WO1996013835A1

WO1996013835A1 - Disc storage device

Info

Publication number: WO1996013835A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/014028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard A. Cerullo; Kenneth A. Frank; Joseph H. Nies
Original assignee: Optima Precision, Inc.
Priority date: 1994-11-01
Filing date: 1995-10-31
Publication date: 1996-05-09

Abstract

A disc storage device is provided with a panel having a disc receiving surface including a central retainer device extending upwards for engaging a central opening in a disc and an arcuate wall structure extending upwardly from the disc receiving surface and surrounding the disc outer edge. The wall structure provides a first wall surface extending upwardly from the disc receiving surface at right angles to the disc receiving surface, and a second wall surface extending radially outwardly from the first wall surface at an acute angle with the first wall surface.

Description

DISC STORAGE DEVICE

Background of the Invention The present invention relates to disc storage cases employed for the storage and transport of round data discs, such as optically readable video discs and digital circuit discs known as CDs, and more particularly to a structure for receiving and retaining the circular disc onto a substan- tially planar panel for inhibiting radial movement during shipment and storage.

Various devices are known in which compact disc prod¬ ucts are packaged for display and for protection of the disc or CD during its lifetime. The cases or containers are generally manufactured of a plastic material and provide a disc holding panel which is mounted between a lid and a base, the disc holding panel containing means extending into a central opening in the disc for receiving and retaining the circular disc on one surface thereof. The surface further is provided with a recess into which the outer edge of the disc is received when the disc is positioned with the receiving and retaining means extending through the central opening of the disc.

In general, the storage devices in the marketplace rely solely on the retaining means at the central opening of the disc to support the disc against both radial and axial movement in the event of a sudden shock produced during shipping, or handling by the user. In these devices the recessed opening in which the outer edge of the disc is received is provided with a radially inwardly sloping sur¬ face at the outer edge of the recess to insure that the outer edge of the disc is guided towards the panel surface when it is placed on the panel. Thus, any shock load on the disc in the radial direction would in most instances move the edge of the disc upwardly and off of the retaining device at the center of the disc, rather than provide sup¬ port. With the desirability of employing transparent plastic materials, which may be subject to fracture under extreme shock, it is imperative that a greater support be provided for a CD or other disc retained in a storage device than that provided at the center of the disc.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disc storage device which exhibits an improved effectiveness to retain the disc in position when the device is subjected to a radial shock load. A further object of the invention is to provide a stor¬ age device for a circular disc which supports the disc at its edges against a load in the radial direction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a storage device of the type disclosed which when manufactured of a transparent plastic such as crystal polystyrene materi¬ al, is less breakable and provides support for the CD upon being dropped on its side.

Summary of the Invention The above objects and other objectives which will become apparent as the description proceeds are accomplished by providing a disc storage device for receiving and retain¬ ing a disc having a circular outer edge in which the device comprises a substantially planar panel having an upwardly facing disc receiving surface. An arcuate wall structure extends upwardly from the disc receiving surface the arcuate wall structure having a first wall surface disposed at substantially right angles to the disc receiving surface and a second wall surface extending radially outwardly from the top of the first wall surface at an acute angle.

In a more detailed sense, the arcuate wall structure may comprise a plurality of separate supports each having a first and second wall surface and preferably the plurality of supports are at least four in number and generally being evenly spaced one from the other. The separate supports may comprise a unitary flange extending downwardly toward the upwardly facing disc receiv¬ ing surface and having a free end spaced from the surface, the first and second wall surfaces being formed on the unitary flange.

In the alternative the wall structure of the disc storage device may comprise a continuous circular wall disposed on the upwardly facing disc receiving surface to form the first and second wall surfaces. The acute angle between the first and second wall surfaces is generally in the area of 45°, and the storage device may be formed of a clear plastic such as a polysty¬ rene material.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which there is shown illustrative embodiments of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be appar¬ ent, wherein: Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the disc receiving surface of a panel employed in a data disc storage device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the panel of Fig- ure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 and showing the disc receiving surface of panel employed in a data disc storage device employing an alternate embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a top plan view similar to Figures l and 2 showing a disc receiving surface of a panel employed in a data disc storage device employing a second alternate em¬ bodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an elevational sectional view taken along the line v-v of Figure 1 showing details of the structure; Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing a portion of the structure of Figure 5 taken on an enlarged scale for clarity;

Figure 7 is an elevational sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 1 showing details of the inven¬ tion;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing a portion of the structure of Figure 7 taken on an enlarged scale for clarity; Figure 9 is an elevational sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 3 showing details of the embodiment of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing a portion of the structure of Figure 9 taken on an enlarged scale for clarity;

