WO2001062628A1

WO2001062628A1 - Storage box for a disc shaped article

Info

Publication number: WO2001062628A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Samuelsson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-24
Filing date: 2001-02-20
Publication date: 2001-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2002-08-24
Also published as: SE517574C2; AU2001234311A1; SE0000594D0; SE0000594L

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage box (1) for a disc shaped article (16), especially a CD-disc, said storage box (1) comprising a first bottom plate (5), a rim (7) being attached to said first bottom plate (5), said rim (7) having an extension perpendicular to the first bottom plate (5), a centre retainer (14) that is intended to cooperate with a centre hole of the disc shaped article (16), and of cover (17) that in folded position, together with the first bottom plate (5) and the rim (7), defines a storage space for the disc shaped article (16). It is significant for the storage box (1) according to the present invention that it comprises an insert tray (9) that in its turn comprises a second bottom plate (10), a connecting portion (11) that has an extension perpendicular to the second bottom plate (10), and a hinge portion (12) that is connected to the connecting portion (11), and that the hinge portion (12) has means (18) to receive a limited portion of the circumference of the cover (17).

Description

STORAGE BOX FOR A DISC SHAPED ARTICLE

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage box for a disc shaped article, especially a CD-disc, said storage box comprising a first bottom plate, a rim attached to said first bottom plate, said rim having an extension perpendicular to said first bottom plate, a centre retainer that is intended to cooperate with a centre hole in the disc shaped article, and a cover that in folded position, together with the first bottom plate and the rim, defines a storage space of the disc shaped article.

Prior Art From WO 96/23304 a storage box for a CD-disc is previously known where both the cover and the base portion comprise a soft flexible sheet of synthetic material, preferably polypropene/polystyrene or polyetene/polystyrene . On these sheets further internal portions of the storage box are attached by means of injection moulding, said internal portions being connected to the soft, flexible sheet after the injection moulding process. An intermediate portion of said soft, flexible sheet serves as a hinge between the cover and the base portion. Due to the fact that the cover and the base portion respectively are connected to the internal portions by means of injection moulding it is on one hand in principle impossible to exchange certain portions of the storage box and on the other hand printed matters may not be inserted between for instance the base portion and the adherent internal portion.

From SE-A9603970-6 a package for a CD-disc is previously known. This package comprises a casing in the shape of a box having one open side wall, and a disc holder having a projection with a retainer element for the CD-disc. When the CD-disc is attached to the disc retainer the projection is inserted into the casing that is shut by a portion of the disc retainer that functions as a cover, i.e. said portion is inserted into the opening defined by the side wall. Objects and Features of the Invention

A primary object of the present invention is to present a storage box of the type defined above, where different plastic materials are combined in such a way that the characteristics of the materials are used in the best mode, i.e. that the storage box has a sufficient strength in the critical portions of the storage box as well as information regarding the content of the storage box may be presented in a satisfactory way. A further object of the present invention is that the portions constituting the storage box may be manufactured in a simple and rational way and that said portions also may be detachably assembled in a simple and rational way.

At least the primary object is achieved by means of a storage box that has been given the features of the appending independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the independent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings Below embodiments of the invention will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the storage box according to the present invention, the cover being raised; Figure 2 shows a section through the storage box according to the present invention, where certain intermediate portions of the storage box have been omitted; and Figure 3 shows a section of a detail of an alternative embodiment of a storage box according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The storage box 1 disclosed in Figs 1 and 2 has the general shape of a circular disc. This means that the shape of the storage box 1 adapts to the shape of a CD-disc that preferably is intended to be stored in the storage box according to the present invention. The storage box 1 according to the present invention comprises a base portion 3 that in its turn comprises a first bottom plate 5 and a rim 7 that extends at a right angle from the first bottom plate 5. As is most evident from Fig 1 the rim 7 is interrupted along a portion of the circumference of the first bottom plate 5. The base portion 3 is preferably manufactured from a transparent plastic material, e.g. acrylic plastic or polystyrene. The storage box 1 according to the present invention also comprises an insert tray 9 that is received in the base portion 3. Said insert tray 9 comprises a second bottom plate 10, a connecting portion 11 and a hinge portion 12, all said portions of the insert tray 9 being designed in one piece. The hinge portion 12 also has a hinge joint 8. The insert tray 9 is preferably manufactured from polypropene (PP) that is a plastic material having high rupture strain.

As is evident from Fig 2 the insert tray 9 is detachably connected with the base portion 3 via at least one snap fastener 13. It is recommendable that no snap fasteners occur between the first bottom plate 5 and the second bottom plate 10 since it is common in connection with storage boxes for CD- discs that printed matters of different kind are attached between these bottom plates 5, 10. As is evident from Figs 1 and 2 the insert tray 9 is equipped with a centre retainer 14 that comprises a number of flexible fingers 15 that define a spigot, upon which the centre hole of a CD-disc 16, see Fig 2, may be pushed.

The storage box 1 according to the present invention also comprises a cover 17 that is received in an attachment portion 18 of the hinge portion 12. The folding of the cover 17 relative to the hinge portion 12 is effected in the hinge joint 8. In the shown embodiment the attachment portion is in the shape of a recess 18. The connection between the cover 17 and the recess 18 may preferably be effected by means of a snap coupling. The cover 17 is preferably manufactured from a similar transparent plastic material as the base portion 3, e.g. acrylic plastic or polystyrene. The reason that the cover 17 should be transparent is that a printed matter is preferably attached to the inner side of the cover 17, said printed matter being retained at the inner side of the cover 17 by means of two tongues 19 that are arranged at a distance from the cover 17, have an extension parallel to the main plane of the cover 17 and have their free ends facing towards the centre of the cover 17. Each of the two tongues 19 are attached to a separate first side element 20 that in its turn is attached to or connected with the cover 17. The side elements 20 have a length that constitutes only a limited portion of the circumference of the cover 17. A second side element 21 is also attached to the cover 17, said second side element 21 being located midway between the first side elements 20 and having a length that constitutes only a limited portion of the circumference of the cover 17. Said second side element 21 is intended to be received in the space where the rim 7 is interrupted along the circumference of the bottom plate 5. When the cover 17 is folded the second side element 21, together with the rim 7, forms a substantially continuous edge portion along the entire circumference of the bottom plate 5. In folded position of the cover 17 the first side elements 20 are located inside the rim 7.

In the alternative embodiment, disclosed in Fig 3, of a detail of the storage box 1 ' according to the present invention the hinge portion 12' has a somewhat different design and location compared to the embodiment disclosed in Figs 1 and 2. The hinge joint itself 8' is located adjacent to the rim 7' of the bottom plate 5'. The hinge portion 12' consists of an attachment portion 18 ' that generally has an extension parallel to the cover 17 ' that is attached to the attachment portion 18'. The hinge joint itself 8' is thus located between the attachment portion 18 ' and a connecting portion 11' that has an extension substantially perpendicular to the attachment portion 18' and the cover 17'. The connecting portion 11' and the attachment portion 18' are parts of an insert tray 9' that also comprises a second bottom plate 10'. Likewise the embodiment disclosed in Figs 1 and 2 all parts of the insert tray are formed in one piece. The insert tray 9' is preferably manufactured from polypropene

(PP), a plastic material having a high rupture strain. A CD-disc 16 may be received in the storage box 1' in a corresponding way as in connection with the storage box 1 according to Figs 1 and 2, i.e. by having a spigot being received in a centre hole of the CD-disc 16. As regards the remaining structural design of the storage box according to Fig 3 it is in principle similar to the structural design of the storage box according to Figs 1 and 2.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

In the embodiment described above the storage box 1 according to the present invention is in the shape of a circular disc. However, the storage box according to the present invention may have other basic shapes besides the circular. In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose square basic shape may be mentioned as the primary alternative. In the embodiment described above the cover 17 is equipped with two tongues 19. However, within the scope of the present invention it is feasible that a further tongue is arranged on the second side element 21. By such an arrangement the printed matter attached to the inner side of the cover will be supported more safely against the inner side of the cover 17.

Claims

1. Storage box (1; 1') for a disc shaped article (16), especially a CD-disc, said storage box (1; 1') comprising a first bottom plate (5; 5'), a rim (7; 1') being attached to said first bottom plate (5; 5'), said rim (7; 7') having an extension perpendicular to the first bottom plate (5; 5'), a centre retainer (14) that is intended to cooperate with a centre hole of the discs shaped article (16), and of cover (17; 17') that in folded position, together with the first bottom plate (5; 5') and the rim (7; 7'), defines a storage space for the disc shaped article (16), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the storage box (1; 1') comprises an insert tray (9; 9') that in its turn comprises a second bottom plate (10; 10'), a connecting portion (11; 11') that has an extension perpendicular to the second bottom plate (10; 10'), and a hinge portion (12; 12') that is connected to the connecting portion (11; 11'), and that the hinge portion (12; 12') has means (18; 18') to receive a limited portion of the circumference of the cover (17; 17').

2. Storage box (1; 1') according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the insert tray (9; 9' ) is manufactured from polypropene (PP) .

3. Storage box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that be insert tray (9) is detachably connected to the rim (7) of the first the bottom plate (5) .

4. Storage box (1) according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the detachable connection is arranged between the connecting portion (11) of the insert tray (9) and the rim (7) of the first the bottom plate (5), and that the detachable connection constitutes a snap coupling .

5. Storage box (1; 1') according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first bottom plate (5; 5'), the rim (7; 7') and the cover (17; 17') are manufactured from a transparent material, preferably acrylic plastic or polystyrene.

6. Storage box (1) according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cover (17) has tongues (19) that are arranged at a distance from the cover, extend parallel to the cover and have their free ends facing towards the centre of the cover (17) .

7. Storage box (1; 1') according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the hinge portion (12; 12') has a recess (18; 18') that receives said limited portion of the circumference of the cover (17; 17') .