WO1997039965A1

WO1997039965A1 - Novel compact disc case

Info

Publication number: WO1997039965A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/005463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald Friedman
Original assignee: Promotional Technologies International Corp.
Priority date: 1996-04-19
Filing date: 1996-04-19
Publication date: 1997-10-30
Also published as: AU5559096A

Abstract

A novel compact disc carrying case (10). It is assembled sleeves (12) attached to an outer cover portion (14). Each sleeve (12) has a front wall (46), an intermediate wall (16), a sheet of smooth material (32) with apertures (42) formed along a central portion thereof and near side regions (60), and a rear wall (62). The front wall (46) overlaying the smooth sheet of material (32) defines first pocket areas (56) for compact disc, and the intermediate wall (16) and the rear wall (62) define second pocket areas (64) for printed material. The sleeves (12) are placed over inner surfaces (72 and 76) of a front and back cover portions (66 and 68) and over a spine (70) of the outer cover portion (14). Material of the intermediate wall (16) in the apertures area (42) is permanently fused to the spine (70).

Description

NOVEL COMPACT DISC CASE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to cases for retaining compact discs (CD) , and more particular to a novel CD case which holds a plurality of CD in sleeves were are retained together in a book format.

Description of the Prior Art

Compact discs have been traditionally stored in jewel boxes. However, since jewel boxes easily crack and take up a consideration amount of space, various new storage containers have been devised, such as those of U.S. Patent Nos. Des. 330,120; Des. 360,800; Des. 362,366; 4,762,225; 4,793,477; 4,850,731; 5,048,681; 5,147,036; 5,154,284; 5,207,717; 5,285,893; 5,370,224; 5,396,987; 5,407,067; ₅,411,134; 5,422,875; and 5,462,160 are representative of the state of the CD case art.

At least three designs, as taught by U.S. Patent Nos. 4,850,731; 5,396,987; and 5,462,160 teach pouches wherein a non-woven backing material is provided to provide a smooth surface upon which the CD can contact without being scratched. In these patents, the non-woven fabric sheets are fused to a backing sheet of plastic to retain them in place. However, this fusing process adds to the manufacturing costs and can interfere with the reliable joining of adjacent sheets of plastic together. Others have attempted to retain the non-woven sheet in place in pouches by adhesives, glues, and heat seals, but with generally inadequate results. Some of these prior art CD cases also include liner note pockets which are not lined with the non-woven sheet.

There accordingly remains a need for an improved construction of a CD case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the above noted deficiencies of the presently available CD cases by providing an improved design to securely retain a non-woven sheet in a CD carrying sleeve, with a plurality of sleeves being retained together in an album form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure IA is a front perspective view of a novel compact disc case of the invention in its closed position.

Figure IB is a partially exposed perspective detail view of the outer cover portion of the case through view lines IB. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the case of the invention partially opened up.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the case opened to reveal sleeves therein.

Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of the case shown through view lines 4A-4A of Fig. 3, showing the various components of a single sleeve though the aperture areas.

Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the case shown through view lines 4B-4B of Fig. 3, showing the various components of a single sleeve outside of the aperture areas.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the case through view lines 5-5 of Fig. 3, depicting the area of attachment of a plurality of sleeves with the outer cover's spine portion.

Figure 6 is a further cross-sectional view of the case through view lines 5-5 of Fig. 3, but only showing a single sleeve joined to the spine of the outer case portion.

Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the construction of a first embodiment of a single sleeve of the case. Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the construction of a second embodiment of a single sleeve of the case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing Figs. 1-7, there is shown a novel compact disc carrying case 10. It comprises a plurality of sleeves 12 which are joined together in an outer cover 14.

Best referring to Figs. 4-7, each sleeve 12 has an intermediate wall 16 with a front side 18 and a rear side 20, and top side 22 and bottom side 24 and left and right side edges 26 and 28. The intermediate wall 16 has an aperture or slit 30 formed therethrough between said top and bottom side edges 22 and 24 which substantially divides the intermediate wall 16 into a right half 16a and a left half 16b. A sheet of smooth material 32 with a top side edge 34 and a bottom side edge 36 and left and right side edges 38 and 40 is provided, which is sized to be slightly smaller than the intermediate wall 16. The sheet of smooth material 32 is chosen from materials which are non- scratching to compact discs, such as non-woven fabrics. The sheet of smooth material 32 is inserted through the slit 30 of the intermediate wall 16 and is placed such that it substantially overlays the front side 18 of said right half 16a and the rear side 20 of left half 16b of the intermediate wall 16. The sheet of smooth material 32 has a number of cut-outs or apertures 42 formed along a central line between the smooth sheet of material's top and bottom side edges 34 and 36. These central line apertures 42 are shown as being capsule shaped, but they can be circular, square or have other shapes. In addition to these central line apertures 42, apertures 44 are formed near the corners 60 of the sheet of smooth material 32. These apertures 44 can be circular, or can have other shapes.

A pair of CD pouch walls 46a and 46b are provided, each having a top side edge 48, a bottom side edge 50, an outer side edge 52 and an inner side edge 54. The CD pouch walls 46a and 46b are positioned on said right and left halves 16a and 16b of the intermediate wall 16 so as to overlay the sheet of smooth material 32, with the top side edge 48, the bottom side edge 50 and the outer side edges 52 of the CD pouch walls 16a and 16b being affixed to the right and left halves 16a and 16b of the intermediate wall 16 along their top side edge 22 and bottom side edge 24, and left and right side edges 26 and 28, respectively, with the inner side edges 54 of the CD pouch walls 46 being unattached and facing inwardly toward each other to thereby provide a pocket 56 adapted for receiving compact discs, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 4B, the inner side edge 54 has a cut-out relief portion 55 which allows a user easy access to the side edges and the hole in the center of a compact disc (not shown) . The CD pouch walls 46 and 46b are affixed to the intermediate wall 16 by attachment areas 58 which pass through the apertures 44 formed near the left and right side edges 38 and 40 of the sheet of smooth material 32, as is best shown in Fig. 4A. These attachment areas 58 can be accomplished by conventional techniques such as heat and sonic welding, and act to prevent the left and right sides 38 and 40 of the sheet of smooth material 32 from shifting relative to the intermediate wall 16 and CD pouch walls 46. Since the attachment areas 58 are positioned near the corners 60 of the sheet of smooth material 32, they do not interfere with the free passage of a compact disc into the compact disc pocket 56.

A pair of plastic booklet pouch walls 62 are affixed to the right and left halves of the intermediate wall 16a and 16b, on the front and rear sides, opposite the CD pouch walls 46a and 46b. These booklet pouch walls 52 have a top side edge 59, bottom side edge 61, outer side edge 63 and inner side edge 65. These booklet pouch walls 62 and the intermediate wall 16 form pockets areas 64 sized to retain written material, such as the booklet inserts that typically accompany a compact disc in a jewel case. The intermediate wall 16, the CD pouch walls 46a and 46b, and the booklet pouch walls 62 are affixed together along their upper, lower and outer side edges by heat or sonic welding 65, or other conventional means.

The intermediate wall 16, CD pouch walls 46a and 46b, and booklet pouch walls 62 preferably comprise plastic sheet material such as vinyl, but can be selected from other known materials.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5A and 5B, a number of sleeves 12 are placed in the outer cover portion 14 having a front cover portion 66 and a rear cover portion 68 hingeably joined by a spine portion 70. The front cover portion 66 has an inner surface 72 and an outer surface 74. The rear cover portion 68 has an inner surface 76 and an outer surface 78. The front and rear cover portions 66 and 68 are sized slightly larger than the sleeves 12. A flap extension portion 80 extends from the back cover portion 68 and has a first detachable attachment means 82 positioned thereon, with a second detachable attachment means 84, complementary to the first detachable attachment means 82, positioned on the front cover portion 66. The complementary first and second detachable attachment means 82 and 84 provide a means to selectably retain the cover portion 14 in a closed position, as best shown in Fig. IA. The first and second detachable attachment means 82 and 84 can comprise hook and lace material, snaps, or any other conventional means.

The plurality of sleeves 12 are stacked in alignment over the inner surfaces 72 and 76 of the front and back cover portions 66 and 68 such that the plurality of apertures 42 formed along the central line of the sheets of smooth material 32 are positioned over the spine portion 70. Portions of the intermediate wall 16 of the plurality of sleeves 12 in the aperture regions 42 are permanently fused to each other and to the spine portion 70 to form fused areas 86. The presence of the apertures 42 along the central line allow portions of the intermediate walls 16 to be reliably fused together and to the spine portion 70 of the outer cover 14 to form the fused areas 86. This type of attachment also prevents the smooth wall portions 32 from shifting or bunching up in the sleeves 12. In the areas with the central 1ine not over the apertures 42, no fusing to the spine portion 70 takes place.

Referring to FIGS IA and IB, the front cover portion 66 and back cover portion 68 of the outer cover portion 14 have the following construction which allows them to carry printed material. While a detail of the front cover portion 66 is shown in FIG. IB, the construction can be the same for the back cover portion 68. The front cover portion 66 has an inner sheet layer 90, a stiffened piece of material 92, such as pressboard, rigid plastic or some other conventional material, an intermediate layer 94, a sheet of material 96 bearing graphic indicia 98, such as paper, and a clear plastic sheet material 100 which covers the sheet of material 96 bearing graphic indicia 98. The inner sheet layer 90, the intermediate layer 94, and the clear plastic sheet material 100 are joined together along edges 102 of the outer case 14 to capture the stiff piece of material 92 and the sheet of material 96 bearing graphic indicia 98 therein. The sheet of material 96 bearing graphic indicia 98 therein can be customized to any particular need. The inner sheet layer 90, the intermediate layer 94, and the clear plastic sheet material 100 can be selected from any number of types of material including vinyl and other types of flexible plastic. The inner sheet layer 90 and the intermediate layer 94 are preferably opaque to hide the stiff piece of material 92 therein. The spine portion 70 of the case is stiffened by the fused areas 86, yet still allows the front and back portions 66 and 68 to hinge freely therefrom.

Fig. 8 depicts a second embodiment of a sleeve 12a, which is similar to the sleeves shown in FIG. 7, except that its intermediate wall comprises two discrete pieces 106a and 106b. Otherwise, it is as sleeve 12 shown in FIG. 7 and as described above.

Constructed as described, as a user turns each page, the compact disc pocket 56 will be on the right hand side of each sleeve 12 and the booklet pocket 64 will be on the left hand side of each sleeve 12 of the case 10. However, it is contemplated that the sleeves 12 can be constructed so that the compact disc pockets 56 and the booklet pocket 64 can be reversed, if desired. Also, if desired, sleeves designed to carry multiple compact disc are also possible based upon the above described designs, i.e. a taller sleeve with two pockets per each side (not shown.) The drawings and the foregoing description are not intended to represent the only form of the invention in regard to the details of this construction and manner of operation. In fact, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated in the following the claims which follow.

Claims

I CLAIM :

1. A novel compact disc carrying case comprising: a) a plurality of sleeves, wherein each sleeve has: an intermediate wall with a front side and a rear side, and top and bottom and left and right side edges, said intermediate wall having a slit formed therethrough between said top and bottom side edges which substantially divides said intermediate wall into a right half and a left half; a sheet of smooth material with top and bottom and left and right side edges and which is sized and placed on said intermediate wall to substantially overlay said front side of one of the left and right halves and said rear side of the other of the right and left halves of said intermediate wall, said sheet of smooth material having a plurality of apertures formed along a central line between said top and bottom side edges of and apertures formed near said left and right side edges; a pair of CD pouch walls, each having a top side edge, a bottom side edge, an outer side edge and an inner side edge, said CD pouch walls being positioned on said right and left halves of said intermediate wall so as to overlay said sheet of smooth material, with said top side edge, bottom side edge and outer side edges of said CD - pouch walls being affixed to said right and left halves of said intermediate wall along their top side edge and bottom side edge, and left and right side edges, respectively, with said inner side edges of said CD pouch walls being unattached and facing inwardly to thereby provide a pocket adapted for receiving a compact disc, and wherein said CD pouch walls are affixed to said intermediate wall through said apertures formed near said left and right side edges of said sheet of smooth material; and b) an outer cover portion having a front cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, a back cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, and a spine portion joining said front cover and back cover portions: wherein said plurality of sleeves are stacked in alignment over said inner surface of said front and back cover portions such that said plurality of apertures formed along the central line between said top and bottom side edges of said sheet of smooth material are positioned over said spine portion, and portions of said intermediate walls of said plurality of sleeves in said aperture regions are permanently fused together and to said spine.

2. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein each sleeve further comprises a pair of booklet pouch walls, one each affixed to said right and left halves of said intermediate wall, on one of a front and rear sides, opposite said CD pouch walls, said booklet pouch walls and intermediate walls forming pockets areas adapted to retain written material.

3. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said inner side edge of a pair of CD pouch walls have a cut-out relief portion to allow direct access to a side edge and central hole in a compact disc.

4. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures formed along the central line between said top and bottom side edges of said sheet of smooth material comprise capsule-shaped cut-outs.

5. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said apertures formed near said left and right side edges of said sheet of smooth material comprise a pair of circular holes.

6. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said sheet of smooth material comprises a non-woven fabric which is non-scratching to compact discs.

7. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said intermediate wall and pouch walls comprise plastic sheet material.

8. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said outer cover portion further comprises a flap portion which extends from said back cover portion with a first detachable attachment means positioned thereon, with a second detachable attachment means, complementary to said first detachable attachment means, positioned on said front cover portion, said complementary first and second detachable attachment means providing means to selectably retain said cover portion in a closed positioned.

9. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 8, wherein said first and second detachable attachment means comprise hook and loop material.

10. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 1, wherein said front and back cover portions are adapted to retain printed material between said inner and outer surfaces.

11. A novel compact disc carrying case comprising: a) a plurality of sleeves, wherein each sleeve has: an intermediate plastic wall with a front side and a rear side, and top and bottom and left and right side edges, said intermediate wall having a slit formed therethrough between said top and bottom side edges which substantially divides said intermediate wall into a right half and a left half; - a sheet of smooth material with top and bottom and left and right side edges and which is sized and placed on said intermediate wall to substantially overlay said front side of one of the left and right halves and said rear side of the other of the right and left halves of said intermediate wall, said sheet of smooth material having a plurality of apertures formed along a central line between said top and bottom side edges of and apertures formed near said left and right side edges; a pair of plastic CD pouch walls, each having a top side edge, a bottom side edge, an outer side edge and an inner side edge, said CD pouch walls being positioned on said right and left halves of said intermediate wall so as to overlay said sheet of smooth material, with said top side edge, bottom side edge and outer side edges of said CD pouch walls being affixed to said right and left halves of said intermediate wall along their top side edge and bottom side edge, and left and right side edges, respectively, with said inner side edges of said CD pouch walls being unattached and facing inwardly to thereby provide a pocket adapted for receiving a compact disc, and wherein said CD pouch walls are affixed to said intermediate wall through said apertures formed near said left and right side edges of said sheet of smooth material; and a pair of plastic booklet pouch walls, one each affixed to said right and left halves of said intermediate wall, on one of a front and rear sides, opposite said CD pouch walls, said booklet pouch walls and first walls forming pockets areas adapted to retain written material; and b) an outer cover portion having a front cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, a back cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, and a spine portion joining said front cover and back cover portions; wherein said plurality of sleeves are stacked in alignment over said inner surface of said front and back cover portions such that said plurality of apertures formed along the central line between said top and bottom side edges of said sheet of smooth material are positioned over said spine portion, and portions of said intermediate walls of said plurality of sleeves in said aperture regions are permanently fused together and to said spine.

12. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said inner side edge of a pair of CD pouch walls have a cut-out relief portion to allow direct access to a side edge and central hole in a compact disc.

13. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said plurality of apertures formed along the central line between said top and bottom side edges of said sheet of smooth material comprise capsule-shaped openings.

14. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said apertures formed near said left and right side edges of said sheet of smooth material comprise a pair of circular holes.

15. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said sheet of smooth material comprises a non-woven fabric which is non-scratching to compact discs.

16. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said outer cover portion further comprises a flap portion which extends from said back cover portion with a first detachable attachment means positioned thereon, with a second detachable attachment means, complementary to said first detachable attachment means, positioned on said front cover portion, said complementary first and second detachable attachment means providing means to selectably retain said cover portion in a closed positioned.

17. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 11, wherein said front and back cover portions are adapted to retain printed material between said inner and outer surfaces.

18. A novel compact disc carrying case comprising: a) a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve having a front wall, an intermediate wall, a sheet of smooth material with apertures formed along a central portion thereof and near side regions thereof, and a rear wall; said front wall, intermediate wall and rear wall being joined together with said sheet of smooth material overlaying said intermediate wall and partially overlaid by said front wall and with said intermediate wall and front wall joined together through said apertures in said sheet of smooth material near end regions thereof, wherein said front wall overlaying said smooth sheet of material define a first pocket area for retention of a compact disc, and wherein said intermediate wall and said rear wall define a second pocket area for retention of printed material; and b) an outer cover portion having a front cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, a back cover portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, and a spine portion joining said front cover and back cover portions; wherein said plurality of sleeves are stacked in alignment over said inner surface of said front and back cover portions such that said plurality of apertures formed along the central portion are positioned over said spine portion, and portions of said intermediate walls of said plurality of sleeves in said central aperture regions are permanently fused together and to said spine, thereby forming said compact disc case.

19. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 18, wherein said sheet of smooth material comprises a non-woven fabric which is non-scratching to compact discs.

20. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 18, wherein said outer cover portion further comprises a flap portion which extends from said back cover portion with a first detachable attachment means positioned thereon, with a second detachable attachment means, complementary to said first detachable attachment means, positioned on said front cover portion, said complementary first and second detachable attachment means providing means to selectably retain said cover portion in a closed positioned.

21. The novel compact disc carrying case of claim 18, wherein said front and back cover portions are adapted to retain printed material between said inner and outer surfaces.