OPTICAL DISC ENCLOSURE INCORPORATING FRAGRANCE ATOMIZER
An enclosure for a disc-shaped medium includes a cover panel integrally formed with a media panel. The panels are delineated by a single or double fold forming a spine. The single or double fold allows the cover panel and the media panel to be opened and closed like a book. A disc holder secures the medium to the media panel. A pocket for a fragrance vial or atomizer, or another item, is formed and secured at inner-facing surfaces of the cover panel, media panel and/or spine.
1. Technical Field
This present specification relates to optical disc packaging and, more specifically, to optical disc packages incorporating items such as promotional vials, fragrance atomizers, or other goods.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical discs such as prerecorded compact discs (“CDs”) typically are sold in a “jewel box” or “jewel case” that is a clam-shell container made of relatively hard, transparent, molded plastic material.
In some cases, cardboard-packaged CDs are distributed, and there is a variety of cardboard package configurations. Such packaging is sometimes used for mailing CDs, or for CDs that are bulk-packaged.
Some performing artists or other famous personalities develop and market their own lines of fragrances and other products. Consumers who favor such personalities and buy their CDs might be inclined to purchase their fragrances as well. Providing potential customers with a free sample of a fragrance has long been an effective method for promoting the sale of commercially available fragrances. Generally, marketers may stand in department stores and distribute small vials or atomizers of fragrance to potential customers. While this method of promoting fragrances has proven effective, providing samples of an artist's fragrance to customers who purchase the artist's CDs may allow for enhanced targeting of likely customers. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to utilize a system for inexpensively distributing free samples of fragrance to customers who are likely to purchase CDs.
The typical jewel case for a CD has a hollow space that sometimes is used for various purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,912, to Ganser et al., proposes using the hollow space to accommodate a closed reservoir that is filled with a substance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,455, to Biedebach et al. proposes using the hollow space to accommodate a three-dimensional object. In each of these patents, the object placed in the hollow space must be placed prior to the final assembly of the jewel case. Once the jewel case has been assembled, the object placed within the hollow space is permanently scaled as the jewel case is not designed to be disassembled by the user. Such jewel cases are not believed to be convenient for accommodating a fragrance sample within the hollow space because such hollow spaces are not easily accessible to the user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,143, to Yoshioka, proposes a jewel case where the hollow space is topped with a pivotable lid. The hollow space is compartmentalized and different kinds of filling members, for example fragrant filling, are placed within the various compartments. Such a jewel case would be expensive to manufacture and also does not appear to be convenient for user access. Another example of an optical disc enclosure is a digipack. The digipack comprises a folded cardboard section where a media tray is glued to one of the inner surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,832, to Sada, relates to an optical disc enclosure incorporating a “scent strip” on its outer face. Such an optical disc enclosure suffers from the disadvantage of being irregularly shaped. Therefore, additional costs would be associated with the enclosure's handling as the scent strip may perforate, releasing the fragrance potentially damaging shipping equipment and retail space.
SUMMARYAn enclosure for a CD or a similarly shaped optical disc is made of an easily foldable material such as cardboard and includes a cover panel integrally formed with a media panel. The panels are delineated by a single or double fold forming a spine between them. The single or double fold allows the cover panel and the media panel to be opened and closed like a book. An affixing unit removably holds the disc to the media panel. A securing unit secures a vial or atomizer to the inner-facing surfaces of the cover panel, media panel or spine.
An alternative enclosure for a CD or a similarly shaped optical disc includes a lid unit hingedly connected to a back unit. A raised media tray is attached to and partially lines an inner surface of the back unit. The raised media tray secures the disc. The raised media tray has a footprint that is smaller than a footprint of the back unit such that an open-topped hollow cavity is formed in the space on the inner surface of the back unit that is not lined by the raised media tray. A shaped insert accommodates a vial or atomizer. The shaped insert is removably disposed within the open-topped hollow cavity.
A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In describing the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes its technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. In addition, while in the specific examples described below the item included in the optical disc package is a fragrance vial of atomizer, alternative items can be used that conform to appropriate sizes and shapes compatible with the package.
The disclosed embodiments seek to combine an optical disc or another medium with a fragrance atomizer or vial or another item or container in a single enclosure that is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to ship and use, and is durable.
The enclosure 10 of
Various versions of the optical disc enclosure seen in
The enclosure 10 may be large enough to accommodate a standard 120 mm optical disc. Alternatively, the enclosure 10 may be made smaller to accommodate 80 mm mini-CDs, truncated 80 mm mini-CDs (for example 80 mm mini-CDs with a 60 mm short axis), and/or optical discs of any size.
