Storage container for a recording medium with a pivotally mounted tongue

We claim:

1. A storage container for receiving a compact disc, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a recording medium holder having means for holding the compact disc at a center hole of the compact disc and being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first end of the base such that a second, free end thereof is adapted for movement between a first position and a second position;

wherein the means for holding includes a pivotally mounted tongue having a portion which partially receives the center hole in the compact disc,

(c) a cover movable relative to the base and holder and being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the first end of the base; and

(d) means for actuating movement of the holder relative to the base,

whereby, when the cover is pivoted relative to the base, the actuating means causes the holder to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording medium for use away fromt he base and the tongue pivots so that the portion thereof no longer partially receives the center hole of the compact disc.

2. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(i) two side walls formed on the base, each of which has a hole formed therein;

(ii) two side walls formed on the cover, each of which has a pin extending inwardly therefrom adapted to fit into a corresponding one of the holes formed in the side walls of the base, and

(iii) two side walls formed on the holder, each of which has a pin extending inwardly therefrom adapted to fit into a corresponding one of the holes formed in the side walls of the base.

3. The container as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a ramp formed in each side wall of the base leading up to each hole,

wherein each ramp provides a path for each pin to follow into each hole.

4. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(i) two side walls formed on the base, each of which has a hole formed therein;

(ii) a ramp formed in each side wall of the base leading up to the hole;

(iii) two side walls formed on the cover, each of which has a pin extending inwardly therefrom adapted to fit into a corresponding one of the holes formed in the side walls of the base,

wherein the ramps provide a path for the pins to follow into each hole; and

(iv) a living hinge connected between the holder and the base.

5. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(i) a first information containing insert; and

(ii) a pair of spaced tabs extending inwardly from each side wall of the cover for supporting the first information containing insert.

6. The container as recited in claim 5, further comprising a second information containing insert located between the holder and the base.

7. The container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a latch formed on a front wall of the cover and a movable recess formed on a front wall of the base which cooperate via an interference fit to provide a positive opening and closing of the container.

8. A storage container for a recording medium, such as a compact disc or the like, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a recording medium holder including means for holding the recording medium thereon and being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first end of the base such that a second, free end thereof is adapted for movement between a first position and a second position;

wherein the means for holding includes a clamp adapted for releasable engagement with an aperture formed in the recording medium, and

wherein the holder includes a tongue pivotally mounted adjacent the second end thereof, the tongue having a raised portion adjacent the pivoted end which forms part of the clamp,

(c) a cover pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the first end of the base; and

(d) means for actuating movement of the holder relative to the base,

whereby, when the cover is pivoted relative to the base, the actuating means causes the holder to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording medium for use away from the base, and

whereby, when the holder is in the first position, the raised portion is in engagement with the recording medium aperture to lock the recording medium thereon and, when the holder is moved to the second position, the tongue pivots away from the holder to move the raised portion out of locking engagement with the recording medium aperture.

9. The container as recited in claim 8, wherein the tongue is pivotally attached to the holder by a living hinge.

10. The container as recited in claim 8, wherein the tongue is pivotally attached to the holder by a rod formed on the tongue which fits into a groove formed in the holder.

11. The container as recited in claim 8, wherein the raised portion further includes a compressible plug extending outwardly thereof which engages a portion of the recording medium aperture, when the holder is in the first position.

12. The container as recited in claim 8, wherein the holder further comprises:

(i) a slot to accommodate the tongue;

(ii) at least one tab formed on the tongue; and

(iii) at least one recess formed adjacent the slot to receive the at least one tab in order to prevent the tongue from passing through the slot.

13. The container as recited in claim 8, wherein the holder further comprises:

a slot to accommodate the tongue, each side of the slot being configured to slope downwardly and outwardly from a top thereof and each side of the tongue also sloping downwardly and outwardly from a top thereof to permit the tongue to be matingly received in the slot without passing therethrough.

14. A method of manufacturing a storage container for a compact disc, comprising:

(a) forming a base;

(b) forming and pivotally attaching a recording medium holder at a first end thereof to a first end of the base and having a second end free for movement relative to the base between a first position and a second position, and including means for holding the compact disc at a center hole thereof;

wherein the means for holding is formed to include a pivotally mounted tongue having a portion which partially receives the opening in the compact disc,

(c) forming and pivotally attaching a cover, which is movable relative to the base and holder, at a first end thereof to the first end of the base; and

(d) forming means for actuating movement of the holder relative to the base,

whereby, when the cover is pivoted relative to the base, the actuating means causes the holder to move from the first position to the second position and to present the recording medium for use away from the base and to cause the tongue to pivot so that the portion thereof no longer partially receives the center hole of the compact disc.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the substeps of:

forming the base to include two side walls, each of which has a hole formed therein with a ramp formed in one side surface thereof leading up to the hole;

forming the cover to include two side walls, each of which has a pin extending inwardly therefrom adapted to fit into a corresponding one of the holes formed in the side walls; and

inserting the pins along the ramps and into the holes to pivotally attach the cover to the base.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

entrapping an information containing insert between the base and the holder.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

pivotally attaching the holder to the base by means of a living hinge.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container for a recording medium and, more particularly, to an easier to use storage container for a compact, digital, audio disc and related methods for manufacturing and assembling same.

Containers are currently available for storing recording media, such as compact, digital audio discs. For example, currently the most successful storage container for a compact disc includes a rectangular base, a corresponding rectangular cover pivotally connected to the base, and a rectangular disc holder fixedly connected to the base. The rectangular holder includes a circular recess for receiving the disc and a central, circularly shaped, radially ribbed, clamp which receives the center hole of the compact disc via an interference fit to hold the disc in the container. In addition, a small rib or projection is usually formed on the side walls of the cover to effect an interference fit with the side walls of the base to keep the container normally closed. To release the disc, one must pry open the cover, push down on the clamp with the index finger and simultaneously fit one's thumb and middle finger on opposite sides of the disc between the holder and the disc and pull up.

The several following disadvantages associated with this conventional container are well known.

First, the disc is difficult to remove and reattach, thus presenting a nuisance to the user and sometimes even causing breakage of the container, particularly where the cover is pivotally attached to the base. The breakage is partly due to the fact that these containers have been made of plastics with no impact resistance.

Second, the closing rib or projection quickly breaks or wears away, causing the container to undesirably open.

Third, the conventional storage container is relatively difficult to manufacture and assemble by automation due particularly to the difficulty in mating the pivot points between the cover and the base. In addition, automation has been particularly frustrated due to the difficulty in efficiently inserting an advertising card or information insert between the holder and base.

Efforts have been made to facilitate removal of a recording medium such as spacing the recording medium from the base storage container when opened. For example, in the floppy disc art, the following patents disclose means for storing and presenting one or more floppy discs away from a base.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,050, issued to KIRCHNER et al., discloses a case for holding floppy discs having a cover hinged to the body to be pivoted upwardly from the body. A separate lid is also hinged to the cover near the cover's rear edge. To ensure that opening movement of the cover also opens the lid, the lid is provided on its sides with cams or pins, which engage respective cam tracks provided in the body.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,498,583 and 4,478,335, issued to LONG et al., also disclose a floppy disc storage container formed of three molded plastic parts which are pivotally connected together. That is, a disc support member is pivotally mounted to the cover and includes camming surfaces which ride on the cams as the cover is rotated toward its open position. A notch in the camming surface is positioned to engage the cams when the cover is fully opened to allow the disc support member to drop forward a predetermined distance, thereby improving accessibility to the disc.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,369,879 and 4,449,628 issued to EGLY et al., disclose a floppy disc storage container which has a cover with a ledge for receiving a disc therein and a base. The cover is connected tothe base by a resilient living hinge that allows for opening of the lid into a clam shell configuration. The lid is then supported by a stop member against one of the edge walls or by means of a channel groove in combination with a pin.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,034, issued to PAN discloses a storage container for a floppy disc including an elastic tongue plate connected to the lower portion of a right half of the body of the container. A semi-circular opening is centrally formed in an upper end of the tongue plate, wherein the disc is clamped between the elastic tongue plate and the right half of the body. The elastic tongue plate can move outwardly under gravity to present the disc away from the body of the container.

Although the prior art containers described above are reasonably reliable for storage purposes, they still do not teach a storage container for a recording medium, such as a compact disc, and methods for manufacturing and assembling same providing the easiest use by the consumer, the most cost and time-efficient manufacture, the most automated assembly and the greatest marketing appeal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium which is easy to use by the consumer and appealing in its operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium which easily opens, automatically presents the recording medium to the user away from the storage container to facilitate removal, and can be easily closed when the recording medium is replaced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium which meets all industry standards, such as size, and is compatable with standard information containing inserts, but which is stronger, more appealing and receives the insert more easily.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium including a holder for receiving the recording medium, which holder is capable of being automatically raised and lowered by the opening and closing, respectively, of the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an easier to manufacture storage container for a recording medium, which, with little difficulty, receives an information containing insert between the holder and the base.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container for a recording medium and methods for manufacturing and assembling same which lend themselves to fully automated assembly.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a storage container for a recording medium which utilizes a relatively simple, one-step assembly of the container's components.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects of the present invention and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, there is provided the following storage container for a recording medium, such as a compact, digital audio disc, and methods for manufacturing and assembling same.

The storage container includes: a base; a recording medium holder having means formed thereon for holding a recording medium and being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to a first end of the base and the other end being a free end for movement relative to the base; a cover also pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the first end of the base; and actuating means for moving the holder away from the base when the cover is lifted relative to the base, thereby automatically presenting the recording medium away from the base to facilitate removal. There is also provided a mechanism for clamping and unclamping the recording medium held on the holder as the holder is lifted away from the base during opening of the cover. This clamping mechanism includes a stationary half circle clamp formed on the holder and a half circle clamp formed on a tongue adapted for movement relative to the holder when the holder moves relative to the base.

The method of manufacturing the storage container described above includes at least the steps of: forming a base having holes at a first end thereof and ramps leading to the holes; forming a recording medium holder with projections at a first end thereof and having its other end free for movement relative to the base; forming a cover with projections at a first end thereof; forming actuating means associated with the first end of the cover and holder; and inserting the projections of the cover and the holder into the holes formed in the base via the ramps formed in the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of the preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a cut away, exploded view of the rear of the storage container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1 in the partially opened position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1 in the fully opened position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, perspective view of the latch used in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the latch used in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the rear of the storage container of a second emb