AU2005100593A4 - Flat object holder and mailer - Google Patents

Description

Description 0 FLAT OBJECT HOLDER AND MAILER FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to holding, storing, transporting and mailing flat objects, in particular but not limited to the efficient mailing of Compact Disks and Digital Video Disks to many recipients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The usefulness of Compact Disk, Digital Video Disk and other flat media Mailers are known from the prior art. Examples are contained in Australian Designs AU-S-147943 and AU-S-147944 by Media Technologies, and also AU-S-149082, AU-S-149089 and AU-S-149091 by Amcor Packaging (Australia).

It is an aspect of prior art designs that they are often difficult to load with disks and require a different diecut for each size of disk. They also often require complex folds and adhering portions of the folder together and often make inefficient use of the sheet from which the folder is made. It is also the case that many prior art folders of a wallet style, where the disk is contained rather than held, tend to release the disk upon opening.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention that all of the problems evident in the prior art are overcome and a mailing folder of cheaper, simpler and more effective design is produced.

It will be understood that Compact Disk (CD) data storage media, Digital Video Disks (DVD) and Audio Disks are manufactured to common international standards which specify aspects of their physical size. Each of the various sizes and shapes of these disks has a standard, central, circular hole by which they are accurately located on a spindle in the player, reader or disk burner. This hole is always identical in diameter regardless of the disk size and shape.

This invention makes use of the commonality in this hole size to locate, constrain and secure the object for the purposes of handling and storage. It will be understood that to adequately constrain an object within its protective packaging is a primary aim of the invention described. It will be also understood that a simple folded card holder is an effective and efficient means of packaging for mailing flat objects.

In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a folder constructed from card which is diecut utilising common diecutting techniques to create a folder blank that may be easily folded to secure and protect the object. In its essential form the invention comprises a protruding tab over which the hole in the object is placed. This tab has at least one shoulder that limits the travel the hole has over the tab, creating a travel stop. Ideally the tab is shaped to ensure the hole is a firm fit over the tab so that when the object is located on the tab, to the limit dictated by the shoulder or shoulders, it is constrained in every direction but for the reverse direction of insertion. The second essential element of this invention is the addition of a constraint against travel in the reverse direction of insertion. In its simplest form this constraint is provided by a single fold in the card holder. A further element of this invention is the prevention of rotation of the object which, although it is constrained laterally in each axis of movement, may be able to rotate upon the tab to lose its preferred presentation orientation. Such rotation is constrained under this invention by means of the tab having to deform when the folder is closed, transferring frictional resistance to the sides of the hole.

Where this invention is used for digital media, it will be known that there exists many different sizes and shapes of disks. All such disks feature this common central hole and most of the commonly used disks have a circular overall shape concentric with this central hole. For any disk with a circular outer shape the radius of the disk will be known and the final constraining fold for lateral movement will meet with the perimeter of the disk at a distance from the shoulder of the tab dictated by this radius.

Where objects are not circular in shape the invention may still be applied to provide these minimum constraints to lateral and rotational movement.

In another aspect the invention a single folder blank may be produces which has provision for multiple sizes of object, utilising the appropriate fold lines existing in the blank. This multipurpose folder eliminates the need to hold separate stock of custom sized folders for the different objects to be stored, presented, transported or mailed.

In a preferred embodiment, the folder so described would have securing flaps to create a self-locking, self-contained, mailing folder providing sufficient impact protection to the securely enclosed object, without need for glue or adhesive strips or mechanical fasteners of any description apart from that provided by the diecut shape of the folder itself.

A folder constructed in accordance with this specification will produce a Mailer allowing postage at the standard minimum letter rate, which is substantially cheaper than postage of the more common disk case. The folder thus manufactured is also suitable for supply of installation disks, training and support disks, as well as being suitable as ongoing disk storage. It will also be seen that said folder overcomes or substantially ameliorates the problems associated with known prior art in this field, and has further application beyond digital media herein described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein:- Figure 1 is an isometric view of a mailer ready for loading; Figure 2 shows the mailer with the disc inserted; Figure 3 is a development of a preferred arrangement of the mailer; Figure 4 is a diagram of key dimensional relationships Figure 5 shows a range of alternative Tab features Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the mailer folded to hold different sized disks Figure 9 shows the invention applied to holding multiple disks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated a holder land a typical disk-shaped object 2 to be contained thereby. For economy of manufacture and easy of storage the holder is constructed of suitable sheet material or of materials which are folded or configured so as to offer the functional features of this invention.

