WO2007022457A2

WO2007022457A2 - Package for universal media disc

Info

Publication number: WO2007022457A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/032475
Authority: WO
Inventors: John A. Gelardi; James Kostyun
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Corporation
Priority date: 2005-08-18
Filing date: 2006-08-18
Publication date: 2007-02-22
Also published as: WO2007022457A3; EP1924995A2; US20090178941A1

Abstract

A package for holding one or more media cartridges includes a tray, which has at least one latch for engaging the one or more media cartridges. The tray can have one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of one or more media cartridges. Each receptacle is preferably contoured to substantially follow a contour of the media cartridge(s). Each receptacle includes at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, associated with each of the one or more receptacles. The at least one latch is configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge.

Description

PACKAGE FOR UNIVERSAL MEDIA DISC

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 60/709,282, filed August 18, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a package for storing one or more Universal Media Disc™ cartridges and, more particularly, to a tray for supporting at least one Universal Media Disc™ cartridge and to a package for housing at least one UMD cartridge.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] The Universal Media Disc™ (UMD) is an optical disc recording medium currently capable of holding 1.8 gigabytes of data, such as games, movies or music. A UMD cartridge typically has a length of 65 mm, a width of 64 mm and a thickness of 4.2 mm. The UMD was developed by Sony for use on the PlayStation® Portable, which currently is the only playback device which supports the UMD format.

[0003] The UMD is commercially available as a disc cartridge that contains the optical disc recording medium, so as to protect the recording medium and to be loadable into a playback device.

[0004] Referring to Figures 1-3, which illustrate a UMD cartridge' that has been designated by reference numeral 10, the cartridge 10 comprises a cartridge main body 12 formed by aligning and bonding a pair of cartridge main body halves, including an upper half 14 and a lower half 16. The optical disc 18 is rotatably contained in the cartridge main body 12. The cartridge main body 12 has an arc-shaped part 20 at the top side thereof, which functions as the leading edge when the cartridge 10 is loaded into a playback device. A pair of oppositely disposed lateral sides 22, 24 of the cartridge main body 12 extend continuously from the arc-shaped part 20, while the lower side of the cartridge main body 12 forms a continuously curved part 26 connecting the lateral sides 22, 24. Curved part 26 has a curvature considerably less than that of the arc-shaped part 20, making the arc-shaped part 20 easily identifiable, and distinguishable from the other sides of the cartridge main body 12.

[0005] Referring to Figure 3, the upper half 14 and the lower half 16 of the UMD cartridge 10 are formed by molding a synthetic resin material, such as polycarbonate resin or ABS resin, and are assembled by aligning upper half 14 above lower half 16 and bonding the halves together. The top surface of the upper half 14 is flat and contains no apertures. As shown in Figure 2, the lower half 16 has a hole 34 formed therein, defined by a circular central aperture 36, which is aligned with the center of the optical disc 18. The central aperture 36 is adapted to snugly receive the turntable of the rotary disc drive mechanism of the reproduction apparatus, hi addition, a head receiving aperture 38, which is generally rectangular, is also formed in lower half 16 for exposing part of the signal recording region of optical disc 18 and allowing a playback head access thereto. The head receiving aperture 38 extends from a position close to the central aperture 36 to the lateral side 24. The head receiving aperture 38 is formed by partly cutting away the lower half 16 from the lateral side 24. The upper and lower halves 14, 16 are substantially transparent. Thus, the optical disc 18 contained in the cartridge main body 12 is visible from the outside of both the upper and lower halves 14, 16 of disc cartridge 10. Accordingly, a user can immediately see at a glance that an optical disc 18 is contained within disc cartridge 10.

[0006] The upper and lower halves 14, 16 have respective peripheral walls 42, 44 that extend respectively downward and upward to form an outer peripheral wall 46 of the cartridge main body 12 when the two halves 14, 16 are aligned and bonded to each other. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the peripheral walls 42, 44 are formed respectively along the outer peripheral edges of the upper and lower halves 14, 16 and are bonded to each other, e.g., by welding, to form outer peripheral wall 46.

[0007] Typically, UMDs are packaged in trays having appropriately shaped receptacles for receiving the UMD cartridges. The UMD cartridges are held in the receptacles by a pair of resilient vertical tabs having protrusions extending from their upper ends into the receptacles above the cartridge. The cartridges are inserted axially into the receptacles, causing the resilient tabs to flex outwardly from their rest positions during insertion and to snap back to their rest positions after the cartridge moves downwardly past the protrusions. With a cartridge in the receptacle, the protrusions overlie the cartridge along its top arc-shaped part 20 and its lower continuously curved part 26. Finger wells are provided adjacent each of the lateral sides 22, 24. Thus, in order to insert a cartridge into or remove a cartridge from a receptacle, the user must grasp the UMD cartridges along their lateral sides 22, 24. In so doing, the fingers are very likely to touch and damage the exposed optical disc 18 through the head receiving aperture 38, which communicates with lateral side 24. Moreover, when grasping lateral sides 22, 24 and pulling upwardly to remove a cartridge from a receptacle, the user must pull upwardly with sufficient force to overcome the holding effect of the overlying protrusions. In so doing, the protrusion overlying the top arc-shaped part 20 of upper half 14 frequently catches on the lower half 16 along its top arc-shaped part, pulling the lower half 16 away from the top half 14 and sometimes damaging the cartridge 10.

[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a tray and package for storing UMD cartridges in which the cartridges can be inserted and removed without subjecting the optical disc to damage by contact through the head receiving aperture. It is another object of the present invention to provide a tray and package for storing UMD cartridges which overcomes the tendency of the upper and lower halves of the cartridge to separate upon removal of a cartridge from a receptacle because the lower half catches on the overhanging protrusion of one of the retainer tabs. Efforts to date directed at such trays and packages suffer from one or more shortcomings which make the resulting packaging unsatisfactory. Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple, inexpensive to manufacture, inexpensive to ship and display package capable of storing one or more UMD cartridges, which is reliable for use over the long term.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the invention, a package is provided, which includes a tray for holding one or more media cartridges. The tray includes a main body portion having one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of the one or more media cartridges. Each receptacle is contoured to substantially follow a contour of the one or more media cartridges, and includes at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, associated with each of the one or more receptacles. The at least one latch is configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge. Optionally, the tray can include first and second opposed latches, the first and second latches being adapted and configured to engage opposite first and second edges of the media cartridge.

[00010] Further in accordance with the invention, a resilient tab can be defined in a bottom wall of at least one of the one or more receptacles for engaging a media disc held within a respective media cartridge. The tab is configured and adapted to urge a media disc within the media cartridge toward an opposite wall of the cartridge to protect an optical surface of the disc from damage. The resilient tab can be defined by a slit, which can be a substantially U-shaped slit, formed in a bottom wall of a receptacle and can include a protrusion at its distal end for contacting a portion of a media disc held with a media cartridge.

[00011] Two or more receptacles can be provided, being configured to receive media cartridges in an overlapping relationship. Each receptacle can include a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall being provided with a stepped contour to define separate receptacles for each media cartridge and to facilitate overlapping of the cartridges. Additionally or alternatively, the bottom wall can be provided with one or more protrusions thereon, each being configured and adapted to closely match a contour of a media cartridge. If desired, the package can include any number of receptacles defined therein. For example, one, two, three, four, five, six or more receptacles can be provided in each tray. Further, depending on the embodiment, a plurality of receptacles can be defined within one or more larger receptacles.

[00012] Any desired cover can be provided in connection with packages in accordance with the invention. For example, a cover can include a hinge portion defining a lid portion thereof, for removably covering the tray. Alternatively or additionally, the cover can include a removable sleeve, for slideable engagement with the tray. Alternatively or additionally still, a tamper-evident overwrap can be applied around the tray, to prevent or inhibit damage to and/or theft of the media cartridges held therein.

[00013] One or more finger wells can be provided to enable grasping of a media cartridge by a user. Such well(s) can be defined along the contour of at least one of the one or more receptacles, along one edge of the receptacle, such as at a point intermediate the first and second latches.

[00014] In accordance with the invention, each latch can be defined by at least one slit provided in the side wall of the tray, which can be a substantially U-shaped slit. The latches can include a pawl extending from an upper end of each of each latch, for engaging an edge of an upper surface of a media cartridge, to inhibit removal of the cartridge from the tray. Alternatively or additionally, the latches can be configured and adapted to frictionally engage opposite sidewall edges of a media cartridge to inhibit removal of the cartridge(s) from the tray. Further, each latch can be provided with an aperture defined therein, configured hi order to pre-select a bending resistance/resiliency of each latch.

[00015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00016] So that those having ordinary skill in the art will better understand how to make and use the trays of the subject invention, embodiments thereof will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[00017] Figure 1 is a top view of a UMD cartridge;

[00018] Figure 2 is a bottom view of a UMD cartridge;

[00019] Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a UMD cartridge;

[00020] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a single receptacle tray for storing a UMD cartridge;

[00021] Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a two receptacle tray for storing UMD cartridges;

[00022] Figure 6 is a top perspective view of multi-receptacle tray constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

[00023] Figure 7 is a top view of the tray of Figure 6;

[00024] Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the tray of Figure 6;

[00025] Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the tray of Figure 6, shown holding three UMD cartridges;

[00026] Figure 10 is a top perspective view of the tray of Figure 6, shown holding two UMD cartridges, with a third UMD cartridge removed from the tray; [00027] Figure 11 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a package of the present invention showing a two receptacle tray as in Figure 5 affixed onto one panel of a book-like package; and

[00028] Figure 12 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a package of the present invention showing a two receptacle tray, which is received into a sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00029] Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 4-12, in which there are shown improved trays and improved packages for housing UMD cartridges, hereinafter referred to as cartridges.

[00030] Figure 4 illustrates a tray, for carrying UMD cartridges, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and designated generally by reference numeral 52. Tray 52 which, in a preferred embodiment, is generally rectangular, elongate and flat and includes an upper planar surface 54 having a recess or receptacle 56 formed therein which is shaped and dimensioned to closely receive therein a cartridge 10, such as cartridge 10 of Figures 1-3. The receptacle defines a cartridge receiving housing which has a peripheral wall 58 extending between a receptacle floor 60 and the upper planar surface 54 of the tray 52. The receptacle peripheral wall 58 includes a single finger well 59 at the top center in a position corresponding to the top arc-shaped part 20 of cartridge 10. In addition, the floor 60 of receptacle 56 includes a generally centrally formed inverted U-shaped slit 62 for defining a tab or arm 64 cantilevered at one end from floor 60. The free end of arm 64 includes a raised circular button 66 thereon which is sized to fit within central aperture 36 of cartridge 10 into contact with the non-recorded region of an optical disc. A button 66 raises optical disc 18 out of contact with the lower half 16 of cartridge 10 to protect the optical disc 18 from damage when cartridge 10 is stored and shipped within tray 52. [00031] In order to positively retain the cartridge in the receptacle 56, opposite side wall resilient latches 68 are formed in peripheral wall 58 at positions corresponding to opposite lateral sides 22, 24 of cartridge 10. Each of the resilient latches has a pawl 70 projecting from the upper edge of the resilient latch peripheral wall segment 72, in a plane generally corresponding to planar surface 54, a short distance into receptacle 56 in order to overlie the top surface of upper half 14 of cartridge 10 when cartridge 10 is supported within receptacle 56. Each of resilient latches 68 comprises a wall segment 72 of the peripheral wall 58, the wall segment 72 being defined by a U-shaped slit 74. The spaced apart legs 74a of U-shaped slit 74 extend through a portion of floor 60, upwardly and vertically through peripheral wall 58 and outwardly a short distance into planar surface 54. The base 74b of the U-shaped slit 74 extends through planar surface 54 parallel to the lateral sides of receptacle 56 to interconnect the free ends of the spaced apart legs 74a of the U-shape to define a resilient latch 68 which is cantilevered from floor 60 of receptacle 56 and free to resiliently flex toward and away from receptacle 56, independent of the remainder of the peripheral wall.

[00032] Cartridge 10 is inserted into receptacle 56 by first placing the continuously curved part 26 of the cartridge, held at an oblique angle to floor 60, into the receptacle 56 adjacent the corresponding shaped lower portion of the receptacle. Cartridge 10 is then pivoted about continuously curved part 26 to insert it into the cartridge. When the lateral sides 22, 24 of cartridge 10 come into contact with pawls 70 of the latches 68, which project from wall segments 72 and into receptacle 56, the downward pressure on pawls 70 causes the wall segments 72 to flex outwardly away from receptacle 56, allowing the cartridge 10 to seat in the appropriately shaped and dimensioned receptacle 56. As the cartridge 10 passes pawls 70, the resilient wall segments return to their rest positions with pawls 70 overlying the top surface of cartridge 10 to maintain it in place in receptacle 56.

