Label applicator for compact disc

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6481484
  • Patent Number
    6,481,484
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 23, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 19, 2002
    23 years ago
Abstract
A label applicator is provided which can attractively apply an annular label onto a label applying face of a compact disc (CD) by utilizing a CD storage case and a simple attachment. In this label applicator, a CD is stored in a disc storage body of a storage case, having the disc storage body and a lid body attached thereto; and a label attachment, having a label pressing face in almost the same shape as an annular label applying face of the CD, is mounted on the lid body so as to concentrically face these surfaces to each other when the storage case is closed. When the storage case is closed with the label temporarily fixed to the label pressing face, the label is pressed against the opposing label applying face and is then applied thereto.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a label applicator for a compact disc (mentioned as CD hereinafter) that permits CD users to easily apply a label onto an annular label applying face of a CD, and a label attachment for use in the label applicator.




DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART




Due to the recent popularity of personal computers, provision of copyright laws and so forth, CD-R (recordable compact discs) and CD-RW (rewritable compact discs) have been used as writable optical recording discs, thus generating the need among users to apply indexes of recorded contents onto these CDs.




In response to this need, there exist apparatuses for particular processing that can print indexes of characters and images by specific printers, but the apparatuses have not yet popularized since they require specific printers.




On the other hand, the popularity of color printers and printer software has resulted in an increasing demand for the application of labels having information printed by general color printers onto the label applying faces of CDs.




However, since the label applying faces of CDs are annular and also large in area, labels are often wrinkled or air is trapped in adhesive faces during the application. Thus, it is difficult to apply labels attractively. As labels are required to be thinner, the application of thinner and more flexible labels will become more difficult.




Additionally, when labels are thickened so as to prevent wrinkles as well as trapped air, CDs will become thicker or will be warped due to the application of labels, causing problems in removal from and placement in storage cases, changes in tonal quality, tracking errors and other problems.




Therefore, it is extremely difficult to attractively apply the thin annular labels printed by printers onto the annular label applying faces of CDs without causing problems.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention focuses on the high precision of rotatable mounting parts of lid bodies of general storage cases for CDs. An object of the present invention is to provide a label applicator which can attractively apply an annular label onto the annular label applying face of a CD by utilizing a general storage case and using a simple label attachment.




It is also another object of the present invention to provide an economical and easy-to-handle label applicator or the label attachment therefor.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-handle label applicator, keeping a CD as well as a label attachment stored within a CD storage case.




In order to achieve the above objects, the CD label applicator of the present invention has a label attachment in a CD storage case, which has a disc storage body and a lid body attached to the disc storage body in a freely opening and closing condition, thereby applying an annular label to the label applying face of a CD stored in the disc storage body. The label attachment has an annular label pressing face so as to apply a label to the label applying face. The label attachment is mounted on an inner surface of the lid body so as to let the label pressing face concentrically face the label applying face of the CD in the disc storage body and contact against the label applying face by pressing in the lid-closing process.




In this label applicator, a temporary fixing unit may be provided to the label pressing face of the label attachment so as to temporarily fix a label. A guide adapter may be separately mounted concentrically to the center of the label applying face of a CD in the disc storage body so as to locate a temporary fixing position of an annular label to the label applying face. Additionally, the guide adapter may be formed at a height so as to be stored inside the closed storage case. The label attachment may have a center hole, into which the guide adapter is inserted with a space therebetween when the storage case is closed.




It is also preferable that the label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press a label elastically.




In applying a label to a CD by the above-mentioned CD label applicator, a CD is first stored in the disc storage body of the storage case with the annular label applying face positioned upward; the label attachment constituting the label applicator is mounted on the lid body so as to let the annular label pressing face concentrically face the CD label applying face in the closing process; and a printed side of the annular label having desirable print is temporarily fixed to the label pressing face in a concentric condition.




When the storage case is closed at an engaging part in this condition, the annular label temporarily fixed to the label pressing face is pressed against the annular label applying face of a CD that is concentrically facing the pressing face, so that the label is applied to the label applying face with the adhesive applied to the label.




