WO2004097801A2

WO2004097801A2 - Disc protector

Info

Publication number: WO2004097801A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/037932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johnny L. Brown
Original assignee: Brown Johnny L
Priority date: 2003-04-25
Filing date: 2003-11-26
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Also published as: AU2003297576A8; AU2003297576A1; WO2004097801A3

Abstract

An optical media disc (10) protector comprising a transparent plastic disc (2, 20) formed in a substantially circular configuration with a center-hole (12). In one embodiment a water-soluble temporary adhesive (4 and 6), applied to one side of the plastic disc (2) at both the inner ring adjacent to the center-hole (12) and the peripheral outer ring, secures the plastic disc (2) to the optical media disc (10). In another embodiment, pressure-sensitive temporary adhesive strips (22) secure the plastic disc (20) to the media disc (10). The laser of a conventional optical disc player can read the contents of an optical media disc (10) through the plastic disc (2, 20). If a disc protector is damaged, it can easily be removed and replaced.

Description

DISC PROTECTOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs),

and more particularly, to a scratch protector for CDs and DVDs that does not inhibit playback

of the information stored on the disc.

BACKGROUND ART

A common problem with CDs and DVDs is that the surface of the disc may be easily

scratched and marred from repeated handling and dropping, etc. When the surface of the disc

is scratched, the disc tends to skip when it is read by a laser in a CD or DVD player. Some

discs are inadvertently damaged so badly that they can no longer be read by a CD and/or

DVD player. When a scratched or marred CD/DVD disc is no longer readable, the disc is

usually thrown away because it is useless.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new and improved apparatus and

method for protecting the read surface of CDs and DVDs.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus

and

method for protecting the read surface of CDs, DVDs, and all optical disc storage media.

In accordance with the foregoing object, an optical media disc protector and method of use are provided. The disc protector comprises a rigid transparent plastic disc

formed in a substantially circular configuration with a center-hole, and a temporary

adhesive applied to one side of said plastic disc for removable bonding with a media

disc.

In one embodiment, water-soluble adhesive is applied to one side of the optical

media disc protector, such as in an inner ring around the center-hole, and a peripheral

outer ring. A protective removable backing may be supplied over the temporary adhesive

to protect it until application. This embodiment is used by removing the backing and

applying the disc protector to cover the read side of the optical media, using the

temporary adhesive to bond, thereby shielding the read side. The laser of a conventional

player can read the contents of the optical disk through the disc protector. The disc

protector absorbs any nicks or scrapes that would otherwise affect the performance of the

disc. If the disc protector is damaged, it can be removed from the optical media by

immersion in water.

In another embodiment, the transparent plastic disc is formed in a substantially

circular configuration with a center-hole and a plurality of axial tabs protruding from

about its periphery. The temporary pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of

each of the tabs, and a removable backing may be supplied to protect the adhesive until

application. This embodiment is used by removing the backing and applying the disc

protector to cover the read side of the optical media, folding the tabs over the media and

using the temporary adhesive to bond the disc protector thereto, thereby shielding the

read side. Again, the laser of a convention player can read the contents of the optical

disk through the disc protector. If the disc protector is damaged, it can be removed from

the optical media by unhooking the temporary-adhesive tabs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more

apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and

certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in

which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disc protector 2 in accordance with a first

embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the disc protector 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a disc protector 20 in accordance with an alternative

embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and improved apparatus and method for protecting

the

read surface of CDs, DVDs, and all optical disc storage media.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a transparent protective

cover 2 for the read surface 10 of a conventional CD, DVD or other optical storage

media. The transparent cover 2 is preferably formed of plastic, however, other materials

such as scratch resistant glass may be used and still fall within the spirit and scope of the

present invention. Rigid transparent plastic material is suitable such as polycarbonate,

acrylic or other of various polymers.

The protective cover 2 is circular and substantially identical in size to a CD/DVD

except it is preferably half the thickness of the CD/DVD. Conventional CD and DVDs have a substrate diameter of 120mm, and a thickness of 1.2mm. Thus, the protective

cover 2 is approximately 120mm wide and 0.6mm thick. At this thickness, the protective

cover 2 will not inhibit the ability of the CD or DVD to be read in an appropriate player.

Moreover, the transparent properties of the cover 2 enable the laser to still be able to read

the information stored on the disc. The protective cover 2 is formed with a center hole

12 corresponding to that of the disc.

The protective cover 2 is preferably removable so that if the protective cover

becomes scratched or marred to the point that the disc skips or is no longer readable, the

protective cover is damaged and not the actual CD/DVD. A new protective cover 2 can

then be applied to the disc.

The present invention contemplates two methods for applying the removable

protective cover 2 to a disc, as discussed in more detail below. However, other methods

for applying and removing the disc may be contemplated in the future and still fall within

the spirit and scope of this invention.

