CA2380901A1

CA2380901A1 - Optical disc accommodation case

Info

Publication number: CA2380901A1
Application number: CA002380901A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hiromichi Uchida
Original assignee: Toyo Kagaku Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toyo Kagaku Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-17
Filing date: 2002-04-05
Publication date: 2003-03-17
Also published as: ITTO20020682A0; ITTO20020682A1; GB0221590D0; GB2379922A; CN1409317A; FR2829866B1; FR2829866A1

Abstract

An optical disc accommodating case is provided, which permits quick and smooth accommodation and take-out of optical disc, permits reliable accommodation of the disc without causing contamination or scars and scratches to the disc, and permits coping with an assembling process, in which the disc is automatically loaded by a robot.
A disc holder 3 having an optical disc support 7 has a wall 8 to be in contact with the edge of the optical disc 2 for preventing detachment thereof in the horizontal direction. The wall has lock members for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc. The wall with the lock members is flexible, and the lock members are made to be capable of being warped toward the outer periphery to permit the optical disc to be accommodated in the downward direction in the disc bottom support.

Description

... . ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 _.,.._....
r OPTICAL DISC ACCOMMODATING CASE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to optical disc accommodating cases for accommodating a DVD, a musical compact disc or such an optical disc as a computer CD-ROM and, more particularly, to optical disc accommodating cases, which are contrived such as to permit quick and smooth accommodation or take-out of an optical disc, permits reliable accommodation of an optical disc without causing contamination or damage to the disc and permits automation of the loading of an optical disc in an assembling step.

2. PRIOR ART
A-prior art optical disc accommodating case for accommodating an optical disc comprises a, disc holder for holding the optical disc with the center hole thereof engaged with a boss of the disc holder, a base member for " engaging with~the disc holder and a lid hinged to one side .. of the base member. This optical disc accommodating case is simple in construction and is thus extensively used for accommodating musical compact discs and computer CD-ROMs to be sold. Also, a case for accommodating a DVD has an integral s ructure, in which a holder having the boss and a e' 7 lid capable of being opened and closed are hinged together.
In the meantime, recent mufti-functional high quality recording media such as DVD require players and discs to have higher dimensional accuracy than conventional compact discs. However, in the prior art optical disc accommodateng case for protecting the optical disc, the boss may touch and cause damage, even if slightly, to the inner periphery and the center hole of the disc when the disc is fitted on and removed form the boss of the disc holder. When the inner periphery of the center hole of the optical..disc is damaged even slightly, a clearance is generated between the damaged infer periphery and a spindle for rotating the optical disc, resulting in eccentric rotation of the disc or tilting thereof from the intrinsic plane of rotation. This~poses a fatal problem that it may result in imperfect reading or writing of data from or in the disc.
In addition, in the prior art optical disc the optical disc is accommodated in close contact with the disc holder surfac=~. Therefore, the optical disc is hardly brought to a floating state by pushing, even with a great force, the boss of_ the disc holder which has a spring property for taking hold of and taking out the disc. Therefore, inferior manipulation property in connection with the take-a . .. .. .... .. , , ...... ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 6 r out and accommodation of the optical disc is inevitable.
Furthermore, when taking out the optical disc, the recording area thereof, of which the touching should be avoided as much as possible, is frequently touched by fingers, resulting in generation of scars and scratches or contamination.
The inventor earlier proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-306343 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-1368$9, an optical disc accommodating case, which permits the accommodated optical disc to be very readily taken out,without causing scars and scratches or contamination of the recording portion of the disc, as well as permitting the take-out and accommodation of the disc without causing damage to the very important center hole of the disc.
This prior art optical disc accommodating case is excellent in that it can be conveniently used by the user and is free from the possibility of scars and scratches to the optical disc. However, this optical disc accommodating case has a pxoblem in the automatic loading of the optical disc in it. With musical compact discs or the like, an operation sequence from accommodating the optical disc till packaging is fully automated. More specifically, for loading the optical disc in the case, the disc held by a __.... ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 s v robot is lowered right downward to bring its center hole into engagement with the boss of the optical disc accommodating case. With the above optical disc accommodating case proposed by the inventor, a lock piece for preventing the detachment of the optical disc interferes with the loading, making zt impossible to Load the disc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention accordingly has an. object of providing an optical disc accommodating case, which permits quickly and smoothly accommodating and taking out an optical disc, permits reliably accommodating the disc without causing scars and scratches or contamination and can cope with an assembling operation, in which the optical disc is loaded in automatic,operation by a robot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;

_.. _. _. __.._. _. . . _.. ___ ._..__,.__ . ._._.__..___...._ _.~_.__ ~_,., ...02380901 2002-04-05 r a Fig.-3 is a Fragmentary sectional view showing a lock member in the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a lock member in the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a state before locking the optical disc on lock members;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan~view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in the state before locking the optical disc on the lock members;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a state with the optical disc locked to the lock members;
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a state before locking the optical disc on the hook members;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a state that the optical disc is being locked on the lock members; , Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the r optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in the state that the optical disc is locked on the lock members;
Fig. 1l is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the third embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 14 is a plan view showing the third embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig: l5 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fi.g. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 1? is a fragmentary sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;

ro Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 19 is a plan view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention;
Fig. 20 is a sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in an open state; anal Fig. 2l is a sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a closed state.
Fig._22 is a plan view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention with a disc holder in a front-side position;
Fig. 23 is a plan view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention with the disc holder moved to a stem-side position;
Fig. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention, in which the disc holder is at the front-side position and hooked in hook members;
Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention, in r , which the disc holder has been displaced toward the stem and unhooked from the hook member;
Fig. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention, in which the optical disc is about to be hooked in the disc holder;
Fig. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention, in which the optical disc is hooked in the disc holder;
Fig. 28 is a fragmentary plan view showing the;optical disc accommodating case according to the invention, in which the disc holder is hooked in the optical disc:
Fig. 29 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a closed state, in which the disc holder is at the front-side position;
Fig. 30 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in a closed state, in which the optical disc has moved toward the stem side;
Fig. 31 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention in an opened state; with the relation between a detachment prevention member in a back and an engagement shoulder being _... . .......,__a.r.__.__,.______ ____. __-__.. ___.__:____ .02380901 2002-04-05 -._.__.., y shown in detail; and Fig. 32 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the optical disc accommodating case in a closed state; with the relation between the detachment prevention member in the back and the engagement shoulder being showing in detail.
DETAILED DESCRfPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figs.. 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention.
Referring to Fig. l, reference numeral 1 designates the optical disc accommodating case made of a synthetic resin, which is used for a musical compact disc, a DVD, etc: The optical disc accommodating case 1 comprises a disc holder 3 for detacliably holding an optical. disc 2, a base member 5 with a rear end thereof detachably engaged by a stem 4 of the disc holder 3, and a lid 6 detachably hinged to the rear end of the base member 5 for opening and closing the base member 5, i.e., the top of the optical disc 2. The base member 5 and the lid 6 together constitute a casing.
The disc holder 3 includes a stem 4 detachably engaging with the rear end of the base member 5 and a disc bottom support 7, which is integral with or a separate member from the stem 4 and can hold the optical disc 2 in a forwardly upwardly tilted state. The disc bottom support 7 . _ ..._._... . ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 r extends in an upwardly tilted state form the stem 4 relative to the base member 5 into the space therein. The disc bottom support 7 is made of an appropriate flexible synthetic resin so that it is vertically lockable and can be accommodated in the casing with the lid 6 in the closed state.
Specifically, when the lid 6 is open, the disc holder 3, which is flexible such that it is vertically lockable about the stem 4 as fulcrum and biased to a forwardly upwardly tilted state, extends in the forwardly upwardly tilted state from the stem 4 to the front end in the space of the base member 5, and holds the accommodated optical disc 2 in a tilted state to permit the optical disc 2 to be suitably taken out and accommodated. By closing the lid 6 into engagement with the base member 5, the disc holder 3 is pushed down by the lid 6, and thus it is accommodated in the optical,disc accommodating case 1.
The disc holder 3 has a disc bottom support 7 formed on top of its front end portion. The disc bottom support 7 has a diametrical dimension such that it can support the optical disc 2 in contact with more than one half of the edge of the disc 2. To prevent detachment of the optical disc 2 toward the stem 4, the disc bottom support 7 also has a wall 8 provided as a single member or a plurality of ... . ._._._._.._...._..._,. .__,...._'02380901 2002-04-05 divisions (i.e., two divisions in this embodiment) on the stem side such as to be in contact with part of the edge of the optical disc 2. Also, to prevent detachment of the optical disc 2 upward form its top, the disc bottom support 7 has.three, i.e., opposite end and central, lock members 9 such as to extend over its top for clamping part of the edge of the optical disc 2 in cooperation with a ridge l0.
As shown in Figs. 3'and 4, the lock members 9 each have an end locking portion 9a. Tn order that the lock members 9 are capable of flexing in the circumferential direction of the opticaldisc, each lock member 9 has its one side separated from the wall 8. (Fig. 4 shows the end lock member at an end, so that no separated wall is present.) The other side wall 8 is formed with a thin flexible portion 9b, which is formed by cutting off a lower wall portion so that it is spaced apart from the disc bottom support 7. As shown i.n Figs: 8 to 10, each end locking portion 9a has an upper taper poxtion 9c downwardly tapered (with either a curved or a strafight cross-sectional profile) toward the inner periphery of the optical disc 2.
When the end locking portion.9a is touched by the edge of the optical disc 2 being lowered, it is flexed toward the optical disc edge to let the optical disc 2 be continually lowered. The bottom of the taper portion 9c is constituted .._... . - ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 r _ by a stepped locking surface 9d substantially parallel to the accommodated optical disc top, thus holding the optical disc 2 ,once locked to be held in this state without being upwardly detached.
The ridge,l0 noted above is provided on the top of the disc bottom support 7 slightly on the inner side of the wall 8. The ridge 10 has a triangular cross-sectional profile so that it can be in contact with only the edge of the optical disc 2, i.e., a non-recording portion thereof, thus avoiding damage to the recording portion of the optical disc 2 due to otherwise possible contact with the top of the disc bottom support 7. The central portion of the disc bottom support 7 is greatly notched from the front end portion because is is not in contact with the optical disc 2 and also has no bearing on the accommodation and takeout of the disc 2.
The front end portion of the disc bottom support 7 has opposite .side stoppers 1l to prevent detachment of the optical disc 2 in the forward direction. The stoppexs 11 have a height level greater than the wall 8 so that the optical disc 2 can be taken out by moving the disc 2 in an upward direction toward the front such as to raise the front portion of the disc 2.