In this case, if a temporary label fixing unit is provided on the label pressing face, the label temporarily fixed to the label pressing face will stay still when the storage case is closed at the engaging part, so that an annular label may be applied accurately to the label applying face.




Moreover, in case that the label applicator has a guide adapter, a CD is stored in the disc storage body of the storage case; the guide adapter is concentrically mounted onto this CD; and an adhesive side of an annular label having preferable print is temporarily fixed to the label applying face in a concentric condition while this guide adapter is used as a guide.




The above-mentioned temporary fixation of a label is carried out with the guide adapter concentrically fixed to a CD as a guide, so that an annular label may be easily and accurately temporarily fixed to the label applying face in a concentric condition.




Subsequently, in closing the lid body of the storage case to which the label attachment is fixed so as to let the annular label pressing face concentrically face the label applying face of the CD, the annular label temporarily fixed to the label applying face is pressed by the concentrically facing annular label pressing face of the label attachment, so that the label is applied firmly to the label applying face with the adhesive applied to the label.




The storage case is so precise that the engaging part fits well in closing the case, and the label pressing face applies a label while pushing out the air from a gap with the label applying face by gradually pressing from one side of the label diameter to another side, so that these label applicators can apply labels attractively without causing wrinkles and trapped air.




Additionally, if a cushion layer is provided to the label pressing face of the label attachment so as to elastically press labels, this cushion layer elastically presses labels against the label applying face, so that labels may be accurately and more attractively applied to the label applying face.




In the label applicators, a label attachment and so forth are mounted onto a general storage case, so that the structure thereof may be simple and economical. Moreover, annular labels may be attractively applied to annular label applying faces of CDs without forming wrinkles and trapped air.




Moreover, while a label attachment is kept on the lid body of a storage case, a CD may be attached and removed from the disc storage body of the storage case. Moreover, the storage case may be closed. Thus, the handling is very simple.




Furthermore, in case of using a guide adapter, as long as the height thereof is low, a storage case may be closed while a label attachment and the guide adapter are still mounted.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a label attachment according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a bottom plan view of the same;





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view taken on line III—III of

FIG. 1

, wherein a cushion layer and a temporary fixing means are provided to a label pressing face;





FIG. 4

is a top plan view of a compact disc storage case having a lid body in an open position, showing a CD stored in a disc storage body of the compact disc storage case, and showing the label attachment mounted on the lid body of the compact disc storage case;





FIG. 5

is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a label attachment;





FIG. 6A

is a top plan view showing an example of a guide adapter,

FIG. 6B

is a bottom plan view of the guide adapter shown in

FIG. 6A

, and

FIG. 6C

is a cross-sectional view of the guide adapter shown in

FIGS. 6A and 6B

;





FIG. 7A

is a top plan view showing another example of a guide adapter,

FIG. 7B

is a bottom plan view of the guide adapter shown in

FIG. 7A

, and

FIG. 7C

is a cross-sectional view of the guide adapter shown in

FIGS. 7A and 7B

;





FIG. 8A

is a front view showing another example of a guide adapter, and

FIG. 8B

is cross-sectional view of the guide adapter shown in

FIG. 8A

;





FIG. 9

is a top plan view showing an ordinary compact disc storage case; and





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view of the compact disc storage case shown in FIG.


9


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Prior to the embodiments of the present invention, a structure of a storage case


4


for a CD


1


, to which an annular label


2


is applied by the label applicator of the present invention (see FIG.


4


), will be described. This storage case


4


is for general use.




FIG.


9


and

FIG. 10

show an example of the storage case


4


. The storage case


4


has a square disc storage body


10


and a square lid body


11


.




The disc storage body


10


and the lid body


11


are attached to each other in a freely opening and closing condition by fitting, from the outside, small projections


11




b


at the ends of a pair of opposing sidewalls


11




a


of the lid body


11


on a disc storage body side to small holes


10




b


, formed in the ends of a pair of opposing sidewalls


10




a


of the disc storage body


10


on a lid body side. A tray


12


for storing the CD


1


is fitted inside the disc storage body


10


.




