U.S. patent application number 13/066356 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-18 for compact disk (cd) jewel case hinge storage apparatus and marketing method.
Invention is credited to Mark Husmann.
Application Number | 20110198249 13/066356 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38262135 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110198249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Husmann; Mark |
August 18, 2011 |
Compact disk (CD) jewel case hinge storage apparatus and marketing
method
Abstract
An optical disk ("compact disk," "CD," "DVD," or other "optical
disk") case is disclosed which utilizes spaces within such "CD
Jewel Cases" to store, transport, display, sample, and market other
products. The largest of such spaces unused within CD Cases is a
hinge space located at or near the point where the bottom and top
covers are joined in a movable "hinge." A marketing method for
presenting two or more items to a prospective purchaser using the
CD Case of the present invention is also disclosed for co-marketing
products, or premiums or gifts offered with products. In such
method, additional items, which may be solid or liquid, single or
many, and are often consumables (such as perfume), may then be
stored and transported with the optical disk and its case, and
eventually presented to a potential purchaser in the same CD Case
at the "point of sale" for the optical disk or the additional
item.
Inventors: |
Husmann; Mark; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Family ID: |
38262135 |
Appl. No.: |
13/066356 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11332010 |
Jan 13, 2006 |
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13066356 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/308.1 ;
53/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/0427
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/308.1 ;
53/467 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/30 20060101
B65D085/30; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Claims
1. An optical disk case comprising: a substantially flat main body
having a plurality of edges, with a plurality of sides appended
thereto, the plurality of sides formed to create a substantially
closable space, a main body hinge means formed approximately along
a spine edge of the main body; a tray adapted to fit within the
substantially closable space of the main body, the tray having a
means for holding a compact disk, and a means for engaging with the
main body to hold the tray within the substantially closable space
of the main body; the tray is formed narrower than the main body,
leaving an unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine
edge of the main body when the tray is placed within the
substantially closable space of the main body and the means for
engaging the main body is engaged with the main body; a
substantially flat front cover with a spine edge, the front cover
adapted to partially close the substantially closable space of the
main body when the front cover is situated over the substantially
closable space of the main body; and a front cover hinge means
formed approximately along the spine edge of the front cover, and
adapted to form a hinge when coupled to the main body hinge means;
the front cover is formed narrower than the main body, and
approximately equal in width with the tray, leaving an access to
the unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine edge
of the main body when the front cover hinge means is engaged with
the main body hinge means, and the front cover is rotated into
position to partially close the substantially closable space of the
main body.
2. The optical disk case of claim 1, in which a wall is formed
along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the
main body.
3. The optical disk case of claim 2, in which the wall formed along
the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main
body is tall enough to separate the unoccupied space from the
remainder of the substantially closable space of the main body.
4. The optical disk case of claim 3, in which the wall formed along
the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main
body is oriented perpendicular to the main body and the tray when
the tray is plated within the substantially closable space of the
main body and the tray means for engaging the main body is engaged
with the main body.
5. The optical disk case of claim 3, in which the wall formed along
the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main
body is oriented at an angle to the main body and the tray when the
tray is placed within the substantially closable space of the main
body and the tray means for engaging the main body is engaged with
the main body.
6. The optical disk case of claim 2, in which the wall formed along
the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main
body is tall enough to hold a removable panel against the front
cover when such a removable panel is placed over the tray means for
holding a compact disk, and such removable panel extends into the
unoccupied space within the main body.
7. a tray for placing within an optical disk case comprising: a
substantially flat part having a plurality of edges, the
substantially flat part is adapted to fit within the interior of
the main body of a standard optical disk case, the substantially
flat part having a means for holding a compact disk and a means for
engaging with the interior of the main body of the standard optical
disk case to hold the substantially flat part within the standard
optical disk case; and the substantially flat part is formed
narrower than the main body of the standard optical disk case,
leaving an unoccupied space adjacent the spine edge of the-main
body of the standard-optical-disk case when the substantially flat
part is placed within the main body of a standard optical disk
case, and the means for engaging the main body of the standard
optical disk case is engaged with the main body of the standard
optical disk case;
8. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 7,
further comprising a wall is formed along a spine edge of the
substantially flat part, wherein the wall is adjacent the
unoccupied space within the main body when the means for engaging
the main body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the
main body of the standard optical disk case.
9. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in
which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially
flat part is tall enough to separate the unoccupied space from the
remainder of the substantially closable space of the main body when
the substantially flat part is placed within the main body of the
standard optical disk case, and the means for engaging the main
body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main
body of the standard optical disk case.
10. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in
which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially
flat part is oriented perpendicular to the substantially flat
part.
11. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in
which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially
flat part is oriented at an angle to the substantially flat
part.
12. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in
which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially
flat part is tall enough to hold a removable panel against a front
cover of the standard optical disk case when such a removable panel
is placed over the substantially flat part within the main body of
the standard optical disk case, the means for engaging the main
body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main
body of the standard optical disk case, and the front cover of the
standard optical disk case is closed over the main body of the
standard optical disk case.
13. A method for co-marketing a product using the optical disk case
of claim 1 comprising the steps of: placing the product in the
unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine edge of
the main body; and covering the access to the unoccupied space with
a closure means to close the unoccupied space.
14. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which
the closure means is a thin plastic wrap.
15. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which
the closure means is a thin plastic sheet.
16. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which
the closure means is a removable panel between the tray and the
front cover.
17. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 16, further
comprising covering access to the unoccupied space with a thin
plastic sheet.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
11-332,010, filed on Jan. 13, 2006, from which applicant claims
priority. The applicant has also filed, on May 23, 2005, two
disclosure document deposit requests, entitled "Container or
Dispenser for CD or DVD Cases," and "Compact Disk Case with
Compartments for Sample Merchandise and Marketing Materials."
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to optical "compact disk"
("CD," "DVD,"or "optical disk") containers (also known as "CD Jewel
Cases" or "CD Cases"), which protect optical disks upon transport
and sale, and apparatus by which one may utilize space or spaces
within such holders to store, transport, display, and market other
products with optical disks. More specifically, the present
invention consists primarily of modifications of CD Cases of
otherwise standard design, which modifications provide access to
unused areas within CD Cases. In the present invention, relatively
minor changes in standard CD Cases provide space within a CD Case,
and ready access to that space for items which might be sold with
an optical disk in such a CD Case. In some versions of the present
invention, such modifications and changes may include components
which define holders which may be inserted into a space within a CD
Case, into which other items may be placed. However, the holders
used to position optical disks within CD Cases (generally referred
to as "CD Trays" or "Trays"), if properly formed consistent with
the present invention, will alone provide access to usable space
within such CD Cases. The largest and most usable space which may
be used for holding additional items according to the present
invention is generally found at or near the point where the bottom
and top covers are joined in a movable "hinge."
[0003] The present invention also provides a marketing method for
presenting two or more items to a prospective purchaser. With such
a method, one may an additional item in the space near the hinge of
CD Case formed according to the present invention, and that
additional item may then be stored and transported with the optical
disk and its case, and eventually presented to a potential
purchaser. Such additional items, which may be solid or liquid,
single or many, and are often consumables (such as perfume), when
contained in a CD Case consistent with the present invention, are
prominently presented to prospective purchasers at the "point of
sale" for the optical disk. On the other hand, an optical disk may
be offered as a "premium" or gift, often of lesser value, which may
be received by a purchaser along with, and at the point of sale of,
the perfume or other additional item. In any case, wherever such
optical disks and additional items are presented to a prospective
purchaser utilizing the apparatus of the present invention, such
optical disks and additional items are "Co-marketed" by prominently
displaying both the optical disk and the additional item (or items)
for sale in the same CD Case.
[0004] As "digital versatile disks" ("DVDs"), and most other
optical disks, are similar in size and shape to compact disk
optical disks, DVD Cases and other cases may be formed with access
to their interior similar to that found in the modified CD Cases of
the present invention. As a result, similar Co-marketing
opportunities arise when additional items are situated within such
other cases, according to the present invention.
BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Compact optical disks have gradually replaced vinyl disks
for the recording of audio and visual material, as well as for
non-audio/visual, digitally recorded material for computer file
storage. As a result, large quantities of recorded or unrecorded
compact optical disks are produced and used in different fields of
application, and such disks must be properly protected and
identified using a storage case. Generally, a rigid three part
clear plastic case is used for these purposes, such CD Cases are
generally formed from stiff plastic material such as styrene. The
three parts of standard CD Cases generally comprise (1) a main
body, or case bottom or bottom cover, into which is placed (2) a CD
Tray, which is formed to hold a optical disk, generally within a
recessed well or depression formed in the Tray, and (3) a top cover
(or "Front Cover"), formed to close over the interior space created
within the main body. A hinge is generally supplied in standard
cases. Such hinge is created by the interaction of pins on the.
Front Cover with holes in the main body. The pins of the hinge are
formed on tabs extending from one edge of the Front Cover, at the
ends of such edge, while the holes are formed near a corresponding
edge of the main body, and at the ends of such edge.
[0006] The standard CD Case as a whole is asymmetrically formed
around the optical disk which it holds, so that the holes and the
pins forming the hinge are formed in such a case beyond the area
required to contain such optical disk. With such placement, the
Front Cover of the standard optical disk case completely covers an
optical disk placed within the main body, however the Front Cover
does not cover the entire front side of such CD Case. Rather, there
is a substantially open, and generally unused, space just beyond
the diameter of an optical disk placed within the case. This space
(the "hinge space") is formed in a standard CD case by various
walls or panels, and is generally bounded at its bottom (when the
CD Case is laying flat) or back (when the case is set on its edge)
by a portion of the main body of the CD Case. Another portion of
the main body also defines the hinge space at the distal "spine"
edge of the CD Case, and two additional portions of the main body
define the ends of the hinge space, into which the hinge holes are
formed. In a standard CD Case, the hinge space is also generally
bounded at its top (when the CD Case is laying flat) or front (when
the case is set on its edge) by an extension of the CD Tray beyond
the diameter of the held optical disk. The CD Tray in a standard CD
Case also defines an interior part-wall between the hinge space and
the interior of the CD Case which holds the optical disk, and the
Tray defines a recessed well in which the optical disk may reside.
The CD Tray is held rigidly in position within the main body by
pins formed on the Tray, which Tray pins insert into corresponding
holes formed in the main body of the CD Case.
[0007] Other variations on this general design exist in more
recent, thin CD Cases, in which the space into which the hinge is
formed is left open at its bottom (or back). In such variations,
the interior of the CD Case and the hinge space are bounded almost
entirely by the top of the case, as the case top extends beyond the
diameter of an optical disk placed in the CD Case. A spine edge in
such variations is formed at the edge of the top of the case, and
tabs or walls are formed in the case top to define the ends of this
space, and act as end tabs which co-act to form a hinge. The end
tabs in these thin cases generally have holes formed in their ends,
which holes may interact with pins formed on extensions from the
main body of the CD Case. The opening at the back of the space at
the hinge in these thin cases is a consequence of the geometry
inherent in reducing the thickness of a case, and is desirable
because the design uses less plastic material overall to form the
case. As a result of the thin design of these thin cases, the space
near the hinge usable for storage in such cases is generally too
small to carry much more than identifying information printed on
paper.
[0008] A number arrangements of the three parts of a standard CD
Case have been developed for storage or display of additional items
with the optical disk in the CD Case, and such arrangements often
attempt to utilize the space adjacent the hinge. Uniformly, the
purpose of such arrangements has been one of two: [0009] (1)
Firstly, the space near the hinge is used in many prior
arrangements to hold an ornament to attract a prospective
purchaser, or induce a purchase, or for later ornamental purposes
as the CD Case is used [0010] (2) Secondly, the space adjacent the
hinge space is used to hold a fragrance which stays with the CD
Case, again to attract a prospective purchaser or induce a
purchase, or so that a purchaser may smell such a fragrance while
using the CD Case to store or use the optical disk.
