GB2354508A - A case for storing a disc - Google Patents

Abstract

A case 10 for storing a disc having a central hole, and a compact disc in particular, has a lid 12 pivotally connected to a base 15 by hinge means 20 whereby the lid can be swung from open positions to a closed position on the base. A mounting means 24 projects from the inner face 16 of the base 15 to pass through the central hole of a disc when mounted on the mounting means 24. An engaging means 26 is associated with the mounting means 24 and a complementary engaging means 27 is associated with the lid 12 whereby when the lid 12 is closed there is an inter-engagement of the respective engaging means 26, 27 preventing the lid 12 from being opened. The case 10 has releasing means 28 actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means 26, 27 and allow the case 10 to be opened. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting means 24 and its engaging means 26 are movable between engaging and releasing positions and are biased to their engaging positions. The releasing means 28 comprises the distal end 32 of the movable mounting means 24 which is accessible through a hole 29 in the lid 12 of the case 10. The case 10 may be opened and the disc removed by the use of one hand.

Description

2354508 A CASE FOR STORING A DISC

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cases for storing discs and to cases for storing compact discs in particular. Compact disc cases are the cases in which compact discs are usually sold to the public. The cases protect the compact discs and usually bear or contain textW or graphical 10 information about the invention recorded on the compact discs or about the manufacturers and the properties of the compact discs in the case of blank but recordable compact discs. The term compact discs is used in the present specification in a broad sense. It includes within its scope conventional audio compact discs (CD"s), compact discs on which computer software has been recorded (CD ROM's), digital video or 15 versatile compact discs (DVD's), recordable compact discs (CD-R's), and recordable and rewritable compact discs (CD-RW's). All these compact discs record information digitally which information is then read by optical means. However, that does not preclude the cases of the present invention from being used to store ccnnpact discs on which information is or can be recorded by analogue means or which is recorded and 20 read by other than optical means. Cases according to the present invention may be made for discs other than compact discs. Furthermore, while the discs are usually circiaar in shape they need not be. For example, there have been recent reports of comp:4ct discs being made to a size and shape 25 where they may be used as business cards. However, it is a characteristic of all discs for which the cases of the present invention are designed that the discs have a hole, usually a central hole, through them by which they may be mounted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVEISMON

Most compact disc cases are designed to hold a single compact disc. Several embodiments of such cases are known. A common compact disc case designed to hold a single compact disc comprises a base 35 and a lid separately moulded from a suitable plastics material and pivotally connected by hinge means. The lid at least is transparent so that the cover of a leaflet, folder or booklet placed in the case under the lid, and removably held in place by tabs attached to the lid, can be seen from outside the case. 40 The base is a multi-part base, having a separately made tray attached to an outer cover.

2 The tray is shaped, usually by having a substanfiidly circular recess, to receive a compact disc lying flat on the tray. The compact disc has a central hole and the centre of the tray has mounting means which ffictionally engages with the edge of the disc about the central hole to keep the compact disc on the tray until the compact disc is lifted off the mounting means and the tray to be removed from the case. It is sometimes a disadvantage because of the frictional engagement of the compact disc with the mounting means that a person must use two hands to release the compact disc from the mounting means and lift it from the tray. Sometimes one hand is used to hold the base down while the other hand is used to grasp the compact disc by its outer peripheral edge and pull it off the mounting means. Depending on the strength of the frictional engagement that action can produce some undesirable bending of the compact disc while it is being pulled off the mounting means. For many compact disc cases the mounting means is designed to be pressed downwardly by a finger or a thumb to reduce its diameter and release the frictional engagement of the mounting means with the disc.

Usually a finger or thumb of the hand used to bold down the base is used to press down on the mounting means, that action both holding down the base and releasing the frictional grip of the mounting means on the compact disc. However, the socond hand is still needed to lift the compact disc off the mounting means.

Most compact disc cases have means to prevent the case from being inadvertently opened. Typically such means comprise small projections on a rim of the lid or base and complementary recesses on a rim of the other of the lid or base. The projections snap-fit into the recesses when the lid is closed on the base. Some force must be applied to both the lid and base to be able to open the lid and again the use of two hands is necessary for that.

