GB2311983A

GB2311983A - Disc storage devices

Info

Publication number: GB2311983A
Application number: GB9707339A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Hallam
Original assignee: Concept Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Concept Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1996-04-13
Filing date: 1997-04-11
Publication date: 1997-10-15
Also published as: GB9607728D0; GB9707339D0

Abstract

A disc storage device, especially for a compact disc, comprises a plurality of panels including a locating panel (22) comprising a disc receiving portion; and a further panel (18) adjacent the locating panel (22), whereby said panels are hingedly connected such that the panels can be positioned, in use, on a base panel (16), providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DISC STORAGE DEVICES Field of the Invention The present invention relates to disc storage devices and particularly, though not exclusively, to such devices adapted for the storage of compact discs. The invention also relates to blanks for such devices, to disc storage cases and to methods of manufacture of disc storage devices.

Backaround to the Invention A typical compact disc, for example a musical compact disc, comprises a disc approximately 12cm in diameter with a central hole having an internal diameter of approximately 1.5cm. The compact disc typically has a thickness of about 1.2mm.

These discs are now well known for use in data storage, their contents to be reproduced for entertainment, education, information or for other reasons.

It is noted that the present invention is not limited to compact discs of this size, for instance compact discs are known for the storage of films and in such cases the discs are considerably larger.

The number of compact discs sold has grown dramatically over the past few years. It follows, therefore that the packaging of the discs becomes ever more important. In particular there is growing concern over the amount of plastics material used in the packaging and the fact that such material generally is not biodegradable.

Attempts have been made to use cardboard covers with plastic inserts on which the discs are mounted. These constructions do not overcome the problem of nonbiodegradability.

An all-cardboard compact disc storage case is known under the name SMARTPAC (trade mark) for holding musical compact discs. Such a case is made up of a disc receiving portion and a cardboard cover. The disc receiving portion comprises three separate layers of cardboard shaped and glued together to receive the compact disc and hold it in position in a pocket. Such a storage case is complicated to make as it requires the precise layering of several separate components. Also, the layers of the receiving section of the storage case are prone to come apart after extended use.

It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to obviate or overcome at least one problem encountered in relation to the prior art, whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Slsmmars of the Invention According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a disc storage device for receiving a disc, said device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving portion; and a further panel adjacent the locating panel, whereby said panels are hingedly connected such that the panels can be positioned, in use, on a base panel, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

Thus there can be provided a one-piece, unitary and integral device that is easier to manufacture and construct than known devices, but is also stronger.

Suitably, the further panel is a spacer panel which is positioned, in use, between a base panel and the locating panel, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

Suitably, the locating panel additionally comprises a lug which overlies the pocket. In this configuration the lug helps to hold the disc in place in use.

Suitably, there is additionally provided a base panel, which preferably, is hingedly connected to the locating panel and/or the spacer panel. Preferably, the base panel comprises a portion of a cover for the device.

Suitably, the disc storage device comprises card or the like material. Suitably, the card or like material is of substantially the same thickness as that of the disc to be received by the disc storage device and preferably, is thicker than the disc to be received by the disc storage device.

The hinged connections between panels are suitably provided by scores or creases in the card or like material to form fold lines.

The hinged connections enable folding of the panels relative to one another when they are not secured together.

Suitably, the spacer panel is adhered to the locating panel by means of an adhesive. Preferably, the spacer panel is also adhered to the base panel by means of an adhesive. In the glued configuration it is apparent that the panels will not be foldable relative to one another but they are still to be regarded as hingedly connected as specified above.

Preferably, the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the locating panel and preferably, the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the base panel.

Suitably, the spacer panel is adhered between the base panel and the locating panel at one end of the device. Suitably, the base panel, the locating panel and the spacer panel are hingedly connected one to another with the spacer panel secured between the locating panel and the base panel, whereby the locating panel and the base panel are not parallel to each other.

Suitably, the spacer panel is shaped to receive a part of a disc to be received by the device. Suitably, the disc receiving edges of the spacer panel are curved.

Alternatively, the spacer panel can comprise a plurality of components and preferably, the disc receiving edges of the spacer panel components are curved.