In the optical disc accommodating case 1 having the ______r__ ..... . .. -_. _ .... ._,_..... _..,_.._.._ _..,- -r-..... ----~~.~02380901 2002-04-05 above construction according to the invention, the optical disc 2 is loaded in the disc bottom support 7 in the same manner as in the prior art optical disc accommodating case as described before. Specifically, the optical disc 2 held in a forwardly downwardly tilted state is moved in a forwardly downward direction toward the stem of the disc bottom support ?. When the leading portion of the optical disc 2 strikes the wall 8, the disc 2 has cleared the stoppers 11, By lowering in this state the trailing portion of the optical disc 2 into contact with the disc bottom support 7, the disc 2 is loaded in the disc bottom support 7. Consequently, the optical disc 2 is prevented by the wall 8 and the lock members 9 from being detached toward the stem, and it is also prevented by the stoppers 11 from being detached toward the front end.
In the case of automatic loading of the optical dis c with a robot, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the optical disc 2 is first held at a position above the disc bottom support ?
such that it is parallel thereto. Then, the optical disc 2 is lowered right downward. Then, when the edge of the optical di c 2 strikes the taper portions 9c of the lock members 9, the end locking portions 9a pushed by the disc 2 and flexed circumferentially upward wa_th warping of the flexible portions 9b. The optical disc 2 is continually lowered, and when it strikes the top of the disc bottom support 7, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, the end locking portions 9a no longer receive pushing force by the optical disc 2, and are returned circumferentially inwardly of the disc 2 to restore the initial positions. Thus, the stepped locking surfaces 9d are thus hooked on the top of the edge of the optical disc 2, and the disc 2 is thus loaded in'the disc bottom support 7 so as to be prevented from being detachment. Reference numeral 12 designates notches which are necessary for forming the flexible portions 9b of the lock members 9.
When sking'out the optical disc 2 from the disc bottom support 7, as in the prior art optical disc accommodating case described above, the disc 2 is taken hold of between the front end portion and the periphery cif the center hole 2a, the front end of the disc 2 is.then raised to a height level above the stoppers 11, and in this state the disc 2 is moved in an upwardly slant direction toward the front. In this way, the optical disc 2 can be readily taken out.
Fig. 11 shows a second embodiment of the optical disc accommodating ease according to the invention, which is mainly used.for DVD. This optical disc accommodating case 13 has an integral structure, in which a base member l4 and - . 14 .. _._,.._.___......._ _.. ._......_.._._..... . ._._....__ _._..__.._... .
x.02380901 2002-04-05 _... . , a lid 15 are hinged together along one side such that the lid 15 can open and close the base member 14. On the inner surface of the base member 14, an integral disc holder l6 is disposed such that it is biased by it flexible stem 17 to extend in a forwardly upwardly tilted state toward the space in the base member 14 arid that the extending portion is vertically lockable. The disc holder l6 has a disc support 7 of the same structure as in the previous first embodiment for detachably holding;an optical disc 2.
In this optical disc accommodating case 13, when the lid 15 is opened in the state that the optical disc 2 is accommodated in the case, the disc holder 16 is raised by the biasing force of the flexible stem 17 to be held in a state tilted by about 10- to 30 degrees in the space of the base member l4: In this state, the edge of a front end portion of the optical disc 2 and the inner periphery of the center hole of the di c 2 can be readily taken hold of by two fingers without touching the recording surface of the disc ~. The optical disc 2 can be readily taken out from,the disc holder 16 by raising the front end of the disc 2 and pulling the disc 2 toward the front end thereof so that the disc 2 clears stoppers 11. Reference numeral 18 designates a substantially cylindrical disc center hole fitting member for preventing detachment of the optical x disc 2 from'the disc support 7 when a great shock is exerted to the optical disc accommodating case 13. The disc center hole fitting member 18 may be dispensed with if it interferes with the accommodation of an instruction manual or the like inside the lid 15.
Fig. l2 shows a third embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention. In the preceding two embodiments of the optical disc accommodating case, the disc holder has its stem disposed in the ease at a fixed position thereof and always held in an upwardly tilted state. In this embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case 19, however, a disc holder 22 is slidably disposed in a casing, which comprises a base member 20 and a lid 21 covering the same, and projects from an opening 23 formed in the casing at the front end thereof.
The top of the disc holder 22 has a disc bottom support 7, which is the same as in the previous two embodiments, and can detachably hold an optical disc 2.
The disc holder top also has a ridge 10 having a cross-sectional profile, which is adapted to be in contact with a non-recording edge part of the optical disc 2 so as not cause damage to the recording part thereof. The disc holder top further has a wall 8 provided on the stem side of the disc bottom support 7 surface such as to be in .-02380901 2002-04-05 - -.........
t T
contact with the edge of the optical disc 2 for preventing the detachment thereof in the stem-ward direction. The wall 8 has three hooks 9 extending above the disc bottom support 7 and co-operating with the ridge 10 to clamp the edge of the optical disc 2 for preventing upward detachment thereof from the top of the disc bottom support 7. The disc bottom'support 7 has front end stoppers 11 provided on both sides for preventing detachment of the optical disc 2 in the forward direction. The disc bottom support also has an integral inverse T-shaped front end extension 24. At the front end of the front end extension 24, a lid member 25 for covering the opening 23 is provided as an integral or separate part.
As shown in Fig. 14, the opposite side inner surfaces of the base member 20, in which the disc holder 22 is slidable, have slightly stepped portions 26 for reducing the area of contact of the disc holder 22 and the base member 20 with each other and thus permitting smoother sliding of the disc holder 22. The opposite side-inner _ surfaces of the lid 21 have four hooks 27 for accommodating a jacket, a liner note, a manual, etc. concerning the accommodated optical disc. The opposite sides of the lid 21 also have guides 28, which each stride the two hooks 27 on each side of the lid 21 and face the opposite side edges ..... ... ,,...... . ,. , .:...,.. . ."........ ...,..~,-02380901 2002-04-05 __.._, ________"....__..._.
r X
of the disc holder 22 slidable in the base member 20 for permitting smooth sliding of the disc holder 22 in the base member 20 ove r the bottom thereof. The guides 28 each define with the bottom of the base member 20 a guide gap 29 having a width dimension slightly greater than the thickness of the disc holder 22. With the opposite side inner guide gaps 29 having a fixed width dimension forme d in the casing, the disc holder 22 slide along the guide gaps 29 without being ,tilted, .rattling or being caught but in a stable state.
Reference numeral 30 designates an elastic spring part integral with the rear end of the disc holder 22. The spring part 3O is adapted to push the rear end wall of the base member 22 and thus bias the disc holder 22 in the direction to project out of the opening 23. Lest the disc holder 22 should be detached through the opening 23, at least one of the stepped portions 26 has a raised portion formed on the opening side end and thus acts as a stopger.
A stepped portion formed in an intermediate part of at least one side wall of the disc holder 22 is adapted to be in contact with the above stopper.
Referring to Fi.g. 13, reference numeral 3l designates a lock means fox locking the disc holder 22 in the casing.
The lock means 31 has a locking portion 32 projecting from 1f r one inner side surface of the base member 20 and a lock piece 33 provided on one side of a rear part of the disc holder 22: The lock piece 33 has a stem portion secured to the disc holder 22, and its remainder partion is elongate, flexible and capable of being flexed in the plane of the disc holder 22 when biased. When not biased, the free end of the flexible portion is held hooked on the hooking portion 32.
Reference numeral 34 designates a lock release member for inwardly pushing the free end of the flexible portion of the lock piece 33. The lock release member 34 is a flexible operable part, which can project into the base member 20 when its finger-touch end portion is pushed.
When-the free end of the lock release member 34 is pushed in the releasing direction with the disc holder 22 held locked in the base member 20, the free end of the flexible portion having been held locked on the locking portion 32 clears the locking portion 32: Thus, the disc holder 22 which is biased by the spring part 30, projects out of the - opening 23. To lock the disc holder 22 in the base member 20, the lid member 25 projecting out of the opening 23 is pushed in the direction of accommodating the disc holder 22.
Doing so causes the free end of the flexible portion of the lock piece 33 to be moved along the locking portion 32 ... . ... . ....... _.. ..______._ ... . _.._.. ._.,.. .. .. ..__~ .. . .
..,.02380901 2002-04-05 ~_ . _.._.w-..w,.,..
> y while being flexed by the slant ide surface thereof until it clears the locking portion, whereupon it no longer receives biasing force of the slant side surface of the locking piece 32. As a result, the free end restores its initial position. Now; the pushing of the disc holder 22 into the base member 20 may be discontinued, while the end of the flexible portion has been held locked on the locking portion 32. Thus, the disc holder 22 is held in its locked state in the base member 20.
Figs. 15 to 21 show a fourth embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case according to the rovenoon. This optical disc accommodating case 35, like the previous second embodiment, is mainly used for DUD, and particularly it has a construction, which is made more suitable to the robot operation of the assembling process which is important for this type of optical disc accommodating case.
In the robot operation of the assembling process of accommodating an optical disc in an optical disc accommodating case and packing the resultant case, the disc holder should pass through a gap with a height of about 10 mm in a state that a lid is held open. This means that the front end of the disc holder should not be raised from the base. member top. This embodiment meets this requirement.
Nevertheless; the embodiment has a construction capable of ~ 02380901 2002-04-05 being readily handled by the user in that the front end of the disc holder is vertically moved as the lid is opened and closed.
The optical disc accommodating case 35 has an integral structure; in which a base member 36 and a lid 37 are hinged together along one side such that the lid 37 can open and close the base member 36. The base member 36 has two lock members 39 formed on its inner surface for detachably engaging with two portions of the front end of the disc holder 38. The base member 36 also has two engaging members 40 formed on its inner surface for detachably engaging with opposite side portions of the stem 38a of the disc holder 38, which is separate from the base member 36. By lowering the disc holder 38 as shown in Fig.
16, its front end and stem 38a can be readily engaged with the lock members 39 and the engagement members 40, respectively. Reference numeral 4l designates a stopper 'member provided on the inner surface of the base member 36 to prevent excessive downward flexing of the disc holder 38.
The stopper member 36 is disposed at a position to be in contact with the bottom surface of the front end of the disc holder 38.
The lock members 39 each have a partly arched wall structure having a locking pawl formed on the inner side, and also have a function of reliably preventing the accommodated optical disc from being detached in the forwand direction by a shock or the like with the'front end of the disc holder 38 held engaged with the lock members 39.
When the person who bought the optical disc opens the optical disc accommodating case 35 and pushes the stem 38a of the disc holder 38 in the state shown in Fig. 17 to the right, the- disc holder 38 as a whole is slightly moved to the right, and its front end is detached from the lock members 39 so that it is raised. Specifically, in the state that: the stem 38a of the disc holder 38 is engaged with the engagement members 40, like each of the above embodiments,. the disc holder 38 which is vertically lockable about its flexible stem 38a as fulcrum, is extends in a forwardly upwardly tilted state at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees.
Qnce the front end of the disc holder 38 has been detached farm the lock members 39, by opening the.lid 37 it is raised to facilitate the-accommodation and take-out of the optical disc, and by closing the lid 37 it is downwardly tilted so that the disc holder 38 is suitably accommodated. The other components than those described above, i:e:, disc bottom support 7, wall 8, lock members 9 having locking end portions 9a, flexible portions 9b, taper portions 9c and stepped locking surface 9d, ridge l0 and stoppers 11, are the same as in the other embodiments described before. However, while in the other embodiments three lock members 9 are formed on the wall 8, in this embodiment only two, i.e., left and right, lock members are provided to simplify the construction. Even with the two lock members 9, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the upward detachment of the optical disc: In addition, when locking end portions 9a are touched by the edge of the lowered optical disc 2, they are flexed circumferentially of the disc; while the locking portions 9d at the lower end of the taper portions 9c prevent upward detachment of the optical disc having been once locked.
Figs. 19 to 21 show a disc retainer structure for preventing the detachment of the accommodated disc 2 from the disc holder 38 due to a shock of fall or the'like, if any, in the state that the base member 36 is held covered by the lid 37. As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, two disc retainer members 42 axe provided on a back portion of the inner surface of the optical disc accommodating case 35 and a front end portion of the lid 37. In the state that the base member 36 is covered by the lid 37, as shown in Fig.
