WO2006087632A2

WO2006087632A2 - Rotating pack

Info

Publication number: WO2006087632A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/000343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher John Grant
Original assignee: Christopher John Grant
Priority date: 2005-02-19
Filing date: 2006-02-20
Publication date: 2006-08-24
Also published as: WO2006087632A3

Abstract

A multilevel container (200) for storing and presenting items (40) includes a supporting structure (220), first and second trays (20,2 10) mounted to the supporting structure for pivoting between a storage position wherein stored items are inaccessible to a user and an access position wherein the items are accessible, and a transmission mechanism coupling trays together, whereby as either tray is pivoted from the storage position to the access position, the other tray is pivoted automatically from the storage position to the access position, presenting the stored items to the user. Optionally, the container can include a reusable retail security device (80) receivable in apertures (71,61,211,18) preventing the trays from being pivoted and/or a child resistant catch (610) for a package containing pharmaceutical products. The container is simple, easy to use, offering an ergonomic design requiring little dexterity to operate which can be manufactured at high speed on existing equipment.

Description

ROTATING PACK

This invention relates to packaging which is adaptable to contain and present a wide range of products, in rotating form.

Existing hinge packaging can be awkward to use, easy to break, with little visual interest, few promotional options and can be bulky.

The market is mostly dominated by "me too" and sometimes industrial packaging, in consumer areas where innovation, aesthetics and ergonomics standout to help generate sales and reflect and add value to the product.

Packaging design needs to be flexible and adaptable, to pack different products and ranges, for different sectors, in different styles, configurations, shapes, sizes and be compact and space efficient.

The pack must be easy and obvious to use and not require much dexterity or strength, so it is a pleasure to use and children, the elderly and handicapped are not restricted. Existing hinge packaging usually has a small graspable area for finger and or thumb holding which requires an initial high force and then the lid flings open uncontrollably, which is not a good introduction to the packaged goods.

The security of package products is a major issue for retailers. A means to secure the goods in the pack, prior to the customer paying and leaving the retail outlet, in a convenient tamper proof way, with an in shop releasable and reusable security device is advantageous.

When packaging is used to contain sensitive goods, such as pills, it is important to have child restricted tamper access.

A pack should be simple, and to be cost effective, it must be able to be volume produced and assembled on existing or slightly modified high speed production equipment.

To offer the greatest flexibility a pack that can be made from plastic or cardboard base materials, for example, offers the manufacturer a large range of packaging sectors to fit into, from a more expansive material to a cheaper more ecological material.

A pack should offer the manufacturer a large scope, only be limited by the imagination, where many different products from the cheapest to the most expensive luxury goods can use the same base technology in many different forms.

Piracy is a big problem and having a unique pack helps deter copying. Very often at least two items need to be packaged at once, for example a multimedia disc and an information booklet.

It is the object of the present invention embodiments to provide a pack which addresses the above issues including:

To provide a pack which is simple, cost effective, ergonomic and aesthetic, compact, slim line and space efficient;

To provide a pack which is unique and stands out from the crowd and is a pleasure to use for all;

To provide a pack where more than one item can be packaged at once;

To provide a pack which is adaptable to different styles, sizes, shapes, configurations, layouts and features;

To provide a pack that can be volume produced and assembled on high speed machinery;

To provide a pack where a retail security device can be added; and

To provide a pack where a child resistance feature can be added.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for storing and presenting items, said container comprising: a supporting structure; first and second trays mounted to said structure for pivoting between a storage position in which items stored by said container are inaccessible to a user and an access position in which said items are accessible by the user; and a transmission mechanism coupling said first tray to said second tray, whereby as one of said trays is pivoted from the storage position to the access position, the other one of said trays is pivoted automatically from the storage position to the access position to present the items stored in said container to the user.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a hidden line plan view of an open pack of one embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a hidden line plan view of the closed pack of fig.1.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section through fig. 3.

Fig. 5 a local perspective view of a top corner of fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a two layer pack with open rear trays, as based on fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows a hidden line plan view of an open pack of a further pack embodiment.

