GB2394945A

GB2394945A - Sleeve for an optical disc case

Info

Publication number: GB2394945A
Application number: GB0324039A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Andrew Ferguson
Original assignee: VYCOTECH Ltd
Current assignee: VYCOTECH Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-14
Filing date: 2003-10-14
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-14
Also published as: GB2394945B; GB0324039D0; GB0223857D0

Abstract

A sleeve (22) for an optical (22) for an optical disc case such as a CD or DVD case includes at least one deformable engagement protrusion (28) extending inwardly from a wall (30) of the sleeve (22) for location of an optical disc case in the sleeve (22). The protrusion (28) is deformed by the optical disc case to exert an engagement force thereon and a range of sizes of case may be retained. The sleeve (22) may be folded from a strip of thermoplastic or paper-based material and may accommodate a plurality of cases.

Description

SLEEVE FOR OPTICAL DISC CASE

The present invention relates to a sleeve for an optical disc case.

In the music industry, compact discs sold as albums and singles are mounted in hinged plastic cases known in 5 the industry as jewel cases, which typically include a printed insert providing information about the album and the author.

The industry is currently suffering from the ability of consumers to download music available on internet 10 websites, which has lead to a reduction in over-the counter sales of albums.

Accordingly, in an effort to counteract this problem, producers are selling albums and singles with attractive packaging, providing a product which is of 15 greater value to the consumer. The albums and singles are packaged in a number of different ways, such as by providing printed cardboard or plastic sleeves in which the jewel case is mounted. These sleeves are known in the industry as slipcases, O-rings or slip tubes.

20 However, whilst the dimensions of different jewel cases are largely similar throughout the industry, there tend to be minor variations in dimensions between the jewel cases of different manufacturers, or indeed between different ranges of jewel cases of a single manufacturer.

This can cause considerable problems when fitting the sleeves to the jewel cases. For example, dimensions of the jewel cases can vary by plus or minus 20 thousandths of an inch. Even these small variations can cause the 5 sleeve to be too tight a fit with the jewel case, such that the case cannot be easily inserted and removed from the sleeve, or too slack a fit, such that the jewel case drops out of the sleeve too easily, for example when the product is handled by a consumer.

10 It is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the foregoing disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sleeve for an optical disc 15 case! the sleeve including at least one deformable engagement protrusion extending inwardly from a wall of the sleeve for engaging the optical disc case.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sleeve for an optical disc 20 case, the sleeve including at least one deformable engagement protrusion extending inwardly from a wall of the sleeve, in use and on location of an optical disc case in the sleeve, the at least one engagement protrusion being deformed by the optical disc case to 25 exert an engagement force thereon.

Providing a sleeve with a deformable protrusion allows the sleeve to be used with a range of optical disc cases of different dimensions, to account for minor variations in the heights of the cases, that is, the 5 distance from top to bottom of the optical disc case when viewing the case front on. Accordingly, the sleeve may readily accommodate disc cases of different manufacturers or a range of cases of a single manufacturer where such differences in dimensions exist. The sleeve provides 10 engagement with such disc cases by the protrusion deforming to a greater extent when a relatively large case is inserted in the sleeve when compared with a relatively small case.

It will be understood that optical discs include, 15 inter alla, compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs), and that the sleeve includes at least one opening for insertion and removal of the optical disc case into and out of the sleeve.

Preferably, the protrusion extends from a side wall 20 of the sleeve which is perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the optical disc case. The side wall may correspond to a top or bottom edge/side wall of the optical disc case.

The sleeve may comprise a plurality of protrusions.

25 Preferably, the sleeve comprises at least two protrusions

spaced along a length of a wall of the sleeve, such as a side wall. The sleeve may comprise at least one protrusion extending from each of a plurality of walls of the sleeve. For example, one or more protrusions may 5 extend from respective opposite side walls of the sleeve, such as side walls which are perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the optical disc case.

The protrusion may be tapered and may define an engagement surface for engaging the optical disc case.

10 The protrusion may include a ridge defining the engagement surface. Optical disc cases typically include ridged or grooved top and bottom edges or side walls, the ridges extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the respective edge, to provide a gripping surface.

15 In use, the engagement surface of the protrusion engages the ridges of the optical disc case, typically in grooves between adjacent ridges, improving grip between the optical disc case and the sleeve, to reduce the likelihood of the optical disc case inadvertently sliding 20 out of the sleeve.