21; opposite end portions of the optical disc 2 are held downwards, whereby detachment of the optical disc 2 from w the disc holder 38 can be reliably prevented.
While the above embodiments have been described in connection with the structure that the flexible portions 9b of the lock members 9 extend in lateral direction parallel to the top of the disc bottom support 7, but other structures are also conceivable. specifically, it is also possible to conceive a structure that the flexible portions 9b of the lock members 9 extend upright from the top of the disc bottom support 7 such as to be flexible in the vertical direction: However, for securing sufficient flexibility of the flexible portions, a certain fixed length is necessary. With the structure that the flexible portions extend in the lateral direction, it is possible to freely set: the length of the flexible portions. With the flexible portions extending upright,. however, limitation is imposed by, the thickness direction dimension of the inner space of the casing, and it is difficult to ensure sufficient,leng h. Thus, it is preferable to adopt the structure that the flexible portions 9b of the lock members 9 extent in the lateral direction parallel to the top of the disc bottom support 7 as in the above individual embodiments.
Figs. 22 to 32 show the optical disc accommodating case according to the invention. Referring to the Figures, ..,_._.,..__.._~__-.._.__._.__-......_ .:.....,~ ~ .- ., . . . --02380901'2002-04-05 . . . _ reference numeral 43 designates the optical disc accommodating cases made of a synthetic resin, which is mainly used for DVDs, musical compact discs, etc. The optical disc accommodating case 43 comprises a disc holder 44 for detachably holding an optical disc 2 and a disc case 45. The disc case 45 has an integral structure having a case body 47 for having the stem 46 of the disc holder 44 detachably engaged in one side, a lid 48 for opening and closing the top of the disc holder 44 and being engaged with the case body 47 in the closed state, and a back 49 intervening between the case body 47 and the lid 48. The disc case 45:has a hinge structure such that the case body 47 and the lid 48 are foldable over to each other along the boundaries thereof with the back 49. The lid 48 can engage with and hold the ease body 47, and can hold the closed state.
This.embodiment of the optical disc accommodating case 43 features that a structure which is applicable to a by-robot assembling process which is important for this type of optical disc accommodating cases. In the by-robot assembling process of loading and packing opfiical discs in optical disc accommodating cases, each optical disc accommodating case 1 should pass, with the lid 48 in the opened state, through a gap with a height of about 10 mm. To this end, the disc holder 44 should be held in close contact with the case body surface without rising wherefrom of its front side part and be able to reliably hold the optical disc 2 being lowered. Besides, in the use of the optical disc accommodating case by the user, the front side part of the disc holder 44 should be moved up and down in response to opening and closing of the lid, thus facilitating the accommodation and take-out of the optical disc.
In this embodiment, accordingly, the inner surface of the case body 47 of the disc case 45 has two protruding hook members 50 with hooks 50a for detachably and horizontally movably hooking the front side part of the disc holder 44 and also two protruding engaging members 51 for detachably and horizontally movably engaging with the stem 46 of the disc holder 44. As shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the disc holder 44 is movable back and forth relative to the engaging members 51.
Fig. 22 shows the disc holder 44 at a position brought to by displacement toward the front side. This position is determined by taking the course from the automatic or by-robot assembling process of optical disc loading to the sales shop into considerations. At this position, as shown in Fig. 24, the front side part of the disc holder 44 hooked by hooks 50a of the hook members 50, and the disc holder 44 is held substantially in close contact and parallel with the case body 47. Furthermore, the front side part of the optical disc 2 is held in close proximity of arched parts of the hook members 50 with a slight gap of 1 mm or below. The optical disc 2 is thus c prevented from being detached toward the front side during transport or due to such cause as a shock exerted at, the time of a fall .
When the purchaser of the optical disc opens the disc case and pulls the stem 46 of the disc holder 44 at the position shown in Fig. 22 toward the rear side opposite the front side noted above (i.e., toward the stem side), the disc holder 44 is displaced about 2 to 4 mm toward the stem side.
As a result, the front side part of the disc holder 44 is detached from the hooks 50a of the hook members 50 and, as shown in Fig. 25; is raised to an upwardly tilted relative to the stern 46 as a fulcrum by an angle of about 2 to 30 degrees, thus facilitating the insertion and accommodation of the optical disc by the user: This takes place because the disc holder 44 is formed such that the front side part thereof assumed the raised or tilted state when the stem 46 is held horizontally. With this arrangement, the disc holder 44 is moved up and down with flexibility in response to opening and closing of the lid. best the disc holder 44 should be excessively flexed downward, stoppers 52 may be provided on the inner surface of the case body 47 at positions to be in contact with the bo tom surface of the disc holder 44.
When the lid 48 of the disc case 45 is opened and engaged with the case body 47, detachment prevention members 53 and 54, i respectively; provided on the lid 48 and the back 49 shown in Fig. 22, respectively, are brought to the proximity of the top surface of the optical disc 2 (as shown in Figs. 29 and 30), thus preventing upward detachment of the optical disc 2. The detachment prevention members 53 and 54 have protruding displacement prevention engaging portions 53a and 54a, respectively, for being engaged in grooves formed in engagement shoulders 55 and 56 provided on the opposite sides of the front side part of the disc holder 44, thus preventing horizontal displacement thereof. More specifically, with the front side part of the disc holder 44 hooked by the hooks 50a of the hook members 50 (or with the disc holder 44 at that position and detached and raised from the hooks 50a), as shown in Fig. 22, .
by closing the lid 48, as shown. in Fig. 29, a displacement prevention engaging portion 53a pushes the engagement shoulder 55 (or the detachment prevention member 53 may push the top of the engagement shoulder 55), and also the displacement prevention engaging portion 53a is engaged in,a first groove 55a in the engagement shoulder 55. Likewise, as shown in Fig.
32, a displacement prevention engaging portion 54a pushes the engagement shoulder 56 (or the detachment prevention member 54 may push the top of the engagement shoulder 56}, and also the displacement prevention engaging portion 59a is engaged in a first groove 56a in the engagement shoulder 56. Thus, when a force tending to raise the optical: disc 2 or the disc holder 44 is exerted in the closed state of the disc case, the detachment prevention member 54 remains to be held at its position in close proximity of the engagement shoulder 56 and the top surface of the optical disc 2. Thus; the disc holder 44 is held hooked by the hooks 50a; and the optical disc 2 is not detached from the disc holder 44.
With the front side part of the. disc holder 44 detached from the hooks 50a of the hook members 50 and able to be vertically tilted and de-tilted, as shown in Fig. 23, by closing the lid 48, as shown in Fig. 30, the displacement prevention engaging portion 53a pushes the engagement shoulder w 55 (or the detachment prevention member 53 may push the top of the engagement shoulder 55), and also the displacement prevention engaging portion 53a is engaged in a second groove 55b in the engagement shoulder 55. Likewise, the displacement prevention engaging portion 54a pushes the engagement shoulder 5& (or the detachment prevention member 54 may push the top of the engagement shoulder 5fi), and also the displacement prevention engaging portion 54a is engaged in a second groove 56b in the engagement shoulder 56. Thus, with the case body 47 closed by the lid 48, the optical disc 2 is reliably secured to the disc holder 44 both vertically (by the detachment prevention members 53 and 54 including the displacement w prevention: engaging portions 53a and 54a) and horizontally (by the displacement prevention engaging portions 53a and 54a (and.
also by the hook members 50)j. The optical disc 2 is thus not possibly detached from the disc holder even when a shock due to a fall or like cause is exerted to the disc case.
The disc holder 44 includes, in addition to the stem 46 detachably engaged in engagement members 51 of the case body 47, a vertically lockable flexible disc support 57 extending obliquely upward from the stem 46. The disc support 57 has, for preventing detachment of the optical. disc 2 toward the stem 46, a wall member_58 provided on its stem side of the disc support 57 in a plurality of (i:e., two in this embodiment) divisions for being in contact with the edge of the disc 2.
The wall member 58 has, for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc 2 from the disc support 57, three, i.e., one central and two opposite end, hook members 59 protruding toward the center of the disc support 57 and having end hooks 59a for clamping the edge of the disc 2. Lest the recording part of the optical disc 2 should touch and be damaged by the surface of the disc support 57, a disc edge support member 60 having a triangular cross-sectional profile is provided slightly inside the wall member 58 and extends to cover more than one half of the edge of the disc 2 forbeing in contact with the non-recording part edge of the bottom surface of the disc 2 and r v holding the disc 2 in a raised state. The disc edge support member 60 has its inner side portion located underneath the optical disc 2 such as to be free from contact therewith, and its central portion which is irrelevant to the accommodation and take-out of the disc 2 and inclusive of a front side portion is greatly notched away.
The hook members 59, as shown in Figs. 26 and 28, each has, in addition to the end hook 59a for clamping the edge of the optical disc 2, a thin plate-like flexing portion 59b capable of horizontally warping for having.the end hook 59a flex in the direction of the disc edge. The flexing portion 59a has one end separated from the wall member 58 and has a predetermined length to have the lower end of the end hook 59a separated from the disc support 57. The end hook 59a, as shown in Fig. 2&, has an upper taper (either curved or straight) tapering downward toward the edge of the optical disc 2: When the edge of the optical disc 2 being lowered is brought into contact with it, the end hook 59a is thus flexed by the edge of the disc 2 to permit continual lowering of the disc 2. The taper has a'horizontal bottom shoulder to prevent upward detachment of the optical disc 2 once hooked.
The front Side part of the disc support 57 has stoppers 6l projecting from its opposite ends for preventing detachment of the optical disc 2 toward the front side. The stoppers 61 have a greater height than the wall member 58, and thus permit the optical disc 2 to be taken out by raising the front side part thereof and moving this part obliquely upward.
In the optical disc accommodating case 43 having the above structure according to the invention, the operation of loading the optical disc 2 in the disc support 57 is as follows.
Normally, like the optical disc accommodating case as described above, the;optical disc 2 is held in a forwardly downwardly tilted state and moved obliquely downward toward the stem of the disc support 57. When the front side part of the optical disc 2 is brought into contact with the wall member 58, the disc 2 has already cleared the stoppers 61. The rear side part of the optical disc 2 in this state is then lowered toward the disc support 57, whereby the disc 2 is loaded in the disc support 57. Thus, the stem side part of the optical disc 2 is prevented by the wall member 58 and the hook;members 59 from being detached, while the front side part of the disc 2 is prevented by the stoppers 61 from being detached.
For automatically or by-robot loading the optical disc 2, as shown in Fig. 26; the disc 2 is held at a position above and parallel with the disc support 57 and 'then lowered right downward. Then, when the edge of the optical disc 2 is brought into contact with the taper of the hook members 59, the end hooks 18a are pushed by the disc 2 and, as shown in Fig. 28, . ~r and the hook members 59 are flexed in the disc edge direction with warping,of the flexing parts. When. the optical disc 2 is further lowered into contact with the disc edge support member 60, the biasing force of pushing the disc 2 vanishes. Thus, as shown in Fig: 26, the end hooks 59a are restored toward the optical disc 2, i.e., to the initial position. Thus, the hook shoulders of the hook members 59 are hooked on the edge top of the optical disc 2, and the disc 2 is thus loaded in the disc support 57 so that it is prevented from being detached.
The operation of taking out the optical disc 2 form the disc support 57 is as follows. Like the optical disc accommodating case described above, by holding the portion of the optical disc 2 between a front side part of the disc 2 and the center hole 2a thereof, the front side part of the disc 2 is raised to a height beyond the stoppers 61. In this state, the optical disc 2. is moved obliquely upward toward the front side. In this way, the optical disc 2 can be readily taken out.
The above embodiment has been described in connection with the structure the detachment prevention members and displacement prevention engaging portions are provided in the lid and the back,, respectively: However, this structure is by no means limitative~ for instance; it is possible to provide detachment prevention member and displacement prevention engaging portion in the lid on both sides thereof, respectively.

