GB2239446A

GB2239446A - Device for storing compact discs

Info

Publication number: GB2239446A
Application number: GB8928258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vincent Howard Dean
Original assignee: Buralls of Wisbech Ltd
Current assignee: Buralls of Wisbech Ltd
Priority date: 1989-12-14
Filing date: 1989-12-14
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Also published as: GB8928258D0

Abstract

A storage device for compact discs comprises an envelope of plastics sheet material in which sheets of, e.g. flexible PVC, are high frequency welded along three sides to form a V-section nip 36 which grips the compact disc at its periphery, thereby minimising the likelihood of inadvertent discharge from the envelope. The plastics sheet material is embossed on its inside surface thereby further inhibiting roll-out. The envelopes may be formed into a horizontal or vertical stack. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STORING COMPACT DISCS This invention relates to the storage of compact discs.

To the best of the Applicants' knowledge, the system for storage of compact discs which has been universally adopted is that involving the use of rigid hinged boxes, moulded in a polycarbonate plastics material, and with an insert defining a suitable recess for the disc itself. In this way, both sides of the disc are protected, indeed it is totally enclosed. Moreover, the box provides retaining means inhibiting inadvertent falling or discharge of the compact disc therefrom.

While the polycarbonate box storage system is splendid in many ways and enhances the image of the compact disc in terms of presenting it in an attractive manner, which is in keeping with the relatively new status of compact discs as a medium for the storage of sound and other information, it nevertheless suffers from a number of significant drawbacks. These include the fact that this form of packaging is of relatively high cost and it occupies a large amount of storage space having regard to the actual dimensions of the compact disc itself.

Therefore, bearing in mind the fact that compact discs have been available for a period of about seven years without the introduction of any significant improvement in these respects, and bearing in in mind also that the numbers of such discs possessed by typical members of the public will progressively increase in view of the relatively long life of such products, the absence of any alternative is indicative of a long felt need for such in the market place, and an object of the present invention is to provide improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed herein, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a method and a device for the storage of compact discs as defined in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment, a method of storing compact discs comprises locating the compact discs in individual protective packaging and forming a stack of same horizontally or vertically with the packaging thus separating successive discs. The packaging is caused to engage and grip each compact disc to inhibit its inadvertent falling or discharge from the packaging. The method is notable in that the packaging comprises an envelope of plastics sheet material for each compact disc, and which is open or openable along one edge and closed along the other edge or edges, whereby in forming the stack, the only material located between successive compact discs is two sheets of the sheet material, one from each of two successive envelopes, the compact discs being in faceto-face realtionship with the sheet material.The method further comprises causing the packaging to grip each compact disc at an edge thereof, whereby even if the open edge of the envelope is disposed vertically, the compact disc can not roll out.

Also in a preferred embodiment a device (or apparatus) for storing compact discs comprises cover means to cover and protect both faces of the disc while stored. Retaining means is provided to retain the disc within the cover means while stored. The cover means comprises an envelope of plastics sheet material. The envelope comprises two sheets of the material joined along their peripheral edge or edges and with a portion left open for insertion and removal of a disc. The retaining means for the disc comprises a generally V-shaped nip formed at the joined edge or edges of the sheets, and the dimensions of the envelope with respect to a compact disc being such that, in use, the periphery of the compact disc is held in the nip and at least lightly gripped between opposite faces thereof.

The envelope of plastics sheet material may be rectangular so as to grip the compact disc at at least two edges of the envelope, or may be square to grip same at three edges thereof. The plastics sheet material may have an embossed surface finish on the inside of the envelope.

The preferred embodiment allows a compact disc of high value to be retained in a low cost package without the danger of it slipping out during normal use. The life of the packaging is substantially longer than other alternatives.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows in plan view a compact disc storage device with an associated compact disc in a half-removed or inserted position; and Fig 2 shows an end view of the assembly of Fig 1, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow II in Fig 1.

As shown in the drawings, a device 10 for storing compact discs 12 comprises cover means 14 to cover and protect both faces 16, 18 of the disc while stored.

Retaining means 20 is provided to retain the compact disc within the cover means while stored.

The cover means 14 comprises an envelope 22 of flexible plastics sheet material, the envelope comprising two sheets, 24, 26, joined along their peripheral edges 228, 30 and 32, the fourth edge 34 being left open for insertion and removal of the disc.

