GB2354509A

GB2354509A - A case for storing a disc.

Info

Publication number: GB2354509A
Application number: GB0002304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chung Fai Cheung
Original assignee: Forward Electronics Manufacturing Co Ltd; FORWARD ELECTRONICS Manufacturing COMPAN
Current assignee: Forward Electronics Manufacturing Co Ltd; FORWARD ELECTRONICS Manufacturing COMPAN
Priority date: 1999-09-24
Filing date: 2000-02-01
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-01
Also published as: GB2354508A; GB9922731D0; GB2354509B; GB0002304D0

Abstract

A case 10 for storing a disc having a central hole, and a compact disc in particular, has a lid 12 pivotally connected to a base 15 by hinge means 20 whereby the lid can be swung from open positions to a closed position on the base. A mounting means 24 projects from the inner face 16 of the base 15 to pass trough the central hole of a disc when mounted on the mounting means 24. An engaging means 26 is associated with the mounting means 24 and a complementary engaging means 27 is associated with the lid 12 whereby when the lid 12 is closed there is an inter-engagement of the respective engaging means 26, 27 preventing the lid 12 from being opened. The case 10 has releasing means 28 actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means 26, 27 and allow the case 10 to be opened. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting means 24 and its engaging means 26 are movable between engaging and releasing positions and are biased to their engaging positions. The releasing means 28 comprises the distal end 32 of the movable mounting means 24 which is accessible through a hole 29 in the lid 12 of the case 10. The preferred case 10 may be opened and the disc removed by the use of one hand. The preferred case also has the diameter of the mounting means smaller than the diameter of the central hole in the disc so that there is no frictional interference between the mounting means and the disc which could cause damage to the disc. Such a case is especially suitable for discs such as DVD's having multiple substrates bonded together.

Description

2354509 A CASE FOR STORING A DISC

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cases for storing discs and to cases for storing compact discs in particular.

Compact disc cases are the cases in which compact discs are usually sold to th6 public. The cases protect the compact discs and usutdly bear or contain textual or graphical to information about the information recorded on the compact discs or about the manufacturers and the properties of the compact discs in the case of blank but recordable compact discs. The term compact discs is used in the present specification in a broad sense. It includes within its scope conventional audio compact discs (CD"s), compact discs on which computer software has been recorded (CD ROM.'s), digital video or versatile compact discs (DVD's), recordable compact discs (CD-R's), and recordable and rewritable compact discs (CD- RW's). All these compact discs record information digitally which information is then read by optical means. However, that does not preclude the cases of the present invention from being used to store compact discs on which information is or can be recorded by analogue means or which is recorded and read by other than optical means.

Cases according to the present invention may be made for discs other than compact discs. Furthennore, while the discs areusuiaiycircular in shape they need' not be. For example., the= have been recent reports of compact discs being made to a size and shape where they may be used as business cards. However, it is a characteristic of all discs for which the cases of the present invention are designed that the discs have a hole, usually a central hole, through them by which they may be mounted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 30

Most compact disc cases are designed to hold a single compact disc. Several embodiments of such cases are known.

A common compact disc case designed to hold a single compact disc comprise's a base 35 and a lid separately moulded from a suitable plastics material and pivotally connected by hinge means. The lid at least is transparent so that the cover of a leaflet, folder or 2 booklet placed in the case under the lid, and removably held in place by tabs attached to the lid, can be seen from outside the case.

The base is a multi-part base, having a separately made tray attached to an outer cover.

The tray is shaped, usually by having a substantially circular recess, to receive a compact disc lying flat on the tray. The compact disc has a central hole and the centre of the tray has mounting means which frictionally engages with the edge of the disc about the central hole to keep the compact disc on the tray until the compact disc is lifted off the mounting mean and the tray to be removed from the case. It is sometimes a disadvantage because of the frictional engagement of the compact disc with the mounting means that a person must usse two hands to release the compact disc from the mounting means and lift it from the tray. Sometimes one hand is used to hold the base down while the other hand is used to grasp the compact disc by its outer peripheral edge and pull it off the mounting means. Depending on the strength of the frictional engagement that action can produce some undesirable bending of the compact disc while it is being pulled off the mounting means. For many compact disc cases the mounting means is designed to be pressed downwardly by a finger or a thumb to reduce its diameter and -release the flictional engagement of the mounting means with the disc. Usually a finger or thumb of the hand used to hold down the base is used to press down on the mounting means, that action both holding down the base and releasing the frictional grip of the mounting means on the compact disc.

However, the second hand is still needed to lift the compact disc off the mounting means.

Even where the mounting means is designed to be pressed to reduce its diameter and release the frictional engagement of the mminting means with the disc, users may press the mounting means insufficiently or not at all and pull the compact disc from the mounting means against the frictional engagement of the disc with the mounting means. That again produces an undesirable bending of the compact disc. This bending is especially undesirable for multi.-layer compact discs such as DVD's.

Typically, a DVD comprises two substrate layers which are bonded together to make a single disc. One or both substrate layers may carry pro-recorded information or carry means whereby information may be recorded on the disc. The fact that the DVD disc is made from two substrate layers means that it is vulnerable to damage caused by frictional resistance of the mounting means to the disc being pushed on or pulled off the mounting means and the consequential bending of the disc. These factors, 3 particularly over a period -of time, - can lead to delamination and dislocation of the substrates relative to each other.

Most compact disc cases have means to prevent the case from being inadvertently opened. Typically such means comprise small projections on a rim of the lid or base and complementary recesses on a rim of the other of the lid or base. The projections snap-fit into the recesses when the lid is closed on the base. Some force must be applied to both the lid and base to be able to open the lid and again the use of two hands is necessary for that.

These features may be found in other compact disc cases as well, for example, unitary compact disc cases utilising plastic hinges (living hinges) for the hinge means and compact disc cases designed to store more than one compact disc.

IS An object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for a disc, and a compact disc in particular, where, in a preferred embodiment, the case can be opened and the disc removed therefrom by the use oflust one hand.

Another object, or an alternative object, of at least a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a storage case for a multi-layer, that is, a multi-substrate, compact disc where there is no frictional engagement between the mounting means and the disc so that the disc can be placed on and removed from the mounting means without frictional resistance between the two and without any bending of the disc.

2:5 SUMMARY OF THE RiVIRMON

The present invention broadly consists in a case for a disc having a central hole, the case comprising: a lid having an inner face and an outer face; a base having an inner face and an outer face; hinge means whereby the lid is pivotally connected to the base to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base; mounting means projecting from the inner face of the base for mounting said disc thereto with the mounting means passing through the central hole of the disc and the plane of the disc lying substantially parallel to the plane of the base; engaging means associated with the mounting means and the lid respectively whereby when the lid is closed the engaging mean of the lid interengages with the engaging means of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being 4 opened; and releasing means actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the engaging means of the 5 mounting means and the engaging means of the lid is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position. In this embodiment, the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the movable one of the engaging means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the movable one of the engaging means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the other engaging means to prevent the lid from being opened.

It is preferred that it is the engaging means of the mounting means that is movable 15 between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position. It is more preferred that the engaging means of the mounting means is fixedly attached to the mounting means but is movable between the engaging position and the releasing position because the mounting means itself is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to its engaging position. In this more preferred embodiment, it is also preferred that a sufficient downwards pressure applied to a distal end of the mounting means causes the mounting means- to move from its engaging position to its releasing position.

The mounting means preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical hub mounted on 25 the inner face of the base and movable with at least a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means. To provide the verticaJ component of motion, the hub may be mounted at a distal end of an arm resiliently cantilevered ftom the base and normally supporting the hub in the raised engaging position whereby sufficient downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the hub causes the arm to bend towards the base and the hub to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting means hub is a single unitary member which is preferably integral %rith a single arm resiliently cantilevered from the base.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting means hub comprises a plurality of, and preferably two, separate and separated hub sectors. Each hub sector is movable with a vertical component ofmotion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means. In this embodiment, each hub sector may be mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directly radial arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub sector in the raised engaging position. Eacb hub sector may be integral with the arm to which it is mounted. Sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends of the hub sectors causes each arm to bend towards the base and each hub sector to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transvme and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

For any embodiment of the hub or other fonn of the mounting means, its diameter is preferably less d= the diameter o f the central hole in the disc. That means that when a disc is mounted on the mounting means there is no ffictional engagement between tJae mounting means and the edge of the central hole in the disc. When the case is open, that feature allows the disc to be placed on and lifted off the mounting means without bending of the disc. ' It also allows the disc to be placed on and also lifted off the mounting means by the use of only one hand it not being necessary to hold down the case with the other hand.

The engaging means of the mounting means or the lid preferably comprises at least latch member projecting laterally from the mounting means or the lid. In this case, the engaging means of the other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a catch for the or each latch member which engages the associated latch member and prevents the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position. Where the mounting means comprises a single unitary member, it is preferably the engaging means of the mounting means that comprises a latch member. The latch member is located at or towards the distal end of the hub remote from the base and preferably projects radially outwardly from the hub in a direction generally towards the arm to w1uch the hub is mounted. Where the mounting means comprises a plurality of hub sectors, the engaging means of the mountings means preferably compfises a plurality of latch members, there being one latch member projecting radially outwardly from each hub 6 sector of the mounting means genemlly in the direction of the arm to which the hub sector is mounted and at or towards the distal end of the hub sector remote from the base.- The single hub or each hub sector, as - the case may be, has a recess, which is preferably in the form of a vertical channel, in its outer periphery and the latch member of the hub or of each hub sector is located within an envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub or hub sector. Therefore, whether the hub comprises a single member or a plurality of hub sectors, no latch member projects beyond the envelope defined by the periphery of the hub. That makes it easier for the disc to be placed on and removed from the mounting means because the edge of the disc about its central hole does not catch on the one or more latch members.

In these preferred embodiments, the inner face of the lid has the or each catch in the form of an inwardly projecting flange which, as the lid approaches its closed position, bears against a camface of the respective latch member. That forces the hub or hub sector, as the case may be, to move to its releasing position. The catch then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub or hub sector returns to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the recess under the latch member, -that thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

In these preferred embodiments of the invention, the or each catch is located adjacent a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub, whether it is a single hub or comprises a plurality of hub sectors, when the lid is in its closed position.

The distal end of the hub provides said releasing means because it is accessible fTom the outer face of the closed lid and -can be pushed downwardly, for example, by a finger or thumb. That action moves the hub -md the or each engaging means from its engaging position to its relewing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

Preferably the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal end of the mounting means hub when the lid is closed. In this case it is the socket that is provided with the catch or catches in the form of the inwardly projecting flange or Ranges. The socket is preferably open ended to provide the hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub when the lid is in its closed position.

For any preferred embodiment of the -invention, whether the mounting means is in the 7 form of a hub or not and whether the hub comprises a plurality of hub sectors or not, there is preferably such a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position so that the distal end of the mounting means can finiction as the releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid and is capable of being moved, for example, by being pushed downwardly, so as to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position interengaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

The case may have lid biasing means biasing the lid from the closed position. The lid biasing means functions so that when the lid is closed and the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means, the lid is moved sufficiently open to prevent inadvertent reengagernent of the respective engaging means. A deliberate closing of the lid requires it to be pushed to the closed position against the action of the lid biasing means whereupon the respective engaging means inter-engage again. The lid biasing means can comprise at least one resilient biasing member on either the lid, or preferably on the base, which is deflected from a normal position by a contacting part of the other of the lid or the base when the lid is pushed to its closed position.

The base of the case may have disc supporting means for supporting the disc mounted on the mounting means in a. raised suppor t position or in a lowered support position above the inner face of Ihe base. The disc supporting means supports the disc in the lowered support position when the lid is closed on the base. That is because the lid -directly or indirectly presses down on at least a part of the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means. However, the supporting means are biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened. Thus, the biasing of the mounted disc to the raised support position causes the lid to pop up slightly from its closed position when the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means of the lid and the mounting means. The lid is raised sufficiently so that when actuation of the releasing means ceases the respective engaging me= of the lid and the mounting means do not re-engage. That allows the person who has pushed the releasing ineans to use the same hand to open the lid finther so that the same hand can then be used to lift the disc off the mounting means.

8 The disc supporting means preferably comprises a plurality of resilient fingers upwardly inclined from the base. The distal ends of the fingers bear against a lower face of the disc when placed on the mounting means. The fingers are preferably radially disposed about the mounting means and the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the central hole in the disc, preferably where no information is recorded or is recordable.

While the invention can be applied to unitary cases or to multi-part: cases where the base comp: rises a single part, the preferred case has a multi-part base comprising a tray lo and an outer cover to which the tray is attached. The inner face of the tray therefore provides the inner face of the base. That inner face o ' f the tray preferably has a substantially circular recess in it for receiving the disc. To facilitate removal of the disc, the recess may be open at the top and bottom edges of the base, That makes it easier for a person to grip the peripheral edges of the disc at the top and bottom edges of the case.

The preferred case is designed to store a compact disc, and especially a digital video or versatile disc (DVD) or other compact disc having multisubstrate layers bonded together. In this latter case in particular, the diameter of the compact disc central hole is greater than the'diameter of the mounting means passing through the central hole so that the compact disc is not frictionally engaged by the mounting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above has broadly defined the present invention, two preferred embodiments of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures I -11 B relate to a first embodiment and Figures 12-17 relate to a second embodiment.- Figure 1 is a plan view of the outside of the first embodiment -of compact disc case shown in a fully open position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the inside of -the first embodiment of compact disc case shown in 4 fully open position; Figure 3 is an edge view of the case taken on M-HI of Figure 2; 9 Figure 4 is an edge view of the case taken on IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an edge view of the case taken on V-V of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of compact disc case showing the inside of the fully open case; Figure 7 is a cross-section on VII-VII of the fiffly open case shown in Figure 2 but also shows a disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means; 10 Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the inside of the base end of the fully open case with a compact disc mounted on the mounting means-, Figure 8A is an enlarged view: of the. mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 8 with details of the mounting means iind the supporting means concealed by the compact disc shown in ghosted lines; Figure 9 is a perspective view ftom the lid-side of the case showing the lid in. a nearly, but not fully, closed position on the base; Figure 9A shows an enlarged view of the central region of the lid of the c4se shown in Figure 9; Figure 9D is a cross-sectional view through 1he mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 9 with a compact disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means; Figure 10 is a perspective view from the lid-side of the case showing the lid in its fully closed position; Figure IOA is an enlarged view of the central. region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 10; Figure IOB is a cross-sectional view tbrough the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 10; Figure I I is a perspective view from the lid-side of the case showing the distal ends of the two mounting means hub sectors depressed in order to release the engaging means of the mounting means from the engaging means, of the lid to allow the lid to be openecL the lid having popped up slightly from its fully closed position by the action of the supporting means biasing the compa:ct disc to a raised position; Figure 1 IA is an enlarged view of the central. region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 11; Figure 11 B is a cross-sectional view tliTough the mounting means region of the case 10 shown in Figure 11; Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 6 but is a perspective view of the second embodiment of compact disc case showing the inside of the fully opened case; Figure 13 corresponds to Figure 8, but is a perspective view of the second embodiment of compact disc case showing the inside of the base end of the fully open case with a compact disc mounted on the mounting means; Figure 13A corresponds to Figure 8A but is an enlarged view of the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 13 with details of the mounting means and the 20 supporting means concealed by the compact disc shown in ghosted lines; Figure 14 corresponds to Figure 10 but is a perspective view from the lid- side of the second embodiment case showing the lid in its fully closed position; Figure 14A corresponds to Figure 10A but is an enlarged view of the central region of the lid of the case shown in Figure 14; Figure 15 corresponds to Figure 9B but is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the second embodiment case with a compact disc mounted on the 30 mounting means and the lid about to be closed; Figure 16 corresponds to Figure IOB but is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the case shown in Figure 14, the lid being in its fully closed position; and Figure 17 corresponds to Figure I I B but is a cross-sectional view through the mounting means region of the second embodiment case showing the hub having been depressed in order to release the engaging means of the mounting means from the engaging meansof the lid to allow the lid to be opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The first preferred embodiment of compact disc case 10 shown in Figures 11 1B the drawings is designed to hold a single compact disc 11. The case is a multi-part case comprising a lid 12 having 'an inner face 13 and an outer face 14 and a base 15 having an inner face 16 and an outer face 17. The buse itself is a multi-part base comprising an inner tray 18 and an outer cover 19. The tray is attached to the outer cover by any suitable means known in the art, it not being crucial to the present invention how the tray is attached to the cover. With this arrangement the inner face 16 of the base 15 is in fact provided by the inner fare of the tray 18.- The various parts of the case 10 are separately moulded from one or more suimble plastics materials. These include polypropylene and polystyrene.

The case 10 includes hinge means 20 whereby the lid 12 is pivotally connected to the base 15 to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base. Several of the drawings, including Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, show the lid in a fully open position. Figure 10 shows the lid in its closed, me i g fully closed, position. The hinge means 20 can be any hinge means in the art known to be suitable for use with compact disc cases of the same type, the particular type of hinge means used being immaterial to the present invention. However, by way of example, the preferred case shown in the drawings has two hinge means 20, one at each end of the hinged edges of the lid and base of the case. A rim 21 is formed at the top and bottom edges of the lid 12 and at the hinged edge of the lid these rims extend as hinge arms 22. 'Each hinge arm has a short inwardly projecting stub axle (not shown) and these are received in cylindrical sockets (not shown) in the top and bottom ends of a spine 23 of the case which is formed at the hinged edge of the base is.

The case 10 has moutiting means 24 projecting from the inner face 16 of the base 15 35 for mounting the compact disc 11. As best shown in Figures 8 and SA, the compact disc 11 has a central hole 25 and when the disc is mounted on the mounting means 12 with the mounting means passing through the central hole the plane of the disc lies substantially parallel to the plane of the base.

The case 10 also has engaging means 26 associated with the mounting means 24 and engaging means 27 associated with the lid 12. When the lid is closed its engaging means 27 inter-engages with the engaging means 26 of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened. The case has releasing means 28 actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened. The engaging means 26 of the mounting means is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

The engaging means 27 of the lid interact-, with the engaging means 26 of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position. On the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means 26 of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter- engaging with the engaging means 27 of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened. The interengagement of the respective engaging means remains effective to keep the case closed until the releasing means 28 is actuated.

A feature of this embodiment of the invention, which will be described in more detail, is that, at least when a compact disc I I is mounted in the case, the closing of the lid 12 engenders a force biasing the lid to a slightly open position. This feature means that when the releasing means 28 is actuated to released the inter-engaged engaging means 26 and 27, the lid moves slightly away from its closed position so that when actuation of the releasing means ceases and the engaging means 26 of the mounting means reM= to its engaging position it does not inter-engage with the engaging means 27 of the lid and the lid can be swung to a fully open position.

The mounting means 24 is made to be movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base 15. The mounting means 24 with its engaging means 26 is biased to a raised engaging position but the mounting means and its engaging means is movable between that raised position and a lowered releasing position. The releasing means 28 provided by the distal end of the mounting means 24 can be pushed downwardly to push the mounting means downwardly from its engaging position to its releasing position. The distal end of the mounting means is accessible for this purpose from outside the closed caseby virtue of a hole 29 provided through 13 the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position.

