CN1399779A - CD disc container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus or container for a compact disc having a central support portion for holding the disc through a central aperture. The central support portion has a plurality of inwardly directed radial arms which are recessed toward the inner end thereof. Each arm includes a raised middle portion that includes ribs, lips or the like to engage the disc. In addition, the bearing member supports the lower surface of the disk around the central aperture on the non-data loading portion of the disk adjacent to the aperture. The disk is firmly held between these two contact points.

Description

CD disc container

technical field

The invention relates to an optical disc container for video disc, audio disc or digitized video disc.

Background technique

There are currently several types of optical disc containers on the market. The general construction of such a container consists of an outer plastic container and a tray or bottom on which the disc rests.

The disc itself is provided with a central aperture through which several rosettes are used to position the disc.

The difficulty with this type of rosette is that the disc cannot be easily removed. Again, several mechanisms for this purpose have been disclosed, one of which is US Patent 5,788,068. In this device, an inwardly facing radial arm forms a button on its inner end. The outer periphery of the button is provided with a lip or similar projection on which the disc can be pressed in place. When the button is depressed, the radial arms move down and inward to reduce the diameter of the button to loosen the disc.

The article disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,788,068 relies on the flexing of the disc to facilitate removal. The lip on the knob holding the disc deforms the disc towards the bottom until the diameter is reduced enough to allow the disc to loosen. Although the flexing of the disc will cause the disc to snap to the top of the button, such treatment of the disc can be detrimental in the long run.

A mechanism generally similar to that in US Patent No. 5,788,068 relies on resistance against downward movement of the outer edge of the disc, so the disc flexes between the outer edge and the central aperture. Although there is a considerable clearance area adjacent to the central aperture that is not loaded with machine-readable data, this data is loaded towards the outer edge of the disc, so there is a risk of scratching the disc adjacent to the outer edge of this configuration. Figure 10 in US Patent No. 5,788,068 shows the walls around the angle of the outer perimeter abutting the outer edge of the disc.

Another form of optical disc container is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,874,085. In this container, the disc is supported on a region adjoining a central hole through the disc. Furthermore, there is no need to avoid contact with the periphery of the disc even if the outer edge of the disc is marked by contact with the container.

A disadvantage of the article disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,874,085 is that there is no simple means to drive the disc away from its connection to the central support. For example, as shown in Figure 9 of that patent, upstanding fingers are provided to support the disc on the underlying surface, and these fingers are only movable radially inwardly. Such a disc must be pulled away from these fingers, and unless the whole unit is bent, no downward motion of any fingers will allow the disc to be driven to the top of the fingers. When the base is on a hard surface, such as a table top or the like, it is not possible to move the fingers in a downward direction, so the disc must be pulled upwards past the support.

Another optical disc container is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,526,926. In this patent, the intermediate support includes an actuatable spring pin. The spring pin has a radially outward extension which rises to assist the disc drive out of the contact position when the central support is depressed.

Devices such as those disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,526,926 have a number of disadvantages, including difficulty maintaining consistent movement in the spring pins after multiple uses. The spring pin rests on a small pivot below the pin and cannot forcefully contact the disc. Therefore, the disc can easily come off the center support, especially when the container is dropped. Spring pins are expensive and difficult to manufacture.

Another difficulty with many known devices is that when the container is inadvertently dropped, the disc can loosen and move around the interior of the container causing serious damage to the disc, especially if the disc container is dependent on the flexing of the disc for loosening. open, as dropping the container will only cause the disc to bend and dent the relevant part.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc container which overcomes some of the problems of the prior art, or at least provides a practical alternative.

Thus, according to a first feature, the invention is a device for supporting a disc with a central aperture, comprising:

- generally flat bottom;

- the central support supports the disc substantially parallel to the bottom and separate from the bottom;

- the central support consists of several radial elements, with their ends forming a recessable portion, fixed at an outer radial end to the base;

- the radial element comprises a raised portion in the middle of the ends, which is substantially transverse to the plane of the bottom element;

- an upper edge of the outward projection on the raised portion forms a ring larger than the periphery of the central hole of the disc, supporting the disc when mounted over the upper edge;

- the circumference of the ring is reduced by the compression of the compressible portion formed by the inner end of the radial element, so that when depressed, the disc can be loosened on the ring; and

- bearing means around the central support, which bearing means against the non-data area comprises the lower surface portion of the disc when the disc is supported by the central support.

Description of drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device in a closed state;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 in an open state;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a central support according to an embodiment of the device;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the central support portion;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another central support part;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the central support portion of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another central support part;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the central support portion;

Fig. 9 is an embodiment of the device of the present invention, wherein a disc is positioned and supported by a central support portion;

Figure 10 is a cross-section of the device of Figure 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of the device of FIGS. 9 and 10 with the disc released.

Detailed ways

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is an optical disc container or device to support a disc 1 . Basically, the device is provided with an outer box 2 , usually made like a book box, provided with spines 3 as hinges for the top and bottom lids of the container 1 .

Referring to Figure 2, the device or container 1 is in an open state. The top cover 2 is rotated to an open position around the spinous protrusion 3 , while the bottom cover 4 in the figure includes a central supporting portion 5 . Other features can be provided in the container, such as support means 6, to support a booklet or other information about the disc in the container.

Referring to Figure 2, the central support 5 can be seen raised relative to the bottom 7, and the central support 5 is used to hold a disc through the central aperture provided on this disc.

The central support portion 5 will be described with a first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 .

The central support portion 5 can be seen to comprise several inwardly directed radial portions or elements 8 . These radial portions have an inner end 9 which jointly forms a recessable portion 10 with the inner end 9 .

Each radial element 8 forms a recessable portion 10 by having a free end on an inner end 9 . Although the preferred embodiment describes them as the free ends of the respective radial elements 8, it should be understood that some form of integral connection between them is possible, as long as an integrally formed joint or joint between the respective free ends 9 Other joints do not inhibit the ability of these ends 9 to be recessed and can be moved inwards and downwards.

Each radial element 8 is substantially fixed at an outer end 11 and each radial element 8 is made of a material suitable to allow the element 8 to bend to some extent about its substantially fixed end 11 when pressure is applied to the free end 9 .

Intermediate the fixed end 11 and the free end 9 on each radial element 8 is a raised portion 12 which is substantially transverse to the plane surrounding the base element 7 . This lifting portion 12 is provided on a stage on the radial arm 8 between the fixed end 11 and the inner end 9 so that the inner end 9 is lifted on the end of the radial element 8 advancing towards the fixed end 11 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , a bearing unit 14 is provided around the central support portion 5 . The bearing device 14 is used to support the lower surface of the disc maintained on the central supporting part 5 . The size of the central aperture on the disc is quite standard to precisely determine the size of the central support 5, and the bearing means 14 are used to support the disc around the central aperture. Radially outwardly from its central aperture there is an unloaded data space on the disc. In most cases, most of the data loading area is closer to the outer edge of the disc.

Bearing assembly 14 is used to support an unloaded portion adjacent the central aperture.

As shown in this embodiment, bearing means 14 is a continuous concentric ring around a central support. Of course, such a bearing device 14 does not have to be circular in a plane around the central axis of the support part 5, but a circular shape is preferred. Similarly, it does not need to be continuous and can be partially provisioned intermittently if desired. Preferably at least enough sections are provided to support the disc, for example three or four separation points around the central support 5 .

Referring to Fig. 4, a cross-section of the central support portion 5 is shown.

It can be seen that the raised portion 12 ends in an upper edge 15 before self-inwardly progressing towards the inner end 9 . The dimensions around the upper edge 15 of the radial element 8 are slightly larger than the inner diameter of the disc. A standard disc has a central hole of about 15mm diameter and the disc has to be pushed across the upper edge 15 to position it. When the inner ends 9 are movable relative to each other, the disc can simply be pushed on the upper edge 15 when the radial elements are loosened to their normal state, as some inward movement is regulated by the radial arms 8, while The slightly larger diameter of the upper edge 15 holds the disc.

Although the slightly increased diameter of the upper edge 15 can be provided at a slightly outward angle to the raised portion 12, preferably a lip 16 is provided around the upper edge 15, the bottom 12 being generally in its normal configuration as Transverse to the bottom 7.

Each radial arm 8 is configured in cross-section to include a first end 17 , the free end 9 advancing towards the lift 12 . The lifting portion 12 forms an intermediate portion of the arm 8 . What remains is a third portion 18 adjoining the fixed end 11 of the arm 8 .

The disc is held under the lip or rib 16 and supported on the bearing means 14, but does not contact the rest of the arm 8, the third portion 18 being generally transverse to the bottom member 7, or even a little downwards. The angle proceeds from the fixed end 11 towards the middle part 12 which is substantially transverse to the bottom element 7 . Since the first portion 17 is within the central aperture of the disc, its configuration need not be too restrictive. As shown in this embodiment, this part is raised slightly towards the free end 9 to provide for a slightly raised recessable button-like element cooperating with the other free end 9 .

To maintain the disc under the lip or rib 16 , several surfaces 19 can be used on the lower surface of the lip or rib 16 . In this embodiment, a curved surface 19 is provided against which the upper edge of the central hole of the disc is positioned. This curved surface is preferably at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees to the bottom element 7 and is configured such that the upper edge of the face 19 is on the radial edge of the face 19 facing outwards from the central axis 20 .

Another embodiment of the central support portion 5 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 .

In this embodiment, the configuration as shown in FIG. 5 is substantially the same as the above-described embodiment. Likewise, several elements 8 are provided with a fixed end 11 , a free end 9 and a generally transverse intermediate portion 12 to form a step on radial elements 8 .

The difference between this embodiment and the previous ones is clearly shown in FIG. 6 . The difference lies in the formation of the lip or rib around the upper edge 15 . Instead of providing the aforementioned curved surface 19 , this embodiment provides circular upper and lower portions of the lip 16 . The corners can be, for example, the upper corner 22 a corner with a radius of 1 mm and the lower corner 21 a sharper corner with a radius of eg 0.5 mm.

All of the preceding embodiments are provided with a reduced thickness element 8 at the portion 23 as shown in FIG. 6 . This portion of reduced thickness is provided to increase the flexibility of the element 8 and is positioned adjacent to the fixed end 11 .

As shown in these preferred embodiments, the reduced size of the element 8 adjacent to the fixed end 11 can be achieved by providing grooves on both sides of the element 8, but alternatively, a single groove or groove can be provided on one side. Reduced department.

FIG. 6 shows that the element 8 is fixed at a point on the plane of the base element 7 . The element is fixed at the fixed end 11 to a surrounding upstanding wall 24 , the top of which is also provided with bearing means 14 . This is done for simplicity, but the bearing 14 can also be provided separately if desired. By fixing the element 8 on the plane of the bottom element 7 there will be enough space under the element 8 to accommodate the recess of the inner end 9 and the rotation of the element 8 about the fixed end 11 . If the container is placed on a hard surface under the bottom cover 4, it is necessary to accommodate a downward movement of the radial element 8, which in this preferred embodiment can be achieved by fixing the element 8 on the surface of the bottom 7. do it.

Another embodiment of the central support part 5 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 . In this embodiment, the top rib or lip of the raised portion 12 is provided by an outward protrusion 27 . This protrusion does not have to extend over the entire length of the upper edge 15 of the element 8 .

To facilitate the formation of the protrusion 27 and increase the distance it can protrude, an aperture 26 may be provided under the protrusion 27 . This aperture 26 facilitates the addition of a surface to the tool used to manufacture the product forming the lower surface 19 as shown in FIG. 8 and improves the formation of the protrusions 27 .

The operation of the container 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , the central portion 5 can be seen to support a disc 30 such that it remains under the lip or rib 16 and rests on the bearing means 14 . Otherwise, the disc 30 can be separated from the base 7 .