a As has been described in the foregoing, according to the invention an excellent optical disc accommodating case can be obtained, which permits conveniently taking hold of optical disc, permits very readily taking out and accommodating the disc and permit readily taking out and accommodating t'he optical disc without possibility of causing damage to the important center bola of the disc:
In addition, it is possible to realize automatic loading of the optical disc in an assembling process, thus greatly logical the assembling process.
The optical disc accommodating ease comprises the casing having the lid capable of being opened and closed and the disc holder, which can removably hold the optical disc in the casing and is flexible such that its stem is held in the casing and that it is vertically lockable to be held in an upwardly tilted state toward the front in the casing. The front end of the disc holder is thus vertically lockable in response to the opening and closing of the lid of the casing, and the casing has the lock members for detachably holding the front end of the disc holder on the bottom of tha casing. The optical disc accommodating case thus can be reliably applied to an assembling process by a robot, in which the optical disc is assembled in the optical disc accommodating case by causing the front end of the disc holder to be locked on the lock members. Also, a construction is obtainable, which can be conveniently used by the use r such that the front end of the disc holder is vertically rocked in response to the opening and closing of the lid.
Further; the stem of the thsc holder is capable of being displaced relative to the engaging part in the disc case, with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the stem side part of the disc holder is released and spaced apart from the hook part provided on the bottom surface of the disc case so as to be vertically rocked with flexibility in response to the opening an'd closing of the lid such as to be raised to an obliquely upwardly tilted state, and with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the front side part of the disc holder is hooked by the hook part and held on the bottom surface of the disc case. Thus, the invention is reliably applicable to a by-robot assembling process of assembling the optical disc in the disc holder. In addition, the structure that with the disc holder at the position brought'to by displacement toward the stem side of the disc holder is spaced apart from the hook part to permit vertical rocking of the front side part of the disc holder in response to opening and closing of the lid such as rising of the front side part of the disc holder to an upwardly tilted state, permits ready and convenient insertion of the optical disc by the user.
Furthermore, the disc holder has the wall, which is provided on the stem side and can hold the corresponding side of the accommodated optical disc, and also has the stoppers, which is provided on the side opposite the wall and permits the disc to be freely taken out in an upwardly slant direction while preventing detachment of the disc in the horizontal direction. Thus, the optical disc accommodated in the optical disc accommodating case can be reliably held without possibility of occasionally detached in the horizontal direction, and can also be readily taken out by moving it in an upwardly slant direction such that it clears the stoppers.
Further, the wall has the lock members provided at its opposite ends for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc, and lower portions of the end portions of the wail are cut away to eparate the end portions from the disc bottom support such that the end locking portions of the lock members can be freely brought into contact with and spaced apart from the edge of the optical disc. It is thus possible to set the length of the flexible portions of the lock members as desired so that the lock members are softly flexed to permit suitable loading of the optical dlSC.
Further,, the end locking portions of the lock members have taper portions tapering downward toward the inner periphery of the optical disc. When the optical disc being lowered toward the optical disc accommodating case strikes the taper portions, the end locking portions are readily flexed toward the outer periphery to reliably guide the disc to the disc bottom support.
Further, the taper portions of the end locking y portions have the stepped bottom surfaces extending substantially parallel with the accommodated optical disc top. Thus when the optical disc being lowered toward tha optical disc accommodating case clears the taper portions of the end locking portions, its edge is locked by the bottom surfaces of the taper portions and prevented from being upwardly detached.
Further, the disc holder can slide in the casing and project from the opening of the casing formed on the front end side of the optical disc. Thus, the optical disc can be taken out wiahout need of operation of opening the lid of the casing with both hands.
Also, the back has a detachment prevention part to be located over the optical disc for preventing upward detachment thereof from he disc holder at the time of closing the lid, and the lid has a detachment prevention engagement part to engage with the disc holder for preventing displacement to the disc holder in horizontal directions in the disc case. Thus, it is possible to prevent the upward detachment of the optical disc and the disc holder holding the disc and permit reliable holding by engagement of the disc holder holding the optical disc without any horizontal displacement in the disc case.
Furthermore, at the time of closing the lid the displacement prevention engagement part engaged with their disc holder at a position thereof brought to by displacement toward the stern side and also at a position thereof brought to by displacement toward the front side. Thus, in any case such as the manufacturing/a'ssembling stage, the circulation stage and the stage of use by the user, it is possible to ensure reliable holding by engagement of the disc holder in the disc case and reliably prevent detachment of the optical disc.