These features may be found in other compact disc cases as well, for example, unitary compact disc cases utilising plastic hinges for the hinge means and compact disc cases designed to store more than one compact disc.

An object of the present invention is to provide it storage case for a disc, and a compact disc in particular, where, in a preferred embodiment, the case can be opened and the disc removed therefrom by the use ofjust one band.

3 SUN54ARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly consists in a case for a disc having a central hole, the case comprising: a lid having an inner face and an outer face; a base having an inner face and an outer face; hinge means whereby the lid is pivotally connected to the base to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base; mounting means projecting from the inner face of the base for mounting said disc thereto with the mounting means passing through the central hole of the disc and the plane of the disc lying substantially parallel to the plane of the base; engaging means associated with the mounting means and the lid respectively whereby when the lid is closed the engaging means of the lid inter-engages with the engaging means of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened; and releasing means actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the engaging means of the mounting means and the engaging means of the lid is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biase d to the engaging position. In this embodiment, the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the -lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the movable one of the engaging means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the movable one of the engaging means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the other engaging means to prevent the lid from being opened.

It is preferred that it is the engaging means of the mounting means that is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position. It is more preferred that the engaging means of the mounting means is fixedly attached to the mounting means but is movable between the engaging position and the releasing position because the mounting means itself is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to its engaging position. In this more preferred embodiment, it is also preferred that a sufficient downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the mounting means causes the mounting means to move from its engaging position to its releasing position.

The mounting means preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical hub mounted on the inner face of the base and movable with at least a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and lowered position which is the releasing position of the mouziting means. To provide the vertical component of motion, the hub may be 4 mounted at a distal end of an arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub in the raised engaging position whereby sufficient downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the hub causes the arm to bend and the hub to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting means hub comprises a plurality of, and preferably two, separate and separated hub sectors. Each hub sector is movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means. In this embodiment, each hub sector may be mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directly radial arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub sector in the raised engaging position. Sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends of the hub sectors causes each arm to bend and each hub sector to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

For any embodiment of the hub or other form of the mounting means, its diameter is preferably less than the diameter of the central hole in the disc. That means that when a disc is mounted on the mounting means there is no frictional engagement between the mounting means and the edge of the central hole in the disc. When the case is open, that feature allows the disc to be lifted off the mounting means without bending of the disc. It also allows the disc to be lifted off the mounting means by the use of only one hand, it not being necessary to hold down the case with the other hand.

The engaging means of the mounting means or the lid preferably comprises a plurality of latch members projecting laterally from the mounting means or the lid. In this case, the engaging means of the other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of catches which respectively engage the laterally projecting latch members and prevent the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position. Where the mounting means comprises a plurality of hub sectors, it is preferably the engaging means of the mounting means that comprises the latch members, there being one latch member projecting radially outwardly from each hub sector of the mounting means at or towards its distal end remote from the base. Preferably each hub sector has a vertical channel in its outer periphery and the latch member of that hub sector is located in the channel within the outer periphery of the hub sector. That means that no latch member projects beyond the periphery of the hub comprising the plurality of hub sectors. That makes it easier for the disc to be placed on and removed from the mounting means because the edge of the disc about its central hole does not catch on any of the latch members.

In the prefer-red embodiment, the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal end of the mounting means hub when the lid is closed. The socket has for each latch member located in a channel of a hub sector a catch in the form of an inwardly projecting flange which, as the lid approaches its closed position, bears against a cam face of the respective latch member. That forces the hub sector to move to its releasing position. The catch then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub sector returns to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the channel under the latch member, that thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

In this preferred embodiment., the socket is preferably open ended. That provides a hole through the lid. The hole is positioned over the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed position. The distal ends of the hub sectors provide the releasing means because they are accessible from the outer face of the closed lid and can be pushed downwardly, for example, by a finger or thumb. That action moves the hub sectors and their engaging means from their engaging positions to their releasing positions thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

For any preferred embodiment of the invention, whether the mounting means is in the form of a hub or not and whether the hub comprises a pluraIity of hub sectors or not, there is preferably such a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position so that the, distal end of the mounting means can function as the releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid and is capable of being pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

The base of the preferred case has disc supporting means for supporting the disc mounted on the mounting means in a raised support position or in a lowered support position above the inner face of the base. The disc supporting means supports the disc in the lowered support position when the lid is closed on the base. That is because the lid directly or indirectly presses down on at least a part of the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means. However, the supporting means are biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened.

