U.S. patent application number 09/750008 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-10 for double sided sleeve with a single sheet non- woven material for holding compact discs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Case Logic, Inc.. Invention is credited to Drew, Terrence Martin.
Application Number | 20010000892 09/750008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26789215 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010000892 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Drew, Terrence Martin |
May 10, 2001 |
Double sided sleeve with a single sheet non- woven material for
holding compact discs
Abstract
A single sheet of non-woven material is provided with sufficient
strength and durability to store two compact discs without the
necessity of laminating or otherwise interconnecting the non-woven
sheet to a backing sheet or other materials for strength. The
single sheet of non-woven material is positioned between the
playing surfaces of the two compact discs to provide a
non-scratching, protective surface and to reduce the costs
associated with manufacturing the sleeves used to store the
CDS.
Inventors: |
Drew, Terrence Martin;
(Superior, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bruce A. Kugler, Esq.
SHERIDAN ROSS P.C.
Suite 1200
1560 Broadway
Denver
CO
80202-5141
US
|
Assignee: |
Case Logic, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
26789215 |
Appl. No.: |
09/750008 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09750008 |
Dec 27, 2000 |
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09342339 |
Jun 29, 1999 |
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6186320 |
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60094768 |
Jul 31, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/312 ;
206/308.1; G9B/33.014 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/0444 20130101;
B65D 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/312 ;
206/308.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/57; B65D
085/30 |
Claims
1. A sleeve adapted for holding a digital video disc on one side
and a graphics page on an opposing side, comprising: a front sheet
having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left lateral edge and a right
lateral edge; a transparent back sheet having a top edge, a bottom
edge, a left lateral edge and a right lateral edge; a non-woven
middle sheet positioned between said front sheet and said
transparent rear sheet and having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left
lateral edge and a right lateral edge said non-woven middle sheet
comprising a spun-bonded, continuous polypropylene fiber with a
random fiber orientation; a first pocket formed by interconnecting
said front sheet and said middle non-woven middle sheet along at
least said left lateral edge, said right lateral edge and said
bottom edge; a stop weld interconnecting said front sheet to said
non-woven middle sheet to reduce an overall length of said first
pocket and to support the digital video disc positioned in said
first pocket; and a second pocket formed by interconnecting said
transparent back sheet and said non-woven middle sheet along at
least said left lateral edge, said right lateral edge and said
bottom edge, said second pocket adapted for holding the graphics
page associated with the digital video disc and having a length
greater than a diameter of said digital video disc.
2. The storage sleeve of claim 1, wherein said front sheet is
comprised of a non-woven material.
3. The storage sleeve of claim 1, wherein said transparent back
sheet is comprised of a polypropylene material.
4. The storage sleeve of claim 1, wherein said front sheet further
comprises a flap which at least partially covers the digital video
disc.
5. The storage sleeve of claim 4, wherein said flap has a flap
termination point shaped like a circular aperture which resists
tearing.
6. The storage sleeve of claim 4, wherein said flap has a flap
termination point which is arcuately shaped to resist tearing.
7. The storage sleeve of claim 1, wherein said transparent back
sheet has a thumb cut positioned along said top edge to facilitate
grasping of the graphics page positioned within said second
pocket.
8. The storage sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a spine with
at least one aperture positioned along said left lateral edge or
said right lateral edge which is adapted for securing said sleeve
in a binding device.
9. The storage sleeve of claim 1, wherein said stop weld is
positioned below said top edge of said front sheet a distance
approximately the diameter of the digital video disc.
10. A storage sheet adapted for holding a plurality of compact
discs in a binding device, comprising: a flexible front sheet
having a top edge, a bottom edge and two lateral edges; a flexible
back sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and two lateral edges;
a non-woven middle sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and two
lateral edges positioned between said flexible front sheet and said
flexible back sheet, said non-woven middle sheet comprising a
spun-bonded, continuous polypropylene fiber with a random fiber
orientation; a plurality of pockets formed on a front side and a
back side of said storage sheet by selectively interconnecting said
flexible front sheet, said flexible back sheet and said non-woven
middle sheet at least along said two lateral edges and said bottom
edge; a binding means positioned on said storage sheet for
removably interconnecting said storage sheet to the binding
device.
11. The storage sleeve of claim 10, wherein said binding means
comprises a plurality of apertures.
12. The storage sleeve of claim 10, wherein said binding means
comprises a spine positioned between said plurality of pockets.
13. The storage sleeve of claim 10, wherein said flexible front
sheet and said flexible back sheet further comprises a thumb cut
positioned on each of said plurality of pockets which reveals at
least a portion of the plurality of compact discs to facilitate
grasping.
