DE20017199U1 - Data carrier - Google Patents

Description

MAYWALD

Munich ■ Hamburg

Patent attorneys

Dr. Walter Maiwald (Munich) Dr. Volker Hamm (Hamburg) Dr. Stefan Michalski (Munich) Dr. Regina Neuefeind (Munich)

Lawyer

Stephan N. Schneller (Munich)

In co-operation with:

Dr. Schmidt-Felzmann & Kozianka Attorneys at Law

(Hamburg)

Parr ■ Tauche ■ Jaeger ■ Leutheusser - Schnarrenberger Lawyers
(Munich ■ Starnberg)

File number utility model new application

Our reference L 7113/SAM

Munich,

04 October 2000

Laser Ware GmbH Sonnenstrasse 6, 85764 Oberschleissheim

Data storage container

The present invention relates to a folding template for a data carrier container, from which a container for receiving a machine-readable data carrier can be obtained in a simple manner by suitable folding. The invention further relates to a material layer from which the folding template can be detached.

SAM :ro

PO Box 330523 ■ 80065 Munich ■ Elisenhof · Elisenstrasse 3 ■ 80335 Munich

Tel. +49 (0)89 74 72 660 ■ Fax +49 (0)89 77 64 24 · http://www.maiwald.de ■ info@maiwald.de

Managing Director: Dr. Walter MqjwaJcJOr. Vo|ker _e Hannm«Or. Stefan· Miehalslji - HRB No. I 130V

For the large number of known electronic data storage devices in a wide range of formats, the data storage containers required for them are known in the state of the art in a variety of forms. In most cases, such as containers for compact disks, these are plastic containers into which the data storage devices are inserted and usually also fixed. Plastic containers that can be opened are also used for data tapes of all kinds. These ensure stable protection of the sensitive data storage devices against contamination and mechanical damage. Simple protective covers made of paper, cardboard or plastic film are also known for various data storage devices for easy shipping, filing or similar activities. Combinations of paper/cardboard covers with hard plastic inserts are also known. The main disadvantage of solid plastic containers or boxes is that they cannot usually be labeled directly, but must be marked using paper inserts behind transparent container lids and using stickers, labels, etc.

With the increasing popularity of personal computers and the associated inkjet, color inkjet and laser printers of all kinds, computer-printable signs, labels, business cards, etc. have become increasingly popular. These are usually paper material layers in common formats, such as DIN A4, which can be easily inserted into copiers and printers and can be printed or labeled easily by copying or using a PC. Often, appropriate self-adhesive labels can be removed from the printable material layer after the printing process, or pre-punched or perforated sections of the printed material layer can be removed. The latter is particularly well known from print templates for the individual production of business cards, place cards or similar on the personal computer.

Against this background, there is a need for self-printable data storage containers, for example for archiving corresponding data storage devices in self-labelling sleeves, for individually labelling packaged data storage devices for shipping to customers,

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Business partners, friends, etc. There is a particular need for the fact that appropriate, individual, self-made data storage containers can be produced in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible wherever they are needed.

The present invention was therefore based on the object of providing a data storage container that can be printed or labeled in the simplest possible way in conventional copiers or printers of all kinds in order to produce self-made individual data storage containers in this way.

The solution to the above object is provided by the subject matter of the independent product claims of this invention.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a folding template for a data carrier container for receiving at least one data carrier, wherein the folding template comprises a substantially rectangular base surface (1) which is pivotally connected at one of its lateral edges via a fold (3) to a cover surface (2) of substantially the same size and at two further, opposite edges via folds (4, 5) to lateral tabs (6, 7), and the cover surface optionally has a closure tab (8) on the edge opposite the fold (3).

Furthermore, the present invention consists in a material layer, which has a folding template according to one of the preceding claims that can be detached from the material layer.

The folding template according to the invention can be used for producing a data carrier container and in use as a copyable or printable template for producing a printed data carrier container.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention emerge from the subclaims.

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The present invention consists of a material layer, preferably in a commercially available size that can be used as standard in all types of printers and copiers. In a preferred embodiment, the material layer has the size of a DIN A3, DIN A4 or DIN A5 sheet. The material layer is particularly preferably in the size DIN A4.

However, any other material layer size can also be used, for example US letter, legal, ledger, executive formats, DIN B or C formats, envelope formats of all kinds and/or the like.

The material layer according to the invention is particularly characterized in that it contains a detachable folding template for producing a data carrier container. The material layer and the folding template contained therein are preferably formed in one piece. The folding template and material layer are preferably made of the same material.

In a preferred embodiment, the folding template is pre-punched and/or perforated in the material layer along its outer edges so that it can be removed. The outer contours of the folding template can be printed on the material layer in addition to or as an alternative to the punching or perforation. According to the invention, folding edges can be prepared with an embossed groove to make folding easier. The folding template can be separated from the material layer by cutting it out, for example using scissors or a knife, or by tearing it out along the perforation or punching.

Alternatively, the folding template can be adhesively attached to the material layer so that it can be removed from the material layer by simply peeling it off.

It is also possible that the folding template is loosely embedded in a corresponding recess in the material layer and is fixed in place by removable holding elements, for example adhesive strips.

-5-

The material layer can consist of any printable or copyable material, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard, film, coated paper, coated cardboard, composite material of all kinds, recycled paper, plastic and/or the like.

The folding template for a data carrier container according to the invention, which is predetermined in the material layer, essentially consists of an essentially rectangular base surface which is connected via folds to a preferably equally large cover surface and side tabs which can be formed by simple folding into a cover which is able to accommodate the data carrier.

Description of the characters

Figure 1 shows schematically the outline of a folding template for a data carrier container according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of the folding template according to the invention for a data carrier container, in particular for a compact disk CD.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the folding template according to the invention with a larger closure tab 8 and holding tab 11.

According to Figure 1, the folding template according to the invention consists of a substantially rectangular base surface 1, which is pivotally connected at one of its side edges via a fold 3 to a cover surface 2 of substantially the same size, and at two further opposite edges via folds 4, 5 to lateral tabs 6, 7. The cover surface 2 can optionally have a closure tab 8 on the edge opposite the fold 3.

Preferably, the lateral tabs 6, 7 are designed such that they are trapezoidally tapered outwards, but they can also be circular arc-segment-shaped.

The base surface 1 and the cover surface 2, which are essentially the same size, are preferably rectangular, or square depending on the data carrier to be accommodated. However, any other shapes, such as rhombuses, diamonds, trapezoids, hexagons and octagons, as well as shapes with rounded corners, can also be used.

The dimensions of the base and cover surfaces can be chosen as desired. This depends on the size of the material layer used, which is to accommodate the folding template, and on the other hand, the dimensions of the base and cover surfaces naturally depend on the dimensions of the respective data carrier, which is to be accommodated in the data carrier container made from the folding template.

To accommodate a compact disk (CD, CD-ROM), both the base and the top surface are preferably square, with an edge length of 120 to 140 mm, preferably 120 to 130 mm, particularly preferably 124 mm.

To accommodate a 3.5" diskette, both the base surface and the top surface preferably have a square shape, with an edge length of 90 to 110 mm, preferably 90 to 100 mm, particularly preferably 95 mm.

Figure 2 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the format template according to the invention for a data carrier container for receiving a compact disk, wherein the side tabs 6 and 7 have slots 9, 10, which are preferably arranged centrally in the tabs 6, 7 and parallel to the folds 4, 5. These slots serve to further fix the compact disk by simply inserting the CD into the slots 9, 10 provided for this purpose. In the material layer which contains the folding template, the slots 9, 10 are preferably provided by punching or perforation.

The data carrier container is closed by folding the flap 8 inwards and inserting it behind the inserted data carrier.

The data carrier, in this case a CD, is fixed in the slots 9, 10 in the side tabs 6, 7.

Furthermore, the folding template of Figure 2 comprises a further flap 11, which is attached to the base surface 1 without an intermediate fold. This flap 11 preferably has a recess, particularly preferably at least two holes 12. The completely folded data carrier container can be placed and stored at these holes, for example in a ring binder.

As a further optional possibility, a circular perforation in the outer contour can be provided in the middle of the base surface 1, which makes it possible to give an inserted CD additional support by bending circular sector-shaped sections of the base surface upwards into the hole in the middle of the CD. This type of fixation can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the slots 9, 10 of the side tabs 6, 7.

