GB2256424A

GB2256424A - Storage case for discs bearing recorded data

Info

Publication number: GB2256424A
Application number: GB9120250A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reiner E Pilz
Original assignee: PILZ TECHNOLOGIE GmbH
Current assignee: PILZ TECHNOLOGIE GmbH
Priority date: 1991-06-07
Filing date: 1991-09-23
Publication date: 1992-12-09
Also published as: GB9120250D0; WO1992022065A1; FR2677480B1; CN1026449C; CN1067762A; WO1992022066A1; FR2677480A1; DE4118769A1

Description

2 23 61 24 A CONTAINER The present invention relates to a container more

particularly, but not exclusively to a case for digital records or compact discs and similar disk-like items of information recording media, as for instance digital video discs, CD-ROMs and the like, hereinafter referred to as a CD-case.

The standardised CD-case as utilised since the introduction of CD-records or digital records and as illustrated in Philips Tech. Rev. 40, 1982, No. 6, page 180 consists of a bottom part and a cover part which are each injection moulded in transparent synthetic resin and are connected together pivotally by two trunnion joints, and furthermore a support plate or tray which is inserted into the bottom part with an interference fit. On the support plate catch parts are provided which fit into the centre hole of a CD-record and retain the same, the signal side of the CD- record being turned towards the tray but with a clearance therebetween. Between the tray and the bottom part a paper inlay is inserted, whose folded ends are in abutment with the inner surface of the side wall adjacent to and, respectively, remote from the joint. This inlay carries printed information able to be read through the bottom surface of the bottom part and through the front and rear side walls of the bottom part. In the cover part there is a booklet which may usually be withdrawn.

This conventional CD-case has the following disadvantages from the point of view of production and processing: the cases are normally manufactured separately from the production of the CD-records and then have to be packed and shipped to the producer of the CD-records, where they are filled with the CDrecords. Since the booklets have to suit the CD-record, they as well are only able to be inserted into the case in the factory of the producer of the CD-records. This however means that the tray may not be inserted into the bottom part at the time of producing the CD-case, 2 because it is still necessary to insert the booklet between the two. In f act the trays have to be packed separately from the bottom parts and the cover parts (may be joined together with their trunnions by the manufacturer) and shipped to the producer of the CDrecords. The producer then has the booklets inserted by hand or by machine and the tray is inserted into the bottom part and the CD-record is slipped onto the catch means of the tray. All this means undesirably large capacities for shipping and storing to cope with the separate handling of the cover part and the bottom part on the one hand and the tray on the other hand and furthermore expensive hand labour or additional equipment is needed by the manufacturer of the CDrecords for the final assembly and filling of the CDcases.

A still further disadvantage, which applies for the user of the conventional CD-cases is that they only hold one CD-record. If two or more CD-records are to be accommodated in one case, the present practice is to use a case as in the European patent publication 0 114 631 in the case of which two bottom parts of conventional single-disk CD-cases, each provided with an inserted tray, are pivotally connected by means of their trunnions with a box-like centre part for turning about two axes. The thickness of such a double CD-case is somewhat larger than that of the double thickness of a conventional case. The box-like centre part has an intermediate bottom, which is also in the form of a tray and on one or both sides is provided with catch means for fitting into the centre of one respective CD-record. Dependent on whether or not such catch means are provided on the centre part, the case is adapted for holding two, three or four CD-records. This known double case has the same disadvantages for the manufacturer as the above mentioned single case, namely that it can only be fully assembled by the producer of the CD- record. Furthermore this multiple case is 3 awkward to handle because of its thickness. If only two CD-records are housed therein, this being the commonest case, it contains a large amount of unused space.

The German patent publication 3,414,903 A relates to a CD-case whose bottom part and cover part contain a tray between them, which is also pivotally connected by means of trunnion joints with the bottom and cover parts. The tray may be provided on one or both sides with catch means for one or two CD-records. The pivot action of the tray makes possible not only the removal of the CD-record from one or other side but furthermore facilitates the insertion of the booklet in the bottom part, since the same may be made accessible by folding the tray upwards. This known CDcase may thus in principle be assembled by the manufacturer and supplied in one piece to the producer of CD-records, who is then able to insert one or two CD-records and the respective booklets in the bottom and cover parts when the tray is in the right position of pivot. The packaging and shipping of the cases to the producer of the CD-records and the despatching operations he performs may therefore be simplified.

In the case of this known CD-case the pivoting of the cover part of the tray in relation to the bottom part is only possible, if mutual hindrance is to be avoided, by making the eyes in the bottom part and the tray (into which the projecting trunnions on the corresponding flanges of the cover part fit) in the form of slots whose axes are arranged at an angle to each other and to the mid plane of the closed case. This means however that when open the CD-case is very flimsy and is difficult for the user to handle, since the trunnions are loose in the slots and the three components of the case, that is to say the cover part, the tray and the bottom part are highly prone to assume a skew position in relation to each other so that when the case is closed they jam and in certain circumstances the flanges bearing the trunnions and the trunnion eyes 4 may snap off. If two CD-records are placed in the known case there is the further disadvantage that n opening the case only the CD-record on the upper side of the tray will be accessible so that in order to remove the lower CD-record they tray will have to be turned over, this being awkward and, owing to the already noted slots, is particularly prone to cause trouble when the case is already open.

This known type of CD-case has not appeared on the market and the respective patent application has been dropped.

One object of the described embodiment of the present invention is to provide a CD-case of the type initially mentioned, which may be selectively used to house one or two CD-records, is sufficiently rigid in the open and in the closed condition, allows systematic access to the one or the other of the CD-records and may be produced with the same dimensions as single disc CDcases presently on the market.

According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a container for digital records, CDrecords and similar disc-like forms of information recording media comprising a tray for receiving a said disc and first and second covers pivotably connected to opposed sides of the tray by means of coaxial trunnion joints allowing only relative rotational movement.

According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a container for digital records, CDrecords and similar disk-like items of information recording media, having the configuration of a flatrectangular body, comprising a bottom part, a cover part and tray arranged between same, which are connected together pivotally by means of two trunnion joints, said tray having catch engagement means on at least one side for f itting into a centre hole in a said disk, and on all f our narrow sides of the container on the bottom part and/or cover part moulded-on side walls are provided, which, when the container is closed, essentially surround the tray, each trunnion joint consists of a trunnion moulded on the bottom part or on the cover part with an end part section thereof fitting into a round trunnion eye in the cover part or in the bottom part, while a centre section of the trunnion is adapted to be fitted into a round trunnion eye through a radial entry slot from the side with a snap action.

According to the invention in a third aspect, there is provided a container for digital records, CDrecords and similar disc-like forms of information recording media comprising a tray for receiving a said disc and two covers pivotally connected to opposed sides of the tray, at least one retaining member resiliently connected to the tray for engaging the covers with the tray in a click-stop manner, the or each retaining member being resiliently movable translationally so as to release both said covers from engagement with the tray or rotationally so as to release a selected one of said covers from engagement with the tray.

In the case of the CD-case in accordance with the described embodiment of the invention, the bottom part and the cover part are connected to each other and to the tray by means of coaxial trunnion joints without the use of slots so that the arrangement is sufficiently firm in any desired pivot setting of these parts. The trunnion joint arrangement renders it possible to push the parts with the trunnion eyes of the tray from the side on the trunnions. Therefore there is the possibility of either firstly connecting the bottom part with the tray and then with the cover part or however firstly connecting the bottom part and the cover part with each other in the convention manner and only later inserting the tray and slipping it over the trunnions. The manufacturer of the described CD-case for this reason has the selection either of complete assembly of the CD-case and then delivering it to the CD-record 6 producer or of maintaining practice so f ar and of only supplying the assembled cover and bottom parts on the one hand and of the trays on the one hand separately to the CD-record producer, who then performs final assembly.