The protrusion may be triangular in cross-section and is preferably in the form of an isosceles triangle in cross-section, but may be any other suitable shape and may be rectangular, square, trapezoidal/wedge shaped, 25 curved in cross-section such as semi-circular or

generally rounded.

The protrusion may be integral with the sleeve or may comprise a separate member coupled to the sleeve.

Thus the protrusion may be moulded, punched or otherwise 5 formed in the sleeve, or may be coupled to the sleeve by bonding. The sleeve may be a sleeve for a plurality of optical disc cases, and may therefore be adapted to receive a plurality of disc cases. The sleeve may 10 include a protrusion corresponding to each disc case.

Alternatively, the sleeve may be provided with sufficient protrusions for engaging a selected one or ones of the disc cases. For example, where the sleeve is for three disc cases, the sleeve may include one or more 15 protrusions for engaging one of the disc cases located centrally in the sleeve, or where there are four, the central/inner two cases. The remaining case(s) may be restrained by relative frictional contact with the cases engaged by the protrusion(s).

20 The sleeve may be formed from a strip or length of material formed into the shape of the sleeve, for example, by folding the strip and overlapping ends of the strip before coupling the ends together. The sleeve may be of a plastics material. The sleeve may be formed from 25 a thermoplastic material and the protrusion may be

adapted to be formed by exposing the sleeve to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation. Some thermoplastics have a high dielectric coefficient, absorbing radio waves and flowing, facilitating moulding of the protrusion.

5 Preferably, the sleeve is formed from a poly vinyl chloride (PVC). PVC has a relatively high dielectric coefficient. Alternatively, the sleeve may be of a paper-based material such as a card. The sleeve may be moulded, stamped or otherwise formed. The protrusion may 10 be provided on an end of the sleeve forming an inner surface of a side wall when ends of the sleeve are overlapped or otherwise bonded together. The strip ends may be adapted to be bonded by exposing the strip to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.

15 The sleeve may include openings at respective opposite sides for insertion of the optical display case into the sleeve and removal of the case from the sleeve in one of two opposite directions.

According to a third aspect of the present 20 invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a sleeve for an optical disc case comprising the steps of: forming a sleeve having at least one opening for inserting an optical disc case into the sleeve; and forming at least one engagement protrusion extending 25 inwardly from a wall of the sleeve, the at least one

protrusion adapted to be deformed by the optical disc case on insertion into the sleeve to exert an engagement force thereon.

Further features of the method correspond to 5 features described above in relation to the first and second aspects of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 10 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical disc case; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of the sleeve 15 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view of the sleeve of Fig. 2, drawn to a larger scale; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the sleeve of Fig. 2, taken along line A-A of Fig. 2 and drawn to a larger 20 scale; Fig. 6 (on same sheet as Fig. 2) is an enlarged view of part of the sleeve of Fig. 2, illustrating a connection between edges of a strip forming the sleeve; and 25 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a sleeve in

accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Turning firstly to Fig. 1, there is shown an optical disc case indicated generally by reference numeral 10 of 5 a type known in the field of the invention. The optical

disc case 10 is typically referred to as a jewel case in the industry and includes a base 12 for an optical disc such as a CD or DVD (not shown) with a hinged lid 14 coupled to the base 12. The base 12 includes a mounting 10 13 for releasably securing the optical disc to the base.

The lid 14 includes top and bottom side walls 16, 18 each of which includes a series of grooves or ridges 20 (shown only on the bottom side wall 18), to provide a gripping surface for the fingers. The optical disc case 10 has a 15 height H (Fig. 1) when viewing the case from the front in the direction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates a sleeve for the optical disc case 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the sleeve indicated generally by reference 20 numeral 22. The sleeve 22 includes side openings 24, 26 for receiving the optical disc case 10, allowing a user to slide the disc case into the sleeve 22. The sleeve 22 may include text or images which may be printed on or integral with the sleeve and may be textured, to provide 25 an attractive cover for the disc case.

