Media storage container

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

0001The present invention generally relates to media storage containers and, more particularly, to media storage containers having latches that are used to keep the lid and base together in the closed position until the latch is moved to an unlatched position.

2. Background Information

0002A variety of latches have been used with media storage containers to hold the container lid closed with respect to the container base. Drawbacks with existing containers include the need to close the latches when the containers are shipped. Closed latches must be unlatched before the containers are loaded with media. When latches are left opened for shipment, extra room must be provided in the shipping containers. Another drawback is that consumers must tear some latches from the containers once the containers have been purchased. If the consumer wishes to retain the latches and use them from time to time, the latches are otherwise hanging outwardly from the container when not being used. A media storage container having a latch that may be moved to a storage position is thus desired in the media packaging art.

0003<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US2003075463A1"><text>US 2003/075463 A1</text></patcit> reflecting the preamble of claim 1, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2003146119A1"><text>US 2003/146119 A1</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5931291A"><text>US-A-5931291</text></patcit> describe media storage containers in which a hinged latch is movable from a latched position in which a lid cannot be opened to an unlatched position in which it can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004The invention provides a media storage container according to claim 1, a method of packaging recorded media according to claim 12 and a method of opening a container according to claim 13.

0005The different elements of the exemplary configurations described herein may be used alone or in combination with each other to form additional configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0006<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view of the front of a first configuration of a media storage container having an external latch.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a top view of the latch of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> with the top wall of the lid removed to show the latch.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> is a view similar to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> showing a force applied to the latch to move the latch to the unlatched position.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> is a top view of the latch of <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> with the top wall of the lid removed to show the latch.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 5</figref> is a perspective view of the front of a second configuration of a media storage container having an external latch showing the latch in an internal position.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref> is a section view showing the latch disposed internal to the container.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 7</figref> is a perspective view similar to <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 5</figref> showing the latch in the latched position.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 8</figref> is a section view of the latch of <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 7</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 9</figref> is a perspective view showing a user moving the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 14</figref> is a perspective view of the front of a third configuration of a media storage container having an external latch showing the latch in an unlatched position.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 15</figref> is a section view of the latch of <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 14</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 16</figref> is a view similar to <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 14</figref> showing the latch in its latched position.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 17</figref> is a section view of the latch of <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 16</figref>.</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Fig. 22</figref> is a schematic view of an open container having features common to the configurations of the application.</li></ul>

0007The features of these configurations may be used alone or in combination with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0008Common reference numerals are used in the following descriptions of the different configurations of the media storage container for similar parts of the containers. <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 22</figref> depicts the common container features. In general, the following container configurations have a base 2 and a lid 4. The lid and base may also be referred to as a container portions. These portions are movable relative to one another between open and closed positions. The open position provides access to the item stored within the container while the closed position inhibits such access. When the portions are closed, the container has an outer periphery that is defined as the outer boundaries of the container. This outer boundary - and thus the outer periphery - extends across openings and indentations defined by a container surface. The outer boundaries are the outermost surfaces of the container portions. Although the portions are typically hinged together to form a clamshell arrangement, some containers utilize a sliding configuration while others allow the portions to become completely separated when in the open position.

0009One, or both, of base 2 and lid 4 includes a media retainer 6 adapted to retain an item of recorded media. Retainer 6 may be a hub such as those known in the art for holding CDs and DVDs. The hub may be a push button-type hub or a fixed position hub. Retainer 6 also may be a disc retainer or cartridge retainer that holds the outer edges of a media cartridge. Retainer 6 also may be a pocket that allows at least a portion of the item of recorded media to be slipped into the pocket. Base 2 and lid 4 may further include a second retainer 6 that may or may not be different than the first retainer 6. One of base 2 and lid 4 may also include literature booklet retainers 8. When retainer 6 is configured to hold a media disc (such as a CD or a DVD), a nest wall 10 may be disposed around retainer 6.

