U.S. patent application number 10/856514 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for container with molded digital disk holder.
Invention is credited to Harman, Robert E., Safian, John W., Smith, Roger P..
Application Number | 20050263413 10/856514 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34971169 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050263413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harman, Robert E. ; et
al. |
December 1, 2005 |
Container with molded digital disk holder
Abstract
A container with an interior and a neck finish has a recessed
pocket on an exterior side of a sidewall for snap fitting a digital
disk thereon. Opposing flanges at the periphery of the pocket snap
fit the disk in place in a generally vertical orientation.
Inventors: |
Harman, Robert E.;
(Perrysburg, OH) ; Safian, John W.; (Maumee,
OH) ; Smith, Roger P.; (Perrysburg, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20045-9998
US
|
Family ID: |
34971169 |
Appl. No.: |
10/856514 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/217 ;
206/308.1; G9B/23.003; G9B/33.011 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 23/0021 20130101;
G11B 33/0427 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/217 ;
206/308.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/57 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a molded plastic body defining an
interior with an open neck finish and having a sidewall, and said
sidewall has an exterior face constructed to snap fit with an inner
and/or an outer periphery of a digital disk.
2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall has an
outwardly extending boss constructed to snap fit into a central
aperture of a digital disk and retain said disk thereon.
3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein said sidewall about
said boss is substantially flat to allow said digital disk, when
snap fitted on said boss, to be in proximity near said
sidewall.
4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall has two
opposing integral flanges sized to snap fit to the outer periphery
of a digital disk and retain the disk therein.
5. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said sidewall between
said opposing flanges being substantially flat to allow said
digital disk when snap fitted in place to be in proximity near said
sidewall.
6. A container as defined in claim 5 wherein said sidewall between
said opposing flanges is recessed to form a pocket which has an
arcuate wall extending from said flange to laterally retain said
digital disk.
7. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall having a
flat section to be in proximity near said digital disk when snap
fitted in place.
8. A container comprising: a molded plastic container body defining
an interior with an open neck finish and having a sidewall, a
pocket in an exterior face of said sidewall having a peripheral
geometry for receiving an digital disk such that at least a portion
of said digital disk is recessed with respect to an outer surface
of said sidewall adjacent to said pocket, a retainer within said
pocket and integrally molded with said sidewall for engaging and
holding a digital disk in said pocket, and a digital disk secured
within said pocket by snap-fit engagement with said retainer.
9. As container as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainer
includes opposed internal bead segments within said pocket engaging
an outer periphery of said disk.
10. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein said pocket has
sidewalls to laterally affix said digital disk when snaps fitted to
said sidewall.
11. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein said pocket has a
center boss to extend through a central aperture of said digital
disk to laterally affix said digital disk when snap fitted to said
sidewall.
12. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainer
includes an outwardly extending boss within said pocket for
snap-fit within an inner periphery of said disk.
13. A container comprising: a molded body defining an open neck
finish, a base and a vertically oriented sidewall, said sidewall
having an exterior surface constructed to engage and removably
retain a digital disk in a generally vertical orientation.
Description
[0001] The field of this invention relates to plastic containers,
and more particularly a plastic container retaining a digital disk
such as a compact disk, a DVD, mini-disk or MP-3 disk.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Blow molded plastic containers, commonly referred to as
plastic bottles, are extremely popular and are made in a variety of
sizes and variations. Plastic containers have long been labeled
with print applied directly on the container or with labels applied
to the container. While labels have long been used, they are
limited to fixed visual print, limited in the amount of print and
graphics that can fit onto its square area, and are easy for
someone to counterfeit.
[0003] Digital disks have been developed in many different formats
and are referred to with many different terms, such as compact
disks, DVD, mini-disks, personal compact disks, and MP-3's. Digital
disks provide for either, or in combination, audio, still video and
motion video. The disks provide much information in a small flat
package. Digital disks may have anti-copy devices built therein
that prevent unauthorized duplication to provide further assurance
to the consumer that what he purchases and used is the authentic
product. Furthermore, the top side of the disk may have visual
graphics such as traditional label information.
[0004] What is needed is a digital disk and container combination
that has a removable disk that, when played on an appropriate
machine, may provide a wide range of entertainment, promotional, or
informational material such as ingredients or instructions. What is
needed is a container with a removable digital disk that when
played provides video instructions for visually illustrating the
proper uses of the product. What is needed is a container
configured to retain the digital disk in a displayed vertical
position on the side of the container such that label information
on the exterior side of the disk is visible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a container
has a molded plastic body defining an interior with an open neck
finish and having a closed sidewall. The sidewall has an exterior
face constructed to snap fit with an inner and/or outer periphery
of a digital disk. In one embodiment, an outwardly extending boss
is constructed to snap fit into a central aperture of a digital
disk and retain the disk thereon.
[0006] It is preferable that the sidewall about the boss be
substantially flat to allow the digital disk. when snap fitted on
the boss, to be in proximity near the sidewall.