[00033] To remove cartridge 10 from receptacle 56, a user simply places a thumb on the continuously curved part 26 of cartridge 10 and a second or third finger into finger well 59, applying pressure to the outside peripheral wall of the arc shaped part 20 of cartridge 10. A slight lifting action applied to the arc shaped part 20 while holding the thumb in place on the continuously curved part 26 causes the cartridge 10 to pivot about the continuously curved part 26. The upward pressure of the lateral walls 22, 24 on the pawls 70 during pivoting causes the wall segments 72 to flex outwardly away from receptacle 56 and out of contact with the top surface of cartridge 10, allowing the cartridge to be easily removed from receptacle 56. At least partly because of the angled removal facilitated by trays in accordance with the invention, the pawls 70 do not catch on the lower half 16 of cartridge 10 during removal, as with prior art devices. Furthermore, the optical disc 18 is rarely, if ever accidentally touched by the user during removal, since the head receiving aperture 38, which exposes the optical disc 18, is not near the user's hand during insertion or removal.

[00034] As can be seen from Figure 5 tray 52 may contain two receptacles 56 for receiving and storing two cartridges. Each of the receptacles is identical and corresponds to the receptacle 56 described hereinabove in connection with Figure 4.

[00035] Figures 6-10 illustrate various views of a further embodiment of a tray 92, in accordance with the invention. The tray 92 includes a plurality of receptacles or receptacles 96 for receiving UMD cartridges. The receptacles 96 are configured such that the UMD cartridges are received and held therein in an overlapping relationship. Such arrangement enables receipt of more than two UMD cartridges without substantially affecting the overall size of the tray 92, or the package as a whole.

[00036] Referring to Figure 6, the package comprises a substantially planar tray 92 which, is typically substantially rectangular and flat, although the tray 92 and other trays set forth herein can be of any desired shape. The tray 92 includes an upper planar surface 92a having a plurality of receptacles or recesses 96 formed therein, which are contoured to closely receive a plurality cartridges 10. The receptacles 96, together define a larger cartridge receiving housing which has a peripheral wall 95 extending between a floor 93 and the upper planar surface 92a of the tray 92. The receptacle peripheral wall 95 includes a single finger well 59 at the top center in a position corresponding to the top arc-shaped part 20 of cartridge 10. In addition, the floor 93 of each receptacle or receptacle 96 includes a centrally arranged generally U-shaped slit 62 for defining a tab or arm 64 cantilevered at one end from the floor 93 of each receptacle 96. The free end of arm 64 includes a raised circular button 66 thereon which is sized to fit within central aperture 36 of cartridge 10 to contact a non-recorded region of optical disc 18. A button 66 raises the optical surface of the optical disc 18 out of contact with the lower wall of the lower half 16 of cartridge 10 to protect the optical disc 18 from damage when cartridge 10 is stored and/or shipped within tray 52.

[00037] The latching mechanism 98 of the tray 92 of Figures 6-10 can be identical to that described above in connection with Figures 4-5, or can be different therefrom. As illustrated, a resilient latch 98 is provided in the peripheral wall 95 at positions in each receptacle 96 corresponding to opposite lateral sides 22, 24 of each cartridge 10. Each of the resilient latches 98 has a pawl 70 projecting from the upper edge thereof, adjacent a peripheral wall segment 95a, so as to overlie a top surface of the upper half 14 of cartridge 10. Each of resilient latches 98 includes a wall segment 95a of the peripheral wall 95, the wall segment 95 a being defined by a generally U-shaped slit 94. The spaced apart legs 94a of U-shaped slit 94 extend through a portion of floor 93, upwardly and vertically through peripheral wall 95 and outwardly a short distance into planar surface 92a. The base 94b of the U-shaped slit 94 extends through planar surface 92a, parallel to the lateral sides of receptacles 96 to interconnect the free ends of the spaced apart legs 94a, thereby defining a resilient latch 98. That is, the latch 98 is cantilevered from floor 93 of respective receptacles 96, and is therefore free to resiliently flex toward and away from the receptacle 96, independent of the remainder of the peripheral wall 95. As illustrated, an aperture 91 can be provided in the latch 98 in order to tailor the flexibility of the latch.

[00038] Alternatively, the latches 98, as well as the latches 68, can be configured so as to frictionally engage edges of UMD cartridges, hi addition to or instead of being provided with a pawl 97. In such embodiments, the latches can be formed with an inwardly-directed bias. Therefore, when a UMD cartridge is inserted into a receptacle 96, the latches 98 are urged outwardly, with the inward bias thereof exerting a force upon edges of the UMD cartridge to frictionally engage the cartridge. If desired, a material having a high coefficient of friction, with respect to the surface of UMD cartridges can be provided on a surface of the latches 98.

