Device for gripping and holding a compact disk

The present invention relates to a device for gripping and holding a compact disc.

Compact disc means not only the ordinary standard disc, which has a diameter of 120 mm and is read with a laser beam, such as those currently marketed and which contain, for example, pre-recorded music, programs or data. for computer, or other similarly recorded discs; the term compact disc also means other similar discs of different sizes, such as those known or proposed for video recordings, movie recordings, interactive games or for recording information or data.

Usually, when no such compact discs are used, they are stored in protective boxes - also known as boxes, with no specific equivalent in Romanian, by the jewel box - inside which the disc is stored in a separate compartment, fastened by the box, which has seven or eight teeth, so positioned, so that it forms a hole or a rosette with which the hole in the center of the compact disc can be engaged - for gripping and holding the compact disc - with the possibility of release.

The feet or teeth of the rosette are made by extending them upwards from the compartment, and they can be bent outwards, so that they can firmly fasten the disc, and then they can be bent inwards, towards the ends, creating a hole on which it can be manually pushed. the central hole of the compact disc.

It is known that such a device for gripping and holding a compact disc is not fully satisfactory, as it requires two hands to release the compact disc and lift it from the rosette. As a result, many people no longer push the center of the rosette, but use only one hand to grasp the outer edge of the compact disc, tearing it apart from the rosette. This way the disc can be bent, and the rosette teeth can scratch the recorded surface of the disc, ultimately deforming or even breaking the rosette teeth.

This bending or deformation of the disk can be critical especially when, as is often the case, the disk contains software or computer data, recorded in compressed or packaged form.

To this end, attempts have been made to solve the problems mentioned and to create devices for this purpose for gripping and supporting the more efficient discs and which will release the disc more easily.

EP-0356539 discloses an apparatus in which the rosette has been provided with a central pushing part, positioned so that the pushing of the pushing part causes the disk to be pushed up by a flap-shaped part and at the same time disengaging teeth locking disc.

Patent application EP - 0429125 proposes the use of elastic means to extract the disc from the central mounting bracket.

PCT patent application 93/01598 proposes a release button - so designed to hold all the inner ends of the rosette legs - and a spring designed to remain un-tensioned during disk storage but which, if pressed, raises the disk.

US Patent 5251750 proposes tying the inner ends of all teeth with a workpiece similar to a movable hinge, made by reducing the thickness of the molded material, also suggesting binding of the button to four ejection arms, articulated, so arranged, that the button decompression causes the ejection of the button. to push the disc out of the rosette.

DE 3425579 discloses a cassette for holding a disc that has an assembly of axial bearings for storing the disc. The axial bearing assembly contains ale blades

EN 117577 Β1 of the bearing, which are connected by means of a plate, so that the axial bearing reduces its diameter when a load is applied to the pressure plate. The blades of the axial bearing are 50 provided with retaining or locking cams for engaging the central hole of the disc.

The axial bearing retains the disc in contact with the support placed on the base of the cassette.

It is found that the known technical solutions represent relatively complex constructions, difficult to achieve, thus involving high costs of implementation. Also, using them is not as easy and safe as one would like. 55

The technical problem that the invention solves is both the attachment and support of a compact disk and the possibility of ejecting it until it is easily released from the compartment of a cassette for storing the discs, as well as in the creation of a video collection box, as well. so that the bending of the disc, the scratching of the recording surface or the deformation of the feet or teeth of the rosette do not occur again. 60

This problem is solved by making a device for gripping and holding a compact disc, a device consisting of a base area and means of coupling the compact disc, which extend from the base area, to engage with the central hole of compact disc and release it, the coupling means comprising at least two elastic arms, which extend radially inwards, each arm being elastic and fixed in 65 consoles in the base area, the inner ends of the elastic arms together forming a button-like element, having crowns or circular frames positioned to retain the compact disc by coupling it to the upper surface thereof, the coupling means being arranged so that, to release the disc, a compact disc must be applied. pressure on the button element, in order to loosen the elastic arms and thus, to release at least 70 the center of the compact disc, until the displacement of the inner ends of the elastic arms, one to the other, is sufficient to release the crowns or circular frames from the outer surface of the compact disc.