Claims

1. An optical disc accommodating case comprising a casing, and a disc holder for detachably holding an optical disc in the casing, the disc holder having a disc bottom support and also having one end secured to the inside of the casing and a portion extending such as to be held in an upwardly tilted state toward the other end in the space of the casing, the extending portion being flexible and vertically lockable, the disc bottom support having a wall to be in contact with the edge of the optical disc for preventing detachment thereof in the horizontal direction thereof, the wall having lock members for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc, the lock member being capable of being warped toward the outer periphery so as to permit the optical disc to be accommodated in the downward direction in the disc bottom support.

2. An optical disc accommodating case comprising a casing having a lid capable of being opened and closed, and a disc holder for detachably holding an optical disc in the casing, the disc holder being flexible such that its stem portion is held in the casing and having a portion extending such as to be held in an upwardly tilted state toward the other end in the space of the casing, the disc holder having the front end capable of being vertically rocked in response to the opening and closing of the lid of the casing, the casing having a lock member for detachably holding the front end of the disc holder on the bottom of the casing.

3. An optical disc accommodating case comprising a disc case having a lid capable of being opened and closed and a disc holder having a stem mounted in an engaging part in the disc case and a front side part for detachably holding the edge of an optical disc, wherein the stem of the disc holder is capable of being displaced relative to the engaging part in the disc case, with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the stem side part of the disc holder is released and spaced apart from a hook part provided on the bottom surface of the disc case so as to be vertically rocked with flexibility in response to opening and closing of the lid such as to be raised to an obliquely upwardly tilted state, and with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the front side part of the disc holder is hooked by the hook part and held on the bottom surface of the disc case.

4. An optical disc accommodating case comprising a disc case having a lid capable of being opened and closed and a disc holder having a stem mounted in an engaging part in the disc case and a front side part for detachably holding the edge of an optical disc, wherein the disc holder includes a disc support for supporting the bottom edge of the optical disc, a wall member to be in contact with the edge of the optical disc for preventing detachment of the optical disc in horizontal directions and a hook part protruding from the wall member such as to prevent upward detachment of the accommodated optical disc, the stem of the disc holder is capable of being displaced relative to the engaging part in the disc case, with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the stem side part of the disc holder is released and spaced apart from a hook part provided on the bottom surface of the disc case so as to be vertically rocked with flexibility in response to opening and closing of the lid such as to be raised to an obliquely upwardly tilted state, and with the disc holder at a position brought to by displacement toward the front side part of the disc holder is hooked by the hook part and held on the bottom surface of the disc case.

5. The optical disc accommodating disc according to claim 2, wherein the disc holder has a disc bottom support having a wall to be in contact with the edge of an optical disc for preventing detachment of the optical disc in the horizontal direction, the wall having lock members for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc, the lock members being capable of being warped toward the outer periphery so as to permit the optical disc to be accommodated in the downward direction in the disc bottom support.

6. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 1 and 3, wherein the wall having the hook members are formed on one end of the disc holder and capable of holding one end of the optical disc, the disc holder also having stoppers provided on the other end for preventing detachment of the optical disc in the horizontal direction while permitting the optical disc to be freely taken out in an upwardly slant direction.

7. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 1 and 3, wherein the lock members for preventing upward detachment of the optical disc are formed on the wall at the ends thereof, and lower potions of the end portions of the wall are cut away so that the end portions are spaced apart from the disc bottom support and that the end locking portions for locking the edge of the disc can be brought into contact with and separated from the edge of the disc.

8. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 1 and 3, wherein the end locking portions of the lock members have taper portions tapering downward toward the inner periphery of the optical disc.

9. The optical disc accommodating case according to claim 5, wherein the taper portions of the end locking portions have stepped bottom surfaces substantially parallel with the accommodated optical disc top.

10. The optical disc accommodating case according to claim 1, wherein the disc holder is capable of sliding in the casing and projecting out of an opening formed in the casing at an end thereof in the front end side of the optical disc.

11. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the lid has a detachment prevention part to be located over the optical disc, for preventing upward detachment thereof from the disc holder at the time of its closing and a displacement prevention engagement part to engage with the disc holder for preventing displacement thereof in horizontal directions in the disc case.

12. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 3, 4 and 11, wherein the disc case includes a case body, a lid engaged with the case body such as to be opened and closed and a back intervening between the case body and the lid, the back has a detachment prevention part to be located over the optical disc for preventing upward detachment thereof from the disc holder at the time of closing the lid, and the lid has a displacement prevention engagement part to engage with the disc holder for preventing displacement of the disc holder in horizontal directions in the disc case.

13. The optical disc accommodating case according to one of claims 11 and 12, wherein at the time of closing the lid the displacement prevention engagement part engages with the disc holder at a position thereof brought to by displacement toward the stem,side and also at a position thereof brought to by displacement toward the front side.