Apparatus for holding a compact disk.

PCT

WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION International Burcau

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Cbnalttcatlon 6 (11) International Publlcatlon Nnmber:

WO 96/14636

G11B 04/33

At (43) Interaattonaí Publlcation Date:

May 1996 (17.05.96) (21) International Application Number: PCT / GB95 / 02581 (22) Interaattonaí Ftllng Date: 3 November 1995 (03.11.95) (30) Priority Dita:

9422190.0 3 November 1994 (03.11.94) GB (71) Appüeant (for aií deiignated States except US) ·. THE DUBOIS

PLC [GB / GB]; 3/4 Great Mariborough Street, London W1V 3AR (GB).

(72) Inventor; and (75) Inventon / Applkanta (for US onfy): PUANOWSKI, Stefan, Alexander [GB / GB]; 24 Clifton Drive, Oundle, Northants PE8 4EP (GB). PHASER, Anthony, Henry, Joteph [GB / GB); 4 Wilmington Home, Hlghbury Creacent, London N5 1RU (GB). FARRAR, Peter, Antony (GB / GB]; Glenelg House, Gladstone Road, Rawdon, Leeda LS19 6HZ (GB).

(74) Agent: SG UNWIN & CO .; Brookfurlong Famhome, Islip, Oxford OX5 2TJ (GB).

(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AT (UtUity model), AU, BB. BG, BR. BY, CA, CH, CN, CZ. CZ (UtUity model), DE. DE (Utility model), DK, DK (UtUity model). EE, EE (Utility model). IS. FI. F1 (Utility model). GB. GE. HU. IS. JP. KE. KG, KP, KR, KZ, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SK (Utility model), TJ, TM, ΤΓ, UA. UG, US, UZ. VN. European patent (AT. BE, CH, DE. DK. ES, FR, GB, GR, IE. IT, LU, MC, NL. PT. SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ. CF. CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, ML. MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), ARIPO patent (KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG).

PubUebed

Wi'rA intemational ¡eareh repon. With advertised claims and ¡tatemen !.

(54) Title: APPARATUS FOR HOLDING A COMPACT DISK (57) Abatract

The apparatus comprises: a baae portion (12), diak-engaging meana (15, 16) extending from the baae portion (12) for releaaably engaging the central bole of the diak; and resUientejection meana (17) anangtd to urge the compact diak out of engagement with the diak-engaging meana (15, 16) when the diak-engaging meana (15, 16) ia releaaed, the diak-engaging meana compriaing reailient inwardly extending radial weapon (15), cantilevered from the baae portion (12); the inner enda of the ama (15) being meehanieally interconnected (16, 21) ao that preasure applied to any one or more of the inner enda of the arma (IS) (lexea each of the arma (15) towaida the baae portion ( 12) to move the Inner enda of the arma (15) towaida each other sufficiently to relay their engagement with the diak. The apparatus may be fomied aa a onepiece plastic mold as a tray for insertkm in a box or as pan of a wall of a video-atyle libraty box.

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Printed from Mimosa

DEVICE TO STORE COMPACT DISCS

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The present specifications refer to an invention that consists of a device for holding compact discs, in a case for storing compact discs or in a file type box (similar to those used to store video cassettes) that incorporates said apparatus, as well as to a method of manufacturing such devices, cases and boxes.

'' Compact disc ”, in the context of these specifications, refers not only to the normal 120mm diameter disc that is read by laser, such as those commonly sold with music, software, data recordings computer, etc., but also several similar discs of different sizes such as those used or intended for video recordings, films, interactive games and other kinds of information or data.

BACKGROUND - DESIGNS

As a general rule, when these discs are not used, they are kept in transparent polystyrene cases that have inserted a part or tray in which the disc is fixed, a part with seven or eight protruding teeth arranged in a circular shape, such as a rosette, of so that they can hook and unhook the central opening of the compact disc.

The rosette teeth extend vertically from the tray and bend outward so that they can grip a compact disc, and, toward its end, bend inward to form a protruding rim on which the hand is placed and pressed by hand. central perforation of the compact disc.

It has been recognized for a long time that this kind of device for storing compact discs has not given very satisfactory results, since both hands are needed to unhook the disc and separate it from the rosette; consequently, many people do not press the center of the rosette but use one hand to grasp the compact disc by the edge and forcefully pull it out of the rosette, so that the disc bends and sometimes the engraved face is scratched against the teeth, which in the long run end up deformed and even broken.

-2The damage suffered by the disc when it is bent and scratched can have very serious consequences, especially when the disc has computer programs or data recorded in compressed form, as it usually does today.