Advantageously, the inner ends of the neighboring elastic arms, which form the button-like element, are connected to each other by a fully movable hinge, but, as an alternative, 75 the inner ends of the arms can be gripped by a second button-like element, which engages the inner ends of all the arms.

Preferably, elastic ejection means are provided, which are assembled to cause the disc to be pulled from the gear with the coupling means, until it is released from the crowns or circular frames on the outer surface of the disc 80.

Moreover, the elastic ejector means are preferably assembled to support the disk distal to the base, when the disk is held by the means of retaining the disk, so that, during handling and storage, the disk is supported by elastic means. to protect it by damping the shock. 85 According to another aspect of the invention, the device is composed of a base area, means for coupling the compact disc, extending from the base area, with the possibility of disc release and means for supporting the compact disc in the area basic, which support the disc in a position distanced from the central hole, support means, which are positioned so that when the compact disc is coupled with the support means, the center 90 of the disc can be bent to the base area, so that, after releasing the coupling between the coupling means and the central hole, the disc is extracted from this coupling.

Also, the elastic ejection means preferably comprise several inward-facing elastic arms fixed to the base console; Alternatively, the elastic means may contain one or more pieces made of compressible material, which are compressed 95 when the disc is held by the fastening means and which relax when

EN 117577 Β1 the disc is released by the retaining means, to push the disc out of engagement with the coupling means.

The device for gripping and holding a compact disc, according to the invention, can be incorporated in a compartment inside a regular compact disc box, or it can be incorporated in a box for making a video collection, in each case, except for the obvious one. of a second separate button and / or of the elastic ejector means, separated, made of compressible material, the compartment or box being integrally made as a single piece, by a single injection operation, using materials such as polypropylene or a copolymer of butane diene and polystyrene.

The advantages conferred by the device for gripping and supporting a compact disc according to the invention are:

- it can be embedded in a compartment for insertion into an ordinary compact disc cassette or it can be embedded in a box for a video collection;

- it is safe to operate;

- reduces the possibility of accidental contact leading to the accidental release of the disc;

- during handling and storage, the disk is supported by the elastic means, thus cushioning any shock that could affect the integrity of the disk.

The following is an example of embodiment of the invention in connection with FIG. 1 ... 10, which represents:

FIG. 1 - perspective view of a box for making a video collection that includes the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the box and the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the box and the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view below the box and the device of FIG. 1;

5 is a side view of the box and the device of FIG. 1;

- fig.6 - cross-section of the device of fig. 2, following line 6-6, illustrating the position when the compact disk is retained;

- fig.7 - cross-section of the device of fig. 2, following line 6-6, illustrating the position when the compact disc is released;

- Fig. 8 - schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 2, following line 6-6 and partially on line 8-8, illustrating a compact disc in the position to be retained in the device;

9 is a perspective view of a compartment of the cassette incorporating a device according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 - cross section corresponding to fig. 6, representing a variant of the invention.

in FIG. 1 ... 8 represents the box for making a video collection, which has a cover 11, the base area 12, the device for gripping and holding a compact disc, and a central portion 13, which is coupled to the cover 11 and at the base area 12, by means of movable hinges 14.

Inside the cover 11 are made, by casting, some devices 11 A, in the form of elastic clips, for attaching a leaflet or a brochure to be delivered with the compact disc, and inside the base area 12, a frame is cast. 12A, partially annular, which protects the disc in case the booklet or similar document detaches inside the box, the frame 12A, constituting an aesthetic frame for the compact disc kept inside the box.

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When the box is closed, the parent subassemblies 11B, of the clamp of the cover 11, engage with the parent subassemblies 12B, of the clip provided in the base area 12.

