Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding plural diverse recording media in the same holder
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2001-12-25
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding plural diverse recording media in the same holder
C206S308300, C312S111000, C108S014000, C220S004240, C220S023400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332533
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to mouse pads, and in particular to a novel case holder for floppy diskettes, compact disks(CDs), DVD disks, mini DVD disks, and the like, having top and bottom halves that can connect side-by-side to each other to form a mouse pad surface, and can also be enlarged by interconnecting with additional case holders to be used as a portable tabletop surface.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
One of the major driving forces within the current corporate and consumer environment is technology. On a daily basis technology affects the decisions of both corporate executives and the consumer. On average, technology influences corporations to reduce their bottom line spending by replacing costly out of date business methods with new media and systems that are available to them. In a similar manner, these technological forces also drive consumers to find ways to save time and make daily life more convenient.
As a result of the interaction of these forces in the corporate and consumer environment, an interesting niche has developed. The niche that has emerged is the need for an inexpensive, easy to manufacture product that increases corporate cost efficiency and improves end user convenience through multi functionality and reusability. The media holder mouse pad is the device that can fulfill this niche.
Currently many corporations have chosen to distribute media via floppy diskettes and compact discs instead of in the traditional form of print catalogs and leaflets. Though corporations are cutting bottom line costs through this transition, they still have wasted dollars tied to the disposable packaging of this digital media.
Many diskette and compact disc storage cases have been designed, but they do not address this need for a multi-functional, reusable and ready to be mailed storage device. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,334 to Giovanni and U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,848 to Cha et al.
Modifications of the disk storage box have been proposed. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,950 to Li. However, the Li patent is limited to a storage box having an extendible lid that can be used to hold pieces of paper. Due to its' design, Li's device requires multiple separate pieces which not only increases the cost and difficulty of manufacturing it, but also reduces its practicality for other applications. For instance, the Li device could not be used as a mouse pad since the raised clip on the lid of the box would interfere with the user's movement.
The traditional mouse pad also does not fill that niche either. Instead, a traditional pad generally remains on the user's desktop and is typically not transported because it is difficult to use when traveling.
In addition to the aforementioned limitations, many computer users have also encountered the problem of running out of work space on the traditional mouse pad. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 395,876 to Afarian, a mouse pad with “interlocking pieces” was proposed. Afarian required that one piece be laid over the other piece creating a larger surface area. However, this design produces uneven edges at the point of connection which can be difficult to flatten due to the use of flexible material(such as foam). Furthermore, Afarian's pad limits itself on its size since the pad can only be as large as the size of two interlocking pieces.
Several other modified mouse pads have been proposed over the years. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 411,192 to Wu; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 361,326 to Schriner and U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,637 to Schriner describe mouse pads having storage containers. The Wu patent requires a separate compartment mounted on the side of a mouse pad, that is limited to being able to store a computer mouse. As for the Schriner patents, they require pivotal hinges and a sloped exterior top surface with extra material for supporting one's wrist, as well as a storage compartment that “is preferably partitioned . . . (for the storage of) pencils, pens, pads, and paper clips.”
Other patents of interest that also fail to overcome the problems with the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. Des. 428,418 to Benedict et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,746 to McQueeny; U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,265 to Lutz et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,059 to Hiller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of this invention is to provide a media holder mouse pad that stores floppy diskettes, compact discs, DVD disks, mini DVD disks, and the like, therein, and is easy to mail and easy to display at retail.
The second objective of this invention is to provide a media holder mouse pad that initially stores diskettes and discs, and can be opened up so that the top and bottom halves can be reconnected to be used as a mouse pad.
The third objective of this invention is to provide a media holder mouse pad that is expandable in four directions to create a larger surface area for a computer mouse.
The fourth objective of this invention is to provide a media holder mouse pad having a casing for storing diskettes and disks therein that can be opened up to become a tabletop surface for a laptop computer.
The fifth objective of this invention is to provide a media mouse holder pad having a casing for storing diskettes and discs therein that can be opened up to become a tabletop surface for use as a worktable.
The sixth objective of this invention is to provide a media holder mouse pad having a case for storing diskettes and discs therein that can be opened up to be used as an advertising opportunity.
A preferred embodiment of the invention includes converting media storage cases into a work surface. The storage cases can be shaped rectangular, triangular, polygonal or flat sided. Each case has a top half member, a bottom half member and a storage space inbetween when both half members are sandwiched together. The compartment can store 3.5 inch diskettes, compact disks, DVDs, mini DVDs, and the like. Connectors on the exterior side edges of each half allow each half to be attached side by side to one another. Male protruding members such as longitudinal T-shaped members can be on sides of one half while mateable longitudinal T shaped female indentations can be on sides of the other half so that the male members can slide into the female indentations forming a tight fit. The male members can extend perpendicular from the sides of the halves and the indentations can also be perpendicular to the sides of the halves. The attached halves can be flipped over and used as a mouse pad work surface. Additional raised members and indentations can be on the other sides of the halves for allowing other halves of other cases to be similarly attached to create a larger work surface for computer mouse users, laptop computers and the like. The cases can also be similarly attached side-by-side to one another without separating the halves.
Further objectives and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
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H.H.H. Incorprorated
Law Offices of Brian S. Steinberger
Moh'andesi Jila M.
Sewell Paul T.
Steinberger Brian S.
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