Fig. 8 shows an exploded perspective view of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of an open pack of another pack embodiment.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a closed pack of fig. 9.

Fig. 11 a local perspective view of a top corner of fig. 10.

Fig. 12 a local perspective view of a top corner of fig. 10.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of an open pack.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of an open pack.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of an open pack.

Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of an open pack.

Fig. 17 shows an exploded perspective view of a further pack embodiment.

Fig. 18 shows an exploded perspective view of a further pack embodiment.

Fig. 19 shows an exploded perspective view of a further pack embodiment.

Fig. 20 shows a hidden line plan view of an open pack of a further embodiment.

Fig. 21 shows a perspective exploded view of the pack of fig. 20.

Fig. 22 shows a hidden line plan view of the closed pack of fig. 20.

Description

Figs. 1 to 5 show a pack 100 with a housing 10, which sandwiches a pair of item containing concurrent rotating trays 20 and 30. Bottom right hand first tray 20 and top left hand second tray 30 are linked together with a transmission mechanism with a rotational connection, which in this embodiment, is by directly cooperating integral local spur gear teeth sectors 21 and 31 on each tray. The pivots 12 for the trays are generally located symmetrically on the pack, bottom right for the first tray 20 and bottom left for the second tray 30. The trays are generally inline and above each other, in this embodiment they rotate with a one to one ratio, in opposite counter rotation directions, from opposite sides of the pack. Alternatively, the pivots can be unsymmetrical, there can be more than two trays which can rotate in the same direction from the same side of the pack or open to the same side of the pack and use any rotationally connection method.

Only one tray needs to be rotated open, for both trays to open. The first tray 20 rotates out from the right hand side of the pack, clockwise, from an in contained closed position, to an out open product display and access position. The second tray 30 rotates out from the left hand side of the pack, anticlockwise, at the same time automatically and concurrently with the first tray 20, to an out open product display and access position. To close the trays, to the in contained position, only one tray needs to be rotated inward and the other tray follows.

The rotating action of the trays provides a smooth opening action, where little strength or dexterity is required and the products contained by the trays are presented in an interesting and ergonomic fan like manner. In this embodiment the pack is rectangular and DVD size, but can be thinner, but any other shape and size pack is possible, where the right hand tray 20 contains a multimedia disc 40 and the left hand tray 30 contains a slid out disc information leaflet or booklet 50. But the pack is adaptable and can be any size, shape, configuration, layout and style and the trays any depth with pockets or mounting to contain any product or products in any layout with any tray transmission mechanism means.

In use the pack 100 is held in one hand and one tray is pivoted open, using the other hand. The other tray opens at the same time, to present the two trays with packed items to the user, in a hassle free pleasing manner.

The housing 10 is a one piece hinged clamshell case, used to support the two rotating trays in both the closed, open and any intermediate positions. The housing includes: two edge living hinges 16, two tray pivot location bosses 12 which are the depth of the first tray 20. Contained within each pivot boss is an optional spring arm or finger 11 for detent tray position and feel stops, two tray stop bosses 14, various side walls 13, top and bottom mating snap in fitting locations 15, 15', 17 and 17' to secure the housing together when pivoted closed, retail security device location and recess 18 and finger access for tray opening 19.

The outside of the housing 10 has an attached clear plastic sleeve 70 (existing art) with a security device clearance hole 71, into which slides in a printed inlay 60 (existing art) with a security device clearance hole 61.

The first tray 20 in this embodiment is positioned on top of the housing 10 on the right hand and is located below and in line with the second tray 30. It is generally one thickness and contains optionally one or two multimedia discs 40. The tray 20 includes: mating pivot hole 22 for location on the pivot boss 12 at the bottom right hand side of the housing 10, detent grooves 23 on the inner surface of the pivot hole 22, which engage with corresponding detent spring finger 11 for defining open and closed positions, front and optionally rear disc hub and pocket 25 for disc 40, gear sector 21 which mates with the gear sector 31 on second tray 30, stop slot 24 which mates with boss 14, finger opening slot 26, tray top support arc 27 which is the height to the second tray 30, corner cut out 28 and various holes and recesses for mass production.