There are many inventions that attempt to rectify these problems and offer a disc holder apparatus with a more reliable and efficient release mechanism.

EPA-0356539, for example, discloses an apparatus in which the rosette is provided with a central drive piece with crank flaps arranged such that when the drive piece is depressed the crank flaps push the disc upward disengaging it from the teeth clamping. EPA-0429195 advocates the application of an elastic force to disengage the disc from the center flange. PCT WO-A-93/01598, for its part, advocates a release button arranged in such a way that it acts on the inner ends of the rosette teeth and a spring that, when the disk is stored, remains without tension and when the button is pressed, causes the disc rises. US-A-5,251,750 proposes to join the inner ends of all the teeth by means of a "living" hinge created by virtue of a reduced thickness of the molded material, at the same time linking the button to four crank ejection arms arranged in such a way that when the button is pressed the ejection arms push the compact disc away from the rosette.

DE-A-3425579 discloses a cassette for storing discs provided with a stem that serves to hold the disc. The stem comprises tabs attached by means of a pressure plate such that the diameter of the stem contracts when a load is applied to the pressure plate. The stem tabs are provided with retaining cams that engage the central opening of the disc. The disc is held by the stem that keeps it in contact with a raised support at the base of the cassette.

Said prior designs have a comparatively complex construction and are therefore difficult and expensive to manufacture, and / or do not operate with the desired efficiency or reliability.

One of the objectives of the invention described here is to introduce improvements to previous designs with an apparatus intended to hold a compact disc - suitable for incorporation in a compact disc case tray and in a file-type box - with a reliable mechanism

-3y easy to use that serves to unhook the compact disc stored in it. Other possible advantages of the invention emerge from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, it consists of an apparatus for holding a compact disc provided with a central hole, said apparatus comprising the following elements: a base; means for holding the disc that extend from the base and serve to hook and unhook the hole of the disc, means consisting of at least two arms fixed in cantilever to the base, oriented radially towards the center and endowed with flexural elasticity , the inner ends of the arms together forming a button-shaped element provided with a flange or shoulder that acts on the upper face of a disk attached to the apparatus by the clamping means, in such a way that to disengage the disc, it is necessary to press the button-shaped element to lower the arms and consequently deform at least the central part of the compact disc, until the approximation of the internal ends of the arms to each other due to the The aforementioned lowering of the arms is sufficient for the flange of the arms to disengage from the upper face of the compact disc.

This construction has the advantage that the inner ends of the adjacent arms that make up the button-shaped element are connected to each other by an integrated living hinge; the inner ends of the arms can also be connected to each other by a second button-shaped element that acts on the inner ends of each arm.

On the other hand, the button-shaped element has the advantage that its surface generally has a concave shape in such a way that the possibility of an unexpected contact acting on the inner end of one of the arms and the disc is reduced disengage accordingly.

Elastic force ejection means are preferred to disengage the disc from the clamping means after the flange or shoulder ceases to act on the top face of the disc.

Furthermore, the elastic force ejection means are preferably arranged in such a way that the disc rests on them without the disc coming into contact with the base when it is gripped by the holding means, such that during handling and storage the disk

-4 is supported by the expulsion means by elastic force that consequently cushions the disc against possible blows and impacts.

Indeed, according to a second aspect of the invention, it consists of an apparatus intended to hold a compact disc provided with a central hole, the apparatus consisting of: a base, means for holding the disc that extend from the base and serve to hook and unhook the central opening of the disc, and elastic force ejection means arranged in such a way as to push the compact disc out of the action of the means of holding when the release button is depressed, the ejection means being arranged by elastic force such that they cushion the disc against the base when the disc is caught by the holding means. The elastic force ejection means therefore protect the disc against possible shocks and impacts during transport or handling.

For their part, the elastic force ejection means preferably comprise a plurality of more cantilever arms fixed to the base and oriented towards the center; or the elastic force ejection means may comprise one or more pieces of a compressible material that compresses when a disc is caught by the holding means and spreads causing the disc to disengage from the holding means when the release button.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, it consists of an apparatus for holding a compact disc provided with a central opening, the apparatus being composed of: a base, means for holding the disc that extend from the base and serve to hook and unhook the central opening of the disc, and support means for the disc located at the base that serve to support the disc at points outside the area of the central opening, so that the center of the disc can be deformed towards the base and, after unhooking the central opening of the disc, it can resume its normal state, not deformed, moving the center of the disc out of the action of the clamping means.

In the exposed configuration, the elastic deformation of the disc is used to facilitate the necessary displacement of the center of the disc and so that the entire disc moves away from the base when the release button is pressed.