Figure 11 is an elevational sectional view taken along the line of Figure 4 showing details of that embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing a portion of the structure of Figure 11 taken on an enlarged scale for clarity.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawing and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a disc storage device in the form of a panel 10 having a circular opening 12 formed near the center of the panel. Figure 1 shows a panel 10 providing a disc receiving upper side 14 having a recessed surface 15 which defines the area into which the disc is received. A circu- lar raised surface 16 is provided which supports a disc in the axial direction by contacting that portion of the disc which does not contain the data. In the present embodiment that portion of the disc containing the data is supported above and out of contact with the surface 15, as is prac- ticed in the art. As shown in Figure 2, the bottom of the panel 10 com¬ prises a lower surface 18 of the circular disc receiving area which extends downwardly in the panel 10 and a circular surface 20 which extends upwardly and is the opposite sur- face of that portion of the panel containing surface 16 and forming the structure which supports the disc as described above. A plurality of spring fingers 22 extend upwardly from the surface 16 and are arranged adjacent the panel opening 12 for contacting an edge of the circular opening in a disc when the disc is received onto the panel 10. The arrangement of spring fingers 22 may be of any type well known in the art which is intended to provide a resilient fit into the central opening in a disc, and are generally resilient to provide a slight force fit when the disc is inserted onto the panel 10 with its bottom surface contact¬ ing the surface 16.

As is well known in the art, the disc storage panel 10 is generally combined with a base member and a lid member to complete the construction of the storage device. However, these elements are not herein shown as they may take a number of varying forms, and are not considered to be part of the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 taken in conjunction with Figure 1, it should be noted that that portion of the panel 10 which receives the outer edge of a disc mounted on the spring fingers 22 provides a circular surface 24 which slopes downwardly and inwardly towards the disc receiving surface 15. The downwardly and inwardly orientation of the surface 24 is similar to prior art disc storage devices and is generally considered to aid in accepting the outer edges of the disc when the disc is moved into the recess towards the disc receiving surface 15.

Referring back to Figure 1, the disc storage device 10 of the present invention provides a plurality of support members 25 formed in the arcuate wall structure of the recessed portion containing the recessed surface 15. Each of the support members formed by the wall surface comprises a member wall surface 26 disposed at substantially a right angle to the disc receiving surface 15. That is to say, the wall surface 26 is manufactured as close to 97° with the disc receiving surface 15 as is capable of being produced by injection molding or plastic stamping methods known in the art. Such methods may require a fraction of a millimeter slope between the top and the bottom of the wall 26, however slight variations of this type for purposes of the present invention is to be considered substantially at right angles with the surface 15.

A second wall surface 28 extends radially outwardly from the top of the first wall surface 26 at an acute angle with the wall surface 26. The angle may vary but is gener- ally and optimally provided at 45° for the purposes of aiding entry of a disc into the recessed portion of the storage device 10.

Further, it should be understood that although the support members 25 are shown to be six in number, that any number of four or more support members may be placed about the periphery of the disc receiving surface 15 and that the support members are generally equally spaced one from the other.

With the support members 25 disposed as shown in Figure 1, a disc which is retained on the spring fingers 22 will have its edge surface disposed a distance in the area of 0.05 to 0.40 mm. from the wall surface 26. Should the storage device 10 be dropped or struck such that a force is transmitted radially to the disc, any extreme deflection of the spring fingers 22 or other means retaining the disc at its center hole, including the fracture of the retaining means, would cause the disc edge to move outwardly. In the case of the prior art wall structure extending upwardly from the disc receiving surface 15 the disc would be moved up- wardly as it contacted a sloping wall surface similar to wall surface 24 and receive no support, but rather be forced upwardly off of the retaining means at the center hole of the disc. In the present embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8 the disc edge will contact the vertical wall sur¬ face 26 of a support member 25 and thereby be retained in place and prevent spring fingers 22 from breaking in a vertical drop of the device when manufactured with lower cost crystal polystyrene material.

Referring now to Figures 3, 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in which like structure has been given like reference numerals as those of Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8. A panel 10a is shown to have a disc receiv¬ ing surface 15 which is recessed and has a continuous wall 30 disposed over the greater portion of the surface 15. It should be understood that the circular wall surface 30 could be continuous however in the present embodiment it is broken into two separate segments due to the edge restric¬ tions of the panel 10. As best shown in Figures 9 and 10, the circular wall 30 comprises a first wall surface 32 similar to that wall surface 26 shown in the embodiment of Figure 1 and a second wall surface 34 similar to that shown and described with reference to the embodiment of Figure 1. That is to say, the wall surface 32 is disposed at substan¬ tially right angles to the disc receiving surface 15 and the wall surface 34 extends radially outwardly from the top of the wall surface 32 at an acute angle which is preferably 45°.

Referring now to Figure 4, the present invention is shown in yet another configuration wherein the recess con¬ taining the disc receiving surface 15 is provided with an arcuate wall with a plurality of support members 36 formed thereon. As best shown in Figure 12, the supports 36 formed from the arcuate wall disposed on the disc receiving surface 15 comprises a unitary flange 38 which extends down¬ wardly toward the surface 15 and has its free end spaced from the surface. The flange 38 has formed thereon a first wall surface 40 substantially perpendicular to the surface 15 and a surface 42 extending from the top of the surface 40 radially outwardly at an acute angle as in the prior embodiments. It should be noted that in the embodi¬ ment of Figure 4, while only four support members are formed in the recessed wall although more may be formed if desired. With the structure shown in Figures 4, 11 and 12 the employ¬ ment of support members having a flange 38 rather than a solid wall of previous embodiments provides a more flexible support for the edge of the disc which may be controlled by the thickness of the flange 38 as desired.