According to a first embodiment, the protective cover 2 is applied to the read side

10 of the CD/DVD with an adhesive 4, 6, which is preferably a transparent water soluble

adhesive. A variety of suitable water soluble transparent adhesives are commercially

available, water dispersed polyurethane resin being one example. The protective cover 2

may be manufactured with the water soluble adhesive 4, 6 spread over the side of the

protective cover 2 that will face the read side 10 of the disc. Particularly, a first ring of

adhesive 4 may be placed around the center hole 12, and a second ring of adhesive 6 may

be placed continuously or at multiple points around the outer circumference of the protective cover 2. The protective cover 2 may further include a thin plastic film backing that covers the adhesive until the user is ready to apply the cover to a disc, similar to a self-adhesive postage stamp. Once the adhesive surfaces 4, 6 are exposed, the protective cover 2 is gently pressed together with the disc. For ease of use and accuracy, either the protective cover 2 or the disc may be placed in a disc holder or jewel case while the other component is pressed against it. This method leaves little room for error when aligning the center holes on the components.

In use, when a protected CD/DVD becomes scratched or marred to the point that it is no longer readable by a CD/DVD player, it is relatively easy to replace the damaged protective cover 2. The protected CD/DVD is simply placed in water, which dissolves the water soluble adhesive 4, 6. After the adhesive is completely dissolved, the protective cover separates from the disc. The old cover 2 may simply be thrown away. Once the disc is rinsed and dried, a new protective cover 2 may be applied to the read side of the disc.

In a second embodiment the disc protector includes a plastic disc 20 with a plurality of axial tabs 26 protruding from its periphery. For securing the protective cover to an optical disc, temporary adhesive strips 22 are applied to one side of each tab 26, as shown in FIG. 3. The adhesive strips 22 for this method need not be water-soluble. Rather, they can be any type of removable adhesive strips such as 3M™ brand Removable Repositionable Tape strips. While four adhesive strips 22 are shown, the present invention contemplates that any number of adhesive strips 22 may be used.

The adhesive strips are affixed to the protective cover 20 and have a plastic film or paper backing 24 that may be peeled away to expose the adhesive. The strips 22 are pulled over the top of the disc and gentle pressure is applied to ensure that the adhesive strips 22 are in contact with the disc. The tabs 26 with the adhesive strips 22 are preferably long

enough to wrap over the edge of the disc but short enough to keep from interfering with

the read side of the disc. As before, a disc holder (or jewel case) may be used for accuracy when aligning the disc and the protective cover.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as

certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying

concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disc surface of CDs and DVDs is easily scratched from handling and

dropping, etc. When the surface of an optical disc is scratched, the disc may either skip

or ultimately be unreadable by the laser of a conventional disk player. The present

invention provides a disc protector for CDs and DVDs. Currently, there are no devices

that protect optical disks once they are removed from conventional protective jackets.

For example, such disks are subject to scratches and damage when transferred to and

from conventional protective jacket and when being played. The present invention

provides an apparatus for continuously protecting an optical disc by allowing the laser of

a conventional player to read the contents of the disk through the disc protector. If the

disc protector is damaged, it can be removed from the disk by unhooking the temporary-

adhesive tabs and simply replaced.

Claims

I claim:

1. An optical media disc protector, comprising a transparent plastic disc formed

in a substantially circular configuration with a center-hole, and a temporary adhesive

applied to one side of said plastic disc for removable bonding with a media disc.

2. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1, wherein said temporary

adhesive comprises water-soluble adhesive.

3. The optical media disc protector according to claim 2, wherein said water-

soluble adhesive comprises water dispersed polyurethane resin.

4. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1 , wherein said temporary

adhesive is applied in a first ring around the center-hole of said disc, and in a second ring

around a periphery of said disc.

5. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1, wherein said transparent

plastic disc is approximately 120mm wide and 0.6mm thick.

6. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1, further comprising a

protective removable backing over said temporary adhesive.

7. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1, wherein said temporary

adhesive comprises temporary pressure-sensitive adhesive.

8. The optical media disc protector according to claim 1 , wherein said

transparent plastic disc is formed in a substantially circular configuration with a center-

hole and a plurality of axial tabs protruding from its periphery, and said temporary

pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of each of said tabs.

9. A method of protecting optical media using a disc protector formed from a

transparent plastic disc in a substantially circular configuration with a center-hole, and a

temporary adhesive applied to one side of said plastic disc for removable bonding with a

media disc, comprising the steps of:

applying said disc protector to a read side of the optical media using said

temporary adhesive to shield said read side.

10. The method of protecting optical media using a disc protector formed from a

temporary water-soluble adhesive applied to one side of said plastic disc for removable

bonding with a media disc, comprising the steps of:

applying said disc protector to a read side of the optical media using said

temporary adhesive to shield said read side; and

removing said disc protector from said optical media by immersion in water.