Thus, the biasing of the mounted disc to the raised support position causes the lid to pop up slightly from its closed position when the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means of the lid and the mounting means. The lid is raised 6 sufficiently so that when actuation of the releasing means ceases the respective engaging means of the lid and the mounting means do not re-engage. That allows the person who has pushed the releasing means to use the same hand to open the lid finther so that the same hand can then be used to lift the disc off the mounting means.

The disc supporting means preferably comprises a plurality of resilient fingers upwardly inclined from the base. The distal ends of the fingers bear against a lower face of the disc when placed on the mounting means. The fingers are preferably radially disposed about the mounting means and the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the central hole in the disc, preferably where no information is recorded or is recordable.

While the invention can be applied to unitary cases or to multi-part cases where the base comprises a single part, the preferred case has a multi-part base comprising a tray and an outer cover to which the tray is attached. The inner face of the tray therefore provides the inner face of the base. That inner face of the tray preferably has a substantially circular recess in it for receiving the disc. To J.acilitate removal of the disc, the recess may be open at the top and bottom edges of the base. That makes it easier for a person to grip the peripheral edges of the disc at the top and bottom edges of the case, The preferred case is designed to store a compact disc.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above has broadly defined the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the outside of the compact disc case shown in a fully open position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the inside of the compact disc case shown in a fully open position; 40 Figure 3 is an edge view of the case taken on M-HI of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an edge view of the case taken an rV-[V of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an edge view of the case taken on V-V of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the fully open case; Figure 7 is a cross-section on VU.-VU of the fully open case shown in Figure 2 but also 10 shows a disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means; Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the inside of the base end of the fully open case with a compact disc mounted on the mounting means; Figure 8A is an enlarged view of the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 8 with details of the mounting means and the supporting means concealed by the compact disc shown in ghosted lines; Figure 9 is a perspective view from the lid-side of the case showing the lid in a nearly, 20 but not fully, closed position on the base; Figure 9A shows an. enlarged view of the central region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 9; Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 9 with a compact disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means; Figure 10 is a perspective view from the lid-side of the case showing the lid in its fully 30 closed position; Figure I OA is an enlarged view of the central region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 10; Figure I OB is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 10; Figure I I is a perspective view from the. lid-side,, of the case showing the distal ends of the two mounting means hub sectors depressed in order to release the engaging means of 40 the mounting means -from the engaging means of the lid to allow the lid to be opened, the 8 lid having popped up slightly from its fully closed position by the action of the supporting means biasing the compact disc to a r6sed position; Figure 11 A is an enlarged view of the central region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 11; and Figure 11B is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The preferred compact disc case 10 shown in the drawings is designed to hold a single compact disc 11 - The case is a multi-part case comprising a lid 12 having an inner face 13 and an outer face 14 and a base 15 having an inner face 16 and an outer face 17. 15 The base itself is a multi-part base comprising an inner tray 18 and an outer cover 19. The tray is attached to the outer cover by any suitable means known in the art, it not being crucial to the present invention how the tray is attached to the cover. With this arrangement the inner face 16 of the base 15 is in fact provided by the inner face of the tray 18. The various parts of the case 10 are separately moulded from one or more 20 suitable plastics materials. These include polypropylene and polystyrene. The case 10 includes hinge means 20 whereby the lid 12 is pivotally connected to the base 15 to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base. Several of the drawings, including Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, 25 show the lid in a fully open position. Figure 10 shows the lid in its closed, me i g fully closed, position. The hinge means 20 can be any hinge means in the art known to be suitable for use with compact disc cases of the saine type, the particular type of hinge means used being immaterial to the present invention. However, by way of example, the preferred case shown in the drawings has two hinge means 20, one at each end of the 30 hinged edges of the lid and base of the case. A rim 21 is formed at the top and bottom edges of the lid 12 and at the hinged edge of the lid these rims extend as hinge arms 22. Each hinge arm has a short inwardly projecting stub axle (not shown) and these are received in cylindrical sockets (not shown) in the top and bottom ends of a spine 23 of the case which is formed at the hinged edge of the base 15. 35 The case 10 has mounting means 24 projecting from theinner face 16 of the base 15 for mounting the compact disc 11. As best shown in Figures 8 and 8A, the compact disc I I has a central hole 25 and when the disc is mounted on the mounting means with the mounting means passing through the central hole the plane of the disc lies substantially 40 parallel to the plane of the base.