[0011] Some of these prior arrangements are embodied in devices
which appear superficially like the present invention, or have one
or more features of the present invention. In attempting to achieve
useful storage, display, and fragrance characteristics consistent
with the purpose of these prior devices, others have created
variations on the standard CD Case design to accomplish their
purposes. Such apparatus within the related art includes:
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,912 to Ganser et al., which discloses a
housing for a compact disk having an "information carrier" in the
hinge portion of a CD Case.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,455 to Biedebach et al., which discloses
a compact disk package with spine insert, in which a fully enclosed
space is defined by the three parts of a CD Case.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,143 to Yoshioka, which discloses a
compact disk package with ornamental and fragrance effects created
by filling a space in the hinge portion of a CD Case.
[0015] The inventions disclosed in these patents and appearing in
these products appear to fulfill their respective objectives. As
noted above, these objectives include placing objects or substances
within the space near the hinge to attract a prospective purchaser
with "eye catching" ornamental' objects or substances, or placing
such objects or substances within the space adjacent the hinge to
induce a purchase, as a prospective purchaser weighs the
attractiveness of various products. The objectives of the
inventions disclosed in prior patents also include placing a
fragrance within the space adjacent the hinge, which fragrance is
then allowed to dissipate as the CD Case is used by the purchaser.
This is in essence the same attractive and sale inducing function
achieved with ornamental objects, as a prospective purchaser
considers at the time of purchase the benefit of the presence of
the fragrance so delivered when the purchaser may smell such a
fragrances while the CD Case is in use.
[0016] However, the objectives achieved by these prior inventions
is wholly unlike the objectives of the present invention, which are
more fully set forth below, but include modifying CD Cases of
otherwise standard design to provide access to the hinge space for
delivery of a second product which might beneficially be sold with
a first product residing on an optical disk. Such first product may
be music, or video, content, or it may be software or even simply
digitized data which may be useful to a prospective purchaser. Such
a second product may be perfume, or candy, or a pen for marking the
CD, or a towel for cleaning the CD, or any other product which
might naturally be conjoined at the point of sale with the CD and
its content. By using the unused space within standard CD Cases, as
modified consistent with the present invention, such conjoined
products benefit from the delivery of two products with a single
sale, or the sampling of one product while considering purchase of
another product. Using the apparatus of the present invention, the
hinge space becomes available to jointly sell two products, or to
sell one of the products using the other product only as a
promotional device to achieve the sale. The present invention
thereby provides vendors with flexibility in packaging their
products to increase the promotional impact on prospective
purchasers for any product which might be written to a CD, and for
any product which might be placed within the hinge space of a CD
Case modified according to the present invention. This increased
promotional impact, achieved by jointly marketing two products in
separate compartments of a single CD Case, results in an entirely
new marketing method using a CD Case, which method is generally
referred to herein as "co-marketing" or "product group marketing."
The prior patents and products in the art do not describe or
suggest a media carrying case which allows delivery of two products
with a single sale, nor do they describe or suggest an apparatus
which allows increased promotional impact through jointly marketing
two products in separate compartments of a single CD Case, nor do
they describe or suggest "co-marketing" or "product group
marketing" using a CD Case consistent with he present
invention.
[0017] The objectives of the present invention are only achieved by
creating, in the present invention, a different apparatus than is
found in the prior art, and the apparatus of the present invention
is uniquely situated to achieve these objectives. No patent or
product of which the inventor is aware provides ready access to the
Hinge Portion of a CD Case, which access is designed specifically
to co-market products as set forth herein. The method of the
present invention, which comprises co-marketing or product group
marketing using CD Cases, is best achieved using the CD Case of the
present invention, as only this apparatus has been designed with
product group marketing in mind.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
[0018] In its simplest form, the present invention is a CD Case,
which is generally used for holding and protecting an optical disk
when not in use, and displaying an optical disk (or at least
pictures and literature associated with that optical disk) for
sale. However, the CD Case of the present invention is modified to
provide an accessible space for holding and displaying other
products which may beneficially be sold or sampled with the optical
disk in the same CD Case.
