Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding a tape cassette
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-08-14
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding a tape cassette
C312S009470, C312S009480
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273256
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a disc case for a compact disc or the like, the disc case comprising two plate-like flank walls, side walls interconnecting the flank walls in such a manner that an opening is provided at the edge of the disc case for inserting a disc into the case and removing it from the disc case, a slide by means of which the disc can be removed from the case, and means for preventing the disc from dropping when the disc is extracted from the case.
At present, a drawback of compact disc cases is that they are difficult to open; for example small children find it extremely difficult to handle the cases. Furthermore, the durability of the cases is relatively poor. There is also the risk of the discs becoming dirty or even being damaged when they are removed from the cases.
DE 36 38 912 discloses a case which is uniform in construction, and which has an opening at the edge for inserting and removing a disc. A spring is provided on the edge of the case to ensure that the disc remains in place. The case is difficult to use and in order to extract the disc the user must grasp the top and bottom surfaces of the disc by hand. Furthermore, the spring on the edge of the case may damage the disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,814, DE 42 36 596 and WO 93/16471 also disclose disc cases of uniform construction with a slit for inserting and removing a disc on one edge of the case. Furthermore, a lever or a slide for removing the disc from the case is provided in these cases. The discharge of the disc from the case is prevented or slowed by spring means. The cases are extremely complex in construction and thus difficult and expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the spring equipment may damage the disc, particularly while the disc is being inserted. Also, the levers and slides are such in construction that they may press the disc unevenly and thus damage it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,316 also discloses a case with an open edge. The case further comprises a device housed within the case, on which a disc partly lies and which can be latched at the end position. When the disc is extracted, the latching is unlatched and the disc is partly ejected, whereby it is accessible for use. The disc is here held back and guided while being inserted by a hub fitting in the disc center hole. The case has a complex construction and is thus difficult and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the disc is rather difficult to handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,578 discloses a container comprising several superimposed sliders. Each slider can partly protrude from the container. The sides of the sliders are provided with pins arranged in a longitudinal guide, whereby the sliders can move in the direction of the guide. The guides are provided with inclined sections that move the pins downward simultaneously pressing the slider downward near the end of the withdrawal and braking the movement of the slider by means of friction. When the slider partly protrudes from the slider, it must be opened and the disc must be withdrawn by grasping it by hand, whereby the disc becomes dirty and may be damaged. Furthermore, the braking mechanism of the slider may damage the slider. The container is difficult to use and complex in construction.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disc case in which the above disadvantages can be avoided.
The disc case of the invention is characterized in that the slide comprises at least two pins and correspondingly, the case comprises pin guides in such a manner that when the slide is in the farthest position from the opening of the case, the inner pin located farthest from the opening is guided inwards in the case on account of the inner pin guide corresponding to said pin in such a manner that the inner pin prevents the disc from discharging from the case, whereby the outer pin located nearest to the opening is guided outwards in the case on account of the outer pin guide corresponding to said pin, and that when the slide is in the position nearest to the opening of the case, the inner pin is guided outwards on account of the inner pin guide so as to allow the disc to pass the inner pin, and the outer pin is guided inwards on account of the outer pin guide in such a manner that the outer pin prevents the disc from falling out of the case.
The essential idea of the invention is that the case is provided with an opening at one edge of the case, through which opening a disc can be inserted in and removed from the case. The case further comprises a slide provided with at least two pins and correspondingly, guides provided on the edge of the case in such a manner that when the slide is in the farthest position from the opening of the case, the pin located farthest from the opening is guided inwards in the case on account of the pin guide corresponding to said pin in such a manner that that the pin prevents the disc from discharging from the case. The pin nearest to the opening is then guided outwards in the case on account of the guide corresponding to said pin. Furthermore, when the slide is in the position nearest to the opening, the pin located farthest from the opening is guided outwards on account of the corresponding guide so as to allow the disc to pass said pin and the pin nearest to the opening is guided inwards on account of the corresponding guide in such a manner that said pin prevents the disc from moving, in other words falling out of the case. When the slide is moved away from the opening, the pin and the guide release the movement of the disc so as to allow the disc to be ejected from the case. Furthermore, the idea of a preferred embodiment is that, seen from the direction of insertion of the disc, the case opening is wider in the center part and narrows towards the edges of the case.
An advantage of the invention is that the construction of the case is simple and thus reliable and cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, the case can be handled by one hand, which is significantly advantageous to safety when used in cars, for example. Moreover, it is not necessary to touch the disc by hand since the disc can be ejected directly to a playing device by appropriately inclining the case, whereby the disc remains clean and undamaged upon removal from the case. Furthermore, the slide and the braking mechanism of the case do not press the disc, so it also remains undamaged in this respect. The forming of the opening to be wider in the central part and to narrow towards the edges means that when the disc is inserted into the case, only the edges of the disc come into contact with the edge of the opening, whereby the face of the disc remains undamaged while the disc is being inserted into the case.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3969007 (1976-07-01), Lowry
patent: 4664454 (1987-05-01), Shatteman et al.
patent: 4734814 (1988-03-01), Fujino et al.
patent: 4875578 (1989-10-01), Nehl
patent: 5000316 (1991-03-01), Lerner
patent: 3638912 (1986-11-01), None
patent: 4236596 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 9316471 (1993-08-01), None
Arnold Troy
ATSI OY
Ladas & Parry
Sewell Paul T.
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