LOCKABLE DISC STORAGE CONTAINER FOR INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIA

Abstract

A storage container having a cover and a disc base is disclosed. The storage container is used for storing information storage media. The cover of the storage container has a locking element used to wrappedly engage a locking mechanism positioned on the disc base. When the locking mechanism is engaged in the locking element, the storage container is securely locked. In order to separate the cover and the disc base, the connecting part has to be broken. Accordingly, the storage container is lockable and prevents the information storage media disposed therein from being stolen.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a disc storage container for storing information storage media, and particularly, to a lockable disc storage container for storing information storage media in disc format.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A disc storage container is a container for storing information storage media. The disc storage container has the space for storing various numbers of discs for storage for customers' purchase convenience. A lot of discs are stored inside the disc storage container for selling on the market.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a conventional disc storage container 10. The conventional disc storage container 10 has a base 12 and a cover 14. The base 12 is a disc-shaped object for holding the discs. A cylindrical shaft 16 is at the center of the disc base 12, and is to extend inside the cover 14. The cylindrical shaft 16 is high enough to be inserted through a center hole of discs for holding quantities of discs on the base 12. The cover 14 is hollow in the center which is capable of holding specific quantities of discs, and has an opening at the bottom thereof. The cover 14 includes a plurality of locking projections 18 formed at the bottom of the cover 14. The locking projections 18 are to be engaged with a plurality of locking grooves 19 disposed at the edge of the base 12. After the cover 14 is placed over and on the base 12, the cover 14 is fastened to the base 12 by means of rotating the cover 14 on the base 12 that shifts and engages the locking projections 18 into the corresponding locking grooves 19.

However, when the disc storage container 10 and the discs stored therein are kept in stores as when sold in the market, the base 12 and the cover 14 can be separated apart easily by means of rotating the cover and shifting to disengage the locking projections 18 out of the locking grooves 19, because the cover 14 is only fastened by simply inserting the locking projections 18 into the locking grooves 19. This is why those information storage media inside the disc storage container 10 may be easily taken out. The conventional disc storage container 10 cannot prevent information storage media displayed therein from being stolen. Some merchants wrapped over the disc storage container 10 with a plastic film 21, but the plastic film 21 can be torn off easily. For this reason, the present invention provides a lockable disc storage container to replace conventional disc storage containers, and to overcome the drawbacks thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention, and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a disc storage container, and particularly, to provide a lockable disc storage container that overcomes drawbacks of the conventional disc storage container.

According to the present invention, a lockable disc storage container for information storage media in disc format is provided. The lockable disc storage container has a disc base for holding information storage media, and a cover which is configured to engage with and fitted over the disc base. The disc base includes at least a coupling groove disposed at the edge of the disc base, a cylindrical shaft positioned at the center of the disc base, and a locking mechanism disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft. The cover of the lockable disc storage container has at least a coupling projection corresponding to the coupling groove at the edge of the disc base, and a locking element disposed at the center of a top surface of the cover to wrappedly engage with the locking mechanism disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft.

