Storing case with engaging pawl

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6273247
  • Patent Number
    6,273,247
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, December 22, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 14, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A storing case for holding a recording medium is provided where the recording medium can be easily stored and removed. The storing case has a sturdy structure that is durable and in which the stored recording medium is securely retained. The storing case comprises an outer case and an inner case, which are assembled to provide a storage cavity. First engaging portions and a second engaging portion are formed in upper and lower parts of inner side surfaces of a right wall and a left wall of the outer case. Third engaging portions and fourth engaging portions are engaged in the first engaging portions and the second engaging portions and are formed in the upper and lower parts of outer side surfaces of a right wall and a left wall of the inner case. Engaging pawls for engaging recessed portions of the recording medium are provided in the right wall and the left wall.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field Of The Invention




The present invention relates to a storing case suitable for storing a recording medium such as a cartridge storing a game software.




2. Description Of The Prior Art




There is known a conventional storing case for a recording medium such as a cartridge storing game software. The conventional storing case is formed from soft synthetic resin, and comprises a case body for storing a recording medium and a cover connected to the rear edge of the case body via a thin hinge. An engaging pawl for detachably engaging an engaging recessed portion formed in the front of the cover and retains the cover in a closed state. The above-mentioned conventional storing case has a problem in that it takes time to store a recording medium because the cover is first opened, the recording medium is inserted into the case body, the cover is then closed and the engaging recessed portion of the front part of the cover is engaged with the engaging pawl of the case body to store the recording medium. In addition, it has another problem in that it is difficult to take out the recording medium from the storing case because the cover must be opened while detaching the engaging pawl from the engaging recessed portion. Moreover, the conventional storing case has another problem in that the hinge portion is fragile because it fatigues due to repeatedly opening and closing the cover.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems. Objects of the present invention are to provide a storing case in which it is easy to store and take out a recording medium, the stored recording medium is securely stored and, the storing case is not fragile.




In order to attain the above and other objects, a storing case in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention comprises:




(a) an outer case and an inner case to be attachable to the outer case;




(b) the outer case including a bottom wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the bottom wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the bottom wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the bottom wall, so that an upper part and a front part of the bottom wall are open;




(c) the inner case including an upper wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the upper wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the upper wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the upper wall, so that a lower part and a front part of the upper wall are open;




(d) a storing cavity bounded by the bottom wall of the outer case, the upper, right, left, and rear walls of the inner case, with a front part of the storing cavity opened; and




(e) an engaging pawl provided in the right wall and the left wall of the inner case for engaging an item stored in the storing cavity.




A storing case in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed in the upper and lower parts of the inner side surfaces of the right and left walls of the outer case, and has a third engaging portion engageable with the first engaging portion and a fourth engaging portion engageable with the second engaging portion formed in the upper and lower parts of the outer side surfaces of the right and left walls of the inner case, in addition to the above.




A storing case in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention has an engaging pawl that is formed in the shape of an inverted letter “V” and is integrally formed in the inner case with an inclining piece contacting the right or left wall of the outer case being formed on the front part side of the top part and a bent piece that does not contact the right or left wall of the outer case being formed on the rear part side of the top part.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




In the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is an overall exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a storing case in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an overall exploded perspective view of the storing case of

FIG. 1

, seen from another direction;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the storing case of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an overall perspective view showing a state in which the storing case is used;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of an inner case, seen from the lower side;





FIG. 6

is a plan sectional view of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

is aside sectional view of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 8

is a front sectional view showing a state in which the inner case is bent outward;





FIG. 9

is a front sectional view showing a state in which the inner case is bent inward; and




FIGS.


10


(


a


)-


10


(


d


) are cross-sectional views showing the storing case in use.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




A storing case of the present invention is now described with reference to FIG.


1


through

FIG. 10. A

storing case


1


comprises an outer case


2


and an inner case


21


to be attached to the outer case


2


. The outer case


2


is formed from a synthetic resin, and includes a bottom wall


5


, a rear wall


6


extending from a rear part of the bottom wall


5


, a right wall


7


extending from a right part of the bottom wall


5


, and a left wall


9


extending from a left part of the bottom wall


5


, so that an upper part and a front part of the bottom wall


5


are open. The right wall


7


and the left wall


9


have rear end edges


7




a


and


9




a


formed in a semi-circular shape. The rear wall


6


is formed to extend to about half of the height of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


.




