GB2497509A

GB2497509A - Disc storage device

Info

Publication number: GB2497509A
Application number: GB1118932.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Lavelle
Original assignee: MODO IP Ltd
Current assignee: MODO IP Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-02
Filing date: 2011-11-02
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: GB201118932D0

Abstract

A disc storage device comprises a casing 3 for housing a disc such as an optical disc, CD or DVD. The casing defines a slot 2 through which a disc may be introduced into the casing. The disc storage device has an ejector 5 operable to bear on an edge of a disc in the casing to eject the disc from the casing via the slot. The ejector may be slidable in a slot 6 in the casing. Fabric cleaning means may be disposed inside the casing to clear the disc as it is introduced or removed. The casing may comprise two components 3 and 4.

Description

DISC STORAGE DEVICE

The present invention relates to a disc storage device. The device is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for storing information storing discs such as vinyl records and optical discs including CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs.

To preserve the information recorded on an information storing disc the disc should be kept clean and free fmm damage. Consequently it is usual for such discs to be stored in eases. A wide variety of existing eases are known, some of which include means for cleaning a disc.

A disc storage case should be sufficiently robust to protect a disc as well as cost effective and convenient to manufacture and use. Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of these issues.

According to the present invention there is provided a disc storage device comprising a casing for housing a disc, the casing defining a slot through which a disc may be introduced into the casing, and comprising an ejector operable to bear on an edge of a disc in the casing thereby to eject the disc from the casing via the slot.

The casing may take the form of a sleeve.

The casing may be formed from a generally rigid material, such as a plastics material.

The casing may be generally flat. The casing may have generally parallel spaced apart walls between which a disc may be housed. The ejector may be movably mounted to the casing. The ejector may be slidably mounted to the casing.

In one embodiment a slot is formed in opposed walls of the easing and the ejector is siidaby mounted to the walls of the easing for movement along the slot.

A cleaning means may be disposed inside the casing to clean a disk it is introduced thto or removed from the easing. The cleaning means may comprise a fabric, such as a woven or non-woven textile, or other suitable material.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a disc storage device according to the invention with a slider shown partially displaced from a storage position; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device of Figure 1 with the slider fri a storage position; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the device of Figure 1 with one half of the casing and the slider removed; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the casing shown in Figure 3 taken along the line WAY; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the slider of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a view corresponding to Figure 3, but with a disc partially introduced into the device; and Figure 7 shows an elevation of the opening of the storage device of Figure I. Referring to the drawings, a disc storage device comprises a casing 1 which takes the general form of a sleeve having an opening 2 formed by an elongate slot through which a disc may be introduced into the casing for storage.

The casing is formed fnnn casing components 3,4 and a sliders, all of which are nioulded from a substantially rigid plastics material e.g. polypropylene or ABS.

The two casing components 3,4 are substantially minor opposites of each other, save for any co-operating features to enable them to be aligned and fastened together, and any differing external decoration. Each component is generally flat and square with two adjacent substantially right angle corners and two a4jaccnt radiussed corners. The opening 2 is formed on the side which extends between the two substantially right angle corners. On all the other outside edges each casing is bounded by a peripheral wall. On one component the free edge of the peripheral wall defines a groove and on the other a tongue. The tongue is received into the groove when the two components are brought together. On the inside surfitce of one component 4aphzrality of annular formations are provided, each defining a bore. Corresonding projeetions (not shown) arc provided on the inside surthce of the other component 3 and arranged to be received into the bores on the first component 4 to facilitate alignment of the two components. Other suitable engageable fbrmations could be employed. The two casing components are secured together by an adhesive, although any other suitable means maybe employed.

On the opposite side to the opening 2, a substantially parallel sided slot 6 is formed in each component 3,4. The slot extends substantially perpendicularly from the edge of the casing about half way towards the opposite edge of the casing. Beyond the slot 6, extending towards the opening 2 a generally rectangular raised region 9 is formed on the outside of each casing component, of slightly greater width than the slot. The raised region defines a corresponding recess 10 on the inside surface of each component.

The thickness of the edge of each component 3,4 that borders the slot 10 reduces nasinglestep7towardsitsfiteedge.

