JPH06501667A - optical storage disc protector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] name of invention optical storage disc protector Yoshi-Kai-1 Amount of mushrooms Skin■minute■ FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to devices for protecting optical storage disks, and more particularly to devices for protecting optical storage disks. The present invention relates to a device for protecting the data storage surface of a disk.

Godan Genmei For purposes of explanation, the following discussion refers to compact discs (i.e., CDs). However, the present invention applies not only to audio compact discs but also to all optical discs. Can be used for storage disks.

Compact disc is a compact disc used to store and retrieve digital information. It is a relatively thin circular plastic disc. Discs currently manufactured are , -Data is stored only on the blade side. Information is converted using a laser beam. stored on and read from pact disk. Storing and reading data equipment such as tape heads and compact disk drive heads. Purely optical methods, including Ru. In addition, compact disks, like magnetic storage devices, are Not sensitive to magnetic fields. However, even with these advantages, compact ・Discs should be cleaned from scratches, holes, and other damage caused during storage and handling. receive.

Compact discs are currently sold in rectangular hinged containers. , also a jewel with a shallow circular internal capacity to accommodate compact discs It is housed in a container known as a box. Internal storage types usually have a disc larger than a compact disc for faster storage and removal.

Such containers have the inherent disadvantage that the compact disc moves within the container. points, thus increasing the risk of damaging the data storage surface. In addition, usually The containers are difficult to handle, and compact containers installed in cars, boats, airplanes, etc. - Portable optical storage and retrieval systems such as disc players or other systems. Not suitable for stems. Users often use containers to save space and Use cumbersome containers to avoid opening with both hands to remove discs To carry and store a compact disc without having to worry about it. If not protected in this way, transportation and handling in such a state increases the risk of data loss. For fingerprint identification For some applications, such as using CD-ROMs, data loss can be destructive. It is true.

Previously, several attempts have been made to solve the problem of optical storage disks. . The video disc caddy described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,849 is A video disc storage device consisting of a removable protrusion housed within a rectangular enclosure. It is a shipping sleeve. The protrusion is slightly larger than a video disc. This device is , a video disc that uses a phonograph needle-like contact head for the reproduction of information - Designed for use in players and on the surface of video discs during playback. Use direct contact wiper pads. As is clear, such a device , the disc can move inside the protrusion and come into contact with the disc surface. does not reduce the potential damage caused by other optical storage discs or discs. Cannot be shared across systems.

F1/Xiple Disc Carriage as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,153 The envelope is a flexible magnetic storage disk (magnetic floppy disk). ) is a closable storage envelope that houses the This device is equipped with a folded protective cover. It uses a durable outer jacket with a special open pocket. This is an improved version of the computer disc. U.S. Pat. No. 4,85 The compact disc storage container with a contactless surface described in US Pat. Compact disk cover with A7 non-contact inner cover with a clear outer cover installed inside. It is a storage device for storing computer floppy disks. Different from what you use. Both of the above devices protect the storage disk and protect the surface of the disk. Reduce chances of damage. However, both devices still do not allow storage of optical storage discs. It is not intended to be L7, and the data storage surface of the disk is virtually non-contact. Retracting the disk does not produce the desired result.

Although it is not impossible for these devices to be used in portable sets, You will need to grab the outer shell, open the flaps, and remove the disc to remove the vehicle. Difficult to handle while driving. In addition, their manufacture involves casting, molding, gluing , requires several different operations such as seam sealing and various different materials; All of these are added to manufacturing costs.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,840 discloses a protective holder for discs. This is a device that sandwiches a disc between plastic plates in a sandwich-like manner. plastic The stick plate is specially designed to fit the interior space of the jewelry box and is also A flat pad that cushions the data storage surface of a compact disc.

This device restricts the movement of compact discs within jewelry boxes, but (requires the use of an ugly jewelry box, and the data storage surface of the compact disc is do not release from contact with the surface or flat pad.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to To provide an optical storage disk protector that prevents all contact with data storage surfaces. be. Another object of the invention is to create a thin, lightweight, easily obtainable and inexpensive material. optical storage that is constructed of materials, can be easily fabricated, and is suitable for mass production. Its purpose is to provide a disk protection device. Still another object of the present invention is to Easy stacking of discs for compact storage It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical storage disk protection device. Furthermore, other aspects of the present invention The target allows the user to act on the disc with only one hand and therefore Our goal is to provide an optical storage disc protector that can do other work in Ru.