The device for gripping and supporting a compact disc, according to the invention, shown in fig. 6, 7, is made entirely by molding, being made up of the base area 12 and some means of coupling the disk, which extend from the base area 12, to engage with the central hole of the compact disc 25 and release it. The coupling means comprising at least two elastic arms 15, which extend radially inwardly, each arm 15 being elastic and fixed to the console in the base area 12, the inner ends of the elastic arms 15 together forming a button element 16.

The device also has a composition, as will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to fig. 8, and four elastic ejector arms 17, which extend to 155 inwardly and which are also fixed in the bracket by the base area 12.

The box is poured from polypropylene or from a copolymer of butane and styrene butane, and from the base zone 12, the elastic arms 15 and the elastic ejecting arms 17 are detached by half-cutting, as shown in FIG. 4, this allowing the entire box to be made as a single piece, in a single casting operation. Thereafter, a transparent plastic sheet 18 (see fig. 3 and 4), and between the box and the sheet 18 a paper overlay (not shown in the drawing), or something similar, can be inserted to identify the contents of the box. On the other hand, the overlay covers the cuts made in the base 12.

Referring to FIG. 6 and 7, in which the two elastic arms 15 extended radially towards the inside 165 are fixed in the bracket by the base area 12, as far as it is considered necessary, the base area 12 can be reinforced by an additional material 19 by casting.

The inner ends of the neighboring elastic arms 15 form the button-like element

16. It is molded in the form of two segments, approximately circular, interconnected by a hinge 21, completely movable, allowing when any of the segments 170 is depressed (not pressed) to move also the other segment.

Although it is preferred that the segments 20 together form the button element 16, it should be emphasized that, in certain situations, the segments 20 may be mechanically interlocked, for example, by a second element, similar to a button (not shown).

In addition, the other face of the button element 16, can be made having an outer surface 175, approximately concave in shape, as shown in FIG. 6 through the dotted line, so that any accidental touch of the button element 16, makes it possible to operate the inner ends of any of the elastic arms 15.

Preferably, the circular segments 20 each have, by molding, an addition of material in the form of a circular frame or crown 23, for holding the disc, positioned 180 above a window or cut 24, made in the elastic arm 15, to allow the circular frames or crowns 23 to be made in a single stage of the casting operation.

For holding a compact disc 25, in the device according to the invention, it is located with its central hole resting on segments 20. Then the disc is pressed 185 manually to the base area 12, after which the edges of the central hole move beyond the chamfered ends 20A , of segments 20. The downward pressure applied by the disc 25 on the segments 20 bends the elastic arms 15 with respect to the base area 12, causing the segments 20 to move relative to each other, until they can pass through the central hole of the disc, so that the arms 15 may return to their uncluttered position 190 or approximately uncluttered.

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As can be seen in FIG. 6, the segments 20 are adapted to engage inside the central hole of the compact disc 25, with the circular frames or with the crowns 23, which hold the disc securely by fixing the upper surface, adjacent to its central hole.

To release the compact disc 25 from the device, press as indicated by the arrow P in fig. 7, to relax the segments 20, bringing the arms 15 closer to the base area 12, thereby detaching the circular frames or crowns 23 from the upper surface of the compact disc 25, thus allowing it to release from the segments 20. Due to the mechanical grip made between the segments 20, it should be noted that if the button-type element 16 is not pressed centrally, the segments 20 will no longer transmit the release of the central hole of the compact disc 25.

It should also be noted that, in order to allow the circular frames or crowns 23 to release from the gear with the compact disc 25 without damaging the edges of its central hole, when pressed with the pressure P, the center of the disc 25 must be able to displacement, at least to the same extent as the base zone 12. In order for the disc to be retained and secured to the device, the elastic ejector arms 17 also allow the center of the disc 25 to be pressed against the base area 12.

The release of the disc 25 from the gear with the segments 20 is performed by the four elastic ejector arms 17, extended inside, which act to move the disc 25, removing it from the base area 12, when the gear is released between the circular frames or the crowns 23 with compact disc 25. Thus, the disc 25 stands up, being ready to be extracted from the device.