[0019] As noted above, a standard CD Case consists of a rigid
three-part clear plastic case formed from stiff plastic material
such as styrene. The first part of a standard CD Case is a main
body, which is sometimes called the case bottom, or bottom cover,
into which an optical disk may be placed. The second part of a
standard CD Case is a CD Tray, which is formed to securely hold a
CD or other optical disk within the main body. When the CD Tray is
properly positioned in the main body of a standard CD Case, the
Tray is securely situated in the main body over its entire area,
and held in position within the main body by Tray pins extending
from points near the four corners of the Tray, and corresponding
Tray holes in the main body, into which the Tray pins may extend
when the Tray is pressed into position within the main body. The
third part of a standard CD Case is a Front Cover, formed to close
over the main body, thereby creating in interior for the case. The
Front Cover also is supplied with cover pins, the cover pins
generally formed on tabs extending from one edge of the Front
Cover, at the ends of such edge, so that each cover pin extends
toward a corresponding tab and cover pin at an adjacent corner of
the Front Cover. The cover pins may extend into corresponding holes
in the main body, and when the Front Cover is engaged with the main
body in finished position, and the cover pins are set into the
corresponding holes in the main body, a hinge is created. The hinge
so created allows the Front Cover to rotate along one of its edges
in fixed rotational relationship with a corresponding edge of the
main body, as the cover pins rotate within the corresponding holes
of the main body.
[0020] With this arrangement of three components in a standard CD
Case, a space is created at or directly adjacent the line at which
the main body of the CD Case co-acts hinge-like with the Front
Cover. This space within the interior of the CD Case in standard CD
Cases, extends in its entirety beyond the diameter of an optical
disk held within the CD Case. The standard CD Case as a whole is
therefore asymmetrically formed so that the cover pins and
corresponding holes are formed beyond the area in such a case
required to contain an optical disk. The hinge space is directly
behind and between the main body holes in the standard CD Case, and
between the cover pins when the Front Cover is snapped into
position over the main body in such a case, and so the entirety of
the hinge space is within the CD Case, but just beyond the diameter
of an optical disk placed within the Tray of the case. In this
arrangement, the interior boundary of the hinge space is just
beyond the edge of an optical disk placed within the Tray of the
fully assembled CD Case, and the exterior boundary of the hinge
space is at the "spine" of the CD Case, adjacent the pivot line
established by the hinge between the main body and the Front Cover.
In this standard CD Case arrangement of components, the hinge space
is bounded at its back (when the case is set on its edge) by a
portion of the main body of the CD Case. Another portion of the
main body also defines the hinge space at the spine edge, and two
additional portions of the main body define the ends of the hinge
space, into which the main body holes are formed.
[0021] With this arrangement of components in a standard CD Case,
the Front Cover of the standard CD Case completely covers an
optical disk placed in correct position within a Tray properly
positioned within the main body of the CD Case, but the Front Cover
does not cover the hinge space. Instead a front wall (or "Front
Panel") covers the front of the hinge space in a standard CD Case.
The space near the hinge in a standard CD Case has been designed
into standard CD Cases to provide anchors between the main body and
the Front Side to which components which function as a hinge may be
attached (i.e., the cover pins and corresponding holes). The hinge
in a standard CD Case is its weakest point, and so most often
broken. Accordingly, the top pins and corresponding holes in the
main body are increased in size-to provide the strength to avoid
such breakage, and the Front Panel covering the front of the space
near the hinge primarily fills the function of providing additional
rigidity where additional rigidity is desirable to avoid breaking
the hinge.
[0022] In a standard CD Case, the Front Panel which bounds the
front side of the space adjacent the hinge is formed as an
extension of the CD Tray. The CD Tray also defines an interior wall
(the "Tray wall") between the space near, the hinge and the
remainder of the interior of the CD Case. The Tray holds an optical
disk (in a recessed well in the Tray), and an extension of the Tray
forms the Tray wall between the space adjacent the hinge and the
interior of the case, and extends further to form the Front
Panel.
