GB2067975A

GB2067975A - Video or audio cassette container

Info

Publication number: GB2067975A
Application number: GB8003174A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Saunders L J
Current assignee: Saunders L J
Priority date: 1980-01-30
Filing date: 1980-01-30
Publication date: 1981-08-05

Abstract

A container (2) for at least one video or audio cassette is constructed to look like a book. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Video or audio cassette container This invention relates to a container for at least one video or audio cassette. This invention also relates to the container when including at least one video or audio cassette.

Video and audio cassettes are presently sold in containers that are not aesthetically pleasing. It is an aim of the present invention to provide containers for video or audio cassettes that are of a more pleasing appearance than the known containers.

Accordingly, this invention provides a container for at least one video or audio cassette, which container is constructed to look like a book.

It is preferred that each container is such that it can only accommodate one video or audio cassette. However, especially with containers for audio cassettes, each container can be such that it accommodates several cassettes.

When the containers are stored side by side, they give the appearance of a row of books, for example on a book shelf. The containers are preferably constructed to look like expensive or classical books. The containers may be made from cardboard which is covered with an imitation leatherette or imitation leather material. The containers may be embossed and decorated with embellishments, for example gilt embellishments.

The containers can be made from any other desired materials, for example plastics materials.

The container will usually be such that it has flat sides and an end wall which looks like the spine of a book. The side of the container opposite the spine will be open to enable the cassette or cassettes to be inserted into the container and removed from the container.

Preferably, the end wall is curved to look like the curved spine of a book. The container may include packing material, for example corrugated cardboard, for causing the end wall to be curved.

Alternatively, the material constituting the end wall may be tensioned to cause the end wall to curve.

The container may have one or more apertured portions for enabling a finger grip to be obtained on the video or audio cassette for facilitating the removal of the video or audio cassette from the container. The apertured portions may be constituted by a pair of cut-out portions, one provided in each of the sides of the container.

The spine part of the book may be provided with decoration and/or data indicating the type and make of cassette and/or the volume of the cassette. The spine part of the book may also have spaces for receiving data to be written in by an owner of the container.

The containers may be made in various sizes to accommodate various types of cassettes.

Obviously, the containers for the video cassettes will be larger than the containers for the audio cassettes.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a container 2 for a video or an audio cassette (not shown). The container 2 is produced to look like a book and it will be in a size appropriate for accommodating one video cassette or one audio cassette.

The container 2 has side walls 4, 6 and an end wall 8. The end wall 8 is curved as shown to resemble the curved spine of a book. Packing material (not shown) in the form of corrugated cardboard may be inserted in a recess 10 to cause the end wall 8 to curve. Alternatively, the material constituting the end wall 8 may be tensioned to cause the end wall 8 to curve.

The container 2 has closed top and bottom walls 12, 14 so that the cassette is inserted in the container 2 through the open end 16. The side walls 4, 6 are provided with cut-out portions 18, 20 to enable a finger grip to be obtained on the cassette to facilitate its removal from the container 2.

The container 2 is provided with gilt decoration 22 and it is generally constructed to look like an expensive classical book. The name or title of the container 2 can be inserted on the end wall 8. At the bottom portion of the end wall 8 the volume number of the container 2 can be shown. The container 2 is advantageously made of cardboard covered in imitation leather or imitation leatherette. As the containers 2 are standing upright side by side, they look like books, for example books standing on a library shelf.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the container 2 could be constructed to hold two or more visual or audio cassettes. Also, a dust cover could be provided for closing the open end of the container 2. The term cassette as used herein includes cartridges.

1. A container for at least one video or audio cassette, which container is constructed to look like a book.

2. A container according to claim 1 which is constructed for receiving only one video or audio cassette and which fits closely over the video or audio cassette.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is made from cardboard which is covered with an imitation leatherette or imitation leather material.

4. A container according to claim 3 in which the cardboard is covered with a plastics material.

5. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is made from a plastics material.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and having flat sides and an end wall which looks like the spine of a book, the side of the container opposite the end wall being open.