As shown in the cut-away view of Fig. 3, the sleeve includes at least one deformable engagement protrusion, in this embodiment, two deformable protrusions 28 extending inwardly from a side wall 30 of the sleeve 22, 5 for engaging the optical disc case 10. The sleeve 22 is of a plastics material, typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the protrusions 28 are formed integrally with the sleeve 22 during manufacture. The protrusions 28 define an engagement surface in the form of a ridge 32, 10 shown in the end view of Fig. 4, and are generally isosceles shaped in cross- section, as shown in the sectional view of Fig. 5, which is taken along line A-A of Fig. 2. The protrusions 28 extend inwardly of the sleeve 22 and the distance between the ridge 32 of the 15 protrusions and an inner surface 33 of an opposite side wall 35 of the sleeve is smaller than the minimum anticipated height H of the optical disc case 10.

In use, and on insertion of the disc case 10 into the sleeve 22, the protrusions 28 are deformed by the 20 disc case and the ridges 32 of the protrusions engage the grooves 20 in the side walls 16, 18 of the disc case.

This ensures a good grip between the disc case 10 and the sleeve 22, to prevent the disc case from inadvertently sliding out of the sleeve 22, for example, during 25 handling. It will be understood that the degree of

engagement between the disc case 10 and the sleeve 22 is sufficient to prevent the disc sliding out but sufficiently low to allow the disc to be removed when desired. 5 The protrusions 28 account for variations in the height H of the disc cases 10 of different manufacturers, or indeed variations in the height of disc cases provided by a single manufacturer. These variations are typically of the order of plus or minus twenty thousandths of an 10 inch. It will be understood that on insertion of a disc case 10 with a greater height, the protrusions 18 are deformed to a greater extent. Accordingly, it will be understood that the openings 24, 26 in the sleeve 22 are larger than the greatest anticipated height of optical 15 disc cases to be covered by the sleeve.

The sleeve 22 is manufactured from a rectangular strip of material which is folded into the shape of the sleeve 22 by forming seams 34 in the strip and folding the strip about the seams. Edges 36, 38 of the strip are 20 overlapped and bonded together as illustrated in Figs. 4 6, clamping the edges 36, 38 between two radio transmitter electrodes (not shown) and passing radio waves between the electrodes at a frequency of 46 megahertz. An inner one of the electrodes includes 25 depressions corresponding to the desired location of the

protrusions 28. When the sleeve edges 36, 38 are exposed to radio waves, molecules of the sleeve absorb the radio waves and oscillate, generating heat due to friction and welding the edges 36, 38 together. Also, material of the 5 sleeve flows into the depressions in the inner electrode to form the protrusions during the welding process. The edge 36 defines an inner surface 37 of the side wall 30 and the edge 38 forms an outer surface 40, the inner surface 37 carrying the protrusions 28.

10 Turning now to Fig. 7, there is shown a perspective view of a sleeve in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve indicated generally by reference numeral 122. Like components of the sleeve 122 with the sleeve 22 of Figs. 2 to 6 share 15 the same reference numerals incremented by 100.

The sleeve 122 is capable of receiving and storing a plurality of optical disc cases, in the illustrated embodiment, four cases which are typically DAD cases, but may equally be CD cases. In Fig. 7, the sleeves are 20 shown partially, in broken outline, and are indicated by reference numerals llOa, llOb, llOc and llOd.

The sleeve 122 includes a number of protrusions 128 in the form of dimples which are provided on the sidewalls 130 and 135, and which engage the two centrally 25 located disc cases llOb, llOc. The dimples thus serve to

engage and restrain the central disc cases llOb, llOc and the remaining cases llOa, llOd are restrained by frictional interaction with the central cases llOb, llOc as well as with the walls of the sleeve 122. Also, the 5 sleeve 122 has a side opening 124a whilst the other side 124b is closed, having only an aperture 142 to allow the disc cases 110 to be pushed out of the sleeve 122. The sleeve 122 is otherwise similar to the sleeve 22 of Figs. 2 to 6 and is assembled in a similar fashion.

10 Various modifications may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention.

For example, any desired number of protrusions may be provided on a single wall of the sleeve. Protrusions may be provided on more than one wall of the sleeve, for 15 example, on opposing side walls. The protrusions may be of any desired shape and may, for example, be rectangular, square, trapezoidal, other triangular, rounded or semi- circular in cross-section.

The protrusions may be provided on the overlapping 20 outer edge and may extend through apertures or holes in the overlapped inner edge of the strip of material forming the sleeve.