[0023] In the present invention, the hinge space, Modified to creat
a space having new utility in the present invention (the "Hinge
Space" of the present invention) is used to transport, house,
display, and deliver other products. This is unlike any previous
use for CD Cases, and this use requires a different structure to
properly accomplish the co-marketing purpose of the present
invention. Thus, while numerous CD Cases of the prior art utilize
the space adjacent the hinge, the CD Cases of the prior art are
intended for a different purpose and so are formed consistent with
those purposes. For example, some CD Cases of the prior art are
intended to display an object, and to thereby catch the eye of a
prospective purchaser, however in such CD Cases the object so
displayed is not intended to be removed from the CD Case. As a
result, the space near the hinge in such prior art CD Cases remains
closed, so that the object remains enclosed in the CD Case when in
use. The user of the CD may see the object in the space near the
hinge of such an CD Case each time the user picks up the CD Case
with the object so enclosed, but the user cannot normally touch
that object without pulling the Tray from the main body of the
case. As another example, some CD Cases of the prior art are
intended to allow a fragrance to emanate from the CD Case when in
use. As a result, the space near the hinge in such prior art CD
Cases again remains closed, except for small holes or vents which
lead from the space adjacent the hinge to the exterior of the CD
Case. Such vents provide channels for the fragrance contained in
the space near the hinge to travel to the user each time the CD
Case is picked up.
[0024] Unlike these prior art CD Cases, the present invention is
intended for co-marketing. This is accomplished by using the CD
Case to transport, house, and display additional items as in the
prior art, however the present invention goes beyond the prior art
in its delivery of such additional items and products. The present
invention is specifically designed to allow easy access to its
Hinge Space. The present invention is even specifically designed in
some cases to allow the additional items or products to fall freely
from the Hinge Space when the Front Side of the CD Case of the
present invention is turned downward, thereby allowing gravity
alone (in some versions of the present invention) to act on the
additional items or products so that they fall naturally away from,
or out of, the Hinge Space.
[0025] When manufactured, this simplest version of the present
invention requires only that the wall generally found at the front
of the Hinge Space (the "Front Panel," formed by an extension of
the Tray) be left off as the CD Case is formed. Leaving this Front
Panel off opens the front of the Hinge Space to the exterior of the
CD Case at its Front Side, so that an object may be placed within
the Hinge Space by laying the CD Case flat, and laying the object
to be placed in the case directly within the Hinge Space. It is in
this sense that the Hinge Space of the CD Case of the present
invention is "open," so that an object placed within the Hinge
Space may also be touched by a prospective purchaser (if the CD
Case of the present invention is not covered by shrink wrap or
other packaging cover), and the contents of the Hinge Space removed
by pulling on such contents with a fingertip. With such an open
Hinge Space, a variety of products which naturally fit within the
Hinge. Space may be carried to a consumer of music or other
entertainment, and a variety of products may be modified in their
shape to fit within such space. Thus, for instance, lipstick, or
other makeup is often packaged in sizes having diameters larger
than the width or depth of a Hinge Space, may be packaged to fit
within the Hinge Space. And because the Hinge Space is open, many
products which are larger than the depth of the Hinge Space may
also be carried to a consumer in the same way, as such products, so
long as they fit roughly within the width of a Hinge Space, may be
allowed to protrude from the Hinge Space.
[0026] Continuing with the simplest version of the present
invention, since additional items or products may move freely out
of the Hinge Space, the additional items or products must be held
in place during transport and display. Usually, the additional
items or products are held in place by merely enclosing the CD Case
of the present invention in a thin plastic sheet or a plastic wrap.
The thin plastic sheet may be glued in place, as is common in the
music delivery industry presently, or the wrap may be melted to
seal it around the CD Case, or the CD Case may be covered with a
process commonly known as "shrink wrap." However the wrap is
applied to the CD Case, the wrap when put in place to surround the
CD Case (or just cover the opening of the Hinge Space) provides a
barrier to movement into or out of the Hinge Space until the wrap
is broken or pealed away, or removed entirely. The barrier created
by the wrap is by itself sufficient to keep most additional items
and products in place during shipment and display of the CD Case of
the present invention, and at the same time provide easy access to
a prospective purchaser when the optical disk is purchased, and
removed from its case. Once purchased, the prospective purchaser
may first remove the wrap from the front of the Hinge Space
(generally while removing the wrap from the CD Case prior to
opening the Front Cover), at which time the purchaser may then pull
the additional item or product from the Hinge Space, or simply
allow the additional item or product to drop from the Hinge Space
in response to gravity if the Front Side of the CD Case is pointed
generally downward. In such applications, the thin plastic sheet
used to wrap a CD Case, as is common in the music delivery industry
presently, will act as a barrier to movement into or out of the
Hinge Space until the wrap is broken or pealed away, a barrier
which in a great many cases will by itself be sufficient to keep
even larger items and products in place during shipment and display
of the CD Case of the present invention.