First engaging portions


10


and


10


and a second engaging portion


11


are formed in upper and lower parts of the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


of the outer case


2


. The first engaging portions


10


and


10


are formed in a rectangular recessed shape, and are positioned spaced apart on opposite sides of the portion of the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


respectively. The second engaging portion


11


is formed substantially in the angle shape by a protrusion, and is positioned substantially in the center of the lower portion of the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


. The rear wall


6


has first stopper pieces


12


and


12


on opposite sides of the inner side surface


6




b


and engaging holes


13


and


13


are formed inside the first stopper pieces


12


and


12


. A notch


15


substantially in the shape of a letter “U” is formed in the front part of the bottom wall


5


.




The inner case


21


is formed from a synthetic resin and includes an upper wall


22


, a rear wall


23


extending from a rear part of the upper wall


22


, a right wall


25


extending from a right part of the upper wall


22


, and a left wall


26


extending from a left part of the upper wall


22


, with its lower part and front part opened. Second stopper pieces


20


and


20


are provided on opposite sides of the rear part of the inner side surface


24


of the upper wall


22


. Third engaging portions


27


and


27


are engageable in the first engaging portions


10


and


10


, respectively, and fourth engaging portion


29


is engageable in the second engaging portion


11


. Portions


27


and


27


and portion


29


are formed in the upper and lower parts of the outer side surfaces


25




a


and


26




a


of the right wall


25


and the left wall


26


of the inner case


21


.




The third engaging portions


27


and


27


are formed in rectangular protruding shapes with each having an inclining surface


30


in its lower part, and are positioned on the opposite sides of upper portion of the outer side surfaces


25




a


and


26




a


of the right wall


25


and the left wall


26


, respectively. The fourth engaging portion


29


is formed substantially in the angle shape by a recessed portion, and is positioned substantially in the center of the lower parts of the outer side surfaces


25




a


and


26




a


of the right wall


25


and the left wall


26


.




An engaging pawl


31


protruding deeper inside than the inner side surfaces


25




b


and


26




b


is provided in each of the right wall


25


and the left wall


26


of the inner case


21


. The engaging pawl


31


is integrally formed in the inner case


21


with the engaging pawl


31


being connected to the front end edge


32




a


or


33




a


of a recessed portion


32


or


33


formed in the rear part of the right wall


25


or the left wall


26


and an inner side surface


23




b


of the rear wall


23


(see

FIG. 10

(


a


)).




The engaging pawl


31


is formed substantially in the shape of an inverted letter “V” using an inclining piece


39


on the front part side and a bent piece


40


on the rear part side. The inclining piece


39


is connected to the front end edge


32




a


or


33




a


of the recessed portion


32


or


33


in its front end


39




a,


and gently inclines inward from the outer side surface


25




a


or


26




a


of the right wall


25


or the left wall


26


.




The bent piece


40


is connected to a rear end


39




b


of the inclining piece


39


in its front end


40




a


and the connecting part forms a top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


. The bent piece


40


is connected to the inner side surface


23




b


of the rear wall


23


in its rear end


40




b


with the bent piece


40


being deeper inside than the outer side surface


25




a


or


26




a


of the right wall


25


or the left wall


26


. Further, the inclining edge


39




c


of the inclining piece


39


on the front part side of the top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


slopes gently. An inclining edge


40




c


of the bent piece


40


on the rear part side of the top part


47


of the engaging piece


31


is formed steeper than the inclining edge


39




c.






The rear wall


23


has an inner side surface


23




b


substantially forming a right angle with the upper wall


22


and the outer side surface


23




a


is in a rounded shape. The rear wall


23


has contacting stepped portion


45


contacting the rear wall


6


of the outer case


2


on the outer side surface


23




a.


Further, the rear wall


23


has recessed portions


41


and


41


substantially in the shape of a letter “C” formed spaced apart with engaging pawls


42


and


42


formed inside the recessed portions


41


and


41


. A notch


43


substantially in the shape of a letter “U” is formed in the front part of the upper wall


22


.




The storing case


1


can be readily assembled as described below.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the storing case


1


is assembled by engaging the engaging pawls


42


and


42


formed in the rear wall


23


the inner case


21


in the engaging holes


13


and


13


formed in the rear wall


6


of the outer case


2


and inserting the inner case


21


into the outer case


2


from above. The third engaging portions


27


and


27


of the inner case


21


are engaged in the first engaging portions


10


and


10


of the outer case


2


, and the fourth engaging portion


29


of the inner case


21


is fittingly engaged in the second engaging portion


11


of the outer case


2


.




