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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area which is in
turn surrounded by a rim area, a free and separate carrier accessory
adapted to underlie, carry and drop to the turntable with the record disc
through the changing and playing operation on the spindle of a record
changing phonograph, comprising:
a generallly rigid circular disc-like supporting body having an overall
diameter substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc,
the body including an elevated central hub and a substantially flat annular
flange surrounding and extending outwardly from the elevated hub, the
elevation of the hub being with respect to the flat annular flange,
the elevated hub including a central portion which is exposed on both sides
and has a spindle hole therein, and means for supporting said central
portion in juxtaposition to an overlying record disc;
a layer of flexible cushioning material in the form of an annulus attached
on and protruding from one side of the flange and surrounding the elevated
hub for engaging the recording area of an overlying record disc; and,
a layer of flexible cushioning material attached on the opposite side of
the flange.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the layers of flexible cushioning
material are in the form of annuli of precision-cut upright pile fabric
attached concentrically on opposite sides of the flange for engaging the
recording areas of overlying and underlying record discs, the annuli
having inside and outer diameters falling between the label and rim areas
of said record discs.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the elevated hub
is fixed in position, and wherein the means for supporting the central
portion of the elevated hub in juxtaposition to an overlying record disc
includes means fixing the central portion of the hub at a position above
the flat annular flange and slightly below the outer surface of the layer
of flexible cushioning material on said one side of the flange.
4. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie and carry the record disc
in the playing operation on a phonograph, comprising:
a generally rigid disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc,
the body including an elevated central hub having a spindle hole therein,
and a substantially flat annular flange surrounding and extending
outwardly from the elevated hub, the elevation of the hub being with
respect to the flat annular flange,
a layer of flexible cushioning material in the form of an annulus attached
on and protruding from one side of the flange and surrounding the elevated
hub for engaging the recording area of an overlying record disc; and,
a layer of flexible cushioning material attached on the opposite side of
the flange,
with the central portion of the hub being free, and the means for
supporting the central portion of the hub in juxtaposition to an overlying
record disc comprising means mounting the central portion of the hub for
sliding vertical movement between predetermined positions including a
position approximately flush with or above the outer surface of the layer
of flexible cushioning material on said one side of the flange.
5. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area which is in
turn surrounded by a rim area, a free and separate carrier accessory
adapted to underlie and carry the record disc in the playing operation on
a phonograph, comprising:
a generally circular disc-like supporting body having a spindle hole
centrally therein and having an overall diameter substantially equal to or
greater than that of the record disc; and,
a layer of flexible cushioning material in the form of an annulus of
precision cut upright pile fabric attached concentrically on one side of
the body for engaging the recording area of an overlying record disc, the
annulus having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the
label area of the record disc, and the annulus having an outside diameter
sufficiently less than that of the record disc to clear said rim area
thereof.
6. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie and carry the record disc
in the playing operation on the turntable of a phonograph, comprising:
a generally circular disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of a record disc,
the body including an elevated central hub having a spindle hole therein,
an elevated outer rim, and a substantially flat annular flange joining the
rim with the hub, the elevation of the central hub and outer rim being
with respect to the flat annular flange,
the elevated outer rim having an inner perimeter defined on one side of the
body by a circular abutment edge having a diameter substantially equal to
or less than the outer diameter of the record disc recording area, and the
elevated central hub having an outer perimeter defined on the same side of
the body by a circular abutment edge having a diameter exceeding that of
the record disc label area;
a layer of flexible cushioning material in the form of an annulus of
precision-cut upright pile fabric attached concentrically on the flange on
said one side of the body and extending between and to an elevation above
said abutment edges defining the inner and outer perimeters of the rim and
hub respectively for engaging the recording area of an overlying record
disc; and,
a layer of flexible cushioning material attached to the flange on the
opposite side of the body.
7. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie, carry and drop with the
record disc through the changing and playing operation on the spindle of a
record changer, comprising:
a generally disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc,
the body including an elevated hollow central hub, an elevated hollow outer
rim, and a substantially flat annular flange joining the rim with the hub,
the elevation of the central hub and the outer rim being with respect to
the flat annular flange,
the hub including a relatively thin central portion exposed on both sides
and having a spindle hole therein, and means for supporting said central
portion in juxtaposition to an overlying record disc; and,
layers of flexible cushioning material attached respectively on opposite
sides of the flange for engaging the recording area of overlying and
underlying record discs.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the elevated hollow outer rim has an
inner perimeter defined on both sides of the body by circular abutment
edges having a diameter substantially equal to or less than the outer
diameter of the recording area on the record disc; wherein the elevated
hollow central hub has an outer perimeter defined on both sides of the
body by circular abutment edges having a diameter approximately equal to
or greater than the outside diameter of the label area of the record disc;
and, wherein the top and bottom layers of cushioning material extend
between and protrude to an elevation beyond said abutment edges defining
the inner and outer perimeters of the rim and hub respectively on opposite
sides of the body.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least the layer of flexible
cushioning material for engaging the recording area of an overlying record
disc is in the form of an annulus of velvet.
10. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie, carry and drop with the
record disc through the changing and playing operation on the spindle of a
record changer, comprising:
a generally disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc,
the body including a substantially flat annular flange which surrounds and
extends outwardly from an elevated central hub, the elevation of the
central hub being with respect to the flat annular flange,
the hub comprising an annular portion having an inner perimeter defining a
central opening through the hub, a cap extending across said central
opening and having a spindle hole therein, and means mounting the cap for
limited vertical movement between two predetermined positions, including a
protruding position relative to the annular portion of the hub; and,
layers of flexible cushioning material attached respectively on opposite
sides of the flange for engaging overlying and underlying record discs,
the outer surface of each layer being elevated relative to the annular
portion of the hub.
11. The carrier accessory of claim 10 wherein the cap is a free member
comprising a plate portion exposed on both sides and having the spindle
hole therein, a skirt portion, and a flange portion extending laterally
from the skirt portion, and wherein the means mounting the cap comprises
means restricting vertical movement of said flange portion and means
slidably engaging said skirt portion and restricting lateral movement
thereof.
12. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie, carry and drop with the
record disc through the changing and playing operation on the spindle of a
record changer, comprising:
a generally disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc;
the body including top and bottom shells connected together to form an
elevated hollow central hub, an elevated hollow outer rim, and a
substantially flat annular flange joining the rim with the hub, the top
and bottom shells each having a central opening therein, the elevation of
the central hub and the outer rim being with respect to the flat annular
flange,
the hub including a free cap captured in the central opening of the top
shell and having a spindle hole therein, the cap having portions captured
between the top and bottom shells for limiting vertical movement of the
cap to between predetermined positions including one position where the
cap protrudes from the top shell; and,
layers of flexible cushioning material in the form of annuli attached
respectively on opposite sides of the flange and extending between the hub
and rim for engaging the recording area of overlying and underlying record
discs.
13. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie, carry and drop to the
turntable with the record disc through the changing and playing operation
on the spindle of a record changer, comprising:
a generally disc-like supporting body having an overall diameter
substantially equal to or greater than that of the record disc,
the body including top and bottom shells connected together to form an
elevated hollow central hub, an elevated hollow outer rim, and a
substantially flat annular flange joining the rim with the hub, the top
and bottom shells each having a central opening therein, the elevation of
the central hub and the outer rim being with respect to the flat annular
flange,
the outer rim having an inner perimeter defined on both the top and bottom
body shells by circular abutment edges thereon,
the central hub having an outer perimeter defined on both the top and
bottom shells by circular abutment edges thereon each having a diameter
exceeding that of the record disc label area, so that the hub on both
sides of the body has a raised annular portion the respective perimeters
of which define the circular openings and abutment edges,
the hub including a free cap captured in the central opening of the top
shell,
the cap including a substantially flat upper plate portion spanning the
central opening in the top shell and exposed on both sides and having a
central spindle hole therein, a skirt portion which depends from the
plate, and a flange portion extending laterally from the skirt, said
flange being captured between the top and bottom shells for limiting
vertical movement of the cap to between a position where the plate is
approximately flush with the upper surface of the annular hub portion and
a position where the plate and supporting skirt protrudes above the top
surface of the annular hub portion, with the skirt slidably engaging the
perimeter of said opening in the top shell so as to restrict lateral
movement of the cap to a negligible degree of movement; and,
layers of flexible cushioning material disposed respectively on opposite
sides of the flange for engaging the recording area of overlying and
underlying record discs,
each layer being in the form of an annulus of precision-cut upright pile
fabric extending between and protruding to a level above the respective
abutment edges of the hub and rim so as to constitute the sole engagement
with overlying and underlying record discs when disposed on the turntable
for the record changer.
14. For use in conjunction with a nominally 12 inch diameter record disc
having a central label area surrounded by a recording area, a free and
separate carrier accessory adapted to underlie and carry the record disc
in the playing operation on a phonograph, comprising:
a generally circular disc-like supporting body having a central spindle
hole therein and having an overall diameter substantially equal to or
greater than that of the record disc;
said supporting body being electrically conductive; and,
a layer of flexible cushioning material in the form of an annulus of
precision-cut upright pile fabric attached on one side of the body for
engaging the recording area of an overlying record disc, said fabric being
electrically conductive. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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This invention related to protective pads and coupling devices for
phonograph records, and more particularly relates to a free and separate
carrier accessory adapted to underlie and carry the record in the playing
operation on a phonograph.
For many years there has existed a need for a practical and acceptable
means for cushioning and frictionally coupling phonograph records so that
they can be employed in stacked relationship on the changer spindle and
turntable of a phonograph without scarring the recorded surfaces or
distorting the reproduced composition as a result of record slippage
relative to the rotary position of the turntable. Indeed, many persons who
value their phonograph records and are serious music listeners continue to
refuse the convenience of an automatic record changer and instead employ a
manual change turntable where the phonograph records are played singly,
thereby incurring the very considerable inconvenience and disruption of
having to manually change each record after one side is played.
Moreover, it is a very convenient expedient to leave a stack of records on
the turntable or elsewhere rather than immediately returning them to their
protective record jackets after play. However, some records are quite
slippery when stacked on one another or placed on a smooth flat surface
and, if stacked off the turntable, the stack is easily accidently
disrupted which could cause scarring of the recorded areas. Also, stacked
on or off the turntable, if any one of the records in the stack is
significantly warped this warpage might be transmitted to some degree to
other records in the stack after a considerable period of time.
Any solution to the problem of providing the needed protective and coupling
functions is complicated by the great variety of record changer mechanisms
in common home use today and by the fact that different records have
different cross-sectional shapes, some uniform but at different
thicknesses and others non-uniform with the central label area and/or
outer rim being thicker than the recording area to different degrees.
While there have been a number of compromise proposals for accessories
which exclusively engage the central label area or outer rim of the record
allegedly to perform protective and coupling functions in a record stack
and usually involving some modification or physical attachment to each
record, so far as is known, no such accessory to date has achieved
significant acceptance and for all practical purposes the problem remains
unsolved.
Ideally it would be desirable to have a record pad and coupling accessory
of universal application regardless of record configuration or changer
mechanism which performs perfectly all of the cushioning, protection and
coupling functions without introducing any additional problems. The device
should be attractive, durable, easily handled during use, light weight,
and easily cleaned. The device also should add a minimum of thickness to a
record stack and should not require any physical attachment to or
modification of the records, record changers or turntables. Further, the
device should have a rigid structural integrity, the ability to capture
abrasive dust particles without retaining them on its outer surface, and
no doubt other qualities such as cushioning or damping mechanical
vibrations, discharging static electricity from the record, and
suppressing electric fields emanating from the record due to static
charges.
