FR2742252A3 - Integrally formed compact disc case with living hinge - Google Patents

Abstract

The compact disc case comprises a first member forming the front cover and a third member forming the CD supporting plate, both integrally attached to the first and second edges of a second member forming the spine. The edges joining the members are flexible allowing the first and second members to be folded together and locked with moulded catches . In addition, a groove in the second member can be used to mount a second supporting plate which holds a second and third CD on its opposite faces and is enclosed between the front and back covers when the case is closed.

Description

The present invention relates to a compact disc case, and more

  particularly a compact disc case having a monobloc structure to ensure the protection of the disc and also having a larger storage capacity. When not using a compact disc (CD), it is usually replaced in the plastic case in which it was sold, in order to avoid

  scratches or accumulation of dust on the surface

  this disc reproduction. Such a material case

  common plastic is shown in Figure 11 and it com-

  takes a lower cover 90, a receiving plate removably mounted on the lower cover 90,

  an upper cover 70 pivotally connected to the cover

  lower ring 90 at one end through which a

  that can be accommodated in the housing.

  The receiving tray 80 includes a plurality of

  flexible tabs 51 extending from

  its edges to snap into corresponding housings

  dants provided in the lower cover 90. The upper cover 70 is dimensioned so as to couple with the lower cover 90 and it has two parts

  hinge, at one of its edges, which couple

  swivel section with corresponding hinge parts

of the bottom cover 90.

  Although this type of CD case is current-

  widely used on the market, it has some

  well-known drawbacks, notably the breakage of the char-

  which results in the dissociation of the lower cover 90 and the upper cover 70, and it also requires

  assembly operations long enough for its construction

  tion, resulting in high manufacturing costs. The present invention provides an improved compact disc case which limits and / or eliminates the disadvantages

cited above.

  An object of the present invention is to pro-

  to cure an improved case for compact disc, formed

  in one piece, which eliminates the need for an ass-

  pretense. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved compact disc case, which

does not break easily.

  Yet another object of the present invention

  is to provide an improved disk case

  pact, comprising a disc support arranged inside

  lid to avoid deformation of the disc.

  Yet another object of the present invention

  is to provide an improved disk case

  pact which can contain up to four compact discs.

  In accordance with one aspect of this invention

  tion, the compact disc case comprises a first element, a second element and an intermediate element mutually integral. The intermediate element defines

  two flexible connections separately connected to the pre-

  mier element at the place of a first edge of it, and at the second element at the place of a second edge of

  this one. The first element includes first mo-

  closing yen provided on its second edge. The two

  element x includes a first means of retaining

  taking a projecting ring formed in the center of the inner face of the second element and having a larger diameter

  small than the diameter of a compact disc, in order to support

  ter the disc, and second closing means provided on its second edge to engage respectively

  and in a separable way with the first means of iron-

  to keep the case in the closed position when

that it is folded.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the second element further comprises a table,

  formed in the center of a first face, and a deformed boss

  table, provided on the table to hold the disc in the center

  of it, and a first circular rib surrounded

rant the table.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the first element comprises a second means of

  restraint comprising a second table and a second bos-

  wise. A second circular rib is formed in the

  first element, around the second retaining means.

  In accordance with yet another aspect of the pre-

  invention, the second element has a second

  reinforcement means which extends in the longitudinal direction

  dinal of the second element. The means of reinforcement

  takes two parallel longitudinal walls.

  According to yet another aspect of this

  invention, there is provided a plurality of means for

  flexible chage formed along the walls of the connecting means

  and a separation plate mounted on the second

  element, the so-called separation plate having three

  sith and a fourth faces. A third and a fourth

  retaining means and a third and a fourth ner-

  circular vures are formed on the third and fourth faces, respectively; In addition, a plurality of fastening means are provided along an edge of the plate.

  separation to engage with the means of

  flexible chage of the reinforcing means.

  In addition to the foregoing, the invention

  tion includes other provisions which stand out

  from the description that follows.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  further description below, which refers to the

  attached sins in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a

  compact disc case according to the present invention

  tion; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the compact disc housing according to the present invention, illustrating a state in which the disc is supported; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the housing

  for compact disc according to the present invention, it-

  buffing a state in which the case is closed; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the housing

  for compact disc according to the present invention, it-

  buffing a state of the connection of the first element and the second element; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a compact disc case according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a compact disc case according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in an open state; Figure 7 is a side view of the compact disc case according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in a closed state; Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view

  of a third embodiment of the present invention

  tion. Figure 9 is a side sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention, in an open state, containing compact discs which are shown in phantom; FIG. 10 is a side view in section of the third embodiment of the present invention,

  in a closed state, containing compact discs

  presented in dashed line; and Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view

  a usual compact disc case.

  It should be understood, however, that these drawings and the corresponding descriptive parts are given solely by way of illustration of the subject of the invention, of which they do not in any way constitute a limitation. Reference is made to the drawings and firstly to FIG. 1. The compact disc case in accordance with the present

  invention is formed in one piece comprising a pre-

  mier element 10, a second element 20 and a third

item 30.

  The first element 10 and the third element

  , each comprising a first plate 12 and a two

  xth plate 32 respectively, have substantially the same

  dimension and the same shape and they have respective-

  ment a first end 14 and a second end 34 integral with the second element 20, and they also have respectively a third end 16 and a fourth end 36 respectively opposite the first

and second ends 14, 34.

  The second element 20 has two mutually spaced grooves defined longitudinally in one of its faces to allow the first to pivot

  element 10 and the third element 30 towards each other.

  The third end 16 of the first element 10 comprises

  at least one flexible attachment means 162 perpendicular to the

  rement projecting from said element. The fourth end 36 of the third element 30 has a rim

  362 perpendicular to the element, the said edge 362 defi

  connecting at least one lip 364 in correspondence with said at least one attachment means 162. It can be seen, in FIG. 4, that the attachment 162 has a narrower passage than a recess defined inside. The recess is dimensioned to receive the lip 364, so that the

  lip 364 is retained securely but however separated

  maple in the attachment 162. The elasticity of the attachment

  162 makes it possible to extract the lip 364 therefrom when a user

  tor applies a determined force.

  The first element 10 comprises two wings 18 which extend perpendicular to the element from its upper edge and from its lower edge. Each

  wing 18 has at least two protrusions 182 extending

  towards the opposite wing 18 so as to define an inter-

  valley between each wing 18 and the plate 12. A card carries

  both information about the disc to be contained in

  the housing can be retained in position by the protrusions

bérances 182.

  The plate 32 of the third element 30 comprises

  furthermore a disc retaining means comprising a pre-

  mière central table 322 from which a first

  radially deformable boss 324 projects outwards

  térieur. The first deformable boss 324, when in a deformed state, is dimensioned to receive a periphery of a central hole of a compact disc and, in

  an undeformed state, it can firmly hold the disc.

  The plate 32 further comprises a first circular rib 326 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of a compact disc and whose

  height is equal to the height of table 322, which

  the flexion of the disc since it is supported by the nerve

  vure 326. In addition, the rib 326 stiffens the plate 32. Figures 2 and 3 show the housing for

  compact disc according to the present invention, respec-

  both open and closed.

  Referring now to Figures 5 and 6. The compact disc housing according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises means

  of solidarity 22 and a second means of rete-

  bare disc on the first element 10. The plate 12 of the first element 10 comprises a central table 122 from which a second deformable boss 124 projects

  outward and on which a disc can be held

  naked safely. The plate 12 further comprises a two-

  xth circular rib 126. Since the second table 122, the second deformable boss 124 and the second circular rib 126 are identical to the corresponding table 322, the boss 324 and the rib 326 of the third

  element 30, they are not described here in more detail-

  lée. Still with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second element 20 comprises a reinforcement means 22 which projects outwards and extends along its internal face. The reinforcing means 22 comprises two longitudinal walls 23 and two end walls (not marked) which together define an internal groove

  24. FIG. 7 represents the second embodiment.

  tion of the present invention in the closed state.