Also formed on the inside surthee of each component 3,4, by a thickening of the component, are two part annular raised regions ii, the outside edge of which corresponds generally to the intended position of the outside edge of a disc when stored in the device.

A layer of fabric 12 or other suitable material is adhered to the raised regions 11. Along the edge of each casing component defining the opening 2 is adhered an elongate strip of resilient foam material 13 to which a ship of fabric 14 or other suitable material is adhered.

A slider 5 is fitted into the slot 10 in the casing. The slides has a generally square U-shaped cross-section. Is has two spaced apart substantially parallel arms connected at onccndbyanendwall.

Eacharmhasanouterwalll5. Theouterwalll5isgenerallyrectaagularand slightly wider and longer than the slot 6 in the casing. Each arm aLco has an inner wall 16, the tong edges of which are substantially pallet to, but spaced apart from, those of the outer wall. The inner wall is also generally rectangular and substantially the same length as the outer walilS. Its width is less than that of the outer wall and corresponds to the width of the region 7 of reduces thickness at the edges of the casing 3,4 defining the slot 6. Ribs 17 are formed on the outside wall of the slider to aid gripping the slider. A fabric is adhered to the opposed surfices of the inner walls. The slider 5 is fitted to the casing so that the stepped region 7 of the easing edges are received between the outer 15 and inner 16 walls of the slider, allowing the slider to move between a first, storage, position, as shown in Figure 2, when the end wall of the slider 5 is flush with the edge of the casing and a second position, thon in Figure 6, where the slider is received, as far as it wilt go, into the recesses 6. The slider is shown part way between these two positions inFigurel.

The inner wall 15 of the slider 5 is arranged to abut the inside surface of the edge of the casing, thereby preventing the slider being moved beyond the first position and withdrawn from the casing.

A recess 19 is formed in the edge of the casing adjacent the slot 6, lbr housing a label to identif' content of the housin& in use, a disc 20 to be stored is introduced into the device through the opening 2.

As the disc is intmduced it passes between the fabric strips 34, which are urged into contact with the disc by the resilient foam strips 13. This has the effect of wiping the disc as it enters the device, helping to clean the disc. As the disc enters the device it is received between the fabric 12 coated raised regions 11. The fabric further helps to clean the disc as well as presenting a surface to the disc which should not damage it. The device is configured so that the disc is retained by friction between the fabric 12 covered surfaces and the disc, af%rded by some resilience in the mateijal of the casing.

To remove the disc 20 fimn the device the slider 5 is urged finni the storage position towards the opening 2. This causes the inner surfhce of the end wall of the slider S to bear against the edge of the disc and thus urge the disc towards and out of the opening. When the slider has been moved to the Mlcst extent, as shown in Figure 6, the partially pmtniding &c can be held and removed fmm the device.

It will be appreciated that the device may be sized and shaped to receive any desired type of disc. It is primarily intended that the device is used to store infomiation carrying discs such as optical discs, including CD, DVI) and Blu-Ray discs, and vinyl records.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing font the invention.

Claims

<claim-text>LAJMSI. A disc storage device comprising a casing for housing a disc, the casing defining a slot through which a disc may be introduced into the casing, and comprising an ejector operable to bear on an edge of a disc in the casing thereby to eject the disc fromthecasingviatheslot.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A disc storage device according to claim 1 wherein the casing has the lbrm of a sleeve. c'J</claim-text> <claim-text>3. Adisc storage device according to claim lor2 whcrcinthe casing is formed from 1 a generally rigid materiaL c'J o 10 4. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim wherein the casing is generally flat.5. A disc storagc device according to any preceding claim wherein the casing has generally parallel spaced-apart walls between which a disc may be housed.6. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim wherein the ejector is movably mounted to the casing.7. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim wherein the ejector is slidably mounted to the easing.8. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim wherein a slot is formed in opposed walls of the easing and thc ejector is slidably mounted to the walls of the easing for movement along the slot.9. A disc storage device according to any preceding claim wherein a cleaning means is disposed inside the casing to dean a disc as it is introduced into or removed from the easing.10. A disc storage device according to claim 9 wherein the cleaning means comprises fabric.1]. A disc storage device substantially as herein described with reference to the appended figures.</claim-text>