[0027] In one preferred embodiment of the simple version of the
present invention, the CD Case, as noted above, is left open at the
front of the Hinge Space by merely forming the Tray which will be
placed within the CD Case without the Front Panel. However, in such
a formation, the Tray is otherwise formed as found in standard CD
Cases, with all of its components including the Tray wall between
the Hinge Space and the remainder of the Tray. The Tray wall is in
most cases a half-wall or half-panel, as the Tray is designed to be
raised slightly when it is properly situated within the main body
of the CD Case during assembly. The raising of the Tray allows a
depression, or recessed well, to be formed in the Tray for
insertion of a CD.
[0028] In another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the
present invention, the CD Case is left open as the Tray is again
formed without the Front Panel, however in such second
configuration, the Tray is also formed without the half-wall or
half-panel between the Hinge Space and the remainder of the Tray.
Of course, in this second configuration, the Hinge Space and the
space above the Tray (and the space above an optical disk held in
the Tray) are open to one another. Since anything placed within the
Hinge Space may freely move within the Hinge Space if such object
is not otherwise constrained, the additional item or product to be
Co-marketed must be selected from among those items and products
which will not move from the Hinge Space to the open space above
the CD in the CD Case (i.e., the additional item or product must be
a solid object wider than the opening between the Tray and the
Front Cover, or material contained in and constrained by a solid
container with such dimensions).
[0029] Another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the
present invention, that embodiment with the half-wall or half-panel
between the Hinge Space and the remainder of the Tray, takes
advantage of the open "pass through" afforded by this design. In
this embodiment, a removable panel of paper, cardboard, plastic,
metal, or other material may extend in one direction into some of,
or all of, the space in the interior of the CD Case, and so be laid
over some or all of the recessed well or depression in which an
optical disk may reside. The removable panel may also extend in the
other direction into some of, or all of, the Hinge Space. The
removable panel may carry a coupon or other promotional item, or
the removable panel may merely cover the optical disk or interior
of the CD Case, or the removable panel may cover another item
contained in the interior of the CD Case (and laid over the top of
the optical disk residing in the recessed well of the Tray). In any
case, the removable panel of this preferred embodiment, because it
extends into the Hinge Space, may be employed advantageously in the
Hinge Space, separate and apart from the usefulness within the
interior of the CD Case.
[0030] As one example of the use of the removable panel, a rigid
removable panel may be used to retain the additional product
co-marketed in the Hinge Space. On the other hand, a flexible
removable panel (and some rigid panels) might be removed from the
CD Case as it bends up and out of the Hinge Space, thereby allowing
a marketer or user to create a larger, wider display. Or the
removable panel might provide easy access to a coupon for a sample,
or to words or other descriptive material residing on the panel.
The removable panel may even be used to surprise a prospective
purchaser by hiding the name of the artist or other identifying
information displayed on an optical disk within the CD Case until a
purchase is complete, or allow a well known artist to avoid being
associated with a product contained in a CD Case until a purchase
is complete, thereby in some sense preserving the non-commercial
presentation of an artist's work. With such use, an artistic work
might not be directly associated with a very commercial enterprise
(or any enterprise in which the artist would not wish a consumer to
make a direct association between the artist, his work, and the
enterprise).