While the ideal universal accessory may never be achieved, our invention is
considered to be a major step in this direction.
In accordance with our invention, a free and separate carrier accessory is
adapted to underlie, carry and drop with the record disc through the
changing and playing operation on the spindle of a record changer. The
accessory includes a generally disc-like supporting body having an overall
diameter approximately equal to that of the record disc. The body includes
a substantially flat annular flange which surrounds and extends outwardly
from an elevated central hub having a spindle hole therein. And, layers of
flexible cushioning material are attached respectively on opposite sides
of the flange for engaging the recording area of overlying and underlying
record discs.
We have discovered that velvet, a precision cut upright pile fabric, is
especially suitable for the accessory, and that significant advantage is
gained by using an annulus of velvet which protrudes above any permanently
elevated portions of the hub and has an inside diameter which is greater
than the diameter of the record label area, so as to form an accommodating
nest for the label areas of records whose label areas are thickened or
elevated.
An accessory constructed in accordance with our invention makes an
excellent turntable cover, easily removed to be cleaned. Of course, if it
is to be used only in this mode, the velvet annulus need be used only on
the top side of the accessory and the device need not be adapted through
hub elevation or other measures to drop with the record on a changer
mechanism.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention, we use a body
of light-weight non-ferrous metal having an elevated hollow central hub
and an elevated hollow outer rim, the respective outer and inner
perimeters of which approximately match the perimeters of the annular
recording and leadout area on the record and form circular abutment edges
for the cushioning material, such that the cushioning material is secure
and engages solely in the recessed area of a record having a thickened rim
and label area.
To best adapt the accessory for dropping with an overlying record disc
through the changing operation on the spindle of a record changer, the
hollow central hub has a central opening therethrough, and a cap is
mounted for limited vertical movement through said central opening with
the cap having the spindle hole therein.
The above and additional important aspects of our invention are explained
in detail in the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the
record carrier accessory of the invention;
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) each are sectional elevations, partially cut away, of
the record carrier accessory of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation, partly cut away, illustrating another
record carrier accessory embodying important aspects of our invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional nominally 12 inch diameter
phonograph record disc illustrating the various annular areas on the disc;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one common form of automatic
record changing spindle mechanism;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another common form of
automatic record changing spindle mechanism;
FIG. 7(a) is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the cross-section of a
nominally 12 inch diameter phonograph record disc, illustrating in part
the EIA standards for dimensional tolerances of record discs having raised
rims and label areas;
FIG. 7(b) is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the cross-section of a
nominally 12 inch diameter phonograph record disc, illustrating in part
the IEC standards for dimensional tolerances of record discs having raised
rims and label areas;
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic fragmentary elevations, partially in
section, illustrating records of different cross-sectional configuration
in use with the record carrier accessory of FIG. 1 on the changer spindle
of a phonograph; and,
FIG. 11 is a schematic fragmentary elevation, partially in section,
illustrating a stack of phonograph records interleafed with record carrier
accessories on the turntable of a phonograph.
Referring first for background to FIGS. 4 through 7, a conventional
nominally 12 inch diameter phonograph record disc has, typically on each
side thereof, an outer rim area 10 containing a lead-in groove spiral (not
shown), a recording area 12 containing spiral grooves in which the
recorded information is embodied, a leadout area 14 surrounded by the
recording area and containing a spiral groove of high pitch which ends in
a finishing circle groove 16 to carry the tone arm of the phonograph to an
inward position that initiates its return cycle and, on an automatic
changer, ultimately the dropping of another record to be played. Interior
of the recording and leadout areas 10, 14 is a circular label area 18,
centered in which is a spindle hole 20. The same reference numerals are
used for corresponding record portions in FIGS. 4, 7(a) and 7(b) for
purposes of easy correlation.
The dimensional standards for phonograph record discs have been established
by the International Electrotechnical Commission, abbreviated IEC, an
affiliate to the International Organization for Standardization, and by
the Electronic Industries Association, abbreviated EIA, in accordance with
IEC publication 98 and EIA specification RS-211-C respectively.
In some respects so far as is of concern here the EIA and IEC dimensional
standards are essentially the same for all types of nominally 12 inch
diameter records. The outer diameter of the record is 11.875 .+-. 0.031
inches, the maximum diameter of the recording area is 11.50 to 11.52
inches, and the maximum diameter of the elevated or raised label area is 4
inches. Thickness standards however do vary depending upon the record type
and the standard used. For example, the IEC standard for the thickness of
flush or flat records whether 78 r.p.m. or 331/3 r.p.m. is 0.059 to 0.090
inches; whereas, by EIA standards, for 78 r.p.m. it is 0.090 .+-. 0.010
inches, and for 331/3 r.p.m. it is 0.075 .+-. 0.010 inches. For recessed
records, that is, records having raised label and rim areas so that the
recording area is recessed, the EIA standard is shown in FIG. 7(a) and the
IEC standard is shown in FIG. 7(b).
As can be seen from the dimensional standards, a great deal of variation is
permitted in the thickness and in the cross-sectional configuration of
phonograph records, even among those of the same type; and, in order to
accommodate the total thickness range permitted to nominally 12 inch
records including both 78 r.p.m. and 331/3 r.p.m., it would appear that
the gravity drop types of automatic record changing mechanisms in common
home use, which essentially are thickness discriminators set to select the
lower of stacked records by addressing the area in the immediate vicinity
of the center or spindle hole of the records, would have to discriminate
at about 1/10 inch or slightly more.
The record changer mechanisms in common home use today employ different
types of thickness discriminators on the changer spindle. The changer
spindle holds a stack of records in an elevated position relative to the
turntable and, when actuated, drops only the bottom record which falls by
gravity to the turntable. Two exemplary types of such spindles are shown
in FIGS. 5 and 6.
In FIG. 5, three prongs 22, 24, 26 are retractable to within the confines
of the spindle 28 to drop the bottom record in a stack of records
supported by the prongs. The record which overlies the bottom record and
those overlying it in the stack are retained in the elevated position on
the spindle by a jamming mechanism or retaining cam 30 which is actuated
to protrude from the spindle and exert pressure within the spindle hole of
the record that overlies the bottom record to be dropped. After the bottom
record is dropped, the three prongs reemerge and the retaining cam 30
retracts so that the stack of records again falls onto the three prongs
for support. The thickness discrimination, illustrated by the dimension
"T", occurs between the top of the extended prongs and the lower portion
of the retaining cam. For clarity, the mentioned records are not shown in
the drawing.
In FIG. 6, a retaining cam 32 forces the bottom record in a stack to be
supported on a ledge 34 of a spindle 36, with the upper portion of a
changer cam 38 extending into the spindle hole of the lowermost record on
the stack. When the record changer is actuated, the changer cam 38 moves
inwardly of the spindle to push the lowermost record off the ledge so that
it drops by gravity on the spindle to the turntable; however, the
retaining cam which extends into the spindle hole of the record overlying
the bottom record does not move inwardly, thereby retaining this overlying
record in alignment with the ledge 34 so that when the bottom record drops
and the changer cam 38 reemerges, the overlying record and any records
overlying it in the stack drop down to the ledge 34 for support. The
thickness discrimination occurs between the ledge 34 and the bottom of the
retaining cam 32. For clarity of illustration of the mechanism, the
records referred to are not shown in the figure.
Referring now to FIG. 1 and 2(a), a record carrier accessory constructed in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention includes a
generally disc-like supporting body having an outside diameter at least
approximately as large as that of the record disc with which it is
designed to cooperate. The supporting body includes shaped circular top
and bottom shells 40, 42 connected together to form an elevated hollow
central hub 44, an elevated hollow outer rim 46, and a substantially flat
annular flange 50 joining the rim with the hub. The body shells 40, 42 are
identical, and are formed from 0.012 inch thick sheets of suitable
aluminum alloy, a light-weight non-ferrous metal, and have relatively
large central openings 52, 54 respectively therein, the central openings
registering with one another. Adjacent these central openings and disposed
between the shells is a reenforcing spacer 56 having a registering central
opening 57 therein. The shells are connected together by a suitable
permanent adhesive, joining the shells where they contact one another at
the outer edge of the rim 46 and in the area of the annular flange 50, and
joining the shells with the reenforcing spacer 56.
The laminated supporting body thus formed with raised hollow portions is
light-weight, non-magnetic, thin and of enhanced rigidity. It is a simple
precision structure easily formed, and has a high degree of structural
integrity which resists warpage or other deformity. The exposed outer rim,
and its having a diameter approximately equal to that of the record with
which it is designed to cooperate, facilitates handling the accessory
without contacting other areas of the accessory with the hands,
facilitates centering of one or more accessories interleafed in a record
stack, and facilitates handling of such a stack.
The elevated or raised outer rim 46 has an inner perimeter defined on the
top and bottom body shells by circular abutment edges 58, 60 respectively.
The width of the rim along the diameter of the accessory approximately
corresponds in extent to the width of the rim area on the record, and the
diameter of the circular abutment edges 58, 60 defining the inner
perimeter of the rim 46 corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of
the recording area on the record, all as is evident by inspection of FIGS.
8 through 11.
The hollow central hub 44 has raised top and bottom flat annular portions
62, 64, the inner perimeters of which are formed by the openings 52, 54 in
the body shells and the outer perimeters of which are defined on the top
and bottom shells by circular abutment edges 66, 68 having a diameter
exceeding that of the record disc label area.
The hub 44 is a composite construction which includes not only the raised
annular portions 62, 64 internally interconnected by the annular
reinforcing spacer 56, but also includes a free hub cap 70 captured in the
registered central openings 52, 57 in the top shell 40 and spacer 56
respectively. The cap has a flat rigid upper plate portion 72 which spans
the registered central openings 52, 54, 57 and is fully exposed on both
its top and bottom sides by said openings. The plate portion 72 of the cap
is circular and has a central spindle hole 74 therein, the axis 75 of
which lies normal to the hub and constitutes the effective central axis of
the body. The cap includes a circular skirt portion 76 which depends
downwardly from the perimeter of the circular plate 72, and a flange
portion 78 which extends laterally from the lower perimeter of the skirt
76. The annular flange portion 78 of the cap is captured between the top
and bottom shells, or more particularly between the bottom shell and the
annular spacer 56, for limiting vertical movement of the free cap to
between the position shown in FIG. 2(a), where the plate portion 72 is
approximately flush with the upper annular hub portion 62, and a position
where the plate portion 72 and supporting skirt protrudes above the upper
annular hub portion 62, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.
When the cap moves, the skirt portion 76 loosely engages the perimeter of
the registering openings 52, 57 in the top shell and reinforcing spacer so
as to restrict lateral movement of the cap to a negligible degree of
movement.
The cap 70 is formed from 0.010 inch thick stainless steel sheet so that it
has good structural rigidity and is not damaged or scored by engagement
with the other aluminum parts or with changer mechanisms. Being small and
relatively thin, it adds negligible weight to the carrier accessory. Also,
its upper plate 72, being thin compared to the hub 44 and flange 50, adds
a minimum of changer effective thickness to an overlying record when in
the ready-to-drop position on a record changer. Further, since the cap
plate is offset toward the top of the accessory, that is the lower
position of the cap plate is well over the lower annular hub portion 64,
the overlying accessory will not drop with an underlying record.
Upper and lower layers 80, 82 of flexible compressible cushioning material
are disposed on opposite sides of the flange 50 concentrically with the
body for engaging the recording area of overlying and underlying record
discs. The upper layer 80 is in the form of an annulus of velvet or
precision cut upright pile fabric disposed concentrically on the body and
extending between the respective abutment edges 58, 66 of the rim and hub,
the fabric being connected to the flange 50 and abutment edges 58, 66 by a
suitable permanent adhesive. The abutment edges 58, 66 frame the velvet
annulus accurately, preserve appearance, prevent raveling, and protect the
perimeter of the fabric annulus from wear and abuse. Similarly, the lower
layer 82 is in the form of an annulus of velvet or precision cut upright
fibrous pile fabric disposed concentric on the body and extending between
the abutment edges 60, 68 of the rim and hub, the annulus being similarly
connected to the flange 50 and abutment edges 60, 68 by suitable permanent
adhesive.
The upper and lower velvet annuli 80, 82 each have flat outer surfaces or
surface zones 84, 86 defined by the free ends of the upright pile at an
accurately predetermined level above or outward from the respective
abutment edges of the hub and rim; or, stated differently, the velvet
annuli 80, 82 are of sufficient thickness to protrude a known distance
above the hub and rim. This protrusion of the cushioning material in
conjunction with the elevated hub and rim construction accounts for
annular relief spaces 88, 90 disposed above and below the rim for
accommodating thickened rims of overlying and underlying records, and
accounts for relieved areas or nests 92, 94 above and below the hub 48 for
accommodating thickened record label areas of overlying and underlying
record discs. Thus, regardless of record configuration within the
standards, the outer surfaces 84, 86 of the upper and lower cushioning
layers 80, 82 constitute the sole engagement with overlying and underlying
record discs, except when the overlying disc is in the ready position on
the spindle of a record changer when rotary coupling is of no consequence.
The area of the record disc engaged is of course the recording and
lead-out areas, the velvet annuli fitting within the confines of those
combined annular areas and constituting the sole engagement even with
discs having recessed recording and lead-out areas.
The movable hub cap 70 in its upwardly protruding position lies flush with
or slightly above the upper surface 84 of the upper velvet layer 80.
However, as seen in FIGS. 8 through 10, this occurs only when the carrier
accessory underlies a record in the ready-to-drop position on the spindle
of a record changer.
FIG. 2(b) illustrates the same structure as is shown in FIG. 2(a), except
that reference numerals are not utilized so that the dimensions may be
clearly shown. For use with nominally 12 inch records, the dimensions
shown in FIG. 2(b) can be compared with the EIA and the IEC dimensional
standards for such records.
Referring now to FIG. 3, many of the basic features of our invention are
embodied in the construction there depicted, this construction
corresponding to our original prototypes which we successfully tested. In
this construction, the body of the record carrier accessory includes an
elevated central hub 96 and a substantially flat annular flange 98
surrounding and extending outwardly from the elevated hub. Top and bottom
annuli of flexible cushioning material 100, 102 are attached with
permanent adhesive concentrically on the top and bottom sides of the
flange, and surround the elevated hub for engaging the recording area of
overlying and underlying record discs. The cushioning material used is
velvet of 0.055 inches thickness, and the respective annular layers 100,
102 have inside diameters which exceed the diameter of the label area on
the record, and outside diameters which are substantially equal to or
slightly less than the outer diameter of the recording area on the record.
Since the annuli protrude from the flange, annular reliefs or open spaces
104, 106 exist above and below an exposed outer rim portion 108 of the
flange, and annular reliefs or open spaces 110, 112 exist above and below
an exposed central portion 109 on the flange 98. These reliefs or open
spaces accommodate the enlarged rims and label areas of overlying and
underlying records to enhance engagement of the velvet layers with the
recording areas on the records and provide | | |