[0007] In another embodiment, the sidewall has two opposing
integral flanges sized to snap fit to the outer periphery of a
digital disk and retain the disk. Preferably, the sidewall between
the opposing flanges is recessed to form a pocket which has an
arcuate wall extending from the flange to laterally retain the
digital disk.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
container has a molded plastic container body defining an interior
with an open neck finish and has a sidewall. The sidewall has an
exterior face with a recessed pocket. The pocket has a peripheral
geometry for receiving an digital disk such that at least a portion
of the digital disk is recessed with respect to an outer surface of
the sidewall adjacent to the pocket. A retainer within the pocket
and integrally molded with the sidewall engages and holds a digital
disk in the pocket. A digital disk is secured within the pocket by
snap-fit engagement with the retainer. Preferably, in some
embodiments, the retainer includes opposed internal bead segments
within the pocket for engaging an outer periphery of the disk.
Preferably, the pocket has sidewalls to laterally affix the digital
disk when snap fitted to the sidewall. In another embodiment, the
pocket has a center boss to extend through a central aperture of
the digital disk to laterally affix the digital disk when snap
fitted to the sidewall.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
plastic molded container has an interior and an open neck finish
with a sidewall. The exterior surface of the sidewall is
constructed to engage and removably retain a digital disk in a
generally vertical orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container housing a
digital disk in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the digital disk
separated from the container;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front plane view of the container and disk shown
in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in
FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the recess pocket and its
sidewall;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 shown
in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the snap fit bead and flat pocket wall
section;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 10 illustrating the pocket and central boss; and
[0022] FIG. 12 is a cross section view taken along lines 12-12
shown in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a container 10 has a molded body
12 with a self-standing base 14, and a neck finish 16 which
provides entry to a defined interior 18 and may be closed by a
closure (not shown). The molded body has a closed sidewall 20. The
molded body 12 and closed sidewall 20 may be molded in a variety of
configurations with differing contours. A pocket section 22 on the
exterior surface of the sidewall 20 is configured to be
substantially flat. The upper and lower edges 24 of the pocket have
integrally molded opposing beads 26 or opposing flanges for snap
fitting a digital mini-disk 30 with two straight peripheral edges
32 and two rounded peripheral edges 34. When snap fitted in place,
the peripheral edges 32 sit in a groove 27 behind the beads 26 as
clearly shown in FIG. 4. The disk 30 has a central aperture 36
therethrough with a defined inner periphery 38.
[0024] The pocket section 22 has an outwardly extending boss 40
near its center to receive and extend through the aperture 36 of
the min-disk 30. The boss 40 affixes the disk 30 against lateral
movement when snap fitted into the beads 26. As shown in FIG. 4,
the beads 24 and grooves 27 affix the disk 30 against upward or
vertical motion as well. The snap fit provides that the disk is not
separated from the container 10 during normal jostling of the
container but will allow separation if a person pries the disk away
from the pocket. The sidewall is contoured such that the pocket
blends smoothly under the straight edges 32 of the mini-disk as
shown in FIG. 2 to keep the side edges 32 exposed and in proximity
to the sidewall 20. Because the side edges 32 remain exposed, a
person may grab the disk by the side edges 32 and lift the disk
with enough force to release the disk 30 from the beads 26.
[0025] Another way to separate the disk 30 from the pocket 22 is to
rotate the disk about 90.degree. such the arcuate periphery
disengages from the flanges 26 and the straight edges 32 stand
opposed to and separated a distance from the grooves 27. The disk
is then merely lifted off the boss 40. If the rotation is
undesired, the bottle may have optional bosses not shown which
engage against the straight edges 32.
[0026] An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In
this embodiment, the central boss 40 is eliminated. Lateral
movement of the disk is prevented by the recessed arcuate walls 44
extending on each end of the bead 26. The arcuate walls 44 taper
and end where the straight edge 32 is positioned. Rotation of the
disk may be optionally prevented in the same fashion as described
for the first embodiment.
[0027] A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this
embodiment, the bead 26 follows a top and bottom wall 46 of the
pocket 22 without the contour shown in FIG. 6. The disk can be
removed by laterally sliding to the left or right out of the pocket
in addition to being snap fitted in and out of engagement with the
beads 26.
[0028] A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In this
embodiment the beads 26 are eliminated and replaced by a central
boss 48 which has a peripheral bead 50 of an enlarged diameter. The
central boss 48 with the bead 50 snap fits and engages the inner
periphery 38 about the central aperture 36 of disk 30. The disk 30
can be disengaged by lifting the exposed edges 32 or 34 and lifting
the disk 30 away from wall 20.
[0029] The central boss 48 provides for both the snap fit
engagement of the disk and the retention against lateral movement.
Arcuate walls 44 may also still exist when the pocket is recessed
and can prevent lateral movement. If rotational movement is
undesired, a boss of the same character as described for the first
amendment may be placed on wall 20 to prevent rotation.
[0030] In all above embodiments the disk is retained in a generally
vertical orientation. The outer surface 31 of disk 30 may have
conventional labeling which is oriented for display on the
container 10. The digital tracks are located in the protected
undersurface 33 which is in proximity to wall 20 but may remain
slightly spaced therefrom.
[0031] Variations and modifications are possible without departing
from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *