US20060157359A1

US20060157359A1 - Disc carrier device

Info

Publication number: US20060157359A1
Application number: US11/329,165
Authority: US
Inventors: Jui-Chiang Lin
Original assignee: Lite On IT Corp
Current assignee: Lite On IT Corp
Priority date: 2005-01-19
Filing date: 2006-01-11
Publication date: 2006-07-20
Also published as: TW200627403A; TWI259450B

Abstract

A disc carrier device with a function of misplacement prevention mainly comprises a plurality of carrier trays provided at edges thereof with an access and at least one retaining part each, and on a top surface thereof with a recess for receiving a disc; and a housing correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate, and additionally provided with at least one spring retaining plate, the bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing the carrier tray, while the spring retaining plate being retained with the retaining part of the carrier tray when this carrier tray is put into the housing, in which the housing is further provided with a wedge part, and each carrier tray is correspondingly provided with a wedge cut, the wedge part and the wedge cut being wedged with each other when the carrier tray is put into the housing in order for the prevention of misplacement. Moreover, either extendingly coupled corresponding bearing guide plates or additionally provided grating means may be also used for the enhancement of the effect of misplacement prevention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a disc carrier device, particularly to a disc carrier device with a function of misplacement prevention, not only facilitating a reading device to take a disc for use, but also preventing the failure resulted from the misalignment of a carrier tray.