The protrusions may be provided as separate members coupled to the sleeve.

25 The sleeve edges may be bonded together by

application of heat, adhesive or in any other suitable fashion.

Claims

1. A sleeve for an optical disc case, the sleeve including at least one deformable engagement protrusion 5 extending inwardly from a wall of the sleeve for engaging the optical disc case.

2. A sleeve for an optical disc case, the sleeve including at least one deformable engagement protrusion 10 extending inwardly from a wall of the sleeve, in use and on location of an optical disc case in the sleeve, the at least one engagement protrusion being deformed by the optical disc case to exert an engagement force thereon.

15 3. A sleeve as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve is adapted to accommodate disc cases of different dimensions.

4. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein 20 the protrusion is adapted to deform to a greater extent when a relatively large case is inserted in the sleeve when compared with a relatively small case.

5. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein 25 the sleeve includes at least one opening for insertion

and removal of the optical disc case into and out of the sleeve. 6. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein 5 the protrusion extends from a side wall of the sleeve which is perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the optical disc case.

7. A sleeve as claimed in claim 6, wherein the side 10 wall corresponds to a top or bottom edge of the optical disc case.

8. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of protrusions.

9. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve comprises at least two protrusions spaced along a length of a wall of the sleeve.

20 10. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve comprises at least one protrusion extending from each of a plurality of walls of the sleeve.

11. A sleeve as claimed in claim 10, wherein one or more 25 protrusions extend from respective opposite side walls of

the sleeve which are perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the optical disc case.

12. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein 5 the protrusion is tapered and defines an engagement surface for engaging the optical disc case.

13. A sleeve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protrusion includes a ridge defining the engagement 10 surface. 14. A sleeve as claimed in claim 13, wherein, in use, the engagement surface of the protrusion engages the ridges of the optical disc case.

15. A sleeve as claimed in claim 13 wherein, in use, the engagement surface of the protrusion engages between adjacent ridges.

20 16. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protrusion is triangular in cross-section.

17. A sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the protrusion is of a shape selected from the 25 group comprising rectangular, square, trapezoidal, wedge

shaped, curved, semi-circular and generally rounded in cross-section. 18. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein 5 the protrusion is integral with the sleeve.

19. A sleeve as claimed in claim 18, wherein the protrusion is moulded in the sleeve.

10 20. A sleeve as claimed in 18, wherein the protrusion is punched in the sleeve.

21. A sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the protrusion is a separate member coupled to 15 the sleeve.

22. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is for a plurality of optical disc cases.

20 23. A sleeve as claimed in claim 22, comprising a protrusion corresponding to each disc case.

24. A sleeve as claimed in claim 22, comprising sufficient protrusions for engaging a selected one or 25 ones of the total number of disc cases such that not all

of the disc cases are engaged by a protrusion.

25. A sleeve as claimed in claim 24, wherein the remaining case(s) are adapted to be restrained by 5 relative frictional contact with the cases engaged by the protrusion(s). 26. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is formed from a strip of material by folding lo the strip and overlapping ends of the strip before coupling the ends together.

27. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve is of a thermoplastic material and the 15 protrusion is adapted to be formed by exposing the sleeve to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.

28. A sleeve as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sleeve is of a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material.

29. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protrusion is provided on an end of the sleeve forming an inner surface of a side wall when ends of the sleeve are overlapped.

30. A sleeve as claimed in claim 29, wherein the strip ends are adapted to be bonded by exposing the strip to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.

5 31. A sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the sleeve is of a paper-based material.

32. A sleeve as claimed in any preceding claim, including openings at respective opposite sides for 10 insertion of the optical display case into the sleeve and removal of the case from the sleeve in one of two opposite directions.

33. A method of manufacturing a sleeve for an optical 15 disc case comprising the steps of: forming a sleeve having at least one opening for inserting an optical disc case into the sleeve; and forming at least one engagement protrusion extending inwardly from a wall of the sleeve, the at least one 20 protrusion adapted to be deformed by the optical disc case on insertion into the sleeve to exert an engagement force thereon.

34. A sleeve for an optical disc case substantially as 25 described herein with reference to and as shown in Figs.

2 to 6.

35. A sleeve for an optical disc case substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Fig. 5 7.