Retaining means 20 comprises a generally V-shaped nip 36, seen in Fig 2, and formed at the joined edges of the sheets 24, 26. The deminsions of the envelope 22, with respect to a compact disc 12 are such that, in use, the periphery of the compact disc is held in nip 36 and at least lightly gripped between the opposite faces thereof.

In this embodiment, the compact disc itself is of the standard diameter of 12 cm, and its thickness is about 1 mm. The envelope 22 is of dimensions 13 cm2, being formed from 350 micron flexible PVC, embossed on its inside suface, and high frequency welded along the three edges 28, 30 and 32. Printed publicity matter is applied to the front and rear faces of the plastics sheet material by half-tone printing with UV ink and the printed matter is coated with UV varnish to protect the print image. The embossed finish on the inside surface of the plastics sheet material is obtained, in production, by a calendaring operation of the kind used for producing a simulated leather finish on plastics sheet material.

In this embodiment, the difference between the diameter (12 cm) of the compact disc and the width or length dimensions of the square envelope 22 (13 cm) is such that, having regard to the flexibility/stiffness of the sheet material itself, and the narrow peripheral linear edge bands 38 produced during the high frequency welding operation (in which the two sheets of plastic sheet material are effectively welded together in a very narrow zone), the nip 36 is such as to exert the necessary degree of grip on the compact disc. With different plastics sheet material and modifications to the welding technique, a different difference in dimension between the compact disc and the envelope would be needed. The thickness of the disc itself is also of relevance in determining these factors.

In use, discs 12 are readily inserted and removed from envelopes 22 by simple manual insertion. By application of a small amount of finger pressure on opposite edges 28, 32 the envelope can be readily opened slightly in the manner illustrated in Fig 2. Note that in Fig 2 as originally filed the profiles of the sheets 24, 26 of plastics sheet material are indicated to be linear, whereas in practice they would probably be curved.

In this manner, ten sleeves with their own internal compact discs can be stored in the same space as two of the known polycabonate boxes. The envelopes have an extremely long life time. The plasticiser-modified PVC is extremely durable so as to have a lifetime expectancy comparable to that of the disc itself.

Intrestingly, the above embodiment provides a new and simplified low-cost approach to the storage of compacts discs without the attendant space and cost and complexity of the established polycarbonate box system. The provision of a nip-type retaining system for the disc avoids the need for any internal envelope with a closure flap or with its third-side opening non-aligned with the opening of the outer enevlope. In this way the material provided between successive discs in a vertical or horizontal stack is minimised to an even greater extent.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1 A method of storing compact discs comprising a) locating a series of compact discs in individual protective packaging; and b) forming a stack of same horizontally or vertically with the packaging thus separating successive discs; and c) causing said packaging to engage and grip each compact disc to inhibit inadvertent falling or discharge of the compact disc therefrom; characterised in that d) said packaging comprises an envelope of plastics sheet material for each compact disc and which is open along one edge and closed along the other edges, whereby in forming said stack the material located between successive compact discs is two sheets (one from each of two successive envelopes) of said plastics sheet material, said compact discs being in face-to-face relationship with said sheet material; and e) causing said packaging to grip each compact disc at an edge thereof whereby even if the open edge of the envelope is disposed vertically, the compact disc can not readily roll out.

2 A method of storing compact discs subtantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 Apparatus for storing compact discs comprising: a) cover means to cover and protect both faces of a compact disc while stored;and b) retaining means to retain the compact disc within said cover means while stored; characterised in that c) said cover means comprises an envelope of plastics sheet material; and d) said envelope comprises two sheets of said material joined along their peripheral edges and with a portion left open for insertion and removal of a disc; and e) said retaining means comprises a generally V-shaped nip formed at the joined edges of said sheets and the dimensions of said envelope with respect to a compact disc being such that in use the periphery of the compact disc is held in said nip and at least lightly gripped between the opposite faces thereof.

4 Apparatus for storing compact discs comprising an envelope of plastics sheet material open on one side and adapted to grip a compact disc at at least one edge of the envelope.

5 Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said envelope is rectangular and grips the compact disc at at least two edges of the envelope.

6 Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that the envelope is square in shape and grips the compact disc at at least three edges of the envelope.

7 Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6 characterised in that said plastics sheet material has an embossed surface finish on the faces thereof which are inside the envelope.

8 A device for storing compact discs substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.