Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding an optical disc
Patent
1998-03-10
1999-06-29
Sewell, Paul T.
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding an optical disc
206232, 206311, B65D 8557
Patent
active
059155493
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to storage systems for providing protection for and access to generally planar objects, and more particularly to units for storing and displaying disk shaped storage media. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly adapted to space saving yet highly accessible storage of such disc storage media, and associated similarly sized literature, in an easily transportable manner separate from any of the associated cases in which such are typically sold. Further, multiple instances and modular assemblies of the invention are easily combined as desired into larger assemblies, permitting easy expansion of overall storage capacity.
BACKGROUND ART
One of the most popular forms of recording information today is on various disk shaped media. For purposes of the following, the term disc media (and the abbreviation "DM") is used in a generic sense to include music compact discs, CD ROM computer media, digital video discs, laserdiscs, computer floppy discs, floptical discs, and similar relatively flat data storage media. DM today use laser-based or magnetic inscription and reading technology to store a vast amount of information in relatively small space. Particularly widespread forms of DM are music compact discs and computer CD ROMs. Typically one side of MD is inscribed with recorded information (hereinafter termed the data information side), while the other side is marked with human readable information in either textual or pictorial form to identify the DM and its contents to users (hereinafter termed the user informative side).
With the proliferation of the DM as a means of information storage, a need has come for storage of a multitude of DM units. Further, since many types of DM are not alterable by end users (e.g., music compact discs), it has become typical practice for users to maintain libraries of DM, and today it is not uncommon for some such user libraries to contain hundreds of DM units.
As the popularity of DM has grown it has also become common to include small printed pamphlets or booklets which describe the DM contents, instruct on the use and preservation (particularly if the DM is used to store computer data), or provide DM content related information (e.g., a limited biography of the band whose music is recorded on a music DM). It therefore follows that attendant with the proliferation of the DM there has developed a need for storage of such DM related literature ("DML"), often preferably in the same library as the associated DM units themselves, and even more preferably in a manner which denotes specific individual DM to DML associations.
Many DM and DML are contained within bulky storage cases when purchased by consumers (e.g., jewel boxes for music compact discs). Many library storage methods retain the bulky original container, despite the fact that it is far more bulky than the contained DM and any associated DML. As DM libraries grow, many users are impressed with a need for reducing storage space requirements, and there have been various attempts at alternate storage systems. Unfortunately, such systems have suffered from a number of limitations which have limited their acceptance. As with any library storage system, users seek improved accessibility, index ability, aesthetics, and reduced cost. Comprehensive library storage is also increasingly important. For example, most outside-of-the-original-container storage systems have not included provision for storage of DML, and particularly lacking has been systems which store associated DML in a readily accessible manner with particular DM units which accompanied it at the time of purchase.
Another user concern is that most prior art systems have not included provision for easy storage expansion in convenient increments (e.g., many storage systems have a module capacity of 5, 10, or 12--requiring that capacity be incremented by 5, 10 or 12 units when storage for only one or two additional units is really needed).
Further, as society as become increasingly mobile an
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Gelphman Steven A.
Palmer Christopher G.
Palmer Peter J.
Bui Luan K.
Sewell Paul T.
The Mead Corporation
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