BACKGROUND

Accordingly, in the developing process for storage medium, optical discs (CDs or DVDs) have revealed outstanding merits in storage capability and preservation of a huge amount of data among numerous storage media. By the use of optical discs, not only the application of data is more convenient, but also the portability for the user is facilitated. Therefore, the optical discs are considered as indispensable storage medium in modem times.
In this information explosion era, it is common to own several optical disks simultaneously. As such, optical disc owner is desirous of a device, simultaneously containing several optical discs to be selectively used any time without the need for changing optical discs and thus switching on/off a disc player repeatedly. Therefore, a disc receiving case comes with this tide of fashion.
The structure of a conventional disc receiving case, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mainly comprises a disc housing 10 and a plurality of carrier trays 14 for receiving several optical discs, in which the carrier trays 14 are supported by pairs of projecting ribs 12 provided inside this disc housing 10. The object of receiving several optical discs may be obtained for this conventional disc receiving case, and the thickness of the carrier tray 14 is approximately greater than that of the optical disk, while smaller than the spacing between any two of adjacent projecting ribs 12. Thereby, the objects of receiving several optical discs within the disc housing 10 and then changing the optical discs quickly may be achieved; moreover, the carrier tray 14 may be drawn, by a user, out of the disc housing 10, and then pushed toward a correct position along the pair of projecting ribs 12 after the optical disc is changed. For this design, however, not only the carrier tray 14 is likely to separate off the disc housing 10, but also the carrier tray 14 is liable to be misaligned, i.e., not disposed between two adjacent pairs of projecting ribs 12 and then laid a misalignment state with oblique disposition, in case of ignoring the relative location with respect to adjacent projecting ribs 12 when the carrier tray 14 is pushed back by the user. In this state, if the disc receiving case is still provided by the user to a reading device for accessing without observing this situation, the inability of accessing the optical disc by the reading device, and even the disaster of damaging the structure of the reading device may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, how to design a novel disc carrier device which, aiming at disadvantages of the structure of the above conventional disc receiving case, may not only enhance the function of accessing compact discs, but also prevent the damage resulted from carelessness of a user, is the key point of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a disc carrier device, mainly allowed for preventing the occurrence of failure or breakdown, resulted from the misalignment of a carrier tray caused by a user, by means of cooperation of a wedge part of a disc housing with a wedge cut of the carrier tray.
It is the secondary object of the present invention to provide a disc carrier device allowed to generate the effect of the prevention of misalignment by means of an alternative design of bearing guide plates extendingly coupled with one another.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disc carrier device additionally provided in a housing with a grating means including openings, the number of which corresponds to that of carrier trays, in such a way that that each of the carrier trays may be put firmly, only when it passes through the grating means, whereby the occurrence of misplacement may be truly prevented.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a disc carrier device, which presents a pseudo-fixing state by means of the cooperation of a retaining part of a carrier tray with a spring retaining plate of a disc housing for keeping the position of an unused carrier tray unmoved when the carrier tray is put into the disc housing, and generates a sound to inform a user whether the placement is correct when the spring retaining plate is snapped with the clasping part.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a disc carrier device allowing a reading device to draw the carrier device out of a housing, by means of the provision of a clasping part on the carrier tray, and then to read data from an optical disc (CD or DVD).
To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides a disc carrier device, the main structure of which comprises a plurality of carrier trays provided at edges thereof with an access and at least one retaining part each, and on a top surface thereof with a recess for receiving a disc; and a housing correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate, and additionally provided with at least one spring retaining plate, the bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing the carrier tray, while the spring retaining plate being retained with the retaining part of the disc carrier tray when the carrier tray is put into the housing, in which the housing is further provided with a wedge part, and each carrier tray is correspondingly provided with a wedge cut, the wedge part and the wedge cut being wedged with each other when the carrier tray is put into the housing in order for the prevention of misplacement.
Moreover, the present invention further provides a disc carrier device, the main structure of which comprises a plurality of carrier trays provided at edges thereof with an access and at least one retaining part each, and on a top surface thereof with a recess for receiving a disc; and a housing correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate, and additionally provided with at least one spring retaining plate, the bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing the carrier tray, while the spring retaining plate being retained with the retaining part of the disc carrier tray when the carrier tray is put into the housing, in which the housing is further provided with a grating means including a plurality of openings corresponding to the carrier trays, allowed for the prevention of misplacement of the carrier trays.
The present invention further provides a disc carrier device, the main structure of which comprises a plurality of carrier trays provided at edges thereof with an access and at least one retaining part each, and on a top surface thereof with a recess for receiving a disc; and a housing correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate, and additionally provided with at least one spring retaining plate, the bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing the carrier tray, while the spring retaining plate being retained with the retaining part of the disc carrier tray when the carrier tray is put into the housing, in which the corresponding bearing guide plates at two side walls of the housing are extended and then coupled with each other, such that the misplacement of the carrier tray may be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural cross section view of a conventional disc receiving case;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carrier tray of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a housing of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of a grating means of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a structural diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The structural features and the effects to be achieved may further be understood and appreciated by reference to the presently preferred embodiments together with the detailed description.