Claims

Gripper plates may be provided and are exposed and accessible on the

narrow sides of the container to render it possible for the user to take hold of the gripper plates between the thumb and the index finger of the one hand and to use the other hand to fold back only the cover part or only the bottom part away from the tray in order to grasp the one or the other of the CDrecords support on the tray at will. It is an advantage more particularly in this connection if in accordance with Claim 5 the gripper plates are simultaneously a component of an elastically resilient detent means between the cover part and the bottom part on the tray, which may be released by a thrust on the gripper plates.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the three components of the CD-case in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig.
2 is a perspective view of the CD-case of Fig. 1 in the shut condition.

Fig.
3 is a side view of the CD-case of Fig. 1 in the open condition.

Fig.
4 is view on an enlarged scale of part of the cover part adjacent to the joint of the case of Fig. 1 as seen from the side.

Fig. 4A is view on an enlarged scale of part of the cover part adjacent to the joint of the case of Fig. 1 as seen in section.

Fig.
5 shows a part of the tray on a larger scale adjacent to the joint of the case of Fig. 1 as seen in plan.

Fig.
6 shows a part of the bottom plate adjacent
7 to the joint of the case of Fig. 1 from the side.

Fig. 6A shows a part of the bottom plate adjacent to the join of the case of Fig. 1 in section.

Fig. 7 shows the hinge arrangement in section with the CD-case of Fig. 1 closed and folded open.

Fig.
8 shows a detail of the tray adjacent to one gripper plate of the case of Fig. 1 in plan.

Fig.
9 shows a detail of the tray adjacent to one gripper Fig catch means Fig catch means As plate of the case of Fig. 1 in section.
shows a part of the tray adjacent to the for two CD-records in plan view.
11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11 shows a part of the tray adjacent to the for two CD-records in section.

shown in Fig. 1, which is in part substantially simplified, the CD-case consists of the bottom part 1, the cover part 2 and the tray 3 or support plate, which are each manufactured as integral structures by injection moulding, the bottom part 1 and the cover part 2 being made of a transparent synthetic resin and the tray being normally made of a coloured synthetic resin. In order pivotally to connect the three parts with each other on the inwardly offset side wall parts 4 of the bottom part 1 there are two outwardly projecting trunnions 5 or bearing pins, which each have a middle section SA with a larger diameter and an end section 5B with a smaller diameter and merging with the first section at a shoulder SC. The middle section SA may be slipped into a round trunnion eye 6, which is f ormed in the side wall part 7 of the tray 3 using a radial narrowing entry slot 8 starting from the side, with a snap action. The end sections 5B of the trunnions 5 are able to be introduced into associated round trunnion eyes 9, which are formed in the flanges 10 (which extend the side walls) of the cover part 2, the flexural elasticity of the flanges 10 making it possible for such parts to be slipped onto the trunnion 5 with a snap action.

The bottom part 1 has side walls 12 and 13 on 8 the sides parallel to the trunnion axis, such side walls having a height approximately equal to the thickness of the CD-case minus one wall thickness. Along the sides, which are perpendicular to the trunnion axis, there extend side walls 14 whose thickness is only approximately half the thickness of the CD-case, and which have a respective recess 15 adjacent to the side wall 12 remote from the trunnion joint.

On the sides perpendicular to the trunnion axis the cover part 2 also bears side walls 17, whose height is equal to approximately half the thickness of the container and which also have recesses 18 in the part remote from the joint. It is possible for retainer lugs 19 to be moulded on the side walls 17 in order to keep an inserted booklet in place. on the side remote from the joint the cover part 2 does not have any side wall, whereas at the side edge adjacent to the joint only a lower abutment rib 21 is provided for the booklet. Between the flanges 10 extending the side walls 17 the cover part 2 has a free cutout 22 delimited by the abutment rib 21.

