Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding an optical disc
Patent
1996-12-30
1998-05-05
Fidel, David T.
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding an optical disc
206309, 206310, B65D 8557
Patent
active
057463140
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a storage container for compact discs and similar data carriers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers for compact discs are known, which are constructed of two hinged shells and with an inner carrier rigidely connected to one of the shells. This design requires three different parts and an equal number of manufacturing tools. Further it inhibits the stacking of several containers in a column or in a rigid assembly side by side, because each container has to be removed from a storage site and be opened by opening the hinged parts. A further disadvantage of the known container, is the risk of damaging the hinge parts by frequent use or by several times of opening and closing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the invention is to provide a container for compact discs and similar objects, allowing stacking and storage in an assembly side by side, without impairing the ease of gripping and inserting compact discs.
It is a further object to provide a container for compact discs, which can be manufactured with less parts and thus less or simpler manufacturing tools than prior art containers.
It is also an object to provide a container allowing easy removal of the compact discs or a similar object.
Finally it is an object to provide a container, which can easily be marked or be provided with a label showing the content both in a stack or in an assembly side by side.
The novel container can be prepared of two parts, i.e. the shell or discs sheath, which can be manufactured as two identical parts, and the core part or disc carrier. This enables the use of manufacturing tooling with lower costs, than with prior art container, the manufacturing being by extrusion of plastic material.
The most important advantage is however the function and the properties of use. Because several containers can be stacked with mating engagement or be mounted side by side in an assembly, it can be used more conveniently than prior art containers for storing several discs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to the invention, with the disc sheath and the disc carrier or disc drawer shown in exploded view,
FIG. 2 shows a lengthwise central section of the disc drawer, while
FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the disc drawer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1 a disc sheath or cover 11, is shown, adapted to accomodate a disc drawer or inner part 12 acting as a disc carrier. The cover 11 in the example has two identical halves 11A, B, each being rectangular in shape with low walls 14, 15, 16 along three sides and an outer rounding of the edges. The walls may have mating grooves and ridges for interacting and the two halves may be glued or welded together, e.g. by ultrasonic welding.
On each side adjoining the opening 17, each of the 11A, B is provided with two lugs, a female set 18, 19 and a male et 20, 21 which may engage a dimple 22 in the opposite female lug. The lugs 18-21 provide means for engaging two disc covers 11 adjoining each other in a certain position. The pair of lugs may be designed to keep two covers stet.
The lugs 18-21 will also function as spacers, providing a suitable distance between two stacked containers to enable the gripping of the disc drawer 12.
In an alternative embodiment suitable for preparing container racks, pairs of covers can be manufactured integrated, back to back. In this case the halves are disconnectably coupled by providing mating holes and studs extending from the walls 14-16.
The disc cover can also be prepared in one piece, as a boxshaped pocket, with an outer and inner design close to that of the above example.
Inside the opening 17 a stop lug (not shown) is provided to engage a corresponding lug on the disc drawer (se below).
The disc carrier or disc drawer 12 is generally designed as a box with a bottom 42, a centrally located center grip 23 and a hand-grip portion 24 at the front e
REFERENCES:
patent: 4635792 (1987-01-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 4722439 (1988-02-01), Grobecker et al.
patent: 4875578 (1989-10-01), Nehl
patent: 4899875 (1990-02-01), Herr et al.
patent: 5445265 (1995-08-01), Herr et al.
patent: 5573120 (1996-11-01), Kaufman et al.
Fresvig Jan
Knutsen Stian V.
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