MXPA97007724A - Container for compact discs eyecta - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ejectable portable manual container for storing a compact disk therein comprising: a substantially rigid case comprising a base portion, a cover portion, a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall and a left wall hinge means associated with the front wall and the base portion or the uncovered portion to hinge the front wall to a selected one of the base portion and the cover portion so that the front wall can change in configuration of a position open to a closed position, a tray portion placed in a parallel relationship between the base portion and the cover portion, the tray has a right edge corresponding to the right wall, a left edge corresponding to the left wall , and a trailing edge corresponding to the rear wall, the tray has a cavity therein that molds to the compact disc a adapted to receive at least a portion of the compact disc therein: sliding means for sliding the tray portion from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position extending out of the housing where a portion of the compact disc protrudes beyond the front wall when the tray portion is in the extended position, characterized in that the tray portion has a hinged flange extending outwardly therefrom towards the front wall, the flange having a hub portion extending up therefrom, the hub portion is semicircular and is adapted to extend into the hole of a compact disc when a compact disc is positioned within the tray portion, and the hinged flange is adapted to move downward to a position perpendicular to the tray portion when the tray portion is in the extended position, and because it is provided to a first slot in each of the side walls adjacent the rear wall and a second slot is provided in each of the side walls separated from the first slot, the tray portion having separate fins protruding on each side thereof which extend outwardly therefrom which are received in the first slots when the tray portion is in its fully retracted position and are received in the second slots when the tray portion is in its fully extended position.

Description

CONTAINER FOR EYECTABLE COMPACT DISCS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to containers for compact discs and more particularly to containers for compact disks that allow the user and eject the disc using only one hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the United States Patent No. 5,265,721, the problems that have arisen in recent years in the use of compact discs in automobiles and the like are described. A solution to this problem was described and claimed, where a container is described that allows the user to open the container and remove the disc only with one hand, without significantly deteriorating the concentration of the actuator. Although the invention in U.S. Patent No. 5,265,721 solves the problems described, no stopping is provided for the forward movement of the disk support tray. There is little support for the disc when it leaves the container before inserting it into a disc player. There is therefore a need for an improved compact disc container that can be operated with one hand to release the disc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved compact disc container from which the compact disc can be removed with one hand. Another object of this invention is to provide a compact disc container holding a disc until it extends sufficiently outside the container to be insertable into a disc player. It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compact disc container having a tray portion supporting a compact disc wherein detents are provided when the tray portion slides between its retracted and extended positions. These and other objects are preferably achieved by providing a compact disc container that allows the user to open the container and insert the disc into a compact disc container using only one hand. The container includes a tray that slides along the container between a retracted position and an extended position. The user controls the slide of the tray by sliding a knob mounted on the tray and protruding through the container cover. When the container is opened along a wall of the container, the tray is slid out of the container to its extended position to allow the removal of the compact disc. A panel of hinges in the tray, usually engages on the disc to hold it during its displacement that is released releasing the disc for insertion in a compact disc player. The tray and the lower wall of the container having cooperating indexing means for stopping the tray with respect to the lower wall in their fully retracted and fully extended positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compact disc container in accordance with the teachings of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing a disk extending therein; Fig. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 which illustrates another stage in the operation thereof; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the compact disc container of Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the container of FIG. 1; and Fig. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an improved ejectable container 10 for a compact disc 11. The container 10 is comprised of a substantially rigid box 14, releasable locking means for container 16., a portion of the compact disk tray 18 (Fig. 4) for holding the compact disk with the case 14, a cover brochure support portion 20 and the tray sliding means 22 (Fig. 1). As described in U.S. Patent 5,265,721, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, when the sliding means 22 move along the slot 60 (Fig. 1), the door 32 is opens and the disc 11 (Fig. 3) exits therefrom to the final release position shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, a disc 11 can be released with one hand and the disc 11 can be easily inserted into the disc. a compact disc player as seen in Fig.2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,265,721. Referring now to Fig. 4, the box 14 comprises a base portion 28, a combination cover and a cover brochure portion 20, the aforementioned front wall 32, the side walls 34, 36 and the rear wall 38. The front wall 32 is hinged to the base portion 28 by means of one or more hinges 40 to allow the front wall 32 to pivot from an open position to a closed position.

In the open position, the front wall 32 extends downwardly, perpendicularly to the base portion 28, as seen in Figs. 1 to 4. In the closed position shown in Fig. 7, the front wall 32 is secured by the locking means of the container 16 which are preferably located adjacent the wall 36 so that the user can open and close the wall front 32 with your left thumb while holding container 10 in your right hand. The releasable locking means 16 therefore include a notch 50 in the upper cover 20 adapted to receive therein an arched tongue of similar configuration 51 (Figs 1 and 4). The releasable locking means 16 also include the tongue 16 'integral with the front wall 32 having a projection 16? (Fig. 3) which is received in a notch 100 (Fig. 4) when the door 32 moves to a closed position. Therefore, when pressing on the tongue 51, the projection 16 moves? Outside the slot 100 and open the door 32 towards the position of Fig. 1. The box 14 includes therein the compact disc portion 18 (Fig. 4) which is sized to have a width approximately equal to a half of the length of the base portion 28 as measured from the front wall 32 towards the rear wall 38. The tray portion 18 has a main body portion 19 that includes a semicircular cut portion or cavity 42 having a peripheral flange support similarly configured 44. A front wall 48 closes the opening leading into the cavity 42. A portion of the compact disc 1 1 will engage the cavity 42, resting on the flange holder 44, during storage. A knob 58 extends upwardly from the body portion 19. A semicircular flange 103 extends forwardly from the wall 48 hinged thereto in the hinge 104 (Fig. 4). A semicircular protrusion 106 extends upwardly from the flange 103. As seen in Fig. 5, the protrusion 106 is adapted to enter the conventional round hole 107 provided in conventional compact discs, such as the disc 1 1. Therefore, the diameter of the protrusion 106 molds to the diameter of the hole 107. As seen in Fig. 2, a vane 130 is provided on the bottom of the flange 130, which moves the tab upwards by deflecting the cam. the protrusion 106 in engagement with the hole in the compact disc 1 1 as it moves from its retracted position to its extended position. As seen in Fig. 5, the body portion 19 is enmeshed on each side thereof, as in the enmeshed areas 108, 109, respectively, those areas 108, 109 are displaced on shoulders 1, 10, 1, respectively, provided along the side walls 34, 36, respectively, in the bottom where the side walls 34, 36 intersect the bottom wall 28 (see also the shoulder 1 1 1 in Fig. 4). As seen in Figs. 4 and 6, the rear ends of the body portion 19 end in outwardly extending fins 112, 113. Those fins 112, 113 are adapted to fit in similar grooves 114, 115 (see Fig. 6) placed on the walls laterals 34, 36 at separate locations along them (only slots 114, 115 in wall 34 visible in Fig. 6-see Fig. 4 for slots 114, 115 in wall 36). Also, as seen in Fig. 6, the thickness of the walls 34, 36 varies between the grooves 114, 115. That is, the thickness of each wall 34, 36 tapers from the groove 114 outwards to at least the groove 115 as seen in Fig. 6 to provide a wedging action as the tray 18 moves from the position of Fig. 6 to the flaps 112, 113 which lock into the grooves 115 (providing a retainer for the portion of tray 18 which is in the position shown in Fig. 2). The front door 32 (Fig. 1) also has an elongated slot 116 (see particularly Fig. 7). As seen in dotted lines, the disc 11 'is received in the slot 116 whose disc 11 is ejected, as will be described and such slot 116 helps in an easier opening of the door 32 during the actuation. The slot 116 distributes the pressure on the door 32 uniformly throughout the length thereof and allows the locking tab 51 to be released more easily. The top cover 20 (see particularly Fig. 4) has a pair of elongated, L-shaped spaced apart flanges 117, 118 (see also Fig. 5) adapted to receive and support a booklet 26. A bar can be provided. crossed 119 interconnecting the flanges 1 17, 1 18. The upper cover 20 also includes therein an elongated slot 60 with the tray sliding means 22 extending therethrough (see Fig. 1). Since the cover 20 is preferably made of a transparent material, such as plastic, the booklet 26 is visible and can be easily inserted and removed for observation. Of course, any suitable brochure support media such as those set forth in United States Patent No. 5,265, 721. The knob 58 is preferably located in the right rear area of the tray portion 18 and is used to slide the tray portion 18 along the shoulders 108, 109. The knob 58 of course protrudes through the slot 60 in top cover. The slot 60 is dimensional so that the tray portion 18 is in a fully retracted position when the knob 58 is in the position in the slot 60 closest to the rear wall 38 and, the tray portion 18 is in its fully position. extended when the knob 58 is in a position in the slot 60 closest to the front wall 32. As described hereinabove, the fins 1 12, 1 13 also fit into the slots 1 15 when the tray portion 1 8 moves to the fully extended position to provide a retainer for the tray portion 18 so that it does not exit completely from the box 14. The slot 60 is also sized to prevent dust and foreign particles from entering the container 10.

The container 10 may also include a friction portion on the knob 58 and the stacking slots 64 as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,265,721. The operation of the container 10 will now be described. The user holds the container 10 and pushes the tongue 51 that releases the locking means 16, as described above, allowing the hinged front wall 32 to pivot towards the position of Fig. 1. The user can now move the knob 58 along the slot 60 by sliding through the tray portion 18 from the position of Fig. 6, see Fig. 3, until the flaps 112, 113 enter the slots 115 and the tab 103 drops or pivots towards the position of Fig. 2. This releases the case 106 from the disc 11 and the disc, still partially placed in the tray position 18, extends out of the container 10 and can be inserted into a reproducer of compact discs as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,265,721. Alternatively, with the door 32 in the closed position shown in Fig. 7, the knob 58 can slide along the slot 60 from a fully retracted position until the disc 11 enters the slot 116 (Fig. 7) that it pushes the door 32 to open so that it falls by gravity to the position of Fig. 3 and the sliding of the knob 58 is continued until the disc 11 is in the position of Fig. 2.

Therefore, using only one hand and, without touching the compact disc, the compact disc container has been opened, the compact disc has been removed and the container has been closed. If desired, a plurality of circular depressions 200, such as one at each corner (Figs 1, 5 and 7) can be provided on the upper surface of the portion 20 adapted to be reserved therein in a similar manner (and adapted to receiving therein (and a similar plurality of) protuberances 201 (see Figs 2 and 3) on the concealed surface of the base portion 28 so that one disc 112 can be stacked on top of another. illustrative of the present invention, those skilled in the art should note that the descriptions included are illustrative only and that many other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, so by way of example, not limitation, the tray portion and the booklet support portions can be designed with different dimensions.Also, the container can be adapted for use with other items. discs, for example laser discs. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise construction as shown in the drawings and was described hitherto.

Claims (10)

1 . A portable ejectable manual container for storing a compact disc therein comprising: a substantially rigid box comprising a base portion, a cover portion, a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall, and a side wall left; hinge means associated with the front wall and the base portion or the cover portion for hinging the front wall to a selected one of the base portion and the cover portion so that the front wall can change configuration from an open position to a closed position; a tray portion positioned in a parallel relationship between the base portion and the cover portion, the tray having a right edge corresponding to the right wall, a left edge corresponding to the left wall and a rear edge corresponding to the rear wall, the portion of tray having a cavity therein that molds to the compact disc adapted to receive at least a portion of the compact disc therein; sliding means for sliding the tray from a retracted position within the box to an extended position extending out of the box where a portion of the compact disc protrudes beyond the front wall when the tray portion is in the extended position and, the tray portion having an hinged flange extending outwardly therefrom to the front wall, the flange having a hub portion extending upward therefrom, the hub portion being semicircular and adapted to extend into the center hole of a compact disc when the compact disc is positioned in the tray portion, the hinged flange being adapted to move downward to a perpendicular position of the tray portion when the tray portion is in the position extended.

2. In the container of claim 1, including a tapering tab attached to the concealed side of the flange which abuts against the bottom wall of the container.

3. In the container of claim 1, wherein the tray portion has spaced sides adapted to move over spaced apart shoulders associated with the left and right side walls when the tray position moves the retracted position to the extended position.

4. In the container of claim 1, wherein a first slot is provided in each of the side walls adjacent the rear wall and a second slot is provided in each of the side walls separate from the first slot, the portion of tray having separate fins protruding on each side thereof extending outwardly therefrom which are received in the first slots when the tray portion is in its fully retracted position and are received in the second slots when the tray portion It is in its fully extended position.

5. In the container of claim 4, wherein the side walls are tapered from the first grooves to the second grooves that are thinner in the first grooves and thicker in the second grooves.

6. In the container of claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a pair of elongated separate L-shaped tabs on the hidden side extending toward the tray portion adapted to receive a removable booklet therein.

7. In the container of claim 1, wherein the front wall is elongated and has an elongated slot therein that opens toward the interior of the container and extends parallel to the plane of the first wall at a distance on the related lower wall. generally with the distance between the cavity in the tray portion and the bottom wall so, when a compact disc moves from its retracted position to its fully extended position, you can enter the slot and push it from the front wall to open it.

8. In the container of claim 1, which includes locking means associated with the cover and the front wall including a tongue integral with the front wall extending inward from the front walls, the cover portion having a cut-away portion. where the front wall meets the cover portion configured to the tongue to receive the tongue in the same.

9. In the container of claim 8, wherein the releasable locking means further includes a locking member on the front wall adapted to engage a engageable locking member on the cover.

10. In the container of claim 1, which includes indexing means cooperating on the concealed surface of the base portion and on the upper surface of the cover portion to stack one disc on top of another to prevent slippage of the same. eleven . In the container of claim 10, wherein the cooperating indexing means includes a plurality of separate depressions on the upper surface thereof adapted to receive therein a similar plurality of similarly spaced protuberances on the hidden side.