The support means for the disc are preferably provided with a plurality of points that surround the perimeter of the disc in such a way that when the holding means have a disc on, it rests without coming into contact with the support means of the disk.

It should be understood that the device, according to the present specifications, can integrate a tray that is inserted in a normal case for compact discs or in a file type box, the tray or box being built in both cases - with the obvious exception of a second button and / or ejection means by the elastic force of a compressible material - from a single integral piece of plastic, molded in a single operation, made for example from polypropylene or a copolymer of butadiene and styrene.

Accordingly, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, it consists of a file type box constructed from a single molded part characterized by being provided with means that serve to hook and unhook the central opening of a compact disc. Preferably said means are integrally constructed on one of the inner sides of the box and comprise an apparatus of the type described above.

The other features of the invention follow from the following description and from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained below in more detail by way of example and references to the accompanying drawings, namely:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a file type box incorporating an apparatus for holding a compact disc in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 represents a horizontal section of the box illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a side, bottom and rear view respectively of the box illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 represents a cross-sectional view along line 6-6 taken by Figure 2, with a compact disc attached to the apparatus;

-6 Figure 7 represents the same view as Figure 6, except that the apparatus is in the position it adopts for disengaging the disc;

Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the specifications of the invention illustrated in the previous figures, a view corresponding in part to axis 6-6 and in part to axis 8-8 of figure 2, with a compact disc in position before the appliance hooks it;

Figure 9 depicts a perspective view of a tray incorporating an apparatus for holding a compact disc installed in a transparent case in accordance with another aspect of the invention;

Figure 10 represents a cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 6, which constitutes a different construction of the invention.

IDEAL WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

The file type box shown in Figures 1 to 8 comprises a lid 11, a base 12 and a spine 13 attached to the lid 11 and to the base 12 by means of living hinges 14.

The cover 11 is provided on its inner face with spring-loaded clip-type molded devices 11A, which serve to hold brochures or printed material included with the disc, and the inner face of the base 12 has a partially annular flange 12A molded to it. It is responsible for protecting the disc against brochures, etc. that they are loose in the box and at the same time acts as a beautifier framing the disc that contains the box. When the box is closed, the male elements 1 IB of a closing clip located in the lid 11 fit into the female elements 12B located in the corresponding part of the base 12.

Integrally molded in the same base 12 is the apparatus for holding the compact disk (Figures 6, 7 and 8 include a disk), said apparatus comprising: the base 12 of the box; two radial arms oriented towards the center fixed in cantilever to the base 12, endowed with flexural elasticity and joined together by their inner ends, said inner ends forming a button-shaped element that serves to hook the disc indicated in general with the number 16 and described in more detail below with ·· references to Figures 6 and 7; and four arms 17 oriented towards the center and endowed with flexural elasticity that serve

-7 to eject the disc, said arms also being fixed in cantilever to the base 12 as explained in more detail below with references to figure 8.

The box, made of polypropylene or a copolymer of butadiene and styrene, is injection molded, the base having 12 openings or cuts under arms 15 and arms 17 (as shown in figure 4) to facilitate the making of the entire box in one piece through a single molding operation; subsequently (as is the case in normal file-type boxes) a transparent plastic sheet 18 (see Figures 3 and 4) can be welded to the external face of the box in such a way that a pocket is formed between the plastic sheet and the box into which you can insert a paper dust jacket or sash with informational data (not shown) to identify the contents of the box and conceal cuts in the base 12 of the box that might otherwise be aesthetically detrimental.

With respect to Figures 6 and 7, in which the two radial arms 15 oriented towards the center are fixed in cantilever to the base 12, the base 12 can, if desired, be reinforced by increasing the thickness 19 of the molding. The button-shaped element holding the disc generally indicated by the number 16 is molded in such a way that it forms two segments 20 substantially semicircular, joined together by an integral living hinge 21 in such a way that if any of the segments is depressed the other will also have to scroll.

Although it is preferable that the segments 20 together form a button-shaped element 16, it being understood that in certain cases the segments 20 can be joined together by mechanical means, for example by means of a second button-shaped element ( not illustrated).

On the other hand, the upper face of the button-shaped element 16 may consist of a generally concave shaped surface as indicated by the dotted line 22, thereby reducing the possibility of incidental contact with the shaped element of button 16 act against the inner ends of either arm 15.

Each semicircular segment 20 is preferably molded so that it has a flange or shoulder 23 that acts on the disc and protrudes from a cut or recess 24 in its corresponding arm 15 so that the flanges or shoulders 23 can be molded in the single operation molding.