The enclosure 10 may be made to accommodate a medium other than an optical disc. Examples of other suitable media include, but are not limited to: magneto-optical discs, floppy disks, flash memory cards, smart cards, or any other computer-readable media.
According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the design of a standard jewel case may be modified to accommodate a vial or atomizer containing a fragrance sample.
A shaped insert 38 is provided for securely accommodating a vial or atomizer 39 for containing a fragrance sample. Accordingly, the vial or atomizer 39 may be inserted into the shaped insert 38 and the shaped insert 38 containing the vial or atomizer 39 may be removably secured into the open-topped hollow cavity. The shaped insert 28 may be made of transparent ridged polystyrene or another suitable material and may have an opening for receiving and holding in place the vial or atomizer 39. The shaped insert 28 may have a flat top that is flush with the top surface of the lid portion when the shaped insert 28 is inserted into the open-topped hollow cavity 37 and the lid portion 32 is in the closed position. This feature allows the assembled enclosure 30 to have the same outward size and shape as a conventional jewel case. The opening of the shaped insert may be at its bottom or at its side.
Because the shaped insert is removable, means may be utilized for preventing the shaped insert from inadvertently falling out. The shaped insert may be prevented form inadvertently falling out by the shrink-wrapping that customarily protects jewel cases prior to retail sale. Additionally, means may be used to prevent the shaped insert from inadvertently falling out even after the shrink-wrapping has been removed.
It is advantageous that the lid 22 and back 21 of the conventional jewel case 20 may be used with embodiments of the present invention. As these parts are readily available, the cost for implementing the present invention may be reduced.
The above specific embodiments are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.
Claims
1. An enclosure for an optical disc, comprising:
- a cover panel integrally formed with but delineated from a media panel by a single or double fold forming a spine between the cover and media panels, the single or double fold forming a hinge about which the cover panel and the media panel pivot so the enclosure is opened and closed like a book;
- a disc holder for securing an optical disc to the media panel; and
- a pocket secured to at least one of the cover panel and the media panel and shaped and dimensioned for removably securing a vial or atomizer at the inner-facing surfaces of the cover panel and media panel.
2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the cover panel and media panel are formed from paper, cardboard or foldable plastic.
3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the disc holder is a hub for gripping a center hole of the disc.
4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the disc holder is a sleeve or pocket for holding the disc.
5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the disc holder comprises non-permanent adhesive for removably securing the disc to the media panel.
6. The enclosure of claim 1, in which the pocket is secured to the spine.
7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises two slits in the spine and spine material between the slits extending away from the spine to define said pocket.
8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises a loop of paper, cardboard or plastic secured to an inner-facing surface of the enclosure.
9. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the atomizer or vial contains a fragrance sample.
10. An enclosure for a disc-shaped medium, comprising:
- a lid unit hingedly connected to a back unit;
- a raised media tray for securing the medium, attached to and partially lining an inner surface of the back unit, the raised media tray having a footprint that is smaller than a footprint of the back unit such that an open-topped hollow cavity is formed at the inner surface of the back unit that is not lined by the raised media tray; and
- a shaped insert for accommodating a vial or atomizer, the shaped insert being removably disposed within the open-topped hollow cavity.
11. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the shaped insert comprises a lip that extends over the surface of the raised media tray such that when the lid is in a closed position, the shaped insert is secured in place.
12. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the lid, media tray and the back are made of polystyrene.
13. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the medium is an optical disc.
14. The enclosure of claim 10, wherein the lid and back units are substantially identical to corresponding segments of a conventional CD jewel case.
16. An enclosure for an optical disc, comprising:
- a cover panel integrally formed with but delineated from a media panel by a single or double fold forming a spine between the cover and media panels, the single or double fold forming at least one hinge about which the cover panel and the media panel pivot so the enclosure is opened and closed like a book;
- a disc holder for securing an optical disc to the media panel; and
- a pocket secured to at least one of the cover panel and the media panel and shaped and dimensioned for removably securing an item at the inner-facing surfaces of the cover panel and media panel, said item being offset from the disc along the direction of a radius of the disc.
17. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein the pocket is integrally formed with the cover and media panels from single blank of flexible sheet material.
18. The enclosure of claim 17, wherein the spine is elongated and the blank includes two slits spaced along the length of the spine and each extending at least across the spine, said slits forming said pocket upon folding the blank along said single or double folds.
19. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein the sheet material of the blank is cardboard.
20. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein the pocket is adhesively but removably secured to at least one of the cover panel, the media panel, and the spine.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 15, 2007
Publication Date: May 21, 2009
Inventors: Jeff Rothstein (New York, NY), Gary Lenkeit (New York, NY)
Application Number: 11/940,904
International Classification: B65D 85/57 (20060101);