Special receptacle or package – For holding a machine readable recording medium – For holding an optical disc
Utility Patent
1999-11-12
2001-01-02
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For holding a machine readable recording medium
For holding an optical disc
C206S310000, C206S312000, C206S493000
Utility Patent
active
06168015
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CD package for removably holding a compact disc (CD), or a recording medium which stores digital data, for example, music data on a spiral recording track thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
CD casings conventionally found in the market are produced from a synthetic resin, such as polystyrene. These CD casings are disposed of as industrial waste. Also, CDs are distributed in CD packages. The CD package includes a CD tray produced from a synthetic resin, a paper mount on which the CD tray is affixed, and a container for accommodating the assembly of the CD tray and the paper mount. When the CD package is to be disposed of, it must be broken up for classified disposal of component parts, or it must be disposed of as industrial waste. Burning component parts produced from a synthetic resin involves emission of poisonous gases. Further, affixing the CD tray on the paper mount involves use of an expensive adhesive, such as a hot-melt adhesive. Also, the casing does not permit printing thereon; thus, printed matter must be contained in the casing in order to provide a user with information about the contained CD.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems involved in a conventional CD casing or CD package and to provide a CD package capable of reducing the cost of disposal of a CD tray, a paper mount on which the CD tray is affixed, and a container that contains the CD tray affixed on the paper mount, permitting burning in a manner similar to that in which wood-pulp-derived paper is burnt, and contributing to forest conservation; for example, through use of paper produced from raw material other than wood pulp, such as paper produced from a combination of kenaf and bamboo fibers, as material for the CD tray.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a CD package comprising a CD tray for removably holding a CD, the CD tray being formed of paper produced from raw material other than wood pulp; and a container for accommodating the CD tray or a paper mount on which the CD tray is affixed. Since members made of synthetic resin are not used, the cost of classified disposal can be reduced. The CD tray, the paper mount, and the container can be burnt in a manner similar to that in which wood-pulp,-derived paper is burnt.
Preferably, the CD tray is formed of paper containing kenaf fibers in an amount of 70-90% by weight and bamboo fibers in an amount of 10-30% by weight. In this case, consumption of wood is reduced, thereby contributing to forest conservation and thus contributing to environmental protection.
Preferably, the paper mount contains kenaf and/or bagasse fibers in an amount of about 5-30% and wood pulp as the balance. In this case, through use of kenaf and/or bagasse, which are annual grasses, the proportion of wood pulp to total material used is reduced, thereby contributing to forest conservation and thus contributing to environmental protection.
Preferably, the CD tray comprises a bottom wall formed in a rectangular or square shape; a boss projected from a central portion of the bottom wall and adapted to be removably fitted into a center hole of the CD, the boss being chamfered to have four corner portions, and tapered such that the diameter of-the boss reduces toward an end thereof; an annular rest portion provided at a base end of the boss and projected from the bottom wall; projections extending along the corresponding opposite sides of the bottom wall; side rest portions projected toward the boss from the corresponding projections; and wing portions projected from the opposite ends of each of the projections, wherein the boss, the projections, and the wing portions have the same height above the bottom wall; the annular rest portion and the side rest portions have the same height above the bottom wall; and the wing portions each have an inward-projecting end portion that abuts or comes into close proximity to a circumferential edge surface of the CD. In this case, since the annular rest portion and the side rest portions are disposed in such a manner as to have the same height above the bottom wall, the CD can be stably supported on the CD tray while the boss is fitted into the center hole of the CD.
Preferably, four finger-reception recesses are defined by the projection and the wing portions in such a manner as to be opened toward the boss. In this case, the finger-reception recesses receive the user's fingers to thereby enable the user to remove a CD from the CD tray with his/her fingers.
Preferably, aqueous coating is applied to the entire surface of the CD tray or to the surface of the boss and the surfaces of the inward-projecting end portions. In this case, the applied aqueous coating prevents generation of paper dust, which would otherwise result from strong friction between the center hole wall of a CD and the boss of the CD tray or between the circumferential edge surface of the CD and the surfaces of the inward-projecting end portions of the CD tray.
Preferably, a weakly-adhesive seal is affixed to the annular rest portion such that the boss of the CD tray is fitted into a center hole formed therein, thereby enabling removable adhesion of the CD to the weakly-adhesive seal. In this cases, even when some gap is present between the center hole wall of the CD and the boss of the CD tray or between the circumferential edge surface of the CD and the four wing portions, the weakly-adhesive seal prevents the CD from having play or the CD from coming off the CD tray.
Preferably, the CD tray further comprises a peripheral frame portion adapted to be affixed on the paper mount to thereby affix the CD tray on the paper mount. In this case, the CD tray can be reliably affixed on the paper mount at an appropriate position through bonding between the surface of the paper mount and the surface of the peripheral frame portion by means of an inexpensive glue.
Preferably, the container assumes the form of a bag produced from a synthetic resin or the form of a paper box. In this case, the paper mount can be omitted in order to simplify the structure of the CD package and thus providing the CD package at a low price.
Preferably, the paper mount assumes an elongated rectangular shape and is scored, from the front-face side, at four positions perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction across a width to thereby forming two central scores and two outer scores; a space between the central scores is narrower than that between the central score and the outer score; the central scores and the outer scores define four rectangular portions, each having a size similar to or slightly greater than that of the CD tray; the outer rectangular portions are folded inward along the corresponding scores so as to be superposed on the back faces of the inner rectangular portions to thereby yield two pairs of superposed rectangular portions; the paired superposed rectangular portions are bonded together at peripheral portions by means of an adhesive; the CD tray is affixed to either one pair of or both pairs of superposed rectangular portions through bonding between the peripheral frame portion and the corresponding rectangular portion; and one pair of superposed rectangular portions is folded along the central scores to thereby cover the CD tray in cooperation with the other pair of superposed rectangular portions. In this case, the CD can be stably held between the two-folded portions.
Preferably, a round hole is formed in the inner rectangular portion of the two superposed rectangular portions at a central position so as to permit the boss of the CD tray to be loosely fitted therein, and elongated projections are formed on the rectangular portion on either side of the round hole. In this case, the boss of the CD tray is loosely fitted into a round hole formed in the inner rectangular portion while the elongated projections provided on either side of the round hole press a CD fitted to the boss against the annular rest portio
Ladas & Parry
Lam Nhan T.
Sewell Paul T.
Shimizu Printing & Packaging Co., Ltd.
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