Protective covering for a discoid record carrier.

The invention relates to an enclosure for a record specified in the preamble of claim 1 is known.

Such envelope is for example known from DE-B-32 15 378th

The known envelope consists of at least two adjoining one another, in particular square, side walls are made with edge lengths, which are larger than the diameter of the disc and made of paper, cardboard, non-woven fabric, plastic or the like, one of which is designed as a support plate. In this relief-like elevations are provided which support the disc in the radial direction. These consist of a printed or foamed plastic.

Further, it is known from DE-GM 66 06 413, to produce such a relief-like elevations by annular indentations.

Furthermore, from DE-A-33 01 644 a plastic clamshell box known which also comprises such surveys in the edge region and in the central area, thus protecting the plate against lateral slipping. A similar design - in turn made of cardboard - is also known from DE-A-31 20 754, where a foam pad is provided with a hole as recess for receiving the recording medium.

In the known cassettes of cardboard there is a disadvantage that the recording medium slides out by opening of the receiving opening of the envelope and falls out. In a plastic version from falling out is a correspondingly massive version of the cartridge with a center piece that holds the recording medium clamped in its central hole prevented.

Such an embodiment is, however, expensive to manufacture and requires a relatively large material costs. If the knobs or projections for securing the recording medium in the radial Richung, consist of a further applied to the substrate material such as plastics, in particular foam, the production of the envelope more expensive due to the additional material costs. If the limitations attached only by embossing in the form of knobs or the like, so they are relatively ineffective because they are chamfered in the radial direction of movement of the recording medium and therefore can be overcome by this relatively easy.

The invention is based on the object, a - to provide records enclosure, which can be produced from a single sheet-like material, and in which the recording medium is reliably in the extended position of the cover on the one hand to prevent removal, on the other hand - hinged particular in the manner of a book cover presents itself in a position where it can be securely gripped by the user and easily taken out for use.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

A particular advantage of the invention is the fact that the protective casing of the invention can be produced in one operation by one for conventional packaging materials (folding cartons, envelopes and the like) suitable manufacturing apparatus, so as to provide a low-cost manufacturing. The record carrier rests in a recess which is limited by the corresponding recessed bonded to the base outer cover surface parts. An inner surface of the outer cover parts separated residual top surface part is connected to the former by means of webs and forms a pocket for the recording medium, so that it is held in the recess. The rest of the deck area (residual area), it is simultaneously produced by separating cuts with the with the outer cover surface parts connecting them webs, and as part of the laminated onto the base surface in the rest of the top surface, ie it is, in contrast to the surrounding of the circular disc-shaped record carrier area not with the base surface connected.

The recording medium can be inserted in one formed with the remaining deck area "bag", which is kept as flexible by the narrow webs the rest area that it extends at a distance to the base, corresponding to the thickness of the recording medium. The width of the webs is such that they are on the one hand flexible enough to yield to accommodate the recording medium in the manner described, on the other hand hold the remaining top surface sufficiently secure in use. An area of ​​at least 180 ° of the circumference of the recording medium is free of ridges, so that it can be inserted into the pocket area formed without difficulty.

The base can now turn verbun directly with other bases for receiving recording media to be or can be closed by a flexible seam with a cover, which substantially coincides with the dimensions of the base and the recording medium by closing the lid completely closes and against external influences secures. The inventive solution can be used in various embodiments. So can also buy several base areas for other recording media connected via grooves separated each other so that it is possible by stacking flaps of areas form Cases for multiple recording media.

Likewise also base areas for individual record carrier can be bound like a book, so that they form a scrapbook for a larger number of such recording medium. In this case, an area used as a basis for ankaschierte on both sides of deck areas for receiving two recording media.

In preferred embodiments of residual surface is substantially semicircular and thus forms a kind of "pocket", which also is used for recording of information texts, instructions and the like. Suitable. The residual area is connected to three or four ridges with the rest of the cover surface. Characterized in that the material of the top surface is at least formed in the reinforced region of the webs by a layer of material of high tensile strength, a practically any load requirements regarding the frequency of use can generate respective embodiments. A simple production is assured when the material layers are made of cardboard and glued together in fields outside the circular edge - and in particular, consist of recesses and slots of a layer of material of constant thickness.

In particular, almost any configuration for storing different numbers of recording media can be produced. As the base for receiving two or more recording media are preferably provided side by side in a plane and / or in each case formed laterally adjacent and contiguously connected to each other by a fold or some other hinge-like connection the base surfaces for receiving at least a recording medium. At least two coverage areas the size of a base are preferably connected together by a fold or other hinge-like connection. The coverage area with an attached brochure or an insertion pocket or a base may be provided on both sides with a top surface for receiving one recording medium. A plurality of cases be bound into a book.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims and described in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to FIGS. Show it:<ul><li>Figure l shows a first embodiment of the invention for receiving a recording medium in the folded state, </li><li>Figure 2 shows the same embodiment of laminating in the folded state,</li><li>Figure 3 shows another embodiment in the folded state,</li><li>Figure 4 further embodiment from sticking together,</li><li>Figure 5 shows another embodiment in a perspective view and</li><li>Figures 6 to 12 show various embodiments for accommodating one or more recording media.</li></ul>

When executing a protective sheath of the invention shown in Figure 1 a record carrier l (in particular a compact disc - CD) on a base, which is connected via grooves 2 and 3 with two side-mounted flexible folding coverage areas 4 and 5, respectively.

The round hinged cover faces 4 and 5 serve to receive advertising printing or explanations or to expand existing on the recording medium corresponding presentation screens. The record carrier l is on a - against edge 7 forms which limit a - in the drawing - not visible footprint within a laminated onto the base top surface 6, which is punched out along the circular outer edge of the recording medium, so that a - likewise circular a displacement of the record carrier in the radial direction forms. This edge is interrupted by bridge-like regions 8, 9 and 10 which hold 11 is connected with the surrounding of the record carrier l region 6 of the deck surface of a remaining deck area (residual area). The bridge-like regions are divided on the basis of the circular edge 7 by radially extending sections of the remaining portion 6 of the cover surface.

The remaining portion of the top surface 11 is not glued to the base, so as to form a pocket for receiving the recording medium 1 and can be removed for this purpose by the (not visible) base. The remaining top surface 11 covers in the illustrated embodiment, just half of the recording medium 1 so that mounted on the surface of labels can be read even in substantial part. Optionally, the top surface 11 can be also be made from a transparent plastic, so that the recording medium will remain fully visible.

In Figure 2, the enclosure shown in Figure 1 is shown prior to assembly. Here, the base is 12 visible because the top surface 6 is not folded down to this and is glued to the adhesive areas 13 to 16 with this. The bonding of the hatched regions 13 to 16 with the base 12 forms after producing the aussparenden slots in the top surface 6 of the single operation for producing the complete cladding, if it is assumed that this has previously been completely printed, folded and cut. The base 12 is hinged to the top surface 6 by means of a fold 2a. Base areas and deck areas are preferably also associated with the to be described below embodiments of cases for receiving several record carrier by folding in that each base at a free edge each have a top surface is adjacent.

While the top surface 6 is divided diagonally with respect to the base surface of the receiving region for the recording medium in Figure 2, the remaining region 11, in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the horizontal pitch is provided centrally. The wrapping is carried out a total of slightly smaller and is used for recording a so-called "mini-CD". Since the execution in the remaining matches, the description was made with the corresponding reference numerals, each with an additional prime ( ') provided.

5 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 In the area of ​​the covering 4 a brochure is glued 17, which has substantially the dimensions of the base, so that explanation of the contents of the recording medium 1, if necessary, may also be held in more detail. For a booklet or the like may preferably be an insertion pocket on the inside of the cover faces to be 4 or 5 is provided (in the drawing not shown).

The remaining cover part 11 has a recess 18 which is in the opposite direction provided for the removal of the recording medium 1 at the earliest area. In this area the base surface is visible, and an edge 19, which forms the boundary of the lid part. Here, the recording medium 1 with the thumb can be achieved and in withdrawal direction (arrow 20) is advanced so that it overcomes the its way limiting edge of the top surface 6 in the removal direction 20 and then by pushing with the thumb in the direction 20 within the exposed area the recording medium 1 can fully bring out from its rest position easily. This handling is assured that the (underlying) recording side of the recording medium does not have to be touched with the fingers. Since the envelope preferably made of cardboard (especially bristol) which is 6 connected no threat to the recording with the displacement movement between record carrier and under the remaining deck area. The remaining top surface 11 is maintained at 21 to 24 bars. The arrangement of the connecting webs and the surface of the recording medium in its rest position traversing edge 25 of the remaining top surface 11 can be designed according to different taste or design requirements in many variations.