0010Base 2 generally includes a bottom wall 12 sized to cover the item of recorded media to be held by the media storage container. A peripheral wall including sidewalls and a front wall projects upwardly from the outer peripheral edge or near the outer peripheral edge of bottom wall 12. Sidewalls 14 project upwardly from opposite lateral edges of bottom wall 12. Sidewalls 14 are generally disposed perpendicular to bottom wall 12. Base 2 also includes a front wall 16 that generally extends perpendicular to sidewalls 14 and to bottom wall 12. Front wall 16 may be integrally connected to sidewalls 14 at the corners of base 2. In containers having bottom walls 12 that end at sidewalls 14 and front wall 16, the outermost surfaces of sidewalls 14 and front wall 16 define a portion of the outer periphery of the container. When bottom wall 12 extends beyond the outer surface of front wall 16 to form a ledge, the outer periphery of the container is defined by the outermost edge of bottom wall 12.

0011Inner lid retainers 18 are typically disposed adjacent front wall 16 for holding lid 4 closed as is know in the art. Retainers 18 also may be positioned adjacent sidewalls 14 or inwardly from either sidewalls 14 or front wall 16. Retainers 18 frictionally hold or hold with a snap-fit a foot portion 20 of lid 4 to prevent lid 4 from undesirably swinging open. Foot portions 20 may be enlarged to snap fit into retainers 18. Retainers 18 may be disposed on lid 4 with foot portions 20 being disposed on base 2.

0012Base 2 may also include a hinge wall 24 that is connected to bottom wall 12 with a first hinge 26 such as a living hinge. Hinge wall 24 may be connected to lid 4 with a second hinge 28 such as a second living hinge 28 spaced from and disposed parallel to the first living hinge 26. Second living hinge 28 may be connected to a top wall 30 of lid 4. The outermost surface of hinge wall 24 defines a portion of the outer periphery of the container when base 2 and lid 4 do not extend beyond hinge wall 24.

0013Sidewalls 32 project outwardly from opposite lateral edges of top wall 30. Sidewalls 32 are disposed perpendicular to top wall 30. Lid 4 also includes a front wall 34 that is perpendicular to sidewalls 32 and to top wall 30. Front wall 34 is integrally connected to sidewalls 32 at the corners of lid 4. In containers having top walls 20 that end at sidewalls 32 and front wall 34, the outermost surfaces of sidewalls 32 and front wall 34 define a portion of the outer periphery of the container. Front walls 34 and 16 may define an inset or concave central portion 40 the surfaces that define inset 40 is not a portion of the outer periphery of the container.

0014Each of the following configurations includes a latch 50 that is movable between an unlatched position (allowing lid 4 to be opened and closed with respect to base 2) to a latched position (wherein lid 4 is held in its closed position). In a first embodiment of each configuration, latch 50 may be moved from the latched position to the unlatched position without the need for a specially designed key. Each latch 50 is connected to one of base 2 and lid 4. In the exemplary configurations, latches 50 are connected to bases 2. Latches 50 also may be connected to lids 4 with the appropriate elements reversed on container. Unless otherwise specified, the invention functions in a similar manner regardless to which container portion (base or lid) latch 50 is connected. In the exemplary embodiments, each latch 50 is connected to the container with a hinge 52 that allows latch 50 to pivot about hinge 52 between the unlatched and latched positions. Latch 50 and hinge 52 may be configured to place latch 50 inside the outer periphery of the container, flush with the outer periphery of the container, or outside the outer periphery of the container. Hinge 52 optionally may be configured to allow the user to easily tear latch 50 away from container without undue effort or cutting tools. Each latch 50 includes at least one latching finger 54 that engages the container to hold latch 50 in the latched position. Latching finger 54 may be disposed through an opening 56 or may engage a ledge 56 to engage the container with a snap fit.

0015The first configuration of the media storage container is indicated generally by the numeral 100 in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">Figs 1-4</figref>. Container 100 includes at least one latch 50 that holds lid 4 closed to base 2 when latch 50 is in the latched position shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figs. 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">2</figref>. In container 100, latch 50 is disposed adjacent the corner of the container. Hinge 52 is disposed perpendicular to living hinges 26 and 28 and is vertical when the container is disposed flat on bottom wall 12 (disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the front wall of container 100). Latch 50 may be disposed flush with or inwardly of the outermost portions of front walls 16 and 34. In order to allow the user to grasp a portion of latch 50, a pivot bar 102 extends outwardly from one of, or both, front walls 16 and 34 to allow an outer end potion 104 of latch 50 to be pivoted outwardly when the user pushes on latch 50 between bar 102 and hinge 52 as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref>. This latch may be moved to a storage position inside the storage chamber of the container by opening lid 4, pivoting latch 50 inside container 100, and then closing lid 4. When a storage position for latch 50 is desired, an opening for latch 50 is provided in front wall 34 of lid 4 near hinge 52 to allow lid 4 to close over latch 50.

0016The second configuration of the media storage container is indicated generally by the numeral 200 in <figref idref="f0003 f0004 f0005">Figs. 5-9</figref>. Container 200 includes at least one latch 50 that holds lid 4 closed with respect to base 2 when latch 50 is in the latched position shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figs. 7</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">8</figref>. In container 200, latch 50 may be moved to a storage position where latch 50 is disposed inwardly of the outer periphery of the container as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figs. 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">6</figref>. The storage position of latch 50 may be completely within the storage chamber 202 of the container or may cross one of front walls 16 and 34 to be partially disposed within chamber 202.

0017A bottom opening 204 allows latch 50 to be molded in the storage position as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figs. 5</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">6</figref>. When latch 50 is needed, latch 50 may be pivoted out through a gap 206 defined by front wall 16 to an unlatched position. Lid 4 then may be closed causing a blocking wall 208 portion (that may define openings 56) of front wall 34 to fill a substantial portion of gap 206. In this position, wall 208 may engage latch 50. Latch 50 then may be moved to the latched position causing fingers 54 to snap into openings 56. Support walls 210 may extend inwardly on the sides of gap 206 to stiffen the container around latch 50 and to prevent latch 50 from catching on the inner surface of front wall 16 when latch 50 is pivoted from the storage position to the unlatched position. Latch 50 may define a finger detent 212 to allow the user to grasp latch 50 to pull it from the latched position to the unlatched position. A protrusion 214 may extend from blocking wall 208 to engage a recess defined by latch 50 to stiffen the container when lid 4 is closed and latch 50 is latched or unlatched. Another protrusion 216 may extend from latch 50 to engage a recess to stiffen the container when lid 4 is closed and latch 50 is latched or unlatched:

0018This configuration of the container allows latch 50 to be molded in the storage position if desired. Container may be closed for shipping without creating a container profile that is larger than a standard container. Retainers 18 and 20 may be used to keep lid 4 closed to base 2. The containers are shipped to a replicator where the container may be run through standard automation processes that place the item of recorded media in the container. Once the item of recorded media is loaded into container, latch 50 is moved to the unlatched position, the lid is closed, and the latch is moved to the latched position. The loaded container then may be wrapped and delivered to a retail facility. When the customer purchases the container, the customer moves latch 50 from the latched position to the unlatched position, opens lid 4, and pivots latch 50 back to its storage position. The customer then may use the container just as a typical storage container would be used. In the alternative, the customer may remove latch 50 by tearing hinge 52. Another alternative is to move latch 50 from the storage position to the unlatched position before the container is run through the automated media loading process. Lid 50 may be closed automatically and latches 50 may be latched automatically by the automated equipment.

0019The third configuration of the media storage container is indicated generally by the numeral 500 in <figref idref="f0006 f0007">Figs. 14-17</figref>. Container 500 includes at least one outer latch 50 that holds lid 4 closed to base 2 when latch 50 is in the latched position shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figs. 16 and 17</figref>. This configuration allows latch 50 to be disposed in a storage position that is inside the outer periphery of the container but not within the storage chamber of the container because latch 50 remains disposed outwardly of front walls 16 and 34 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Figs 14</figref> and <figref idref="f0007">15</figref>. A detent 502 holds latch 50 in the storage position.

0020The concepts of the different configurations may be interchanged with each other to provide further container configurations.