The card of the one-piece construction is folded and glued with the spacer panel located between the base panel and the locating panel. Such an arrangement provides a pocket for a disc. The locating panel, base panel and spacer panel define a pocket for receiving a disc, with the disc receiving edges of the locating panel and spacer panel defining a disc receiving portion. When a disc is inserted in the disc receiving portion of the device, the disc fits the disc receiving portion and movement of the disc in the plane of the locating panel is prevented. As the spacer panel preferably does not extend the whole length of the locating panel or the base panel, the spacer panel between the locating panel and base panel causes the locating panel to lie at an acute angle to the base panel.

For a disc to be inserted into the pocket created by the locating panel, spacer panel and base panel, the lug of the locating panel usually (but not always) has to be bent or moved away from the plane of the locating panel for a disc to be inserted. Once a disc is inserted into the device, with the edges of the disc adjacent the disc receiving edges of the spacer panel and the locating panel, the lug is held by the compact disc in substantially a plane parallel relationship with the disc, which helps hold the disc in place. The insertion of the disc into the device has the effect of displacing the plane of the lug of the locating panel. While the disc is in place the lug remains displaced at least to some extent, thus providing a force which functions to hold the disc under the lug of the locating panel and in the pocket and prevent movement of the disc away from the locating panel.

Suitably, the base panel provides a lip on which at least part of the periphery of a disc can sit when received by the disc storage device.

Optionally, the base panel is recessed in an area excluding at least part of that which will abut a peripheral area of an inserted disc in use, thus providing a lip on the base panel on which the periphery of the disc can sit. The recess in the base panel may be a hole.

The recessed area in the base panel of the disc storage device has the function that when a disc is placed in the device on the lip of the base panel the under-side (information-storage side) of the disc only comes into contact with the base panel at the periphery of the disc, i.e. the area where no information is stored. The information-storage area of the under-side of the disc is held away from the base panel by the lip, thus preventing scratching of the disc by the base panel which may potentially result in loss of information from the disc.

Currently, however, this is not believed to be necessary for most applications.

Preferably, the disc to be received by the disc storage device is a compact disc.

Alternatively, the further panel comprises a flap, which suitably overlies at least part of the disc receiving portion of the locating panel.

Suitably, the locating panel is shaped to receive at least part of a disc to be received by the device and preferably is shaped to receive all of a disc to be received by the device.

Suitably, the flap does not extend for the whole length of the locating panel.

Suitably, the flap is shaped to receive at least part of a disc to be received by the device. Suitably, the disc receiving edge of the flap is curved. Preferably, the flap may comprise a plurality of components.

Suitably, there is additionally provided a base panel, which preferably, is hingedly connected to the locating panel. Alternatively, the base panel comprises a portion of a cover for the device.

Suitably, the flap is adhered to the locating panel by means of an adhesive.

The card of the one-piece construction is folded and glued with the locating panel positioned between the base panel and the flap. Such an arrangement provides a pocket for receiving a disc. The disc receiving edge of the locating panel defines a disc receiving area in which to position a disc. Once a disc is placed in the disc receiving portion of the locating panel, movement of the disc in the plane of the locating panel is prevented. The flap which overlies at least part of the locating and disc in use, holds the disc in place in the device by preventing movement of the disc away from the plane of the locating panel.

According to the present invention in a second aspect there is provided a disc storage device for receiving a disc, the device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving hole, and a spacer panel adjacent the locating panel, said spacer panel, in use, being positioned on a base panel, between the locating panel and the base panel, providing a pocket into which a disc may be inserted, whereby the locating panel and the base panel are not plane parallel.

Suitably, the locating panel additionally comprises a lug which overlies the pocket.

Suitably, there is additionally provided a base panel.

Suitably, the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the locating panel. Additionally, the spacer panel preferably does not extend the whole length of the base panel.

Suitably, the spacer panel provides an acute angle between the locating panel and the base panel.

The panels of the disc storage device are preferably provided as a one-piece construction of hingedly connected panels. The one-piece construction preferably comprises scores or creases in the card or like material to form fold lines. Preferably, the base panel is hingedly connected to the locating panel and/or the spacer panel.

