Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding an optical disc
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-06-05
Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding an optical disc
C206S311000, C206S425000, C206S472000, C402S008000, C402S015000, C402S022000, C402S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241087
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to storage devices for compact discs.
Compact discs are generally sold in rigid plastic containers having a base incorporating a recess for accommodation of a compact disc and having a lid which is closed over the disc when in position. However these containers are inconvenient as a means of storing compact discs in a readily accessible manner and alternative forms of storage are available for this purpose. One such product incorporates a series of sheet members having transparent pockets on one or both faces. Where the product has pockets on both faces, one pocket is dimensional to receive a compact disc, and the other receives a graphic sheet giving information on the matter held on the disc. The sheet members are adapted to be mounted in an outer cover or binder to which they are detachably connected. Hitherto such binders have been constructed from cardboard and the sheet members or sleeves are secured to the binders by two part threaded metal fasteners engageable with apertures punched in edge regions of the sleeves, whereby a series of sleeves can be detachably mounted in each binder to hold a plurality of compact discs in a readily accessible yet protected manner.
Products of this kind suffer from the disadvantage that the outer cover is lacking in durability. In addition attachment and removal of sleeve members is time consuming and the fasteners are expensive and both difficult and time consuming to manipulate in use. The fasteners also require to be securely attached to the outer cover or binder with the result that the products are complex and hence relatively expensive to produce.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a storage device for a plurality of storage members in the form of compact disc holders each adapted to accommodate at least one compact disc, the storage device comprising a base member formed from synthetic plastics material and incorporating integral locating means formed by cutting and deforming a portion of the base member, said locating means being adapted for engagement with complimentary aperture means formed in each of said storage members, and said locating means being resiliently deformable whereby it may be deformed to pass through said aperture means and then resiliently expands such that portions thereof extend beyond said aperture means to retain the storage members in position on the base member.
Preferably said locating means comprises a pair of locating members spaced apart on said base member and adapted for engagement in respective complimentary apertures formed at edge regions of said storage members.
Preferably said locating members are of tapered form having a narrow region to facilitate initial engagement with said apertures and a wider region which in its undeformed state is of greater extent than the width of said apertures, said wider region being deformable to enable passage of the locating member through an associated aperture and thereafter expanding resiliently to its undeformed state in which it prevents disengagement of storage members from the base member. Advantageously said locating members comprise lugs of arrowhead shape.
Preferably said base member is of corresponding shape to and slightly larger extent than said storage members. Preferably also the device incorporates a front cover member hingedly connected to said base member and adapted in a closed position to extend over said base member to enclose said storage members between said base member and said cover member.
Preferably said base and cover members are interconnected by a spine member adapted to space same apart by a distance sufficient to accommodate the number of storage members and compact discs the device is designed to accommodate. Preferably the base and cover members are of the same size and shape.
Locking means may be provided to retain the base and cover members in their closed position. Said locking means may comprise a locking flap hingedly connected to one of said members, a flexible tab formed on said flap and a slot in the other of said members with which the tab is adapted to engage. Preferably the tab is formed from the material of the flap.
In another aspect, the invention provides a jig for assembling a storage device as described above with at least one storage member, the jig comprising a support member to support the storage device and projecting means extending from the support member to cooperate with said locating means on the support member to move the locating means to a position projecting from the base member, and to hold the locating means in said position, whereby the or each storage member can be assembled with the storage device in a manner such that said projecting means and said locating means pass through the aperture means in the or each storage member such that, on removal of the storage device from the jig, the locating means are operable to retain the or each storage member on the base member.
Preferably, the projecting means is adapted to push the locating means to a position extending transverse from the base member, desirably substantially at right angles to the base. Preferably, the projecting means comprises a pair of projecting members spaced apart on said support member, each projecting member being adapted to cooperate with a respective locating member of the storage device.
The jig may comprise a positioning member provided on the support member, the positioning member comprising raised elements extending from the support member and defining a shape conforming to the shape of the storage device.
The projecting members may be in the form of prongs formed from a suitable plastics material, for example nylon.
In yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for assembling a storage device as described above with at least one storage member, the method comprising providing a jig having projecting means, arranging the storage device such that the projecting means cooperate with said locating means on the support member to move the locating means into a position projecting from the base member, arranging the or each storage member over the storage device on the jig such that the projection means and the locating means pass through the aperture means in the or each storage member, and thereafter removing the assembled storage device and storage members from the jig.
Preferably the projecting means push the locating means such that they extend transverse to the base member, desirably substantially at right angles thereto.
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Duraweld Limited
Gehman Bryon P.
Watts Hoffmann Fisher & Heinke
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