Another feature of this embodiment of the invention is that the diameterof''the mounting means 24 is less flian the diameter of the central hole 25 in the disc 11.

That means that there is no frictional engagement of the mounting means with the edge of the disc about the central hole. The disc can therefore be placed on the mounting means and removed therefrom without any bending of the disc. The mounted disc is nevertheless still held in place by the mounting means and, in the closed case, is also sandwiched between the lid and the base so that it is not loose within the case.

In this embodiment of the invention, the mounting means 24 comprises a substantially cylindrical hub which consist of two separate and separated substantially semi cylindrical hub sectors 30. Each hub sector is mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directed radial arm 31 and is preferably integral with the arm, Each radial arm is resiliently cantilevered from the base 15 and normally supports the hub sector in the raised engaging position. A sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends 32 of the hub sectors (which provide the releas' g means 28) causes each am 31 to bend downwardly whereby each hub sector follows an arcuate path, moving with both inwardly tnmsverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position. The arms 31 are integral with the tray 18 attached to the outer cover 19 to form the base 15. To allow for room for the arms 31 to be bent downwardly, the mounting means 24 is located on a platfonn 33. The platform is raised on the inner face 16 of the base tray to leave a recess34 in the outer face 35 of the tray beneath the platform. This- recess 34 provides sufficient space for the arms 31 to be bent downwardly and for the hub sectors 30 to move in an arcuate path inwardly and downwardly from their 'engaging positions to their releas' g positions. This is best shown in Figure 1 1B.

- In this embodiment of the invention, the engaging means 26 of the mounting means 24 comprises laterally projecting latch members 36. There is one latch member projecting radially outwardly from each hub sector 30 at or towards its distal end remote from the base 15. Each latch member projects generally in the direction of the arm 31 to which the hub sector is mounted. Each hub sector 30 has a recess in the form of a vertical channel 37 in its outer periphery and the latch member 36 of that 14 hub sector is located in- the channel within the envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub sector. That means that the latch members 36 do not project beyond the envelope defined by the hub. That in turn means that the edge of the compact disc central hole 25 will not catch on the latch members 36 when the disc is being placed 5 on or removed from the mounting mcans.

It has already been mentioned that the lid 12 has a hole 29 through it whereby the distal ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 providing the releasing means 28 are accessible when the lid is in its closed position on the base. An annular flange 38 on the inner face 16 of the lid 12 forms a socket 39 to receive the distal ends of the hub sectors when the lid is closed. The socket is open-ended, thereby providing the hole 29 through the lid_ - The engaging means 27 of the lid comprises a catch 40 in the socket 39 for each latch member 36 of the mounting means. In the- present case there are therefore two catches 40 located on opposite sides of the socket Each catch is provided by a flatbottomed U-shaped flange on the inside of the annular flange 38. Each catch projects inwardly and is designed to fit in the channel 37 of the associated one of the hub sectors 30.

The base IS of the case has disc supporting means for supporting the disc 11 mounted on the mounting means 24 in a raisedsupport position or in a lowered support position above the inner face 13 of the base. The disc supporting means supports the disc in the lowered support position when the lid 12 is closed on the base to press down on the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means. However, the disc supporting means is biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is -opened. It is the disc supporting means, in conjunction with a disc 11, that pops the closed lid to a slightly open position when the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaging engaging means of the lid and mounting means respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the disc supporting means comprises four resilient fingers 41. These are integral with the tray18 and are radially disposed about the mounting means 24. The distal ends 42 of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc'l 1 when - placed on the mounting means. It is desirable that the distal ends 42 of the fingers 41 bear against a region of the disc where information is not recorded or recordable. In the preferred arrangement, best shown in Figure 8A, the fingers 41 are radially disposed about the mounting means and are inclined inwardly and upwardly from. the base so that the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the central hole 25 in the disc. The fingers 41 keep the rest of the lower face of the disc from contacting the inner face 16 of the base even when the disc supported by the fingers is moved froTri the raised support position to the lowered support position when the lid is moved to its closed position.

The tray 18 is formed with a substantially circular recess 43. This has a diameter a little greater ffian the diameter ofthe disc 11. The disc is located within the recess 43 at least when in its lowered support position. In its raised support position, the disc is preferably supported. slightly higher than the depth of the recess (see Figure 7) to make it easier for a person to grasp the outer peripheral edge of the disc to lift it off the mounting means and to remove it from the open case. To ftwther facilitate the removal of the disc from the case, the recess 43 may have openings 44 in the top edge 45 and the bottom edge 46 of the base.

Figures 7, 8 and 8A show a compact disc 11 on the mounting means 24 of a fully open caselO. Figures 9, 9A and 9B relate to the case when the lid Is nearly but is not fully closed. Figures 10, 10A and IOB relate to the case when the lid is in its closed' position. Figures 11, 1 IA and I IB show what happens when the releasing means is actuated to allow the lid to pop open to a small extent prior to being swung to the fully open position.

Referring to Figure 9B, the mounting means hub sectors 30 on the arms 31 are in their raised engaging positions. The latch members 36 on the hub sectors are therefore also in their engaging positions. A disc I I is mounted on the mounting means hub comprising the hub sectors 30 and is supported in its raised support position by the fingers 41. The lid 12 is shown sufficiently closed towards the base 15 so that the lower edges 47 of the catches 40 contact the upper edges 48 of the latch members 36.

These edges 47 and 48 (identified in Figure I I B) are bevelled to provide cam 30 surfaces. As the lid is pushed further downwardly towards its fully closed position, the contact between the edges 47 and 48 forces the hub sectors 30 to move in arcuate paths inwardly and downwardly until, in the fully closed position of the lid, shown in FigurelOB, the. catches 40 have slid over and past the latch members 36 whereupon the hub sectors 30 move back to their engaging positions so that the latch members 36 3-5 inter-engage with'the catches 40 as shown in Figure I OB to prevent the lid from being opened. During this final closing movement of the lid, the lower edge 49 of the 16 annular flange 38 comes into contact with and presses downwardly on the upper face of the compact disc 11 about the central hole 25 in the disc. Thus the disc is pushed downwardly from its raised support position - shown in Figure 9B to its lowered support position shown in Figure I OB. In that lowered support position, the resilient fingers 41 are bent and exert an upwards force on the disc trying to force the disc back to its raised support position. The distal ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 are accessible from outside the closed case by means of the hole 29 in the lid. As has been explained, these accessible distal ends provide the releasing means 28 of the case. When a person presses downwardly. on the distal ends 32, using a finger or thumb, then, as io shown in Figure I I B the hub sectors 30 and their latch members 36 are again made to move through arcuate paths inwardly and downwardly from their engaging positions to their releasing positions. The latch members 36 are thereby released from engagement with the catches 40. The resilient fingers 41 are then able to push the disc 11 upwardly from the lowered support position to the raised support position, that thereby popping the lid open to a small degree. This action opens the lid sufficiently so that when the person removes his or her finger or thumb from the distal ends of the hub sectors allowing them to return their engaging positions, the latch members 36 are located below the catches 40 and so do not re-engage with the catches. That allows the lid to be swung to a more open or fully open position. When the lid is in a sufficiently open position the compact disc 11 can be gripped by its outer peripheral edge and lifted from the mounting means.