-8To attach a compact disc 25 to the apparatus, it is positioned in such a way that the central opening rests on the segments 20. The disc is then pressed towards the base 12. In such a way that the edge of the central opening slide over the ribbed edge 20A of each segment 20. The vertical pressure applied in the way exposed by the disc 25 to the segments 20 has the effect that the arms 15 flex to approach the base 12 in such a way that the segments 20 approach each other until they pass through the central opening and the Arms 15 can summarize their non-flexed, or substantially non-flexed, position.

As can be seen in figure 6, the segments 20 adopt an appropriate shape to act on the opening of a compact disc as shown in 25, since the flanges 23 firmly hold the disc 25 acting on the surface of the same that It is located on the edge of the central opening. To separate the disc from the apparatus, pressure is applied, in the direction indicated by the arrow "P" in figure 7, to lower the segments 20 and consequently the arms 15 against the base 12, so that the flange or shoulder 23 ceases to act on the upper face of the disc 25, the latter being disengaged from the segments 20. Because both segments 20 are mechanically linked, it is evident that even if pressure is not applied to the center of button element 16, the segments will not stop folding, disengaging the central opening of disc 25.

It is equally evident that for flanges 23 to disengage from disc 25 without damaging the edge of the central opening thereof, at least the center of disc 25 must be able to move toward base 12 when pressure is applied in direction P. The elastic flexing ejection arms 17 must also be able to allow the center of the disc 25 to lower towards the base 12 when it is desired to turn the disc 25 on the apparatus.

The disengagement of the disc 25 from the segments 20 is carried out by means of the four arms 17 for the expulsion of the disc by elastic flexion, oriented towards the center, which act on the disc 25 causing it to move away from the base 12 when the flanges 23 leave to act on the disk. Disc 25 is then raised to facilitate its removal from the apparatus. The arms 15 can also contribute to raising the disc 25 when they resume their normal, non-deformed position, once pressure in the P direction is released.

As can be seen in figure 8, the disc ejection arms 17, which in figure 2 are on the axis 8-8, are fixed to the base 12 in cantilever at a distance "x" from the center - as

-9 minimum 20 mm and preferably 30 mm - oriented radially, forming an angle "A" with the base 12 within a band of 10 to 40 degrees and preferably 20 to 30 degrees in its normal state, not flexed, in such a way that when the disk is caught by the segments 20. the arms 17 are bent in an arc of only 5 to 20 degrees, preferably 10 to 15 degrees, so that they do not exert a great effort and therefore can operate reliably for a long time. Each arm 17 is molded in such a way that the bearing end 26 takes an appropriate shape to support the inner annular area of ​​the disc 25 that does not have recorded information.

Preferably, the ends of the arms 17 are arranged such that they contact an area of ​​the disc 25 located approximately 5 to 10 mm from the edge of the central opening of the disc.

As is easy to understand, disc 25 can be confidently and easily separated from the apparatus by simply pressing the button-shaped element 16 whereby disc 25 is disengaged from it and the elastic flexing arms 17 act on disc 25 raising it a few millimeters in such a way that it can be easily grasped by its perimeter and separated from the apparatus. The button-shaped element 16 is made in such a way that when the finger exerts pressure on any part of it, the rim 23 stops acting on the disc 25 separating from it.

The ejection arms 17 fold when a disk 25 is stored in the apparatus such that while the compact disk is attached to the apparatus, the disk, by virtue of the elastic force, rests against the underside of the flange 23 and remains separated from the base 12 by the action of the elastic flexing arms 17. The disc 25 is therefore protected against knocks during handling and transport. The elastic energy ejection means 17 also serves as a support for the disc 25 when pressure P is applied to the button-shaped element 16, limiting the degree of flexing of the disc while the flanges 23 are disengaged from the disc.

Although the apparatus illustrated in the drawings has four elastic flexing arms 17, the apparatus only has to carry at least two and preferably at least three arms 17 to provide stable support and effective ejection to a disc 15, the apparatus being able to include more of four arms 17 although due to the lack of space, the number of arms 17 that can accommodate the base 12 without weakening and / or adversely affecting the effectiveness of the arms 17 is reduced.

-1010

On the other hand, the elastic flexing arms 17 can be omitted and the means for ejecting the disc due to elastic force consist of a piece or pieces of some compressible material, for example foam, located in a position such as that collected by the circle drawn with a dotted line 4 7A in FIG. 2 such that it acts between the base 12 and the disk 25.

