U.S. patent application number 10/596110 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for case for a disk.
This patent application is currently assigned to Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.. Invention is credited to Waltherus Cornelis Jozef Bierhoff.
Application Number | 20070090004 10/596110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34639335 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bierhoff; Waltherus Cornelis
Jozef |
April 26, 2007 |
Case for a disk
Abstract
The function of a case is to protect a disc positioned inside
the case from damages like scratches, fingerprints, dust or the
like. When access the disk is needed, the case has to be inserted
into a loading slot of e.g. a disk drive, thereby opening an access
window of the case. Cases known from prior art have a rectangular
shape and a moveable slider positioned at one side of the case. The
present invention provides a case (1) for a disk (3), comprising at
least two shells (4, 5), whereby said at least two shells are
rotatable around at least one axis between a closed position and an
open position, whereby outer side walls (11) of said shells (4, 5)
define a triangular shape of the case in said closed position of
the case, and whereby inner side walls (12) of said shells (4, 5)
define an access window (14) in said open position of the case (1)
providing access to the disk (3) through said access window
(14).
Inventors: |
Bierhoff; Waltherus Cornelis
Jozef; (Eindhoven, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS
P.O. BOX 3001
BRIARCLIFF MANOR
NY
10510
US
|
Assignee: |
Koninklijke Philips Electronics,
N.V.
Groenewoudseweg 1
Eindhoven
NL
5621 BA
|
Family ID: |
34639335 |
Appl. No.: |
10/596110 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB04/52491 |
371 Date: |
May 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/308.1 ;
G9B/23.033; G9B/23.039 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 23/0316 20130101;
G11B 23/0308 20130101; G11B 17/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/308.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/30 20060101
B65D085/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2003 |
EP |
03104566.9 |
Claims
1. Case for a disk (3; 19) comprising at least two shells (4, 5;
20, 21), which are rotatable around an axis (7, 8; 22) between a
closed position and an open position, wherein outer side walls (11;
24) of said shells (4, 5; 20, 21) define a triangular shape of the
case (1; 18) in said closed position of the case, and wherein inner
side walls (12; 26) of said shells (4, 5; 20, 21) define an access
window (14; 27) in said open position of the case (1; 18) providing
access to the disk (3; 19) through said access window (14; 27).
2. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that at least
portions of said outer side walls (11, 24) run approximately
parallel to each other in said open position of the case (1;
18).
3. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that the case (1;
18) is insertable into a loading slot (2) of a disk drive or the
like, whereby the case (1; 18) will be automatically transferred
from said closed position into said open position while inserting
the case (1; 18) into said loading slot (2).
4. Case according to claim 3, characterized in that the width of
the case (1; 18) in the closed position is broader or larger than
the width of the loading slot (2).
5. Case according to claim 3, characterized in that the width of
the case (1; 18) in the open position corresponds approximately to
the width of the loading slot (2).
6. Case according to claim 3, characterized in that the width of
the loading slot (2) corresponds approximately to the diameter of
the disk (3; 19) positioned inside the case (1; 18) plus the play
of the disk inside the case plus the thickness of the outer side
walls (11; 24) of the case (1; 18).
7. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that the shells (20,
21) are coupled together for mutually rotation around one axis
(22).
8. Case according to claim 7, characterized in that the shells (20,
21) are directly coupled together.
9. Case according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said one
rotation axis (22) coincides with a center (23) of the disk (19)
positioned inside the case.
10. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that the shells (4,
5) are mounted to a support member (16) for mutually rotation
around two axes (7, 8).
11. Case according to claim 10, characterized in that the shells
(20, 21) are indirectly coupled together by connecting them to said
support member (16).
12. Case according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said
two rotation axes (7, 8) are positioned with a distance from a
center (9) of the disk (3).
13. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that the case (1,
18) comprises a front end (13; 25) to which the outer side walls
(11; 24) are converging in the closed position of the case (1; 18),
whereby said front end (13; 25) of the case (1; 18) is insertable
into a loading slot (2) of a disk drive or the like until the outer
side walls (11; 24) of the case (1; 18) get in contact with
boundary walls (15) of the loading slot (2).
