WO1998004478A1

WO1998004478A1 - Optical disc storage container

Info

Publication number: WO1998004478A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000481
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phoebe Constance Cowdery; Rodney James Mattler
Original assignee: Rawpac Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1996-07-30
Filing date: 1997-07-30
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Also published as: AUPO132696A0

Abstract

A container (10, 100) for a compact disk or similar product is disclosed in which at least two substantially planar members (20, 60; 120, 140) that together define a space in which the disk is locatable are connectable via a fulcrum (12; 112) which permits the members to be displaced in the plane in which they each lie. In specific embodiments, additional members (40; 160) are provided to respectively provide for a double storage container (10) and to form a housing in which the member (140) is receivable.

Description

OPTICAL DISK STORAGE CONTAINER Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage containers and, in particular, discloses a container configured for storage of a flat article such a memory storage device, for example an optical disk, commonly known as a Compact Disc (CD).

Background Art CD's and other memory media such as magnetic floppy disks are typically stowed in a plastic container that is of generally square appearance and usually sized to retain a single disk. The container is formed from two parts which together, when closed, envelop the disk. The container includes a hinge arrangement formed along an inter-engaging side of the two parts. In this manner, the container can be opened in a manner similar to a book by pivoting the two parts relative to each other about the hinge.

Such containers have a number of problems. Firstly, the hinge portions are generally of weak construction and are thus prone to breakage. Further, such containers do not facilitate ease of storage of more than one disk. As a result of this deficiency, double disk containers have been manufactured which essentially double the size of the entire container structure and which include two separate hinged covers which envelop or close either side of a common substrate and upon which each of the disks is mounted for stowage. More recent configurations provide for the storage of two compact disks within a container having the same external size as that of a single

CD container, but which includes two mounting positions located on the respective parts of the container, or alternatively on a thin central leaf of the container. However, none of these arrangements overcome the difficulty of the weakness of the hinge connection(s) between the various parts.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative storage container that can be used for the storage of disks, optical or otherwise. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a storage container for enclosing a disk device, the container comprising at least a first member and a second member, the members having a substantially planar surface of at least substantially polygonal shape having at least three sides, the first member having at least two walls extending substantially perpendicularly from adjacent ones of the sides, the second member having at least one wall extending substantially perpendicularly from at least a remaining one of the sides, and a fulcrum arranged to interconnect the first member and the second member at a location representing an intersection of the remaining one side and one of the adjacent sides, wherein the fulcrum permits movement of the members relative to each other in parallel planes to open and close a space defined between the walls, the space being sized to enclose the disk device.

Preferably, the fulcrum comprises at least a (first) socket formed in one of the first or second members, an opening of the socket lying in a plane parallel to the one member, and a (first) post configured to extend from the other one of the first or second members, the post being complementary to and arranged to be received in the socket. Typically, the container further comprises a third member of substantially corresponding planar shape torn and interposed between, the first and second members, the third member having walls configured to complement the first and second members, and means for inter-engaging the fulcrum to interconnect with each of the first and second members to permit relative independent displacement of the first member and the second member relative to the third member and in corresponding parallel planes. Preferably, the means for engaging the fulcrum further comprises a further post and a further socket, arrange on opposite sides of the third member and configured in such a manner to be received within a complementary and adjacent one of the first socket and the first post respectively. Advantageously, each post and socket is integrally formed in the corresponding one of the members and forms part of a raised extension that extends substantially along one side of the one member. Typically the container further comprises at least one retention device arranged on a corresponding one of the members and adapted to resiliency retain and prevent movement of the disk device within the space. Preferably, the members are substantially rectangular in shape and each has two walls extending from adjacent sides thereof to contact non-walled sides of another of the members. Generally, the third member comprises four walls, a first pair of the walls extending from one face of the planar surface at adjacent sides thereof, and a second pair of the walls extending from the other face of the planar surface from the remaining adjacent sides thereof, the pairs of walls being configured to contact with one of the first and second members to define one of the spaces between adjacent ones of the members. The second member may comprise a retention device adapted to resiliently retained and prevent movement of the disk device.

An alternative embodiment comprises a third member of corresponding planar shape to the first member, the third member having walls and being resiliently engageable with the first member to form a housing that defines a receptacle therewithin between the first and third members, the second member being movable about the fulcrum in a plane of the receptacle to be displaceable from, and insertable into, the receptacle. Typically, the walls of at least one of the first and third members comprise barbs that are resiliently engageable by a snap fit connection with complementary recesses formed in walls of the other of the first and third members. Generally one of the first and third members comprises the first post of the fulcrum, and the second member comprises the socket, the other of the first and third members comprising a second post arranged to be inserted through the socket to permit the second member to pivot relative to the other of the first and third members, the second post including a hole into which the first post is insertable to pivotally secure the second member to the other member. Advantageously the first and third members are substantially rectangular in shape and the walls extend about at least two sides of the housing to define an opening from which the second member can be pivotally displaced from the receptacle. Typically the walls of the first and third members extend partly along a third side of the housing, the second member comprising complementary walls that act to close the housing when the second member is fully disposed within the receptacle. Generally at least one wall of the second member comprises an indent configured to aid manual manipulation of the second member to displace same from the receptacle. Preferably the second member includes a curved edge arranged at a periphery thereof, the curved edge not being one from which a wall of the second member extends.

In an advantageous configuration one of the first and third members comprises a plurality of protuberances extending from the surface in a direction opposed to the walls, and the other of the first and third member comprises a like plurality of complementary recesses configured to receive the protuberances of another of the containers to thereby permit a plurality of the containers to be interengagable for stacking thereof.

Generally, the fulcrum is arranged at a corner of the polygonal shape and preferably the polygonal shape is square.

Typically the disk device is an optical disk. Brief Description of the Drawings

A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the top member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view taken from the direction III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is in inverse plan view of the top member;

Fig. 5 is a view taken from the direction V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is top plan view of a middle member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation view taken from the direction VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an inverse plan view of the middle member of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 9 is a view taken from the direction IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a bottom member of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the bottom member taken from the direction XI of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an inverse plan view of the bottom member; Fig. 13 is a view taken along the line XIII of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 13 in use in an open configuration; Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the second embodiment in an open configuration;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the second embodiment in a closed configuration; Fig. 18 is a plan view of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is an inverse plan view of Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a view taken from the direction XX of Fig. 17; Fig. 21 is a view taken from the direction XXI of Fig. 17; Fig. 22 is a view taken from the direction XXII of Fig. 17; Fig. 23 is a view taken from the direction XXIII of Fig. 17; and

Fig. 24 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment in a stacked configuration.

Detailed Description

Referring to Fig. 1 , a container 10 is shown which is able to accommodate up to four disk storage media. The container comprises a top member 20, a middle member 40 and a bottom member 60 each unitarily formed from moulded, preferably transparent, plastics materials and arranged for pivotal interconnection by means of a fulcrum connection 12 comprised of structures (to be described) respectively integrally formed in each of the members 20, 40 and 60. For ease of interpretation, the middle member 40 has been labelled to indicate "front" and "left" sides of the container 10 which shall be used as reference descriptors for the remainder of this specification.

With specific reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the top member 20 includes a square- shaped upper surface 21 sized in a manner similar to that of conventional CD storage containers, a left side panel 22 and a rear panel 23 each extending perpendicularly from respective edges 28 and 29 in a direction from a lower surface 24 of the top member 20.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, at a corner of the top member 20 adjacent an intersection of the left side and front side thereof, a raised socket 25 is formed which

5 extends from the lower surface 24 to approximately half the height of the side panel 22. The socket 25, which includes a through hole 27, as seen in Fig. 4 is integrally formed with a raised extension 26 that runs along the wall 22 adjacent the inside of the edge 28. In this manner, the extension 26 provides substantial rigidity to the interconnection of the wall 22 and the plane of the top member 21 formed by the surfaces 21 and 24. ι o Further, the extension 26 also acts to support the socket 25 by substantially enveloping the socket 25.