Suitably, the spacer panel is secured to the locating panel by means of an adhesive. Preferably, the spacer panel is also secured to the base panel by means of an adhesive.

Suitably, the spacer panel is adjacent the lug of the locating panel whereby the spacer panel is positioned, in use, on a base panel, between the base panel and the lug, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

Suitably, the base panel provides a lip on which at least part of the periphery of the disc can sit when received by the disc storage device.

Suitably, the base panel is recessed in an area excluding at least part of that which will abut a peripheral area of an inserted disc in use, thus providing a lip on the base panel on which the periphery of the disc can sit. The recess in the base panel may be a hole.

According to the present invention in a third aspect there is provided a disc storage case comprising a device according to either of the preceding aspects of the present invention and a cover.

According to the present invention in a fourth aspect there is provided a blank for providing a disc storage device according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

According to the present invention in a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a disc storage device, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a device for receiving and holding a disc, said device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving portion; and a further panel adjacent the locating panel, whereby said panels are hingedly connected; b) folding the further panel relative to the locating panel; and c) securing the further panel to the locating panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow; in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective elevation of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional end elevation substantially enlarged in a vertical direction through the embodiment of Figure 1 on the line indicated at II.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation substantially enlarged in a vertical direction through the embodiment of Figure 1 on the line indicated at III.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a blank for a disc storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the blank shown in Figure 4 illustrating a method of assembly of a disc storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective elevation of another embodiment of the present invention.

In each of the drawings that follow like numerals are used to denote like features.

Description of the Preferred Rmhodiments Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a compact disc box 1 comprising a disc storage device 2.

The box 1 is generally of a two part construction comprising a cover 4 and an insert 6.

The cover 4 is folded from a single-piece card blank, using card slightly thicker than the thickness of the disc to be inserted. The cover 4 comprises a lid 8 and a backing piece 10. The cover 4 is hingedly connected to the backing piece 10, the hinge being formed by two parallel score lines 12a and 12b.

The insert 6 is adhered by a contact adhesive (not shown), to backing piece 10.

The insert 6 is folded from a single-piece card blank described in more detail below.

Referring additionally to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings that follow, the insert 6 comprises, as a first (lowest) layer a generally square, planar, base panel 16 in which there is a curved cutaway portion 17, which allows the compact disc (not shown) to be easily removed from the storage device 2 when in use. In this case the base panel 16 comprises a recessed section 36 of slightly reduced diameter compared with that of the compact disc to be received. The recessed section 36 extends for nearly the whole diameter of the disc to be inserted.

Alternatively, the base panel 16 has a circular or part circular hole of slightly reduced diameter compared with that of the compact disc to be received. The base panel 16 thus has a lip 30 for the edge of the compact disc to sit upon when the device is in use. However the recessed area 36 or hole also create a space between the under-side of the compact disc and the surface of the base panel 16 to prevent scratching of the information-carrying portion of the disc during its insertion, storage and retrieval from the storage device 2. The recessed nature of the base panel 16 is not a necessity but rather may be preferred if there is a need to reduce any scratching of the discs.

The second (middle) layer of the insert 6 is a spacer panel 18 comprising a planar piece of card of less than half the size of the base panel 16, with a curved inner edge (not shown here but clearly shown in the blank 60 of Figure 4) shaped to receive the edge of a compact disc.

The third (top) layer of the insert 6 is a locating panel 22 substantially aligned with the base panel 16.

The locating panel 22 has a disc receiving hole 25 having a major diameter slightly larger than that of the disc to be inserted. The disc-receiving hole 25 of the locating panel 22 does not form a complete circle, thereby providing a locating lug 24. In this case the lug 24 comprises an arcuate section with a crescent-shaped cutout. The lug 24 extends nearly half way across the disc receiving hole 25 in locating panel 22. It will be appreciated that various lug shapes can be used provided they overlie the disc receiving pocket 25 to some extent.

The spacer panel 18 and locating panel 22 define by the curved inner shaped edges 19a, 19b of the spacer panel, upstanding curves 20 of the locating panel and lug 24, a disc receiving hole 25 into which a compact disc can be inserted and rest snugly with little free translational movement.