14. The storage sheet of claim 10, wherein said flexible front
sheet and said flexible back sheet further comprises a flap
positioned on said plurality of pockets which covers at least a
portion of the compact disc.
15. The storage sheet of claim 10, further comprising at least one
vertical seam formed by interconnecting said flexible front sheet,
said non-woven middle sheet, and said flexible back sheet from said
top edge to said bottom edge, said seam used to separate at least
two of said plurality of pockets.
16. The storage sheet of claim 10, wherein there are at least two
pockets on a front side of said sleeve and two pockets on a back
side of said sleeve.
17. The storage sheet of claim 10, wherein there are at least four
pockets on a front side of said sleeve and foam pockets on a back
side of said sleeve.
18. The storage sheet of claim 10, wherein said binding means
comprises a spine positioned along at least one of said two lateral
edges.
19. A storage sleeve adapted for holding a first compact disc on
one side and a second compact disc on an opposing side, comprising:
a flexible front sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left
lateral edge and a right lateral edge; a flexible backsheet having
a top edge, a bottom edge, a left lateral edge and a right lateral
edge; a flexible middle sheet sandwiched between said flexible
front sheet and said flexible back sheet and having a top edge, a
bottom edge, a left lateral edge and a right lateral edge, said
flexible middle sheet comprising a non-woven, spun-bonded,
continuous polypropylene fiber with a random fiber orientation; a
first pocket and a second opposing pocket formed by interconnecting
at least said left lateral edges said right lateral edge and said
bottom edge of said flexible front sheet, said flexible back sheet
and said non-woven middle sheet.
20. The storage sleeve of claim 19, wherein said flexible front
sheet and said flexible back sheet are comprised of a non-woven
material.
21. The storage sleeve of claim 19, wherein said flexible front
sheet and said flexible back sheet further comprise a thumb cut
which exposes at least a portion of the first compact disc and the
second compact disc to facilitate grasping.
22. The storage sleeve of claim 19, wherein said flexible front
sheet and said flexible back sheet further comprise a flap to cover
at least a portion of the first compact disc and the second compact
disc.
23. The storage sleeve of claim 19, further comprising a third
pocket positioned along said top edge of said storage sleeve which
is adapted for holding a title strip, said third pocket formed by
interconnecting at least said front sheet and said non-woven middle
sheet between said left lateral edge and said right lateral edge
proximate to said top edge of sais storage sleeve.
24. The storage sleeve of claim 19, further comprising a plurality
of apertures positioned proximate to said top edge which are
adapted for removably interconnecting said storage sleeve to a
binding device such as a compact disc wallet.
25. The storage sleeve of claim 19, wherein said flexible front
sheet, said flexible back sheet and said non-woven middle sheet are
further interconnected along said top edge.
26. A double-sided storage sleeve for holding a first compact disc
in a first pocket and a second compact disc in a second pocket,
said compact disc having an edge, an aperture and a playing surface
for storing information, comprising: a flexible first sheet having
a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges; a flexible third
sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges; a
flexible, non-woven, non-laminated second sheet having a top edge,
a bottom edge and two side edges, said non-woven second sheet being
positioned between said first sheet and said third sheet an
comprising a spun-bonded, continuous polypropylene fiber with a
random fiber orientation; and said first sheet, said second sheet
and said third sheet interconnected together at least on said
bottom edge and said side edges to form said first pocket and said
second pocket, wherein when said first compact disc and said second
compact discs are positioned in said first and said second pockets,
respectively, said playing surface of each of said compact discs
are in contact with said non-woven, non-laminated second sheet.
27. The double-sided storage sleeve of claim 26, wherein said
flexible first sheet and said flexible third sheet further
comprises a thumb cut which reveals the aperture of the compact
disc.
28. The double-sided storage sleeve of claim 26, further comprising
binding means interconnected to said storage sleeve, wherein said
double-sided storage sleeve can be interconnected to a binding
device such as a compact disc wallet.
29. The double-sided storage sleeve of claim 26, further comprising
a flap interconnected to said top edge of at least one of said
first sheet, said second sheet or said third sheet, said flap
substantially covering said compact disc when said compact disc is
placed in said first pocket or said second pocket.
30. A double sided compact disc storage page adapted for holding at
least 4 compact discs on each side, said compact disc having an
edge, an aperture and a playing surface for storing information,
comprising: a flexible first sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge
and two side edges; a flexible third sheet having a top edge, a
bottom edge and two side edges; a flexible, non-laminated second
sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, said
non-laminated second sheet comprising a spun-bonded, continuous
polypropylene fiber with a random fiber orientation and being
positioned between said first sheet and said third sheet; and said
first sheet, said second sheet and said third sheet interconnected
together on at least said bottom edges, said side edges and at a
first horizontal position approximately midway between said top
edge and said bottom edge and further interconnected at a first
vertical position approximately midway between said side edges to
define a first pocket, a second pocket, a third pocket and a fourth
pocket for holding said compact discs on a first side of said
double sided compact disc storage page, and further defining a
fifth pocket, a sixth pocket, a seventh pocket and an eighth pocket
positioned on a second side of said double sided storage page for
holding additional compact discs or graphics sheets.
31. The double-sided storage page of claim 30, further comprising
binding means interconnected to at least one of said side edges,
wherein said double-sided storage sleeve can be interconnected to a
binding device such as a storage wallet.
32. The double sided storage page of claim 30, further comprising a
flap positioned along a front edge of each of said pockets, said
flaps capable of being opened and closed, wherein in said closed
position said flap substantially covers at least a portion of said
compact disc to prevent dust from entering into said pockets.
33. The double-sided storage page of claim 30, further comprising
an identical double sided storage page interconnected along one of
said side edges, wherein said combined double-sided storage page
can hold up to sixteen of said compact discs.
34. The double sided storage page of claim 30, further comprising
binding means interconnected to said combined double-sided storage
page between said identical double sided storage pages, said
binding means adapted for interconnecting said double sided storage
sleeve to a binding device.
35. The double-sided sleeve of claim 30, wherein said upper edge of
said flexible first sheet, said flexible third sheet and said
flexible, non-laminated second sheet are interconnected and a thumb
cut is positioned on said flexible front sheet of each of said
pockets to provide access to the aperture of the compact disc.
Description
1. This application is a continuation application of pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/342,339, having a filing date of
Jun. 29, 1999, which claims priority of U.S. provisional patent
Application Serial No. 60/094,768 having a filing date of Jul. 31,
1998, both applications being incorporated herein in their entirety
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
2. This invention relates to flexible storage sleeves used to hold
compact discs, digital video discs and CD ROMs which store musical,
video, graphical or other types of information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3. Compact discs, digital video discs and CD ROMs (hereinafter
referred to as "CDS") are used extensively to store information
which can be retrieved and played back by the user. The information
stored can relate to music, video, instructional materials, games
and numerous other variations of data. The information is than
played back on CD players, video disc recorders and players, and
personal computers.
4. CDS are typically sold at the retail level in rigid, hard
plastic cases known in the music industry as "jewel boxes".
Although protective of the sensitive playing surfaces found on the
CDS, the jewel boxes are bulky, difficult to open, often crack
because of the rigidity of the plastic, are expensive to
manufacture and are environmentally insensitive. Thus, flexible
"sleeves" have become increasingly used by consumers to replace
jewel boxes, primarily in the aftermarket once consumers have
purchased their CDS from the retail distributor. The flexible
sleeves are commonly made from plastic type materials such as
polypropylene or vinyl and are formed by placing one or more sheets
of the flexible material in an overlying relationship to created
one or more "pockets" to receive the CD. Additional pockets may be
used to hold the graphics which accompany the CDS, or alternatively
may hold another compact disc.
5. To protect the playing surface of the compact disc which retains
the sensitive stored information, different types of materials are
commonly used. These include woven fabrics such as velours and
cottons, as well as non-woven fabrics such as Sontara.RTM.,
Stearns.RTM., or other materials. Unfortunately, these materials
must be laminated or in some form bonded to either a backing
material or in some instances another layer of non-woven material
to provide sufficient structural integrity to prevent tearing after
repeated use. Typically, a polypropylene or other similar type of
backing material is used to provided structural support and to
provide a low friction material to facilitate the insertion and
removal of graphics. One such sleeve is identified in U.S. Pat. No.
4,850,731 to Youngs.
6. The manufacturing of storage sleeves which have dual pockets for
storing two CDS or one CD and accompanying graphics has thus been
limited to materials which preferably have a non-woven material
with a backing sheet for support, or which is laminated to another
non-woven material. In either example, a lamination process is
required in the form of heat bonding, or "welding". This lamination
process is time consuming, expensive and thus undesirable for the
manufacturing of CD storage sleeves. Accordingly, significant
demand exists for a durable, non-woven material which has a texture
capable of protecting the playing surface of CDS yet is
sufficiently durable for holding CDS and/or graphics without
tearing or otherwise failing after repetitive use. The material
must generally be manufactured using well known sleeve
manufacturing techniques to retain the cost benefits associated
with known sleeve production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
7. It is thus one object of the present invention to provide a
carrying sleeve or pocket for holding compact discs which is made
from a single-sheet material which is protective of the playing
surface of the CD, yet durable enough not to tear or otherwise
become altered or destroyed after considerable use. Preferably the
material can be used as a middle sheet between a front sheet and a
back sheet to create two pockets for independently holding two
CDS.
8. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
sleeve for holding CDS which can be manufactured from a non-woven
material without the use of a backing sheet or which otherwise
would require laminating, bonding or other form of interconnection
means between two or more sheets of material. This may include the
bonding of non-woven materials to other non-woven materials or
alternatively the bonding of a non-woven material to a woven
material or to sheet backing materials such as plastic, vinyl or
other materials known in the art.
9. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention a non-woven
material known by the trade name of "Veratec".RTM. is used as the
non-woven sleeve material. This single sheet material is capable of
being used as an independent, stand alone sheet of non-woven
material which does not require any lamination or bonding to other
sheets of material for durability and support. Further, the
material is pliable and flexible enough to permit conventional
manufacturing techniques to be used to form various designs of CD
sleeves. Thus, numerous designs may be used for a variety of
different CD storage requirements. These include sleeves designed
for holding single CDS, multiple CDS and album type pages with a
multiplicity of CD sleeves positioned on a page and adapted for
interconnection to a 3-ring notebook or other similar device. In a
preferred embodiment of the aforementioned design a single sheet of
non-woven material is "sandwiched" between two stored CDS, thus
providing a protective non-woven material for contact with the
sensitive playing surfaces of each of the two CDS.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10. FIGS. 1A and 1B are front and back views respectfully of a
sleeve for holding a CD (digital video disc) with a flap and single
non-woven sheet positioned between the two pockets created for
holding the CD;
11. FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are depictions of the invention shown in
FIG. 1, i.e. front view, back view and detailed view, respectfully,
with relief holes provided at the top of the flap to resist
tearing;
12. FIGS. 3A and 3B are depictions of the invention shown in FIG. 1
with arcuate cuts near the top of the flap to inhibit tearing;
13. FIG. 4 identifies a double sided sleeve capable of holding two
CDS with a non-woven single sheet positioned between the two CDS,
and a title strip near the upper edge for holding graphics
notes;
14. FIG. 5 is a sleeve design capable of holding two CDS on the
front side and two CDS on the back side and adapted to fit into a
binding device;
15. FIG. 6 is a sleeve design capable of holding 4 CDS on the front
side and 4 CDS on the back surface and adapted to be bound in a
notebook or other type of binding device;
16. FIG. 7 is an alternative design of a sleeve design capable of
holding two CDS on both the front and back sides of the sleeve and
using a non-woven single sheet of material between each pair of
opposing CDS;
17. FIG. 8 is an alternative design of the invention shown in FIG.
6 (no holes for an album) and utilizing a non-woven material
between each of the opposing compact disc playing surfaces;
18. FIG. 9 is a depiction of an 8 pocket sheet capable of holding 8
CDS per side or a total of 16 CDS per sheet;
19. FIG. 10 is a of a sleeve capable of holding one CD on the front
side and another CD on the back side and adapted for being
interconnected to a wallet type binding device;
20. FIG. 11 is an alternative design of a sleeve capable of holding
2 CDS on the front side and 2 CDS on the back side and adapted for
being interconnected to a wallet or other type of binding device;
and
21. FIG. 12 is an alternative sleeve design capable of holding 4
CDS on the front side and 4 CDS on the back side and adapted for
being interconnected to a wallet or other type of binding
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
22. Referring now to the drawings, FIG'S. 1-12 represent numerous
embodiments and designs of storage sleeves used to hold CDS. Each
of the various designs, however, utilize the novel feature of a
single, non-laminated sheet of non-woven material used in
conjunction with a CD storage sleeve. In a preferred embodiment,
the single sheet of non-woven material is positioned between a
flexible front sheet and a flexible back sheet to create two
opposing pockets, each pocket being capable of holding a CD. For
reference purposes, a two-sided sleeve as referred herein means a
sleeve having 2 pockets for holding 2 separate CDS, the 2 pockets
having a common non-woven middle sheet which is in contact with the
playing surface of the CD. Thus, in a typical sleeve design there
is a first sheet, a second sheet and a third sheet which are
laminated or bonded on at least three peripheral edges to create
two pockets for receiving CDS.