The contacting stepped portion


45


of the rear wall


23


of the inner case


21


contacts the upper end


6




a


of the rear wall


6


of the outer case


2


. A tip part


46


of the contacting stepped portion


45


contacts the inner side surface


6




b


of the rear wall


6


of the outer case


2


. The inner side surface


7




b


of the right wall


7


of the outer case


2


contacts the outer side surface


25




a


of the right wall


25


of the inner case


21


. The inner side surface


9




b


of the left wall


9


of the outer case


2


contacts the outer side surface


26




a


of the left wall


26


of the inner case


21


. Thereby, the storing case


1


is assembled as shown in FIG.


4


.




The first stopper pieces


12


and


12


of the outer case


2


protrude from a gap of the recessed portion


41


of the inner case


21


into the inner case


21


. As shown in FIG.


10


(


a


), the inclining pieces


39


and


39


of the engaging pawls


31


and


31


of the inner case


21


contact the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


of the outer case


2


in their respective front portions. The bent piece


40


is deeper inside than the outer side surface


25




a


or


26




a


of the right wall


25


or the left wall


26


, and the bent piece


40


does not contact the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


. In this way, the storing case


1


is assembled, and forms a storing cavity


50


with a front part


51


opening that is bounded by the bottom wall


5


of the outer case


2


, the upper wall


22


of the inner case


21


, the right wall


25


, the left wall


26


and the rear wall


23


.




The storing case


1


can receive a recording medium


60


by inserting the recording medium from the front part


51


into the storing cavity


50


. The recording medium


60


is inserted until it contacts the first stopper pieces


12


and


12


and the second stopper pieces


20


and


20


. Engaging recessed portions


61


and


61


formed on the both sides of the recording medium


60


are engaged by the engaging pawls


31


and


31


of the inner case


21


.




When the recording medium


60


is inserted from the front part


51


into the storing case


1


, side edge


62


of the front part of the storing medium


60


contacts the inclining edge


39




c


of the inclining piece


39


of the engaging pawl


31


as shown in FIG.


10


(


a


). The rear end


39




b


of the inclining piece


39


is bent outward with the front end


39




a


as the fulcrum, and a force is applied to the front end


40




a


of the bent piece


40


in the arrow A direction. When a force acts in the arrow A direction, the front end


40




a


of the bent piece


40


is bent outward with the rear end


40




b


as the fulcrum. However, since the bent piece


40


is bent not to contact the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


, it does not contact the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


and therefore, the top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


can be bent outward by a relatively weak force with the rear end


40




b


as the fulcrum.




As described above, the recording medium


60


can be inserted easily with a weak force into the storing cavity


50


of the storing case


1


. In addition, since the inclining edge


39




c


of the engaging piece


39


is formed in a gentle angle, a very weak force may be sufficient. When inserted in this way, the top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


resists the elasticity of a material and is moved outside by the both side edges


62


and


62


of the front part of the recording medium


60


.




When the recording medium


60


is inserted to a predetermined position as shown in FIG.


10


(


c


), the top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


is engaged in the engaging recessed portions


61


and


61


of the recording medium


60


by the elasticity of a material.




When the recording medium


60


is taken out from the front part


51


of the storing case


1


, the rear edge


63


of the engaging recessed portion


61


of the storing medium


60


contacts the inclining edge


40




c


of the bent piece


40


of the engaging pawl


31


as shown in FIG.


10


(


d


). The front end


40




a


of the bent piece


40


is bent outward with the rear end


40




b


as the fulcrum, and a force is applied to the rear end


39




b


of the inclining piece


39


in the arrow B direction. When a force acts in the arrow B direction, although the rear end


39




b


of the inclining piece


39


is bent outward with the front end


39




a


as the fulcrum, since the front part in the acting direction of a force acts upon the inner side surfaces


7




b


and


9




b


of the right wall


7


and the left wall


9


, a relatively strong force is necessary to bend the inclining piece


39


outward with the front end


39




a


as the fulcrum.




As described above, a strong force is necessary to take out the recording medium


60


from the storing cavity


50


of the storing case


1


. Further, since the inclining edge


40




c


of the bent piece


40


is formed with a steep angle, a much stronger force is necessary than when inserting the recording medium. When taken out in this way, the top part


47


of the engaging pawl


31


is moved outside by the side edges


62


and


62


of the front part of the recording medium


60


against the elasticity of a material.