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the folding template according to the invention, which has enlarged tabs 8 and 11. The width of the tabs is adapted to the edge length of the bottom and top surfaces in order to enable easier removal from the material layer.

The width (thickness) of the folds 3, 4, 5 is expediently chosen so that it is at least as large as the thickness of the data carrier to be accommodated. In special embodiments, the width of the folds 3, 4, 5 can also be chosen so that two or more data carriers can be accommodated one above the other in the data carrier container. In this case, it will also be expedient to adapt the dimensions of the closure flap 8 accordingly or to provide an additional fold between the cover surface 2 and the closure flap 8, which has the same width as the folds 3, 4, 5.

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-8th-

The dimensions of the folding template according to the invention can be selected so that it is able to accommodate one or more data carriers. The size of the material layer is to be selected accordingly.

Machine-readable data carriers that can be used according to the invention are, for example, compact disks (CD, CD-ROM, CD-RW, etc.), 3.5" diskettes, 5.25" diskettes, DAT tapes (4 mm data cartridge, 8 mm data cartridge), Superdisk®, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), MO-Disk®, Mini-Disk®, Zip® diskette, Jazz® diskette, Ditto® cartridge, DLT® cartridge and the like.

Inkjet and/or laser printers can be used to label/print the material layer. The invention also provides for the use of the material layer in a copier to copy a corresponding label or print onto it. Of course, handwritten labeling, painting and the like are also possible.

Üb' lU "OV

List of reference symbols

1 Floor area 2 Cover area 3 Fold bottom/lid 4 Fold to side flap 5 Fold to side flap 6 Side flap 7 Side flap 8th Closure tab 9 Slot in side flap 10 Slot in side flap 11 Anchoring tab 12 Punching 13 CD center fixation

Claims (11)

1. Folding template for a data carrier container for receiving at least one machine-readable data carrier, comprising a substantially rectangular base surface ( 1 ) which is pivotally connected at one of its side edges via a fold ( 3 ) to a cover surface ( 2 ) of substantially the same size and at two further, opposite edges via folds ( 4 , 5 ) to lateral tabs ( 6 , 7 ), the cover surface having a closure tab ( 8 ) on the edge opposite the fold ( 3 ), characterized in that , in order to close the data carrier container, the closure tab ( 8 ) is designed to be insertable between the inserted data carrier and the base surface ( 1 ), and that a further tab ( 11 ) is arranged on the base surface ( 1 ), which optionally has two ring binder holes ( 12 ). 2. Folding template according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral tabs ( 6 , 7 ) are trapezoidally tapered outwards and have slots ( 9 , 10 ) arranged centrally, parallel to the folds ( 4 , 5 ). 3. Folding template according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further tab ( 11 ) is attached to the bottom surface ( 1 ), which preferably has a recess, particularly preferably at least two holes ( 12 ). 4. Folding template according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is printable, in particular by means of an inkjet and/or laser printer. 5. Folding template according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dimensions of the base surface ( 1 ) and the cover surface ( 2 ) are selected according to the dimensions of the data storage medium to be inserted, and the width of the folds ( 3 , 4 , 5 ) corresponds at least to the thickness of the data storage medium. 6. Folding template according to one of the preceding claims for receiving a data carrier selected from the group consisting of compact disk (CD, CD-ROM, CD-RW etc.), 3.5" diskette, 5.25" diskette, DAT tapes (4 mm data cartridge, 8 mm data cartridge), SuperDisk, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), MO disk, mini disk, Zip disk, Jaz disk, Ditto cartridge, DLT cartridge and the like. 7. Material layer, characterized in that it has a folding template according to one of the preceding claims that can be detached from the material layer. 8. Material layer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material layer and/or the folding template consists of paper, paperboard, cardboard, film, coated paper, coated cardboard, composite material, plastic and/or the like. 9. Material layer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material layer and the folding template are formed in one piece. 10. Material layer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the folding template is pre-punched and/or perforated in the material layer along its outer edges so that it can be removed. 11. Material layer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material layer has the size of a DIN A3, DIN A4 or DIN A5 sheet.