Storage container for recorded media

• US 6,354,435 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autronic Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexpak Corporation
• Inventors: Byrne, James M., Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Sankey, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/544,647
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 206/232, 206/308.1, 206/309, 206/310, 206/312, 206/472, 206/493
• US Class Current: 206/310
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0427 comprising centre hole locking means

Abstract

A storage container for an item of recorded media includes a centrally disposed hub surrounded by and spaced from an outer wall. The hub includes a pair of resilient arms that cooperate to loosely but securely retain an item of recorded media having a centrally disposed inner hole. The hub includes a first support platform that includes a plurality of raised bumps that essentially frictionlessly support the item of recorded media from below. The outer wall includes a second support platform that also includes a plurality of bumps that supports the item of recorded media from below about its outer periphery. The outer wall also includes a blocking wall that extends above the outer edge to prevent the user from grasping the outer edge of the item of recorded media. The outer wall further contains a finger access hole that extends through the blocking wall that allows the user to grab the edge of the item of recorded media in a selected position that is aligned with the arms of the hub. The arms of the hub are resiliently cantilevered from the first support platform. One arm includes a push button that allows a user to depress the arm and move it out of the way of the item of recorded media as it is being removed from the hub.

Claims

1. A storage container for releasably securing an item of recorded media having an outer edge defining an outer diameter and an inner edge defining a centrally disposed inner hole having a hole diameter, the storage container comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a hub projecting upward from the upper surface of the base;

the hub including a fixed body and at least two upstanding arms, the upstanding arms disposed about the fixed body;

each of the upstanding arms having an upper surface;

the fixed body having an upper surface;

the upper surface of the fixed body being disposed higher above the base than the upper surface of the at least one of the arms; and

the hub including a first support platform having an upper surface, the fixed body and the upstanding arms projecting upward from the upper surface of the support platform.

2. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising an outer wall at least partially surrounding the hub.

3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the outer wall has a finger access hole.

4. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the outer wall includes a second support platform having an upper surface, the upper surface of the second support platform being no higher than the upper surface of the first support platform;

the second support platform adapted to support the outer edge of the item of recorded media.

5. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the outer wall includes a blocking wall adapted to extend higher than the item of recorded media when the item of recorded media is securely received on the hub.

6. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the blocking wall has an inner diameter that is adapted to be larger than the outer diameter of the item of recorded media.

7. A storage container for releasably securing an item of recorded media having an outer edge defining an outer diameter and an inner edge defining a centrally disposed inner hole having a hole diameter, the storage container comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a hub projecting upward from the upper surface of the base;

the hub including a fixed body and at least two upstanding arms, the upstanding arms disposed about the fixed body;

each of the upstanding arms having an upper surface;

the fixed body having an upper surface;

the upper surface of the fixed body being disposed higher above the base than the upper surface of the at least one of the arms; and

the body includes a sidewall and an upper wall that vaults the sidewall, the upper wall disposed higher than each of the upstanding arms.

8. The storage container of claim 7, wherein the sidewall has an outer diameter;

each of the resilient arms having a vertical leg;

the vertical legs cooperating to having an outer diameter;

the outer diameter of the vertical legs being greater than the outer diameter of the sidewall; and

both of the outer diameters adapted to be less than the hole diameter of the item of recorded media.

9. The storage container of claim 8, further comprising a dual-tapered detent carried by each of the upstanding arms;

each of the detents adapted to be positioned over a portion of the upper surface of the item of recorded media when the item of recorded media is disposed on the hub.

10. A storage container for releasably securing an item of recorded media having an outer edge defining an outer diameter and an inner edge defining a centrally disposed inner hole having a hole diameter, the storage container comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a hub projecting upward from the upper surface of the base;

the hub including a fixed body and at least two upstanding arms, the upstanding arms disposed about the fixed body;

each of the upstanding arms having an upper surface;

the fixed body having an upper surface;

the upper surface of the fixed body being disposed higher above the base than the upper surface of the at least one of the arms; and

the fixed body includes an inset curve corresponding to each of the upstanding arms;

a portion of each upstanding arm being disposed in one of the inset curves.

11. A storage container for releasably securing an item of recorded media having an outer edge defining an outer diameter and an inner edge defining a centrally disposed inner hole having a hole diameter, the storage container comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a hub projecting upward from the upper surface of the base;

the hub including a fixed body and at least two arms, the arms disposed about the fixed body; and

the fixed body includes an inset curve corresponding to each of the arms;

a portion of each arm being disposed in one of the inset curves.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the hub includes a first support platform having an upper surface;

the fixed body and arms projecting up from the first support platform.

13. The storage container of claim 12, further comprising an outer wall at least partially surrounding the hub;

the outer wall having a support surface.

14. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the upper surface of the fixed body is disposed higher than the upper surface of at least one of the arms.

15. A storage container for releasably securing an item of recorded media having an outer edge defining an outer diameter and an inner edge defining a centrally disposed inner hole having a hole diameter, the storage container comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a hub projecting upward from the upper surface of the base;

the hub including a fixed body and at least two resilient arms, the resilient arms disposed about the fixed body;

the fixed body having a sidewall and an upper wall vaulting the sidewall;

each of the resilient arms having a vertical leg and an upper wall; and

the upper wall of the fixed body disposed above the upper wall of each of the resilient arms.

16. The storage container of claim 15, wherein each of the resilient arms has an outer surface, the outer surfaces cooperating to have an outer diameter;

the sidewall of the fixed body having an outer diameter;

the outer diameter of the sidewall of the fixed body being less than the outer diameter of the resilient arms.

17. The storage container of claim 15, wherein the hub includes a first support platform carried above the upper surface of the base by an annular supportwall, the fixed body and the resilient arms extending up from the first support platform.

18. The storage container of claim 17, further comprising an outer wall having a second support platform, the second support platform being disposed no higher than the first support platform.

19. The storage container of claim 15, further comprising:

a locking detent carried on one of the resilient arms; and

an unlocking detent carried on another of the resilient arms.