On the sides perpendicular to the joint axis the tray 3 has low edge flanges 23 projecting to both sides and which are respectively interrupted in the middle by a cutout 24 for a CD-record to f it into. Adjacent to the joint the edge flanges 23 are made wider as side wall parts 7 having the trunnion eyes 6 and between the side wall parts there is a raised filler rib 25 on the tray 3, which after closing the case (as shown in Fig. 2) fills up the cutout 22 in the cover part 2 and runs flush with the outer surface thereof. At the oblique part where the filler rib 23 merges with the tray 3 an abutment step 26 is moulded, which when the case is shut functions as a support for the abutment rib 21 of the cover part in order to strengthen it. In the middle the tray 3 bears a catch arrangement 27 which is only diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 and is shown on a larger scale as detail in Figs 10 and 11, with annularly 1 9 arranged catch pins 28, projecting upwards and, respectively, downwards, for gripping one respective CDrecord on the upper and lower surface of the tray 3. Recesses 29 in the tray 3 serve to reduce weight and may have additional bays 29A for gripping the inserted CDrecord adjacent to the periphery thereof.

Two enlarged and inwardly projecting gripper plates 30 are formed on the edge flanges 23 of the tray 3 adjacent to the cutouts 24, such plates fitting into the cutouts 15 and 18 in the side walls 17 of the bottom part 1 and of the cover part 2. To the side on the gripper plates 30 there are adjoining, set back detent ribs 31, of which each one has two superposed crowned detent projections 32, which are able to fit into corresponding detent wells 33 and 34 in the side walls of the bottom part and of the cover part 2 in order resiliently to lock the tray 3 to the bottom part 1 and the cover part 2. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the gripper plate 30 and the detent rib 31 are separated from the tray 3 by a narrow slot 34 and are only connected at the two ends of the slot with the bottom plate 3 via narrow connecting ribs 35. The connection via the ribs 35 is both flexurally elastic and also torsionally elastic so that a thrust on the gripper plate 30 may press the gripper plates with the detent rib 31 both parallel to the plane of the tray 3 inwards and also at a slight slant to the said plane. Thus by an eccentric thrust on the gripper plate the one or the other detent may be preferentially released dependent on whether the bottom part 1 or the cover part 2 is to be pivoted away from the tray 3. The tray may be provided with grooves to make it easier to hold and with arrow symbols or the like, which point out the possibility of opening in either direction. In place of the narrow slot 36 it is larger opening, which for instance may be a part of the cutout 29. The significant point is not the configuration of the opening but only the elastic and yielding support of the also possible to have a gripper plate 31 by means of the ribs 35.

Fig. 2 shows the closed CD-case, the bottom part 1 and the cover part 2 substantially completely surrounding the tray with the exception of the f iller rib 25, which is exposed on the joint side and of the gripper plates 30, which are flush with the side surface and may be grasped for opening the CD-case. At the side surface having the gripper plates the join between the side walls 14 and 17 of the bottom part 1 and the cover part 2 runs approximately in the centre plane of the CDcase.

On opening the CD-case the cover part 2 may be pivoted in relation to bottom part 1 through at least 1800, as shown in Fig. 3, and furthermore the tray 3 may be pivoted in relation to the bottom part 1 or to the cover 2 through 1800. When pivoting in relation to the bottom part the filler rib 26 of the tray 3 has to move past the side wall 13 adjacent to the joint of the bottom part 1 finally has to take up a position underneath bottom surface of the bottom part 1 as shown in Fig. 7. In order to render possible such a pivoting action, the axis of the trunnion joint formed by the trunnions 5 and the trunnion eyes 6 is eccentric in relation to the centre plane of the shut CD-case, that is to say offset towards the bottom surface of the bottom part 1, the degree of this offset resulting from the wall thickness of the filler rib 25 and the necessary play between the same and the bottom surface of the bottom part 1 in the position in accordance with Fig. 7.