9 The case 10 also has engaging means 26 associated with the mounting means 24 and engaging means 27 associated with the lid 12. When the lid is closed its engaging means 27 inter-engages with the engaging means 26 of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened. The case has releasing means 28 actuable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

The engaging means 26 of the mounting means is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position. The engaging means 27 of the lid interacts with the engaging means 26 of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position. On the Ed reaching its closed position the engaging means 26 of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the engaging means 27 of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened. The inter-engagement of the respective engaging means remains effective to keep the case closed until the releasing means 28 is actuated.

A feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which will be described in more detail, is that, at least when a compact disc I I is mounted in the case, the closing of the lid 12 engenders a force biasing the lid to a slightly open position. This feature means that when the releasing means 28 is actuated to released the inter- engaged engaging means 26 and 27, the Ed moves slightly away from its closed position so that when actuation of the releasing means ceases and the engaging means 26 of the mounting means returns to its engaging position it does not inter-engage with the engaging means 27 of the lid and the lid can be swung to a fully open position.

The mounting means 24 is made to be movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base 15. The mounting means 24 with its engaging means 26 are biased to a raised engaging position but the mounting means and its engaging means are movable between that raised position and a lowered releasing position. The releasing means 28 provided by the distal end of the mounting means 24 can be pushed downwardly to push the mounting means downwardly from its engaging position to its releasing position. The distal end of the mounting means is accessible for this purpose from outside the closed case by virtue of a hole 29 provided through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position.

Another feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that the diameter of the mounting means 24 is less then the diameter of the central hole 25 in the disc 11. That means that there is no frictional engagement of the mounting means with the edge of the disc about the central hole. 7be disc can therefore be placed on the mounting means and removed therefrom without any bending of the disc.The mounted disc is nevertheless still held in place by the mounting means and, in the closed case, is also sandwiched between the lid and the base so that it is not loose within the case.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting means 24 comprises a substantially cylindrical hub which consists of two separate and separated substantially semi-cylindrical hub sectors 30. Each hub sector is mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directed radial arm 3 1, Each radial arm is resiliently cantilevered from the base 15 and normally supports the hub sector 30 in the raised engaging position.

A sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends 32 of the hub sectors (which provide the releasing means 28) causes each arm 31 to bend downwardly whereby each hub sector follows an arcuate path, moving with both inwardly transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position. The arms 31 are integral with the tray 18 attached to the outer cover 19 to form the base 15. To allow for room for the anns 31 to be bent downwardly,- the -mounting means 24 is located on a platform 33. The platform is raised on the inner face 16 of the base tray to leave a recess 34 in the outer face 35 of the tray beneath the platform. This recess 34 provides sufficient space for the arms 31 to be bent dommwardly and for the hub sectors 30 to move in an arcuate path inwardly and downwardly from their engaging positions to their releasing positions. This is best shown in Figure 1 1B.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the engaging means 26 of the mounting means 24 comprises laterally projecting latch members 36. There is one latch member projecting radially outwardly from each hub sector 30 at or towards its distal end remote from the base 15. Each hub sector 30 has a vertical channel 37 in its outer periphery and the latch member 36 of that hub sector is located in the channel within the outer periphery of the hub sector. That means that the latch members 36 do not project beyond the outer periphery of the hub. That in turn means that the edge of the compact disc central hole 25 will not catch on the latch members 36 when the disc is being placed on or removed from the mounting means.

It has already been mentioned that the lid 12 hasa hole 29 through it whereby the distal ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 providing the releasing means 28 are accessible when the lid is in its closed position on the base. An annular flange 38 on the inner face 16 of the lid 12 forms a socket 39 to receive the distal ends of the hub sectors when the lid is closecL The socket is open-ended, thereby providing the hole 29 through the lid.