As seen in Figs. 1 , 6 and 7, the middle member 40 includes an upper surface 41 incorporating a well 42 arranged to receive a circular disk such as a CD. Positioned within the centre of the well 42 is a retention device 50 arranged for securely mounting i 5 a CD within the well 42. As best seen in Fig. 1 , the middle member 40 includes a front side panel 43 and a right side panel 44 both arranged to extend upwardly of the upper surface 41 and configured to engage edges 35 and 36 respectively of the top member 20. As seen in Figs. 1 and 7, the middle member 40 also includes a left side panel 45 and a rear panel 46, both arranged to extend downwardly of a lower surface

20 47 of the middle member 40.

With reference also to Figs. 8 and 9, the middle member 40 also includes a post 52 extending from the raised mount 53 and configured to be received in the through hole 27 of the top member 20. The raised mount 53 is integrally formed with a raised extension 54 which runs upon the upper surface 41 along the left side thereof 5 and displaced inwardly of an edge 48 thereof so as to permit engagement of the left side panel 22 of the top member 20 against an abutment surface 55 of the raised extension 54 in a manner such that the left side panel 22 becomes flush with the left side panel 45. In a manner similar to that provided on the top member 20, the lower surface 47 includes a raised socket 56, in this case including a blind hole 57 formed immediately beneath the post 52, and a raised extension 58 formed along an inside edge of the left side 45.

Turning now to Figs. 10 to 13, the bottom member 60 is formed to include structures substantially identical to those on the upper surface 41 of the middle member 40. In this manner, an upper surface 61 of the bottom member 60 includes a well 62 configured to receive a CD and including a retention device 70 formed centrally therein. Extending upwardly of the upper surface 61 are a front panel 63 and a right side panel 64 configured to engage with edges adjacent the panels 43 and 44 of the middle member 40. Similarly, the bottom member 60 includes a post 72 arranged at the corner adjacent the left side and front side, and which extends from a raised mount 73 integrally formed with a raised extension 74 configured adjacent a left side of the member 60. The raised extension 74 includes an abutment surface 75 with which the left side panel 45 of the middle member 40 can engage.

The retention devices 50,70 can be of conventional construction, such as an annular array of resilient tynes as found in most conventional CD containers. Alternatively, the devices 50,70 can be sponge-like circular pads that are glued, or otherwise affixed, to the surfaces of the members 20, 40 and 60, and about which a CD can be resiliently mounted. Depending on the height of the pad for example, two CD's can be mounted on a single pad, stacked one upon the other. In this manner, two CD's can be stacked upon, for example, the upper surface 61 of the bottom member 60 and also the upper surface 41 of the middle member 40. Thus, the container 40 can be configured to retain four compact disks. Alternatively, a single mounting arrangement can be configured centrally upon each of the lower surface 24 of the top member 20, the upper surface 41 and the lower surface 47 of the middle member 40, and the upper surface 61 of the bottom member 60.

In operation, in order to gain access to a CD stored in the well 42 for example, by holding the container 10 between the left side panel 45 and the right side panel 64, the top member 20 can be twisted, to pivot about the fulcrum connection 12, formed by inter-engagement between the post 52 and socket 25, so that the top member 20 swivels relative to and in a plane parallel to both the middle member 40 and bottom member 60, to thereby expose the lower surface 24 and also the upper surface 41 . Any CD therein can then be removed and the container 10 closed by pivoting the top member 20 until such time as the left side panel 22 engages against the abutment surface 55. In a

5 similar manner, a CD can be retrieved from space between the middle member 40 and bottom member 60 by relative movement of the bottom member 60 compared to the members 20 and 40.

