Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding an optical disc
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-05-29
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding an optical disc
C206S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237763
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to optical data disks such as compact disks (CDs) and video disks (DVDs) that have central circular locating openings, and more particularly to devices for protectively enclosing such disks for storage of same.
Data disks such as compact disks and video disks typically have large amounts of digitally stored information that is optically readable through a transparent bottom layer of the disk by a movable head during rotation of the disk. The information is arranged in one or more tracks that are covered by a thin protective top layer of the disk that can have labeling applied thereto such as by silkscreening. Normal handling of the disk can result in scratching of the bottom layer, resulting in loss of data by interference with the optical path such as by loss of focus and/or lateral image displacement. Also, data can be lost by scratching of the protective layer which is typically very thin, on the order of 20 microns, resulting in removal of information from a vapor deposited metal layer that is only about 0.1 micron thick. Protective containers for the disks in common use have a central pedestal for supportively gripping the disc by engaging the central opening without contacting either side of the disk within data-containing regions thereof. Such containers typically have a ledge for contacting portions of an outer perimeter of the disk for stabilizing the disk against tipping on the pedestal. The disk is loaded into the container by lowering it onto the pedestal while gripping opposite perimeter portions, engagement with the pedestal being typically effected by simultaneous finger pressure against the disk proximate the central opening. Removal of the disk is similarly effected by finger pressure against the pedestal and simultaneous lifting at the perimeter portions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,427 to Kuitems et al. discloses a compact disk holder having a central post that projects from a shoulder surface, the post having an outwardly facing ridge for gripping the disk opposite the shoulder surface. The post is formed with spiral slots for contraction of segments in response to finger pressure. A disadvantage of the holder of Kuitems is that it is difficult to use in that excessive finger pressure is required for contracting the segments; conversely, if the segments are made sufficiently long and thin for contracting under reasonable finger pressure, they are too weak to be effective in holding the disk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,926 to Deja discloses a disk storage case having a segmented central pin that is formed with an outwardly projecting collar for gripping the central hole of the disk, the pin being connected to an outwardly projecting plurality of lifting fingers that pivot upwardly when the pin is contracted by pressure on a central push-button. A disadvantage of the case of Deja is that the fingers are ineffective in that they must be sufficiently elastic to permit depression of the push-button prior to actual lifting of the disk, and they do not retain sufficient elastic strength for reliably lifting the disk, in that projection portions of the fingers have limited length. UK Patent Application No. 2,291,640 (and U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068) by Fraser et al. discloses a compact disk holder having a bifurcated button supported on respective inwardly projecting spring arms, segments of the button being interconnected by a living hinge in some embodiments. Also, some embodiments have a plurality of inwardly projecting disk ejection spring arms spaced about the button for lifting the disk when the button is depressed. Other embodiments rely on an outer ledge for support of the disk, which flexes when the button is depressed, the center portion of the disk being lifted by resilience of the disk when the button is sufficiently depressed to effect disengagement. The holder of Fraser et al. has a number of disadvantages. For example:
1. The ejection spring arms are prone to be damaged by being snagged by objects such as a user's clothing;
2. The disk is subject to damage by rubbing of the ejection spring arms; and
3. The flexing of the disk is ineffective in reliably completing disengagement from the button in the absence of the ejection spring arms.
Thus there is a need for a protective disk container that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY
The present invention meets this need by providing a molded disk holder configuration wherein structural components are unlikely to be snagged or damaged during normal use and handling, and that is particularly effective and easy to use. In one aspect of the invention, a holder for a disk having a central opening and front and back face surfaces with a data region extending inwardly to about twice the diameter of the central opening includes a base having a panel portion; a pedestal projecting forwardly from the base on a pedestal axis, the pedestal including a central button portion having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting retainer members and a plurality of axially extending stem members; a plurality of arm members supporting the retainer members and the stem members of the button portion in cantilevered relation to the base, the arm members sloping radially inwardly and axially forwardly from the panel portion of the base, the arm members collectively having a relaxed position, an engaged position for retaining the disk by engagement of the front face surface by the retainer members proximate the central opening, free end extremities of the arm members being deflectable axially rearwardly from the extended position to a depressed position in response to applied pressure against the button portion for producing sufficient corresponding radially inward and axially rearward movement of the retainer members and the stem members to permit passage of the retainer portions and the stem portions through the central opening of the disk; and a ring structure having a plurality of circumferential spring portions for biasingly contacting the rear face surface of the disk inside the data region for displacing the disk axially forwardly relative to the retainer portions when the arm members are in the depressed position, the disk being moved forwardly by the spring portions as the arms are moved to the depressed position.
Preferably each of the spring portions has a deflectable arch member having opposite ends supported by the base for permitting axial movement of the disk deflecting the spring portions without rubbing contact with the disk. The arch members can be located circumferentially between adjacent arm members. Preferably the ring structure further includes skirt members that project inwardly from proximate the arch members for protecting the arch members.
The stem portions can be integrally formed as button segments with corresponding ones of the retainer members. Preferably rearwardly facing engagement surfaces of the retainer members have outwardly and forwardly extending extremities for facilitating disk engagement. Preferably forwardly facing surfaces of the button surfaces slope forwardly and inwardly from outer extremities of the retainer members to respective forward extremities of the button segments, the forward extremities being sufficiently confined for ramped engagement with the central opening in the extended position of the arm members.
The arm members can be supported by the ring structure, extending inwardly therefrom. Root extremities of the arm members are preferably connected to the ring structure by respective spring hinges that allow the arm members to deflect principally at the spring hinges, thereby reducing the axial displacement of the retainer members that is required for sufficient inward radial displacement for the retainer members to pass through the central opening of the disk. Preferably the ring structure further includes a plurality of skirt members extending between adjacent pairs of the arm members and being closely spaced therefrom for shielding the arm members.
The base portion can further include an edge support member projecting forw
Bui Luan K.
Sewell Paul T.
Sheldon & Mak
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