The elastic ejector arms 17 also contribute to the lifting of the disc 25, when they return to the un-tensioned position, as a result of the pressure drop (respectively when the pressure P no longer applies).

As shown in FIG. 8, the elastic ejector arms 17 of the compact disc, which are shown in section after line 8-8 of fig. 2, are fixed in the bracket by the base zone 12, at a distance X of at least 20 mm radially outward, but, preferably, this distance is about 30 mm. The elastic ejector arms 17, of the disc, are inclined to the base area 12 with an angle A between 10 and 40 °, but preferably between 20 and 30 °, the system being in a non-stressed state, so that when compact disc 25 is engaged by the segments 20, the elastic ejector arms 17 are curved with an angle between 5 and 20 ° but, preferably, only 10 to 15 °. Therefore, the elastic ejector arms 17 are not overly stressed and, consequently, can operate safely for a long time. Each of the elastic ejector arms 17 has a cast 26, adapted to engage with an inner annular surface, of the compact disc 25 so as not to rest on the area of ​​the disc containing the recorded information.

The ends of the ejector elastic arms 17 are preferably positioned to attach to the surface of the disc 25 about 5 to 10 mm outwardly from the center of its hole.

Thus, it can be seen that the disc 25 can be distanced from the device, easily and safely, by simply pressing the button element 16. As a result, the disc 25 is released from the gear, and at the same time, the elastic ejector arms 17 act to lift it by a few millimeters, so that the disc can be easily grabbed by the outer edge to be removed (removed) from the device. The button element 16 is designed so that, when the finger presses on each of its parts, the compact disc 25 is released from the gear with the circular frame or with the crowns 23 of the gear system.

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The ejector arms 17 are curved so that, as long as the disc 25 is engaged in the device, it is supported elastic against the lower surface of the circular frames or crowns 23 and is kept away from the base area 12 by the elastic ejector arms

17. By this, the disc 25 is protected against exaggerated shocks, during handling or transport. The elastic ejector arms 17 also have the role of supporting the disc 25 when the button element 16 is pressed, thus reducing the compact curvature of the disc and without the circular frames or crowns 23 being detached from the drive with the disc.

The device shown in the appended figures comprises four elastic ejector arms 17, but it should comprise at least two - preferably at least three such arms 17, to provide stable support and to eject the disc 25. The device may have more than four elastic ejection arms 17, but the space limitations may restrict the number of arms 17, which can be achieved without reducing the base 12 too much and without compromising their operational safety.

in addition, the elastic ejection arms 17 can be dropped; In this case, the elastic means for ejecting the disc may consist of one or more pieces of compressible material, for this purpose, for example, a burette material, positioned as shown in FIG. 2 through the dotted circle - to act between the base zone 12 and the disk 25.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the two elastic arms 15, for engaging the disc 25, which are shown in section along the line 6-6 of fig. 2, are fixed in the console by the base area 12. at a distance Y, radially outward from the center of the disc. This distance is at least 10 mm, but is preferably 15 mm. Also with respect to the base area 12, the two elastic arms 15 make an angle B, which has a value between 5 and 30 °, but this value is preferably in the range of 10 to 20 °. The angle is measured when the arms are not tensioned, so that, as shown in FIG. 6, when the disc is attached as a whole, the elastic arms 15 are bent at an angle less than or equal to 10 ° but, preferably, this angle is less than or equal to 5 °, thereby resulting in the device being operable in safely and repeatedly for a long time.

As shown in FIG. 8, the elastic arms 15, including the segments 20, have the size close to the value of the distance Y value, so that the space between the segments 20 is typically less than 5 mm. The elastic arms 15 have a width of at least 5 mm, but, preferably, between 10 and 15 mm, and their thickness is from 1 to 2 mm.

