Videocassette storage and display sleeve

• US 4,987,999 A
• Filed: 01/22/1990
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpha Enterprises Incorporated Canton Oh
• Original Assignee: Alpha Enterprises, Inc. (Nexpak Corporation)
• Inventors: Hehn, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidei, David T.
• Application Number:
  US07/468,086
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 206/1.5, 206/45.31, 206/45.34, 206/387, 206/815, 206/424, 206/459, 229/9, 229/10, 229/11
• US Class Current: 206/387.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0233 Containers for a single cassette
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/815 Finger opening

Abstract

A sleeve for storing and displaying a videocassette comprising a clear plastic, elongated rectangular one-piece member formed with a hollow interior storage chamber completely enclosed except for an end opening through which a videocassette is inserted into and removed from the chamber. A chipboard cover having printed indicia thereon identifying a pre-recorded program on the videocassette is retained within the chamber and slidably receives the videocassette therein. A pair of diametrically-disposed interiorly-facing lug member is formed on the front and rear walls of the sleeve and extend into the end opening to retain the videocassette within the chipboard sleeve. Aperture means is formed in the rear wall of the sleeve to permit removal of the videocassette from the sleeve. Such aperture means comprises one or more finger holes to permit application of finger pressure on the videocassette to overcome the frictional engagement of the videocassette by the lug means. The chipboard cover can be retained in the sleeve by the lug means upon removal of the videocassette from the sleeve.

Claims

1. A sleeve for storing and displaying a videocassette comprising a pair of spaced parallel front and rear walls, and a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls forming a generally rectangular-shaped storage chamber, with said walls being formed of plastic material with at least the front wall being transparent:

said sleeve having first and second ends, with the first end being formed with a generally rectangular-shaped opening through which a videocassette can be slidably inserted into and removed from said storage chamber, and the second end being formed with stop means for generally retaining the videocassette within said storage chamber and aperture means formed contiguous with said stop means in said second end;

a hollow flexible cover having printed indicia thereon identifying a prerecorded program on the videocassette disposed within said storage chamber of the sleeve and conforming to the interior of said sleeve walls defining said chamber and configured to slidably receive the videocassette therein; and

internal lug means formed integrally with certain of the walls adjacent to said first end opening for engaging a front end of the cassette and the flexible cover to maintain said cassette and cover within the storage chamber, with said aperture means allowing penetration of said stop means with finger pressure to remove the videocassette from said storage chamber past the lug means, with said lug means maintaining the flexible cover behind in the storage chamber.

2. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said stop means is an end wall extending between and connecting the said front wall, rear wall and sidewalls at said second end of said sleeve to close the same except for said aperture means.

3. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said cover is formed of chipboard and includes at least one open end.

4. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said lug means comprises a pair of interiorly facing raised lug members disposed in diametrically-opposed relation within said first end opening with essentially sloping edges adapted to retain said videocassette within said storage chamber.

5. The sleeve in accordance claim 1 wherein the said lug means are diametrically-disposed in interiorly-facing relation on the front and rear walls of said sleeve closely adjacent said first end opening.

6. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said lug means have a similar configuration and a height ranging from about 1/32 to 1/4 inch to facilitate retention and removal of said videocassette from said storage chamber.

7. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the length of the sleeve ranges from about 71/4 to 8 inches, the width of the sleeve ranges from about 41/8 to 45/8 inches, and the height of the sleeve ranges from about 1 to 11/4 inches.

8. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 in which the sleeve is formed entirely of transparent plastic material.

9. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 in which the sleeve is formed of rigid polystyrene material.

10. The sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said aperture means comprises at least one finger opening in said rear wall stop means to permit removal of said videocassette from said storage chamber by overcoming frictional retention of said videocassette by said lug means.