7. A container according to claim 6 in which the

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Video or audio cassette container This invention relates to a container for at least one video or audio cassette. This invention also relates to the container when including at least one video or audio cassette. Video and audio cassettes are presently sold in containers that are not aesthetically pleasing. It is an aim of the present invention to provide containers for video or audio cassettes that are of a more pleasing appearance than the known containers. Accordingly, this invention provides a container for at least one video or audio cassette, which container is constructed to look like a book. It is preferred that each container is such that it can only accommodate one video or audio cassette. However, especially with containers for audio cassettes, each container can be such that it accommodates several cassettes. When the containers are stored side by side, they give the appearance of a row of books, for example on a book shelf. The containers are preferably constructed to look like expensive or classical books. The containers may be made from cardboard which is covered with an imitation leatherette or imitation leather material. The containers may be embossed and decorated with embellishments, for example gilt embellishments. The containers can be made from any other desired materials, for example plastics materials. The container will usually be such that it has flat sides and an end wall which looks like the spine of a book. The side of the container opposite the spine will be open to enable the cassette or cassettes to be inserted into the container and removed from the container. Preferably, the end wall is curved to look like the curved spine of a book. The container may include packing material, for example corrugated cardboard, for causing the end wall to be curved. Alternatively, the material constituting the end wall may be tensioned to cause the end wall to curve. The container may have one or more apertured portions for enabling a finger grip to be obtained on the video or audio cassette for facilitating the removal of the video or audio cassette from the container. The apertured portions may be constituted by a pair of cut-out portions, one provided in each of the sides of the container. The spine part of the book may be provided with decoration and/or data indicating the type and make of cassette and/or the volume of the cassette. The spine part of the book may also have spaces for receiving data to be written in by an owner of the container. The containers may be made in various sizes to accommodate various types of cassettes. Obviously, the containers for the video cassettes will be larger than the containers for the audio cassettes. An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a container 2 for a video or an audio cassette (not shown). The container 2 is produced to look like a book and it will be in a size appropriate for accommodating one video cassette or one audio cassette. The container 2 has side walls 4, 6 and an end wall 8. The end wall 8 is curved as shown to resemble the curved spine of a book. Packing material (not shown) in the form of corrugated cardboard may be inserted in a recess 10 to cause the end wall 8 to curve. Alternatively, the material constituting the end wall 8 may be tensioned to cause the end wall 8 to curve. The container 2 has closed top and bottom walls 12, 14 so that the cassette is inserted in the container 2 through the open end 16. The side walls 4, 6 are provided with cut-out portions 18, 20 to enable a finger grip to be obtained on the cassette to facilitate its removal from the container 2. The container 2 is provided with gilt decoration 22 and it is generally constructed to look like an expensive classical book. The name or title of the container 2 can be inserted on the end wall 8. At the bottom portion of the end wall 8 the volume number of the container 2 can be shown. The container 2 is advantageously made of cardboard covered in imitation leather or imitation leatherette. As the containers 2 are standing upright side by side, they look like books, for example books standing on a library shelf. It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the container 2 could be constructed to hold two or more visual or audio cassettes. Also, a dust cover could be provided for closing the open end of the container 2. The term cassette as used herein includes cartridges. CLAIMS

7. A container according to claim 6 in which the end wall is curved to look like the curved spine of a book.

8. A container according to claim 7 including packaging material for causing the end wall to be curved.

9. A container according to claim 7 in which the material constituting the end wall is tensioned to cause the end wall to curve.

10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims and having one or more apertured portions for enabling a finger grip to be obtained on the video or audio cassette for facilitating the removal of the video or audio cassette from the container.

1 A container according to claim 10 in which the apertured portions are constituted by a pair of cut-out portions, one provided in each of the sides of the container.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spine part is provided with decoration and/or data indicating the type and make of cassette and/or the volume of the cassette.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spine part is provided with one or more spaces for receiving data to be written in by an owner of the container.

14. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

1 5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and including a video cassette.

1 6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and including an audio cassette.