[00039] As illustrated in, for example, Figure 6, UMD cartridges are held within the tray 92 in an overlapping relationship. Depending on the precise positioning of the receptacles 96 with respect to one another, the UMD cartridges can nevertheless be individually removable. That is, to remove or insert a UMD cartridge from the lowermost receptacle 96a, a user need not remove cartridges in the other two receptacles 96b, 96c. Naturally, if the extent of overlap of the receptacles 96 and cartridges is significant, a user would have to remove the overlying cartridges to access the lower cartridges.

[00040] As best seen in Figure 7 and in the bottom view of Figure 8, the floor 93 of the tray 92 is angled, with respect to the upper surface 92a and is provided with steps 99, defining end walls of the two lower receptacles 96a, 96b. Also as can be seen, vertical walls 108 are formed on the lower side of the tray 92 at the steps 99. The uppermost receptacle 96c end wall is defined by the peripheral wall. The stepped configuration also allows the cartridges to be individually accessible and viewable, while saving space.

[00041] The peripheral wall 95, defines sidewalls of each receptacle 96, and bottom wall of a topmost receptacle 96c and top of bottommost receptacle 96a. However, a protrusions 97 are formed thereon to closely follow the contour of the UMD cartridges to be held therein. This enables secure transport and storage for the cartridges, while also allowing the benefits of compact storage, by holding multiple UMD cartridges in a single tray. As best seen in Figure 7, the protrusions are contoured so as to securely engage an arc-shaped top edge 20 of one UMD cartridge and a continuously curved lower edge 26 of an adjacent UMD cartridge.

[00042] Cartridge 10 is inserted into receptacle 96 by first placing the continuously curved part 26 of the cartridge, held at an oblique angle to floor 60, into the receptacle 96 adjacent the corresponding shaped lower portion of the receptacle. Cartridge 10 is then pivoted about continuously curved part 26 to insert it into the cartridge. When the lateral sides 22, 24 of cartridge 10 come into contact with pawls 90 of the latches 98, which project from wall segments 95a and into receptacle 96, the downward pressure on pawls 70 causes the wall segments 95 a to flex outwardly away from receptacle 96, allowing the cartridge 10 to seat in the receptacle 96. As the cartridge 10 passes pawls 90, the resilient wall segments return to their rest positions with pawls 90 overlying the top surface of cartridge 10 to maintain it in place in receptacle 96.

[00043] To remove cartridge 10 from receptacle 96, a user simply places a thumb on the continuously curved part 26 of cartridge 10 and a second or third finger along the arc- shaped portion 20 of the cartridge 10, applying pressure to the outside peripheral wall of the arc shaped portion 20. A slight lifting action applied to the arc shaped part 20 while holding the thumb in place on the continuously curved part 26 causes the cartridge 10 to pivot about the continuously curved part 26. The upward pressure of the lateral walls 22, 24 of the cartridge 10 on the pawls 90, during pivoting, causes the wall segments 95a to flex outwardly away from receptacle 96 and out of contact with the top surface of cartridge 10, allowing the cartridge to be easily removed from the receptacle 96.

[00044] At least partly because of the angled removal facilitated by trays in accordance with the invention, the pawls 90 do not catch on the lower half 16 of cartridge 10 during removal. Furthermore, the optical disc 18 is rarely, if ever, accidentally touched by the user during removal since the head receiving aperture 38, which exposes the optical disc 18, is not near the user's hand during insertion or removal. [00045] As can be seen in Figure 8, standoffs 107 can be provided to enable attachment of the tray 92, or tray 52 of Figures 4-5, to other components of a package, such as a cover or rigidifying backing.

[00046] Figure 9 illustrates the tray 92, with three UMD cartridges 10 inserted therein.

[00047] Figure 10 illustrates the tray 92, with two UMD cartridges 10 inserted therein, with a third being illustrated in an angled orientation with respect to the tray 92, prior to insertion therein. The uppermost receptacle 96c can be seen, as well as the manner in which a UMD is held at its bottom edge by the middle receptacle 96b.