14. Case according to claim 13, characterized in that the shells
(4, 5; 20, 21) start to mutually rotate with the continued
insertion of the case (1; 18) into the loading slot (2) thereby
creating the access window (14; 27) at the front end (13; 25) of
the case (1; 18).
15. Case according to any one of the preceding claims,
accommodating a readable and/or recordable disk.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a case for a disk,
especially for an optical disk or a magnetic disk or a
magneto-optical disk. Such a case is also often called container or
caddy. The invention is further related to a case accommodating
such a disk.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] The function of a case is to protect a disc positioned
inside the case from damages like scratches, fingerprints, dust or
the like. When access to data stored on the disk is needed, the
case has to be inserted into a loading slot of e.g. a disk drive,
thereby opening an access window of the case providing access to
the disk.
[0003] Cases known from prior art have a rectangular shape and a
moveable slider positioned at one side of the case. In a closed
position of the case the slider covers an access window within the
case. When the case is inserted into the loading slot, the slider
will be pushed away by mechanical components or parts inside the
disk drive, thereby opening the access window of the case and
thereby providing access to the disk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a case for a disk, especially
for an optical disk or a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk,
comprising at least two shells, whereby said at least two shells
are rotatable around at least one axis between a closed position
and an open position, whereby outer side walls of said shells
define a triangular shape of the case in said closed position of
the case, and whereby inner side walls of said shells define an
access window in said open position of the case providing access to
the disk through said access window. In said open position of the
case at least portions of said outer side walls run approximately
parallel to each other. Under the expression "a triangular shape"
is also to be understood a more or less triangular form or even a
conical form. The access window is provided at one side of the case
by the relative rotation of the shells. The access window is
defined by the inner side walls of the rotating shells. During the
rotation of the shells and the opening of the case, no dust or
other dirt will be moved into the access window. This often happens
with cases known from prior art.
[0005] The case is insertable into a loading slot of a disk drive
or the like, whereby the case will be automatically transferred
from said closed position into said open position while inserting
the case into said loading slot without the need of any additional
mechanical components or parts inside the disk drive.
[0006] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the shells are directly coupled together for mutually rotation
around one axis, whereby said one rotation axis coincides with a
center of the disk.
[0007] In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of
the invention, the shells are coupled together by mounting both
shells to a support member for mutually rotation around two axes,
whereby said two rotation axes are positioned with a distance from
a center of the disk.
[0008] Further preferred embodiments are described in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a top-view of a case for a disk according to a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention in closed
position of the case;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a top-view of the case according to FIG. 1 in
an open position of the case;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a bottom-view of the case according to FIGS. 1
and 2 in the closed position of the case;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a bottom-view of the case according to FIGS. 1
to 3 in the open position of the case;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a perspective bottom-view of the case according
to FIGS. 1 to 4 in the open position of the case;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows the left half of the case according to FIG.
3;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section through the case according to
FIGS. 1 to 6 in direction VII-VII shown in FIGS. 3 and 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows the case according to FIGS. 1 to 8 in the
closed position together with a loading slot of a disk drive;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows the case according to FIGS. 1 to 8 in the open
position together with the loading slot of a disk drive;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a top-view of a case for a disk according to a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention in a closed
position of the case;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a top-view of the case according to FIG. 10 in
an open position of the case;
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a bottom-view of the case according to FIGS.
10 and 11 in the closed position of the case;
[0021] FIG. 13 shows a bottom-view of the case according to FIGS.
10 to 12 in the open position of the case;
[0022] FIG. 14 shows the left half of the case according to FIG.
12; and
[0023] FIG. 15 shows a cross section through the case according to
FIGS. 10 to 14 in direction XV-XV shown in FIGS. 12 and 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIGS. 1 to 9 show different views an example of a case 1 for
a disk according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention,
whereby FIGS. 1 and 3 show a top-view and a bottom-view of the case
1 in a closed position and whereby FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 show a top-view
and bottom-views of the case 1 in an open position. FIGS. 8 and 9
show the case 1 together with a loading slot 2 of a disk drive in
which the case 1 has to be inserted to provide access to a disk 3
positioned within the case 1.