As described so far, the storing case


1


is made such that the recording medium


60


can be easily inserted but is harder to take it out. Therefore, when the recording medium


60


is carried in the storing case


1


, the recording medium


60


is securely retained and avoids coming out of the storing case


1


, where it can be damaged or be tainted by dust. Further, since the notches


43


and


15


are formed in the upper wall


22


and the bottom wall


5


of the storing case


1


, the recording medium


60


can be taken out by directly holding with fingers via the notches


43


and


15


.




Since the storing case


1


includes two main parts, i.e., the outer case


2


and the inner case


21


, various kinds of storing cases


1


can be formed by preparing a plurality of the outer cases


2


and the inner cases


21


with different colors and patterns and then making combinations of these kinds of the outer case


2


and the inner case


21


. Further, as shown in FIG.


8


and

FIG. 9

, when an outer force is applied to the storing case


1


, although the outer force can affect and deform either the outer case


2


or the inner case


21


, since the other is not affected, the storing case


1


has a structure that is hard to be broken and which disperses an applied force.




In addition, in the storing case


1


, the outer case


2


and the inner case


21


do not separate easily even if an external force is applied. For example, as shown in

FIG. 8

, even if the upper wall


22


of the inner case


21


is bent outward by an external force, the lower ends of the left wall


26


and the right wall


25


are deformed inward and the fourth engaging portions


29


and


29


come off from the second engaging portions


11


and


11


of the outer case


2


. In such a manner, the outer case


2


and the inner case


21


do not separate because the third engaging portions


27


and


27


do not come off from the first engaging portions


10


and


10


.




Moreover, as shown in

FIG. 9

, even if the upper wall


22


of the inner case


21


is bent inward by an external force, the upper ends of the left wall


26


and the right wall


25


are deformed inward and the third engaging portions


27


and


27


come off from the first engaging portions


10


and


10


of the outer case


2


. In such a manner, the outer case


2


and the inner case


21


do not separate because the fourth engaging portions


29


and


29


do not come off from the second engaging portions


11


and


11


. In this way, the storing case remains intact and is not damaged because the storing case


1


is easy to be assembled but hard to be disassembled.




Having described above, the storing case in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention has the effect that, since the storing case consists of the two parts, namely, the outer case and the inner case, various types of storing case may be formed by preparing a plurality of the outer cases and the inner cases with different colors and patters and combining these. Further, the storing case has the effect that when an external force is applied to the storing case, although the external force affects and deforms either the outer case or the inner case, since the other is never affected, the storing case has a structure hard to be broken and which efficiently disperses an applied external force. In addition, the storing case in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention has the advantage that there is no such trouble of opening the cover and storing or taking out an item as can occur in the conventional storing case, but an item can be easily stored in the storing cavity simply by inserting it from the front opening and can be easily taken out from the storing cavity simply by pulling it out from the front opening. Moreover, the storing case also has the advantage that an item stored in the storing case is securely retained because the item is engaged by the engaging pawls.




In the storing case in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are formed in the upper and lower parts of the inner side surfaces of the right wall and the left wall of the outer case. The third engaging portion is engageable in the first engaging portion and the fourth engaging portion is engageable in the second engaging portion, and are formed in the upper and lower parts of the outer side surfaces of the right wall and the left wall of the inner case. Thereby, even if the upper wall of the inner case is bent outward by an external force, and the lower ends of the left wall and the right wall are deformed inward and the fourth engaging portions of the inner case come off from the second engaging portions of the outer case, the outer case and the inner case never separate because the third engaging portions do not come off from the first engaging portions. Similarly, even if the upper wall of the inner case is bent inward by an external force, and the upper ends of the left wall and the right wall are deformed inward and the third engaging portions of the inner case come off from the first engaging portions of the outer case, the outer case and the inner case never separate because the fourth engaging portions do not come off from the second engaging portions. In this way, the storing case in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention has the effect that it cannot be disassembled easily even if the inner case or the outer case is deformed, and it holds together as a single unit.




In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the storing case has the engaging pawl substantially in the shape of an inverted letter “V”, with the inclining piece connected to the right or left wall of the outer case on the front part side of the top part, and the bent piece not contacting the right or left wall of the outer case on the rear part side of the top part. Thereby, an item can be stored with a weak force and can be removed if it is pulled out with a stronger force. In this way, the storing case in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention has the effect that, when an item is carried in the storing case, the item will not accidentally dislodge from the storing case to be damaged or get tainted by dust because the storing case can easily retain the item, but the item does not easily dislodge.




Thus, it is seen that a storing case is provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments which are presented for the purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.



