GB1592406A

GB1592406A - Packaging of records

Info

Publication number: GB1592406A
Application number: GB3893777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-09-19
Filing date: 1977-09-19
Publication date: 1981-07-08

Description

(54) IMPROVED PACKAGING OF RECORDS (71) 1, PATRICK DUDLEY KAVANAGH, an Australian citizen, of 51 Regency Drive, Crestwood, in the State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to the improved packaging of gramophone records.

At the present time records are normally packaged and stored in an envelope of clear flexible plastic which is in turn placed inside a cardboard envelope open along one edge. It is difficult to remove the record from the plastic envelope and place it on the turntable without at some stage touching at least part of the playing surface. Likewise it is equally difficult to remove the record and replace it in the plastics envelope.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging unit wherebv the record can be removed from the main cardboard envelope placed on a turntable and then removed from the turntable and replaced in the main cardboard envelope without the operator having to touch the record and particularly the playing surface thereof.

According to the invention we provide a packaging unit for a record, comprising a pair of flat members hingedly connected together along one edge so as to fit one on each side of the record, at least one member being provided with a slot extending from its centre to one edge of the member opposite to the hinged edge, the width of the slot being sufficient to enable a spindle on which the record is to be positioned to pass along said slot, said members being dimensioned so as to fully cover the respective face of the record to be packaged in the unit.

The packaging unit may be formed from any suitable material but is preferably formed from light cardboard, the two members being integral with each other and hingedly connected together along a fold. The faces of the members in contact with the record may be covered or coated with a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the specific embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings wherein; Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the unit in the fully opened position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the unit in a partly closed position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the unit in the fully closed position; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second form of unit in the fully closed position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the construction of the hinge of the unit of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of one member of the unit shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of a third form of unit located in a main package.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the packaging unit is formed from a light cardboard similar to that used for the main cardboard record envelopes. The two members 11, 12 are identical in shape each being substantially circular except where they are provided with a portion and so dimensioned as to totally enclose a record placed therebetween. The two members are hingedly connected along a fold line 13 coinciding with the staright portions. The hinged region is preferably provided with a projection 14 which enables it to be grip firmly when the unit is to be removed from the main envelope. Each member of the unit has a slot 15, 16 extending from the centre of the member to one edge of the unit opposite the hinged edge.The slot 15, 16 is of a width to accommodate the spindle of a record player turntable and the inner end of each slot coincides with the central hole of the record when a record is positioned between the members.

The unit with the record therebetween, is placed in a conventional main envelope with the open end of the slots 15 and 16 innermost and the folded straight side coinciding with the open mouth of the envelope. In this position the unit functions to protect the playing surface of the record whilst it is within the main envelope. If so desired the inner faces of the two members may be provided with a series of spaced staright or circular ribs to reduce contact between the playing surface of the record and the members.

To place a record on the turntable of a record player the unit is gripped firmly between the thumb and forefinger and removed from the main envelope, and is neccessary the unit adjusted in relation to the record to being the inner ends of the slots into alignment with the central hole in the record. The unit is then positioned over the spindle and lowered until the spindle en engages the central hole. The unit is then removed laterally with the spindle sliding through the slot in the member positioned between the record and the turntable. To remove the record one member is slid between the record and the turntable until the end of the slot bears against the spindle and the other member folded onto the upper side of the record.The unit can then be gripped between the thumb and forefinger to remove it from the turntable and turned over and replaced on the spindle or returned to the main envelope.

In the unit shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings two identical members 21 and 22 are connected by a double acting hinge as is shown in Fig. 5, comprising a main hinge 23 and secondary hinges 24, 25, the opening and closing actions being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5.

In addition the members 21 and 22 maybe provided with an embossing 26 the cross section of which is shown in Fig. 6. The embossing which is located dose to the peripheries of the members and the edges of the slot 27 has a circular portion which when a record is in position is more or less aligned with the central label portion of the record and serves to help keep the main body of the members clear of the grooves of the record to reduce the possibility of damage.

In a further embodiment the member 31 has the configuration shown in Fig. 7 so that it fits neatly within a main package 32 which is provided with an insert 33 having an outwardly projecting tongue 34 adapted to enter the mouth of the slot 35 to locate the unit within the main package.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A packaging unit for a record, comprising a pair of flat members hingedly connected together along one edge so as to fit one on each side of the record, at least one member being provided with a slot extending from its centre to one edge of the member opposite the hinged edge, the width of the slot being sufficient to enable a spindle on which the record is to be positoned to pass along said slot, said members being dimensioned so as to fully cover the respective face of the record to be packaged in the unit.

2. A packaging unit as clamed in claim 1, wherein a projection is provided adjacent the hinge to facilitate gripping of the unit.

3. A packaging unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2. wherein the members are connected together by a multiple hinge.

4. A packaging unit as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an embossing is provided to hold the members clear of the record surface when in the closed position.

5. A packaging unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the embossing is located close to the periphery of the members.

6. A packaging unit substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A packaging unit substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A packaging unit substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. series of spaced staright or circular ribs to reduce contact between the playing surface of the record and the members. To place a record on the turntable of a record player the unit is gripped firmly between the thumb and forefinger and removed from the main envelope, and is neccessary the unit adjusted in relation to the record to being the inner ends of the slots into alignment with the central hole in the record. The unit is then positioned over the spindle and lowered until the spindle en engages the central hole. The unit is then removed laterally with the spindle sliding through the slot in the member positioned between the record and the turntable. To remove the record one member is slid between the record and the turntable until the end of the slot bears against the spindle and the other member folded onto the upper side of the record.The unit can then be gripped between the thumb and forefinger to remove it from the turntable and turned over and replaced on the spindle or returned to the main envelope. In the unit shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings two identical members 21 and 22 are connected by a double acting hinge as is shown in Fig. 5, comprising a main hinge 23 and secondary hinges 24, 25, the opening and closing actions being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. In addition the members 21 and 22 maybe provided with an embossing 26 the cross section of which is shown in Fig. 6. The embossing which is located dose to the peripheries of the members and the edges of the slot 27 has a circular portion which when a record is in position is more or less aligned with the central label portion of the record and serves to help keep the main body of the members clear of the grooves of the record to reduce the possibility of damage. In a further embodiment the member 31 has the configuration shown in Fig. 7 so that it fits neatly within a main package 32 which is provided with an insert 33 having an outwardly projecting tongue 34 adapted to enter the mouth of the slot 35 to locate the unit within the main package. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A packaging unit for a record, comprising a pair of flat members hingedly connected together along one edge so as to fit one on each side of the record, at least one member being provided with a slot extending from its centre to one edge of the member opposite the hinged edge, the width of the slot being sufficient to enable a spindle on which the record is to be positoned to pass along said slot, said members being dimensioned so as to fully cover the respective face of the record to be packaged in the unit.