Foldable CD visor case

Abstract

A foldable compact disc case for retaining multiple compact discs to the visor of the vehicle. The foldable compact disc visor case is adapted to be connected to a vehicle visor and includes a foldable body having a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion being interconnected by a hinge. The foldable body is adapted to be retained to a vehicle visor by the use of elastomeric straps that are secured around the perimeter of the visor. The foldable body includes a plurality of pockets located on both the first and second body portions for retaining compact discs. The foldable body further includes a page hingedly connected to the foldable body between the first and second body portions. The page includes a plurality of pockets on both sides for retaining compact discs and includes a plurality of fasteners to permit the page to be selectively attached adjacent either the first body portion or the second body portion so that compact discs can be removed from the foldable compact disc case without the need for the driver to retain the position of the page while removing the discs.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cases for carrying and storing CD's. More particularly, disclosed herein is a CD carrying case or wallet adapted to be removably attached to the visor of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a foldable compact disc visor case that is designed to hold multiple compact discs and attach to a vehicle visor to allow for easy access to the CD's when attached to the visor. The case described herein also allows for easy detachment from the visor, and may be used as a CD wallet when not attached to a visor.

Various types of compact disc cases are used to safely store compact discs when they are not in their original jewel cases. These are typically in the form of flat cases that include a plurality of pockets, each pocket adapted to retain a single compact disc. Other cases include folders that retain one or more compact discs per page providing safe storage for compact discs. Problems arise however, when trying to store or access compact discs in a vehicle.

Typical compact disc cases limit the number of compact discs that can be stored on a given area. Compact disc folders typically have multiple pages that require a user to take their eyes off the road for periods of time in order to thumb through to locate the desired compact disc. Distractions while driving a vehicle such as conversing on a cell phone, trying to locate a desired compact disc, contribute to a significant number of vehicle related accidents every year. Additionally, present cases and folders do not provide for convenient storage or access to the case. While there are some cases designed to be attached to a vehicle visor, these cases do not provide for easy attachment to the visor, and do not convert to an easily carried CD wallet when detached from the visor.

In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a compact disc case that allows for easy portability, attachment, and detachment, and further provides for safe and easy selection of compact discs while the user is positioned in a vehicle.

SUMMARY

The disclosure includes a foldable compact disc case for retaining multiple compact discs to the visor of the vehicle to allow for quick and easy access to compact discs while driving. The foldable compact disc visor case is adapted to be connected to a vehicle visor and includes a foldable body having a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion being interconnected by a hinge. The foldable body is adapted to be retained to a vehicle visor by the use of elastomeric straps that are secured around the perimeter of the visor. The foldable body includes a plurality of pockets located on both the first and second body portions for retaining compact discs. The foldable body further includes a page hingedly connected to the foldable body between the first and second body portions. The page includes a plurality of pockets on both sides for retaining compact discs and includes at least one fastener to permit the page to be selectively attached adjacent either the first body portion or the second body portion so that compact discs can be removed from the foldable compact disc case without the need for the user to retain the position of the page while removing the discs. The elastomeric straps further can be fastened over the foldable body to keep the foldable body in a closed position when used as CD wallet.

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows in the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the foldable CD visor case in a folded position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the foldable CD visor case in a folded position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the foldable CD visor case in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a page of the foldable CD visor case.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the foldable CD visor case having a box hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in the drawings, a foldable compact disc case 10 is adapted to be attached to a vehicle sun visor to permit easy storage and access to compact discs while in a vehicle, while allowing for portability of the case and CD's when away from the vehicle. Vehicles typically include overhead sun visors that are connected to the vehicle headliner by a pivoting hinge to allow the sun visor to be pivoted downward to block the upper portion of the windshield to keep the sun out of the driver's eyes. When not in use, the visor is pivoted upward to rest adjacent the headliner of the vehicle, out of the driver's line of sight. The bottom side of the visor, which faces the driver when folded, is relatively planar, and within easy reach of the driver.

