Patent Application
20080308434
The present invention relates to a protective sleeve for a disc-shaped recording medium, such as a compact disc, comprising sheets of a flexible material arranged in at least four layers on top of each other.
The invention further relates to a holder for a sleeve made of flexible sheet material.
The invention further relates to an assembly of such a holder and a sleeve made of flexible sheet material.
A protective sleeve of this art, though not intended for a disc-shaped recording medium, is known from WO 98/24640, which discloses a multi-pocket sleeve with three pockets. The sleeve is made up of a number of sheets and is used for a variety of paper recording applications. The side edge of the sleeve is provided with holes for inserting the sleeve in a sleeve holder. The sheets are of different sizes and are arranged in layers with the smallest as the front sheet, the second smallest as the second sheet etc. The bottoms of the pockets are situated at a common level.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,293 discloses a foldable wallet for containing a disc such as a compact disc and accompanying graphics. The wallet contains four substantially rectangular sheets providing two integral pockets on top of each other and a separate third pocket or one big pocket with two smaller pockets on top in a side-by-side arrangement. In the first case the two integral pockets are adapted for containing a compact disc as well as a cover. The third pocket is arranged for containing another cover and may be used for closing the wallet. The pocket for containing the compact disc is restricted by an arcuate seam binding the two sheets but not the third together. U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,293 also disclose a method for making the wallet including the arcuate seam.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,086 discloses a sleeve for holding a digital video disc (DVD) and graphics. The sleeve comprise three sheets superposed each other and interconnected at a bottom edge and two side edges of the sleeve to provide two pockets: One for containing a DVD and one for containing the accompanying graphics. Due to the fact that the graphics accompanying DVDs are oversized in relation to the diameter of the DVD (DVD-diameter: 12.0 cm, length of DVD-graphics: 17.8 cm) the DVD-containing pocket is oversized in relation to the DVD. To avoid that the DVD slides back and forth the DVD-containing pocket is provided with a disc stopping seal interconnecting the two sheets forming the DVD-containing pocket and retaining the disc in an end of the pocket adjacent an opening for insertion of the disc.
It should be noted that the so called jewel-case is a well known hard cover for compact discs comprising a bottom part holding a not readily removable graphic back sheet (dimensions: 11.8 cm×15.0 cm) and the compact disc (diameter: 12.0 cm), and a hinged cover holding a readily removable graphic front cover or booklet (dimensions: 12.0 cm×12.0 cm). However the term ‘jewel-case’ is used also for other hard boxes for containing disc shaped recording media e.g. DVDs. However cases used for DVDs has larger dimensions than cases used for CDs and also the accompanying graphics material has larger dimensions than the graphics material accompanying CDs. U.S. Pat. No. 2,127,619 discloses a holder for holding groups of sheets, such as the chapters of a book. On one of their edges the sheets are provided with a key, which fits into a slot in the holder. The key is provided with a number of prolonged dovetail-shaped projections matching a number of prolonged projections in the slot so that the key may be easily inserted in the slot by pushing it into the slot and removed from the slot by displacement of the sleeve in a direction parallel to the edge provided with the key. This enables easy access to and browsing of the groups of sheets inserted in the holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,480 discloses a binder system for binding booklets and the like, comprising a binder comprising a back with slots for receiving foldable spines attachable to the booklets. In one embodiment the slots contain full-length ridges or bosses for engagement with upstanding tabs on the spines to retain the spines. The binder system does neither provide for nor suggest direct attachment of sleeves of flexible material in the slots.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a protective sleeve capable of containing the contents of a so called jewel case as mentioned above, in which a disc-shaped recording medium, such as a compact disc, may be easily inserted and removed. A further object is to provide a protective sleeve, whereby several such sleeves in a practical manner may be inserted in a holder for easy access to and browsing of the recording media inserted in the sleeves.
It is another object of the invention to provide a holder for sleeves of flexible sheet material.
It is still another object to provide an assembly of a sleeve of flexible sheet material and a holder therefor.
According to a first aspect of the invention a protective sleeve for a disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter, such as a compact disc, said sleeve having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back and comprising sheets of flexible material, the sheets being arranged in at least four layers on top of each other to provide in succession a back sheet, a first central sheet, a second central sheet and a front sheet, each sheet having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge and two mutually opposed side edges connecting the top edges and bottom edges, each respective sheet of said back sheet, first and second central sheet and front sheet being attached to an adjacent sheet along at least two opposing edges of said respective sheet so as to form a front pocket, a central pocket and a back pocket, the central pocket being open at the top edges and being adapted to contain said disc-shaped recording medium, wherein the bottom of the central pocket, determining the depth to which the disc-shaped recording medium may be inserted in the central pocket, is defined at a substantial distance from the bottom edge of at least one of the sheets.