The elastic arms 15 may also be fixed in another way from the base zone 12. For example, they may be inclined when they are fixed in the bracket by the base zone 12, so that they extend parallel to the base zone 12 in the portion in which they are combine with segments 20.

Although the device described has only two elastic arms 15, in a modified (not shown) variant it may have three such arms, each having the inner end molded as a component segment of the button element, which engages the disc. Considering that even more than three arms can be provided, it should be borne in mind that, due to space limitations, four or more such arms are sufficiently strong, or together they are sufficiently rigid, to affect safe, repeated use, increasing, at the same time, the difficulties of secure mechanical grip between the ends of each arm.

In another embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 9, the device according to the invention can be incorporated in a compartment for storing a disc, to be assembled in an ordinary disc box, consisting of a conventional box 27 and a lid 28, which are assembled together with hinges 29, in a manner in itself known. The device

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RO 117577 Β1 for gripping and holding a compact disc is inserted inside the box 27, which has a compartment 30, which comprises a crown 30A, partially annular (with a construction slightly different from that of fig. 1), a base area 31, two elastic arms 32, which extend inwards, fixed in the console by the base area 31 and held together at their inner ends. In a manner similar to the device described above, with reference to FIG. previous, the inner ends of the arms 32 are made to obtain a button 33, for engaging the disc, a button similar to the button type element 16. In addition, the compartment 30 of the box shown in FIG. 9, it also comprises four elastic arms 34, which extend inwards, for ejecting the disc, arms that are similar to the elastic ejecting arms 17, of fig. 1. With these details, it should be understood that the device shown in FIG. 9 it has the same function, being operated in a manner similar to the device in the first variant.

In another embodiment, the elastic ejector means may also use the elasticity of the disc, to achieve the movement necessary to engage the disc with the retaining means, and when extracting it, the same elasticity may be used to lift the disc released by the retaining means as soon as its central hole was released from gear. This variant will be described below, referring to FIG. 10.

The device described in FIG. 10 has the elastic arms 15, the button type element 16 and the other elements, similar to those of the first embodiment. In the base area 12, there are provided support means 35, which compactly support the disc when the button element 16 is pressed, the support means being located in a position distant from the central hole of the disc 25 but, preferably, at its outer edge, as shown in fig. 10.

Preferably, the support means 35, for supporting and supporting the disc 25, are positioned in such a way that it is held free - by the support means 35 when the elastic arms 15 are in the practically curved position, the disc being held in the device as is shows in FIG. 10. When the button element 16 is pressed by applying a pressure P, the compact disc 25 is moved to the base area 12, until its edges are supported by the support means 35. In addition, when the button element 16 is pressed, the center of the compact disc 25 is pressed to the base area 12, being curved downwards, until the circular frames or crowns 23, are released from the gear with the disc 25, which is released and able to return to the uncensored state. After that, the center of the disc may move away from the base zone 12 so that the disc is lifted to be removed from the device.

As in the embodiments described above, in this case the elastic arms 15 also help lift the disc 25 as soon as the button element 16 has been pushed through the central hole towards the lower face of the disc, and the pressure P has been removed.

Although, in general, the bending of a compact disc should be avoided (as in the embodiments described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9), if the disc is supported in three, but preferably in six areas, along the periphery, the bending is distributed over the circumference of the entire disc, so that the curvature is performed in a manner similar to the curvature of a diaphragm.

As mentioned earlier, when we refer to fig. from 1 to 10, at least the base area 12 or 31, the ejection arms 17, or 34 (when provided) and the radial arms 15 or 32 can be made completely by molding, from plastic. Also, the entire box for storing the compact disc and the entire box for making a video collection are made entirely by casting, in a single step.

It is also understood from the foregoing that the device for gripping and holding a compact disc can be embedded inside a box for making a video collection, preferably integrated into one of the walls of the box, still in the casting phase, as presented , which can be included in many other forms of boxes and / or boxes, or it can be inserted in the box as a stand-alone compartment.