The foldable compact disc case 10, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a foldable body 12. The foldable body includes an internal stiffening member 13 to provide the foldable body with a semi-rigid internal structure, as shown in FIG. 1. The stiffening member 13 can be formed from a variety of materials, including cardboard or plastic. The foldable body 12 has an exterior surface 14 which is covered with an aesthetically pleasing material 18. The exterior surface material can be of various types, including vinyl, nylon, cloth or neoprene, among others. It is desirable that such material be aesthetically pleasing to enhance marketability and include a level of some water resistivity to protect the compact discs within. The interior surface 16 also includes a fibrous material 20. The interior surface material 20 is preferably a woven or non-woven fiberous faced material that will not damage the optical surface of a compact disc when sliding contact occurs.

The foldable body 12 of the foldable compact disc case 10 includes a first body portion 22 and a second body portion 24. The first and second body portions 22, 24, form the foldable body and are interconnected by a hinge 26. The hinge 26 can be either a living hinge formed from plastic or flexible fabric or can be in the form of a mechanical hinge using a pin type arrangement. The hinge may be continuous, having a generally curved appearance as shown in FIG. 2, or it may be a box hinge, having two fold lines, thereby allowing for improved capacity, as shown in FIG. 5. The foldable body 12 includes a perimeter 28 that includes a protective covering 30 to aesthetically enhance the foldable compact disc case 10. The perimeter covering 30 is connected to the foldable body 12 using various techniques such as sewing, heatweld or adhesive bonding. The perimeter covering 30 also assists in retaining the exterior and interior surfaces 14, 16 to the foldable body 12.

The exterior surface 14 of the foldable body 12 includes a pair of elastomeric bands 32 that extend across the foldable body 12. The bands 32 are preferably attached to the inside perimeter surface of the first and second body portions. However, the elastomeric bands 32 may be attached anywhere on the case 10, so long as the bands 32 can fit over the vehicle visor. The elastomeric bands 32 may be attached to the body portions by sewing, heatweld, adhesive bonding or other methods known in the art. Additionally, when the case is not on a car visor, one or both of the elastomeric bands 32 can be stretched over the opposite body member. Such placement allows further securing of the body members, thereby retaining the case in a closed condition.

The elastomeric bands 32 are adapted to be positioned around the vehicle sun visor to retain the foldable compact disc case 10 thereto. The elastomeric bands 32 can be stretched so that they can be slid onto one end of the vehicle visor allowing the proper positioning of the foldable compact disc case 10. While elastomeric bands are shown, other visor retention devices can be used including clips, velcro, adhesive or other means.

The foldable compact disc case 10 can be positioned on either side of the visor. Thus, when the visor is in a stowed position, the case 10 may be between the visor and the vehicle roof, or it may be exposed to the vehicle occupant, depending upon which side of the visor the case 10 is positioned.

The interior surface 16 of the foldable body 12 includes a plurality of pockets 34 located on the first body portion 22 and a plurality of pockets 36 located on the second body portion 24, each pocket adapted to retain a compact disc 37. The pockets 34 and 36 open towards the hinge 26 and are arranged in a tiered or overlapping relationship. Lines 39 represent openings to the pockets 34, 36 which allow the ingress and egress of the compact disc 37. The depth of the pockets 34, 36 are such that when a compact disc is inserted therein, a portion of the compact disc 37 is exposed from the pocket. The exposure of the compact discs 37 from the pockets 34, 36 allows a user to easily access and remove the compact discs 37 from the foldable compact disc case 10. The exposure of the compact discs also permits the user to view a portion of the compact discs for easy identification. The pockets 34, 36 are formed from a fibrous woven or non-woven material that prevents damage to the compact disc 37 from occurring when they are removed from the case 10. The material also assists in retaining the position of the compact disc 37 within the products to limit unwanted movement.

The interior surface 16 of the foldable body 12 further includes a first retainer 38 located on the first body portion 22 at an end opposite the hinge 26. The interior surface 16 of the foldable body 12 includes a second retainer 40. The second retainer 40 is positioned on the second body portion 24 opposite the hinge 26. The retainers 38 and 40 are adapted to retain the first body portion 22 and second body portion 24 together when the foldable compact disc case 10 is in the folded position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first and second retainers 38, 40 can be in the form of magnets or a magnetically attractive metal such as ferrous metal plates, but may also be in the form of velcro, snaps or releasable adhesive. The first and second retainers 38, 40 are also used to retain the orientation of one or more center pages 42. Although only one center page 42 is shown, one will recognize that the case described herein can have a plurality of paper.

The center page 42, as shown in FIG. 4, is positioned on the interior surface 16 of the foldable compact disc case 10 and is positioned between the first body portion 22 and the second body portion 24, along the centerline of the foldable body 12. The flaps 48 can be attached to the foldable body 12 by use of stitching, adhesive or can be releasably attached by use of a hook and loop type fastener. The center page 42 includes a first edge 44 and a second edge 46. The second edge 46 includes a pair of flaps 48 that are adapted to be connected to the hinge 26 of the foldable body 12. The flaps 48 can be attached to the foldable body 12 by stitching, heatweld, adhesive or other means for attaching two pieces of material to one another.

The center page 42 also includes a retainer 50. The retainer 50 is preferably in the form of magnets located on both sides of the center page 42, but may also be in the form of velcro, snaps or releasable adhesive. The center page 42 is adapted to be pivoted to lie adjacent the first body portion 22 or the second body portion 24 and is retained against the body portions 22, 24 by the retainer 50. The center page 42 further includes a first side 52. Closing the foldable compact disc case 10, allows for interaction between the retainers 48, 40, 50 to retain the foldable compact disc case 10 in a closed position. The retainer 50 of the center page 42 allows the page to be flipped and be held adjacent to the first body portion 22 or alternately the second body portion 24 when the foldable compact disc case 10 is secured to the vehicle visor. In an embodiment with more than one page, the pages not directly adjacent to the first or second body portions 22, 24, will lie adjacent to other pages. In the preferred embodiment, the center page 42 includes a retainer 50 of at least one magnet. The first body portion 22 and second body portion 24 include a ferrous metal retainer 38, 40, which each have a contact surface area greater than the contact surface area of the magnet. This allows the magnet to slide about the surface of the metal retainer 38 or 40, while still in contact. Thus, the center page 42 is allowed to move in a direction of its plane, while the case 10 is in the closed position. For instance, in one embodiment the retainer 50 is a round magnet, and the body portion retainers 38 and 40 are oblong metal plates. In the preferred embodiment, the plates are oblong in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the hinge 26. In other embodiments, the retainers 38 and 40 need not be of any particular shape, or may have the same surface area as the magnet retainer 50.

The first and second sides 52, 54 of the center page 42 each include a plurality of pockets 56 that are arranged at an overlapping relationship as shown in FIG. 4. The pockets 56 are arranged such that their openings 58 are oriented towards the second edge 46 of the center page 42. The pockets 56 of the center page 42 have a depth less than the outer diameter of the compact discs to permit a portion of the compact discs to extend beyond the opening of the pocket. This again allows for easy compact disc identification and also permits quick access and removal. The first and second sides 52, 54 of the center page 42 include a woven or non-woven fibrous faced material 60 to prevent marring to the compact discs when they are either inserted or removed from the foldable compact disc case 10. The center page 42 also includes a perimeter 62 that includes a covering 64 that assists in retaining the fiberous material to the center page 42. The covering 64 also astethically enhances the center page 42 and is retained to the center page 42 by sewing, heatweld, or adhesive bonding. While a single center page 42 is shown, it is contemplated that multiple pages can be attached to the foldable compact disc case 10 to permit additional compact discs to be stored within the foldable compact disc case 10. Each page would include a retainer 50 to allow the pages to be held adjacent to either the first body portion 22 or the second body portion 24.

In use, the foldable compact disc case 10 is unfolded to an open position and the elastomeric bands 32 are stretched and positioned around the vehicle sun visor. With the elastomeric bands 32 positioned around the sun visor, the foldable compact disc case 10 is positioned above the driver's head and is viewable upon a upward glance. With the center page 42 positioned adjacent the first body portion 22, compact discs are available for removal from the pockets 36 on the second body portion 24 or the pockets 56 on the second side 54 of the center page. If the center page 42 is positioned against the second body portion 24, compact discs are available for removal from the pockets 34 on the first body portion or the pockets 56 on the first side 52 of the center page 42. To access the discs on either side of the center page 42, the user quickly and easily pivots the center page towards either the first body portion 22 or the second body portion 24 at which time the center page 42 will be magnetically attracted to either the first or second body portions 22, 24, retaining the position of the center page. If retainers other than magnets are used then the center page 42 will be releasably attached to either the first or second body portions 22, 24 retaining the position of the center page.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the disclosure as shown and described, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the disclosure is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable compact disc case for retaining multiple compact discs comprising:

a foldable body having a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion being interconnected by a hinge;

the foldable body including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs;

at least one page hingedly connected to the foldable body and including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs; and

at least one retainer attached to the foldable compact disc case adapted to permit the at least one page to be selectively attached adjacent either the first body portion or the second body portion.

2. The foldable compact disc case of claim 1, wherein the foldable body includes at least one retention member for selectively retaining the foldable body to a vehicle visor.

3. The foldable compact disc case of claim 2, wherein the at least one retention member is in the form of an elastomeric strap.

4. The foldable compact disc case of claim 3, wherein the elastomeric strap is adapted to be positioned around the vehicle visor.

5. The foldable compact disc case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets of the foldable body and the at least one page are in an overlapping arrangement.

6. The foldable compact disc case of claim 1, wherein the retainer is at least one magnet positioned on the at least one page and ferrous metal plates positioned on the first and second body portions.

7. The foldable compact disc case of claim 6, wherein the first and second body portions are retained a closed position by joining the at least one magnet to the ferrous metal plates.

8. The foldable compact disc of claim 6 wherein the ferrous metal plates have a contact surface area greater than the surface area of the at least one magnet.

9. The foldable compact disc case of claim 1, wherein the at least one page and first and second body portions include a fibrous faced material adapted to prevent damage to the compact discs.

10. A foldable compact disc visor case for retaining multiple compact discs to a vehicle visor comprising:

a foldable body having a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion being interconnected by a hinge, the foldable body having a retention member for selectively retaining the foldable body to the vehicle visor;

the foldable body including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs;

a page hingedly connected to the foldable body and including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs; and

at least one retainer adapted to permit the page to be selectively attached adjacent either the first body portion or the second body portion.

11. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 9, wherein the retention member is in the form of an elastomeric strap.

12. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 11, wherein the elastomeric strap is adapted to be positioned around the vehicle visor.

13. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 10, wherein the plurality of pockets of the foldable body and the at least one page are in an overlapping arrangement.

14. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 10, wherein the at least one retainer is in the form of magnets positioned on the at least one page and the first and second body portions.

15. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 14, wherein the first and second body portions are retained a closed position by joining the magnets.

16. The foldable compact disc visor of claim 10 wherein at least one retainer is in the form of at least one magnet positioned on the center page and magnetically attractive plates positioned on the first and second body portions.

17. The foldable compact disc visor case of claim 10, wherein the at least one page and first and second body portions include a fibrous faced material adapted to prevent damage to the compact discs.

18. A foldable compact disc case for the retention of compact discs comprising:

a foldable housing have a first section connected to a second section with a hinge, the first and second sections including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs;

a page hingedly connected to the foldable housing; and

the foldable compact disc case including a retainer to permit the page to be selectably retained adjacent the first section or the section of the foldable housing, the page including a plurality of pockets for retaining compact discs.

19. The foldable compact disc case of claim 18, wherein the foldable housing includes at least one retention member for selectively retaining the foldable body to a vehicle visor.

20. The foldable compact disc case of claim 19, wherein the at least one retention member is in the form of an elastomeric strap.

21. The foldable compact disc case of claim 18, wherein the elastomeric strap is adapted to be positioned around the vehicle visor.

22. The foldable compact disc case of claim 20, wherein the plurality of pockets of the foldable housing and the page are in an overlapping arrangement.

23. The foldable compact disc case of claim 18, wherein the retainer is in the form of magnets positioned on the at least one page and the first and second body portions.

24. The foldable compact disc case of claim 23, wherein the first and second sections are retained a closed position by joining the magnets.

25. The foldable compact disc case of claim 18 wherein the retainer is in the form of at least one magnet positioned on the center page and ferrous metal plates positioned on the first and second body positions.

26. The foldable compact disc of claim 18 wherein the retainer is in the form of magnets positioned on the first and second body positions and at least one metallic plate positioned on the center page.

27. The foldable compact disc case of claim 18, wherein the at least one page and first and second sections include a fibrous faced material adapted to prevent damage to the compact discs.