This provides for a protective sleeve with a front pocket for accommodating a front cover graphics or a booklet of a jewel case, a back pocket for accommodating a back cover graphics and a central pocket for accommodating a compact disc, whereby the compact disc, when inserted in the central pocket, the smaller depth of said pocket provides for a position of the compact disc at a relatively small distance from said top edges of the sheets, in which an edge of the disc is visible behind the front cover graphics or booklet thus making it easier for a user to pull the compact disc out of protective sleeve.
In one embodiment a protective sleeve according to the invention comprises at least four sheets of flexible material wherein each of said respective sheets is attached to its adjacent sheet(s) at the bottom edges and at least one of the two side edges. Since all sheets are interconnected at the bottom of the sleeve this embodiment is relatively easy to manufacture.
In a second embodiment of a protective sleeve according to the invention the bottom edge of at least one of the first and second central sheet is situated between the bottom of the central pocket and the bottom edges of the front sheet and the back sheet and above an area of mutual attachment of sheets adjacent the bottom of the sleeve. In this embodiment at least one of the central sheets are not interconnected with the other sheets at the bottom of the sleeve. Therefore a seam at this part of the sleeve may be made more rapidly providing for a more efficient and more economical manufacture of sleeves.
In a third embodiment of a protective sleeve according to the invention a single piece of sheet material is folded to provide the first and the second central sheet said sheets being thus connected by a fold constituting the bottom edges of said sheets.
In a fourth embodiment of a protective sleeve according to the invention a bottom part of one of the first and the second central sheet is folded 180° towards and attached to the other of said central sheets.
The distance mentioned is preferably at least approximately 10 mm, preferably approximately 30 mm, and the disc-shaped recording medium projects in its position inserted in the central pocket over at least one of the two central sheets. Also preferably, the first central sheet may be provided at its top edge with a flap for engaging the edge of the disc-shaped recording medium in its position inserted in the central pocket, and the second central sheet may be provided with a recess providing access to the disc-shaped recording medium in the central pocket. These features provide for a large area, in which a user may grasp the recording medium, without the recording medium being likely to fall out of the sleeve.
In preferred embodiments at least one of the sheets is manufactured from a transparent material, making a cover or any other graphic representation placed in one of the pockets visible through the sheet.
Furthermore, the sheets may be provided with substantially uniform and rectangular dimensions, and the sheets may be attached to respective adjacent sheets at both side edges in order to provide a sleeve, in which all three pockets have their opening at the top edges of the sheets.
In a preferred embodiment fulfilling the above further object the sleeve is provided at the bottom edges and/or the side edges with a fastening strip to provide for fastening the sleeve in a sleeve holder for holding several sleeves. The fastening strip may be a key, which is provided with a number of resilient projections. Thus, the fastening strip may be fitted into a slot in the sleeve holder with projections matching the resilient projections. Alternatively or supplementary, the fastening strip may comprise a number of holes matching a number of rings in the sleeve holder. Thus, the protective sleeve(s) may readily be inserted in and removed from the holder, while keeping a firm attachment of the sleeve(s) after insertion in the holder.
Preferably a reinforcement strip is included along the fastening strip. The reinforcement strip will make the area of the sleeve adjacent the fastening strip more rigid thus facilitating insertion of the sleeve in a holder. The reinforcement strip is preferably made of a sheet material more rigid that the central sheets, e.g. due to the thickness of the reinforcement strip being at least twice as big as the thickness of either central sheets.
In a preferred embodiment the protective sleeve is adapted to contain a front cover, a compact disc and a back cover of an ordinary jewel-case in the front pocket, the central pocket and the back pocket, respectively. This makes it possible to place a collection of recording media into a holder, making the collection easy to browse, the covers of each recording medium being visible through transparent sheets.
In a second aspect the invention suggests a flexible sleeve holder for holding sleeves of sheets of flexible material, comprising a flat bottom element with two opposing large surfaces, a first surface of said opposing surfaces carrying a plurality of parallel ribs each having two rib sides and forming between them sleeve receiving slots, said ribs carrying on at least one rib side and in a distance from the bottom element lateral projections, said projections leaving clearances in the slots.
The clearances are preferably less than 1.7 mm, preferably less than 1.2 mm and more preferably less than 1.0 mm.
Further the clearances are preferably greater 0.4 mm, preferably greater than 0.6 mm.
The bottom element may suitably be made from plastics material and will then have a certain resiliency due to the nature of the material. However from a practical consideration the bottom element may appear to be rigid.
In a third aspect the invention suggests an assembly comprising a sleeve of flexible sheet material and a flexible sleeve holder therefore, said sleeve comprising at least two layers of flexible sheet material interconnected to provide a pocket between them, said sleeve having an edge and being provided with a fastening strip along said edge, said fastening strip comprising a thickening strip and an engagement edge, said holder comprising a flat bottom element with two opposing large surfaces, a first surface of said opposing surfaces carrying a plurality of parallel ribs each having two rib sides and forming between them sleeve receiving slots, said ribs carrying on at least one rib side and in a distance from the bottom element lateral projections, said projections leaving clearances in the slots, said projections engaging said engagement edge to retain the sleeve releasably in the holder.
In one embodiment the engagement edge is provided by a resilient barb-like projection on the fastening strip.
In another embodiment the engagement edge is an edge of an elongated hole in the sleeve through or adjacent the thickening strip, said elongated hole extending along said edge of the sleeve.
Examples of the invention will now be explained below with reference to the schematical drawings, in which
a shows a section along line A-A in
b and 5c are views corresponding to FIG. 5a but illustrating two variants of the sleeve;
a is an enlargement of
a is a side view of the sleeve in
a to 18e are section of a single slot indicating possible variations of the cross-section of the projections in the slots; and
a to 19e are front views of a single slot indicating possible variations in the longitudinal extent of the projections in the slots.
The sheets 2, 3, 4, 5 are attached to their respective neighbouring sheet(s) 2, 3, 4, 5 at their side edges by means of an adhesive or welding and at their bottom edges by means of a weld 6 so as to form a front pocket 7, a central pocket 8 and a back pocket 9 of the CD sleeve 1. The sheets 2, 3, 4, 5 may be attached to each other in any other suitable way. The pockets 7, 8, 9 are open at the top edges and the sheets are of substantially rectangular shape.
In
The front pocket 7 is adapted to contain the substantially quadratic front cover or booklet (not shown) of an ordinary compact disc jewel-case, thus the front sheet 2 has a somewhat lower top edge compared to the top edges of the other sheets 3, 4, 5. Preferably, the front pocket 6 has a depth corresponding to the height of such an ordinary front cover. The front cover is visible through the transparent front sheet 2.
The central pocket 8 is adapted to contain a recording medium in the form of an ordinary compact disc 10. In order to ease removal of the compact disc 10 from the central pocket 8, the second central sheet 3 and the first central sheet 4 are attached to each other by means of a weld 11 in an arc-shaped line matching the lower edge of the compact disc 10, the weld 11 thus forming the bottom of the central pocket 8. The weld 11 is located at a substantial distance D from the bottom edge of the CD sleeve 1, the distance D providing a projection of the compact disc 10 over the top edge of the second central sheet 3 and the front sheet 2. Attachment of the sheets 3, 4 to each other may be of any other suitable kind and shape, or the offset bottom of the central pocket 8 may be provided in any other way.
The second central sheet 3 is provided with a recess 3a extending over the entire top edge of the sheet 3. This renders part of the compact disc 10 visible, making it easy for a user to slide the compact disc 10 upwards by means of e.g. a thumb, thus pulling the compact disc 10 out of the CD sleeve 1.
As indicated above, the first central sheet 4 comprises two parts, a smaller transparent top part 4a and the larger, non-woven and softer lower part 4b, the parts 4a, 4b being attached to each other by means of an adhesive, a welding or the like in an area 4c. The lower part 4b is adapted to protect the more vulnerable back part of the compact disc 10. The top part 4a comprises a flap 4d provided by a substantially semicircular cut 4e in the material of the top part 4a. This flap 4d may be used to secure the compact disc 10 in the CD sleeve 1 when the flap 4d is in the position shown in
The back pocket 9 is adapted to contain the rectangular back cover (not shown) of an ordinary compact disc jewel-case. Preferably, the back pocket 9 has a depth corresponding to the height of an ordinary jewel-case back cover. This makes it possible to watch the back cover through the transparent back sheet 5.
The CD sleeve 1 is provided with attachment means for securing it in a holder. The weld 6 is reinforced or thickened by a thickening strip 6a of a plastics material, which is welded onto the front sheet 2 along the bottom edge thereof. Areas at the upper side edge of the thickening strip 6a are left unwelded to the back sheet 5, whereby these areas provide resilient projections 12 made on the side of the weld 6, the resilient projections 12 being tapered in the direction of the bottom edge of the CD sleeve 1. The reinforced or thickened weld provides a key insertable in a slot and resilient projections 12 may then act as barbs. The attachment means further comprise holes 13.
In
In
a show the preferred embodiment of the sleeve according to the present invention.
The front sheet 102, the two central sheets 103 and 104, the back sheet 105 and the reinforcement strip 127 all extend the full width of the CD sleeve 101 and they are attached to their respective adjacent sheets or strip a the left and right side 123 and 124 of the CD sleeve 101. However not all sheets extend the full length from the bottom 122 to the top 121 of the CD sleeve 101, and thus for one sheet the adjacent sheet may be one at the bottom 122 and another at the top 121.
In a bottom weld 106 the front sheet 102, the first central sheet 104, the back sheet 105 and the thickening strip 106a are welded together to form a key, as also explained with reference to
Above the bottom weld 106 circular holes 113 are provided for insertion of ordinary rings of a ring binder to allow the CD sleeve 101 to be stored therein.
The two central sheets 103 and 104 are attached to each by an arc-shaped weld 111.
The CD sleeve 101 is thus provided with a front pocket 107 between the front sheet 102 and the second central sheet 103, a central pocket 108 between the two central sheets 103 and 104 and a back pocket 109 between the back sheet 105 and the first central sheet 104.
The depth of the central pocket 108 is defined by the arc-shaped weld 111. The depth of the central pocket 108 should be understood as the distance a CD may be inserted into the central pocket. Thus is should be understood that the arc-shaped weld may in variants comprise welds, in which are welded together parts of the two central sheets anywhere along a circular arc adjacent the lower part of the perimeter of a CD inserted in the pocket, cf.
The front pocket 107 and the back pocket 109 both extend below the central pocket 108 to be restricted by a second bottom weld 128 provided above the holes 113. The second bottom weld 128 restricts items inserted in the front or back pocket from blocking the holes 113.
The reinforcement strip 127 extends between and is free of the arc-shaped weld 111 and the second bottom weld 128.
There is an overlap between the reinforcement strip 127 and the second central sheet 103, which is preferred because it facilitates the insertion of a piece of graphics material, such as a front cover or a booklet, in the front pocket 107 by excluding a risk of the piece of graphics material colliding with the upper edge of the reinforcement strip 127.
The area of the CD sleeve 101 below the second bottom weld 128, i.e. the bottom weld 106 and the strip-shaped area comprising the circular holes 113, constitutes a fastening strip for fastening the CD sleeve 101 in a holder or binder. The reinforcement strip 127 is provided along the fastening strip to prevent the bottom area of the CD sleeve 101 from collapsing when the fastening strip is inserted into a holder as will be described in more detail below. It should be noted that the fastening strip and the reinforcement strip could be placed at one of the sides 123 or 124 of the CD sleeve 101 instead of being placed at the bottom 122.
In
The top part 104a of the first central sheet 104 is provided with cut 104e to provide a flap 104d as described with reference to
The embodiment shown in
The sleeve 106 is preferably dimensioned to accommodate the items normally accommodated in a CD jewel case. That is a CD with a diameter of 12.0 cm, a graphics back cover with length×width: 15.0×11.8 cm and a graphics front cover or booklet with length×width: 12.0×12.0 cm.
b indicates a variant of the sleeve of the invention. A second central sheet 103a is folded towards the first central sheet 102 at is attached thereto by a central weld 130. In this way a fold 131 defines the depth of the central pocket 108. Other features of this variant correspond to features of the CD sleeve shown in
c indicates another variant of the sleeve of the invention. A single piece of sheet material is folded to provide a first central sheet 102b and a second central sheet 103b. The two central sheets are connected through a fold 131a, which defines the depth of the central pocket 108. Other features of this variant correspond to features of the CD sleeve shown in
Thus
The holding part 24 is preferably a plastics moulding and comprise a flat bottom element 27 carrying a plurality of parallel ribs 28 forming between them the slots 25 opening in a face of insertion 29. In the embodiment shown in
Inside the slots 25 on rib sides are provided lateral projections 26 leaving between them clearances 30 (
In the embodiment of the holding part 24 the slots 25 are open in one longitudinal end 34 while in a opposite second longitudinal end 35 they are from a practical point of view closed by a transverse rib 36.
In
Further the holder 214 is provided with a head 38 with provision for written indices 39 relating to the contents of CD in sleeves to be inserted in the holder. The head 38 is provided with a spring of metal thread comprising a straight part 39 extending as a movable bar across the open first longitudinal ends 34 of the slots 25. The straight part 39 may be pressed down towards the head 38 to clear the open first longitudinal ends 34 of the slots 25.
In
The holding part 24 may receive a CD sleeve 101, which has its fastening strip, key or weld 106 inserted into one of the slots 25 in the direction of insertion 33. The resilient projections 112 of the CD sleeve 101 will flex, also the ribs 28 of the holding part 24 may flex, as the weld 106 slides over the upper sides 32 of the lateral projections 26 to allow the resilient projections 112 and the weld 106 to pass between said lateral projections 26. Then the different elements will flex back and the barb-like resilient projections 112 will engage the lower sides 31 of the lateral projections 26 in the respective side of the slot 25 resisting attempts to withdraw the CD sleeve 101 from the slot 25 in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion 33. The CD sleeve may however be released from the holding part 24 by moving the CD sleeve 101 in the longitudinal direction through the open end of the slot 25, possibly after the straight part 39 has been lowered in case of holder 314.
A number of modifications are possible, some of which shall be explained in the following.
Referring to
Provided that the respective dimensions suffice the CD sleeve may be received in a slot 25 in the holding part 24 described above. In lack of a resilient projection on the fastening strip the ribs 28 must in this case flex to allow the weld 206 to pass between the lateral projections 26.
However in the latter case and with the embodiment of the lateral projections shown in
a to 18e illustrates some different possible cross-sections of the slots and the lateral projections.
a suggests that the lower sides of the lateral projections may be convergent in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion to provide for withdrawal of a sleeve in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion. A certain force must be applied to make the bottom weld slide over the lower sides and force the ribs apart to allow the bottom weld to pass.
When withdrawal of the sleeve in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion is possible the slots of the holding part may be closed in both longitudinal ends. When the slots are closed in both longitudinal ends it is avoided that sleeves may unintentionally slide out of an open end of a slot.
b suggest that a single lateral projection is provided. This would e.g. provide for only one orientation of the CD sleeve 101 because the resilient projections must meet the lateral projection in order to ensure a fastening engagement.
As indicated in
A corresponding effect may be obtained as suggested in
Finally
a to 19e illustrates different longitudinal extends of the lateral projections 26.
a suggests two sets of opposing lateral projections with blunt ends.
b suggests three sets of opposing lateral projections. This embodiment may e.g. be use full in case of larger sleeves than the sleeves describes above.
c indicates an embodiment in which the lateral projections extend in substantially the full length of the slot. This embodiment is not use full with sleeves where the fastening strip comprises elongated holes instead of resilient projections.
d shows the embodiment also shown in
e suggests that lateral projections are tapered or rounded in both longitudinal ends.
As mentioned above the dimensions must suffice if a sleeve shall be able to be mounted in a holding part.
In a preferred embodiment the CD sleeve 101 comprise front sheet 102 and back sheet 105 of thickness approximately 0.12 mm and thickening strip of thickness approximately 0.4 mm including also the first central sheet 104 the weld 106 has a thickness of approximately 0.85 mm the resilient projections 112 extending some 0.1 mm above that. To cooperate with this CD sleeve a holding part 24 with a clearance of approximately 0.8 mm betweens the lateral projections has provided satisfactory results. However the thickness of the sleeves and the clearance between the lateral projections may vary within the scope of the claims.
The reinforcement strip is in preferred embodiment of a more rigid sheet material than the front, back and central sheets and has e.g. a thickness of approximately 0.3 mm.
The size of the clearance between the lateral projections, or between the lateral projection and the opposing rib side in case of slots with unilateral projections, cf.
In case of a light sleeve intended for containing e.g. a single sheet of paper it is envisaged that the fastening strip may comprise only two sheet of approximately 0.1 mm thickness i.e. the fastening strip may be only approximately 0.2 mm thick. In this case the clearance may by e.g. approximately 0.1 mm.
The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above examples and preferred embodiments. Variations further to the above mentioned would be obvious to the person skilled in the art.
The CD sleeve may be modified to contain two CDs within the scope of the following claims. Referring to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04388005.3 | Jan 2004 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DK2005/000043 | 1/24/2005 | WO | 00 | 12/21/2007 |