Upon application of a downward force on the inner end 9 of the element 8 as indicated by the arrow 31 , the element 8 will rotate inwards and outwards about the fixed end 11 . Although the disc 30 has a tendency to bend or move away towards the bottom 7, the bearing arrangement 14 resists this movement and allows the element 8 to be depressed across the inner edge 32 of the central aperture in the disc.

After pressing across the edge 32, the force 31 can be released and the natural elasticity of the element 8 can lift the disc 30 as the central part 5 rises in the direction of the arrow 33. The disc 30 can now rest on top of the lip or rib 16 .

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that a peripheral support portion 34 may be provided around the disc. However, because the holding and loosening action of the disc 30 does not involve support of the disc around its outer edge, the peripheral portion 34 may be provided purely to assist in bottom supporting the disc on a flat surface. Although the peripheral portion need not support the disc against the downward pressure indicated by the arrow in Figure 9, it may be provided with lateral support. Peripheral portion 34 may rest only against the outer edge of the disc, and if desired, may not contact the lower surface of the disc at all. In another embodiment, the outer support portion 34 may be omitted entirely.

If an outer support 34 is provided as shown in FIG. 2, grooves 35 may be provided around this peripheral support to allow fingers to contact the edge of the disc to assist in lifting the disc when released from the central portion 9. platter.

When crafting this item, several materials can be used. Basically, such a container is molded in plastic material, generally by injection molding, but it can also be made as a single item. In this way, preferably the element 8 is provided with some flexibility or elasticity, so that it deforms as shown in FIG. 8 .

It will then be appreciated that the invention allows the disc to be maintained on the central support 5 between lips or ribs on the arm 8 with the underlying bearing means being substantially a concentric ring 14 . The use of a common central ring 14 also provides a connection point for the radial elements 8 to rise from the bottom 7 to accommodate the downward movement of the arms.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in terms of specific embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Reference herein to specific elements should be construed to include known equivalents, and the singular elements herein may include the plural.

Component designation comparison

1, 30…discs

2…outer box

3…protrusion

4…bottom cover

5…Central Support Department

7...bottom

8…radial elements

9...inner end

10...Depressed part

11...fixed end

12...Lifting Department

14…Bearing device

15…upper edge

16...rib

18...Part Three

19...face

20...central axis

23... part

27…Protrusion

32…inner edge

34…Peripheral Support Department

Claims (7)

1. A device for supporting an optical disc with a central aperture, comprising: - generally flat bottom; - the central support supports the disc substantially parallel to the bottom and separate from the bottom; - the central support consists of several radial elements, with their ends forming a recessable portion, fixed at the outer radial end to the bottom; - the radial element comprises a raised portion in the middle of the ends, which is substantially transverse to the plane of the bottom element; - the upper edge of the outward projection on the raised portion forms a ring larger than the periphery of the central hole of the disc, supporting the disc when mounted over the upper edge; - the circumference of the ring is reduced by the compression of the compressible portion formed by the inner end of the radial element, so that when depressed, the disc can be loosened on the ring; and - bearing means around the central support, which bearing means against the non-data area comprises the lower surface portion of the disc when the disc is supported by the central support. 2. An apparatus for supporting an optical disc as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprises a generally circular upstanding portion substantially transverse to the plane of the base member and substantially concentric with the central support portion . 3. The device for supporting an optical disc as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radial member is fixed to the inner wall of the upright portion at its outer radial end. 4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixed end of the radial member is fixed to the inner wall of the upright portion at a point on the plane of the bottom member. 5. The device for supporting an optical disc as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring formed with the outer edge on the raised portion or toward the outer protrusion is formed by the outer protrusion adjacent to the outer edge of the raised portion Department formed. 6. The device for supporting an optical disc as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the lower surface of the outer protrusion against which the upper inner edge of the disc rests is prepared to have an outer edge whose height from the base member is higher than The height of the bottom element to the inner edge. 7. The device for supporting an optical disc as claimed in claim 6, wherein the curved surface is provided at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the plane of the base member.

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