The insert 6 is of a triple layer construction, shown most clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 2 shows more clearly the disc receiving hole 25. There is shown in Figure 2 the cover panel 4 and the insert 6. The layers of the insert are each glued by a contact adhesive 34. The insert 6 is glued to cover 4 by contact adhesive 34. The spacer panel 18 in this case comprises two shaped sections 18a, 18b providing a space between the locating panel 22 and the base panel 16 in which to place the compact disc.

In Figure 3 the spacer panel 18 can be seen to lie between the base panel 16 and the locating panel 22. The base panel 16 and the locating panel 22 are hingedly connected at joint 40 (the depth of joint 40 is exaggerated for clarity). This arrangement is such that there is an acute angle 38 at joint 40.

Referring to Figures 1-3 the disc storage device will now be described in use. The disc to be stored is inserted into the disc storage device between the base panel 16 and the lug 24. The disc fits at the curved receiving edges 20 of the locating panel 22 and the spacer panel sections 18a and 18b. The circumferential periphery of the disc sits on the lip 30, the rest of the disc being supported above the recessed area 36.

To insert a disc into the disc storage device the plane of the lug 24 must be altered (i.e. the lug 24 must be deformed) such that there is an angle between the plane of the lodating panel 22 and the lug 24, thus creating an opening for insertion of the disc. Once the disc is fitted at the disc receiving edge 20 of the locating panel 22 the lug 24 cannot move back entirely into the plane of the locating panel 22 because the disc is in the way.

This stresses the lug 24 and helps prevent the disc from moving in the plane of and perpendicular to the plane of the compact disc thus holding the disc securely in the storage device 2.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a single-piece cardboard blank 60 for forming the insert 6 according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. The blank 60 comprises 1.5mm thick card. The grain direction is indicated by the double-headed arrow 56. Internal lines 58 of the blank 60 in Figure 5 indicate scores to provide hinged connections between the panels 16, 18 and 22. The blank 60 can be folded along the score lines 58 to form insert 6.

Figure 5 of the drawings that follow, shows how the blank 60 can be folded along its score lines or creases 58 to form the insert 6. The arrows show the directions of folding. The spacer panel 18 is folded between the base panel 16 and the locating panel 22 and glued into position by a contact adhesive.

In embodiments of the present invention substantially as described above it has been found that the lug 24 and the locating panel 22 can and do withstand without deleterious effect many insertions and removals of compact discs.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the clearance between the lug 24 and disc receiving hole 25 can be such that when a disc is in the disc receiving hole 25, the lug 24 is not deformed.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figure 6 of the drawings that follow there is shown a compact disc case 1 comprising a disc storage device 2. The compact disc case 1 is similar to that described with reference to Figure 1, with like reference numerals denoting like features.

In this alternative embodiment of the present invention the insert 6 differs from that described in Figure 1 in that there is no spacer panel 18. In this alternative embodiment the insert 6 comprises, a generally square, planar locating panel 22a (similar to that described with reference to Figure 1 as a locating panel 22). The locating panel 22a has a curved cutaway section 21, which allows the compact disc (not shown) to be easily removed from the storage device 2 when in use. The locating panel comprises a cut away section that forms a disc receiving hole 25 defined by the disc receiving edge 20. The disc receiving hole 25 has a major diameter slightly larger than that of the disc to be inserted and defines the disc receiving portion of the disc storage device 2. The disc receiving hole 25 of the locating panel 22a preferably forms a complete circle (not shown).

The locating panel 22a is glued by contact adhesive to a base panel 4 which in this case comprises part of the cover of the compact disc box 1. Alternatively the base member can be substantially the same as that described as base panel 16 with reference to Figure 1. In both cases the base panel 16 or the cover 4 may comprise a recessed section 36 and a lip 30, substantially as described with reference to Figure 1, to aid in the prevention of scratching of the information-carrying portion of the disc during its insertion, storage and retrieval from the storage device 2. The recessed feature 36 of the base panel 16 or cover 4 is not a necessity but rather may be preferred if there is a need to reduce scratching of the discs.

When the locating panel 22a is substantially aligned with the cover 4 or base panel 16 the locating panel 22a defines by its curved inner shaped edge 20 a disc receiving hole 25 into which the compact disc can be inserted and rest snugly with little free translational movement.