[00048] Packaging for UMD cartridges can take any known form which includes a tray 52 for storing the cartridges. For example, with reference to Figure 11, the package can take the form of a book-like package 100 in which tray 52 is bonded, preferably adhesively, to one inner panel of the book. In this embodiment it is desirable to lock the cartridges in tray 52 during storage and handling when the book-like package is closed. As can be seen, with tray 52 bonded to inner base panel 102, cover mounted features are provided which project from inner cover panel 104 into receptacles 56 proximate the upper surface of cartridges 10. These cover mounted features may be one or more ribs, dots or other features which are positioned and oriented to project from inner cover panel 104 and abut or proximately abut the upper surface of cartridges 10 in receptacles 56. In Figure 11, the cover mounted features are pads 106 shaped and dimensioned to approximate the shape and dimensions of receptacles 56 and to project into receptacles 56. In book-like packages containing multiple trays 52 with each tray 52 bonded to a separate page of the book, the aforementioned cover mounted features also project from the underside of each tray to serve as locking features for cartridges 10 in receptacles 56 on trays 52 on pages other than the cover-facing page of the book.

[00049] In another form of the package, as shown in Figure 12, a tray 52 may be inserted into a generally rectangular sleeve package 200. The sleeve may be open along opposite lateral sides for receiving and removing tray 52. Alternatively, the sleeve may be closed along one of the lateral sides and open along the other.

[00050] While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that no limitations are intended thereby to the details of construction or design, the present invention contemplating and including any novel feature or novel combination of features which are herein disclosed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tray for holding one or more media cartridges, the tray comprising:

a main body portion having one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle being contoured to substantially follow a contour of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle including at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, and configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge.

2. The tray of claim 1, comprising first and second opposed latches, the first and second latches being adapted and configured to engage opposite first and second edges of the media cartridge.

3. The tray of claim 2, wherein the first and second latches are configured and adapted to frictionally engage opposite sidewall edges of a media cartridge to inhibit removal of the media cartridge from the tray.

4. The tray of claim 2, further comprising a finger well to enable grasping of a media cartridge by a user, the well being defined along the contour of at least one of the one or more receptacles, at a point intermediate the first and second latches.

5. The tray of claim 2, wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall substantially following a contour of a media cartridge to be held therein.

6. The tray of claim 5, wherein the first and second latches are defined in the sidewall of the receptacle, at positions substantially opposite one another.

7. The tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch is configured and adapted to frictionally engage a sidewall edges of the media cartridge to inhibit removal of the cartridge from the tray.

8. The tray of claim 1, wherein the tray includes two or more receptacles configured and adapted to receive two or more media cartridges in an overlapping relationship.

9. The tray of claim 8, wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall being provided with a stepped contour, to define separate receptacles for each media cartridge and to facilitate overlapping of the cartridges.

10. The tray of claim 8, wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall being provided with one or more protrusions configured and adapted to closely match a contour of a media cartridge.

11. The tray of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more receptacles is defined within a larger receptacle of the main body portion.

12. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a cover secured thereto, the cover including a hinge defining a lid portion thereof, for removably covering the tray.

13. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a removable sleeve, for slideable engagement with the tray, the sleeve being configured and adapted to protect contents of the tray.

14. The tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch is defined by at least one slit provided in the sidewall of the tray.

15. The tray of claim 14, wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit.

16. The tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch includes a pawl extending from an upper end of each of the latch, for engaging an edge of an upper surface of a media cartridge, to inhibit removal of the cartridge from the tray.

17. The tray of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch is provided with an aperture defined therein, configured to pre-select a bending resistance of the latch.

-π-

18. The tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more protrusions defined along a sidewall of the receptacle to closely follow a contour of a media cartridge to be held therein.

19. The tray of claim 1, further comprising a resilient tab defined in a bottom wall thereof for engaging a media disc held within a respective media cartridge, for urging the media disc toward an opposite wall of the cartridge to protect an optical surface of the media disc from damage.

20. The tray of claim 19, wherein the resilient tab is defined by a slit formed in a bottom wall of a receptacle and includes a protrusion at its distal end for contacting a portion of a media disc held with a media cartridge.

21. The tray of claim 20, wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit.

22. A tray for holding one or more media cartridges, the tray comprising:

a main body portion having one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle being contoured to substantially follow a contour of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle including:

at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, and configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge; and a resilient tab defined in a bottom wall thereof for engaging a media disc held within a respective media cartridge, for urging the media disc toward an opposite wall of the cartridge to protect an optical surface of the media disc from damage.

23. The tray of claim 22, wherein the resilient tab is defined by a slit formed in a bottom wall of a receptacle and includes a protrusion at its distal end for contacting a portion of a media disc held with a media cartridge.

24. The tray of claim 23, wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit.