Patent Application
20050194272
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage apparatus for storing compact disks or the like and more particularly, to a loose-leaf type storage apparatus, which keeps the storage items in place and against outside dust, and is connectable to a ring binder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of lasers and infrared technology, a variety of compact data storage media such as CDs (compact disks), VCDs (video compact disks), CD-R, CD-RW, and etc. have been developed and intensively used for storing digital data. In order to keep digital data storage disks in place, data storage cases or racks may be used. Further, there is known a loose-leaf type storage apparatus for storing data storage media. According to this design, as shown in
1. Each pocket of the loose-leaf type storage apparatus A has no means to lock the storage CD or the like in place, and the storage CD or the like may fall out of the pocket or rub against the sheet of non-woven fabric A1 and plastic cover flaps A2.
2. Because each pocket of the loose-leaf type storage apparatus A is not sealable, the storage item tends to be covered with dust.
3. When used with a ring binder, the periphery of each mounting through hole A3 may easily be torn, thereby causing the loose-leaf type storage apparatus A to fall from the ring binder.
4. The fabrication of the sheet of non-woven fabric A1 and the bonding of the plastic cover flaps A2 to the non-woven fabric A1 are complicated, resulting in high manufacturing cost.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf type storage apparatus, which holds the storage items firmly in place, protecting the storage items against scratching. It is another object of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf type storage apparatus, which keeps the storage items in an enclosed space against dust. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf type storage apparatus, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf type storage apparatus, which is durable in use and connectable to a ring binder.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the loose-leaf type storage apparatus comprises a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell each comprising a flat receiving space adapted to accommodate a disk-like storage item, a retainer disposed in the flat receiving space and adapted to secure a disk-like storage item to the flat receiving space; hinge means connected between the first shell and the second shells for enabling the first shell and the second shell to be turnable relative to each other between an open position and a close position; and at least one mounting strip extended from the periphery of one of the first shell and the second shell, the at least one mounting strip each having at least one mounting through hole for fastening to a ring binder. The shells, the hinge means and the at least one mounting strip are integrally molded from plastics.
In
Referring to
Referring to
The loose-leaf type storage apparatus 1 can be made from plastics in integrity. Preferably, the shells 12 can be made transparent or semi-transparent so that the user to see the storage item(s) in the loose-leaf type storage apparatus 1 without opening the shells 12.
As indicated above, the loose-leaf type storage apparatus of the present invention has the following features:
1. By means of the retainer 122 in the receiving space 121 of each of the shells 12, the storage item (CD) is held firmly in the receiving space 121 and well protected by the respective shell 12.
2. The hinge 11 enables the shells 12 to be turned relative to each other between the open position and the close position. When closed, the storage item is well protected against dust.
3. The loose-leaf type storage apparatus 1 can be integrally molded from plastics to reduce the cost. In this case, fastening the mounting through holes 131 to a ring binder 3 does not cause the mounting strip(s) 13 to break easily.
A prototype of loose-leaf type storage apparatus has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜6. The loose-leaf type storage apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
