GB2222143A

GB2222143A - Box-like container

Info

Publication number: GB2222143A
Application number: GB8816221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: J F Pennell
Original assignee: Ryford Ltd
Current assignee: Ryford Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-07
Filing date: 1988-07-07
Publication date: 1990-02-28
Also published as: GB8816221D0

Abstract

A box-like container 1 (e.g. for a compact disc or tape cassette) comprises a side wall 10 of transparent material including a lens which serves to magnify information presented to the lens on a label 7. <IMAGE>

Description

Title Box-like Container Description of Invention This invention relates to a box-like container and is applicable particularly, but not exclusively, to containers for compact discs, cassette tapes and other items which are of a thickness which is small relative to their width.

Containers for such items generally reflect the shape of the item contained and are correspondingly thin. This, of course, permits of storing a large number of such items in a small space. However, in the case of compact disc containers for example, whilst for the purpose of maximising available space, it is desirable to stack most of the containers such that the major faces are each adjacent to a major face of an adjacent container, this means that the side edges of the containers are presented to the customer.

The side edges of the containers present information to the customer which information identifies the contents of the container. In the case of compact disc containers the side edges of the containers comprise a transparent material overlying part of an identifying label or inlay card. Because the side edges of the container are narrow however the information is sometimes difficult to read.

An object of the invention is to provide a means to permit of easier reading of the information.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a box-like container comprising, in part at least, a transparent material, one side edge of the container, which side edge comprises said transparent material, including a lens.

Preferably the lens is formed integrally with the side of the container but, alternatively, a separately manufactured lens may be incorporated into a substantially conventional container which is adapted to accommodate the lens. a The lens may be a magnifying lens such that means within the container which is presented to the lens appears magnified when viewed from outside the container.

The means which is presented to the lens may be a label which bears information relating to the contents of the container.

The container may provide abutment means by which the label is spaced apart from the lens so as to permit of focused magnification of at least a part of the label and preferably the abutment means comprises at least two members which are provided on and project away from and beyond the surface of the lens.

The container may be specifically adapted to contain an item, the thickness of which is small relative to its width, that is to say the side edge of the container is narrow.

Preferably the lens is a plano-convex lens.

Preferably the lens is provided on one of either a lid of the container or a base thereof, which base provides item supporting means and which base has pivotal connection with the lid to permit of relative pivoting of the lid and base.

The container may be container for a compact disc and the item may be a compact disc.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a container for equipment suitable for the recording of sound which container comprises, in part at least, a transparent material and which container provides on said transparent part a magnifying lens such that means facing the lens are magnified.

Preferably the means comprises at least part of an inlay card which inlay card identifies the nature of the recorded sounds.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE I is a perspective view of a compact disc container in a partly open position.

FIGURE 2 is a section through a part of the lid of the container on the line A-A.

Referring to the drawings a compact disc container I of conventional sort comprises a base 2 which provides a compact disc supporting boss 3, and a lid 4 which comprises a transparent material such as perspex. It will be understood that all or part of the lid 4 may comprise a transparent material and all or part of the base 2 may comprise a transparent material.

The lid 4 is in the form of a shallow tray with side walls 5 which provide projecting tabs 6. The tabs 6 permit of releasably retaining an inlay card 7 which is shown in Figure 2.

Part of the inlay card 7 is folded so as to correspond with the shape of and so as to locate between portions 8 and 9 of the lid 4 which portions 8 and 9 are spaced apart from and substantially parallel to one another. The portions 8 and 9 and portion 10 which mutually connects them comprise a returned part of the lid 4.

The base 2 provides a recess 11 which accommodates the portion 7 of the lid 4 when the lid 4 is closed.

When the container is closed the portion 8 comprises a front face of the container, the portion 9 and a face 16 of the base 2 comprise a rear face of the container and the side walls 5, portion 10 and a lip 17, which is provided on the base 2, comprise side edges of the container.

The side walls 5 of the lid 4 provide holes 12 into which pins 13, which are provided on the base portion 2, locate such that the lid 4 is free to pivot relative to the base 2 about an axis defined by the pins 13 to permit of opening and closure of the lid.

A snap fastening means (not shown) may be provided between the lid 4 and base 2 to permit of releasably locking the lid 4 in the closed position relative to the base 2.

The portion 10, when the lid 4 is in the closed position, comprises a side edge of the container which, in conventional storage and display manner, is presented to a potential customer and a surface 15 of the inlay card 7, which surface 15 faces the portion 10 presents information identifying the contents of the container, for example, music which is recorded on the compact disc.

In order to facilitate reading of the information on the surface 15 of the inlay card 7 the portion 10 is formed to provide a plano-convex lens which magnifies the surface 15 to a viewer thereof looking in the direction indicated at B.

Whilst the lens is shown as being formed integrally with the lid 4 it will be understood that a lens which is manufactured seperately from the lid 4 and incorporated therein adjacent to a planar portion 10 could be provided instead. Moreover, whereas the drawings shown a plano-convex lens it will be understood that a bi-convex lens or a concavo-convex lens could be provided instead.

Abutment means 16 are provided on the portion 10 a short way in from the side walls 5 which abutment means 16 maintain a space between the surface 15 of the inlay card 7 and convex surface 14 of the lens so that information on the surface 15 is more readily focused.

It will be understood that the distance of projection of the abutment means 16 from the portion 10 and the focal length of the lens which is determined by its convexity are fixed during manufacture so as to correspond suitably to permit of focussing the information on the surface 15 to a viewer looking in the direction indicated at B.

Whilst the abutment means in the embodiment shown is provided on the portion 10 of the lid 4 it will be understood that suitable abutment means could be provided which project from either or both of the portions 8 and 9 of the lid 4 or from the side walls 5.

It will be understood that, whilst the description above has related to the incorporation of a lens into or formation of a lens as part of the lid 4, in some kinds of compact disc containers the side which presents contents identifying information to a customer when the disc is stacked for presentation is integral with the base 2. The invention may be applied to such containers to enhance legibility of the information presented on the sides of such containers in a similar way to that described above.

It will be understood that a container for items other than compact discs may include a lens for the purpose described, for example containers for cassette tapes or floppy discs.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. A box like container comprising, in part at least, a transparent material, one narrow side of the container, which side comprises said transparent material, including a lens.
2. A box-like container according to Claim I in which the lens is formed integrally with the side of the container.
3. A container according to Claim I or Claim 2 in which the lens is a magnifying lens such that means within the container which is presented to the lens appears magnified when viewed from outside the container.
4. A container according to Claim 3 in which the means is a label bearing information relating to the contents of the container.
5. A container according to Claim 4 which provides abutment means by which the label is spaced apart from the lens so as to permit of focused magnification of at least a part of the label.
6. A container according to Claim 5 in which the abutment means comprises at least two members provided on and projecting away from and beyond a surface of the lens.
7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the container is specifically adapted to contain an item the thickness of which is small relative to its width.
8. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims in which the lens is a planoconvex lens.
9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lens is provided on one of either a lid portion of the container or a base portion, which base portion provides item supporting means and which base portion has pivotal connection with the lid portion to permit of relative pivoting of the lid and base portions.
10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the container is a container for a compact disc and the item is a compact disc.
II. A container for equipment suitable for the recording of sounds which container comprises, in part at least, a transparent material and which container provides on said transparent part a magnifying lens such that means which is presented to The lens are magnified.
12. A container according to Claim II in which the means comprises at least part of an inlay card which inlay card identifies the nature of the recorded sounds.
13. A container as substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. Any novel feature or combination or features disclosed herein.