And ΩR-ri These and other purposes consist of a thin flexible circular wafer with a top surface , the upper surface is a flat annular surface that supports the weight of the CD, and the wafer and the CD are connected to each other. and a downwardly sloping concave annular surface to provide an air gap between the data storage surface and the data storage surface. This is achieved by an optical storage disc protection device that The centrally located hub is It is attached to the top surface of the wafer and also provides an interference fit with the center hole of the CD. What dimensions does the central hole of the Uni CD have? The peripheral wall is attached to the top surface of the wafer. and is configured to provide an interference fit with the outer circumferential surface of the CD.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a top view of an optical storage disk protection device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the optical storage disc protection device.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the optical storage disc protector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top of the optical storage disc protector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the optical storage disc protector.

Figure 6 shows the data storage side of a typical optical audio compact disc. FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an optical storage disk protector and an optical storage disk taken along line 8-8 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a medical storage disc.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the optical storage disk protector and the top of the optical storage disk. It is a diagram.

The best sweat state for Protector 10 for optical storage discs and industry standard audio compacts - Discs, or CDs, are shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. optical storage disc protector The device 10 includes a thin flexible circular wafer 15 having an upper surface 42 and a lower surface 33; and a centrally located hub 20. The upper surface 42 extends radially outwardly from the hub 20. The extending flat annular surface 45 and the base of the peripheral wall 3o from the edge boundary line of the flat annular surface 45 a downwardly sloping concave annular surface 40 extending up to .

The hub 20 is a raised circular protrusion extending vertically upward from a flat circular surface 45. Ru. The hub 20 has a closed surface that can be either flat, concave or convex. It has a top. The hub 20 is located at the center of the CD when the CD is placed in the protector 10. slightly smaller than the diameter of the center hole 65 of the CD to provide an interference fit with the hole 65. It has a small diameter and is shaped slightly higher than the thickness of the CD. like this The tight fit helps maintain and protect the CD attached to protector 10. It serves to prevent free rotation of the CD while placed in the device 10.

The flat annular surface 45 extends from the base of the hub 20 to the inner half of the inner portion 60 of the lower surface 80 of the CD. The radial range is configured to extend radially outward to any radial range. this shape The weight of the CD is reduced by contacting only the non-data storage inner region 60 of the CD. Provides a flat surface that can withstand

The helical boundary line 43 of the flat annular surface 45 extends radially outwardly at the base of the peripheral wall 30. It transitions smoothly into a concave annular surface 40 terminating. The degree of curvature of the concave annular surface 40 varies from the hub to Logarithmic curve, exponential curve that tends to flatten the slope so that the distance between , parabola or other curves. The concave annular surface 40 is used for data storage of CDs. Between the surface 55 and the top surface 42 of the wafer 15, a data storage surface 55 is connected to the wafer 15. Forms an air pocket that protects against contact. In addition, the concave annular surface 40 , acts like an arch, and by virtue of its curvature, imparts an effect on the lower surface 33 of the wafer 15. resists upward distortion caused by external forces. Such resistance is due to air In conjunction with the cushioning effect, virtually all physical contact to the data storage surface 55 is This protects the data storage surface 55 from dust and scratches.

The peripheral wall 30 extends upward from the top surface 42 of the protector 10 at the edge boundary 44 of the concave annular surface 40. Stretch in the direction. The peripheral wall 30 is formed at either an obtuse angle or a perpendicular angle from the top surface 42 of the protector 10. It stretches upwards. The peripheral wall 30 protects and stores the CDs placed in the protection device 10. and an interference fit with the outer peripheral surface 75 of the CD to prevent rotation of the CD during movement. It has a shape that provides.

A thin lip 25 is attached to the top of the peripheral wall 30 and extends radially outwardly therefrom. and allows the user to gradually bend the peripheral wall 30 to remove the CD. .