[0025] The case 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 9 comprises two shells 4
and 5. Each of the shells 4 and 5 provide one half of the case 1.
The shells 4 and 5 are mounted to a support member 6, whereby the
two shells 4 and 5 can rotate relatively to each other and
relatively to the support member 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, each
of the shells 4 and 5 rotates around one axis 7 and 8. The shell 5
rotates around the axis 7 and the shell 4 rotates around the axis
8. As shown in FIG. 4, the two rotation axis 7 and 8 are positioned
with a distance from a center 9 of the disk 3. A portion 10 of the
support member 6 serves as grip or handle for an easy insertion of
the case 1 into the loading slot 2.
[0026] Each of the two shells 4 and 5 comprises outer side walls 11
and inner side walls 12. In the closed position of the case (see
FIGS. 1 and 3) the inner side walls 12 are positioned adjacent to
each other and are in contact with each other. The outer side walls
11 converge to a front end 13 of the case 1. In the closed position
of the case 1 the outer side walls 11 define a conical or
triangular shape of the case 1.
[0027] In order to open the case 1 or to transfer the case 1 from
the closed position according to FIGS. 1 and 3 into the open
position according to FIGS. 2 and 4, the shells 4 and 5 can be
mutually rotated around the axes 7 and 8, whereby due to the
rotation of the shells 4 and 5 the inner side walls 12 of the
shells 4 and 5 are moved away from each other and create thereby an
access opening or access window 14 between the two inner side walls
12 at least in the region of the front end 13. After the movement
of the shells 4 and 5 in the open position of the case 1, at least
portions of said outer side walls 11 run approximately parallel to
each other. The access window 14 provides access to the disk 3 and
therefore access to data stored on the disk 3.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the case 1 is suitable for
insertion into a loading slot 2 of a disk drive. The loading slot 2
has a width W.sub.2 defined by boundary walls 15 of the loading
slot 2. The case 1 carrying the disk 3 can be inserted into the
loading slot 2 with its front end 13. It can be taken from FIG. 8
that the width W.sub.1,C of the case 1 in the closed position is
broader or greater than the with W.sub.2 of the loading slot. The
width W.sub.1,C of the case 1 in the closed position is defined by
rear ends 16 of the side walls 11 of the shells 4 and 5, whereby
the rear ends 16 are positioned at the opposite end of the case 1
relative to the front end 13.
[0029] The case 1 in its closed position can be inserted with its
front end 13 into the loading slot 2, until the outer side walls 11
get in contact with the boundary walls 15 of the loading slot. When
the outer side walls 11 of the case 1 get in contact with the
boundary walls 15 of the loading slot 2 and the insertion of the
case 1 into the loading slot 2 is continued, the shells 4 and 5
start automatically to rotate around the axes 7 and 8. During the
continued insertion of the case 1 into the loading slot 2, the case
1 will be transferred from its closed positioned (see FIG. 8) into
its open position (see FIG. 9). The access window 14 will be
automatically opened with the insertion of the case 1 into the
loading slot 2. No additional mechanical means are required inside
the loading slot 2 to open the access window 14 of the case 1.
[0030] It can be taken from FIG. 9 that the width W.sub.2 of the
loading slot 2 corresponds approximately to the diameter of the
disk 3 plus the play of the disk 3 within the case 1 plus the
thickness of the outer side walls 11 of the case 1. The width
W.sub.1,O of the case 1 in the open position corresponds
approximately to the width W.sub.2 of the loading slot 2.
[0031] It can be taken from FIGS. 6 and 8 that each of the shells 4
and 5 comprise recesses 17 at the inner side walls 12 in the region
opposite to the front end 13 of the case. This allows the rotation
of the shells 4 and 5 during the insertion of the case 1 in the
loading slot 2 around the axes 7 and 8, whereby boundaries of the
adjacent recesses 17 within the inner side walls 12 serve as stroke
or backstop to limit the rotation of the shells 4 and 5 relatively
to each other. Due to the fact that the recesses 17 are provided in
the inner side walls 12 of the shells 4 and 5, the thickness of the
shells 4 and 5 or the thickness of the inner side walls 12 of the
shells 4 and 5 can be identically the same. It is not necessary to
push or insert one of the shells 4 or 5 into the other shell 5 or 4
during the rotation of the shells.
