Disc accommodation device including movable disc holder

• US 5,593,031 A
• Filed: 06/21/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Denka Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Denka Company Limited)
• Inventors: Uchida, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LASTER, TARA L
• Application Number:
  US08/493,308
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 206/308.1, 206/308.3, 206/307, 206/309, 206/310, 206/311, 206/312, 206/313, 206/387.1
• US Class Current: 206/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0422 for discs without cartridge

Abstract

An optical disc accommodation device permits an optical disc to be removed therefrom and inserted therein very quickly and readily with a single hand of a driver while driving a vehicle, as well as permitting very quick and ready removal and insertion of an optical disc in home or office installation. The device includes a box-shaped casing and an optical disc holder accommodated thereinto carry an optical disc. The box-shaped casing includes an accommodating part which can movably accommodate the optical disc holder and a lid hinged to one side of the accommodating part for opening and closing the same. One side of the casing has an opening for inserting therethrough the optical disc. A spring is provided between the optical disc holder and the accommodating part to bias the optical disc holder in a direction of projection from the opening. A lock includes a locking member provided on the optical disc holder and a raised portion provided on an inner surface of the accommodating part. The optical disc holder is locked with the raised portion abutted by the locking member when the optical disc holder is urged by the spring toward the opening. An outer surface of the accommodating part is provided with lock release to release the lock of the optical disc holder and to enable the optical disc holder to be moved by the spring to project from the opening.

Claims

1. A disc accommodation device capable of storing therein a disc and capable selectively of two-handed manual manipulation to enable manual insertion therein and removal therefrom of the disc and one-handed manual manipulation to insert the disc therein and to remove the disc therefrom directly into a disc player, said device comprising:

a flat box-shaped casing having an interior;

a disc holder located in said interior of said casing, said disc holder having therein a recess and a shoulder outwardly of said recess and configured to enable the disc to be accommodated within said recess and supported therein solely by a peripheral edge portion of the disc resting on said shoulder;

said casing including a base part having first and second opposite ends and a lid having first and second opposite ends, said disc holder being accommodated in said base part with said recess and said shoulder being directed toward said lid;

said first end of said lid being hinged to said first end of said base part such that said lid is pivotable with respect to said base part between a closed position, whereat said second end of said lid is adjacent said second end of said base part, and an open position, whereat said second end of said lid is swung away and spaced from said second end of said base part, said first ends of said base part and said lid defining a closed first end of said casing, and said second ends of said base part and said lid defining therebetween, when said lid is in said closed position, an opening in a second end of said casing;

said disc holder being mounted in said base part for rectilinear movement relative thereto in opposite directions toward and away from said closed first end of said casing between an inserted position, whereat said disc holder is located entirely within said interior of said casing, and a projected position, whereat said disc holder is partially extended through said opening in said second end of said casing;

a spring member operable between said closed first end of said casing and said disc holder to urge said disc holder toward said projected position;

a lock operable to lock said disc holder in said inserted position against the spring force of said spring member, said lock comprising a raised portion extending inwardly from an inner surface of said base part and a lock portion on said disc holder at a position to abut said raised portion upon said spring force urging said disc holder to move from said inserted position;

a lock release operable to release said lock to enable said spring force to move said disc holder from said inserted position to said projected position, said lock release comprising a push member located at a side of said base part and movable inwardly thereof to move said lock portion out of abutment with said raised portion;

stoppers on an end of said disc holder directed toward said opening adjacent opposite sides of said recess and operable to prevent unintended displacement of the disc in said recess in a direction toward said opening; and

a retainer on said disc holder at an end of said recess spaced from said opening and operable to prevent unintended displacement of the disc in said recess in a direction toward said lid;

whereby two-handed manual manipulation of said device enables said lid to be pivoted relative to said base part from said closed position to said open position, whereat the disc can be manually inserted into or removed from said recess; and

whereby, when said lid is in said closed position, one-handed manual manipulation enables said push member to be moved inwardly to move said lock portion out of abutment with said raised portion such that said spring force of said spring member moves said disc holder to said extended position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retainer comprises at least one tongue on said disc holder spaced from said shoulder such that the edge of the disc is insertable therebetween.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock portion is flexible laterally and operable, upon movement of said disc holder from said projected position to said inserted position, to ride over said raised portion, and upon said disc holder reaching said inserted position, deflecting laterally outwardly into abutment with said raised portion.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said lid is provided with a portion for accommodating a disc jacket or such paper material as liner notes and specifications accessory to the disc.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said lid has a lid portion located at and closing said opening, said lid portion being opened when said disc holder projects therethrough and closed when said disc holder is in said inserted position.