Object 2, featuring hole 3 and defining edge 4, is placed over tab 5 of the holder, coming to rest at shoulders 6. An array of folds 7 in the holder are configured to relate to key dimensions of the object. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the arrangement of folds when the disk is placed over the tab has them aligning with distance 14 from the centre of the object. In the case of a circular object such as a CD or DVD this distance is the disk radius.

It will be noted that the object 2 may be inserted onto the tab 5 either in front of the flap or behind the flap, and will remain equally secure once the holder is closed.

Figure 3 shows a detailed development of a preferred embodiment of the CD or DVD mailer. The design shown has a central tab feature 5, shoulders 6 and multiple folds 7. Multiple folds 7a, 7,b and 7c are included to accommodate multiple sized disks. In operation, only one of these folds would be made either 7a or 7b or 7c. Fold 7d is an integral fold in securing any of the disk sizes.

Folds 7e and 7f are incorporated to secure the folder during mailing by use of closure tabs 10 on flap 9 engaging with corresponding closure slots 11 in the body of the holder.

Figure 4 demonstrates the key functional relationships in the mechanics of this holder. Object 2 is shown in this instance as a circular disk such as is common with CDs and DVDS. It will be appreciated that objects of differing sizes and shapes, such as novelty shaped CDs, may be suitably secured using the techniques described in this specification. One necessary feature of any object to be secured is the existence of an aperture such as the central hole 3 in object 2. It is this hole that is placed over tab 5 as the first step of securing the object in the holder.

In association with tab 5 is shoulder or pair of shoulders 6 forming a limit to the distance the hole may travel along the tab 5. With the hole placed firmly on the tab and to the extent of its travel as restricted by the shoulder 6. At this point the holder is folded so that a fold 7 is made to constrain the movement of the object on the tab at a distance 14 of the object itself. Distance 14, in the case of circular objects is the radius. In the case of non-circular objects, distance 14 is the distance between the line of the greatest width of the hole 3 and the distal edge 4 of said object 2.

Rotation of the object 2 in a spinning motion by virtue of a circular central hole is restricted when the holder is folded to the closed position, the planar tab being deformed and pressed to the disk by the holder.

Tab 5 is sized so as to have a width 13 that is the same size as the width of the hole 3 in the case of a circular hole this is its diameter. Alternatively the width of the tab may be made oversized to ensure a snug fit of the disk. Figure 5 shows numerous possibilities for the shape of the tab which are all within the ambit of this invention as are many other shapes. This range of possibilities shows that there is an endless range of possible shapes of the tab to create secure attachment. The in shapes may also include substantially decorative shapes, however they must all contain the function 0 o explained in figure 4.

With all of the above designs it will be appreciated that each can be printed, foiled, Sembossed, diecut or otherwise value-added so as to include promotional messages, greetings or other text and imagery to make the folder more effective in its application. A design constructed to this specification may be configured with other features such as flaps, locks and pop-up graphics.

Whilst this design can eliminate the need for certain processes or attributes associated with prior art, such processes or attributes may be used for other reasons in conjunction with this secure method of restraining and enclosing a disk. It will be apparent also that this system of securing disks will be useful for other items of various shape and dimension needing to be held, secured, stored, presented, handled or transported. In addition, where this is described for single disks it is also suitable for multiple items by repeating the locating features for each item.

It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention results in a design which is cheaper, simpler and more effective, and which is far more efficient in both its use of resources and also the effort required to insert disks in quantity quickly.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

DATED this day of 2005.

PROdesign Australia Pty Ltd KEY TO NUMERALS 1 Holder 2 Object 3 Hole 4 Edge Tab 6 Shoulder 7 Fold line 8 Relief slot 9 Closing flap Closing tab 11 Closing slot 12 Tear stop 13 Width of hole 14 Distance from centre of hole to edge Line of centre of hole

Claims (2)

1. 3. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the holder is comprised of a single sheet of material which is formed so as to have a securing tab integral in the profile of the sheet.
2. 4. A holder as described in claim 3, wherein alternative fold lines allow use for differing sizes of objects. A holder as described in claim 3, specifically configured for digital media such as CD-ROMs 0 and DVDs substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1-9 of the accompanying drawings.