[0032] FIGS. 10 to 15 show a second preferred embodiment of a case
18 for a disk 19. The case 18 according to FIGS. 10 to 15 comprises
again two shells 20 and 21, each of the shells 20 and 21 providing
one half of the case 18. The shells 20 and 21 of the case 18 are in
contrary to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9 not connected
to a support member but directly coupled to each other for relative
rotation of the two shells 20 and 21 around one axis 22. The
rotation axis 22 of the two shells 20 and 21 coincides with the
center 23 of the disk 19 positioned inside the case 18.
[0033] The main differences between the embodiments according to
FIGS. 1 to 9 and FIGS. 10 to 15 are that according to the second
embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 15 the two shells 20 and 21 rotate
mutually around one axis 22 and that the two shells 20 and 21 are
directly coupled to each other. In the first embodiment according
to FIGS. 1 to 9, the two shells 4 and rotate mutually to each other
around two axes 7 and 8, and the two shells 4 and 5 are mounted to
a support member 6 and therefore coupled indirectly together.
[0034] It can be taken from FIGS. 10 and 12 that the case 18 has a
triangular shape in the closed position of the case 18. Outer side
walls 24 of the shells 20 and 21 are in the closed position of the
case 18 converging to a front end 25 of the case 18. Inner side
walls 26 of the shells 20 and 21 are in the closed position of the
case 18 in contact with each other.
[0035] In order to provide access to the disk 19 positioned within
the case 18, the two shells 20 and 21 of the case 18 can be
mutually rotated around the axis 22 thereby creating an access
window 27 between the two inner side walls 26 to provide access to
the disk 19. In the open position of the case 18 (see FIGS. 11 and
13) the outer side walls 24 of the two shells 20 and 21 run
approximately parallel to each other.
[0036] One of the two shells 20 and 21, in the shown embodiment the
shell 21, comprises a portion 28, which has to be pushed or
inserted into the other shell 20 during the rotation of the two
shells 20 and 21 around the axis 22. FIG. 14 illustrates a recess
29 within the shell 20, into which the portion 28 of the shell 21
can be inserted during the rotation of the two shells 20 and 21 to
open the access window 27 between the two inner side walls 26 at
the front end 25 of the case 18.
[0037] With the present invention, a new design for a case or a
so-called container or caddy for a disk is provided to protect the
disk from damages like scratches, fingertips, dust or the like.
Outer side walls of the case define in the closed position of the
case a conical or triangular shape of the case. The case can easily
be opened by simply inserting the case into a loading slot of a
disk drive or the like. The case comprises two shells, which can
rotate mutually to each other around one axis or two axes. In case
the two shells rotate around one axis which coincides with the
center of the disk inside the case, the two shells are coupled
directly together. In case the two shells rotate around two axes,
the two shells are coupled indirectly together by mounting them to
a support member. The case opens automatically during the insertion
of the case into the loading slot. No additional mechanical means
are necessary inside the loading slot to open an access window to
allow access to the disk. During the rotation of the shells and the
opening of the case, no dust or other dirt will be moved into the
access window.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0038] 1 case [0039] 2 loading slot [0040] 3 disk [0041] 4 shell
[0042] 5 shell [0043] 6 support member [0044] 7 axis [0045] 8 axis
[0046] 9 center [0047] 10 portion [0048] 11 outer side wall [0049]
12 inner side wall [0050] 13 front end [0051] 14 access window
[0052] 15 boundary wall [0053] 16 rear end [0054] 17 recess [0055]
18 case [0056] 19 disk [0057] 20 shell [0058] 21 shell [0059] 22
axis [0060] 23 center [0061] 24 outer side wall [0062] 25 front end
[0063] 26 inner side wall [0064] 27 access window [0065] 28 portion
[0066] 29 recess
* * * * *