Compact disk case

Abstract

A compact disk case is provided having a disk retainer provided inside each of two hinged cover shells thereof, the disk retainer having two springy radial arms respectively upwardly extended from the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell toward each other, first and second retaining blocks respectively formed integral with the free ends of the springy radial arms, the first retaining block having a protruded portion forwardly extended from one side thereof toward the second retaining block, the second retaining block having a recessed portion adapted for receiving the protruded portion of the first retaining block to prevent the retaining blocks from jamming the user's finger during disk loading, and two disk retaining flanges provided at the retaining blocks for synchronous movement with the retaining blocks and locking the loading disk.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to CD, VCD, DVD cases and, more specifically, to a disk retainer provided in a disk case for holding a CD, VCD, or DVD.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A polystyrene compact disk case has a disk retaining structure in each of the two hinged cover shells for holding a computer readable disk, for example, a CD, VCD, or DVD. The disk retaining structure comprises a number of upright teeth, forming a split tube. The upright teeth each have the respective free end, namely, the top end terminating in a protruded retaining flange. When loading a disk, the upright teeth are compressed radially inwards and inserted into the circular center hole of the disk. After the disk has been set into position, the upright teeth immediately return to their former positions, thereby causing the protruded retaining flanges of the upright teeth to lock the disk. When unloading the disk, hold the case with one hand, and pull the disk outwards from the upright teeth with the other hand. When pulling the disk from the upright teeth, the disk tends to be deformed, thereby causing the teeth to damage the surface of the disk or, causing the teeth to deform permanently or to break. U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068 discloses a design adapted to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks. According to this design, the disk retaining structure comprises a base portion, a button-like member at the center of the base portion, a plurality of ejection arms in four corners around the button-like member, and a partially annular rim around the periphery. The button-like member comprises two semi-circular segments, an integral living hinge connected between extending radial arms at the semi-circular segments. The semi-circular segments have chamfered edges, forming a disk-retaining capping rim or lip. When aiming the circular center hole of the disk at the button-like member and applying a downward pressure to the disk, the two semi-circular segments of the button-like member are lowered, causing the disk-retaining capping rim or lip to contract and to let the circular center hole of the disk pass. Immediately after the disk has been set into position, the extending radial arms force the semi-circular segments back to their former positions, causing the disk-retaining capping rim or lip to lock the disk. When unloading the disk, press the button-like member with one finger to force the disk-retaining capping rim or lip to pass the circular center hole of the disk, enabling the disk to be ejected out of the button-like member by the ejection arms. This design still has drawbacks. At the initial stage when pressing the button-like member with one finger, the border area of the circular center hole of the disk is forced downwards by the disk-like retaining capping rim or lip, and the periphery of the disk is supported on support means (see FIG. 11 of the specification), thereby causing the disk to deform. Further, when pressing the button-like member with one finger, the relative inward displacement of the semi-circular segments may jam the muscles of the finger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a disk retainer, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art designs. According to one aspect of the present invention, the disk retainer of each cover shell of the compact disk case comprises two springy radial arms respectively upwardly extended in direction from the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell toward each other, the springy radial arms each having a fixed end connected to the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell and a free end, first and second retaining blocks respectively formed integral with the free ends of the springy radial arms, two disk retaining flanges provided at the retaining blocks for synchronous movement with the retaining blocks and locking the loading disk, two upright stop flanges respectively formed integral with the fixed ends of the radial arms, and a plurality of connecting rods respectively connected between the upright stop flanges and the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell. The upright stop flanges support the center area around the circular center hole of the disk, preventing deformation of the disk during loading or unloading of the disk. According to another aspect of the present invention, the first retaining block has a protruded portion forwardly extended from one side thereof toward the second retaining block, and the second retaining block has a recessed portion adapted for receiving the protruded portion of the first retaining block to prevent the retaining blocks from jamming the user's finger during loading of the disk. According to still another aspect of the present invention the disk retaining flanges respectively define with the peripheries of the retaining blocks a respective step for guiding the loading of the disk. According to still another aspect of the present invention, two flexible hinge leaves are bilaterally connected between the retaining blocks for enabling the retaining blocks to be moved upwardly outwards and downwardly inwards relative to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is an extended out view of a compact disk case constructed according to the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a disk retainer for a compact disk case according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plain view of the disk retainer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the loading of a disk on the disk retainer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the unloading of a disk from the disk retainer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disk retainer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the loading of a disk on the disk retainer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring to FIGS. from 1 through 3, a compact disk case is shown comprising a spine 4, two cover shells 1a and 1b respectively hinged to two opposite long sides of the spine 4, pairs of upright clamping strips 5 bilaterally provided at the inner side of the spine 4 each having a protruded paw 51 for holding a brochure or the like, a disk retainer 2 respectively provided at the center of the inner side of each of the cover shells 1a and 1b, and an annular support 3 respectively provided at the inner side of each of the cover shells 1a and 1b around the respective disk retainer 2.

[0014] The aforesaid disk retainer 2 comprises two springy radial arms 24 respectively upwardly extended from the inner sidewall of the cover shell 1a or 1b toward each other, the springy radial arms 24 each having a fixed end connected to the inner sidewall of the cover shell 1a or 1b and a free end, a first retaining block 21 and a second retaining block 22 respectively formed integral with the free ends of the springy radial arms 24, two flexible hinge leaves 28 bilaterally connected between the retaining blocks 21 and 22 for enabling the retaining blocks 21 and 22 to be moved upwardly outwards or downwardly inwards relative to each other, two disk retaining flanges 23 respectively formed integral with the smoothly arched peripheries of the retaining blocks 21 and 22, two upright stop flanges 25 respectively formed integral with the fixed ends of the radial arms 24, and a plurality of connecting rods 26 respectively connected between the upright stop flanges 25 and the inner sidewall of the cover shell 1a or 1b. Further, the first retaining block 21 has a protruding portion 211. The second retaining block 22 has a recessed portion 221, which receives the protruding portion 211 of the first retaining block 21.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 4, when loading a disk 6 onto the disk retainer 2, the periphery of the circular center hole of the disk 6 is supported on the disk retaining flanges 23 around the retaining blocks 21 and 22. When applying a downward pressure to the center area of the disk 6 with the finger(s), the retaining blocks 21 and 22 are lowered and moved toward each other, enabling the disk retaining flanges 23 to pass with the retaining blocks 21 and 22 through the circular center hole of the disk 6. At this time, the protruding portion 211 of the first retaining block 21 and the recessed portion 221 of the second retaining block 22 are matched, preventing the retaining blocks 21 and 22 from jamming the user's finger(s). After the disk 6 has been set into position, the spring power of the springy radial arms 24 immediately forces the retaining blocks 21 and 22 back to their former positions, thereby causing the disk retaining flanges 23 to lock the disk 6. When locked, the bottom side of the disk 6 is supported on the upright stop flanges 25, and the periphery of the disk 6 is supported on the annular support 3 (see also FIG. 1).

[0016] Referring to FIG. 6, when removing the disk 6 from the disk retainer 2, press the retaining blocks 21 and 22 with the finger(s) to move the disk retaining flanges 23 downwardly inwards for enabling the disk 6 to be disengaged from the retaining blocks 21 and 22. During downwardly inwards displacement of the retaining blocks 21 and 22, the stop flanges 25 are kept almost immovable, preventing the disk 6 from deformation.

[0017] In the aforesaid embodiment, the disk retaining flanges 23 are respectively disposed in flush with the top surfaces of the retaining blocks 21 and 22. FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternate form of the disk retainer 2. According to this alternate form, the disk retaining flanges 23′ define with the peripheries of the retaining blocks 21 and 22 a respective step 29 adapted for guiding the disk 6 into position during loading.

[0018] A protocol of disk retaining structure has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawing of FIGS. 1˜7. The disk retaining structure functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0019] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A compact disk case comprising a spine, two cover shells respectively hinged to two opposite long sides of said spine, said cover shells each having an inner sidewall respectively provided with a disk retainer at the center of and an annular support around said respective disk retainer, wherein said disk retainer comprises two springy radial arms respectively upwardly extended in direction from the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell toward each other, said springy radial arms each having a fixed end connected to the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell and a free end, a first retaining block and a second retaining block respectively formed integral with the free ends of said springy radial arms, said first retaining block having a smoothly arched periphery and a protruded portion forwardly extended from one side thereof toward said second retaining block, said second retaining block having a recessed portion adapted for receiving the protruded portion of said first retaining block, two disk retaining flanges respectively formed integral with the smoothly arched peripheries of said first retaining block and said second retaining block, two upright stop flanges respectively formed integral with the fixed ends of said radial arms, and a plurality of connecting rods respectively connected between said upright stop flanges and the inner sidewall of the corresponding cover shell.

2. The compact disk case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disk retainer further comprises two flexible hinge leaves bilaterally connected between said first retaining block and said second retaining block for enabling said first retaining block and said second retaining block to be moved upwardly outwards and downwardly inwards relative to each other.

3. The compact disk case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disk retaining flanges of said disk retainer respectively define with the smoothly arched peripheries of said first retaining block and said second retaining block a respective step.

4. The compact disk case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pairs of upright clamping strips bilaterally provided at an inner side of said spine for clamping sheet means, said upright clamping strips each having a top side terminating in a protruded paw.