In the tray


12


, there is provided concentrically an annular fitting projection


13


to which a center hole


6


of the CD


1


is fit, a low and annular protruding portion


14


so as to catch a part surrounding the center hole


6


of the CD


1


, and an annular recessed storing portion


15


so as to store the peripheral recording part of the CD


1


. At the fitting projection


13


and the center of the annular protruding portion


14


, a plurality of notches


13




a


are formed in a radial direction so as to add elasticity to the fitting projection


13


. Thus, the CD


1


may be stored in the tray


12


in a removable manner by elastically fitting the center hole


6


thereof to the fitting projection


13


.




Pressing pawls


16


are provided inside a pair of the sidewalls


11




a


of the lid body


11


with a slight gap from the lid surface. At both sides of the lid surface orthogonal to the sidewalls thereof, low and straight catching projections


17


are formed. These pressing pawls


16


and catching projections


17


are normally arranged so as to store a description booklet or the like in a retained condition inside the lid body


11


.




Moreover, the storage case


4


may not have the tray


12


shown in the figures. Instead, the fitting projection


13


, the annular protruding portion


14


, the recessed storing portion


15


, and so forth may be directly arranged in the disc storage body


10


without the tray


12


.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the CD


1


has the center hole


6


fitted to the fitting projection


13


of the disc storage body


10


at the center, an annular groove


7


in the surface thereof in the outer diameter direction, and an annular label applying face


8


so as to apply a label


2


on the outermost surface thereof. These are formed concentrically. Additionally, information is read and written at the side opposite to the label applying face


8


.





FIG. 1

to

FIG. 3

show a first embodiment of a label attachment of the present invention. As shown in

FIG. 4

, a label applicator is constructed by storing this label attachment


20


in the storage case as shown in FIG.


9


and FIG.


10


. This label attachment


20


is constructed so as to hold the annular label


2


, which is applied on the annular label applying face


8


of the CD


1


in the disc storage body


10


and which has roughly the same shape thereof. The label attachment is attached to the lid body


11


of the storage case


4


in a detachable condition.




On the surface of the label attachment


20


, as shown in FIG.


1


and

FIG. 3

, there is concentrically provided, sequentially from outward to center, a plane-shaped label pressing face


20


A having roughly the same shape as the label applying face


8


of the CD (FIG.


4


), a shallow and annular first recessed portion


21


, a second recessed portion


22


slightly deeper than the first, and a central through-hole


23


. A plurality (four in the figure) of positioning projections


24


are arranged at the top of the first recessed portion


21


. A plurality (four in the figure) of catching projections


25


are provided in a protruding condition at the top of the second recessed portion


22


so as to be inserted and latched in the notches


13




a


when the label attachment


20


is placed over the CD.




The positioning projections


24


, which are formed in a T-shape by cutting, are formed in one body so as to slightly undulate the outer edges with elasticity in relation to base edges. Circular catching ridges


24




a


, protruding slightly over the label pressing face


20


A, are formed at the tips. These catching ridges


24




a


are inserted to the groove


7


of the CD


1


in the disc storage body


10


when this label attachment


20


is placed over the CD, thereby positioning the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


and the label pressing face


20


A of the label attachment


20


so as to face concentrically.




Therefore, when the disc storage body


10


and the lid body


11


are moved circularly with the fitting part as the center so as to close the lid of the storage case


4


, the label pressing face


20


A concentrically faces the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


in the disc storage body


10


. Moreover, the label attachment


20


is mounted on the inner surface of the lid body


11


in a positional relation where the label pressing face


20


A is pressed against the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


in the disc storage body


10


when the storage case


4


is closed.




To be mounted on a predetermined location of the lid body


11


of the storage case


4


, the label attachment


20


includes, at the four peripheral corners thereof, contacting members


27


having contacting portions


27


A to contact the sidewalls


11




a


of the lid body


11


, and contacting portions


27


B to contact the catching projections


17


on the inner surface of the lid body


11


. On the top of the contacting portions


27


A, there are provided small projections


27




a


so as to prevent the contacting portions


27


B of the label attachment


20


, which are stored inside the lid body


11


so as to contact the bottom of the pressing pawls


16


, from being placed onto the catching projections


17


on the inside surface of the lid body


11


.




Furthermore, circular reinforcing ribs


28




a


and


28




b


are provided in a protruding condition at the inner and outer ridges of the back surface of the annular label pressing face


20


A. A plurality (eight in the figure) of reinforcing ribs


29


are provided radially in a protruding condition between these ribs


28




a


and


28




b


on the back surface.




This label attachment


20


, as shown in

FIG. 4

, is firmly mounted on the lid body


11


in a removable condition by inserting the contacting portions


27


A under the pressing pawls


16


of the lid body


11


so as to contact the contacting portions


27


A and


27


B against the sidewalls


11




a


and the catching projections


17


, respectively, and to contact the small projections


27




a


against the bottom of the pressing pawls


16


.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, a cushion layer


31


made of paper, nonwoven fabric, soft plastic, rubber, cork or the like is entirely or partially (entirely in the figure) mounted on the label pressing face


20


A, if necessary, so as to elastically press the label


2


temporarily fixed at the label pressing face


20


A against the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


.




Moreover, on the surface of the cushion layer


31


, there is provided a temporary fixing unit


32


of a binding layer having weak adhesive strength, an adhesive layer, an adsorption layer having a plurality of minute suction members, or the like so as to temporarily fix the label


2


. The binding layer and the adhesive layer should peel completely without being left on the label


2


when the temporary fixed label


2


is peeled off.




Additionally, the disc storage body


10


, the lid body


11


, the tray


12


and the label attachment


20


of the storage case


4


are individually molded from an appropriate synthetic resin in one body.




For the annular label


2


schematically shown in

FIG. 4

, general label paper is used that has printing paper with an adhesive on the back surface and separate paper to cover this adhesive. Desirable information such as indexes are printed onto printing paper by conventional printer software.




For application, this label


2


may be one which is cut in roughly the same shape as the annular label applying face


8


after desirable information is printed onto printing paper, or one which is cut in roughly the same shape as the label applying face


8


in advance and then printed with desirable information by a printer.




Subsequently, the use of the label applicator mentioned above will be described by referring to FIG.


4


.




First, the label attachment


20


is firmly mounted on the lid portion


11


of the storage case by contacting the contacting portions


27


A and the contacting portions


27


B against the sidewalls


11




a


and the catching projections


17


, respectively, and the small projections


27




a


against the pressing pawls


16


. Moreover, the CD


1


is securely stored in the recessed storing portion


15


by fitting the center hole


6


thereof to the fitting projection


13


of the disc storage body


10


.




In this condition, the annular label applying face


8


of the CD


1


and the annular label pressing face


20


A of the label attachment


20


face each other almost concentrically when the storage case


4


is closed.




Then, the surface (printed side) of the label


2


printed with desirable information such as indexes is concentrically and temporarily fixed to the label pressing face


20


A by the temporary fixing means


32


provided at the label pressing face


20


A.




In this case, the label


2


having separate paper is thicker than printing paper, so that it is easy to temporarily fix the label to the label pressing face


20


A almost concentrically, and wrinkles are not formed at the label


2


by the temporary fixing.




Subsequently, the separate paper is peeled off from this label


2


. However, in this case, the label


2


is also temporarily fixed to the label pressing face


20


A, so that wrinkles are not formed on the printing paper of the label when the separate paper is peeled off.




When the disc storage body


10


and the lid body


11


are closed at the engaging part thereof as a center so as to close the storage case


4


while the label


2


with the separate paper peeled off is being temporarily fixed to the label pressing face


20


A, the plurality of catching ridges


24




a


arranged at the label attachment


20


catch the groove


7


of the CD


1


. Additionally, the label pressing face


20


A and the label applying face


8


accurately and concentrically face each other, and the label


2


temporarily fixed to the label pressing face


20


A is elastically pressed against the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


by the cushion layer


31


, so that the label


2


is applied to the label applying face


8


of the CD.




In this case, the temporary fixing unit


32


temporarily fixing the label


2


has weaker adhesive strength or adsorption strength than the adhesive strength of the adhesive applied to the label


2


(adhesive strength of the label>adhesive strength of the temporary fixing unit>adhesive strength of the separate paper), so that the label


2


may be applied to the label applying face


8


without any problems.




Moreover, if necessary, the label


2


may be more securely applied to the label applying face


8


since the disc storage body


10


and the lid body


11


deform slightly with pressure against each other by closing the storing case


4


. Since the label pressing face


20


A mentioned above is reinforced with the ribs


28




a


,


28




b


and


29


, it is hardly warped by the pressure generated from the closure of the storage case


4


or the like and the entire surface of the label


2


may be pressed evenly.




The label


2


may be applied without positional deviations by the label attachment


20


mounted on the storage case


4


under the conditions whereby the label attachment


20


is firmly mounted on the lid body


11


, the label applying face


8


and the label pressing face


20


A face each other concentrically, and the storage case


4


is closed steadily.




Moreover, by closing the storage case


4


, the annular label


2


temporarily fixed to the plane-shaped label pressing face


20


A is pressed against the label applying face


8


from one side of the diameter thereof to another side. Subsequently, the label


2


is applied by gradually pushing out the air between the label


2


and the label applying face


8


, so that the label


2


may be attractively applied without wrinkles and trapped air.




Furthermore, by closing the storage case


4


, the cushion layer


31


provided at the label pressing face


20


A presses the label


2


evenly and elastically, so that wrinkles and trapped air are not formed even with a thin label


2


, and the label may be applied more attractively onto the label applying face


8


.





FIG. 5

shows a second embodiment of a label attachment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A

to

FIG. 6C

show a guide adapter used in the label attachment and a label applicator. In the second embodiment, like in the first embodiment, the storage case


4


shown in FIG.


9


and

FIG. 10

is used. However, the storage case includes a label attachment


41


so as to temporarily fix the annular label


2


to the annular label applying face


8


of the CD


1


and then apply the label


2


onto the label applying face


8


by pressing, and a plate guide adapter


42


so as to temporarily position the label


2


to the label applying face


8


.




The label attachment


41


includes a center hole


43


where the guide adapter


42


, instead of the first and the second recessed parts


21


and


22


, is fitted at the center; the center hole


23


; and the positioning projections


24


provided at the label attachment


20


of the first embodiment. The label attachment does not include the temporary fixing means


32


.




Other elements of the label attachment


41


are the same as those of the label attachment


20


of the first embodiment, so that the same reference numerals are used for the major identical elements in the figure and a detailed description is omitted.




The guide adapter


42


shown in

FIG. 6A

to

FIG. 6C

has a plane top surface. There is concentrically provided an annular protruding edge


45


at the outer edge of the bottom surface thereof that catches the annular groove


7


of the CD


1


, an annular protruding part


46


at the center thereof, and a center hole


47


. Between the annular protruding part


46


and the center hole


47


, a plurality (two in the figure) of positioning projections


46




a


are formed so as to be inserted and caught in the notches


13




a


formed at the fitting projection


13


of the disc storing portion


10


.




The guide adapter


42


is used so as to position the label


2


when the label is placed on the CD


1


during the application of the label


2


. Therefore, the guide adapter has such a height that the storage case


4


can be closed when protruding edge


45


catches the annular groove


7


of the CD


1


, and the annular protruding part


46


is formed so as to contact the circumference of the center hole


6


.




Accordingly, like the label applicator of the first embodiment, the storage case


4


can be closed under the conditions whereby the CD


1


is stored in the disc storage body


10


, the guide adapter


42


is placed onto this CD


1


concentrically, and the label attachment


41


is mounted on the lid body


11


.




In applying a label to a CD by the label applicator of the second embodiment, the center hole


6


of the CD


1


is fitted to the fitting projection


13


of the disc storage body


10


and the CD is then stored in the disc storage body


10


; and the positioning projections


46




a


of the guide adapter


42


are inserted and then caught in the notches


13




a


provided at the fitting projection


13


, thus positioning and placing the guide adapter


42


at a predetermined location on the CD


1


. Additionally, like the label attachment


20


in the first embodiment, the label attachment


41


is firmly mounted on the lid body


11


.




Moreover, the annular label


2


with separate paper peeled off is concentrically placed on the annular label applying face


8


of the CD


1


while the periphery of the guide adapter


42


is used as a guide. In this case, it is preferable to temporarily fix a portion of the label to the label applying face


8


by the adhesive applied to the label


2


. However, that is unnecessary as long as the label is positioned with stability. It is rather not preferable to firmly apply the label


2


onto the label applying face


8


as the firm application causes wrinkles or the like.




When the storage case


4


is closed in this condition or the lid body


11


and the disc storage body


10


are pressed lightly against each other after lid closure, the label


2


temporarily fixed on the label applying face


8


of the CD


1


is elastically pressed against the label applying face


8


with the cushion layer


31


provided at the label pressing face


20


A, so that this label


2


is firmly applied onto the label applying face


8


.




Other functions of this label applicator are the same as the label applicator of the first embodiment, so that the explanation thereof is omitted.





FIG. 7A

to

FIG. 7C

show another example of a guide adapter used along with the above-mentioned label attachment


41


. Much like the guide adapter


42


in

FIG. 6

, this guide adapter


52


has a roughly plane top surface, an annular protruding edge


55


at the outer edge of the bottom surface thereof, an annular protruding part


56


at the center thereof (lower than the annular protruding part


46


) and a center hole


57


, which are formed concentrically to each other. A cylindrical part


58


is provided at the circumference of the center hole


57


so as to insert the fitting projection


13


of the disc storage portion


10


. At the same time, a plurality (four in the figure) of positioning projections


56




a


are provided in a protruding condition so as to be inserted in the notches


13




a


formed at the fitting projection


13


. This guide adapter


52


also has a height so that the storage case


4


can be closed when the protruding edge


55


is caught in the annular groove


7


of the CD


1


.




The functions of this example are the same as those of the guide adapter


42


, so that the explanation thereof is omitted.




FIG.


8


A and

FIG. 8B

show another example of the guide adapter mentioned above. Like the example in

FIG. 7

, this guide adapter


61


, instead of the guide adapter


42


, is used along with the label attachment


41


.




In this guide adapter


61


, the peripheral surface at a top portion has a circular cross section and the peripheral surface at a bottom portion is cylindrical; the outer diameter at the bottom end is almost the same as the inner diameter of the groove


7


or the annular label applying face


8


of the CD


1


; and a center hole


62


is formed so as to fit the fitting projection


13


of the disc storage body


10


with a space therebetween. However, the center hole


62


of the guide adapter


61


may be a recess instead, in which the fitting projection


13


can fit with a space therebetween. Moreover, this guide adapter


61


has an annular peripheral projection


63


at the periphery of a lower surface so as to be fit and caught in the annular groove


7


of the CD


1


.




The guide adapter


61


is higher than the guide adapter


42


. If this guide adapter


61


is placed on a CD and the label


2


is placed on the CD with the guide adapter as a guide, the label


2


could be easily and temporarily fixed to the label applying face


8


.




However, the guide adapter


61


is high, so that the guide adapter should be removed from the CD


1


prior to the closure of the storage case


4


after the label


2


is temporarily fixed to the label applying face


8


.




Other structures as well as functions of this example are the same as those of the second embodiment, so that the explanation thereof is omitted.



Claims
  • 1. A label applicator for a compact disc comprising:a label attachment in a compact disc storage case, the compact disc storage case having a disc storage body and a lid body, the lid body being pivotably attached to the disc storage body so as to be pivotable from an open position to a closed position in order to apply an annular label to a label applying face of a compact disc stored in the disc storage body of the compact disc storage case, the label attachment having an annular label pressing face so as to apply the annular label to the label applying face, the label attachment being mounted on an inner surface of the lid body so as to let the annular label pressing face concentrically face and contact against the label applying face of the compact disc stored in the disc storage body when the lid body is pivoted to the closed position in a lid-closing process of the compact disc storage case, and the label attachment including a contacting member at each of four peripheral comers thereof, each of the contacting members having first and second contacting portions forming an approximate L-shape, the first contacting portion of each contacting member contacting a pressing pawl provided so as to extend perpendicularly outwardly from a sidewall of the lid body and the second contacting portion of each contacting member contacting a catching projection located so as to project perpendicularly outwardly from an inside surface of the lid body.
  • 2. The label applicator according to claim 1, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment comprises a temporary fixing means so as to temporarily fix the annular label.
  • 3. The label applicator according to claim 2, wherein the temporary fixing means is either a bonding layer, having weak adhesive strength, or an adhesive layer.
  • 4. The label applicator according claim 3, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 5. The label applicator according claim 3, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
  • 6. The label applicator according claim 2, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 7. The label applicator according claim 2, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
  • 8. The label applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a guide adapter which is separately mounted concentrically to a center of the label applying face of the compact disc stored in the disc storage body so as to locate a temporary fixing position of the annular label to the label applying face of the compact disc.
  • 9. The label applicator according to claim 8, wherein the guide adapter is formed to have a height so as to be stored inside the compact disc storage case when the lid body is in the closed position and wherein the label attachment has a center hole, into which the guide adapter is inserted with a space therebetween when the lid body of the compact disc storage case is in the closed position.
  • 10. The label applicator according claim 9, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 11. The label applicator according claim 9, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
  • 12. The label applicator according claim 8, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 13. The label applicator according claim 8, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
  • 14. The label applicator according claim 1, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 15. The label applicator according to claim 1, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
  • 16. A label attachment mounted on a lid body of a compact disc storage case, the compact disc storage case including a disc storage body and the lid body, the lid body being pivotably attached to the disc storage body so as to be pivotable from an open position to a closed position in order to apply an annular label to a label applying face of a compact disc stored in the disc storage body, the label attachment comprising:an annular label pressing face so as to apply the annular label to the label applying face; and contacting members at each of four peripheral comers thereof, each of the contacting members having first and second contacting portions forming an approximate L-shape, the first contacting portion of each contacting member contacting a pressing pawl provided so as to extend perpendicularly outwardly from a sidewall of the lid body and the second contacting portion of each contacting member contacting a catching projection located so as to project perpendicularly outwardly from an inside surface of the lid body so as to concentrically face the annular label pressing face to the label applying face of the compact disc for positioning.
  • 17. The label applicator according claim 16, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment comprises a temporary fixing means so as to temporarily fix the annular label.
  • 18. The label applicator according claim 17, wherein the temporary fixing means is either a bonding layer, having weak adhesive strength, or an adhesive layer.
  • 19. The label applicator according claim 16, wherein the annular label pressing face of the label attachment is entirely or partially formed of a cushion layer so as to press the label elastically.
  • 20. The label applicator according claim 16, wherein the label attachment includes positioning projections, which are molded in one body so as to elastically undulate, the positioning projections including catching ridges, which protrude slightly over the annular label pressing face to be inserted in a groove of the compact disc for positioning when the label attachment is placed over the compact disc.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11-179990 Jun 1999 JP
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
5402882 Bandy et al. Apr 1995 A
5951819 Hummell et al. Sep 1999 A
6302176 Chen Oct 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
29817456 Dec 1998 DE
0855713 Jan 1998 EP
2001-10623 Jan 2001 JP
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
Translation of Weinbach-Jackel et al.