While it is apparent that changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present inven¬ tion, it is our intention, however, only to be limited by the appended claims. As our invention we claim:

Claims

1. A disc storage device for receiving and retaining a disc having a circular outer edge, said device comprising: a substantially planar panel having an upwardly facing disc receiving surface; an arcuate wall structure extending upwardly from said disc receiving surface; said arcuate wall structure having a first wall surface disposed at substantially right angles to said disc receiv¬ ing surface, and a second wall surface extending radially outwardly from the top of said first wall surface at an acute angle there¬ with.

2. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arcuate wall structure comprises a plurality of separate supports each forming said first and second wall surfaces.

3. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of supports are at least four in number.

4. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said separate supports are evenly spaced one from the other.

5. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle in the area of 45° with said first wall surface.

6. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said separate support comprises a unitary flange extending downwardly toward said upwardly facing disc receiving surface and having a free end spaced from said disc receiving surface and wherein said first and second wall surfaces are formed on said unitary flange.

7. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plurality of separate supports are at least four in number.

8. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said separate supports are evenly spaced one from the other.

9. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle in the area of 45° with said first wall surface.

10. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of supports are at least four in number.

11. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle in the area of 45° with said first wall surface.

12. A disc storage device as set forth in claim l wherein said wall structure comprises a circular wall dis¬ posed over the greater portion of said upwardly facing disc receiving surface and forming said first and second wall surfaces.

13. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle in the area of 45° with said first wall surface.

14. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 which is formed of a crystal polystyrene material. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 10 April 1996 (10.04.96); original claims 1-14 replaced by amended claims 1-20 (4 pages)]

1. A disc storage device for receiving and retaining a disc having a circular outer edge and a central circular opening, said device comprising: a substantially planar panel having an upwardly facing disc receiving surface and a plurality of spring fingers extending upwardly from said surface to engage said circular opening and hold said disc on said panel; an arcuate wall structure extending upwardly from said disc receiving surface and being integral therewith; said arcuate wall structure having a first wall surface disposed at substantially right angles to said disc receiv¬ ing surface, said wall structure being spaced from said circular outer edge but arranged to support said disc at its circular outer edge against a load in the radial direction whereby to inhibit breakage of said fingers upon application of said load; a second wall surface extending radially outwardly from the top of said first wall surface at an acute angle there¬ with, whereby to receive and properly align said disc as it is being placed on said spring fingers.

3. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of separate supports are at least four in number.

4. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said separate supports are evenly spaced one from the other. 5. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle of about 45° with said first wall surface.

6. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said separate support comprises a unitary flange extending downwardly towards said upwardly facing disc receiving surface and having a free end spaced from said disc receiving surface and wherein said first and second wall surfaces are formed on said unitary flange.

9. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle of about 45° with said first wall surface.

10. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of separate supports are at least four in number.

11. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle of about 45° with said first wall surface.

12. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall structure comprises a circular wall dis¬ posed over the greater portion of said upwardly facing disc receiving surface and forming said first and second wall surfaces. 13. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle of about 45° with said first wall surface.

14. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 1 which is formed of transparent crystal polystyrene material.

15. A disc storage device for receiving and retaining a disc having a circular outer edge and a central circular opening, said device comprising: a substantially planar panel having an upwardly facing disc receiving surface and a plurality of spring fingers extending upwardly from said surface to engage said circular opening and hold said disc on said panel; an arcuate wall structure extending upwardly from said disc receiving surface and integrally connected therewith, said arcuate wall structure comprising at least four sepa¬ rate supports each forming wall surfaces, said wall struc¬ ture being spaced from said circular outer edge and arranged to support said disc at its circular outer edge against a load in the radial direction, whereby to inhibit breakage of said fingers upon application of said load, said arcuate wall structure having a first wall surface disposed at substantially right angles to said disc receiving surface whereby to receive said disc as it is being placed on said spring fingers.

16. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said separate supports are evenly spaced one from the other.

17. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 15 which is formed of transparent crystal polystyrene material. 14

18. A disc storage device according to claim 15 fur¬ ther including a second wall surface extending radially outwardly from the top of said first wall surface at an acute angle therewith whereby to receive and properly align said disc as it is being placed on said spring fingers.

19. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second wall surface is disposed at an angle of about 45° with said first wall surface.

20. A disc storage device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said plurality of supports are at least four in num¬ ber support comprises a unitary flange extending downwardly toward said upwardly facing disc receiving surface and having a free end spaced from said disc receiving surface and wherein said first and second wall surfaces are formed on said unitary flange.