It can be seen that it is possible to create a simple to produce, but representative packaging for a disk-shaped recording medium by means of the invention, which constitutes all the possibilities for inclusion of additional text or images. The various be provided folding top surfaces of the envelope increase the value of the impression so packaged recording medium.

In Figures 6 to 9 show various arrangements are provided, wherein the fold around to form the cover surface on the respective base surface for receiving the recording medium facing surfaces are shown in dotted lines.

After the embodiment of FIG 6 multiple recording medium may be arranged next to each other, while according to Figure 7 - are "superimposed" arranged - with respect to the plan view. In the embodiment of Figure 6, first the outer additional deck areas are folded and then folded the remaining open parts to each other. The same applies to the embodiment according to FIG 7. The deck areas are separated before around valves respectively by a fold positioned at the floor space, so that in the production of all the bottom, top and cover faces punched in one operation side by side and then folded and optionally bonded can be.

In Figure 8 several recording medium mounted on a base area side by side with the various measures provided for receiving the recording medium pieces of the base are not separated by folds.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the top surface 6 is divided into two areas, wherein the provided with the remaining top surface part is laminated onto the base, while the further the moving direction of the recording medium in the removal direction limiting member is adhered to a covering surface. If the right in the drawing cover is closed, the recording medium is secured against inadvertent sliding out while can be pushed out in the fully open position of the envelope of the recording medium in the removal direction without hindrance. The further cover secures the recording medium in addition, since it presses the first-mentioned cover member onto the recording medium and therefore the recording medium presses the blocking in the direction of removal edge against the forward run at removing edge of the recording medium.

In the illustrated embodiments, a removal of the recording medium is facilitated by the envelope in his hand can be slightly domed also, so can that take the recording medium easily and pull it out by making the sheath of flexible cardboard.

Accordingly, it can be low even after playing again lead into the enclosure. If necessary, the recording medium can be performed in the envelope to the vicinity of the insertion opening of a playback device, wherein the at transverse edge of the remaining deck area 11 according to figure 3 with the thumb by a recess in the rest of the cover surface corresponding to the recess 18 in Figure 5 to its resting position can be taken out and so passes readily into the feed opening.

The embodiments shown in Figures 10 to 12 in yet glued state, in particular posted for the manufacturing effort in the printing or other surface finishing of the wrapper optimized. In the illustrated embodiments which are provided with the hatched Leimflächern fields around folded to separate each by a simple fold likewise again. All of the embodiments are suitable for all types of disc-shaped registration carriers, in particular CDs and mini-CDs. All bases are designated A, cover surfaces with B, covering surfaces with C and around hinged on Andeckflächen cover surfaces with D. The possible imprinting is effected in each case from the rear of the drawing plane.

In the embodiment of Figure 10, the distribution is selected so that when the bonded embodiment the insertion of adjacent recording medium accommodating portions are alternately located at eineinander opposite cover surfaces, so that the successive unfolding of the (spiral wound) closed position of the respective next recording medium again in is the same access area can be removed. In any accordion-like folding a recording medium is the "Browse", for example, each right, while the left adjacent field contains the associated printed explanation or illustration. After turning the device applies the Corresponding. The embodiment shown in FIG 10 provides an example of just the opportunity to receive two recording medium and a cover which is provided with a herumzuklappenden white space. Of particular importance is in this group of embodiments, that the printing or otherwise finishing the outer surface (in particular by coating) need only take place in each case on one side.

The version shown in Figure 11 corresponds to that shown in FIG 10, wherein only a single recording medium can be recorded. Again, the coverage area for double-sided printing is suitable.

In the illustration shown in FIG 12 remains in unilateral printing after bonding a simple, one-sided printed folding lid to cover present in the casing recording medium, since only remains a simple coverage area. Here the material requirement is a minimum.

The measures provided for in the last three embodiments recesses 30 allow an easier detection of the recording medium for extracting from the envelope.

The invention is not limited in its embodiment to the above-described preferred embodiment. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the described solution even for basically different configurations.