WO2000038189A2

WO2000038189A2 - Storage media disc holder

Info

Publication number: WO2000038189A2
Application number: PCT/SG1999/000152
Authority: WO
Inventors: Swee Keng Lim; Cheng Siong Tee
Original assignee: Fu Yu Manufacturing Limited
Priority date: 1998-11-12
Filing date: 1999-11-12
Publication date: 2000-06-29
Also published as: WO2000038189A3

Abstract

The present storage media disc holder (30) features a sloping wedge (32) for receiving and guiding any disc without scratching its surfaces, a clip (44) extending laterally for retaining the stored disc securely, and a hook (36) for facilitating the viewing and retrieving of the stored disc. As the wedge (32) consumes less raw material than the trays of other storage media holders, the present storage media disc holder (30) is light weight and allows the consumer to handle the entire subassembly easily. In combination with the clip (11), the present storage media disc holder (30) also alleviates any worry that the disc would fall out accidentally.

Description

STORAGE MEDIA DISC HOLDER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage devices and organisers. In particular, the present invention pertains to accessories for handling and retrieving storage media discs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The convergence of information technology and digital technology has transformed the way consumers store useful information. In the past, consumers store audio information such as music and compositions on cassette tapes. Likewise, consumers record video information such as movies on video tapes. Meanwhile, digital information such as software were distributed on magnetic diskettes. Advances in opto-magneto technology and efforts among manufacturers to standardise the storage media have encouraged consumers to adopt storage media discs formatted as CD-ROM, Video-CD and DVD.

It is anticipated that consumers' multimedia storage requirements will be in standardised storage media disc formats. While storage media disc can store large amounts of information, the absolute number of storage media disc each consumer or business possess will increase dramatically in the future as information providers and generators deliver their products and services on storage media discs either directly or via the internet.

Hitherto storage media discs are distributed in jewel boxes. Jewel boxes consume large amount of packaging material and add considerably to the overall thickness dimension of the storage media discs. The principal advantage of jewel boxes is its ability to protect the storage media discs from accidental scratching of the external surfaces of such discs.

Lately, storage media disc holders are introduced to consumers to address the organisation and retrieval of storage media disc. Although most of the storage media disc holders economise on the overall storage space of consumers' growing collection discs, they are difficult to use and prone to scratching the surfaces of storage media discs.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage media disc holder which is easy to use and scratch proof whenever one handles a disc.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a storage media disc which consumes least amount of raw material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage system for the easy indexing, viewing and handling of storage media discs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present storage media disc holder features a sloping wedge for receiving and guiding any disc without scratching its surfaces, a clip extending laterally for retaining the stored disc securely, and a hook for facilitating the viewing and retrieving of the stored disc. As the wedge consumes less raw material than the trays of other storage media holders, the present storage media disc holder is light weight and allows the consumer to handle the entire subassembly easily. In combination with the clip, the present storage media disc holder also alleviates any worry that the disc would fall out accidentally. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1 shows a prior art storage media disc holder having a tray surface which is flushed with the disc when the latter is stored therein.

FIG. 2A is a top, plan elevational view of the storage media disc holder of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross section, elevational view according to section A-A where the sloping wedge is highlighted.

FIG. 2C is a bottom plan elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 2D is a top, perspective, elevational view of the storage media disc holder of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the storage media disc holder where multiple storage media discs are stored.

FIG. 4 illustrates a storage system for holding multiple storage media discs of the present invention where the consumer can index and view the labels of the stored discs easily. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1 shows a prior art storage media disc holder 10 having a tray surface 26 which is flushed with a storage media disc 5 when the latter is stored therein. The holder 10 usually has a semi circular tray area 12 which has an uniform cross sectional area over the entire tray. Not only does it make the holder 10 heavy, the flush surface 26 tends to scratch the surface of the disc 5 as the consumer takes it in and out of the holder 10. Over time, the quality of replay of the disc 5 deteriorates as scratches over its surface accumulate.

The prior art holder 10 features a semi circular wall 18 which has over its top edge retainers 20, 22, and 24 respectively for retaining the disc within the holder. A handle 14 with a through hole 16 is also disposed on the external edge of the wall 18 for coupling with a storage system (not shown in FIG. 1) for organising a collection of storage media discs. It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the handle 14 requires the consumer to unscrew the bolt threaded through the hole 16 before the handle 10 can be removed.

FIG. 2A is a top, plan elevational view of the storage media disc holder 30 of the present invention. The holder 30 comprises a wedge 32 which terminates with a quasi circular wall 38, a handle 34 which terminates in a hook 36, at least two retainers 40 and 42, and a clip 44. In contrast with tray area 12 of prior art storage media disc holder 10 in FIG. 1 , the wedge 32 is contoured to take up less area than the tray. In fact, the wedge is shaped such that the front edge of a storage media disc (not shown in FIGS. 2A - 2D) will always touch a landing area 46 on the wedge 32 before the other parts of the same disc contact the retainers 40 and 42. This is possible because the wedge 32 is sloped at an angle as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The advantage of featuring the sloping wedge 32 as compared to larger and flat tray area 12 of the prior art holder is that consumer will be able guide any storage media disc into the holder 30 without much effort. The prior art holder 10 in FIG. 1 requires consumers to aim for the opposing retainers 20 and 24 simultaneously before one can insert the disc into the holder. It is well known that a coplanar insertion of a disc into a holder is always more difficult because it requires superior hand and eye coordination. On the other hand, the holder 30 with the sloping wedge 32 of the present invention permits less skillful consumers to insert storage media disc into the holder by first letting the front edge of a disc contact the landing area 46, lowering and guiding the disc such that it can be inserted between the retainers 40 and 42.

Again in FIG. 2A, the storage media disc holder 30 of the present invention has the handle 34 for consumer to handle disc conveniently and without touch physically the surface thereof. As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the handle 34 terminates in the hook 36 for easy removing and insertion of the holder and disc assembly into a storage system 80 as better shown in FIG. 4. Finally, on the top edge of the wall 38 are disposed two retainers 40 and 42 for minimising the traverse movements of the stored disc (not shown in FIGS. 2A - 2D). Extending laterally from the quasi circular wall 38 and the retainer 42 is the clip 44. Preferably the tip of the clip 44 extends pass a imaginary semi circular dividing line (not shown in FIGS. 2A - 2D) of the stored disc (also not shown in FIGS. 2A - 2D) such that its exerts a retaining force laterally onto the edge of the disc. The clip 44 permits consumer to use the holder 30 with the storage disc (not shown in FIGS. 2A - 2D) without worrying the disc will drop out accidentally. Although the clip 44 is shown in FIGS 2A - 2D to be located on the upper edge of the quasi circular wall 38, one skilled in the art should understand that it could be located at the lower edge of the quasi circular wall. Furthermore, the quasi circular wall 38 may be substituted with a retaining post, for example.

FIGS. 2B - 2D are alternate views of the storage media disc holder 30 of the present invention. It should be appreciated that holder 30 consumes less raw material in its production than prior art holders. As such, it is light in weight and allows the consumer better control in handling the stored discs. Although FIGS. 2A - 2D show an embodiment of the storage media disc holder capable of storing one disc, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that the disc holder 30 can be modified to store multiple discs. For example, FIG. 3 discloses a cross section elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a storage media disc holder 50 where multiple storage media discs 65 are stored therein at the same time. This second embodiment is suitable for storing Video CD titles which usually come in dual discs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a storage system 80 for holding multiple storage media discs of the present invention where the consumer can index and view the labels of the stored discs easily. The system 80 comprises a top and bottom cover 82 and 84 respectively, and a rod 86 for accommodating multiple storage media disc holders 30. It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the system 80 may be expand to accommodate more storage media discs and also be stacked on top of one another.

While the present invention has been described particularly with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 with emphasis on a storage media disc holder and a system for storing and retrieving such disc easily, it should be understood that the figures are for illustration only and should not be taken a limitation on the invention. In addition, it is clear that the disc holder and system of the present invention have utility in many applications where organisation of storage media discs is required. It is contemplated that many changes and modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as described.

Claims

1. A storage media disc holder for storing at least one storage media disc, said holder comprising: a wedge for guiding a storage media disc into said holder without touching the surfaces of said disc; a wall peripheral to said wedge for retaining lengthwise said storage media disc in said holder; at least one retainer disposed on the top edge of said wall for retaining orthogonally said storage media disc in said holder; and a chip extending from one end of said wall and pass an imaginary semi circular dividing line for further retaining said storage media disc in said holder, whereby said holder permits consumer to handle storage media discs securely.

2. The storage media disc holder as in claim 1 wherein said wedge has a slope from said wall to its outer edge.

3. The storage media disc holder as in claim 1 wherein said clip has a tip for exerting pressure on the edge of said storage media disc.

4. A storage media disc holder for storing at least one storage media disc comprising: a wedge for guiding a storage media disc into said holder without touching the surfaces of said disc; a wall peripheral to said wedge for retaining lengthwise said storage media disc in said holder; at least one retainer disposed on the top edge of said wall for retaining orthogonally said storage media disc in said holder; a handle coupled to said wall for permitting consumer to handle said storage media disc without touching surfaces thereof; and a chip extending from one end of said wall and pass an imaginary semi circular dividing line for further retaining said storage media disc in said holder, whereby said holder permits consumer to handle storage media discs securely.

5. The storage media disc holder as in claim 4 wherein said wedge has a slope from said wall to its outer edge.

6. The storage media disc holder as in claim 4 wherein said clip has a tip for exerting pressure on the edge of said storage media disc.

7. The storage media disc holder as in claim 4 wherein said handle terminates in a hook for engaging and disengaging said holder.

8. The storage media disc holder as in claim 7 wherein said hook is a through hole.

9. A system for storing and retrieving at least one storage media disc, said system comprising: a container for protecting said storage media disc; a rod disposed traversely across said container for receiving at least one storage media disc holder; at least one storage media disc holder for storing at least storage media disc therein, said holder further comprising a wedge for guiding a storage media disc into said holder without touching the surfaces of said disc; a wall peripheral to said wedge for retaining lengthwise said storage media disc in said holder; at least one retainer disposed on the top edge of said wall for retaining orthogonally said storage media disc in said holder; a handle coupled to said wall for permitting consumer to handle said storage media disc without touching surfaces thereof; and a chip extending from one end of said wall and pass an imaginary semi circular dividing line for further retaining said storage media disc in said holder.