Storage container for recorded media

• US 6,196,384 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alpha Enterprises, Inc. (Nexpak Corporation)
• Inventors: Belden, Dennis D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US09/282,484
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 206/307, 206/308.1, 206/309, 206/310, 206/493
• US Class Current: 206/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means

Abstract

A storage container for holding an item of recorded media includes a base; an outer wall extending upwardly from the base, the outer wall having an upper surface adapted to receive the lower surface of item adjacent the outer diameter of item. The storage container also includes a retaining hub that extends upwardly from the base. The retaining hub includes a plurality of hinged arms and fixed supports. A retaining lip is carried by the hinged arms. The retaining lip engages the upper surface of the item in a storage position and is moveable inwardly and downwardly to release item. Retaining lip also engages the lower surface of item to lift item from the storage container. The fixed supports include an upper surface that remains in position during the removal of item to provide support to item to substantially prevent bending forces from damaging item.

Claims

1. In combination, a disc-shaped item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

and a storage container for holding the item of recorded media;

the storage container having;

a base;

a retaining hub extending upwardly from the base;

the retaining hub having at least a first fixed support and at least one retaining lip;

at least one bump extending up from the first fixed support;

the item of recorded media being disposed between the at least one bump and the at least one retaining lip;

an outer wall extending up from the base;

at least one bump projecting up from the outer wall;

the lower surface of the item of recorded media resting on the at least one bump on the outer wall; and

a blocking wall extending upwardly from the outer wall outside the outer diameter of the item of recorded media;

the blocking wall extending above the outer wall substantially the same height as the thickness of the item of recorded media in addition to the height of the bump.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the retaining hub includes at least three bumps supporting the item of recorded media.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the at least three bumps are equally spaced about the retaining hub.

4. In combination, a disc-shaped item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

and a storage container for holding the item of recorded media;

the storage container having;

a base;

a retaining hub extending upwardly from the base;

the retaining hub having at least a first fixed support and at least one retaining lip;

at least one bump extending up from the first fixed support;

the item of recorded media being disposed between the at least one bump and the at least one retaining lip;

the retaining hub includes at least one resilient arm cantilevered from the base;

the retaining lip carried on the resilient arm; and

a bump connected to the at least one resilient arm;

the item of recorded media also disposed between the bump on the resilient arm and the retaining lip.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the retaining hub includes three resilient arms cantilevered from the base and a fixed support disposed between each pair of resilient arms.

6. In combination, a disc-shaped item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

and a storage container for holding the item of recorded media;

the storage container having;

a base;

a retaining hub extending upwardly from the base;

the retaining hub having at least a first fixed support and at least one retaining lip;

the retaining hub including at least one resilient arm cantilevered from the base;

the retaining lip carried on the resilient arm; and

a bump projecting up from each of the resilient arms and the fixed supports;

the bumps disposed at substantially the same level and engaging the lower surface of the item of recorded media.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the item of recorded media is free to rotate on the retaining hub.

8. A storage container for an item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container comprising;

a base;

a retaining hub projecting up from the base;

the retaining hub including at least three resilient arms cantilevered from the base and at least three fixed supports, one of the fixed supports disposed between each pair of resilient arms;

a retaining lip formed on each retaining arm, each retaining lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the item of recorded media;

each of the three resilient arms being movable between first and second positions;

each resilient arm adapted to support the lower surface of the item of recorded media in the first position;

each fixed support disposed at substantially the same level as each resilient arm when the resilient arm is in the first position;

each resilient arm being disposed below each fixed support when the resilient arm is in the second position;

each fixed support being connected to the base at the outer radius of the fixed support;

each of the fixed supports including a first support section extending upwardly from the base, the first support section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first support section attached to the base; and

a second support section extending substantially parallel to the base from the second end of the first support section, the second support having an upper surface; and

a gusset disposed below each first and second support section.

9. The storage container of claim 8, further comprising a bump projecting upwardly from the upper surface of each of the second support surface.

10. A storage container for an item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container comprising;

a base;

a retaining hub projecting up from the base;

the retaining hub including at least three resilient arms cantilevered from the base and at least three fixed supports, one of the fixed supports disposed between each pair of resilient arms;

a retaining lip formed on each retaining arm, each retaining lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the item of recorded media;

each of the three resilient arms being movable between first and second positions;

each resilient arm adapted to support the lower surface of the item of recorded media in the first position;

each fixed support disposed at substantially the same level as each resilient arm when the resilient arm is in the first position;

the upper surface of each resilient arm being disposed below the upper surface of each fixed support when the resilient arm is in the second position; and

each resilient arm including a plurality of sections connected by hinges.

11. The storage container of claim 10, wherein the hinges are adapted to cooperate when a downward force is applied to the resilient arm to move the retaining lip inwardly and downwardly such that the retaining lip may be moved below the lower surface of the item of recorded media.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the hinges and arm sections further are adapted to cause at least a portion of the retaining lip to engage the lower surface of the item of recorded media such that the item of recorded media may be lifted on the retaining lip as the force is removed.