The second tray 30 in this embodiment is positioned on the housing 10 on the left hand side, located above and inline with the first tray 20, and the combined thickness corresponding to the thickness the first tray and the thickness of the booklet containing section which holds the slide-out information booklet 50 pertaining to the disc content. The tray 30 includes: mating pivot hole 32 for mating with the pivot boss 12 on to the left hand side of the housing 10, detent grooves 33 which engage with corresponding detent finger 11 in the housing 10 for defining open and closed positions, a stop slot 34 which mates with the boss 14 gear sector 31 which projects and is stepped downwardly from the tray and is effectively below the tray level and mates with the gear sector 21 of the first tray 20 at the level of the lower first tray 20; so the fray in the area of the mating teeth, when the trays are closed, is two tray thickness deep. The fray 20 has recess pocket 35 which overlays the pivots of both frays when closed, and including retaining clips 36 and booklet finger recess 37. The tray 30 optionally has a disc hub on the rear, and an access aperture for the retail security device 80. The fray 30 can have, optionally, a finger opening slot and various holes and recesses for mass production.

The housing sides 13 with tray corner cut outs 27 and 39 and the top securing section 17 are configured so that there are no gaps into the pack when it is closed, so the sides of the housing and frays are continuous and look neat.

The frays 20 and 30 have a built-in over centre opening and closing feature, whereby the tray mass is offset relative to the pivots 12, so the centre of gravity is either inside the pack when the frays are in the closed position to keep them closed, or outside the pack when the frays are in the open position to keep them open.

The geometry for the pack is dictated by the size and shape of the housing, the trays, the products to be contained, the pivot location and the transmission mechanism. In addition, more than two trays can be used at the same time and the frays can exit and be opened from any side of the pack and optionally in the same direction.

In this embodiment, the gear teeth 21 and 31 mate centrally between the two pivots 12, which are generally symmetrically located on the housing but this need not be the case. Alternatively, one pivot can be positioned closer to the edge of the pack to provide more access to the open tray or open from another side. In this case, the two gear pitch circle diameters can be different or have optionally non-circular gearing.

Many other means of transmission or rotational connection are possible for transferring concurrent counter and same direction rotation from one tray to the other tray or trays, including and not limited to; gear trains, internal gear teeth and pinions, bevel gears, rack and pinion; fixed or flexible push and pull strip or band, left and right hand worm, belt or belts; continuous or limited length, round or flat, twisted, timing and double sided, hole and pin, inside and outside drive with idlers, linkages, leavers, slides, friction, quadrants, sectors, indexing Geneva, star wheel and cams, or a combination of some of the above or any other methods. The transmission ratio (such as the gear ratio of segments 21 and 31) between the trays can be one-to-one or any other ratio.

To retain the goods in the pack until the goods are paid for prior to leaving a retail outlet, the pack can include a security device 80 that acts to prevent a tray from rotating open and thus, prevents unauthorised access to the packaged goods. In many instances, goods are removed from the packing by the shop staff to avoid theft prior to purchase of displaced packs, but this takes lot of time and additional storage space. In this embodiment the security device 80 is a pin that is located near the top left corner of the pack, but any other position is possible. The security device 80 extends through the aperture 18 in the housing 10 and the aperture 38 in the second tray 30 or alternatively can act on the side of a tray. The security device 80 has catches which open when released, for example, by a magnetic force device or by pressure release. After the security device 80 is removed from the pack by a member of the sales staff, the security device can be kept behind the shop counter for reuse. Where the security device is reusable, it can be placed in new stock before the new stock is displayed. The security device can also contain a sensor tag. The security device is a highly visible deterrent feature, and can be flush with the front or rear surface of the pack.

