US20080017534A1

US20080017534A1 - Multiple optical disc storage case with anti-theft mechanism

Info

Publication number: US20080017534A1
Application number: US11/488,844
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming-Chien Lo; Chin-Chi Chang; Hsun-Cheng Chan; Hui-Chi Huang
Original assignee: Prorit Corp
Current assignee: Prorit Corp
Priority date: 2006-07-19
Filing date: 2006-07-19
Publication date: 2008-01-24

Abstract

A multiple optical disc storage case includes a upper cover, a lower supporting plate, an outer fastener, and a plurality of inner hooks. The upper cover is hollow, and the lower supporting plate is used to assemble with the upper cover. The outer fastener is positioned at one of the upper cover and a lower supporting plate, and has at least one outer hook, at least one stop block and a plurality of resilient block. The outer hooks and the stop blocks are positioned at one side of the outer fastener, and the resilient blocks are equally separated and positioned at the other side of the outer fastener. The outer fastener also has a plurality of inner hooks positioned at the other of the upper case and the lower supporting plate so that the inner hooks are hooked up with the outer hooks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple optical disc storage case, and in particular, to an optical disc storage case with an anti-theft mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, it illustrates a conventional multi optical disc storage case including a case cover 1 a and a case supporting plate 2 a. A plurality of extensions 3 a are integrally formed at and separately positioned along an opening fringe of the case cover 1 a. Each of the extensions 3 a extends outwardly and has a positioning protuberance 4 a and a positioning plate 5 a. The case supporting plate 2 a has a plurality of receiving devices 6 a at its circumference and corresponding to the extensions 3 a. Each of the receiving devices 6 a includes a receiving groove 7 a and a hole 8 a, and a spindle 10 a is positioned at center of the case supporting plate 2 a. A plurality of circular supporting ribs 9 a are positioned between receiving devices 6 a and the center of the case supporting plate 2 a. When the case cover 1 a is positioned at the case supporting plate 2 a, inner surface of the opening of the case supporting plate 2 a slidably abuts at the circular supporting ribs 9 a. After each of the extensions 3 a is positioned between two of the receiving devices 6 a, the case cover 1 a is rotated with respect to the case supporting plate 2 a until the positioning plates 5 a of the extensions 3 a are in contact with the receiving devices 6 so that the extensions 3 a are completely inserted into the receiving groove 7 a. Besides, the positioning protuberances 4 a of the extensions 3 a are received in the hole 8 a of the receiving groove 7 a.
However, as described above, the conventional multi optical disc storage case has the extensions 3 a extending outwardly away from the opening of the case cover 1 a. Size of the extensions 3 a is rather large so that the size of the case supporting plate 2 a is much larger than that of the case cover 1 a. Thus, the conventional multi optical disc storage case consumes too much space and it is troublesome to wrap it up by thermoforming packaging process. Besides, only the positioning protuberance 4 a of the extensions 3 a are inserted into the hole 8 a of the receiving groove 7 a so that it fails to secure the case cover 1 a and the case supporting plate 2 a during transportation despite the conventional multi optical disc storage case is wrapped up by thermoforming films.
Thus, there is a need for a multiple optical disc storage case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple optical disc storage case that save storage space and will not get loose due to shake or vibration. It is not necessary to wrap it up by the thermoforming packaging process so that cost is decreased and it is anti-theft and is helpful for environment protection.
To achieve object of the present invention, the multiple optical disc storage case includes a upper cover, a lower supporting plate, and an outer fastener. The upper cover is hollow, and the lower supporting plate is used to assemble with the upper cover. The outer fastener is positioned at one of the upper cover and a lower supporting plate, and has at least one outer hook, at least one stop block and a plurality of resilient block. The outer hooks and the stop blocks are positioned at one side of the outer fastener, and the resilient blocks are equally separated and positioned at the other side of the outer fastener. The outer fastener also has a plurality of inner hooks positioned at the other of the upper case and the lower supporting plate so that the inner hooks are hooked up with the outer hooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be fully understood from the following detailed description and preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional multiple optical disc storage case;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a multiple optical disc storage case according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a multiple optical disc storage case according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an outer fastener of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a multiple optical disc storage case according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a multiple optical disc storage case according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by A of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the present invention provides a multiple optical disc storage case including a upper cover 10, a lower supporting plate 20, an outer fastener 30, and three inner hooks 40. The lower supporting plate 20 is assembled with the upper cover 10 and has a circular wall 21. A circular groove 22 is formed between the circular wall 21 and the outer fastener 30 and is used to receive opening of the upper cover 10. A spindle 23 is positioned at center of the lower supporting plate 20, and a cavity 11 is positioned at and extends from the center of top surface of the upper cover 10, and the cavity 11 correspond with the spindle 23 of the lower supporting plate 20. Besides, a direction symbol 12 is integrally formed with the upper cover 10 and indicates which direction is to open or close the multiple optical disc storage case.
The outer fastener 30 is circle-shaped and positioned at periphery of the lower supporting plate 20 including a plurality of outer hooks 31, three stop blocks 32, three protuberances 33 and three resilient blocks 34. The outer hooks 31 are hook-shaped and are equally separated along inner side of the outer fastener 30, and three stop blocks 32 are straight and are equally separated along the inner side of the outer fastener 30. The three stop blocks 32 are equally separated at one side of the outer hooks 31. The protuberances 33 are substantially semi-circularly and are equally separated at the outer fastener 30. Besides, the protuberances 33 are equally separated and positioned at the outer hooks 31 and abut at the upper cover 10. The resilient blocks 34 are substantially rectangular and equally separated at the outer surface of the outer fastener 30. Besides, the resilient blocks 34 correspond with the outer hooks 31 between the stop blocks 32 and the protuberances 33. Each of the resilient blocks 34 has two V-shaped grooves at its two sides so that it is easy to move the resilient blocks 34. Each of two grooves 35 is substantially rectangular and is positioned below each of the resilient blocks 34, and the grooves 35 are in communication with the two V-shaped grooves of the resilient blocks 34.
The inner hooks 40 are hook-shaped cuboid and are equally separated near the opening of the upper cover 10. The inner hooks 40 are respectively used to hook the outer hooks 31 of the outer fastener 30, and length of the inner hooks 40 is larger than distance among the outer hooks 31. Thus, the inner hooks 40 are still hooked up with the outer hooks 31 when the upper cover 10 is rotated.
The spindle 23 of the lower supporting plate 20 passes through center holes of the optical discs when users want to store the optical discs within the multiple optical disc storage case. When the upper cover 10 is assembled with the lower supporting plate 20, the opening of the upper cover 10 is pushed into the circular groove 22 of the lower supporting plate 20. Then, the inner hooks 40 are hooked up with the outer hooks 31 of the outer fastener 30. When users want to open the multiple optical disc storage case, the upper cover 10 is rotated in accordance with the direction symbol 12 until the inner hooks 40 is stopped by the stop blocks 32 of the outer fastener 30. Then, the resilient blocks 34 are manually removed by the two grooves 35 so that the inner hooks 40 are removed and the upper cover 10 is opened. When users want to close the multiple optical disc storage case again, the opening of the upper cover 10 is pushed into the circular groove 22 of the lower supporting plate 20 and rotated in accordance with the direction symbol 12 so that the inner hooks 40 are moved into the circular groove 22.
Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The outer fastener 39 is positioned at the opening of the upper cover 10, and the outer hooks 31 of the outer fastener 39 are substantially rectangular. The outer hooks 31 are equally separated along inner side of the outer fastener 30, and the inner hooks 40 are substantially rectangular and equally separated at outer side of the circular wall 21. When the upper cover 10 is assembled with the lower supporting plate 20 manually, the lower portions of the inner hooks 40 abut the upper portions of the outer hooks 31 so that the outer hooks 31 of the outer fastener 30 are hooked up with the inner hooks 40.
According to the present invention, when the outer hooks 31 of the outer fastener 30 are hooked up with the inner hooks 40, it is difficult to separate the outer hooks 31 and the inner hooks 40 manually. Thus, it is unlikely that the upper cover 10 is not separated from the lower supporting plate 20 so as to prevent the optical discs from being stolen or lost. The multiple optical disc storage case of the present invention has a capability of anti-theft, and graphs or words are directly printed at the upper cover 10 by thermoforming packaging process. It is not necessary to wrap it up by thermoforming packaging process before the multiple optical disc storage case is shipped to customers. The present invention is helpful for environment protection and saves storage space because there are no protruding portions on the upper cover 10 and the lower supporting plate 20.
While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multiple optical disc storage case, comprising:

an upper cover, being hollow;

a lower supporting plate, used to assemble with the upper cover;

an outer fastener, positioned at one of the upper cover and a lower supporting plate, and having at least one outer hook, at least one stop block and a plurality of resilient block, and the outer hooks and the stop blocks positioned at one side and the resilient blocks equally separated and positioned at the other side; and

a plurality of inner hooks, positioned at the other of the upper case and the lower supporting plate so that the inner hooks are hooked up with the outer hooks.

2. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer fastener is positioned at periphery of the lower supporting plate, and the inner hooks are equally separated near the opening of the upper cover.

3. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower supporting plate has a circular wall, and the circular groove is formed between the circular wall and the outer fastener so that the circular groove is used to receive opening of the upper cover.

4. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer fastener is positioned at the opening of the upper cover, and the inner hooks are positioned at the lower supporting plate.

5. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spindle positioned at center of the lower supporting plate.

6. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 5, wherein a cavity is positioned at and extends from the center of top surface of the upper cover, and the cavity corresponds with the spindle of the lower supporting plate.

7. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer fastener has at least one protuberance positioned at the outer hooks.

8. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves positioned at the outer fasteners and in vicinity of the resilient blocks.

9. The multiple optical disc storage case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a direction symbol integrally formed with the upper cover.