Claims
  • 1. A storing case comprising:(a) an outer case and an inner case attachable to the outer case; (b) the outer case including a bottom wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the bottom wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the bottom wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the bottom wall, so that an upper part and a front part of the bottom wall are open; (c) the inner case including an upper wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the upper wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the upper wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the upper wall, so that a lower part and a front part of the upper wall are open; (d) a storing cavity bounded by the bottom wall of the outer case, the upper wall, right wall, left wall and rear wall of the inner case, with a front part of the storing cavity opened; and (e) a first engaging pawl provided in one of the right wall or the left wall of the inner case, the first engaging pawl including a first end integrally formed with the respective one of the left wall or right wall of the inner case, a second end integrally formed with the rear wall of the inner case, and a displaceable middle section between the first end and the second end.
  • 2. A storing case in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed in the upper and lower parts of the inner side surfaces of the right and left walls of the outer case; and a third engaging portion engageable in the first engaging portion and a fourth engaging portion engageable in the second engaging portion, the third engaging portion and the fourth engaging portion formed in the upper and lower parts of the outer side surfaces of the right and left walls of the inner case.
  • 3. A storing case in accordance with claim 2, wherein the middle section of the engaging pawl is formed in a reverse V letter shape such that the point of the V is away from the right or left wall in an outward direction and includes an inclining piece adjacent the first end contacting the respective one of the right or left wall of the outer case and a bent piece that does not contact the right or left wall of the outer case.
  • 4. A storing case in accordance with claim 3, wherein the inclining piece is curved inwardly towards an interior of the storing cavity.
  • 5. A storing case in accordance with claim 3 wherein the bent piece includes a first end integrally formed with the inclining piece and a second end opposite the first end integrally formed with the rear wall of the inner case.
  • 6. A storing case in accordance with claim 3 wherein:the inclining piece includes an first inclining edge having a first concave curvature; the bent piece including a second inclining edge having a second concave curvature, the second concave curvature being greater than the first concave curvature.
  • 7. A storing case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the middle section of the engaging pawl is formed in a reverse V letter shape such that the point of the V is away from the right or left wall in an outward direction and includes an inclining piece adjacent the first end contacting the respective one of the right or left wall of the outer case and a bent piece that does not contact the right or left wall of the outer case.
  • 8. A storing case in accordance with claim 7, wherein the inclining piece is curved inwardly towards an interior of the storing cavity.
  • 9. A storing case in accordance with claim 7 wherein the bent piece includes a first end integrally formed with the inclining piece and a second end opposite the first end integrally formed with the rear wall of the inner case.
  • 10. A storing case in accordance with claim 7 wherein:the inclining piece includes an first inclining edge having a first concave curvature; the bent piece including a second inclining edge having a second concave curvature, the second concave curvature being greater than the first concave curvature.
  • 11. A storing case in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second engaging pawl provided in the other of the right wall or left wall of the inner case, on the opposite wall of the inner case from the first engaging pawl, the second engaging pawl including a first end integrally formed with the respective other of the right wall or left wall of the inner case, a second end integrally formed with the rear wall of the inner case, and a displaceable middle section between the first end and the second end.
  • 12. A storing case comprising:(a) an outer case and an inner case attachable to the outer case; (b) the outer case including a bottom wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the bottom wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the bottom wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the bottom wall, so that an upper part and a front part of the bottom wall are open; (c) the inner case including an upper wall, a rear wall extending from a rear part of the upper wall, a right wall extending from a right part of the upper wall, and a left wall extending from a left part of the upper wall, so that a lower part and a front part of the upper wall are open; (d) a storing cavity bounded by the bottom wall of the outer case, the upper wall, right wall, left wall and rear wall of the inner case, with a front part of the storing cavity opened; and (e) a displaceable engaging pawl means for engaging a receiving element of a medium case, the engaging pawl means including: an inclining piece means for engaging a leading edge of a medium case and transmitting a displacement force from the leading edge of the medium case to the engaging pawl means upon insertion of the medium case into the string case, the inclining piece means attached to one of the left or right walls of the inner case; and a bent piece means for engaging an edge of the receiving element of the medium case and transmitting a displacement force from the edge of the receiving element to the engaging pawl means upon withdrawal of the medium case from the storing case.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
11-016679 Jan 1999 JP
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
4664261 Frodelius May 1987
5385235 Ikebe et al. Jan 1995
5704474 Oland Jan 1998
5954198 Ikebe et al. Sep 1999
5960948 Shiga et al. Oct 1999