The protection device 10 is formed from a single piece of plastic.

This includes various types of manufacturing including injection molding, vacuum forming, or other plastic forming techniques. This can be achieved by using construction techniques. Here it is vacuum formed However, the protection device 10 is made of currently developed biodegradable plastic. Various flexible plastics including plastics can be applied.

The protector 10 is preferably white in color to reduce the chance of thermal damage to the disk. However, there are no restrictions on the colors or number of colors used, and there are no restrictions on the colors used or the number of colors used. You may also print out the information for your use. The user can make various aesthetic choices.

The protection device 10 also identifies CDs that have a label on their data storage side. It may also be made of transparent plastic.

The protection device 10 also checks the contents of the CD, the user's name, and other information. The lower surface 33 may have a convex or concave surface on which a label is placed.

Since the structure of the protection device 10 is simple and the necessary materials can be obtained at low cost, The protection device 10 is suitable for mass production. In the future, with the advent of biodegradable materials, The protection device 10 is not only inexpensive, but also similar to a jewelry box, compared to current CD storage devices. It is also more environmentally friendly and disposable.

When using the protection device 10, the user should hold the CD with the data storage surface 55 facing down. In this state, the center hole 65 of the CD is placed on the hub 20 of the protective device 1o. The user is Next, lower the CD until the center hole 65 and outer peripheral surface 75 of the CD fit into those positions. Gradually push it towards you. The CD can then be stored or transported.

When taking out the CD, the user should hold the protective device 10 so that the CD is facing upward. , bend the thin lip 25 with your fingertips and take out the CD.

To remove a CD, place your ring finger on the top of the hub 20 and touch the thin lip 25 with your index finger. It can be done with one hand by bending it as if peeling it off. From these characteristics , the user can keep their other hand free for other tasks such as driving the vehicle. You can remove one CD.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto. However, various changes may be made.

FIG.8 international search report

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A bottom surface having an upper surface, an outer portion on which information is written, and an inner portion on which information is not written. Optical storage disc protection for use with optical storage discs having a surface and a center hole A device comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and having a diameter of about the diameter of the optical storage disk. a thin flexible circular wafer having a diameter, the top surface of which is connected to the optical storage device; the inner portion of the lower surface of the optical storage disk and the lower surface of the optical storage disk. a circular wafer having a shape that maintains a clearance with respect to the outer portion; a hub centrally located on the top surface of the wafer and surrounded by a top; the diameter of the central hole of the optical storage disk and the diameter of the wafer; a wall extending above the top surface and connecting the wall of the hub and the optical storage disk; a hub configured to provide an interference fit with the central hole; a peripheral wall attached to the upper surface and extending upward from the upper surface of the wafer; providing an interference fit between the peripheral wall and the outer peripheral surface of the optical storage disk; having a shape attached to the wafer from the optical storage disk and characterized by a peripheral wall having small ribs extending radially from the wafer; optical storage disk guarantee device. 2. The wafer, the hub and the peripheral wall are made from a single sheet of flexible material. An optical storage disc security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical storage disc security device is formed. 3. 5. The peripheral wall extends perpendicularly upwardly from the top surface of the wafer. 3. Optical storage disc protection device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. 5. The peripheral wall extends upwardly from the top surface of the wafer at an obtuse angle. 3. Optical storage disc protection device according to claim 1 or 2. 5. Further, to provide a range of contact with the lower surface of the optical storage disk. , from the hub wall, between the inner and outer portions of the lower surface of the optical storage disk. A flat annular region extending radially outward and an annular region sloping downward to near the boundary of a region having a concave curved shape, connected to the flat annular region and connected to the wafer; an air cushion between the outer surface and the lower surface of the optical storage disk; a downwardly sloping annular region extending radially outwardly and terminating in said peripheral wall to provide Optical storage device according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by disk protector. 6. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, wherein the top of the hub is closed by a flat surface. or 5. The optical storage disc protection device according to 5. 7. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4, wherein the top of the hub is closed by a concave surface. or 5. The optical storage disc protection device according to 5. 8. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4, wherein the top of the hub is closed by a convex surface. or 5. The optical storage disc protection device according to 5.