GB2318570A

GB2318570A - A packaged disc

Info

Publication number: GB2318570A
Application number: GB9622346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kempen Hugo Adriaan Van
Original assignee: KEMPEN HUGO ADRIAAN VAN
Current assignee: KEMPEN HUGO ADRIAAN VAN
Priority date: 1996-10-28
Filing date: 1996-10-28
Publication date: 1998-04-29
Also published as: GB9622346D0

Abstract

A package e.g. for a compact disc (16) comprises holder means (22) for the disc (20), a first part (24) and a second part (26) which are connected together such that they are movable between a closed position in which the disc (20) is protected and an open position in which the disc (20) is exposed. The holder means (22) moves the disc (20) from a storage position to a presentation position.

Description

A PACRAGBD DISC This invention relates to a packaged disc, for example a packaged compact disc or a packaged discette.

The disc packaging industry is constantly seeking new ways of packaging discs so that the packaging appeals to the buying public. Whilst the packaging must appeal to the buying public, it must also be such that it is able to be produced in a commercially economic manner. It is an aim of the present invention to provide one such packaged disc.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a packaged disc comprising packaging and the disc, the packaging comprising holder means for the disc, a first part and a second part, the first and the second parts being connected together such that they are movable between a closed position in which the disc is protected to an open position in which the disc is exposed, the disc being a disc containing a recording, the holder means being such that it moves the disc from a storage position when the first and the second parts are in the closed position to a presentation position when the first and the second parts are in the open position, and the presentation position being such that the disc is in a position which facilitates removal and replacement of the disc from the holder means.

The packaging of the packaged disc is able to be produced in a cost effective manner with the use of few materials and the use of automated assembly if desired. The disc is able easily to be secured in position by the holder means.

The packaged disc may be one in which the holder means comprises a first portion which is secured to at least one of the first and the second parts, and a second portion which releaseably holds the disc.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first portion is permanently secured to the first part. In this case, the holder means may comprise a longitudinally extending part which is connected to the first part only. Alternatively, the holder means may comprise a quadrant shaped part which is connected to both the first and the second parts.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first portion is releaseably secured to the first part.

The holder means may comprise a plug device which is made of a resilient material and which locates in a central hole in the disc, thereby to hold the disc in position by friction. The plug device is preferably a foamed plastics plug device. The plug device may be made of other materials, for example rubber, if desired.

The holder means may alternatively comprise a circular arrangement of fingers which extends through a central hole in the disc, thereby to hold the disc in position by friction.

The holder means may alternatively comprise a plurality of slots for receiving the disc.

The holder means may still further alternatively comprise a foam device having a recess for receiving the disc and for holding it therein by friction.

Preferably, the packed disc is one in which the disc is protected by the first and the second parts when the first and the second parts are in the closed position.

The first and the second parts may comprise parts of a card, box or a book.

The disc is preferably a compact disc or a discette. Other types of discs such for example as floppy discs may be employed.

The recording on the disc may be an audio recording, a visual recording, or a combined audio and a visual recording. The packaging is made of card.

Other materials including plastics materials may be employed if desired.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a known packaged disc in a closed condition; Figure 2 shows the packaged disc of Figure 1 in an open condition; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the packaged disc as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a first 'packaged disc of the invention and in a closed condition; Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the packaged disc of Figure 4 in various stages of being opened; Figure 8 shows part of the packaged disc shown in Figures 4 - 7 with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing; Figure 9 shows a second packaged disc with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing; Figure 10 shows part of a third packaged disc with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing; Figure 11 shows a fourth packaged disc with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing; Figure 12 shows part of a fifth packaged disc with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing; and Figure 17 shows part of a sixth packaged disc with the card construction being shown prior to folding and glueing.

Referring to Figures 1 - 3, there is shown a known packaged disc 2 comprising packaging 4 and a disc 6. The disc 6 is contained in a recess 8 in a plastics moulded tray 10.

The packaging 4 is card packaging which is folded along the various illustrated dotted lines. A pop-up person 12 pops up when the packaging 4 is opened as can be appreciated from Figures 2 and 3. Due to the fold lines 14, the person 12 folds inwardly when the packaging 4 is closed. It will be appreciated that the packaging 4 is such that the person 12 simply enhances the appearance of the packaging 4. The person 12 does not have any connection with the disc 6 and, in particular, the disc 6 does not move when the packaging 4 is opened and closed. The tray 10 is used to locate the disc 6 and the tray 10 may be relatively expensive to manufacture and assemble in the packaging 4.

Referring now to Figures 4 - 8, there is shown a packaged disc 16 comprising packaging 18 and a disc 20.

The packaging 18 comprises holder means 22 for the disc 20, a first part 24 and a second part 26. As can be seen, the first and the second parts 24, 26 fold together to a closed condition as shown in Figure 4 and open to an open condition as shown in Figure 7.

The first and the second parts 24, 26 in effect form a card or a shallow box.

The first and the second parts 24, 26 are movable between their illustrated closed and open positions by virtue of a hinge 28 which is formed by folding or creasing the packaging 18 along lines 30, 32. In the closed condition of the packaging 18 shown in Figure 4, the disc 20 is protected by the first and the second parts 24, 26. In the open condition of the packaging 18 as shown in Figure 7, the disc is exposed. More specifically, it will be appreciated that the holder means 22 is such that it moves the disc 20 from a storage position as shown in Figure 4 to a presentation position as shown in Figure 7. The presentation position is such that the disc 20 is in a position which facilitates removal and replacement of the disc 20 from the holder means 22. As shown in Figure 7, the disc 20 extends beyond the periphery of the first and the second parts 24, 26 in their open position.

The holder means 22 comprises a first portion 34 which is secured to the first part 24, and a second portion 36 which releaseably holds the disc 20. The first portion 34 is formed as an integral part of the holder means 22 and is thus permanently secured to the first part 24. As can be seen from Figures 5 - 8, the first portion 34 is a longitudinally extending portion.

The holder means 22 includes a plug device 38 which is made of a resilient foam material and which locates in a central hole 40 of the disc 20, thereby to hold the disc 20 in position by friction. More specifically, the plug device 38 slightly deforms when it is pushed into the central hole 40 and then the natural resilience of the foam material from which the plug device 38 is made, acts on the disc 20 defining the central hole 40 to hold the disc 20 in position by friction.

Referring now to Figures 9 - 13, similar parts as in Figures 4 - 8 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

In Figure 9, the holder means 22 comprises two slots 42 for receiving the disc 20 as shown. In Figure 9, the first portion 34 of the holder means 22 is permanently secured to the first part 24. More specifically, the entire piece of packaging 18 is formed as a single member similar to that shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows how the holder means 22 may be formed similarly to the holder means 22 shown in Figures 4 - 8 but as a separate member. In this case, the first portion 34 is provided with the shaped formation 44 which locates in a slot 46 in the first part 24. As a further alternative, the separately formed holder means 22 shown in Figure 10 could be stuck in position using an appropriate adhesive.

Figure 10 also illustrates how the packaging 18 may be provided with an extra section which would form a third part 48. The third part 48 can then be folded over or into the other parts 24, 26 as desired.

Additional sections forming fourth, fifth etc parts may also be employed if desired.

Figure 11 shows packaging 18 in which the holder means 22 is in the form of a hand. The hand has slots 50 for receiving a discette as shown. The holder means 22 is integrally formed with the remainder of the packaging 18.

In an alternative embodiment to that shown in Figure 11, the hand 22 may have a foam cavity for retaining the discette 52 by friction in the foam cavity.

Figure 12 shows packaging 18 in which the holder means 22 has a quadrant shaped portion 54 with fold lines 56. The holder means 22 is integrally formed with the remainder of the packaging 18 and the quadrant shaped portion 54 is thus connected to both the first part 24 and the second part 26. The holder means 22 has a plug device 38 for holding the disc 20 by friction.

Figure 13 shows an arrangement which is somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 12 but which has a double holder means 22 for holding two discs 20.

In Figures 4 - 11, gravity is required for the correct operation of the holder means 22. This means that the holder means 22 needs to be the correct way up. In Figures 12 - 13, gravity is not required and the quadrant shaped folds allow the packaging to be opened at any angle.

The disc or discs 20 may be any suitable and appropriate name type of disc or discs. Thus, for example, the disc 20 may be a compact disc.

Similarly, the discette 52 may be any suitable and appropriate known type of discette. Generally, the packaging may contain any suitable and appropriate type of disc and, whilst the disc will usually be circular, it is to be understood that the disc may be of other shapes if desired.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

Thus, for example, the holder means 22 and the first and the second parts 24, 26 may be shaped differently than shown in the drawings. Similarly, whilst the illustrated packaging 18 is formed of card, other materials may be employed, for example, plastics materials.

Claims

1. A packaged disc comprising packaging and the disc, the packaging comprising holder means for the disc, a first part and a second part, the first and the second parts being connected together such that they are movable between a closed position in which the disc is protected to an open position in which the disc is exposed, the disc being a disc containing a recording, the holder means being such that it moves the disc from a storage position in which the first and the second parts are in the closed position to a presentation position when the first and the second parts are in the open position, and the presentation position being such that the disc is in a position which facilitates removal and replacement of the disc from the holder means.

2. A packaged disc according to claim 1 in which the holder means comprises a first portion which is secured to at least one of the first and the second parts, and a second portion which releaseably holds the disc.

3. A packaged disc according to claim 2 in which the first portion is permanently secured to the first part.

4. A packaged disc according to claim 3 in which the holder means comprises a longitudinally extending part which is connected to the first part only.

5. A packaged disc according to claim 3 in which the holder means comprises a quadrant shaped part which is connected to the first and the second parts.

6. A packaged disc according to claim 2 in which the first portion is releaseably secured to the first part.

7. A packaged disc according to any one of the preceding claims in which the holder means comprises a plug device which is made of a resilient material and which locates in a central hole in the disc, thereby to hold the disc in position by friction.

8. A packaged disc according to claim 7 in which the plug device is a foamed plastics plug device.

9. A packaged disc according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the holder means comprises a circular arrangement of fingers which extends through a central hole in the disc, thereby to hold the disc in position by friction.

10. A packaged disc according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the holder means comprises a plurality of slots for receiving the disc.

11. A packaged disc according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the holder means comprises a foam device having a recess for receiving the disc and for holding it therein by friction.

12. A packaged disc according to any one of the preceding claims in which the disc is protected by the first and the second parts when the first and the second parts are in the closed position.

13. A packaged disc according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second parts comprise parts of a card, box or a book.

14. A packaged disc according to any one of the preceding claims in which the disc is a compact disc, a discette or a floppy disc.

15. A packaged disc according to any one of the preceding claims in which the packaging is made of card.

16. A packaged disc substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 - 13 of the accompanying drawings.