GB2347167A

GB2347167A - Retain and release mechanism for an article, e.g. a compact disc

Info

Publication number: GB2347167A
Application number: GB9826560A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Macfarlane Cowan
Original assignee: ALPHA TECH MOULDING Ltd
Current assignee: ALPHA TECH MOULDING Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 2000-08-30
Also published as: GB9826560D0

Abstract

A bi-stable device for demountably securing an article, e.g. a CD, relative to a substrate, e.g. a CD case or container, comprises a base member and one or more pairs of bifurcated members attached to the base member and for engaging the article. The device is movable from a first stable position (figure 2) where the article is prevented from being released by projections 13 to a second stable position (figure 3), by pressing the cylindrical portion or "actuation button" 12, where the article is free from the projection 13 and presented for release by outer portion 11. Projection 13 and outer portion 11 are configured to form an acute angle. In a second embodiment (figures 5 and 6) a bridging member (25), integral with each bifurcated member, provides a living hinge (26) to move the device between the first and second stable positions.

Description

BI-STABLE SECURING DEVICE AND CONTAINER INCORPORATING THE SAME This invention relates to a bi-stable securing device for demountably securing an article relative to a substrate, and also to a container incorporating the same.

The present invention will be described and illustrated herein with particular reference to a bi-stable device for demountably securing a compact disc relative to a container and to a container for a compact disc which includes such a device, but is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

The present invention, therefore, provides a bi-stable device for demountably securing an article relative to a substrate, said device being adapted, in use, to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the article is secured against movement relative to the substrate and a second, stable configuration wherein the article is free to move relative to the substrate.

The present invention further provides a container including at least one device as described in the immediately-preceding ~ In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a substantially annular outer portion, a substantially cylindrical inner portion integral with said outer portion and extending in one axial direction relative to said outer portion and a plurality of finger-like projections disposed regularly about the circumference of a circle concentric with the periphery of the cylindrical portion, the projections extending in the same direction as the cylindrical portion, the annular portion being adapted to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the projections make an acute angle with the axial plane of the cylindrical portion and a second, stable configuration wherein the projections are substantially parallel to the axial plane of the cylindrical portion.

In use, the device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is secured to a substrate at a point corresponding to the inner end of the cylindrical portion, the annular portion being free to assume either the first, or the second stable configuration.

For example, if a compact disc were placed relative to a substrate having the device attached thereto so that the hole at the centre of the disc were located concentrically with and outwardly of the projections, the result of causing the device to assume its first, stable configuration would be to move the projections into contact with the inner periphery of the central hole of the disc, thereby securing the disc against movement relative to the substrate, while the result of causing the device to assume its second, stable configuration would be to release the projections from contact with the disc, so that the disc could move freely relative to the substrate.

Preferably, the cylindrical inner portion constitutes, in use, actuating means (or an"actuating button") to cause the device to move from its first, stable configuration (to secure the disk) to its second, stable configuration (to release the disc).

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a base member adapted, in use, to be attached to the substrate, one or more pairs of bifurcate members adapted, in use, to engage the article and a bridging member integral with each bifurcate member, in which each bifurcate member is attached to and moveable relative to each other bifurcate member and to the base member by means of a living hinge and each pair of bifurcate members is adapted to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the bifurcate members engage the article and a second, stable configuration wherein the bifurcate members release the article.

A device according to the present invention may be made from a mouldable plastics material, for example polypropylene.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts); Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 1, showing the device in a first, stable configuration; Figure 3 is a view of the device of Figure 2 in a second, stable configuration; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of Figure 4, showing the device in a first, stable configuration ; Figure 6 is a view of the device of Figure 5 in a second, stable configuration.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the device, indicated generally at 10, comprises a substantially annular outer portion 11, capable of resilient deformation to assume a first, stable configuration (shown as 11A in Figure 2) and a second stable configuration (shown as 11B in Figure 3).

As substantially cylindrical inner portion 12 extends in one axial direction relative to the outer portion 11. A plurality of finger-like projections 13 is disposed regularly about the circumference of a circle concentric with the periphery of the inner portion 12.

When the device 10 is made to assume the first, stable configuration (shown in Figure 2), the projections 13 each make an acute angle ex with the axial plane AA of the cylindrical portion 12. In this configuration, the projections, in use, abut the inner periphery of the central hole of a compact disc (shown schematically at 14 in Figures 2 and 3), thereby securing the disc against movement.

When the device 10 is made to assume the second, stable configuration (shown in Figure 3), the projections 13 are each substantially parallel to the axial plane AA of the cylindrical portion 12. In this configuration, the projections, in use, are released from contact with the disc and the disc can them be freely removed from the securing device.

Movement of the device 10 from the first to the second stable configuration can be achieved by using the cylindrical portion 12 as an "actuating button".

Referring now to Figures 4,5 and 6, the device, shown generally at 20, comprises a base member 21 adapted, in use, to be attached to a substrate (not shown), one or more pairs (two pairs, 22 and 23 are shown) of bifurcate members adapted, in use, to engage an article such as a compact disc (shown schematically at 24 in Figures 5 and 6) and a bridging member 25 integral with each bifurcate member. The bridging member 25 is provided with a living hinge 26 whereby the device can be made to assume a first, stable configuration (as shown in Figure 5) where the bifurcate members engage the disc 24 and secure the disc against movement and a second, stable configuration (as shown in Figure 6) where the disc is released from contact with the bifurcate members and can then be freely removed from the device.

The device can optionally be provided with an actuating member 27 to facilitate movement between the two stable configurations.

Devices according to either embodiment of the present invention can be provided as discrete items for subsequent attachment to a substrate.

Alternatively, the devices can be provided already attached to a substrate (such as, for example, a container for a compact disc).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bi-stable device for demountably securing an article relative to a substrate, said device being adapted, in use, to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the article is secured against movement relative to the substrate and a second, stable configuration wherein the article is free to move relative to the substrate.
2. A device according to Claim 1, said device comprising a substantially annular outer portion, a substantially cylindrical inner portion integral with said outer portion and extending in one axial direction relative to said outer portion and a plurality of finger-like projections disposed regularly about the circumference of a circle concentric with the periphery of the cylindrical portion, the projections extending in the same direction as the cylindrical portion, the annular portion being adapted to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the projections make an acute angle with the axial plane of the cylindrical portion and a second, stable configuration wherein the projections are substantially parallel to the axial plane of the cylindrical portion.
3. A device according to Claim 2, which, in use, is secured to a substrate at point corresponding to the inner end of the cylindrical portion, the annular portion being free to assume either the first, or the second stable configuration.
4. A device according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the cylindrical inner portion constitutes, in use, actuating means (or an"actuating button") to cause the device to move from its first, stable configuration to its second, stable configuration.
5. A device according to Claim 1, said device comprising a base member adapted, in use, to be attached to the substrate, one or more pairs of bifurcate members adapted, in use, to engage the article and a bridging member integral with each bifurcate member, in which each bifurcate member is attached to and moveable relative to each other bifurcate member and to the base member by means of a living hinge and each pair of bifurcate members is adapted to assume a first, stable configuration wherein the bifurcate members engage the article and a second, stable configuration wherein the bifurcate members release the article.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is made from a mouldable plastics material.
7. A device according to Claim 6, which is made from polypropylene.
8. A bi-stable device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A bi-stable device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
10. A container including at least one device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9.