Media jewel case

• US 20030038050A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Steven Mckean
• Original Assignee: Patrick Steven Mckean
• Inventors: McKean, Patrick Steven
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.5
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/38 Visual features other than those contained in record tracks or represented by sprocket holes the visual signals being auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/045 comprising centre hole locking means

Abstract

A jewel case for storing and transporting compact discs and related optical storage media. The jewel case includes a front cover, back cover and a hinge region connecting the front and back covers. At least one of the surfaces of the covers is treated to enhance its ink-receptive properties such that it can accept direct printing of text, graphics and related indicia, thereby obviating the need for separate printed indicia-containing inserts. Suitable plastic, such as high impact polystyrene, is used to make up the ink-receptive portions of the jewel case, thereby reducing its brittleness. The reduced thickness and simplistic configuration of the jewel case saves manufacturing and shipping costs, while the use of smaller quantities of plastic, as well as the reduction or elimination of paper inserts, results in reduced environmental impact once the jewel case is discarded.

Claims

1. A jewel case for a media disc, which includes:

a front cover;

a rear cover; and

a connecting region integrally formed with said front cover and said rear cover of a high impact material, wherein said material is further characterized to provide surfaces of said covers to be ink-receptive such that printed indicia used to facilitate identification of information contained on the media disc can be directly accepted.

2. The jewel case of claim 1, wherein said material provides said surfaces an ability to directly accept embossing.

3. The jewel case of claim 2, wherein at least one of said covers includes an embossed identifying indicia.

4. The jewel case of claim 1, and printed indicia include an enhanced surface tension.

5. The jewel case of claim 1, wherein said front cover is formed in a manner to have a first raised generally planar surface and an integrally connected side wall extending outward therefrom to form a partial enclosure, said rear cover formed with a first raised generally planar surface of a size slightly less than said first raised planar surface of said front cover, an integrally connected side wall extending outward therefrom and a first depressed region formed in said raised planar surface of said rear cover such that a top surface portion of said first depressed region is configured to retain the media disc thereby forming a partial enclosure therefor, wherein said connecting region permits said front cover to fold over and nest said rear cover in a manner to form an enclosure about the media disc.

6. The jewel case of claim 5, wherein a back surface of said first depressed region and side wall of said rear cover define a card stock sheet receiving region, said jewel case further including a card stock sheet having printed indicia used to facilitate identification of information contained on the media disc, wherein said card stock sheet is contained within said receiving region.

7. The jewel case of claim 6, wherein said card stock sheet includes at least two panels.

8. The jewel case of claim 5, wherein said front cover includes a front lip extending outwardly from said side wall thereof and said rear cover includes a rear lip extending outwardly from said side wall thereof and when said front cover nests over said rear cover are said front lip is disposed adjacent said rear lip in a manner such that at least part of said lips do not overlap and remain exposed to aid in the separation of said front cover from said rear cover.

9. The jewel case of claim 5, wherein said first depressed region is generally annular shaped.

10. The jewel case of claim 5, wherein said rear cover includes a second depressed region formed in said raised planar surface of said rear cover to retain another media disc.

11. The jewel case of claim 10, wherein said depressed regions are configured for retaining different sized media discs.

12. The jewel case of claim 5, which further includes a third depressed region formed in said raised planar surface of said rear cover connecting said first depressed region to aid in removing the media disc when disposed in said first depressed region.

13. A method of producing a jewel case for a compact disc, which includes, the steps of:

providing a sheet of high impact thermo formable material;

treating at least one surface of said sheet to enhance its ink-receptive capabilities;

printing suitable indicia on at least one surface of said sheet; and

forming said sheet into said jewel case with at least a front cover, rear cover and interconnecting hinge region.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming is further characterized to form said front cover in a manner to have a first raised generally planar surface and an integrally connected side wall extending outward therefrom to form a partial enclosure, and to form said rear cover with a first raised generally planar surface of a size slightly less than said first raised planar surface portion of said front cover, an integrally connected side wall extending outward therefrom and a first depressed region formed in said raised planar surface of said rear cover such that a top surface portion of said first depressed region is configured to retain the media disc thereby forming a partial enclosure therefor, wherein said connecting region permits said front cover to fold over and nest said rear cover in a manner to form an enclosure about the media disc.