WO2008128540A1

WO2008128540A1 - Cd lift

Info

Publication number: WO2008128540A1
Application number: PCT/DK2008/000144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Rasmussen
Original assignee: Erik Rasmussen
Priority date: 2007-04-18
Filing date: 2008-04-17
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: EP2150957A1

Abstract

This invention describes a device suitable for placement between an information storage disc such as a CD or DVD and a cover (24). The device comprises a flange (21), which may be biased such that the flange (21) urges the disc away from the cover (24) in order to prevent damage to the information stored on the disc due to twisting or scratching occurring if the disc is release by the attachment dot alone.

Description

CD lift

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of information storage discs such as compact discs and digital video discs and is particular relevant for the removal of the informa- tion storage disc from the cover.

Background of the Invention

Information storage discs such as compact discs (hereinafter called CDs) and digital video discs (hereinafter called DVDs) are increasingly popular for storage of for ex- ample computer programs, pictures, and media like audio and videos. The popularity is due to high reliability and density of the recorded information therein.

Typical CDs and DVDs have a flat circular body with a central aperture for correct mounting within read-out instruments. They are read by laser lights reflecting differ- ences in a series of holes and pits representing Os and Is of binary data. Changes in the reflection pattern is captured by a lens, converted into electrical signals and translated into data. The small size of the pits (0.5-1 μm) leads to the ability of the media for storage of a large amount of information on a limited space. Normally, CDs are capable of storing data up to 650 megabytes within a platter, while DVDs are capable of storing up to 16 gigabytes. The increased ability of DVDs for information storage is due to the fact that each platter can store up to 4.7 gigabytes because of a smaller pit size and closer track spacing. Furthermore, two platters, similar to two CDs, are glued together to make a DVD and the two platter pattern can be placed on both sides of the DVD.

Correct storage and treatment of the CDs and DVDs are critical for the ability and the reliability of the CDs and DVDs for information storage. Exposure to UV light sources such as fluorescent light or sunlight will affect a loss of information storage by reducing the reflection and deteriorate pits. Additionally, the small pit size means that scratches or grease from touching will interfere with the laser and affect the reading of the data from the discs. Furthermore, the minimal range between the tracks and espe- cially the two-platter system of the DVDs can be destroyed by twisting of CDs and DVDs.

Storage and maintenance of the CDs and DVDs are often provided by so called covers comprising a top shell hinged to a base shell, wherein the disc can be exactly located by placement of the aperture within the information disc onto the circular elevation. The circular rim of the CD or DVD is situated into a closely aligned circular depression. For release of the CD or DVD the elevation (alias attachment dot) is pushed and the CD or DVD can be removed from the case. However, the release can at times be difficult why it may be necessary to grab the CD or DVD and pull to obtain the release. This results in twisting of the CDs and DVDs as well as an increased possibility for scratches and/or touching the discs. AU of which increases the possibility for damaging the quality of the information stored on the disc.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention is to minimise the possibility for damage on CDs and DVDs by introducing a device situated below the disc, assisting with the release of the disc.

Description of the Invention

This invention describes a device suitable to be placed between an information storage disc such as a CD or DVD and a cover, where the device comprises a flange said flange may be biased such that the flange urges the disc away from the cover. During normal circumstances the release of a CD or DVD by pressing the attachment dot on the base shell of the cover leads to twisting of the disc in order to obtain proper release. The purpose of this device is to prevent this particular twisting, which with time may result in failure of information storage by damaging the platters. Urging of the disc from the base shell of the cover minimises the need for grapping and pulling of the disc.

One embodiment of the device is to add a tap integral with the flange protruding radially of the information storage disc. This enables the device to smoothly lift the CD or DVD in cooperation with pressing of the attachment dot. By the movement the operator does not touch the CD or DVD while releasing it from its base shell. Thus, the possibility of ending up with a CD or DVD smeared with finger patches or accidentally scratching the disc is largely decreased.

A further improvement of this embodiment contains at least one hook-formed holder. When the device is situated between the CD or DVD and the base shell of the cover, the holder loops around the rim of the CD or DVD without touching the disc. This means that by urging the disc away from the surface the holder(s) grip the disc in order to prevent it from jumping out of the base shell in situations where movements have been to sudden. This prevents the disc from landing at scratchy and greasy places.

An alternative embodiment of the device contains a flange with a flexible part for flipping up the storage disc. This flexible part show the same ability as a spring in the sense that by pressing down the attachment dot on the base shell the CD or DVD will be released. The flexible part, which before was cramped between the CD or DVD and the base shell now flip up the disc and leaves the disc in a more or less lifted position. Thus, the CD or DVD is easy to grip and lift from the cover without the necessity of twisting and pulling.

As a further improvement of this alternative embodiment, the flexible part can comprise a triangular rim. A triangular rim causes the flipping up of the CD or DVD to occur in a more controlled manner as well as causing the CD or DVD to be touched with an area as small as possible - the top of the triangular rim - but keeping a larger support at the base of the triangle. The larger support results in more efficient flipping mechanism caused by the larger area.

A still further improvement of the alternative embodiment contains an aperture within the flexible part and surrounds an attachment dot in the centre of the cover. By allow- ing the flexible part to cover a larger area and to surround the attachment dot a highly efficient flipping up of the CD or DVD is obtained. The aperture within the flexible part is a necessity due to the attachment dot, which secures the CD or DVD at storage. The flipping mechanism surrounding the attachment dot results in an easier and more efficient release mechanism of the CD or DVD.

A third embodiment is comprised with a flange containing a rectangular base part for attachment to the cover and a rectangular flexible part in connection hereto. This flange is easy to insert into the base shell of the cover, and still contains an efficient effect for flipping up the CD or DVD due to its rectangular shape and uninterrupted part between the flexible part and the base part.

As a further embodiment the flange is an integrated part of the cover with the flexible part protruding from the base shell of the cover. Thus, the CD or DVD box is cast integral with the flange. The flange may be of different appearances e.g. as the different embodiments already described. One large advantage of integrating the flange within the base shell of the cover is that it will be within the plane of the cover itself. Thus, the CD or DVD is not to be placed onto a small elevation, which may influence the precise position of the CD or DVD and introduce additionally edges. Both of which may scratch and twist the information storage disc in an unfortunate way.

As an advantage the device and its different embodiments may be made of rubber, metal, and/or polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinylchloride. The choice of material has to be considered with the specific features of the different embodiments. However, overall the material is to be compatible with the surface of the CDs or DVDs in the sense that scratching either at the use or during storage should be avoided. In addition, the material should not be too heavy, since the weight of the disc together with the cover is limited. Furthermore, the material should be durable since it is supposed to be used many times for each single device though it may be possible to replace it with another device over time. For the concern of the second and third embodiment mentioned, the flipping up mechanism must be sustained as well. Along with the durability of the material, the material must in addition contain an ability to be made in thin sections due to the fact that the device is to be placed within an ordinary CD or DVD cover cramped between the disc and the base shell. Making the device suitable thin makes it possible to buy the devices separately and personally install it into old along with new covers. Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the device with two hooks and a tap. Figure 2 is a side-view of the embodiment illustrated in figure 1. Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the device containing a central aperture for surrounding the attachment dot of the cover. Figure 4 is a side-view of the embodiment illustrated in figure 3. Figure 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the device situated within the base shell of the cover. Figure 6 is a side-view of the embodiment illustrated in figure 5.

Figure 7 is illustrates a fourth embodiment of the device created as an integral part of the depression within the base shell of the cover.

Figure 8 is a side-view of the embodiment illustrated in figure 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention

One embodiment of the device is illustrated in figure 1. This embodiment contains a circular flange (1) designed to fit with the size of the CD or DVD. Radially exerting from the flange (1) the device contains a tap (3) for grapping and holding during the lifting of the device. The tap (3) is slightly elevated from the flange as illustrated in figure 2, which makes it highly operator-friendly and easy to seize. In addition, the device in this embodiment contains two hook-formed holders (2), which as illustrated on figure 2 is radially situated on the flange looping up from the flange for holding the CD or DVD at place during and at the end of the lifting procedure, hi order to be placed between the disc and the base shell of the cover, the flange (1) contains an ap- errure (4) in the middle allowing the attachment dot of the base shell to be situated in here supporting correct placement of the device cramped between the disc and the base shell.

To use this device efficiently, it must be placed within the base shell of the cover situ- ated around the attachment dot through the aperture (4). The CD or DVD at choice is placed upon the device by inserting it into the hook-formed holders (2) and placing the aperture of the disc into the attachment dot leaving the tap (3) protruding radially out- side the CD or DVD. Hereafter the top shell of the cover may be closed in an ordinary fashion. For release of the CD or DVD, the top shell of the cover is opened in an ordinary fashion. The attachment dot elevating from the base shell of the cover is pressed as normally to release the CD or DVD. At the same time the tap (3) of the device is seized and lifted and in so doing releasing the CD or DVD from the base shell of the cover without the need of touching underneath or twisting the disc, thereby preventing damage of the information storage ability. The two hooked-formed holders (2) secure the CD or DVD to stay on the device and prevent it for jumping onto unwanted material if the lifting happens abruptly.

hi figure 3 is illustrated an alternative embodiment, where the flange (11) contains a base part (12) for attachment to the base shell of the cover. This base part (12) is rounded on the outside rim (17), which enables it to fit along curves often observed in the base shell of the cover. Attached to the base part (12) through attachment points (15) is a flexible part (13) of the flange. This is triangularly shaped with a rounded top (16) and a triangular aperture (14) enabling the flange to be situated over the attachment dot. In the relaxed situation the flexible part (13) of the flange (11) is lifted in an undefined angle from the plane of the base part (12) at the attachment points (15) as illustrated in figure 4.

Still, another embodiment is illustrated in figure 5. The flange consists of a base part (22) attached to the base shell of the cover (24). Uninterruptedly connected to the base part (22) is a flexible part (23). The flexible part (23) is in released position increased at an undefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis (26) of the flange (21) as illustrated in figure 6. This embodiment is a small device and is to be situated within the base shell of the cover (24) next to the attachment dot (25) and at one side alone.

The release and attachment of CDs and DVDs onto the two embodiments mentioned in figure 3-6 is to be performed as follows. The device is placed within the base shell of the cover (24) and cramped between this and the disc as it is placed ordinarily at the attachment dot thereby pressing down the flexible part of the device. At release the attachment dot (25) is pressed down and the force provided by the compressing of the flexible part of the flange is designed to be capable of flipping the CD or DVD up at a slightly inclined angle. This enables the CD or DVD to be easily grasped and released without twisting or touching the surface of the disc. In addition, the design of the flexible part is to be such that the CD or DVD at pressing the attachment dot is not flipped to an extent that flings the disc.

^' A further preferred embodiment is illustrated in figure 7. The flange is an integral part of the depression (35) within the base shell of the cover with the flexible part (31) protruding up from the depression (35). Figure 7 illustrates one way of designing the flexible part (31). However, it may be designed in different ways. For release of the CD or DVD the attachment dot (32) is pressed and the flexible part (31) of the integrated flange flips up the CD or DVD from its resting position on a ledge (33). In this preferred embodiment this results in the resting of the CD or DVD onto the outer edge (34), which results in easy release of the CD or DVD without the need of firmly grap- ping and twisting of the information storage disc. The side-view of this preferred em- bodiment as illustrated in figure 8 shows how the flexible part (31) is flipped above the attachment dot (32) when no CD or DVD is placed upon the ledge (33).

By integrating the flange into the depression (35) of the base shell the flexible part (31) functions as an integral part of the cover and leaves no need for additional fixa- tion of the device. This prevents the risk of loosing the device. Furthermore, integration of the device results in avoiding supplementary heights and edges as a result of the additionally inserted device, which minimises eventually risks of scratching the CD or DVD.

For all of the embodiments described above it may be possible that the device is an integrated part of the base shell cover. However, it could also be distributed separately. If the device is not an integrated part of the cover it has to be individually placed. For the sake of the devices described in figure 3-6 containing a base part the device could be designed with for example double-sided tape which makes handling and installa- tion of separate devices quick and easy.

Claims

1. Device suitable to be placed between an information storage disc such as a CD or DVD and a cover, where the device comprises a flange said flange may be biased such that the flange urges the disc away from the cover.

2. Device according to claim I₅ characterised in that a tap integral with the flange protrudes radially away from the information storage disc.

3. Device according to claim 1-2, characterised in that the device contains at least one hook-formed holder.

4. Device according to claim I₅ characterised in that the flange contains a flexible part for flipping up the storage disc.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the flexible part comprises a triangular rim.

6. Device according to claim 4-5, characterised in that the flexible part contains an aperture and surrounds an attachment dot in the centre of the cover.

7. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the flange comprises a rectangular base part for attachment to the cover and a rectangular flexible part in connection hereto.

8. Device according to claim 4-7, characterised in that the flange is an integrated part of the cover.

9. Device according to claim 1-8, characterised in that the device is made of rub- ber and/or metal and/or polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or poly- vinylchloride.