In order to facilitate the opening of the CDcase by pivoting the cover part 2, the bottom part 1 and the cover part 2 are each provided with a grooved area 141 and, respectively, 171 on the outer sides of their side walls 14 and, respectively, 17 as shown in Fig. 3, such areas making it easier to grasp and hold the respective parts.

In Figs. 4 through 6 the significant 11 constructional features of the joint part for the opening of the CD-case and present on the cover part 2 (f igures 6 and 6A), the tray 3 (f igure 5), and the bottom part (figures 6 and 6A) are to be seen on a larger scale as detail. As shown in Figs. 4 and 4A the trunnion eye 9 f or pivotally receiving the end section 5B of the trunnion 5 moulded on the bottom part 1 is arranged eccentrically in the flange 10. In order to facilitate the snapping home of the trunnion 5 during assembly of the CD- case, an oblique surface 11 is so provided on the inner side of the flange 10 underneath trunnion eye 9 that the wall thickness of the flange 10 is reduced and there is consequently a guiding action for the trunnion 5 towards the eye 9.

As shown in Fig. 5, in its side wall part 7 the tray 3 also has an eccentric trunnion eye 6, whose diameter is the same as the diameter of the middle section 5A of the trunnion 5. In order to facilitate the introduction of the trunnion 5 into the eye 6, on the lower side of the eye 6 an entry slot 8 is provided which becomes narrower towards the eye 6.

The j oint part of the bottom part 1 is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 6A. The trunnion 5 is also eccentrically moulded in the side wall part 4, the same being so inwardly of f set in relation to the side wall 14 of the bottom part 1 that, as may be more particularly seen in Fig. 6A, the trunnion 5 does not extend past the side wall 14 of the bottom part 1 and consequently past the completely assembled CD-case to the outside.

Fig. 7 shows the joint part of the CD-case after assembly on a larger scale, the cover part 2 being shown pivoted through 1800 in relation to the tray 3. Furthermore the tray 31 is also shown in broken lines after pivoting through 1800 so that the above described cooperation of the abutment rib 21 of the cover part and the abutment shoulder 261 of the tray 31 is particularly well illustrated. The height H is the height of the 12 overall CD-case in - the closed condition, which also be adhered to in the joint part so that configuration of the CD-case as illustrated in Fig. 2 which is free of projections, has improved aesthetics and as regards storing has a functional appearance.

The axis of the trunnion joint 3 is not half way up the vertical distance H but is displaced off centre and offset towards the bottom part 1. In the opened condition of the container the main wall of the cover part 2 therefore not at the same level as the wall of the bottom part 1 and the f iller rib 251 of the tray fits underneath the bottom part 1.

Figs. 9 and 10 shown on a larger scale the arrangement of the gripper plate 30 and of the adjoining, set back detent rib 31 on the tray 3. Owing to the arrangement of the slot 36 in the tray 3 adjacent to gripper plate 30 and of the detent rib 31 and owing to design of the connecting ribs 35 there is the effect, as already noted, that the gripper plate 30 is elastic both as regards flexure and as regards torsion and may be actuated by a suitable thrust in order to render possible a disconnection of the detent projections 32 from the respective detent recesses 33 and 34 in the bottom and, respectively, cover part.

Figs. 10 and 11 shown on a larger scale the previously described catch arrangement 27, which is arranged in the tray 3 for receiving CD-records on both sides and for holding them centrally on the upper and lower side of the tray 3. The catch arrangement 27 bears a plurality of resilient lugs 38, which are separated from each other by radial slots 281 and which are placed surrounding a central opening in the tray 3. At the end of each lug 28 there is moulded an upwardly directed catch pin 28A and 28B (extending a right angle) each lug 28 alternately bearing a pin 28A projecting to the one side or a pin 28B projecting to the other side so that on the one side of the tray 3 one CD-record may be secured by means of the pins 28A and on the other 13 side a CD-record may be secured by means of the pins 28B with a catch effect. Since the pins 28A and 28B are on dif f erent lugs, release of the catch engagement of the CD-record on the one side of the tray is possible without impairing the catch engagement on the other side. In this manner a double-sided catch device is provided which at the same time takes up little space in the thickness direction of the container, since all the lugs 28 are in the same plane.