The engaging means 27 of the lid comprises a catch 40 in the socket 39 for each latch member 36 of the mounting means. In the present case there aTe therefore two catches 40 located on opposite sides of the socket. Each catch is provided by a flat bottomed U-shaped flange on the inside of the annular flange 39. Each catch projects inwardly and is designed to fit in the channel 37 of the associated one of the hub sectors 30.

The base 15 of the case has disc supporting means for supporting the disc 11 mounted on the mounting means 24 in a raised support position or in a lowered support position above the inner face 13 of the base. The disc supporting means supports the disc in the lowered support position when the lid 12 is closed on the base to press down on the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means. However, the disc supporting means is biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened. It is the disc supporting means, in conjunction with a disc 11, that pops the closed lid to a slightly open position when the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaging engaging means of the lid and mounting means respectively.

in the preferred embodiment the disc supporting means comprises four resilient fingers 41. These are integral with the tray 18 and are radially disposed about the mounting means 24. The distal ends 42 of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc 11 when placed on the mounting means. It is desirable that the distal ends 42 of the fingers 41 bear against a region of the. disc where information is not recorded or recordable. In the preferred arrangement, best shown in Figure 8A, the fingers 41 are radially disposed about the mounting means an d are inclined inwardly and upwardly from the base so that the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the central hole 25 in the disc. The fingers 41 keep the rest of the lower fare of the disc from contacting the inner face 16 of the base even when the disc supported by the fingers is moved from the raised support position to the lowered support position when the lid is moved to its closed position.

The tray 18 is formed with a substantially circular recess 43. This has adiameter a little greater than the diameter of the disc 11. The disc is located within the recess 43 at least when in its lowered support position. In its raised support position, the disc is preferably supported slightly higher than the depth of the recess (see Figure 7) to make it easier for a person to grasp the outer peripheral edge of the disc to lift it off the mounting means and to remove it from the open case. To finther facilitate the removal of the disc from the case, the recess 43 may have openings 44 in the top edge 45 and the bottom edge 46 of the base.

Figures 7, 8 and 8A show a compact disc I I on the mounting means 24 of a fully open case 10. Figures 9, 9A and 9B relate to the case when the lid is nearly but is not fiffly closed. Figures 10, 10A and IOB relate to the case when the lid is in its closed position.

Figures 11, 1 IA and 1 1B show what happens when the releasing means is actuated to allow the lid to pop open to a small extent prior to being swung to the fully open position.

12 Referring to Figure 9B, the mounting means bub sectors 30 on the arms 31 are in their raised engaging positions. The latch members 36 on the hub sectors are therefore also in their engaging positions. A disc I I is mounted on the mounting means hub comprising the -hub sectors 30 and is supported in its raised support position by the fingers 41. The lid 12 is shown sufficiently closed towards the base 15 so that the lower edges 47 of the catches 40 contact the upper edges 48 of the latch members 36.

These edges 47 and 48 (identified in Figure I IB) are bevelled to provide earn surfaces.

As the lid is pushed further downwardly towards its fully closed position, the contact between the edges 47 and 48 forces the hub sectors 30 to move in arcuate paths inwardly and downwardly until, in the fully closed position of the lid, shown in Figure I OB, the catches 40 have slid over and past the latch members 36 whereupon the hub sectors 30 move back to their engaging positions so that the latch members 36 inter- engage with the catches 40 as shown in Figure 10B to prevent the lid from being opened. During this final closing movement of the lid, the lower edge 49 of the annular flange 38 comes into contact with and presses downwardly on the uppqr face of the compact disc 11 about the central hole 25 in the disc. Thus the disc is pushed downwardly from its raised support position shown in Figure 9B to its lowered support position shown in Figure 10B. In that lowered support position, the resilient fingers 41 are bent and exert an upwards force on the disc trying to force the disc back to its raised support position. The distal ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 are accessible from outside the closed case by means of the hole 29 in the lid. As has been explained, these accessible distal ends provide the releasing means 28 of the case. When a person presses downwardly on the distal ends 32, using a finger or thumb, then, as shown in Figure 11 B the hub sectors 3 0 and their latch members 36 are again made to move through arcuate paths inwardly and downwardly from their engaging positions to their releasing positions. The latch members 36 are thereby released from engagement with the catches 40. The resilient fingers 41 are then able to push the disc 11 upwardly from the lowered support position to the raised support position, that thereby popping the lid open to a small degree. This action opens the lid sufficiently so that when the person removes his or her finger or thumb from the distal ends of the hub sectors allowing them to return their engaging positions, the latch members 36 are located below the catches 40 and so do not re-engage with the catches.

That allows the lid to be swung to a more open or fully open position. When the lid is in a sufficiently open position the compact disc I I can be gripped by its outer peripheral edge and lifted from the mounting means.

In the preferred embodiment that has been described, the lid is popped to a slightly open position on actuation of the releasing means only when a compact disc is mounted on the mounting means since it is the compact disc that tram-uni forces between the resilient fingers 41 and the lower edge 49 of the annular fi ange 38. However, the distal. ends 42 of the fingers 41 could be made to extend closer Io the mounting means hub so that these 13 are contacted by and depressed by the lower edge 49 of the annular flange 38 even when the lid is closed without a disc in the case. Such a modification enables the lid to be popped open on actuation of the releasing means even when there is no compact disc in the case, though the degree of opening is less by the thickness of the compact disc.

With this preferred embodiment of compact disc case placed on a flat surface with its closed lid uppermost, a person can, with one hand, push the releasing means, flip the lid open and lift the compact disc from the case. As shown in Figure 10B, the distal ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 do not project beyond the outer face 14 of the lid when the lid is 10 closed. That stops the case being inadvertently opened if placed lid-side down on a surface. The compact disc case can have features that are incorporated in prior art cases. For example, the lid may have lugs SO projecting inwardly from the top and bottom rims 21 is and spaced from the inner face 13 of the lid to support a leaflet, folder or booklet against the inner face of the lid. The invention can be applied to cases having a unitary base without a tray and to unitary cases where the hinge means comprises plastic binges. The invention can also be 20 applied to cases for storing more than one compact disc. For exarnple the base could be placed between two lids with each face of the base having mounting means and each lid having a hole for accessing the distal end of the respective mounting means when the lid is closed. 25 The above has described the preferred embodiment of the invention and has indicated some possible modifications. However, various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In another embodiment of the invention, it could be the engaging means of the lid which 30 is made moveable between an engaging position and a releasing position and being biased to the engaging position. For example, spring loaded latch members mounted on the inner face of the lid could snap into engagement in socket-like catches in the mounting means. In this case the releasing means could comprise a button or slide or other movable member mounted on the lid and accessible from the outer face of the lid 35 which, when moved, moves the latch members to their releasing positions. The compact disc mounted on the mounting means could be supported from the inner face of the base by one or two circular ribs on the base concentric with the mounting means. A biasing force urging the closed lid to a slightly open position could be provided by means of a leaf spring acting between the base and the lid. A problem with the 40 embodiment where the releasing means is actually mounted on the lid is that in actuating

14 the releasing means some pressure would be -applied to the lid inhibiting its popping open a little away from its closed position. That is not a problem with the preferred embodiment of the invention where the releasing means is associated with the base rather than with the lid.

Claims (30)

1. A case for a disc having a central hole, the case comprising: a lid having an inner face and an outer face; a base having an inner face and an outer face; hinge means whereby the lid is pivotally connected to the baseto be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base; mounting means projecting from the inner face of the base for mounting said disc thereto with the mounting means passing through the central hole of the disc and the plane of the disc lying subsiantially parallel to the plane of the base; engaging means associated with the mounting means and the lid respectively whereby when the lid is closed the engaging means of the lid inter-engages with the engaging means of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened, and releasing means actuatable from outside the closed case to release the intcr-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

2. A case according to claim I wherein one of the engaging means of the mounting means and the engaging means of the lid is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

3. A case according to claim 2 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the movable one of the engaging means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the movable one of the engaging means returns to its engaging position thereby inter- engaging with the other engaging means to prevent the lid from being opened.

4. A case according to claim I wherein the engaging means of the mounting means is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

S. A case according to claim 4 wherein the engaging means of the mounting means is fixedly attached to the mounting means but is movable between said engaging position and said releasing position because the mounting means is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

6. A case according to claim 4 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and an the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter engaging with the engaging means ofthe lid to provent the lid from being opened.

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7. A case according to claim 5 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means fTom its engagmg position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter engaging with the engaging means of the lid to prevent the lid from being openedL

8. A case according to claim 7 wherein a sufficient downwards pressure applied to a distal end of the mounting means causes the mounting means to move from its engaging position to its releasing position.

9. A case according to claim 8 wherein the mounting means comprises a substantially cylindrical hub mounted on'the inner face of the base and movable with at least a vertical component ofmation relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing positionof the mounting means.

10. A case according to claim 9 wherein the hub has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the central hole in.the disc.

11. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the hub is mounted at a distal end of an arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub in the raised engaging position whereby said sufficieat downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the hub causes the arm to bend and the hub to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

12. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the mounting means hub comprises a plurality of separated hub sectors, each of which is movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means.

13. A case according to claim 12 wherein each hub sector is mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directed radial arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub sector in the raised engaging position whereby said sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends of the hub sectors causes each arm to bend and each hub sqctor to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

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14. A case according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the engaging means of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of latch members projecting laterally therefrom and the engaging means of the other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of catches which respectively engage the laterally projecting latch members and prevent the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position.

15. A case according to claim 14 wherein it is the. engaging means of the mounting means that comprise said latch members, them being one latch member projecting io radially outwardly from each hub sector of the mounting means at or towards its distal end remote from the base.

16. A case according to claim 15 wherein each hub sector has a vertical channel in its outer periphery and the latch member of that hub sector is located in the channel within the outer periphery of the hub sector.

17. A case according to claim 16 wherein the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal end of the mounting means Ilub when the lid is closed, the socket having for each latch member located in a channel of a hub sector a said catch in the form of an inwardly projecting flange which as. the lid approaches its closed position bears against a cam face of the respective latch member to force the hub sector to move to its releasing position and then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub sector rem= to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the channel under the latch member thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

18. A case according to claim 17 wherein the socket is open ended thereby providing a hole through the lid which is positioned over tho mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed position whereby distal ends of the hub sectors provide said releasing means in in that they are accessible from the outer fiLce of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position interengaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be openecL

19. A case according to any one of claims 12-18 wherein the mounting means hub comprises two hub sectors.

20. A case according to any one of claims 8717 wherein there is a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal end of the mounting means provides said releasing means in that it is 18 accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move. the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

21. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base has disc supporting means for supporting the disc mounted on the mounting means in a raised support position or in a lowered support position above the inner face of the base, the disc supporting means supporting the disc in the iowered support position when the lid is 10 closed on the base to press down on the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means but being biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened.

22. A case according to claim 21 wherein the biasing of the mounted disc to the 15 raised support position causes the lid to lift from its closed position when the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means of the lid and the mounting means.

23. A case according to claim 21 or 22 wherein the disc supporting means comprises 20 a plurality of resilient fingers upwardly inclined from the base, distal ends of the fingers bearing against a lower face of the disc when placed on the mounting means.

24. A case according to claim 23 wherein the fingers are radially disposed about the mounting means and the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower fare of the disc

25 about the central hole in the disc. 25. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means has a diameter less than the diameter of the cental hole in the disc and the case can be opened and a disc'mounted an the mounting means removed from the case by use of one 30 hand, the one hand first being used to actuate the releasing means and open the lid and the same hand then being used to lift the disc, off 'the mounting means.

26. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is a multipart base comprising a tray and an outer cover -to which the tray is attached, the inner 35 face of the base consisting of an inner face of the tray.

27. A case according to claim 26 wherein the -inner face of the tray has a substantially circular recess for receiving the disc therein.

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28. A case according to claim 27 wherein the recess in the tray is open at the top 'and bottom edges of the base.

29. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the disc for which the case is designed is a compact disc.

30. A case according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.