GB2306443A - Disc container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for the storage of discs, for example compact discs, comprises a base and a lid connected by a hinge. A pair of support members 8 are mounted side by side between the base 2 and lid 4 such that pairs of vanes 12 co-operate between the support members to provide load surfaces on which discs may rest. The support members 8 can open up in a concertina-like manner to allow discs to be removed when the support members and the container are open.

Description

DISC CONTAINER The present invention relates to a container for discs.

The container is for use particularly for the storage and retrieval of compact discs. The invention may be used in the home or office, or in a motor vehicle.

Many containers have been devised for storing compact discs and other types of disc. It has been proposed in United States patent number 2 323 245 to make a record holder file which comprises a plurality of envelopes stuck back to back and mounted between front and back covers.

Each envelope is provided with a cover that has a slit for receiving and storing a record disc, and opening the covers causes the envelopes to fan out and allow a record disc to be removed from the slit in its envelope.

A problem with this construction is that it is complicated to assemble, and relatively heavy.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a disc container comprising a base which is hingedly connected to a lid; and a pair of support members each of which has vanes, and each of which can be collapsed or opened out in a concertina-like manner, wherein the support members are mounted side by side, each with one end secured to the base and the other end secured to the lid so that for each of a plurality of regions along the support members, a pair of vanes co-operates between the support members to provide a load surface on which a disc may rest.

The invention provides a disc container which is relatively simple to construct, and has a pleasing appearance. By forming the support members from a semi rigid plastics material, a relatively light-weight container may be constructed.

The container may be used for the storage and retrieval of different types of disc, depending on the dimensions chosen, and the material from which the support members are constructed. The variations in construction and design will be readily apparent to the skilled person once the invention is understood.

It is particularly preferred that the disc holder is adapted to store compact discs (CDs), and for convenience the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the storage of CDs. However it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and may also be used for the storage of other types of disc, for example diskettes for computers.

By pivoting the lid away from the base, the support members open out like fans and allow the user to select a CD resting on any pair of vanes or between two adjacent pairs of vanes. The base may be secured to part of a motor vehicle, for example the passenger side dashboard or the centre console. The opening of the container and the selection of a CD may then readily be performed with one hand, making the invention particularly suitable for use in a motor vehicle with an in-vehicle entertainment system including a CD player.

It is preferred that dust and other environmental contaminants be kept out of the container, so the base is preferably part of a box, which may be closed by pivoting the lid about the hinge.

The support members are preferably of similar construction, so that each vane on one of the support members is in register with a corresponding vane on the other support member.

The support members may be entirely separate from one another, but to help ensure that a vane on one support member is in register with a corresponding vane on the other support member it is preferred that one support member is connected to the other. It is particularly preferred that the connection is made between the middle of each support member. The connection may be made by any suitable means, for example by providing a vane in the middle of each support member with a tab, and gluing, welding, or otherwise securing the tabs together.

Each support member may be fabricated from a semi-rigid plastics material, or other suitable semi-rigid material.

Each support member may be formed from a suitable blank, by folding and the use of appropriate gluing, welding, or other securing means. Alternatively a support member may be made by blow moulding, injection moulding, or any other suitable fabrication technique well known to those skilled in the art.

Any suitable hinge may be used, but it is preferred that the hinge be an active hinge, or biased by spring means to the open configuration for ease of deployment. A clip or latch may be provided to hold the box shut against the urging of the spring means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a disc container comprising a pair of foldable support members mounted side by side between a base and a lid, each support member having a plurality of vanes, and vanes on one support member co-operating with vanes on the other support member to provide pockets for storing discs.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a disc container, the method comprising mounting a first support member and a second support member side by side between a base and a lid which is hinged to the base, wherein both support members have a plurality of vanes and both support members can be collapsed or opened out in a concertina-like manner, whereby for each of a plurality of regions along the support members, a vane on the first support member co-operates with a corresponding vane on the second support member to provide a load surface on which a disc may rest.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawing in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view through the centre of a disc container in accordance with the present invention, with the lid closed; Figure 2 is a sectional view through the bottom region of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the container with the lid open; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a support member in an open configuration suitable for use in the container; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a pair of support members in open configuration suitable for use in the container; Figure 6 is a simplified representation of a blank for manufacturing a support member for use in the container; and Figure 7 is an end view of the support member of Figure 4 in a folded up configuration.

The compact disc container shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 2 which is connected to a lid 4 by a hinge 6. A pair of support members 8 are folded side by side in a concertina-like manner within the closed box formed between the base 2 and lid 4.

Each support member 8a, 8b has a tab 10 at its bottom end, which is glued to the base 2 to secure the support member 8 to the base 2. Other securing means could also be used.

A corresponding tab 10 is provided to secure the other end of each support member 8 to the lid 4.

Compact discs 14 rest on pairs of vanes 12 of the support members 8 as best seen in Figure 3. When the box is opened up so that the lid 4 is at about 1800 to the base 2, the support members 8 open out and present stored CDs 14 for removal.

Figure 4 shows a support member 8 in more detail, in the open configuration. A tab 16 is provided on a middle vane 12 for connection to a corresponding tab on a corresponding vane of the other support member, as shown in Figure 5. Corresponding pairs of vanes 12a, 12b are in register so as to co-operate to provide a load surface on which a CD can rest. Any two adjacent pairs of vanes 12a, 12b provide an envelope 13 within which a CD may be retained.

Each support member 8 may be fabricated from a blank made of a plastics material, as shown in Figure 6. Leaves 18 are folded along fold lines 17, each fold being made in the opposite direction to the preceding fold. The leaves 18 are then welded alternately in regions 20 and 22 to form the support member 8. The blank shown here has fewer leaves 18 than would be used to make the support member 8, for the purposes of illustration and simplicity.

The invention provides a disc storage container which is simple to manufacture, and easy to use.

Claims (14)

1. A disc container comprising a base which is hingedly connected to a lid; and a pair of support members each of which has vanes, and each of which can be collapsed or opened out in a concertina-like manner, wherein the support members are mounted side by side, each with one end secured to the base and the other end secured to the lid so that for each of a plurality of regions along the support members, a pair of vanes co-operates between the support members to provide a load surface on which a disc may rest.

2. A disc container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein adjacent pairs of vanes on one support member co-operate with adjacent pairs of vanes on the other support member to provide a pocket for storing a disc.

3. A disc container comprising a pair of foldable support members mounted side by side between a base and a lid, each support member having a plurality of vanes, and vanes on one support member co-operating with vanes on the other support member to provide pockets for storing discs.

4. A disc container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the lid is connected to the base by a hinge.

5. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support members are of similar construction so that each vane on one of the support members is in register with a corresponding vane on the other support member.

6. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support members are connected together in the middle region of each support member.

7. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein both support members are fabricated from a semi-rigid plastics material.

8. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge is biased by spring means to urge the lid away from the base.

9. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein both support members are made from a blank.

10. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is part of a box which may be closed or opened by pivoting of the lid.

11. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is suitable for the storage of compact discs.

12. A disc container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is secured to part of a motor vehicle so that the container may be operated with one-handed operation.

13. A method of manufacturing a disc container, the method comprising mounting a first support member and a second support member side by side between a base and a lid which is hinged to the base, wherein both support members have a plurality of vanes and both support members can be collapsed or opened out in a concertina-like manner, whereby for each of a plurality of regions along the support members, a vane on the first support member co-operates with a corresponding vane on the second support member to provide a load surface on which a disc may rest.

14. A disc container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one of the figures of the drawing.