In the preferred embodiment that has been described, the lid is popped to a slightly open position on actuation of the releasing means only when a compact disc is mounted on the mounting means since it is the compact disc that transmits forces between the resilient fingers 41 -and the lower edge 49 of the annular flange 38. However, the distal ends 42 of the fingers 41 could be made to extend closer to the mounting means hub so that these are contacted by and depressed by the lower edge 49 of the annular flange 38 even wh en the lid is closed without a disc in the case.

Such a modification enables the lid to be popped open on actuation of the releasing means even when there is no compact disc in the case, though the degree of opening is less by the thickness of the compact disc.

With this preferred embodiment of compact disc case placed on a flat surface with its 35 closed lid uppermost, a person can, with one hand, push the releasing means, flip the lid open and lift the compact disc from the case. As shown in Figure I OB, the distal 17 ends 32 of the hub sectors 30 do not project beyond the outer face 14 of the lid when the lid is closed. That stops the case being inadvertently opened if placed lid-side down on a surface or if stacked against or between other cases.

The compact disc case can have features that are incorporated in prior art cases. For example, the lid may have lugs 50 projecting inwardly from the top and bottom rims 21 and spaced from the inner face 13 of the lid to support a leaflet folder or booklet against the inner face of the lid.

The invention can be applied to cases having a unitary base without a tray and to unitary cases where the hinge means comprises plastic binges (living hinges). The invention can also be applied to cases for storing more than one compact disc. For example the base could be placed between two lids with each face of the base having mounting means and each lid having a hole for accessing the distal end of the respective mounting means when the lid is closed.

A second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 12-17. In most respects, this embodiment is the same as the first preferred embodiment already described and in the drawings like parts are given the same reference numbers. The following description describes only those features of the second preferred embodiment which differ from the first preferred embodiment.of compact disc case.

In the second preferred embodiment, the mounting means hub comprises a single unitary member 30a which is preferably integral with a single arm 31 which is resiliently cantilevered from the platform 33 of the base 15. The arm comprises a ramped portion 3 la extending from the platform 33 and terminating a flat portion 3 lb which is generally parallel to the plane of the base. The hub 30a is mounted on the arm portion 3 1b.

This second preferred embodiment as illustrated does not have disc supporting means comprising. resilient fingers 41 as has the first preferred embodiment already described.

The fingers 41 have been removed leaving only cut-out s 41ainthe tray18 of the base. '17hese cut-outs do not provide apertures right through the base because they are closed on the outer side of the base by the outer cover 19. However, it is not necessary for the cut-outs to be present at all in this embodiment. In the first preferred embodiment of compact disc case, 1he cut-outs enable the moulding of the 18 fingers 41 integral with the tray.

When a compact disc is placed in the tray, a portion of the. disc adjacent its central hoIe 2 5 rests. on the flat portion 3 lb of 'the resilient arm 3 L That flat portion 3 lb could completely surround the hub 30a but in the embodiment shown in the drawings (see Figures 12 and 13A in particular) the,flat portion does not extend fully around the hub. Never theless, there is still a sufficient area of the flat portion 31b to support the compact disc. The recess 43 in the tray 18 may be stepped to provide a ledge 43a for supporting the compact disc adjacent its outer periphery. Those parts of the compact i o disc which are supported by the case are parts on which information is not recorded or recordable.

It is desirable that the ewe. has lid biasing means biasing e lid 12 from the closed position so that when the lid is closed and-the releasing means 28 is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means, the lid is moved sufficiently open by the lid biasing means to prevent inadvertent re-engagement of the respective engaging means. A deliberate closing of the lid therefore requires it to be pushed to the closed position against the action of the lid biasing means whereupon the respective engaging means inter-engage again. In the first preferred embodiment, the lid biasing means is provided by the resilient fingers 41. In the second preferred embodiment of the invention these fingers have been omittedbut the lid biasing means can be provided in other ways. For example, one or more of the lugs 50 used to support a leaflet, folder or booklet. against the inner face of the -lid can be used for that purpose. Referring to Figure 12 it can be deduced that when the lid 12 is closed on: the base 15 the lugs 50b nearer the spine 23 locate in recesses 51b in the base. However, the lugs 50a fixffier from the spine 23 press against and cause some deflection downwardly of resilient tabs 1 a of the base. These Aabs 5 1 a 'provide the lid biasing means. When the lid is released, the tabs 5 1 a cause the lid to pop upwardly slightly but sufficiently to prevent inadvertent re-engagement of the respective engaging means- of the lid and mounting means. In this case, it is- not necessary for any part of the lid to press against any part of the compact disc when the lid is close' d, though that is still an optional feature.

Figures 15, 16 and 17, as already ekplained, correspond to Figures 9B, I OB and 11 B, and show the stages of closing the lid (Figurel 5) to place it in its fally closed position (Figure 16) and then beginning the opening of the lid by. pres; sing the distal end of the hub (denoted by the arrow in Figure 17).