The present inventors have found that the provision of the fulcrum connection 12 formed by the socket 25, post 52, socket 56 and post 72 provides a pivot ι o substantially stronger than that of conventional CD storage containers, whilst permitting relative ease of handling to permit opening and closing thereof.

In a further embodiment, the middle member 40 can be removed from the configuration of the container 10. In this manner, the top member 20 can directly engage the bottom member 60 through interconnection between the post 72 and the

15 socket 25. Similarly, the left side panel 22 is arranged to engage against the abutment surface 75 to provide closure thereof. In such a manner, a storage container for two compact disks can be provided.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, any number of middle members 40 can be stacked between a top member 20 and a bottom member 60 to provide a multi-

20 layered CD storage container for which operation is based upon the movement of a single fulcrum connection to expose storage devices therein.

Fig. 14 illustrates the container 10 in a configuration that would be seen during operational use thereof. As seen, each of the members 20, 40 and 60 are interconnected at a single location defined by the fulcrum connection 12 and the various

25 post and sockets relating thereto and described above. Each of the members 20, 40 and 60 is independently pivotal about the fulcrum connection 12 in the corresponding plane, each of the planes being parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal access of the fulcrum connection 12. In this manner, should access be required to a compact disc arranged on an appropriate support positioned on the upper surface 41 of the middle member 40, then it is only necessary to pivot the top member 20 in a counter clockwise direction as illustrated to expose the interior of the middle member 40. Similarly, if access is required to a compact disc arranged on the surface 61 of the lower member 60, then the lower member 60 need only be rotated clockwise relative to the other two 5 members 20 and 40 so as to expose the disc. With the container 10, because all movements of the respective members 20, 40 and 60 all fall within parallel planes that are essentially common, this avoids imparting pulling forces onto the fulcrum connection 12 which may cause failure of that connection. A common cause of problems associated with conventional compact disc containers is that in order to open ιo them in a manner similar to a book, forces must be placed upon each of the opposed members so as to pry them apart, thus causing forces to be imparted upon the respective portions of the conventional hinge. The arrangement of the described embodiment addresses this situation by providing a hinge of typically more substantial construction which is able to fit into the corner of a square container when configured i s to house a round disc-like object.

Figs. 15 to 23 illustrate a container 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The container 100 is formed from an operative combination of a top member 120. a middle member 140, and bottom member 160 each being interconnected by a fulcrum connection 112.

20 The top member 120 includes a square planar upper surface 121 having located extending from a lower surface thereof a downwardly extending a post 122 which forms part of the fulcrum connection 112. As seen in Fig. 15, the top member 120 includes four sides defined by edges 129, 130, 131 , and 132. A side panel 123, downwardly extending from the upper surface 121 is arranged to extend from a corner

25 of the top member 120, diagonally opposed from the post 122, to a location approximately one third of the distance along the side edge 130 adjacent a notch 133. The side panel 123 similarly extends along the entirety of the side 131 and for a distance along the side 132 to location adjacent the notch 134 thus corresponding to that on the side 130. The middle member 140 includes a planar surface 141 , a primary side panel 142, a further side panel 143 arranged adjacent the side 130 and complimenting the remaining portion of the side 130 adjacent or alongside the side panel 123. A curve side panel 144 is arranged associated with a through hole 146 forming part of the fulcrum connection 112. The planar surface 141 includes a curve peripheral edge 145 extending between the side panels 143 and 144 and substantially tracing a locus related to the curvature of a compact disc. A connection between the side panel 143 and the side panel 142 is formed by an indent 148 the purpose of which will be described later. A CD retaining/mounting device 155 of substantially conventional construction is arranged on the planar surface 141 to mount and retain a compact disc.

The bottom member 160 includes a square planar lower surface 161 complementing that of the top member 120 and which includes an upward extending socket 162 which forms a component of the fulcrum connection 112. Side panels 163, 164 and 165 are arranged as illustrated and in each of which are formed a number of cut-out portions 167 configured to received barbs 125 arranged at adjacent locations on the side panel 123.