13. The storage container of claim 10, further comprising a center button having a substantially cylindrical, downwardly extending sidewall, the sidewall having an upper end and a lower end;

each of the resilient arms connected to the center button.

14. The storage container of claim 13, wherein each resilient arm includes:

a first arm section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first arm section being attached to the base by a first hinge;

a second arm section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second arm section attached to the second end of the first arm section by a second hinge, the second arm section being substantially parallel to the base when the retaining hub is in the first position;

a third arm section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third arm section attached to the second end of the second arm section by a third hinge, the third arm section being substantially normal to the base when the retaining hub is in the first position;

the retaining lip being carried by the third arm section; and

a fourth arm section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fourth arm section attached to the second end of the third arm section by a fourth hinge, the second end of the fourth arm section being attached to the lower end of the sidewall of the center button by a fifth hinge.

15. The storage container of claim 14, wherein the first hinge has a scalloped portion that decreases the thickness of the first hinge.

16. The storage container of claim 14, further comprising a bump projecting up from the second arm section.

17. The storage container of claim 14, wherein each of the hinges being a living hinge having a minimum thickness;

the thickness of the first and fifth hinges being substantially less than the thicknesses of the other hinges.

18. The storage container of claim 14, wherein the second end of the second arm has an opening that splits the third hinge into two sections.

19. The storage container of claim 14, further comprising a projection extending up from each retaining lip.

20. A storage container for an item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container comprising;

a base;

a retaining hub projecting up from the base;

the retaining hub including at least three resilient arms cantilevered from the base and at least three fixed supports, one of the fixed supports disposed between each pair of resilient arms;

a retaining lip formed on each retaining arm, each retaining lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the item of recorded media;

each of the three resilient arms being movable between first and second positions;

each resilient arm adapted to support the lower surface of the item of recorded media in the first position;

each fixed support disposed at substantially the same level as each resilient arm when the resilient arm is in the first position;

the upper surface of each resilient arm being disposed below the upper surface of each fixed support when the resilient arm is in the second position; and

at least one outer support connected to the base at a location spaced from the retaining hub;

the outer support having a support surface substantially level with the fixed supports.

21. The storage container of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of bumps projecting up from the outer support.

22. A storage container for an item of recorded media having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, an outer diameter, and a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container comprising;

a base;

a retaining hub projecting up from the base;

the retaining hub including at least three resilient arms cantilevered from the base and at least three fixed supports, one of the fixed supports disposed between each pair of resilient arms;

a retaining lip formed on each retaining arm, each retaining lip adapted to engage the upper surface of the item of recorded media;

each of the three resilient arms being movable between first and second positions;

each resilient arm adapted to support the lower surface of the item of recorded media in the first position;

each fixed support disposed at substantially the same level as each resilient arm when the resilient arm is in the first position;

each resilient arm being disposed below each fixed support when the resilient arm is in the second position; and

said resilient arms being disposed below said base when the arms are in the second position.

23. A method for removing an item of recorded media from a storage container;

the item of recorded media having a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container having a retaining hub that includes a plurality of resilient arms and a plurality of fixed supports;

the resilient arms disposed in the opening of the item of recorded media to retain the item of recorded media on the retaining hub;

the method comprising the steps of;

depressing the arms to release the item of recorded media;

supporting the item of recorded media adjacent the opening with the fixed supports to prevent the center of the item of recorded media from deflecting when the arms are depressed;

releasing the arms;

lifting the item of recorded media off of the fixed supports with the arms; and

removing the lifted item of recorded media from the arms.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of supporting the outer edge of the item of recorded media while the arms are depressed.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of providing each arm with a projection projecting up from the retaining lip and retaining the item of recorded media on the projections after the item of recorded media has been lifted off of the fixed supports by the arms.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of depressing the arms includes the steps of moving the arms inward and down below the lower surface of the item of recorded media and allowing the arms to expand outward and upward to lift the item of recorded media.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of moving the arms below the base before allowing the arms to expand.

28. A method of removing an item of recorded media from a storage container;

the item of recorded media having a centrally-disposed, substantially circular opening;

the storage container having a retaining hub that includes a plurality of resilient arms and fixed supports disposed between the arms;

the resilient arms disposed in the opening of the item of recorded media to retain the item of recorded media on the retaining hub;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing each of the resilient arms with a retaining lip that engages the upper surface of the item of recorded media before the arms are pushed downwardly;

pushing down on the arms until the retaining lip drops at least partially below the lower surface of the item of recorded media to release the item of recorded media;

supporting the item of recorded media with the fixed supports to prevent the center of the item of recorded media from deflecting when the arms are being pushed down; and

lifting the item of recorded media off of the retaining hub.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of lifting the item of recorded media with the retaining lips when the resilient arms are released.