Accordingly, the lockable disc storage container of the present invention is locked when the locking mechanism of the disc base is securely wrapped by the locking element of the cover. Subsequently, the locking mechanism has to be broken, and then the cover and the disc base can be separated apart. As a result, the lockable disc storage container of the present invention is capable of preventing accidentally opening, and also preventing information storage media from being stolen.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conventional disc storage container.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams illustrating a lockable disc storage container including a disc base and a cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating the mechanisms and method to lock the cover to the disc base and the mechanisms and method to separate apart the locked cover from the disc base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which components with substantially the same functions are identified by the same reference numeral for the sake of simplicity. It should be noted, however, that the present invention is in no way limited to the following illustrative embodiments.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which are schematic diagrams illustrating a lockable disc storage container which includes a disc base 22 (shown in FIG. 2) and a cover 24 (shown in FIG. 3) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The disc base 22 is made of a plastic material for holding a variety of information storage media in disc formats, such as CDs, VCDs, or DVDs. The shape of the disc base 22 may be customized, and is not limited to the disc-shaped disc base 22 as shown in FIG. 2. A circular collar 25 is disposed close to the edge of the disc base 22. The collar 25 may be in continuous circular form as shown in FIG. 2 or to be composed of a plurality of discontinuous portions disposed around the edge of the disc base 22 (not shown). The disc base 22 includes three coupling projections 261, 262, 263 separately disposed around the edge of the disc base 22, as shown in FIG. 2. The disc base 22 has a cylindrical shaft 28, which is formed with the disc base 22, installed at the center of the disc base 22, and is to be positioned inside the cover 24. The cylindrical shaft 28 is to be inserted through a center hole of information storage media. The length of the cylindrical shaft 28 may be varied depending on the number of information storage media to be packed, or the height of the cover 24 of the disc storage container. A locking mechanism 30 is positioned at the top of the cylindrical shaft 28 of the present invention. The locking mechanism 30 includes a bolt 32 and at least a breakable connecting part for break-off. For instance, the bolt 32 is connected to the top of the cylindrical shaft 28 by a plurality of break-off connecting parts 341, 342. In addition, the bolt 32 is has a semicircular shape when viewed from the top.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 24 of the disc storage container is made of a plastic material. The cover 24 is in a cylindrical-shape and is hollow in the center, and has an opening at the bottom; the inside portion of the cover 24 comprise of space capable of containing a particular quantity of information storage media. The height of the cover 24 is matched with the length of the cylindrical shaft 28, in which the length of the cylindrical shaft 28 may be varied depending upon the number of information storage media intended to be packed. At least a coupling projection is formed along the outer wall at the bottom of the cover 24 adjacent to the opening of the cover 24. For example, three coupling projections 361, 362, 363 are disposed on the outer wall of the cover 24; the coupling projections 361, 362, 363 are corresponded to the coupling grooves 261, 262, 263 formed on the disc base 22 respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. However, the number of the coupling projection(s) and of the coupling groove(s) may not be limited to those shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, and may be adjusted depending upon requirements. The cover 24 has a locking element 38, which is to be engaged with the locking mechanism 30 at the top of the cylindrical shaft 28, located at the center of the cover 24. The locking element 38 includes an abutting projection 39 which is of an integrated design with the cover 24, and comprising a concave trough-shape in contrast with the top surface of the cover 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the abutting projection 39 of the present embodiment is in a shape of a quarter-circle block. However, the shape of the abutting projection 39 is not limited to it. The size and the shape may be modified, and may be matched with the bolt 32 of the disc base 22.

Please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, which are schematic diagrams showing the mechanisms and method for locking the cover 24 to the disc base 22, and the mechanisms and method for separating apart the cover 24 from the disc base 22 when locked. FIG. 5a and FIG. 6a are top view schematic diagrams of the disc storage container 20; and FIG. 5b and FIG. 6b are lateral view schematic diagrams of the disc storage container 20. As shown in FIG. 4, when the cover 24 is capped on and fitted onto the disc base 22, the inner sidewall of the cover 24 at the bottom at the opening is positioned around the outside of the circular collar 25, and the locking mechanism 30 of the disc base 22 is fittedly inserted into the locking element 38 of the cover 24. The locking element 38 includes a locking head 40 and a locking neck 42. The size of the locking head 40 is fit with the bolt 32 of the locking mechanism 30. In order to facilitate the locking element 38 engage in the locking mechanism 30, a shape of the neck 42 thereby also matches with the shape of the bolt 32. After the disc base 22 is covered and fitted by the disc cover 24, the disc storage container 20 is locked by pushing the cover 24 into the disc base 22 with a proper force, as shown in FIG. 5b. The bolt 32 positioned at the top of the cylindrical shaft 28 slides along the inner wall of the neck 42 of the locking element 38 into the locking head 40 of the cover 24. The bottom of the bolt 32 is snugly abutted to the bottom's inner side of the locking head 40, and the bolt 32 is firmly stuck inside the locking head 40. Therefore, the cover 24 and the disc base 22 cannot be separated apart easily. Referring to FIG. 5a, the abutting projection 39 of the locking head 40 is inserted into an occupying space between the semicircular-shaped bolt 32 and the locking head 40. Since the quarter-circle block abutting projection 39 is positioned in the occupying space between the semicircular-shaped bolt 32 and the locking head 40, the abutting projection 39 is able to rotate within the occupying space (occupying a half-circle). For tightening together the cover 24 and the disc base 22, the cover 24 or the disc base 22 may be rotated; for example, the cover 24 of the present preferred embodiment is rotated in a clockwise direction for inserting the coupling projections 361, 362, 363 into the coupling grooves 261, 262, 263, while the disc base 22 is in a fixed position as shown in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b. Therefore, the cover 24 and the disc base 22 are firmly locked, and the joint strength between the cover 24 and the disc base 22 is strengthened.

Please refer to FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b. When taking out the information storage media (not shown) stored in the disc storage container 20, the cover 22 may be separated from the cover 24 by rotating the cover 24 in a counterclockwise direction. The coupling projections 361, 362, 363 are slid out of the coupling grooves 261, 262, 263. At the same time, the abutting projection 39 of the cover 24 is abutted against the bolt 32 and using the rotating force to push against the bolt 32 for twisting the connecting parts 341, 342 to break off the connecting parts 341, 342 between the cylindrical shaft 28 and the locking head 40. Consequently, the connecting parts 341, 342 are broken off for separating the bolt 32 from the cylindrical shaft 28. Therefore, the separated bolt 32 is left in the locking head 40 of the cover 24.

The disc storage container 20 of the present invention utilizes the locking element 38 of the cover to wrappedly engage with the locking mechanism 30 of the disc base 22. The bolt 32 of the locking mechanism 30 is firmly stuck in the locking head 40 for the purpose of locking the cover 24 and the disc base 22. Those with intention to take out the information storage media from inside the disc storage container 20 must rotate the cover 24 or the disc base 22 to twist and break off the connecting parts 341 and 342 for separating the cover 24 from the disc base 22. In addition, the destroying of the assembling of the cover 24 and the disc base 22 is irreversible. The destroying of the cover 24 and the disc base 22 may notify purchaser that the disc storage container 20 has been opened. It is impossible to take out the information storage media inside the disc storage container 20 without damaging or destroying the locked cover 24 and the disc base 22. Consequently, the disc storage container 20 of the present invention is capable of preventing being stolen.

According to aforementioned preferred embodiment, the quarter-circle block abutting projection is engaged and matched with the semicircle-shaped bolt. However, the shape of the bolt and the abutting projection may not be limited to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment. The size or the shape of the abutting projection may be modified as long as the abutting projection has a proper contact surface between the abutting projection and the bolt for pushing the bolt and rotating the cover to break the contacting parts between the bolt and the cylindrical shaft. In addition, the quantity and the size of the coupling projection(s), the coupling groove(s), or the break-off connecting part(s) may be modified depending upon requirements, but are not limited to those shown in above-mentioned preferred embodiment.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.

Claims

1. A lockable disc storage container for storing information storage media, comprising:

a disc base comprising: at least a coupling groove disposed at the edge of the disc base; a cylindrical shaft positioned at the center of the disc base; and a locking mechanism disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft; and

a cover configured to engage with and fitted over the disc base, and the cover comprising: at least a coupling projection corresponding to the coupling groove at the edge of the disc base; and a locking element disposed at the center of a top surface of the cover to wrappedly engage the locking mechanism disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft.

2. The lockable disc storage container of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes at least a break-off connecting part connected to the cylindrical shaft.

3. The lockable disc storage container of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a locking head and a neck; and the locking mechanism comprising a bolt to be abutted against the locking head.

4. The lockable disc storage container of claim 3, wherein the locking element comprising an abutting projection comprising a concave trough-shape in contrast with the top surface of the cover, and the abutting projection is inserted into an occupying space between the bolt and the locking element while the locking element is wrappedly engaging the locking mechanism.

5. A lockable storage container for storing information storage media, comprising:

a disc base comprising: at least a coupling groove disposed at the edge of the disc base; a cylindrical shaft positioned at the center of the disc base; a bolt disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft; and at least a break-off connecting part connecting the bolt to the cylindrical shaft; and

a cover configured to engage with the disc base, and the cover comprising: at least a coupling projection corresponding to the coupling groove at the edge of the disc base; and a locking element disposed at the center of a top surface of the cover to wrappedly engage the bolt disposed at the top of the cylindrical shaft; the locking element comprising an abutting projection capable of inserting into an occupying space between the bolt and the locking element, and the abutting projection is able to rotate within the occupying space.

6. The lockable disc storage container of claim 5, wherein the locking element comprising a locking head and a neck, and the bolt is abutted against the locking head while the locking element is wrappedly engaging the bolt.

7. The lockable disc storage container of claim 6, wherein the cover is separated from the disc base by rotating the cover along a circumference of the disc base in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction after the locking element is wrappedly engaged with the bolt, and allowing the abutting projection pushing the bolt to break the break-off connecting part.

8. The lockable disc storage container of claim 7, wherein the bolt is left inside the locking head after the break-off connecting part is broken off.