WO1994014160A1

WO1994014160A1 - Compact disc package

Info

Publication number: WO1994014160A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/002534
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norman Eric Brinkhurst
Original assignee: WHITE KNIGHT PRODUCTS Ltd; WHITE KNIGHT PROD Ltd
Current assignee: WHITE KNIGHT PRODUCTS Ltd; WHITE KNIGHT PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1992-12-12
Filing date: 1993-12-10
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1995-06-12
Also published as: GB9225970D0; GB9325356D0; GB2273286A; AU5657294A

Abstract

A compact disc package (1) is disclosed which comprises a top panel (2) and a bottom panel (3) enclosing a compact disc holder (4). The sides (7, 8) of the top panel (2) are extended to form arms (9, 10) which carry hinged pins (11, 12). The hinged pins (11, 12) are provided at their extremities with projections (13, 14) and fit into holes (17, 18) in side walls (15, 16) of the bottom panel to form hinges such that the pins (11, 12) are prevented from being removed from the holes (17, 18) when the package (1) is in the closed position.

Description

COMPACT DISC PACKAGE

Technical Field

This invention relates to compact disc packages, and more particularly to a compact disc package having an improved resistance to pilfering of its contents.

Background Art

Compact discs or "CDs", comprising a 12cm diameter metal disc carrying laser-readable information, have rapidly replaced vinyl records in the field of recorded music. The advent of the compact disc has necessitated a new approach to the packaging of such items.

The most popular form of CD package is the so called "jewel box" which generally comprises three separate plastic mouldings, namely clear front and back panels of generally rectangular shape, having sides which co-operate together to form a box, and an opaque compact disc holder, also of generally rectangular shape, which commonly is a snap-fit into the back panel. The front and back panels of the jewel box are normally hingedly connected together along one edge so as to open like a book. Such a package is described for example, in US Patent No. 4535888, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Multiple CD packages are also known, in which a mid-section is provided between the front and back panels, which comprises one or more further CD holders. The side walls of the mid-section form parts of the sides of the package, and the front and back panels are hingedly connected to the mid-section. Such a package is described, for example, in European Patent Application No. 0420350, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

To form the hinged connection in one known design, for example, opposed sides of the front panel (and in the case of multiple packages both the front and the back panels) are extended to form arms which carry inwardly directed hinge pins locatable in sockets in the walls of the back panel or, in the case of multiple CD packages, the sides of the mid-section.

Because of the ease with which the jewel box can be opened, and the compact disc removed, it has become the practice within retail stores to place only empty boxes on their display racks, or to shrinkwrap the boxes, to reduce the incidence of pilfering. However, the former procedure is inconvenient and time consuming in that each compact disc must be removed and stored, and then replaced in its box at the point of sale. The latter procedure is environmentally unacceptable and may not be permitted by some national regulations in the future. Recently the practice has grown up of sealing the front or leading edges of the jewel box with a tamper-evident adhesive label which must be removed or broken before the box can be opened. However, this still does not eliminate the risk of pilfering for reasons which are explained below. When the compact disc package is assembled on automatic equipment, the sides of the package, or the arms, carrying the hinge pins are flexed slightly outwards, thus allowing the hinge pins to be located over their respective sockets in the side walls of the back panel or mid-section. The flexing force is then removed so that the arms spring back and locate the hinge pins in the sockets. Clearly this procedure can easily be reversed by a thief in a shop thus allowing the compact disc package to be opened from the rear, the compact disc removed, and the package reassembled, without disturbing the seal on the leading edges of the front and back panels.

Other designs of compact disc package are also known, but in general they all have an assembly step in which one or more portions of the package is flexed to allow the hinge pins to be located in their sockets.

UK Patent Application No. 2101096 discloses a container for a magnetic tape cassette which comprises a transparent body part pivoted to a non-transparent part with holes on the transparent part, the pivot and holes being so shaped as to prevent the unintentional disengagement of the two parts from each other when the container is in use. This prior art however does not address the problem of preventing unauthorised intentional opening of the container. Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the loss due to pilfering through disengagement of the hinge by a thief, by providing a compact disc package in which it is substantially more difficult to disengage the front and back panels from the rear when the package is closed.

It is a further object to provide a compact disc package having improved resistance to pilfering which is still capable of automatic assembly.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a compact disc package having improved resistance to pilfering which does not require to be shrinkwrapped.

According to the present invention there is provided a package for a compact disc comprising: front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid-section, to form a box-shaped structure, compact disc support means located between the front and back panels, at least one of the front and back panels, or the mid- section where present, having opposed outwardly resiliently deformable sides, or having opposed sides extending to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each side or arm being hingedly connected to a side of the other panel, or to the mid-section if present, by means of a hinge pin locatable in a socket, the arrangement being such that at least one hinge pin is provided with restraining means such that the pin can freely be inserted and removed from its socket by flexing the respective side or resiliently deformable side or arm outwards when the package is in an open position, but is restrained against removal when the package is in the closed position.

Preferably the hinge pin is provided at a point remote from its mounting with a lateral extension and the socket comprises a correspondingly shaped cut-out region, such that, in order to remove the pin from the socket the lateral extension must be placed in register with the cut¬ out region. Preferably the lateral extension is in register with the cut-out region when the package is in its fully open position, that is, when the front and back panels lie in the same plane.

In a preferred embodiment of a compact disc package according to the invention, the front panel is provided with outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each arm carrying an inwardly directed hinge pin locatable in a hole in a side wall of the back panel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the package comprises a single compact disc support means and the front and back panels have sides or arms which are directly hingedly connected together.

The package may alternatively comprise a plurality of compact disc support means and the front and back panels may have sides or arms hingedly connected to a mid-section comprising one or more of said compact disc support means. The hinge pin is preferably of generally cylindrical shape and provided at its extremity with an eccentrically arranged, radially directed projection, and the socket comprises a generally elliptical shaped hole adapted to receive the pin and projection when the package is in an open position.

The package may further comprise tamper-evident means adapted to prevent opening of the package without permanent visible alteration of said tamper-evident means.

The tamper-evident means preferably comprises at least one label attached in use to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

Alternatively, the tamper-evident means may comprise one or more portions of said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section which are adhered, welded or upset together wherein at least one of said portions needs to be broken or removed to open said package.

The invention also provides a package for a compact disc comprising: front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid section, to form a box-shaped structure; compact disc support means located between the front and back panels; hinge pins and sockets connecting the front and back panels together, or to a mid section, at least one of said pins being adapted to resist attempted disconnection by outward flexing of one or more portions of the package adjacent thereto; and tamper-evident means positioned externally of the package and adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package.

The tamper evident means may comprise at least one label attached in use to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

Alternatively, the tamper-evident means may comprise one or more portions of or projections mounted on said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section which portions or projections are adhered, welded or upset together wherein at least one of said portions or projections needs to be broken or removed to open said package. The invention also provides a method of assembling a compact disc package, the package comprising front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid section, to form a box-shaped structure, and hinge pins and sockets connecting the front and back panels together, at least one of said pins being adapted to resist attempted disconnection by outward flexing of one or more portions of the package adjacent thereto, which comprises positioning tamper-evident means externally of the package, wherein the tamper-evident means is adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package. In one method according to the invention, the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises attaching at least one label to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened. In another method according to the invention, the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises adhering, welding or upsetting together one or more portions of or projections mounted on said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein at least one of said portions or projections is broken or removed when said package is opened.

The invention also provides a method of assembling a compact disc package, the package comprising front and back panels having sides hingedly connectable together, or a to a mid-section, to form a box shaped structure, at least one of the front and back and panels, or the mid-section where present, having opposed outwardly resiliently deformable sides, or having opposed sides extending to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each side or arm being hingedly connected to a side of the other panel, or to a mid-section, by means of a hinge pin locatable in a socket, which comprises flexing the resiliently deformable sides or arms outwards, sliding at least one of the front and back panels along a plane in which the other of the said panels lies until each hinge pin is located opposite its respective socket, and removing the flexural force, allowing the sides or arms to spring back and the hinge pins to enter the sockets to form a hinge connection.

The method preferably further comprises positioning tamper-evident means externally of the package, wherein the tamper-evident means is adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package.

The step of positioning said tamper-evident means may comprise attaching at least one label to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

The step of positioning said tamper-evident means may also comprise adhering, welding or upsetting together one or more portions of or projections mounted on said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section wherein at least one of said portions or projections is broken or removed when said package is opened.

In the method there may be used a compact disc package according to the invention as described above. Brief Description of Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a compact disc package according to the invention in the open position;

Figure 2 shows the package of Figure 1 in side elevation;

Figure 3 shows the package of Figure 1 in side elevation in the closed position;

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary side elevational view of a disassembled hinge; Figure 5 shows a fragmentary plan view of a hinge in the course of assembly; and

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C show three alternative arrangements of a tamper-evident means provided on the package of Figure 3. Detailed Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows a CD package illustrated generally at 1 which comprises a top panel (2) and a bottom panel (3) . The bottom panel has a compact disc holder (4) inserted therein, a portion of which is broken away to reveal the hinge mechanism. The front panel (2) is provided with the usual hemispherical projections (5) and studs (6) for the retention of an insert such as a printed booklet or sleeve. The sides (7 and 8) of the top panel (2) are extended to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms (9 and 10) , the arms carrying hinged pins (11 and 12) . The pins (11,12), are of generally cylindrical shape, and provided at their extremities with eccentrically arranged, radially directed projections (13,14) respectively. The shape of the projections can readily be seen from Figures 2 to 4, from which the compact disc holder has been omitted for clarity. The bottom panel (3) has side walls (15,16) provided with generally elliptically shaped holes (17,18) for the reception of the pins (11,12), to form a pair of hinges. Generally of course, two such hinges are provided, however it would be possible to have only a single hinge of this type and another hinge of the normal pin and socket type, although this arrangement may be less secure.

In the open position as shown in Figure 1 the projections (13,14) are generally in register with the holes (17,18), as can be seen from Figure 2. However, as shown in Figure 3, when the box is closed by rotating the front panel through 180°, the pins (11,12) carrying the projections (13,14) are also rotated through 180° and thus the projections (13,14) and the holes (17,18) are no longer in register. In the closed position, therefore, the hinge pins (11,12) can no longer be removed from the holes (17,18) by flexing the arms (9,10) outwards.

The sequence of assembly steps of the compact disc package is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4, which shows a single hinge mechanism disassembled, illustrates a stage in the assembly of the package in which the front and rear panels are brought together along a line indicated by the arrows. The arrows merely indicate relative movement, and of course it would be possible to keep one panel stationary and move the other towards it. At the point where the arms (9,10) are in close proximity with side walls (15,16) of the back panel the arms are flexed outwardly as shown for arm (9) in Figure 5. The front and back panels can then be slid into position with each hinge pin opposite its respective hole, as illustrated again in respect of arm (9) in Figure 5. When the flexural force is removed, the arms (9,10) spring back to their rest position, and because the projections (13,14) are in register with the holes (17,18), the hinge pins (11,12) can enter the holes (17,18) forming the hinge connection. The package can now be opened and closed in the usual way.

It can be seen, however, that when the package is closed the projections (13,14) engage with the side walls (15,16) on the back panel, thus preventing the arms (9,10) from being flexed outwards. The box can therefore not be opened from the rear without breaking either the hinge pins (11,12) or the arms (9,10). Such signs of breakage are readily apparent, providing an indication that the package has been tampered with and an attempt made to remove the contents.

Referring now to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, three alternative arrangements are shown of a tamper-evident means which can to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package. Figure 6A shows a tamper-evident means in the form of an adhesive label (19) which is adhered to the top panel (2) and bottom panel (3) at the leading edge of the package remote from the hinge pins (11 and 12) . It can be seen that the package can only be opened by cutting or tearing the adhesive label (19) , so that it is no longer possible to open the package without providing visible evidence of this. One or more such labels can be provided, and they can be adhered to the leading edge or to the sides of the package.

Figure 6B shows a tamper-evident means in the form of two lugs (20) , which are respectively formed in the top panel (2) and the bottom panel (3) along the leading edges thereof remote from the hinge pins (11 and 12) . When the compact disc is placed inside the package, the lugs (20) are joined to each other by any suitable means, such as welding or adhesion, in such a manner that one or both of the lugs (20) must be broken off the panel (2 or 3) in which it is formed in order to open the package, thus providing permanent visible evidence of opening.

Figure 6C shows a tamper-evident means in the form of an upset projection (21) formed on the bottom panel (3) (or top panel (2)) which engages with a semi-circular projection (22) formed in the top panel (2) (or the bottom panel (3)) such that the upset projection (21) passes through the semi-circular projection (22) when the package is in the closed position. When the package is initially closed with the compact disc in position therein, the upper portion of the upset projection (21) as shown in Figure 6C is flattened so that it can no longer be retracted from the semi-circular projection (22) without breakage of one or more of the projections. This therefore provides visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package.

The invention has been described with respect to a package for a single CD, although it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it could also be applied to multiple packages. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps or any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Claims

1 A package for a compact disc comprising: front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid section, to form a box-shaped structure, compact disc support means located between the front and back panels, at least one of the front and back panels, or the mid- section if present, having opposed outwardly resiliently deformable sides, or having opposed sides extending to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each side or arm being hingedly connected to a side of the other panel, or to the mid-section if present, by means of a hinge pin locatable in a socket, the arrangement being such that at least one hinge pin is provided with restraining means such that the pin can freely be inserted and removed from its socket by flexing the respective side or resiliently deformable side or arm outwards when the package is in an open position, but is restrained against removal when the package is in the closed position.