The top layer of the insert 6 is a flap 29 comprising a planar piece of card, in this case shown as being of less than half the size of the locating panel 22a, and of arcuate section. Flap 29 is hingedly connected to the locating panel 22a, and forms part of the same piece of card. It will be appreciated that various flap shapes and sizes can be used provided that they overlie the disc receiving hole 25 of the locating member 22a to some extent.

The disc storage device 2 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention will now be described, in use, with reference to Figure 6.

The disc to be stored is inserted into the disc storage device 2 to fit in the disc receiving hole 25 of the locating panel 22a, between the base panel portion of the cover 4 and the flap 29. The disc fits at the curved receiving edge 20 of the locating panel 22a and the circumferential periphery of the disc sits on the lip 30, the rest of the disc being supported above the recessed area 36.

To insert a disc into the disc storage device 2, the disc must be inserted into the pocket made by the base panel of the cover 4 and the flap 29 at an angle to the plane of the locating panel 22a. Once inserted in the pocket the disc is then located in the disc receiving hole 25 of the locating panel 22a, resting on the lip 30 above the recessed area 36. In this position, the disc lies snugly in the plane of the locating panel 22a.

To remove the disc from the disc storage device 2, the disc must be lifted, preferably by leverage at the cutaway sections 21 of the locating panel 22a, away from the plane of the locating panel 22a. When the disc is at enough of an angle to the locating panel 22a it is no longer constrained by the disc receiving edge 20 of the locating panel 22a and can slide over the locating panel 22a and thus be removed from the pocket formed by the base panel of the disc box cover 4 and the flap 29.

It is noted that the inserts of each embodiment of the present invention described herein can be formed from a one-piece card blank.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims:

1. A disc storage device for receiving a disc, said device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving portion; and a further panel adjacent the locating panel, whereby said panels are hingedly connected such that the panels can be positioned, in use, on a base panel, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

2. A disc storage device according to claim 1, wherein the further panel is a spacer panel which is positioned, in use, between a base panel and the locating panel, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

3. A disc storage device according to claim 2, in which the locating panel additionally comprises a lug which overlies the pocket.

4. A disc storage device according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which there is additionally provided a base panel, which preferably, is hingedly connected to the locating panel and/or the spacer panel.

5. A disc storage device according to claim 4, in which the base panel comprises a portion of a cover for the device.

6. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim, in which the disc storage device comprises card or the like material.

7. A disc storage device according to claim 6, in which the card or like material is of substantially the same thickness as that of the disc to be received by the disc storage device.

8. A disc storage device according to claim 7, in which the card or like material is thicker than the disc to be received by the disc storage device.

9. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim, in which hinged connections between panels are provided by scores or creases in the card or like material to form fold lines.

10. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 9, in which the spacer panel is adhered to the locating panel by means of an adhesive.

11. A disc storage device according to claim 10, in which the spacer panel is adhered to the base panel by means of an adhesive.

12. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, in which the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the locating panel.

13. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 12, in which the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the base panel.

14. A disc storage device according to claim 4 or claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 13 when dependent from claim 4, in which the spacer panel is adhered between the base panel and the locating panel at one end of the device.

15. A disc storage device according to claim 4 or claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 13 when dependent from claim 4, in which the base panel, the locating panel and the spacer panel are hingedly connected one to another with the spacer panel secured between the locating panel and the base panel, whereby the locating panel and the base panel are not parallel to each other.

16. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 15, in which the spacer panel is shaped to receive a part of a disc to be received by the device.

17. A disc storage device according to claim 16, in which the disc receiving edges of the spacer panel are curved.

18. A disc storage device according to claim 16, in which the spacer panel comprises a plurality of components.

19. A disc storage device according to claim 4 or claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 18 when dependent from claim 4, in which the base panel provides a lip on which at least part of the periphery of a disc can sit when received by the disc storage device.

20. A disc storage device according to claim 4 or claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 19 when dependent from claim 4, in which the base panel is recessed in an area excluding at least part of that which will abut a peripheral area of an inserted disc in use.

21. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim, in which the disc to be received by the disc storage device is a compact disc.

22. A disc storage device according to claim 21, in which the further panel comprises a flap, which suitably overlies at least part of the disc receiving portion of the locating panel.

23. A disc storage device according to claim 22, in which the locating panel is shaped to receive at least part of a disc to be received by the device and preferably is shaped to receive all of a disc to be received by the device.

24. A disc storage device according to claim 22 or 23, in which the flap does not extend for the whole length of the locating panel.

25. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 22 to 24, in which the flap is shaped to receive at least part of a disc to be received by the device.

26. A disc storage device according to claim 25, in which the disc receiving edge of the flap is curved.

27. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 22 to 26, in which the flap comprises a plurality of components.

28. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 22 to 27, in which there is additionally provided a base panel.

29. A disc storage device according to claim 28, in which the base panel is hingedly connected to the locating panel.

30. A disc storage device according to claim 28, in which the base panel comprises a portion of a cover for the device.

31. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 22 to 30, in which the flap is adhered to the locating panel by means of an adhesive.

32. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 22 to 31, in which the disc to be received by the disc storage device is a compact disc.

33. A disc storage device for receiving a disc, the device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving hole, and a spacer panel adjacent the locating panel, said spacer panel, in use, being positioned on a base panel, between the locating panel and the base panel, providing a pocket into which a disc may be inserted, whereby the locating panel and the base panel are not plane parallel.

34. A disc storage device according to claim 33, in which the locating panel additionally comprises a lug which overlies the pocket.

35. A disc storage device according to claim 33 or claim 34, in which there is additionally provided a base panel.

36. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 35, in which the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the locating panel.

37. A disc storage device according to claim 36, in which the spacer panel does not extend the whole length of the base panel.

38. A disc storage device according to claim 35 or either of claims 36 or 37 when dependent from claim 35, in which the spacer panel provides an acute angle between the locating panel and the base panel.

39. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 38, in which the disc storage device comprises card or the like material.

40. A disc storage device according to claim 39, in which the card or like material is of substantially the same thickness as that of the disc to be received by the disc storage device.

41. A disc storage device according to claim 40, in which the card or like material is thicker than the disc to be received by the disc storage device.

42. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 41, in which the panels of the disc storage device are provided as a one-piece construction of hingedly connected panels.

43. A disc storage device according to claim 42, in which the one-piece construction comprises scores or creases in the card or like material to form fold lines.

44. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 43, in which the base panel is hingedly connected to the locating panel and/or the spacer panel.

45. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 44, in which the spacer panel is secured to the locating panel by means of an adhesive.

46. A disc storage device according to claim 45 when dependent from claim 35, in which the spacer panel is also secured to the base panel by means of an adhesive.

47. A disc storage device according to claim 35 or any one of claims 34 to 46 when dependent from claim 35, in which the spacer panel is adjacent the lug of the locating panel whereby the spacer panel is positioned, in use, on a base panel, between the base panel and the lug, providing a pocket capable of receiving a disc.

48. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 33 to 47, in which the spacer panel is shaped to receive a part of a disc to be received by the device.

49. A disc storage device according to claim 48, in which the disc receiving edges of the spacer panel are curved.

50. A disc storage device according to claim 48, in which the spacer panel can comprise a plurality of components.

51. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 48 to 50 when dependent from claim 35, in which the base panel provides a lip on which at least part of the periphery of the disc can sit when received by the disc storage device.

52. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 48 to 51 when dependent from claim 35, in which the base panel is recessed in an area excluding at least part of that which will abut a peripheral area of an inserted disc in use.

53. A disc storage device according to any one of claims 48 to 52, in which the disc to be received by the disc storage device is a compact disc.

54. A disc storage device substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or 6 of the drawings that follow.

55. A disc storage case comprising a device according to any preceding claim and a cover.

56. A blank for providing a disc storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 54.

57. A method of manufacturing a disc storage device, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a device for receiving and holding a disc, said device comprising a plurality of panels including a locating panel comprising a disc receiving portion; and a further panel adjacent the locating panel, whereby said panels are hingedly connected; b) folding the further panel relative to the locating panel; and c) securing the further panel to the locating panel.