23. FIGS. 1-12 generally depict numerous variations of storage
sleeves 2 used to store one or more compact discs or digital video
discs 4 with or without an associated graphics page, and including
a single sheet non-woven material. The drawings identify the
various components associated therein, including a first pocket 10,
second pocket 12, front sheet 14, back sheet 16, non-woven middle
sheet 18, top edge 20, bottom edge 22, side edge 24, flap 26,
binding aperture 28, sleeve spine 30, stop weld 32, stop weld
window 34, title strip 36, thumb cut 38, flap aperture 40 and
arcuate flap ends 42. Additionally, the associated compact disc
edge 6 and compact disc aperture 8 are shown as positioned within
the respective storage sleeves 2 for clarity.
24. The first sheet is commonly referred to as a back sheet and may
be comprised of a transparent material such as plastic, vinyl or
polypropylene. Alternatively, non-woven materials may be used. The
third sheet, which is commonly referred to as the front sheet, may
also be comprised of the same materials as used for the back sheet.
The second sheet, commonly referred to as the middle sheet, is
comprised of a single layer of non-woven material which is not
laminated, bonded, glued or otherwise interconnected throughout its
surface with any other sheet material or backing sheet. However,
glues and other means known in the art may be utilized to
interconnect the individual fibers of the non-woven material. Thus,
in one embodiment the present invention the middle sheet is a
single sheet of non-woven material having the trade name of
Veratec.RTM., and is referred to hereinafter as a single sheet
non-woven material.
25. The single sheet non-woven material has numerous advantages
over the prior art non-woven materials which are bonded or
laminated to other backing materials. One major advantage is
reduced manufacturing costs since one entire sheet of material is
eliminated during manufacturing. This eliminated sheet is typically
a backing sheet of polypropylene, vinyl or other plastic type of
material. Alternatively the backing sheet may be a woven or another
non-woven material which is provided for strength.
26. Non-woven materials previously used in sleeve designs did not
have sufficient strength to prevent tearing or ripping during
periods of extended use. This is essentially due to the
manufacturing process utilized for these types of non-woven
materials, where the fibers of the non-woven materials (typically a
polypropylene fibrous material) are laid down with spinnerets onto
a moving belt. The non-woven fibers are all generally oriented in
the same linear orientation on the belt to form a web, at which
time the fibers proceed through a roller wherein the mass is
compressed into a sheet and the fibers tack bonded or welded
together via small weldments through the fibrous mass. The
resultant non-woven fabric has sufficient strength in one linear
direction across the fibers, but is quite weak in other directions,
which allows tearing during use of the sleeve.
27. To alleviate the tearing problem associated with the
manufacturing process of typical non-woven materials, it is
necessary to laminate the sheet of non-woven materials to other
materials or to other sheets of non-woven materials to provide
strength and durability. Unfortunately, this additional
manufacturing step requires a laminating or bonding process, and
additional materials which is expensive and thus increases the unit
price per sleeve. Further, even when non-woven materials are bonded
to other non-woven materials and not vinyl or other durable backing
materials, the resultant non-woven laminated materials are not
overly durable since these laminated, non-woven materials still
have a tendency to tear.
28. The new single sheet non-woven material utilized in the present
invention is manufactured in a distinct manner to produce a unique
non-woven material which does not require any laminating, bonding
or welding to create a durable material which is resistant to
tearing yet still provides a protective surface for the CD playing
surface. The single sheet non-woven material is manufactured with
the spinnerets laying down a continuous polypropylene fiber (or
other similar material) onto the moving belt as described above for
the manufacturing of typical non-woven materials. However, the
spinnerets move back and forth over the moving belt, thus
permitting the fibers to be oriented diagonally to the direction of
the belt, creating biaxially oriented fibers. The non-woven mat of
material is then run through compression rollers where the
non-woven material is tack bonded together. The resultant non-woven
material has a much greater resistance to tear in the linear
direction because of the random orientation of fibers, thus
alleviating the need to bond the non-woven material to other
backing sheet materials or other non-woven fibers. The savings in
expense is substantial based on the elimination of an entire sheet
of material and the laminating process associated therewith.
29. The foregoing description of the present invention has been
presented for purpose of illustration and description. Furthermore,
the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form
disclosed herein. Consequently, variation and modifications
commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge
of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention.
The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to
explain best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable
others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or
other embodiments and with various modifications required by the
particular application or use of the present invention. It is
intended that the appended claims be construed to include
alternative embodiments to he extent permitted by the prior
art.
* * * * *