19 The above has described two preferred -embodiments of the invention and has indicated some possible modifications. How-ever, various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

In another embodiment of the invention, it could be the engaging means of the lid which is made moveable between an engaging position and a releasing position and being biased to the engaging position. For example, spring loaded latch members mounted on the inner face of the lid could snap into engagement in socket-like catches in the mounting means. In this case 'the releasing means could comprise a button or slide or other movable member mounted on the lid and accessible from the outer face of the lid which, when moved, moves the latch members to their releasing positions. The compact disc mounted on the mounting means could be supported from the inner face of the base by one.or two circular ribs on the base concentric with the mounting means. A biasing force urging the closed lid to a slightly open position could be provided by means of a leaf spring or a resilient compressible pad acting between the base and the lid. A problem with the embodiment where the releasing means is actually mounted on the lid is that.in actuating the releasing means some pressure would be applied to the lid inhibiting its popping open a little away from its closed position. That is not a problem with the preferred embodiment of the invention where the releasing means is associated with die base rather thm with the lid.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the engaging means of the mounting means hub could comprise one or more small radial projections from the hub at or towards its distal end and the engaging means of the lid could comprise one or more matching recesses, for example, within the socket 39 of the lid. These would be sized to snap-fit together when the lid was closed and to snap out of engagement with each other when a sufficient force was applied to the lid relative to the base to force the lid open. Alternatively, the projection or projections could be provided on the lid and the recess or recesses on the mounting means hub or both of the hub and the lid can have a mixture of projections and recesses. However, these embodiments of the invention would not positively lock the lid closed and would usually require the use of two hands to open the case in the usual way. If the projections were- on the hub they could interfere with the placement of the compact disc on the mounting means and its removal therefrom but if the projections are small and rounded such interference would be minimal. Any such interference wor4ld be eliminated if the projections were located on the hd. In either case, a hole 29 in the lid would not be necessary.

21

Claims

1. A case for a disc having a central hole, the case comprising: a lid having an inner face and an outer face; a base having an inner face and an outer face;'hinge means whereby the lid is pivotally connected to the base to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position when the lid is superimposed over the base; mounting means projecting from the inner face of the base for mounting said disc theret6 with the mounting means passing through the central hole of the disc and the plane of the disc lying substantially parallel to the plane of the base; engaging means associated with the mounting means and the lid respectively whereby when the lid is clos ed the engaging means of the lid inter-engages with the engaging means of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened; and releasing means actuatable' from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

2. A case according to claim 1 wherein one of the engaging means of the mounting means and the engagingmeans of the lid is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

3. A case according to claim 2 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts witli the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force: movement of the movable one of the engaging means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the movable one of the engaging means reftuns to its engaging ppsition thereby inter-engaging with the other enga&kg means to prevent the lid frombeing opened.

4. A case according to claim I wherein. the engaging means of the mox nting means is movable between' an engaging position and a. releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

5. A case according to claim: 4 wherein the. engaging means of the mounting means is fixedly attached. to. the mounting means but. is movable betweeri said engaging position and said releasing position because the mounting means is movable between an engaging position -and a releasing position and- is biased to the engaging position.

22 6. A case according to claim 4 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the engaging means of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened.

7. A case according to claim 5 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the engagmg means of the mounting means returns to.its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the engaging means of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened.

8. A case according to claim 7 wherein a sufficient downwards pressure applied to a distal end of the mounting means causes the mounting means to move from its engaging position to its releasing position.

9. A case according to claim 8 wherein the mounting means comprises a substantially cylindrical hub mounted on the inner face of the base and movable with at least a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base:between a raised position which is the engaging po.sition of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means.

10. A case according to claim 9 wherein the hub has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the central hole in the disc.

11. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the hub is mounted at a distal end of iliently canfilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub in the an arm resi raised engaging position whereby said sufficient downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the hub causes the arm to bend towards the base and the hub to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

23 12. A case according to claim 11 wherein the hub is a single unitary member.

13. A case according to claim 12 wherein there is a single said arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and the hub is integral with said arm.

14. A case according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the engaging means of the mounting means or the -lid comprises a latch member projecting laterally thereftorn and the engaging'means of the -other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a catch which engages the laterally projecting latch member and prevents the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position.

15. A case according to claim 14 wherein it is the engaging means of the mounting means that comprise said latch member, this latch member projecting radially outwardly from the hub of the mounting means at or towards its distal end remote from the -base.

16. A case according to claim 15 wherein the hub has a recess in its outer periphery, the latch. member being located in the recess andnot projecting beyond an envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub.

17. A- case according'to claim 16 wherein the recess comprises a vertical channel in the outer. periphery of the hub.

18. A. case according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the inner face of the lid has said catch in the form of an inwardly projecting flange which as the lid - approaches its closed position bears- against a cam face of flie respective latch member to force the hub to move to its releas ing'position and then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub returns to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the recess under the latch member thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

19. A case according to claim 18 wherein the catch is located adjacent a hole through the lid which is Positioned over the mounting means hub when the - lid is in its closed position whereby the distal. end of the bub provides said releasing means in that it is accessible fi-om the outer face of the closed hd to be pushed downwardly to move 24 the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter- engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

20. A case according to claim 18 wherein the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal end of the mounting means hub when the lid is closed, the socket having said catch in the form of said inwardly projecting flange.

21. A case according to claim 20 wherein the socket is open ended thereby providing a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal end of the hub provides said releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be -pushed downwardly to. move the engaging rneaus of the mounting means from its engaging position interengaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

-22. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the mounting means hub comprises a plurality of separated hub sectors, -each of which is movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means.

23. A case -according to claim 22 wherein each hub sector is mounted at a distal. end of a respective inwardly directed radial arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub sector in the raised engaging position whereby said sufficient downwi3rds pressure applied simultaneous ly to the distal ends of the hub sectors causes each arm to bend towards the base and each. hub sector to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

24. A case according to claim 23 wherein each hub sector is intcgral with the arm to which it is mounted.

25. A case according to any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the engaging means of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of latch members projecting laterally therefrom and the engaging means ofthe other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of catches which respectively engage the laterally projecting latch members and prevent the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position.

26. A case according to claim 25 wherein it is the engaging means of the mounting means that comprise said. latch members, there being one latch member projecting radially outwardly from each hub sector of the mounting means at or towards its distal 10 end remote from the base.

27. A case according to claim 26 wherein -each hub sector has a recess in its outer periphery, the latch member of-that hub sector being located in the recess and not projecting beyond an envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub sector.

28. A case according to claim 27 wherein the recess of each hub sector comprises a vertical channel in the outer periphery of the hub sector.

29. A case according to claim 27 or 28 wherein the inner face of the lid has said -catches in the form of a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges each of which as the lid approaches its closed position bears against a carn face of the respective latch member to force the hub sector to move to its releasing position and then slides past the latch member until the lid is. in its closed.position whereupon the hub sector returns to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the recess under the latch member thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

30. A case according to claim 29 wherein the catches are located adjacent a hole through the lid which is'positioned over the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal ends of the hub sectors provide said releasing means in that they are accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from their engaging positions in-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to theiTreleas' 9 positions thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

31. A case' according to claim 29 wherein the'inner face of the lid has a socket to 26 receive the distal ends of the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is closed, the socket having said catches in the form of said inwardly projecting flanges.

32. A case according to claim 31 wherein the socket is open ended thereby providing a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed. position whereby the distat ends of the hub sectors provide said releasing means in that they are accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly'to move the engaging means of the mounting means from their engaging positions inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to their releasing positions thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the hd to be opened.

33. A case according to any -one of claims 22-32 wherein the mounting means hub comprises two hub sectors.

34. A case according to any one of claims 1-7 wherein there is a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position whereby a distal end of the mounting. means provides said releasing means in that by means of said hole it is'accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be capable of -being moved so as to move the engaging means of the mounting means from an engaging position inter-cngagcd with the engaging means of the lid to a releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

35. A case. according to any one of. claims 8-18 or 22-29 -wherein there is a hole in.the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position whereby. the distal end of the mounting means provides said releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engagingmeans of the mounting means from its engaging position inter30 engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

36.. A case according to any. one of the preceding claims wherein the case has lid biasing means biasing the lid from the closed position so that when the lid is closed and the releasing means is actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means the lid is moved sufficiently open by the lid biasing means to prevent inadvertent re- 27 engagement of the respective engaging means, a deliberate closing of the lid requiring it to be pushed to the closed position against the action of the lid biasing means whereupon the respective engaging means intex- engage again.

37. A case according to claim 36. wherein the lid biasing means comprises at least one resilient biasing member on either the lid or the base which is deflected from a normal position by a part of the other of the lid or the base when the lid is pushed to its closed position.

10. 38. A case according. to claim 37 wherein the resilient biasing m6mber(s) is/are located on the base.

39. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base has disc supporting means for supporting the disc motinted on the mounting means in a raised 15- support position or in a lowered support position above the inner face of the base, the disc supporting mean's supporting,the!disc initie lowered support position when the lid is closed on the base to press down on the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means but being biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened.

40. A case according to claim 39: wherein the biasing of the mounted disc to the raised support position causes the;hd to lift fiorn its closed position when the releasing means is actuated to release the interengaged engaging means of the lid and the mounting means.

41.- A case according to claim 39 or 40 wherein the disc supporting means comprises. a plurality of resilient fing. ers upwardly inclined from the base, distal ends of the fingers bearing against a lowe:r face of the disc when placed on the mounting means.

30.

42. A case according to claim 41 wherein the fingers are radially disposed about the mounting means: and the distal ends 'of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the central hole- in the disc.

43. A case according to any one'of the preceding claims wherein the. mounting means has. a diameter less than the diameter of the oeiital hole in the disc and the case 28 can be opened and a disc mounted on the mounting means removed from the case by use of me hand, the one hand first being used to actuate the releasing means and open the lid and the same hand then being used to lift the disc off the mounting means.

44. A case according to any one of the -preceding claims wherein the base is a multi-part base comprising a tray and an outer cover to which the. tray is attached, the inner face of the base consisting of anInner face of the tray. 45. A case according to claim 44 who-ein the inner face of the tray has a 10 substantially circular recess for receiving the disc therein. 46. A case according to claim 45'w.herein the recess in the tray is open at the top and bottom edges of the base. 15 47. A case according to any. one of the preceding claims wherein the disc for which the case is designed is a compact disc.: 48. A case according to cWm 47 wherein the discis a digital video or versatile compact disc (DVD). 20 49. A case according to claim- 47 or 48. having a compact disc mounted'on the mounting means. 50. A case according-to claim 49. wherein the diameter.of the compact disc central hole is greater than the diaineter of the mounting means passing through the central 25 hole so that the compact disc is not frictionally engaged by. the mounting -means.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS I A case for a disc having a hole for mounting of the disc, the case comprising: a lid having an inner face and an outer face; a base having an inner face and an outer face; hinge means whereby the lid is pivotally connected to the base to be pivotable between open positions and a closed position where the lid is superimposed over the base; mounting means projecting from the inner face of the base for mounting said disc thereto with the mounting means passing through the central hole of the disc and the plane of the disc lying substantially parallel to the plane of the base; engaging means associated with the mounting means and the lid respectively whereby when the lid is closed the engaging means of the lid inter-engages with the engaging means of the mounting means to prevent the lid from being opened; and releasing means actuatable from outside the closed case to release the inter-engaged engaging means and allow the case to be opened.

2.- A case according to claim I wherein one of the engaging means of the mounting means and the engaging means of the lid is movable between an engaging b position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

3. A case according to claim 2 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base t o force movement of the movable one of the engaging means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the movable one of the engaging means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the other engaging means to prevent the lid from being opened.

4. A case according to claim I wherein the engaging means of the mounting means is movable between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

5. A case according to claim 4 wherein the engaging means of the mounting ZD means is fixedly attached to the mounting means but is movable between said engaging position and said releasing position because the mounting means is movable Im between an engaging position and a releasing position and is biased to the engaging position.

6. A case according to claim 4 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the engaging means of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened.

C, 7. A case according to claim 5 wherein the engaging means of the lid interacts with the engaging means of the mounting means as the lid approaches its closed position over the base to force movement of the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position to its releasing position, and on the lid reaching its closed position the engaging means of the mounting means returns to its engaging position thereby inter-engaging with the engaging means of the lid to prevent the lid from being opened.

9. A case according to claim 8 wherein the mounting, means comprises a substantially cylindrical'hub mounted on the inner face of the base and movable with at least a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means.

10. A case according to claim 9 wherein the hub has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the hole in the disc.

11. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the hub is mounted at a distal end of an arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub in the raised engaging position whereby said sufficient downwards pressure applied to the distal end of the hub causes the arm to bend towards the base and the hub to follow an arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

12. A case according to claim 11 wherein the hub is a single unitary member.

14. A case according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the engaging means of the mounting means or the lid comprises a latch member projecting laterally therefrom and the engaging means of the other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a catch which engages the laterally projecting latch member and prevents the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position.

15. A case according to claim 14 wherein it is the engaging means of the mounting means that comprise said latch member, this latch member projecting radially outwardly from the hub of the mounting means at or towards its distal end remote from the base.

16. A case according to claim 15 wherein the hub has a recess in its outer periphery, the latch member being located in the recess and not projecting beyond an envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub.

