GB2166113A

GB2166113A - Envelope

Info

Publication number: GB2166113A
Application number: GB08427279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Murray; Nicholas Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-29
Filing date: 1984-10-29
Publication date: 1986-04-30
Also published as: GB8427279D0

Abstract

An envelope (1) for a floppy disk (6), comprises two congruent, right-quadrilateral lamellae (2, 3) joined together around three edges thereof and open along a fourth edge thereof, a transparent window (4) being provided in at least one (2) of the lamellae through which a label (5) affixed to a floppy disk within the envelope may be read. The envelope may be of paper, or plastics, have a closure flap 9, and be treated with an anti-static compound. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Envelope The present invention is concerned with an envelope, more particularly with an envelope for a "floppy disc", to protect the same from dust and electrostatic damage.

"Floppy disks" (hereinafter known as "disks") are generally circular elements of a magnetic storage medium contained within an outer cover, for use with computer equipment, particularly with "disk drives". A problem with these disks is that they are particularly sensitive to dust and to static electricity. Exposure of the disk to dust may result in damage to the reading heads of the associated disk drive.

Furthermore, handling of the disk surface directly may cause corruption of the information stored on the disk.

One object of the present invention is to provide an envelope for a disk which substantially reduces exposure of the disk surface to dust and static electricity.

A known solution to this problem is to use a sleeve, generally formed of paper or card, within which the disk is inserted when not in use. Known sleeves comprise two sheets of paper or card secured together around three edges and disposed in face to face relation.

A further problem with such disks, is that of identification. The disks are generally uniform in appearance and are at present identified either by labels on the sleeve, or by labels on a part of the disk which protrudes from a smaller sleeve. In the former case it is common for a sleeve to be misplaced, resulting in considerable confusion, while in the latter case it is possible for parts of the magnetic recording material to be left exposed to dust and electrostatic damage.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an envelope for a floppy disk, comprising two congruent, rightquadrilateral lamellae joined together around three edges thereof and open along a fourth edge thereof, to form an envelope for receiving a floppy disk, wherein a transparent window is provided in at least one of the lamellae through which a label affixed to a floppy disk within the envelope may be read.

By providing an envelope which completely encloses a floppy disk is is possible to avoid the problems of dust or electrostatic damage to the disk; furthermore the window provided in the envelope allows the disk to be identified without removal from the envelope. It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the label is affixed to the disk and not to the envelope, therefore any envelope may be be used with any suitably sized disk.

Conveniently, the envelope is provided with a closure flap.

Preferably, the envelope is treated with an anti-static compound.

More preferably the envelope is formed from a single rectangular lamella which is folded along a line comprising one edge of the envelope.

In one series of embodiments the envelope is made of paper.

In a further series of embodiments the envelope is made of a plastics material.

In order that the invention is better understood it will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an envelope according to the present invention, and, Figure 2 shows a plan view of a single rectangular lamella for the manufacture of an envelope according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an envelope 1, which is formed of two lamellae 2 and 3. The upper lamella 2 is provided with a transparent window 4 through which a label 5 affixed to a floppy disk 6 may be read.

The window 4 may be made of any suitable transparent material. For example, it is envisaged that cellophane, oiled paper or polypropylene would be suitabie.

The upper and lower lamellae are secured together by means of tabs 7 and 8 disposed along two edges of the lower lamella and folded over the upper lamella before being glued thereto. The positioning of these tabs is not important and it will be understood that a range of variations is possible.

In one embodiment of the invention a closure flap 9 is provided along the open edge of the envelope.

In the embodiments of the present invention in which the lamellae are made of a plastics material, it is envisaged that they may be secured together by heat sealing along two or three sides.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a single rectangular lamella 10 for the manufacture of an envelope according to the present invention.

The lamella is provided with a fold line or score indicated by the numeral 11, along which the material may be folded to give an envelope substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Tabs 12 and 13 are provided for securing the upper and lower lamellae together and a closure flap 14 is provided for the further exclusion of dust.