In this manner, when assembled, as seen in Fig. 16, the through hole 146 of the middle member 140 is arranged to slide over an exterior of the upward extending post-socket 162 whereby the downwardly extending post 122 of the upper of the top member can then pass into the hole formed in the post-socket 162 thus forming a three part coaxial fulcrum connection 112. In this manner, the middle member 140 becomes essentially sandwiched between the upper member 120 and the lower member 160. Further, when the three parts are engaged, the side panel 123 becomes located just inside of the side panels 163, 164 and 165 so that the barbs 125 become engaged and resiliently snap fitted within the corresponding adjacent cut-out 167. This arrangement affectively fastens and secures the top member 120 to the bottom member 160 whilst permitting the middle 140 to be pivotally moveable relative to the other two members to form a housing. In this manner, the connection of the members 120 and 160 forms a receptacle from which the middle member 140 can be pivotally displaced from between the member 120 and 160 in the manner shown in Fig. 16. As further seen in Fig. 16, the curved peripheral edge 145 includes a notch 149 provided for lift ease of grasping by a user of the container 100 for causing relative movement of the middle member 140 to the housing formed by the upper member 120 and lower member 160. Similarly, the 5 indent 148 permits manual manipulation of the middle member 140 to pry it from the receptacle.

As seen in Figs. 15 and 16, the side panel 142 of the middle member 140 includes a small step 150 immediately adjacent the through hole 146. The step 150 is associated with an extension 124 formed in the upper surface 121 of the top member ι o 120. In this manner, an upper edge 151 of the side panel 142 is then configured to engage against the edge 129 of the top panel 120. This prevents the middle member 140 from being displaced or swinging within the housing formed by the upper and lower members 120 and 160.

As seen particularly in Figs. 15 and 16, the top member 120 is provided with a i s number of keyhole slots 128 each arranged adjacent one of the corners of the upper surface 121. In a complementary fashion, the bottom member 160 includes key-like posts 170 arranged in corresponding locations. In this manner, as seen in Fig. 24, the containers 100 become stackable and inter-connectable. Fig. 24 shows a stack of six like-containers including container 115, 116, the container 100, and containers 117,

20 118 and 119 whereby the key-like posts 170 of the upper container are able to be engaged into the keyhole slots 128 of the container beneath. In this manner, a stack of containers can be formed thus providing for multiple compact discs to be retained therein. As seen in Fig. 26 as illustrated in phantom 114, the middle member 140 is able to be swung about the pivot 112 from a location within the container 100 to a

25 position exterior of the container and stack whereby access to a compact disc 114 can be obtained.

As with the previous embodiments, the individual parts of the container 100 are preferably integrally and unitarily formed by moulding plastics material which are then interconnected using the barbed and cut-out structures described above. The container 100 offers a number of advantages. In particular, the reinforcement of the sides of the container 100 by virtue of the mutually adjacent side panel affords increased strength and rigidity thus providing for ease of movement of the middle member into an out of position with the container 100. Further, the three part coaxial fulcrum connection 112 provides for added strength as the moving portion of the middle member 140 is formed about the upstanding post/socket 162 and a relatively downwardly extending post 122 is provided to confirm engagement of a fulcrum connection. In practice, the post 122 may be glued, for example using a fast setting adhesive, within the hole formed in the socket 162. This provides a rigid essentially inflexible connection between the top member 120 and the bottom member 160 thus ameliorating possible stresses that may be placed upon the fulcrum connection 112.

The foregoing describes only a number of embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the containers 10 and 100 can be modified to include components of a security system used to prevent theft of the container 10 and 100 and the CD from retail centres and the like. Further, whilst the described containers are each square, other polygonal shapes, including triangles having three sides, may be used.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A storage container for enclosing a disk device, said container comprising at least a first member and a second member, said members having a substantially planar surface of at least substantially polygonal shape having at least three

5 sides, said first member having at least two walls extending substantially perpendicularly from adjacent ones of said sides, said second member having at least one wall extending substantially perpendicularly from at least a remaining one of said sides, and a fulcrum arranged to interconnect said first member and said second member at a location representing an intersection of said remaining one side and one of ι o said adjacent sides, wherein said fulcrum permits movement of said members relative to each other in parallel planes to open and close a space defined between said walls, said space being sized to enclose said disk device.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fulcrum comprises at least a (first) socket formed in one of said first or second members, an opening of said

15 socket lying in a plane parallel to said one member, and a (first) post configured to extend from the other one of said first or second members, said post being complementary to and arranged to be received in said socket.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third member of substantially corresponding planar shape torn and interposed between, the

20 first and second members, the third member having walls configured to complement said first and second members, and means for inter-engaging said fulcrum to interconnect with each of said first and second members to permit relative independent displacement of said first member and said second member relative to said third member and in corresponding parallel planes.

25 4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for engaging said fulcrum further comprises a further post and a further socket, arrange on opposite sides of said third member and configured in such a manner to be received within a complementary and adjacent one of said first socket and said first post respectively.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein each said post and said socket is integrally formed in the corresponding one of said members and forms part of a raised extension that extends substantially along one side of said one member.

6. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising 5 at least one retention device arranged on a corresponding one of said members and adapted to resiliently retain and prevent movement of said disk device within said space.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said members are substantially rectangular in shape and each has two walls extending ι o from adjacent sides thereof to contact non-walled sides of another of said members.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 wherein dependent on claim 3 wherein said third member comprises four walls, a first pair of said walls extending from one face of said planar surface at adjacent sides thereof, and a second pair of said walls extending from the other face of said planar surface from the remaining adjacent

15 sides thereof, said pairs of walls being configured to contact with one of said first and second members to define one of said spaces between adjacent ones of said members.

9. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second member comprises a retention device adapted to resiliently retained and prevent movement of said disk device.

20 10. A container as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a third member of corresponding planar shape to said first member, said third member having walls and being resiliently engageable with said first member to form a housing that defines a receptacle therewithin between said first and third members, said second member being movable about said fulcrum in a plane of said receptacle to be displaceable from, and

25 insertable into, said receptacle.

11. A container as claimed in claim 11 wherein said walls of at least one of said first and third members comprise barbs that are resiliently engageable by a snap fit connection with complementary recesses formed in walls of the other of said first and third members.

12. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein one of said first and third members comprises said first post of said fulcrum, and said second member comprises said socket, the other of said first and third members comprising a second post arranged to be inserted through said socket to permit said second member to pivot relative to said

5 other of said first and third members, said second post including a hole into which said first post is insertable to pivotally secure said second member to said other member.

13. A container as claimed in 10, 11 or 12 wherein said first and third members are substantially rectangular in shape and said walls extend about at least two sides of said housing to define an opening from which said second member can be ι o pivotally displaced from said receptacle.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13 wherein said walls of said first and third members extend partly along a third side of said housing, said second member comprising complementary walls that act to close said housing when said second member is fully disposed within said receptacle.

15 15. A container as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least one wall of said second member comprises an indent configured to aid manual manipulation of said second member to displace same from said receptacle.

16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein one of said first and third members comprises a plurality of protuberances extending from said

20 surface in a direction opposed to said walls, and the other of said first and third member comprises a like plurality of complementary recesses configured to receive said protuberances of another of said containers to thereby permit a plurality of said containers to be interengagable for stacking thereof.

17. A container as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16 wherein said 25 second member includes a curved edge arranged at a periphery thereof, said curved edge not being one from which a wall of said second member extends.

18. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said fulcrum is arranged at a corner of said polygonal shape.

19. A container as claimed in claim 18 wherein said polygonal shape is square.

20. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said disk device is an optical disk.

21 . A storage container for a disk device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 14 or Figs. 15 to 23, or Fig. 24 of the drawings.