17. A case according to claim 16 wherein the recess comprises a vertical channel in the outer periphery of the hub.

18. A case according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the inner face of the lid has said catch in the form of an inwardly projecting flange which as the lid approaches its closed position bears against a cam face of the respective latch member to force the hub to move to its releasing position and then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub returns to its engaging position with the Z: I'D flange of the catch located in the recess under the latch member thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

19. A case according to claim 18 wherein the catch is located adjacent a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub when the lid is in its 3 1 1 closed position whereby the distal end of the hub provides said releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter- engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

20, A case according to claim 18 wherein the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal end of the mounting means hub when the lid is closed, the socket having said catch in the form of said inwardly projecting flange.

21. A case according to claim 20 wherein the socket is open ended thereby providing a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal end of the hub provides said releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter- engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

22. A case according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the mounting means hub comprises a plurality of separated hub sectors, each of which is movable with a vertical component of motion relative to the plane of the base between a raised position which is the engaging position of the mounting means and a lowered position which is the releasing position of the mounting means.

23. A case according to claim 22 wherein each hub sector is mounted at a distal end of a respective inwardly directed radial arm resiliently cantilevered from the base and normally supporting the hub sector in the raised engaging position whereby said sufficient downwards pressure applied simultaneously to the distal ends of the hub sectors causes each arm to bend towards the base and each hub sector to follow an 3 0 arcuate path, moving with both transverse and downwards components of motion to its lowered release position.

24. A case according to claim 23 wherein each hub sector is integral with the ann to which it is mounted.

25. A case according to any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the engaging means of 4- the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of latch members projecting laterally therefrom and the engaging means of the other of the mounting means or the lid comprises a plurality of catches which respectively engage the laterally projecting latch members and prevent the lid from being opened when the lid is in its closed position.

26. A case according to claim 25 wherein it is the engaging means of the mounting means that comprise said latch members, there being one latch member pr 'ecting ZD 01 radially outwardly from each hub sector of the mounting means at or towards its distal end remote ftom the base.

27. A case according to claim 26 wherein each hub sector has a recess in its outer periphery, the latch member of that hub sector being located in the recess and not projecting beyond an envelope defined by the outer periphery of the hub sector.

29. A case according to claim 27 or 28 wherein the inner face of the lid has said catches in the form of a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges each of which as the lid approaches its closed position bears against a cam face of the respective latch member to force the hub sector to move to its releasing position and then slides past the latch member until the lid is in its closed position whereupon the hub sector returns to its engaging position with the flange of the catch located in the recess under the latch member thereby preventing the lid from being opened.

30. A case according to claim 29 wherein the catches are located adjacent a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal ends of the hub sectors provide said releasing means in that they are accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from their engaging positions inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to their releasing tn positions thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened. 35 31. A case according to claim 29 wherein the inner face of the lid has a socket to receive the distal ends of the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is closed, the socket having said catches in the form of said inwardly projecting flanges.

32. A case according to claim 31 wherein the socket is open ended thereby providing a hole through the lid which is positioned over the mounting means hub sectors when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal ends of the hub sectors provide said releasing means in that they are accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from theirengaging positions inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to their releasing positions thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

33. A case according to any one of claims 22-32 wherein the mounting means hub comprises two hub sectors.

34. A case according to any one of claims 1-7 wherein there is a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position whereby a distal end of the mounting means provides said releasing means in that by means of said hole it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be capable of beincr moved so as to move the engaging means of the mounting means from an engaging position inter-engaged with the engaging means of the lid to a releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing the lid to be opened.

35. A case according to any one of claims 8-18 or 22-29 wherein there is a hole in the lid which is positioned over the mounting means when the lid is in its closed position whereby the distal end of the mounting means provides said releasing means in that it is accessible from the outer face of the closed lid to be pushed downwardly to move the engaging means of the mounting means from its engaging position inter30 engaged with the engaging means of the lid to its releasing position thereby releasing the engaging means of the lid and allowing, the lid to be opened. 36. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the case has lid biasing means biasing the lid from the closed position so that when the lid is closed 35 and the releasing means actuated to release the inter-engaged engaging means the lid is moved sufficiently open by the lid biasing means to prevent inadvertent re- engagement of the respective engaging means, a deliberate closing of the lid requiring it to be pushed to the closed position against the action of the lid biasing means whereupon the respective engaging means inter- engage again.

37. A case according to claim 36 wherein the lid biasing means comprises at least one resilient biasing member on either the lid or the base which is deflected from a normal position by a part of the other of the lid or the base when the lid is pushed to its closed position.

38. A case according to claim 37 wherein the resilient biasing member(s) is/are located on the base.

39. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base has disc supporting means for supporting the disc mounted on the mounting means in a raised support position or in a lowered support position above the inner face of the base, the disc supporting means supporting the disc in the lowered support position when the lid is closed on the base to press down on the disc mounted on the mounting means and supported by the supporting means but being biased to support the disc in the raised support position when the lid is opened.

40. A case according to claim 39 wherein the biasing of the mounted disc to the raised support position causes the lid to lift from its closed position when the releasing means is actuated to release the interengaged engaging means of the lid and the mounting means.

41. A case according to claim 39 or 40 wherein the disc supporting means comprises a plurality of resilient fingers upwardly inclined from the base, distal ends of the fingers bearing against a lower face of the disc when placed on the mounting means.

42. A case according to claim 41 wherein the fingers are radially disposed about the mounting means and the distal ends of the fingers bear against the lower face of the disc about the hole in the disc.

43. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means has a diameter less than the diameter of the hole in the disc and the case ( C' can be opened and a disc mounted on the mounting means removed from the case by use of one hand, the one hand first being used to actuate the releasing means and open the lid and the same hand then being used to Il; ft the disc off the mounting means.

44. A case according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is a multi-part base comprising a tray and an outer cover to which the tray is attached, the inner face of the base consisting of an inner face of the tray. 45. A case according to claim 44 wherein the inner face of the tray has a 10 substantially circular recess for receiving the disc therein. 46. A case according to claim 45 wherein the recess in the tray is open at the top and bottom edges of the base. 15 47. A case according to any one.of the preceding claims wherein the disc for which the case is designed is a compact disc. 48. A case according to claim 47 wherein the disc is a digital video or versatile compact disc (DVD). 20 49. A case according to claim 47 or 48 having a compact disc mounted on the mounting means. 50. A case according to claim 49 wherein the diameter of the compact disc hole is greater than the diameter of the mounting means passing through the 25 hole so that the compact disc is not frictionally engaged by the mounting means. 51. A case according to any of claims 1, 10, 43 and 50 wherein the hole is a central hole.