2 A package according to Claim 1, in which the hinge pin is provided at a point remote from its mounting with a lateral extension and the socket comprises a correspondingly shaped cut-out region, such that, in order to remove the pin from the socket the lateral extension must be placed in register with the cut-out region. 3 A package according to Claim 2, in which the lateral extension is in register with the cut-out region when the package is in its fully open position.

4 A package according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the front panel is provided with outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each arm carrying an inwardly directed hinge pin locatable in a hole in a side wall of the back panel.

5 A package according to any of the preceding Claims, in which at least one of the front and back panels has opposed sides extending to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each arm being hingedly connected to a side of the other panel or to a mid-section, by means of a hinge pin locatable in a socket, each hinge pin being provided with restraining means such that the pin can freely be inserted and removed from its socket by flexing its respective resiliently deformable arm outwards when the package in an open position, but is restrained against removal when the package is in the closed position. 6 A package according to any of the preceding Claims, which comprises a single compact disc support means and in which the front and back panels have sides or arms which are directly hingedly connected together.

7 A package according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the package comprises a plurality of compact disc support means and the front and back panels have sides or arms hingedly connected to a mid-section comprising one or more of said compact disc support means. 8 A package according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the hinge pin is of generally cylindrical shape and provided at its extremity with an eccentrically arranged, radially directed projection, and the socket comprises a generally elliptical shaped hole adapted to receive the pin and projection when the package is in an open position.

9 A package according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising tamper-evident means adapted to prevent opening of the package without permanent visible alteration of said tamper-evident means.

10 A package according to claim 9, wherein said tamper- evident means comprises at least one label attached in use to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

11 A package according to claim 9, wherein said tamper- evident means comprises one or more portions of said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section which are adhered, welded or upset together wherein at least one of said portions needs to be broken or removed to open said package.

12 A package for a compact disc comprising: front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid section, to form a box-shaped structu e; compact disc support means located between the front and back panels; hinge pins and sockets connecting the front and back panels together, or to a mid section, at least one of said pins being adapted to resist attempted disconnection by outward flexing of one or more portions of the package adjacent thereto; and tamper-evident means positioned externally of the package and adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package.

13 A package according to claim 12, wherein said tamper- evident means comprises at least one label attached in use to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

14 A package according to claim 12, wherein said tamper- evident means comprises one or more portions of or projections mounted on said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section which portions or projections are adhered, welded or upset together wherein at least one of said portions needs to be broken to open said package. 15 A compact disc package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

16 A compact disc package substantially as herein before described. 17 A method of assembling a compact disc package, the package comprising front and back panels having sides hingedly connected together, or to a mid section, to form a box-shaped structure, hinge pins and sockets connecting the front and back panels together, or to a mid section, at least one of said pins being adapted to resist attempted disconnection by outward flexing of one or more portions of the package adjacent thereto, which comprises positioning tamper-evident means externally of the package, wherein the tamper-evident means is adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package. 18 A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises attaching at least one label to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened. 19 A method according to Claim 17, wherein the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises adhering, welding or upsetting together one or more portions of, or projections mounted on, said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid-section, wherein at least one of said portions or projections is broken or removed when said package is opened. 20 A method of assembling a compact disc package, the package comprising front and back panels having sides hingedly connectable together, or to a mid-section, to form a box shaped structure, at least one of the front and back panels, or the mid- section where present having opposed outwardly resiliently deformable sides, or having opposed sides extending to form outwardly resiliently deformable arms, each side or arm being hingedly connected to a side of the other panel, or to a mid-section, by means of a hinge pin locatable in a socket, which comprises flexing the resiliently deformable sides or arms outwards, sliding at least one of the front and back panels along a plane in which the other of the said panels lies until each hinge pin is located opposite its respective socket, and removing the flexural force, allowing the sides or arms to spring back and the hinge pins to enter the sockets to form a hinge connection.

21 A method according to claim 20, further comprising positioning tamper-evident means externally of the package, wherein the tamper-evident means is adapted to provide visible evidence of unauthorised opening of the package.

22 A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises attaching at least one label to said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid section, wherein said label is permanently damaged if said package is opened.

23 A method according to Claim 21, wherein the step of positioning said tamper-evident means comprises adhering, welding, or upsetting together one or more portions of or projections mounted on said front panel and said back panel and/or said mid-section wherein at least one of said portions or projections is broken or removed when said package is opened. 24 A method according to any one of claims 17 to 23, in which there is used a compact disc package according to any of Claims 1 to 16.

25 A method according to any one of claims 17 to 24, substantially as hereinbefore described.