Firstly, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown a perspective view according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention and a structural diagram of a carrier tray, respectively. As illustrated in these figures, the main structure of the present invention comprises two parts including a housing 41 and a plurality of carrier trays 31. In this case, each of two side walls 43 on the inner side of the housing 41 are individually provided with at least one corresponding bearing guide plate 51, respectively, while at least one spring retaining plate 49 is additionally provided at one end of the side wall.
For the carrier tray 31, there may be essentially provided on the top surface thereof with a recess 33 used for receiving a disc 315 (an optical disc, for example CD or DVD) and at ends thereof with an access 37, as well as a retaining part 39, respectively, this access 37 of the carrier tray 31 facing toward the opening of the housing 41 when the carrier tray 31 is put into the housing 41.
In the housing 41, the bearing guide plates 51 are provided with an equal interval approximately greater than the thickness of the carrier tray 31 in a vertical direction, so as to facilitate the placement of the carrier tray 31 into the housing 41. When the carrier tray 31 is put into the housing 41 completely, the carrier tray 31 may be fixed in the housing 41 temporarily by means of the retention between the spring retaining plate 49 provided on the inner side of the housing 41 and the retaining part 39 of the carrier tray 31 without separating from each other just due to a slight external force. A sound is given off, moreover, when the carrier tray 31 is pressed against the bottom to be retained, in such a way that the warning effect is also generated to notify a user that this carrier tray has been put to a correct position. Additionally, a wedge part 451 is further provided to the housing 41, while a wedge cut 351 is corresponding provided on the carrier tray 31. The wedge part and the wedge cut are allowed to wedge with each other when the carrier tray 31 is pushed into the housing, such that the occurrence of misplacement of the carrier tray 31 may be prevented. The carrier tray 31 is additionally provided with a clasping part 38 cooperated with the mechanism of a reading device in such a way that the carrier tray 31 may be drawn out of the housing 41 by a draw device of this mechanism, and then the disc 315 carried by the carrier tray 31 may be then utilized. Thereafter, the carrier tray 31 together with the disc 315 may be put back into the housing 41 by the reading device. Similarly, as the carrier tray 31 is completely put into the housing 41, again, the retaining part 39 thereof may be retained with the spring retaining plate 49 provided on the inner side of the housing 41 and then temporarily fixed.
Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates the structure of the housing according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated in this figure, there may be provided in the structure of the housing 41 and carrier tray 31 with various protective means, for the purpose of preventing the misplacement of the carrier tray 31 which, resulted from the carelessness of the user, may lead to the failure and even damage on the whole mechanism. Firstly, these protective means may be wedge means, such as the wedge part 451 and wedge cut 351 described above. The inverse arrangement of such wedge means, namely, the wedge cut is provided at the housing 41 and the wedge part is provided on the carrier tray 31, may be allowed for obtaining similar effect. As the carrier tray 31 is accurately put into this housing, the wedge part 451 and the wedge cut 351 provided to both of them, respectively, may be wedged with each other completely. On the contrary, it is impossible for the wedge part 451 and the wedge cut 351 to wedge with each other and, then, for the carrier tray 31 to be pushed into the housing 41 completely, when the carrier tray 31 is not put into the housing 41 accurately by the user. In this situation, therefore, a part volume of the carrier tray 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 41. Thereby, the user is warned that the carrier tray 31 is laid a misplacement state. As such, this misplacement may be modified before the carrier tray is provided to the reading device, in order to avoid the possibility of breakdown absolutely.
An alternative structure of the bearing guide plate 51, as shown in FIG. 4, is used to form the protective means. In the present invention, the corresponding carrier trays 51 are extendingly coupled such that the moving tracks of the carrier trays 31 are separated with each other for truly preventing the occurrence of misplacement. As for the coupling mode of the bearing guide plates 51, it may be selected from one of the full-plane coupling 511, semi-plane coupling 513, partial-plane coupling, and the combination thereof. Further, the coupling portion of the semi-plane coupling 513 and partial-plane coupling may be selectively provided in one of the front end (515, for example), middle part (517, for example), rear end (519, for example), and the combination thereof. In each coupling mode, an independent specific space is definitely partitioned for ensuring that the carrier tray 31 is not obliquely put in a wrong position when it is put into the housing 41 by the user, so as to obviate the possibility of inability of drawing out this carrier tray and even failure.
Finally, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown a structural diagram of a grating means and a structural diagram according to another embodiment, respectively, in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in these figures, the protective means of the present invention may be also realized as a grating means 71, in which this grating means comprises leaves 73, corresponding to the bearing guide plates 51 each, forming a plurality of openings through each of which one carrier tray 31 may pass. The accuracy of the position of each carrier tray 31 may be assured on condition that the carrier tray enters the housing 41 through each corresponding opening. As for the arrangement of the grating means, it is also allowed to selectively provided in a site of opening of the housing 41 (71, for example), front end, middle part (not shown), or rear end (75, for example).
Naturally, various modes of protective means may be realized either individually or combinatively. Thereby, the accuracy of the placement of the disc may be further assured, and a safer working environment for the reading device may be provided.
To sum up, it should be understood that the present invention is related to a disc carrier device, particularly to a disc carrier device with a function of misplacement prevention, not only facilitating a reading device to take a disc for use, but also preventing the failure resulted from the misalignment of a carrier tray. Therefore, this application is filed in accordance with the patent law duly, since the present invention is truly an invention with novelty, advancement or non-obviousness, and availability by the industry, thus naturally satisfying the requirements of patentability. Your favorable consideration will be appreciated.
The foregoing description is merely one embodiment of present invention and not considered as restrictive. All equivalent variations and modifications in process, method, feature, and spirit in accordance with the appended claims may be made without in any way from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A disc carrier device, comprising:

a plurality of carrier trays, provided at edges thereof with an access and a retaining part each, and on a top surface thereof with a recess for receiving a disc; and

a housing, correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate, and additionally provided with at least one spring retaining plate, said bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing said carrier tray, while said spring retaining plate being retained with said retaining part of said disc carrier tray when said carrier tray is put into said housing,

wherein a wedge part and a wedge cut are provided for said housing and one of said carrier trays to be wedged with each other when one of said carrier trays is put into said housing in order for the prevention of misplacement.

2. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein said bearing guide plates correspondingly provided on said two side walls of said housing are extendingly coupled with each other.

3. The carrier device according to claim 2, wherein a coupling mode of said corresponding bearing guide plates is selected from the group consisting of full-plane coupling, partial-plane coupling, and the combination thereof.

4. The carrier device according to claim 2, wherein a coupling portion of said corresponding bearing guide plates is located in a position selected from the group consisting of front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.

5. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is further provided with a grating means including a plurality of openings corresponding to said carrier trays so as to prevent the misplacement of said carrier trays.

6. The carrier device according to claim 5, wherein said grating means is located in a position selected from the group consisting of a site of opening of said housing, front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.

7. A disc carrier device, comprising:

a housing, correspondingly provided on two inner side walls thereof with at least one bearing guide plate and at least one spring retaining plate, said bearing guide plate being used for guidingly bearing said carrier tray, while said spring retaining plate being retained with said retaining part of said disc carrier tray when said carrier tray is put into said housing,

wherein said housing is further provided with a grating means including a plurality of openings corresponding to said carrier trays so as to prevent the misplacement of said carrier trays.

8. The carrier device according to claim 7, wherein said grating means is located in a position selected from the group consisting of a site of opening of said housing, front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.

9. The carrier device according to claim 7, wherein said housing is further provided with a wedge part, and each of said carrier trays is correspondingly provided with a wedge cut, said wedge part and said wedge cut being wedged with each other when said carrier tray is put into said housing in order for the prevention of misplacement.

10. The carrier device according to claim 7, wherein said bearing guide plates correspondingly provided on said two side walls of said housing are extendingly coupled with each other.

11. The carrier device according to claim 10, wherein a coupling mode of said corresponding bearing guide plates is selected from the group consisting of full-plane coupling, partial-plane coupling, and the combination thereof.

12. The carrier device according to claim 10, wherein a coupling portion of said corresponding bearing guide plates is located in a position selected from the group consisting of front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.

13. A disc carrier device, comprising:

wherein said bearing guide plates correspondingly provided on said two side walls of said housing are extendingly coupled with each other so as to prevent the misplacement of said carrier tray.

14. The carrier device according to claim 13, wherein a coupling mode of said corresponding bearing guide plates is selected from the group consisting of full-plane coupling, partial-plane coupling, and the combination thereof.

15. The carrier device according to claim 13, wherein a coupling portion of said corresponding bearing guide plates is located in a position selected from the group consisting of front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.

16. The carrier device according to claim 13, wherein said housing is further provided with a wedge part, and each carrier tray is correspondingly provided with a wedge cut, said wedge part and said wedge cut being wedged with each other when said carrier tray is put into said housing in order for the prevention of misplacement.

17. The carrier device according to claim 13, wherein said housing is further provided with a grating means including a plurality of openings corresponding to said carrier trays so as to prevent the misplacement of said carrier trays.

18. The carrier device according to claim 17, wherein said grating means is located in a position selected from the group consisting of a site of opening of said housing, front end, middle part, rear end, and the combination thereof.