WO2004024600A1

WO2004024600A1 - Support device for disc-type data media

Info

Publication number: WO2004024600A1
Application number: PCT/ES2003/000463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abel Pedro Rodriguez Garcia; Alberto Zamarron Pinilla; Pedro Garayo Olarra; Pedro Manuel Escolar Cuevas
Original assignee: Creta Creacion De Empresas Con Tecnologia Avanzada, S.L.
Priority date: 2002-09-12
Filing date: 2003-09-12
Publication date: 2004-03-25
Also published as: AU2003267459A1; ES2201928A1; ES2201928B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device for disc-type data media. In a standard CD case, the support device for disc-type data media is disposed on one of the walls (2) thereof. The support device comprises a lower circular rim (4) and the outer edge of the disc (9) presses against said rim. Said device also comprises flexible elements (5) consisting of grip means (5a) and a tilting push button (5b) which are each provided with support teeth (6) and which co-operate in order to support the periphery of the aforementioned disc (9) by means of said support teeth. The device is also provided with two flexible tabs (7) which are used to lift the disc (9) when it is released by actuating the push button (5b), thereby facilitating the removal of the CD from the case by the user.

Description

RETAINING DEVICE FOR DATA SUPPORTS IN FORM

DISC

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retention device that has been specially designed to hold disk-shaped elements, such as compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs) and the like, or any other device or support in form disk, which keeps said media or discs properly retained or secured either in a case, box or wrapper or in any other type of housing intended for this purpose.

The object of the invention is to achieve a secure and stable retention device that allows anchoring or securing and removal of the disk in the housing in which said retention device is located, by a simple operation by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The retention devices for information media or similar in disk form, according to the State of the Art, and which are usually integrated or forming part of containers, boxes or other type of housing, comprise in the central part of their base a formation projection for coupling by adjusting the disc through its central hole, usually using teeth or retention projections. The formation The projection has compression deformable zones, so that the disk can be released from its retention by exerting a pressure on said projection or simply by pulling the disk through its peripheral zone. In addition they usually have circumferential projections in the base concentrically with the central protruding formation so that they support the outer edge of the disc.

These types of mechanisms have different drawbacks, such as the instability in the behavior of the rosette or central projection, or the need to perform several combined movements for the extraction of the disc, constituting systems of poor ergonomics and low intuitiveness.

Another great disadvantage of this type of devices is that the maneuver for the release or removal of the disc can cause a deformation of the disc, flexing it radially, which in many occasions can damage it, or at least generate an effect of fatigue.

From these systems, others emerged that sought to facilitate the removal of the disk by means of a push-button, such as the mechanism proposed in U 9600471, which, by means of a lever-like push-button, pushes the disk upwards. However, this device has numerous deficiencies such as the central support or the lever system itself that can scratch the recorded area among others. Another device similar to this one, and that is also held by the central hole, with the problems that this supposes, previously indicated, is the one shown in EP 0671743.

Other documents, such as US 5690218, US 5533615, or some embodiments of US 5938020 have, in addition to disc removal buttons, retaining elements located on the periphery and cooperating with said button. However, none of them find mechanisms for lifting the disk when it has been released, which means that the disk is not "offered" to the user properly. All these documents also have the disadvantage of the little or no flexibility of their retention elements, which causes the disk to be forced during the clamping or anchoring operation.

In another exemplary embodiment, shown in US 6364107, another system can be seen that has retention means distributed around the periphery of the disk, as well as a release button. However, when removing the disc, it must be done by sliding the disc, so that it can rub in its recording area with the mentioned button.

Finally, in EP 0886278 another possible solution is shown, although in this case the disc rests only on two specific areas, which implies an unstable clamping. In this case, in addition, the element that lifts the disc once released, is located in such a way that it impacts on the recorded surface of the disc, being able to damage said area and causing the loss of the information contained in the disc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The retention device proposed by the invention solves in a fully satisfactory manner the aforementioned problem, ensuring a perfect fixation of the disc and an easy operation of clamping and removal by the user, which will need a single and simple movement to perform each of these operations.

For this, the retention device can be integrated into any type of case, box or housing, such as those normally used for, for example, compact discs (CDs) or the like, in which the case is formed by a lid and a base or bottom wall articulated by a central portion or spine, as a book, said retention device having a flange of a suitable size to support the outermost area of the disc, free of recording, and retention teeth located on flexible elements located on the periphery, on the said flange, so that the central hole is free, therefore holding the disk on its perimeter.

The aforementioned flexible elements consist of two tweezers and a push-button that tilts on its end closest to the disc, where the retaining teeth are also located. On both sides of this button there are two flexible pins, which are compressed when the disc is held or anchored, and that push it up and raise it when the button is pressed to release it.

In this way, the anchoring of the disk is done from above, in the vertical direction. The pressure exerted on the disc causes the retention teeth to be removed and the disc to rest on the support flange. Once the teeth have been overcome, tweezers and button return to their original position and the disc is locked. The peripheral pressure of the tweezers eliminates the possible vibrations of the disc in the case. There is also a central ring on the bottom wall of the case on which the central area of the disc rests, and which prevents it from flexing excessively during anchoring. The disc will be removed by pressing the button located on the periphery, so that the retention teeth are removed to release the disc and the flexible pins return to their resting position by raising the end of the disc to facilitate its removal.

Another difference that the device that is recommended presents with respect to others that for similar purposes are in the state of the art, is that it can be manufactured in one piece, which constitutes an obvious advantage over them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of the retention device and two enlarged details, one of one of the tweezers and one of the disc release button.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the retention device integrated in a case or box for storing compact discs or the like.

Figure 3 shows a top plan view similar to that of figure 1, but enlarged.

Figure 4 shows one of the details that appear in Figure 1 enlarged, specifically in which the lower perimeter flange, a flexible element or clamp and the retaining teeth with which it has are seen.

Figure 5 shows one of the details that appear in the enlarged figure 1, specifically in which the disc release button, the retention tooth and the flexible pins can be seen.

Figure 6 shows, finally, two sections of the disc release button, the latter being held in one of them and in the other, in the release phase.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures outlined, it can be seen how the retention device proposed by the invention is capable of being incorporated into a case or box, such as those commonly used to house a compact disc (CD) or the like, in which said case or box is formed by a lid

(1) and a base or bottom wall (2), articulated with each other by a central portion or spine (3), which gives it a form or structure of "book".

In said case, and more specifically on its base or bottom wall (2), said retention device is incorporated, which is formed by a lower circular flange (4) on which the disc (9) rests on its entire circumference , and on its outermost area, thus avoiding contact with the recorded area, and remaining also the central hole of the disc (9) free.

In the area that defines the periphery of the disk (9), there are several flexible elements (5), formed by a pair of tweezers (5a) and a button (5b) that swings on its end closest to the disk. Both flexible elements (5) have in their upper area located above the flange (4) with retaining teeth (6), which in the case of the clamps and for this specific embodiment are double and located at the ends of the clamp itself (5a) in each of them, and in the case of the button (5b), and for this specific embodiment, said retention tooth (6) extends along the entire length of said button (5b). These retention teeth (6) are formed in its lower part by a horizontal flat surface that constitutes the means of retention of the disc, while in its upper part they are formed by an inclined plane that allows the introduction of the disc when applying on it small downward vertical force, which will flex the aforementioned flexible elements (5), allowing the passage of the disc (9).

On both sides of the button (5b), there are two flexible pins (7) on whose free end it supports the outer edge of the disc (9), pins that are compressed downwards when the disc is anchored or held, and which are those responsible for pushing up the disk (9) when the release is made.

The disk anchoring maneuver (9) is performed in the vertical direction, from above. The pressure exerted by the user on the disc (9), which rests on the retaining teeth (6) located on the elements flexible (5), makes these, both the tweezers (5a) and the button (5b), swing backwards, causing said teeth (6) to be removed and the disc (9) reaches the support flange (4). At this time, and once the teeth (6), tweezers (5a) and button (5b) are returned to their original position and the disc is locked. The peripheral pressure of the clamps (5a) eliminates the possible vibrations of the disc in the case.

To achieve even greater stability and support, it is expected that there will be a small central ring (8) emerging from the bottom wall of the case (2), on which the central crown of the disc will rest without recording, thereby preventing it from flexing in excess during the clamping or anchoring operation.

When the disc (9) is anchored or held by the retention device, the pins (7) are compressed, thereby exerting an upward thrust that is braked by the retention teeth (6) of the flexible elements (5), therefore the disk (9) being held prisoner between both elements, and thus achieving an optimal hold between said elements.

The extraction or release is easily achieved by pressing the button (5b), which swings on its end closest to the disc (9), thereby removing the teeth (6) and releasing the disc (9), which will be driven towards up by the pins (7), now free of compression. This operation is clearly seen in Figure 6.

For this specific embodiment, the arrangement and number of retention elements and of release shown in the figures, although the purpose that is intended with the present invention can also be achieved with any other arrangement of the different fastening and release elements located on the periphery of the device, as well as varying their number and relative position.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S

I ^a .- Retention device for data media in the form of a disk of the type that are integrated in boxes or media used to accommodate disk-shaped elements, such as compact discs (CDs), generally formed by a lid and a base or bottom wall articulated with each other by its central part or spine, and that have retention elements that hold the disk by its periphery, a perimeter flange on which it rests and with a button that releases said disk, characterized in that both the retention elements (5a) of the disc (9) and the release button (5b) of said disc (9) are flexible, and incorporate one or more retaining teeth

(6) in its area or upper edge that cooperate with flexible pins (7) that in the release phase of the disc (9) propel it with the aim of achieving an easy and comfortable removal.

2 .- Retaining device for data carriers in the form of disk, according to claim I ^to, wherein the flexible legs (7) are the least two and are located on both sides of the button (5b), and on whose free end supports the outer edge of the disc

(9), pins that are compressed vertically downwards when the disc is anchored or held, and which are responsible for vertically pushing the disc upwards (9) when the disc is released when said button is pressed.

(5b).

3 .- retaining device for data carriers in the form of disk according ^to claim I, characterized in that the retaining teeth (6) located in the area or upper edge of the flexible elements (5) are formed in its lower part by a flat horizontal surface that constitutes the means of retention of the disk, while in its upper part they are formed by an inclined plane that allows the introduction of the disc when applying a small downward vertical force on it, which will flex the aforementioned flexible elements (5), allowing the passage of the disc (9) to reach a support flange (4).

4 .- Retaining device for data carriers in the form of disk, according to previous claims, characterized in that centered in relation to the flexible elements (5) and the circular support flange (4), and to supplement the stability and support that the they confer on the disc (9), a small central ring (8) emerging from the bottom wall of the case (2) is incorporated, on which the central area of the disc (9) rests, thereby preventing it from flexing excessively during the clamping or anchoring operation.

5 .- Retaining device for data carriers in the form of disk, according to previous claims, characterized in that the molding processing is performed in one piece.