  We now refer to Figures 8 and 9 which

  represent a third embodiment of the pre-

  invention, in which a plurality of means of ac-

  spit 26 are formed in opposition on each wall

  lateral 23, over a certain length thereof. Befor-

  ference, the attachment means 26 each comprise

  a projection directed inwards from an end

  upper part of the side wall 23. A fourth element 50 comprises a third and a fourth retaining means 52, 54, respectively formed at the center of its

  third side and its fourth side, to hold

  pectively compact discs, and a plurality of mo-

  connection yen 56 provided along an edge of said quadrant

  third element. Preferably, the connection means

  56 are in the form of recesses and they are dimension-

  born and placed so as to couple with the hooking means 26. The third and fourth compact disc retaining means are also identical to the first and second retaining means and are not

therefore no more described here.

  For assembly, the fourth element 50 is coupled to the second element 20 by inserting the edge

  carrying the connection means 56 in the groove 24.

  By engaging the attachment means 26 and the means

  connection 56, as shown in FIG. 9, the qua-

  third element 50 is coupled to the second element 20 to constitute the compact disc case. Preferably, each attachment means 26 has an inclined upper face to facilitate the insertion of the fourth element.

  50. When folding the compact disc case, the

  third element 50 and the compact discs are locked in

  the interior, as shown in Figure 10.

  As is clear from the above, the information

  vention is by no means limited to those of its modes of

  implementation and application which have just been described more explicitly; on the contrary, it embraces all variants which may come to the mind of the technician in the matter without departing from the framework or the scope of

the present invention.

Claims (11)

  1.- Compact disc case, characterized in that it comprises: a first element (10) and a third element (30) joined together by a first edge (14) and a second edge (34) respective to a second element (20) extending between them; the first element includes at least one means   closure (162) provided at its third edge (16), oppo-   dried at the first edge; the third element comprises at least one closing means (364) provided at its fourth edge (36),   opposite the second edge, which corresponds and can come first   with the said at least one means for closing the first element, a first retaining means (324) and a first stiffening means (326) projecting from a first upper face (32); and   the second element defines at least one groove longitudinal folding re (14).   2.- compact disc case according to claim 1, characterized in that the first retaining means comprises a table (322) provided in the center of the first upper face (32) of the third element (30) and perpendicularly projecting from at this   face, and a deformable boss (324) dimensioned to   have a periphery of a central hole in a disc   pact. 3.- compact disc case according to claim 2, characterized in that the stiffening means   flexible is a circular rib (326) whose diameter   tre is smaller than the diameter of a compact disc and whose height is equal to the height of the table (322).   4. A compact disc case according to claim 1, characterized in that a second face   upper (12) of the first element (10) has a two   xth retaining means (124) and a second stiffener   (126) projecting from said second face.   5. A compact disc case according to claim 4, characterized in that the second element   retaining ment includes a central table perpendicular to   protruding protrusion (122) carrying a deformable boss (124), said deformable boss being dimensioned to receive   a periphery of a central hole of a compact disc.   6.- Compact disc case according to   claim 1, characterized in that the second element   ment (20) integrally comprises a reinforcement means comprising two parallel longitudinal walls (23), two end walls and a longitudinal groove (24) defined between said walls.   7. A compact disc case according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the parallel longitudinal walls (23) of the reinforcing means comprises a plurality of hooking means (26), and   a fourth element (50) mountable on the connecting means   necessarily has a first face and a second face and a plurality of connection means (56) provided on   a first edge corresponding to the hanging means   age to come into engagement with these.   8. A compact disc case according to claim 7, characterized in that the first face and the second face of the fourth element (50) comprise a third and a fourth retaining means (52, 54) respectively. 9. A compact disc case according to claim 8, characterized in that the first face and the second face of the fourth element (50) comprise   a third and a fourth respective stiffening means.   10.- compact disc case according to claim 9, characterized in that the third and   fourth stiffening means are circular ribs.   11.- Compact disc case according to   claim 7, characterized in that each means of ac-   hooking comprises a projection directed inwards from each longitudinal wall of the reinforcement means, and each connection means (56) of the fourth element (50) comprises a recess, each projection (26) having an inclined face for facilitate the insertion of the fourth element.