The pack can contain any multitude of products including current and new format multimedia discs or cartridges of any size and format, compact flash card, computer file storage devices, information booklets, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, jewellery, personal care, confectionary, food stuffs, product samples business cards and any other general consumer item or items. A further application of the present invention is in electronic hand-held devices wherein screens, keyboards and panel interfaces can be rotated out from a main housing. The trays 20 and 30 can be shallow or deep to accommodate the contents. The trays 20 and 30 can be single or multi pocketed to contain more than one item per tray. The trays can also be sealed with a pull off membrane for product retention and freshness, for example, can have pockets for daily pill requirements.

The pack also suits the young and elderly, as it does not require dexterity to operate, just a simple smooth continuous constant low force rotary motion to open and close. Existing packs require an initially high opening force on a small opening finger graspable area where the lid then opens abruptly in an uncontrollable fashion.

The pack is not limited to one pair of trays or to two multimedia discs, additional discs and booklets can also be located on the reverse side of the trays. Alternatively, the pack can contain four discs in two pairs of trays, where one disc is contained in each tray and each pair of trays work independently of each other, with a centre or middle dividing plate.

The three simple components of the pack are designed for high volume production. The components are generally made from plastic by injection moulding in generally open and shut tooling. Alternatively, cardboard can be used for the base material for the housing and trays.

The pack is assembled in a simple modular manner suitable for high speed volume production. The components are assembled from the bottom up, where the open housing 10 acts as a base mounting plate. The first tray 20 and then the second tray 30 are placed on the pivot bosses, and the housing 10 is then hinged closed and secured together. Many methods of securing together the housing is possible including: snap in clips, glue, ultrasonic welding, heat stake and screws. The packaged products in this example, the disc 40 and booklet 50 can be pre fitted or added during the assembly process. Alternatively, the products can be added after the pack is assembled wherein the trays are subsequently opened and the products inserted or the trays assembled open and the items added and the trays then closed. The plastic sleeve 70 is pre-welded to the housing and the inlay 60 inserted prior to folding closed.

The trays are shown rotated to about 120 degrees, but any angle is possible, providing a fan like interesting shaped pack. The trays can rotate to any angle including 90 degrees, which would provide a more conventional rectilinear shaped pack.

Alternatively the pack can have one tray opening to the right and one tray opening to the top. This offers the advantage that the user does not have to cross over the pack holding hand with the free hand, when accessing the presented items. The right, bottom first tray opens anticlockwise and the top, top second tray opens clockwise or even anticlockwise. The first tray pivot can being located generally bottom right hand corner and the second tray pivot located either top left or right hand corners. Can have optional push / pull band or gear train transmission with tray pinions or direct gear sector transmission where the gear connection is on one level, a first tray on another level and a second tray on a further level. The pivots can connect to one or both side of the housing, with pivots clear or overlaying the trays.

Fig. 6 shows a pack 200 which has two sets of rotating tray pairs. Effectively, the pack 200 is two packs, for example, as per fig. 1 or fig. 7, fitted together but with a modular front, centre and back plates sandwiching a front pair and a rear pair of independent concurrent rotating tray pairs. This embodiment packs multimedia discs but can pack any other product, where a front pair of trays can contain a disc on the right tray and information sheet on the left tray for example, as per fig. 1 and the rear pair of trays a disc 40 on each tray as shown. Therefore, this pack contains three discs and one booklet. The back left tray 210 has finger opening groove 212 and retail security device location 211. With this modular construction many pairs of trays can be assembled together to contain as many levels of trays as required, to pack as many discs and booklets or other products in a relatively thin pack. The pack shown is DVD size and shape but any other size and shape can be used

Figs. 7 and 8 shows a further embodiment of a DVD or any other size pack 300 wherein the drive transmission mechanism is a push/pull strip or band, which is generally stiff in the longitudinal direction and flexible in the transverse direction. The push/pull band can be of a material, such as a steel or plastic or can be moulded with the trays themselves. The concurrent counter opposite rotation for the two trays is obtained from an open band 350, which runs tangentially around a first band radius 335, from a fixed point on the first tray 330, to a fixed point, tangentially to the top of a second band radius 342 on the second tray 340.

