Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding a grooved phonograph disc
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-23
2001-09-04
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding a grooved phonograph disc
C206S308100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283285
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 11-179547 which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk storage case for storing a disk-shaped medium therein, especially, a disk-shaped medium such as a CD (compact disk) not stored in a cartridge, and a disk tray for holding a disk-shaped medium therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to a conventional disk storage case of this type, as a first example, there is known a disk storage case which is disclosed in JP-A-10-106203. This disk storage case has a main body, a cover body, and a tray including a plurality of hold projections which can be engaged with a center hole formed in a disk-shaped medium to thereby be able to hold the disk-shaped medium, while the tray is mounted into the interior portion of the main body.
As a second example, there is known a disk storage case which is disclosed in JP-A-3-64279U. This disk storage case has a main body and a cover member, while, in the main body, there is provided a plurality of holding projections integral therewith which can be respectively engaged with a disk-shaped medium to thereby be able to hold the disk-shaped medium.
However, in either of the above-mentioned conventional disk storage cases, there are still left the following problems to be solved. That is, in the first example, although its function to hold the disk-shaped medium is excellent, there are required at least three parts, namely, the main body, cover body and tray. This means that the number of parts are rather large, which not only raises the cost of the disk storage case but also increases the whole thickness of the disk storage case.
Also, in the second example, there is not found such problem as in the first example. However, to facilitate the mounting and removal of the disk-shaped medium, the hold projections must be provided in such a manner that they can be flexed relatively easily. Here, in the first example, to increase the quantity of elastic flexure of the hold projections, there is formed a large opening in the central portion of the tray. Even in the case where a large opening is formed in the tray in this manner, no problem arises because the tray is mounted in the interior portion of the main body.
However, as in the second example, in a structure in which the holding projections are formed integral with the main body, in case where there is formed a large opening in the vicinity of the hold projections, such large opening is exposed to the surface of the main body. This is the reason why, in the second example, the hold projections do not include any opening. In order to secure a certain elastic flexure quantity without forming such opening, the hold projections cannot be formed thick so much. Therefore, the strength of the hold projections becomes insufficient, or the hold projections fall down to the center side of the main body due to change with time so that their power for holding the disk-shaped medium becomes weaker gradually.
Also, in the conventional disk storage cases, especially, in the second example, it is difficult for the disk-shaped medium to be engaged with the holding projections automatically (for example, using an automatic wrapping machine). This is because the positioning of the center of the disk-shaped medium with respect to the centers of the holding projections is difficult. Therefore, there is demanded a disk storage case which allows the disk-shaped medium to be engaged with the hold projections using an automatic wrapping machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks found in the above-mentioned conventional disk storage cases. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a disk storage case in with the structure of the holding projections engageable with a disk-shaped medium to hold the same is simplified. The size of an opening formed for the purpose of flexing of the holding projections can not be too large, the holding projections can have sufficient elastic flexure, and the positioning of the center of the disk-shaped medium with the centers of the holding projections can be facilitated.
In attaining the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a disk storage case, comprising: a main body for storing a disk-shaped medium therein; and, a cover body mounted on the main body in such a manner that it can be freely opened and closed, wherein the main body includes a bottom wall having a plurality of holding projections formed in the center portion thereof integral therewith so as to be engageable with a center hole formed in the disk-shaped medium to thereby be able to hold the disk-shaped medium center hole; in each of the holding projections, there is formed a slit so as to surround part of the root portion of the holding projection to thereby allow the holding projection to be deformed elastically; and, the plurality of holding projections are arranged in an annular manner and, between the holding projections, there are provided guide projections integral with the bottom wall in such a manner that the guide projections are formed higher than the holding projections.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a disk tray for storing a disk-shaped medium therein, wherein a disk tray main body includes a bottom wall having side walls respectively provided on the outer peripheral edge thereof, on the central portion of the bottom wall, there is provided a plurality of holding projections so as to be engageable with a center hole formed in the disk-shaped medium to thereby be able to hold the disk-shaped medium center hole, and, in each of the holding projections, there is formed a slit so as to surround part of the root portion of the holding projection to thereby allow the holding projection to be deformed elastically; and, the plurality of holding projections are arranged in an annular manner and, between the holding projections, there are provided guide projections respectively integral with the bottom wall in such a manner that the guide projections are formed higher than the holding projections.
Also, according to the third aspect of the invention, in a disk tray as set forth in the second aspect of the invention, the side walls are formed higher than the guide projections.
Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, in a disk tray as set forth in the second or third aspect of the invention, there is further included a hook portion which is formed integral with the bottom wall of the disk tray main body.
According to the first or second aspect of the invention, the holding projections are formed integral with the bottom wall of the disk storage case main body. Therefore, the structure of the disk storage main body can be simplified. Also, due to the slits respectively formed in their associated hold projections so as to surround a part of the root portions of their associated holding projections, the hold projections can be deformed elastically. This makes it possible to secure a certain degree of elastic deformation quantity of the holding projections without increasing the size of the opening formed for securing the flexure of the holding projections. Further, between the holding projections, there are disposed the guide projections which are formed higher than the holding projections. Because of this, when the disk-shaped medium is engaged with the holding projections, the center hole of the disk-shaped medium is firstly guided by the guide projections and, after then, the center hole of the disk-shaped medium can be engaged with the holding projections. This makes it possible to facilitate the positioning of the center hole of the disk-shaped medium with respect to the centers of the holding projections.
Also, according to the third aspect of the invention, even in case where the disk tray is put on a shelf or a table with its inner surface side thereof facing downw
Ikebe Masaru
Miyazaki Yukio
Bui Luan K.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
TDK Corporation
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