As can also be seen in figure 8, the two elastic flexing arms 15 that engage the disc, and that in figure 2 appear on the axis 6-6, are fixed in cantilever to the base 12 at a distance "y" radially oriented from the center, a distance that preferably is at least 10 mm and more preferably at least 15 mm, forming an angle “B” within a band 50 to 30 degrees, preferably between 10 and 20, with base 12 when they are in their normal state, not deformed, in such a way that if they hook a disk 25 as shown in figure 6, the arms 15 bend in an arc of 10 degrees or less, preferably 5 degrees or less, in such a way that it does not diminish the efficiency of the apparatus due to its repeated use over a very long period.

As figure 8 shows, the arms 15, the segments 20 included, have an extension substantially equal to the distance "y" since the distance separating the segments 20 is typically less than 5 mm. The arms have a width of preferably at least 5 mm, and more preferably 10 to 15 mm and a thickness of 1 to 2 mm.

It is understood that the arms 15 can take other forms, eg. ex. they can lean towards the base 12 to which they are fixed in cantilever and then extend by drawing a line substantially parallel to the base 12 where they end in the segments 20.

Although the described apparatus has two arms 15, in a variant (not illustrated) the apparatus may be provided with three arms for these purposes, each of which has its inner end molded in the form of a segment in such a way that together they integrate a button-shaped element used to turn on the disc; notwithstanding the fact that the apparatus can be provided with more than three arms for these purposes, it is considered that due to the lack of space it could not carry four or more arms with the robustness necessary to withstand frequent use and, on the other hand, would be it is more difficult to achieve an efficient mechanical connection of the ends of each of said arms.

-1111

The apparatus, according to the specifications of the invention, can also, as shown in Figure 9, be incorporated into a disc tray that fits inside a normal case. In figure 9,

The case comprises a standard box 27 with a standard lid 28 hinged at 29 in the known manner. Inside the box 27 is inserted the apparatus for holding the compact disc, in the form of a tray, generally illustrated under number 30, a tray comprising a rim 30A in an annular part (which takes a slightly different form from that of figure 1 ), a base 31, two arms 31 of elastic flexion fixed in cantilever to the base 31, oriented towards the center and joined to each other by their inner ends, inner ends that together make up a button 33 to engage the disc in the same way as the button-shaped element 16 described above with reference to the previous figures. On the other hand, the tray 30 that collects figure 9 also includes four center-oriented elastic flexing ejection arms 34 equal to the arms 17 that figure 1 collects. Therefore, it should be understood that the apparatus illustrated in figure 9 has the same operating system and operates in the same way as that illustrated in the previous figures and therefore does not need to be described again.

In a different construction, the elastic force ejection means can be omitted, instead using the elastic deformation capacity of the disc to obtain the necessary displacement so that the disc holding means engage it and so that, when removing the disc , it separates from the clamping means once they have disengaged from the central opening of the disc. This construction will be described with references to figure 10.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 10 is provided with elastic flexing arms 15 and a button-shaped element 16, etc., like the other constructions described later, so it will not be described again. The disc support means 35, however, consists of the base 12 so that the disc is supported when pressure P is applied to the button-shaped element 16 as described above, the disc resting on points away from the opening center of disc 25, preferably towards the perimeter of disc 25 as shown in figure 10.

Preferably, the disk support means 35 is arranged such that the disk 25 does not contact the base 35 when the arms 15 are in their substantially normal, non-deformed position, while the apparatus is holding a disk 25 as shown in figure 10. When pressure is applied to the button-shaped element 16 in the direction of arrow P, the

-1212 disk 25 moves towards base 12 until its perimeter is seated in support 35. The continuing pressure on the button-shaped element then presses the center of the disc against the base 12 such that the center of the disc is bent down until the flanges 23 are disengaged from the disc 25 and the disc is free to summarize its normal undeformed state, whereby the center of the disc moves away from the base 12 and the disc 25 rises, facilitating its separation from the apparatus. As in the constructions described further back, the arms 15 contribute to raising the disc 25 once the button-shaped element 16 has passed through the central opening to be located under the disc and pressure P has ceased to be exerted.

Although bending of a compact disc is generally avoided (as in the constructions described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 9), if the perimeter of the disc is supported by at least three points, preferably six, the deformation is distributed in the entire disc in such a way that it bends in the same way, substantially, as a diaphragm.

As previously indicated in the description of Figures 1 to 10, at least the base

12 or 31, the ejection arms 17 or 34 (if applicable) and the radial arms 15 or 32 can be manufactured as an integral piece of molded plastic and preferably the entire disc tray and the file type case is manufactured in a single molding operation .

Likewise, as can be seen from the above, the apparatus for holding a compact disc may be incorporated in a file-type box, preferably integrally molded to one of the inside faces thereof as shown in the illustration, or in another form of box or container to which it is integrated by virtue of integral molding or as a tray or insert.

-1313