The pack includes a bottom plate 310 with pivot location and fixing bosses 311, centre top location fixing pins 314, stop pins 313, side walls 317, band or strip guide channel 312, finger access 315 and security pin access 316. The first disc tray 330 has recess and fixing for disc 334, boss pivot hole 331, band radius 335, stop slot 332 and receiving fixing slot radius for the band 333. Second tray 340 has; pivot boss 341, projecting downward band radius 342, which matches the level of the first tray, groove for stop pin 343, heat stake projections 344, booklet recess 347 and tabs 346. Top plate 320 with pivot location fixing bosses, optional band guide channel, centre top location fixing pin, side walling and finger access 321.

Band or strip 350 is a thin flexible flat strip, from any material including plastic, mild steel, spring steel, and stainless steel, for example. In this embodiment, the height of the band 350 corresponds to the height of the two trays over most of its extent, but has a step down 351 at the point where the band 350 goes under the second tray, at which point, the height of the band 350 corresponds to the height of one tray, to fit under the pivot boss. Alternatively, the band or strip can be the height of the first tray over its full extent. The first end of the band 350, in this example, is fixed by an interference fit or an integral clip to the first tray. The second end of the band 350, in this case, is connected by one or two heat stake points, where the band has location holes and the second tray two mating projections, or any other joining means possible. The band strip could also be integrally moulded with the two trays. The band strip can also be have a local fold or boss on each end, which are located in holes with a slot tangential to the band radius. Alternatively, the band can run diagonally the other way, from the top of a band radius on the first tray down to the band radius on the second tray. For assembly, the two trays 330 and 340 and the band 350 can be preassembled. Any means of fixing the band or strip to the band pivot radius is possible including; gluing, welding, another example is the band can be a pressing, where each end has a local ninety degree return, which is press fitted into a right angle slot to the band radius on each tray.

In operation, as the first disc tray 330 is opened by rotating clockwise, the band or strip 350 is pushed around and off the first band radius 335, and forward, and forces the second tray 340 to rotate open anticlockwise. As the first tray 330 is rotated open clockwise, the band 350 rotates off the first tray band radius 335, is pushed forward within supporting channels 312 and rotates anticlockwise around the second tray band radius 342, to concurrently open the second tray 340. If, for example, as in this embodiment, the trays rotate ninety degrees, the band 350 overlaps the first tray band pivot radius 335 by ninety degrees. When the pack is open, the ninety degrees overlap has been transferred to the second tray band pivot radius 342. To stop the band 350 from buckling, bottom and / or top case band guide channels 312 are provided on the top and bottom plates. The band 350 works in reverse when the pack 300 is being closed. Figs. 9 to 12 show a pack 400 where two external trays are configured to generally fill the full depth of the pack and are only contained within a small local housing which holds the pivot and transmission mechanism. This eliminates the need of a full size external front and back housing, resulting in process and material savings. The housing 410 can be a one piece clamshell construction hinged as per that shown in figs. 1 to 5. In use, as the first bottom right hand tray 420 is rotated open clockwise, via the finger groove 423, the top left hand tray 430 opens concurrently anticlockwise. As the trays open to give access to the contained product or products, a generally triangular shape is formed between the inside of trays and the housing. To help support the open trays an interlocking hook 432 is provided on the top tray which mates with a corresponding catch in the bottom tray. To help secure the closed trays together a hook 421 is provided top right on the bottom tray which mates with a corresponding slot 431 in the top right of the top tray and a hook 433 is provided top left on the top tray which matches with a corresponding groove 422 in the top left of the bottom tray, m this embodiment the transmission mechanism is a push/pull band as per figs. 7 and 8, but any other transmission means can be used.

This embodiment contains a multimedia disc 40 in a hub on the bottom tray and a slide in information booklet inside the top transparent tray, where the pack is turned over to remove the booklet or alternatively another disc. The bottom tray can also contain a printed inlay. The pack shown is a rectangular CD size pack, but can be any other size or shape and contain any other products.

Fig. 13 shows a further pack embodiment 500. In an application as a cosmetic compact, the right tray 520, for example, contains a face powder and an application pad and the left hand tray 530 contains a mirror. But any other cosmetic components can be housed, such as a brush and eye shadow. The pack as an example is a horseshoe shape and a push pull band is used as the transmission mechanism.

Fig. 14 shows a further pack embodiment 600, in an application as a pill swash pack. In this application, the right tray 620 and left tray 630 are shown to contain a swash but one tray could contain a folded up information leaflet. The pack is reusable, for example, a used pill swash can be removed from a tray frame and a new swash of pills slid or snapped in place. The pack also has child resistance feature by the way or a bush button or a slide button arrangement 611 which has to be operated with one hand before the tray can be opened with the other hand. The pack is a very compact space efficient slim line design. The pack has a push pull band transmission means. A small pack can be carried in the shirt pocket, wallet or handbag suitable for containing any manner of contents, for example pills, business cards, makeup and so on.

Fig. 15 shows a further pack embodiment 700 in an application as a jewellery pack, hi this application, the jewellery pack 700, which is elliptically shaped and includes a pair of trays that rotate concurrently in the same direction. The right tray 720 could contain a pair of ear rings and the left tray 730 could contain a ring for example. The pack has a push and pull band transmission mechanism.

Fig. 16 shows a further pack embodiment 800, including a base plate 810 that contains a disc 40 and a right tray 820 and a left tray 830 which open and close concurrently by a gear or push and pull band transmission mechanism in the manner of pack 400 described above with reference to Fig. 9, for example, but any other suitable transmission means can be used.

Fig. 17 shows a further embodiment of a pack 900, wherein a common pivot is used for both rotating trays 930 and 940. This is achieved with the trays having a central pivot with internal gear teeth 960, with clearance radius and which mate with two cooperating intermediate gears 950 rotatably mounted on bottom plate pins. When the first tray is rotated, the second follows. In this embodiment, the trays rotate 90 degrees for disc access. This pack can be rectangular, but in this embodiment is shown as being truncated for interest. The pack includes a back plate 910 with end support wall, pivot fixing location pins 911 and finger access and the pair of intermediate gears 950. The second tray 940 includes a disc pocket, opening radius, clearance internal gear and disc infill with opening stop. Similarly, the first tray 930 includes a disc pocket, opening radius, clearance internal gear, disc infill and disc clearance infill. The pack further includes a top plate 920 with disc clearance, fixing location points and finger access.

Fig. 18 shows a further pack embodiment 1000 which includes a base plate 1010, a top plate 1020, a right tray 1030 and a left tray 1040. The pack 1000 is a CD size pack. Two gear pinions 1031 and 1041 project down from respective corners of the right tray 1030 and left tray 1040. Two intermediate drive gears 1050 are on top of the base plate 1010 and held in place by snap-in pivots 1011. The top plate 1020 is secured to the base plate through the pivots of the trays and the pins in the base plate. The trays contain a disc and each tray is configured to provide clearance for the pivots. Due to the size of the CD case and disc, the gear train transmission mechanism is located below the trays. In operation, the user holds the pack and opens the first right tray via the finger access to open both trays concurrently. Alternatively a middle mounting plate can be located between the trays or between the bottom plate and first tray and the gears mounted on this plate.

A further embodiment of the pack 1100 is shown in Fig. 19. The pack 1100 includes a bottom case 1110, a top case 1120, a first tray 1130 and a second tray 1140. In this example, the pack 1100 is a DVD-size pack. The bottom case 1110 and top case 1120 are secured together at bottom left and right pivot boss points and top centre location boss, by for example, ultrasonic welding or snap in fitting. The bottom case 1110 has two pivot boss holes, side walls, two snap in intermediate gear pivots, stop pin for each tray and finger access. Two small intermediate gears 1050, which are the height of the first tray 1130, are located on the bottom case 1110 and provide the counter rotation power transmission mechanism, although any other means of transmission is possible. The first tray 1130 which contains the disc 40, sits flat on the base plate and has in-line integral gear teeth, a pivot boss and a stop slot. The second tray 1140, in this example, contains a booklet 50, wherein the booklet slides in and out and is retained by lugs. The booklet tray rests on top of the first disc tray and intermediate gears, and has a pivot hole and boss, integral pinion projecting below the tray 1140 to mate with the gearing at the first tray level. The second tray 1140 includes a stop slot which engages with the pin in the base plate. The top case 1120 has side walls, mating location and fixing bosses for the pivots, a centre top location pin and a finger access. In this embodiment, the trays 1130 and 1140 open to ninety degrees, but any opening angle is possible for the trays. The pack 1100 can have top and bottom labels, not shown.

Figs. 20 to 22 show a further pack embodiment 1200 which includes a base 1210, a right disc tray 1220 and a left information tray 1230. In this application, the pack 1200 is produced mainly from cardboard which is printed on the outside and folded over along fold lines and glued to form a stiff structure. This approach can be applied to all of the embodiments described in this application and offers the advantage of using a "greener" and lower cost material rather than the usual plastic material. In this pack one disc is contained in one of the trays, the other tray is a blank which has been printed on for use as an information space and which also defines an opening handle for the pack 1200. The disc tray 1220 can be on either the left or right hand side. The pack 1200 has a layout similar to that of the embodiment described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 and has local plastic inserts for the disc hub and pivots which can be glued in place. In this embodiment, the top of the base 1210 is secured together folly widthways for greater rigidity. The cardboard base 1210 is printed on the outside and has two locally glued on plastic pivot boss top hats 1240 which have a stop pin and local cut out. The cardboard right disc tray 1220 and the cardboard left handle tray 1230 are printed, cut, glued and folded over along the fold lines and the plastic disc hub glued in place on the disc tray. The blank for the disc tray 1220 is folded upwards and the blank for the blank tray 1230 is folded downwards. Both trays have cut outs for the disc, pivot and gear teeth. During assembly, the disc tray and blank tray are placed onto the plastic pivots and the base folded over and glued together. This is space effective and results in a light-weight pack.

The description and diagrammatic drawings are by way of example only. The pack is not limited by the items it packages, shape and size of pack, number of trays, shape of trays, tray depth and number of pockets, tray transmission method, tray opening method, angle of opening, number and location of pivots, middle plate option, tray detent, label method, material, child resistance lock, security tamper evidence pin and so on. Any combination of any feature is possible.

Claims

1. A container for storing and presenting items, said container comprising: a supporting structure; first and second trays mounted to said structure for pivoting between a storage position in which items stored by said container are inaccessible to a user and an access position in which said items are accessible by the user; and a transmission mechanism coupling said first tray to said second tray, whereby as one of said trays is pivoted from the storage position to the access position, the other one of said trays is pivoted automatically from the storage position to the access position to present the items stored in said container to the user.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure includes a base portion, a first pivot mounted on said base portion located near a first corner of said supporting structure for mounting said first tray for pivoting movement relative to said supporting structure, and a second pivot mounted on said base portion located near a second corner of said supporting structure for mounting said second tray for pivoting movement relative to said supporting structure.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein said supporting structure includes a housing, said housing including a base plate and a top plate coupled together to define an inner compartment, said housing having first and second elongated slots extending at least along first and second sides of said housing, said first and second trays mounted within said inner compartment with said first tray overlying said second tray, and said first and second trays being adapted to be pivoted out of said inner compartment through said first and second slots, respectively.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein one of said plates includes a first pivot located near a first corner of said housing for mounting said first tray for pivoting movement relative to said housing, and a second pivot mounting located near a second corner of said housing for mounting said second tray for pivoting movement relative to said housing.

5. The container according to claim 4, and including a common pivot located within said housing for allowing pivoting movement of said first and second trays.

6. The container according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission mechanism includes a gear mechanism coupling said first tray to said second tray.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein said transmission mechanism includes a push/pull band mechanism coupling said first tray to said second tray.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second trays are adapted to contain multi-media discs and information leaflets.

9. The container according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second trays are adapted to contain pharmaceuticals.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second trays are adapted to contain jewelry.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein said first and second trays are adapted to contain cosmetics.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a child resistant catch that must be operated to allow said first and second trays to be pivoted from the storage position to the access position.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes and opening and including a security pin for preventing said first and second trays from being moved from said storage position to said access position, said security pin being removable to allow said first and second trays to be moved from said storage position to said access position.

14. The container according to claim 1 , wherein said supporting structure and said first and second trays are made of plastic.

15. The container according to claim 2, wherein at least said base portion of said supporting structure and at least portions of said first and second trays are made of cardboard.

16. A container for storing and presenting at least multi-media discs, said container comprising: a housing; first and second storage and presentation trays mounted within said housing positioned with one of said trays overlying the other one of said trays, said first and second trays being mounted within said housing for pivoting between a stored position and an access position, which pivot between the stored position and the access position in unison with said second tray pivoting in the opposite direction to said second tray; and a transmission mechanism coupling said first tray to said second tray, whereby as said first tray is pivoted in a first direction from the storage position to the access position, said second tray is automatically pivoted from the storage position to the access position for presenting the multi-media discs to a user.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism causes said second tray to pivot in said first direction as said first tray is pivoted in a first direction.

18. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism causes said second tray to pivot in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction as said first tray is pivoted in a first direction.

19. The container according to claim 16, wherein said first and second trays have a common pivot.

20. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes a first pivot for pivoting said first tray, and a second pivot for pivoting said second tray.

21. The container according to claim 20, wherein said first and second pivots are located at opposite sides of said housing.

22. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism includes are mating gear teeth integral with said first and second trays.

23. The container according to claim 16, said transmission mechanism includes first and second meshing gears, and third and fourth gears coupling said first and second trays to said first and second meshing gears, respectively, and wherein said first and second meshing gears are located below said first tray.

24. The container according to claim 16, wherein first and second trays are disposed in said housing in an overlying relationship.

25. The container according to claim 16, wherein one of said trays overlaps said pivot of the other one of said trays.

26. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes a top cover and a bottom cover, and wherein said first and second trays are sandwiched between said top and bottom covers.

27. The container according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second trays has a recess defining a finger opening.

28. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing defines a detent for defining said open position, said closed position and at least one position intermediate said open and closed positions.

29. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism includes a gear pinion that is integral with said first and second trays with a gear train.

30. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism includes internal teeth and pinions.

31. The container according to claim 16, wherein said transmission mechanism includes a push/pull band coupling together .

32. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing is a unitary structure including a top and a bottom that are joined together by a hinge.

33. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes a top and a bottom that is separate from said top, and a fastening mechanism for securing said top to said bottom.

34. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes a child resistant catch that must be operated to allow said first and second trays to be pivoted from the storage position to the access position.

35. The container according to claim 16, wherein said housing includes and opening and including a security pin for preventing said first and second trays from being moved from said storage position to said access position, said security pin being removable to allow said first and second trays to be moved from said storage position to said access position.

36. A container for storing and presenting items, said container comprising: a supporting structure; first and second trays for storing items, said first and second trays mounted to said structure for pivoting between a storage position in which items stored by said first and second trays are inaccessible to a user an access position in which said items are accessible to the user; and a transmission mechanism coupling said first to said second trays, whereby as one of said trays is pivoted from the storage position to the access position, the other one of said trays is pivoted automatically from the storage position to the access position to present the items stored in said container to the user.

37. A container for storing and presenting multi-media discs, said container comprising: a housing, first and second trays mounted within said housing positioned with one of said trays overlying the other one of said trays, said first and second trays being mounted within said housing for pivoting between a stored position and an access position, which pivot between the stored position and the access position in unison with said first tray pivoting in the opposite direction to said second tray, a first pivot mounting said first tray for pivoting from the bottom right hand corner of said housing, a second pivot mounting said second tray for pivoting from the bottom left hand corner of said housing, and a transmission mechanism interconnecting said first and second pivots, whereby as said first tray is pivoted from the storage position to the access position, said first tray pivots in a first direction from the right hand side of said housing and said second tray automatically pivots in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction from the storage position to the access position from the opposite left hand side of said housing to present the multi-media discs to a user.