Carrier and dispenser device for planar items

Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding a grooved phonograph disc

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C206S308100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290060

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to carrier devices and cases for planar items such as compact discs (CDs), credit cards and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
CDs are normally carried in hinged plastic cases often referred to as “jewel boxes” and while these cases or carriers serve their purpose, there are disadvantages to such jewel boxes, particularly regarding cost. This has led to consideration in this art of a number of different alternatives for carrying out this purpose and related purposes.
Some of these alternatives to which reference was made above are discussed in the patented art. Patents of possible interest include the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,608 to Spector; U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,022 to Renna; U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,109 to Muto; U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,849 to Prusak et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,107 to Chasin et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,452 to Hybiske et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,656 to Gottlieb; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,491 to Burtch.
The Spector patent discloses a protective package for a CD in an album format. The package includes hinged front and rear panels. A face panel secured to the rear panel contains a circular opening creating a well for holding the CD. The front panel forms a cover for protecting the CD. The Renna patent discloses a disc storage case formed from a single sheet comprising a support panel and a hinged cover panel. The disc is retained on the support panel by folded side panels. The Muto patent discloses a receiver for a disc comprising a disc receiving portion and a hinged lid portion. The disk receiving portion may comprise a smooth base plate or a base plate with a circular concave portion sized to hold the disc. A silicone resin layer is laminated on the disc receiving portion of the base plate. The Prusak et al patent discloses a video disc caddy comprising a record retaining spine removably received inside an outer protective cover. The spine includes a circular record receiving opening and a pair of latching fingers which are selectively snapped into respective pockets to hold the record/spine assembly in place. The package allows a record to be loaded into a record player and removed therefrom without having to touch the record. The Chasin et al patent discloses a compact disc box with a reciprocating drawer. The drawer includes a recessed storage platform and spindle mechanism. The box can be constructed from a single mold during an injection process. The Hybiske patent discloses a data disc case comprising a tray section and a pocket section into which the tray section is slidably mounted. The tray and pocket are each constructed from a single piece of paperboard. A catch tab and spring tab work together to prevent the tray from sliding completely out of the pocket. The Gottlieb patent discloses a paperboard package for a CD comprising an outer container and an inner sleeve capable of being slid into the outer container. The inner sleeve is provided with a disc gripping flap to frictionally hold an edge of the CD. The Burtch patent discloses an erectable periscoping display device for planar items such as CDs and a blank therefor made from paperboard or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there are provided a carrier device, and a blank for making the device, which afford important advantages over the prior art. The device and thus, of course, the blank, are made of paper, cardboard, paperboard, laminates of the same, hereinafter referred to as paperboard, and the device is completely constructed from a single blank so that the device is very simple and inexpensive to make. Despite its simplicity and low cost, the device of the invention provides a highly effective carrying and display and/or dispensing functions wherein a planar item such as a CD, credit card or the like is shielded and protected within a cover or sheath in a carrying or storage mode, and can be readily exposed for display or dispensing purposes by pulling out or pushing out a sliding carrier member or tray which is disposed within the cover or sheath and which is adapted to carry the planar item.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a carrier device for a planar item, the device comprising: a cover sheath formed by first and second panels secured together so as to define a space therebetween; and a carrier member slidably received in said space for sliding movement between a storage position wherein the carrier member is nested within the sheath and a dispensing and/or display position wherein the carrier member extends outwardly of the sheath so that a planar item carried by the carrier member is displayed and can be removed from the device, the carrier member being formed by third and fourth panels secured together, the third panel comprising an opening therein for receiving a planar item to be carried, and the device further comprising stop means for limiting the sliding movement of the carrier member.
In one preferred embodiment, particularly useful with thicker planar items such as CDs, the fourth panel includes a debossed area in registration with said opening in said third panel so that the opening and the debossed area cooperate to form a carrier pocket. Advantageously, the opening and debossed area are of a common size and shape. In one implementation, the debossed area includes a central opening therein.
In a preferred embodiment, the sheath includes first and second inner side walls defining a channel in which said carrier member slides and the stop means comprises first and second projections on opposite sides of the carrier member, and first and second projections on said inner side walls which project inwardly into the channel from the inner side walls from opposite sides of the channel and which cooperate with the projections of the carrier member to limit the sliding movement of the carrier member.
The device preferably further comprises an inner end stop at one end thereof for further limiting the sliding movement of the carrier member.
In one preferred embodiment, the opening in the third panel of the carrier member is substantially circular in shape so as to receive CDs, other discs and the like. The opening preferably includes a finger grip portion. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the opening in the third panel is substantially rectangular in shape so as to receive a credit card or the like therein.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a blank is provided for making a carrier and dispensing device for planar items, said blank comprising: first, second, third and fourth panels joined together in sequence along separation lines, the panels each including parallel opposed sides, two of the panels including a central area and first and second elongate parallel cutouts extending parallel to the sides of the respective panel and flanking the respective central area thereof, the cutouts each having inner and outer opposite sides and each of first and second cutouts further including an inner cut line forming an extension of, and extending outwardly in a first direction from, the inner side of the respective cutout and an outer cut line forming an extension of, and extending outwardly in a second, opposite direction from, the outer side of the respective cutout, so as to form cooperating stops adjacent to the inner and outer cut lines when the blank is assembled, one of said two panels including a central cutout formed in the respective central area thereof for, in use of a device assembled from the blank, receiving a planar item.
Preferably, the other of the two panels includes a central debossed area in the respective central area thereof of a size and shape so as to cooperate with the central cutout to form a common pocket for, in use of a device assembled from the blank, receiving a planar item therein.
Preferably, the blank further comprises a transverse line of weakness extending between respective terminal points of the outer cut lines of the first and second cutouts of each of the two panel for, in use in the assembly of

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