-05-01), Sankey et al.
patent: 6123192 (2000-09-01), Rufo, Jr.
patent: 6170656 (2001-01-01), Cerda-Vilaplana et al.
patent: 6276524 (2001-08-01), Cerda-Vilaplana et al.
patent: 0 989 564 (2000-02-01), None
patent: WO 97/36298 (1997-10-01), None

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