WO2005080090A1

WO2005080090A1 - A digital postcard

Info

Publication number: WO2005080090A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000226
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Unterberger
Original assignee: UNTERBERGER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Pty Ltd
Current assignee: UNTERBERGER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2005-02-21
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-20

Abstract

A postcard (1) for an optical storage disc comprising a stiff plastics housing (11), the housing having a recessed land (40) for supporting the disc (30), the recessed land (40) being open along a side edge of said housing (11) whereby the disc (30) may be slid inside the housing (11) and wherein the disc is retained in housing by a closure means for transportation.

Description

A Digital Postcard FIELD The present invention relates to a postcard for holding a compact disc or a digital video disc or other form of digitally stored media and in particular relates to a postcard that releasably holds such discs for transportation through the mail.

BACKGROUND Postcards communicating brief messages and pictures are well known and are commonly used in marketing and promotion of locations such as holiday venues to encourage travel and tourism. A drawback of traditional paper postcards is the small space provided on the postcard for advertising and displaying photographs of the location. Therefore it is desirable to provide a postcard that allows a promoter to provide information and pictures in electronic format on a compact disc or digital video disc. This medium allows for additional static or dynamic images and or information or sound bytes to be played from the disc on an appropriate player, thereby increasing the information that can be conveyed to promote the venue to the recipient. This may be used to bring a more realistic view of the venue or event to the recipient. Additionally, any electronic images can be further adapted into screensavers or transmitted as picture files, so that the promotion reaches a wider audience. The compact disc or digital video disc medium also allows other useful, informative and promotional materials to be provided, such as maps, written information, sound files and the like. Previous attempts have been made to provide suitable packaging for a compact disc that is this enough for it to be mailable, such as in the form of a postcard. For example, a layered substrate with a recessed surface for receiving the compact disc and using an envelope to hold the disc in place has been tried. However, the envelope does not provide positive retention of the disc during transportation and may lead to the disc being dislodged and damaged or may cause information to be lost when the disc is removed from the card. Other postcard designs have included using a peripheral adhesive to hold the disc to the card increasing the likelihood of damaging the information stored on the disc and rendering the disc useless as a result of the adhesive damaging the surface of the written part of the disc. More complex designs have been tried including forming the disc from the card leaving the data carrying portion of the card exposed to damage. Further, it has been attempted to form a button in the card centre to hold the disc in place or layers of substrate overlapping the disc. The manufacture of such postcards is difficult and time consuming, increasing the expense of producing single units. We have found a way to produce a postcard for transporting imaged data on a disc through the mail while protecting the data which substantially ameliorates at least one of the above problems or at least provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a postcard for an optical storage disc comprising a stiff plastics housing, the housing having a recessed land for supporting the disc, the recessed land being open along a side edge of said housing whereby the disc may be slid inside the housing and wherein the disc is retained in said housing by a closure means for transportation. The postcard of the present invention is suitable for the storage and transportation of optical storage discs. Optical storage discs include compact discs, digital video discs and other optical storage media. It will be appreciated that the postcard of the present invention is also suitable for the storage and transportation of other discs of fragile or easily damaged material. The housing, alternatively referred to as the substrate, is generally formed from stiff plastics material so that the disc is protected from damage due to external forces. Also, the formation of the housing from plastics material minimises damage to the data side of the optical storage disc. The housing of the present invention may be made from a variety of plastics materials that provide sufficient stiffness to protect the optical storage disc from damage. The housing is preferably sufficiently stiff such that it can support the disc in a flat condition during postage and prevent the disc from being bent or otherwise damaged when sent by mail. Thus the housing needs to be formed from a reasonably stiff material that resists the urge to bend when force is applied to it. Preferably the housing is formed out of a suitable plastic material. Preferably the rigid substrate is formed from polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene. The housing may preferably extend beyond the periphery of the disc so that force may be absorbed by the housing in preference to the disc. Further if the disc suffers an impact on the display side while the disc is supported in the recessed land, the force of that impact is preferably absorbed by the housing. One means of achieving this result may be to provide a shock absorbing protection layer between the data side of the disc and the recess surface. Preferably, the recessed land may be formed integrally with the housing. In one embodiment, the recessed land may be formed by producing the housing in a layered structure. For example, the housing may be produced in a three layered structure having a pair of opposed outer layers that extend the width and breadth of the postcard with a third, intermediate layer that has a cut out size to receive the optical storage disc. Fixing the three layers together provides a convenient sleeve to receive the optical storage disc. In an alternative embodiment, the housing may be formed from a single piece of injection moulded plastics having an integral hinge allowing the housing to be formed by folding the housing together to form a recessed land there between. Such a configuration may be formed by injection moulding a plastic sheet having, preferably, a pair of centrally disposed integral hinges that will allow the sheet to be folded to form the housing. The region between the integral hinges is preferably sized to define the thickness of the housing. Preferably, the injection moulded sheets includes spacers for maintaining the respective sides of the housing spaced apart to the desired thickness thereby leaving a recessed land of suitable size to receive the optical storage disc. Spacers may be formed from ribs extending from one side of the housing to abut the opposite side when folded or may be positioned to engage with corresponding ridges on each side of the respective sides of the housing. Preferably, the housing may be retained in a closed condition having a sleeve to receive the optical storage disc by snap lock fasteners integrally formed with each side of the housing. One side of the housing may be partially open to expose the display side of the disk such that when A compact disc or digital video disc is inserted into the recess to be supported on the land in the housing, preferably with the data side facing inwards, such that it is substantially protected by the substrate. The disc may be secured in place in the recessed land by one or more adhesive tabs or mechanical fasteners. A receiving address may be written on a writing surface of the substrate so the postcard may be delivered through the mail. A postcard may be provided in the traditional format having an image or advertisement depicted on one side and space for a written message on the other side. Unlike conventional postcards however, further information such as static or dynamic images are stored as data on a disc to be viewed by the receiver. The disc may be in the form of a compact disc or a digital video disc. Information such as informative and promotional materials such as maps, written information, sound files and the like can thus be stored on the disc by the postcard provider. This information can be retrieved from the disc and displayed or played on appropriate player by the recipient. The writing surface may allow for a message and an address of a receiver to be written on the post card. The writing surface is generally flat and may be integrally formed on the housing. Alternatively, a writing area may be formed by applying an adhesive paper to the writing surface on the rigid substrate. Other forms of providing a writing surface may be used such as forming a sleeve in the housing to hold a writing area or enclosing the disc attached to the substrate in an envelope having a writing surface. The display surface may be in the form of an image transposed on the postcard and/or the disc, or advertising paraphernalia, with the disc holding information, such as static or dynamic images, as stored data. The display side of the disc will generally be facing outward of the rigid substrate while the data side will face inward to be protected from damage. The display surface of the substrate may cover a portion or all of the display side of the disc. The data side of the disc may be supported on the depressed land to protect it from damage. The recessed land may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the disc. The recessed land may be formed to closely receive the disc. At least one adhesive tab may be used to hold the disc within the recess in the housing. The at least one adhesive tab may be formed from a frangible material or tamper evident material such as paper with a strong adhesive glue, so that the tab is separated from the substrate or visibly damaged when the disc is removed from the recess. In this way the disc may be tamper-proofed and the tab will indicate when the disc has been removed from the recess. This ensures that a third party cannot interfere with the data stored on the disc. Alternatively, the at least one adhesive tab may be formed from a plastic film with a removable adhesive so that the tab may be removed and reapplied.

The low adhesive characteristics of the at least one tab allow the disc to be removed and replaced in the recess a number of times. This system is useful when the card is intended to be used as a semi-permanent storage device for the disc. The at least one adhesive tab may extend from the display surface on the housing and adhere to the writing side of the housing disc. Mechanical fasteners may include a variety of types of catches or other locking devices that may require frangible opening so that they can only be used once and will act as a tamper evident closure or in another form they may be resealable to allow the optical storage disc to be repackaged within the housing. The recessed land may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the disc. The recessed land may be formed to closely receive the disc. The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG 1 shows a top view of the postcard according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 2 shows a writing surface of the postcard according to an embodiment of the invention: FIG 3 shows a display surface of the postcard according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG 4 shows a plan view of a blank for a postcard according to a second embodiment of the invention; and FIG 5 shows an assembled view of the disc attached to the postcard according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, there is provided a postcard 1 having a writing surface 10 and a display surface 20, the display surface 20 having a recessed land 40 for receiving a disc 30, and at least one adhesive tab 50 extending from the display surface 20 and securing the disc 30 within a recess 60. Referring to figures 2 and 3, the postcard 1 is formed from a rigid substrate 11 capable of supporting a disc 30 and protecting it from bending. Preferably the dimensions of the postcard 1 may be sufficient to extend beyond the periphery of the disc 30 in order to protect all of the data side 31. The postcard 1 may be formed in any desirable shape. The postcard 1 will generally have two surfaces being a display surface 20 and a writing surface 10. The characteristics of the material forming the postcard 1 must be sufficiently stiff to resist bending. Thus the postcard 1 may be formed from a plastic material such as polypropylene, polystyrene or polyethylene or other suitable stiff material. As shown in Figure 2, the rigid substrate 11 may be formed as a flat surface on one side providing a writing surface 10. This writing surface 10 may allow for the postcard 1 to be addressed and personal messages to be written thereupon. Additional space may also be provided for attaching a stamp to cover the postage costs. Adhesive paper may be attached to the surface to provide a writing area, such that a sender can address the postcard 1 using an ordinary writing pen. Other alternatives include providing a special pen for writing on the writing surface 10. As shown in Figure 3, the second surface of the rigid substrate 11 is formed opposite the writing surface 10, as a display surface 20. As shown in Figure 1, the opening 60 may be formed as a pocket 61 to cover all or a portion of the display side of the disc. The recessed land 40 or opening 60 may be formed to conform with the shape of the disc 30 or alternatively may be formed in any other desired shape capable of receiving the disc 30. For example the recessed land 40 or opening 60 may be a geometric shape such as a hexagon or an abstract shape having an internal diameter larger than the periphery of the disc 30. As can be seen in Figure 1, the disc 30 is held in place inside the recessed land 40 by at least one adhesive tab 50. One adhesive tab 50 may be used to contain the disc 30 inside the pocket 61. Figure 4 shows an injection moulded blank for forming into a postcard according to the present invention. The blank 100 is formed from a pair of opposed sides 102 and 117. The writing side 117 includes a land surface 116 for receiving an optical storage disc with the blank 100 in a folded state in cooperation with a corresponding land 101. The blank 100 is formed into a postcard by folding across two integral hinges 109 and 113. The integral hinges 109 and 113 are spaced apart by a spacer 118 that separates the respective halves of the blank 102 and 117 in folded form. The blank 100 includes a peripheral ridge and a series of internal ridges 112, 106, 107, 104 as well as corresponding ridges on the opposite side of the blank that serve to space apart the respective halves of the blank in folded form. The ridges engage with corresponding ridges on the opposed half of the blank to maintain the desired separation. Tabs 110 interlock with apertures 115 to maintain the blank in its folded form. In addition, lugs 114 are received within sleeves 111 to assist in maintain both the spacing and the interlocking of the opposed halves of the blank. The display surface 102 may preferably be transparent and allow the display surface of the optical storage disc to be seem through the postcard. Also, a cut-out defined by periphery 105 allows the disc to be seen through the postcard. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. The term "comprise", or variations of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising", are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

Claims

CLABVIS:

1. A postcard for an optical storage disc comprising a stiff plastics housing, the housing having a recessed land for supporting the disc, the recessed land being open along a side edge of said housing whereby the disc may be slid inside the housing and wherein the disc is retained in said housing by a closure means for transportation.

2. A postcard according to claim 1 wherein the recessed land is formed by producing the housing in a layered structure.

3. A postcard according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a three layered structure having a pair of opposed outer layers that extend the width and breadth of the postcard with a third, intermediate layer that has a cut out size to receive the optical storage disc.

4. A postcard according to claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from a single piece of injection moulded plastics having an integral hinge allowing the housing to be formed by folding the housing together to form a recessed land there between.

5. A postcard according to claim 4 wherein the injection moulded sheet includes spacers for maintaining the respective sides of the housing spaced apart to the desired thickness thereby leaving a recessed land of suitable size to receive the optical storage disc.

6. A postcard according to claim 5 wherein spacers may be formed from ribs extending from one side of the housing to abut the opposite side when folded or may be positioned to engage with corresponding ridges on each side of the respective sides of the housing.

7. A postcard according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein a receiving address may be written on a writing surface of the housing so the postcard may be delivered through the mail.

8. A postcard according to claim 7 wherein the writing surface is formed by applying an adhesive paper to the writing surface on the housing.

9. A postcard according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one adhesive tab is used to hold the disc within the recess in the housing.

10. A postcard according to claim 9 wherein the at least one adhesive tab may be formed from a frangible material or tamper evident material such as paper with a strong adhesive glue, so that the tab is separated from the substrate or visibly damaged when the disc is removed from the recess.

11. A postcard according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the housing is formed from a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene or polystyrene.

12. A postcard according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the optical storage disc is a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DND).