14 CLAIMS:

A container for digital records, CD-records and similar disc-like forms of information recording media comprising a tray for receiving a said disc and first and second covers pivotably connected to opposed sides of the tray by means of coaxial trunnion joints allowing only relative rotational movement.

2. A container for digital records, CD-records and similar disc-like items of information recording media having the configuration of a flat-rectangular body, comprising a bottom part, a cover part and tray arranged between same, which are connected together pivotally by means of two trunnion joints, said tray have catch engagement means on at least one side for fitting into a centre hole in a said disc and on all four narrow sides of the container on the bottom part and/or cover part moulded-on side walls are provided, which, when the container is closed, essentially surround the tray, each trunnion joint consists of a trunnion moulded on the bottom part or on the cover part with an end part section thereof fitting into a round trunnion eye in the cover part or in the bottom part, while a centre section of the trunnion is adapted to be f itted into a round trunnion eye but through a radial entry slot f rom the side with a snap action.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side walls of the container which are normal to the trunnion axis, of the bottom part and of the cover part, extend substantially over the entire side length of the bottom part and, respectively, of the cover part with a height which is substantially equal to half the thickness of the container when shut, and when the container is shut the side walls are f lush in relation to each other and the join between the wide walls is in the median plane of the container and in the side walls of the bottom part and of the cover part cutouts which are opposite each other in pairs, are provided which, when the container is shut, f orm a respective opening and on the tray two gripper plates are moulded, which extend into the openings so that their gripper surface is substantially f lush with the outer surface of the walls of the container.

4. A container as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the cutouts and the gripper plates are arranged near the corners which are remote from the joint of the container and between the cutouts and the corners of the container gripper zones are formed on the outer side of the narrow side walls.

5. A container as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein on each gripper plate a locking rib with two crowned detent projections is moulded which respectively fit into a detent recess in the associated side wall of the cover part and, respectively, of the bottom part, and the gripper plate and the locking rib are separated f rom the tray by a cutout or slot and at both ends of the slot the same are so connected by means of flexurally and torsionally elastic connecting ribs with the tray that thrust applied to the gripper plate may be used to release the engagement of one or both detent projections in the associated detent recess.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5 wherein the cover part has on its joint side a cutout which laterally is delimited by two flanges extending the narrow side walls and in which trunnion eyes are formed, on the joint side the tray has a raised filler flange which occupies the cutout in the cover part and when the container is shut is f lush with the top side of the cover part and on its joint side the bottom part has a rear side wall which extends essentially over the thickness of the container but has the edge of the f iller f lange of the tray f itting over it and the trunnion joints are so eccentrically arranged in relation to the median plane when the container is shut that when same is open the f iller rib of the tray fits underneath lower side of the bottom part.

16 7. A container as claimed in Claim 6, wherein an abutment rib is formed on the inner side of the cover part along the edge of the cutout on the joint side, said abutment serving for a booklet to be arranged in the cover part at the transition between the tray and the filler flange a raised shoulder is formed, which when the container is shut has the abutment rib bearing on it.

8. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the centre section adapted for cooperation with the trunnion in the tray of the trunnion has a larger diameter than the end section of the trunnion and between the two sections a shoulder is formed.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the catch device comprises a plurality of resilient lugs separated from each other by slots and arranged in a common plane, such lugs bearing catch pins arranged to project upwards out of the plane of the tray alternately to two sides thereof.

10. A container for digital records, CD-records and similar disc-like forms of information recording media comprising a tray for receiving a said disc and two covers pivotally connected to opposed sides of the tray, at least one retaining member resiliently connected to the tray f or engaging the covers with the tray in a click-stop manner, the or each retaining member being resiliently movable translationally so as to release both said covers from engagement with the tray or rotationally so as to release a selected one of said covers from engagement with the tray.