1. An envelope for a floppy disk, comprising two congruent, right-quadrilateral lamellae joined together around three edges thereof and open along a fourth edge thereof, to form an envelope for receiving a floppy disk, wherein a transparent window is provided in at least one of the lamellae through which a label affixed to a floppy disk within the envelope may be read.

2. An envelope as claimed in 1, wherein

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Envelope The present invention is concerned with an envelope, more particularly with an envelope for a "floppy disc", to protect the same from dust and electrostatic damage. "Floppy disks" (hereinafter known as "disks") are generally circular elements of a magnetic storage medium contained within an outer cover, for use with computer equipment, particularly with "disk drives". A problem with these disks is that they are particularly sensitive to dust and to static electricity. Exposure of the disk to dust may result in damage to the reading heads of the associated disk drive. Furthermore, handling of the disk surface directly may cause corruption of the information stored on the disk. One object of the present invention is to provide an envelope for a disk which substantially reduces exposure of the disk surface to dust and static electricity. A known solution to this problem is to use a sleeve, generally formed of paper or card, within which the disk is inserted when not in use. Known sleeves comprise two sheets of paper or card secured together around three edges and disposed in face to face relation. A further problem with such disks, is that of identification. The disks are generally uniform in appearance and are at present identified either by labels on the sleeve, or by labels on a part of the disk which protrudes from a smaller sleeve. In the former case it is common for a sleeve to be misplaced, resulting in considerable confusion, while in the latter case it is possible for parts of the magnetic recording material to be left exposed to dust and electrostatic damage. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an envelope for a floppy disk, comprising two congruent, rightquadrilateral lamellae joined together around three edges thereof and open along a fourth edge thereof, to form an envelope for receiving a floppy disk, wherein a transparent window is provided in at least one of the lamellae through which a label affixed to a floppy disk within the envelope may be read. By providing an envelope which completely encloses a floppy disk is is possible to avoid the problems of dust or electrostatic damage to the disk; furthermore the window provided in the envelope allows the disk to be identified without removal from the envelope. It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the label is affixed to the disk and not to the envelope, therefore any envelope may be be used with any suitably sized disk. Conveniently, the envelope is provided with a closure flap. Preferably, the envelope is treated with an anti-static compound. More preferably the envelope is formed from a single rectangular lamella which is folded along a line comprising one edge of the envelope. In one series of embodiments the envelope is made of paper. In a further series of embodiments the envelope is made of a plastics material. In order that the invention is better understood it will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an envelope according to the present invention, and, Figure 2 shows a plan view of a single rectangular lamella for the manufacture of an envelope according to the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an envelope 1, which is formed of two lamellae 2 and 3. The upper lamella 2 is provided with a transparent window 4 through which a label 5 affixed to a floppy disk 6 may be read. The window 4 may be made of any suitable transparent material. For example, it is envisaged that cellophane, oiled paper or polypropylene would be suitabie. The upper and lower lamellae are secured together by means of tabs 7 and 8 disposed along two edges of the lower lamella and folded over the upper lamella before being glued thereto. The positioning of these tabs is not important and it will be understood that a range of variations is possible. In one embodiment of the invention a closure flap 9 is provided along the open edge of the envelope. In the embodiments of the present invention in which the lamellae are made of a plastics material, it is envisaged that they may be secured together by heat sealing along two or three sides. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a single rectangular lamella 10 for the manufacture of an envelope according to the present invention. The lamella is provided with a fold line or score indicated by the numeral 11, along which the material may be folded to give an envelope substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Tabs 12 and 13 are provided for securing the upper and lower lamellae together and a closure flap 14 is provided for the further exclusion of dust. CLAIMS

2. An envelope as claimed in 1, wherein the envelope is provided with a closure flap.

3. An envelope as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the envelope is treated with an anti-static compound.

4. An envelope as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the envelope is formed from a single rectangular lamella which is folded along a line comprising one edge of the envelope.

5. An envelope as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the envelope is made of paper.

6. An envelope as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the envelope is made of a plastics material.

7. An envelope for a floppy disk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.