[0031] When used in the method of the present invention, the three
parts of the CD Case of the present invention are formed according
to the description of the simple version of the invention as set
forth above. The Tray is situated properly within the main body of
the CD Case, and components comprising the hinge between the Front
Cover and the main body are engaged so that they co-act, and so
create the hinge for the CD Case. An optical disk is then placed
within the recessed well of the Tray within the main body, and the
Front Cover is rotated to cover the space enclosed within the main
body (including the optical disk). One or more additional items or
products are then placed within the Hinge Space of the CD Case of
the present invention by insertion through the open front of the
Hinge Space. The CD Case is then wrapped using thin plastic
sheeting, so that the additional item or product so placed within
the Hinge Space cannot be removed from the Hinge Space during
transport, or by a prospective purchaser by hand, or by the force
of gravity before purchase. A purchaser may, in some embodiments,
sample the additional item, by appropriate modifications to the
thin plastic wrap covering the CD Case, or the purchaser may simply
purchase the co-marketed products. Once the optical disk or the
additional item or product are chosen by the prospective purchaser,
the prospective purchaser may pay for the Co-marketed combination
of optical disk and additional item or product and, the purchase
being complete, the purchaser may remove the wrap. Once the wrap is
removed by the purchaser, the additional item or product may then
be removed from the uncovered CD Case by simply orienting the CD
Case so that its Front Side faces generally downward. Of course,
the purchaser may also remove the additional item or product from
the Hinge Space by hand as well, using a finger tip, or a pencil
tip, or other tool, and in corn applications the additional item
may be sampled at this time.
[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, access to
the Hinge Space may be gained through the back side of the CD Case,
by forming an opening in the main body of the CD Case directly
behind the Hinge Space. In such embodiment, the Tray of a standard
CD Case may be formed in its usual configuration, and placed in its
usual position within the main body of the CD Case of the present
invention, thereby preventing easy access from the Front Side of
the CD Case, because the easy access to the additional items or
products is provided from the rear of the CD Case through the
opening in the main body as described herein. Again, as with other
versions of the present invention, the additional items or products
are held in position using the outer wrapping for the CD Case,
generally the thin plastic covering set forth above.
[0033] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, access
to the Hinge Space may be gained through the spine of the CD Case,
by formation of an opening in the main body of the CD Case along
its side intended to constitute the spine. This embodiment uses an
opening along one end of the CD Case, near the hinge, and along the
length of the Hinge Space, where the panel usually formed on the
spine end of the main body is simply left off. In such embodiment,
the Tray of a standard CD Case may again be used in its usual
configuration, because the easy access to the additional item or
product which is central to the present invention is provided along
the spine of the CD Case. On the other hand, the Tray of a standard
CD Case may be used in a reduced, and even more open configuration,
by again removing the portion of the Tray which would normally
bound the front of the Hinge Space (i.e., the Front Panel). Again
leaving the Hinge Space open for easy access both from the front of
the CD Case and along its spine. Again, as with other versions of
the present invention, the additional item or product is held in
position using the outer wrapping for the CD Case, generally the
thin plastic covering set forth above.
[0034] In each embodiment of the present invention, movable panels
may be employed to close the openings which provide easy access to
the additional items or products consistent with the purposes and
method of the present invention. Such movable panels may have a
number of purposes, however one major purpose of such panels is to
securely retain an additional item or product in place in the Hinge
Space where a thin plastic wrapping is not used, or where such
wrapping is used but additional strength is desirable to ensure the
additional item or product remains in place. Such additional
strength may be desirable, for example, when the additional item or
product is a heavy object, such as a bottle full of perfume, which
bottle completely fills the Hinge Space. Particularly when the
value of the additional item or product greatly exceeds the value
of the co-marketed optical disk, it is be important that the item
or product remain in place, rather than break through the thin
plastic wrap, fall to the floor, and break.
[0035] In embodiments where movable panels are desirable, such
panels may be set in place, and kept in place with pins and
corresponding holes, or such panels may be formed with separate
hinge (and latch) components, or such panels may be formed from an
extension of the plastic of the Tray. Where a movable panel is an
extension of the Tray, the Front Panel of the Tray of a CD Case of
the present invention may be formed to be movable if the plastic
along a line at the end of the Tray wall is formed thinner than the
rest of the Tray wall, before it thickens again to form the Front
Panel. Such thinning of the plastic, creates a line in which the
plastic is naturally easier to bend between the half wall and the
Front Panel. In such a configuration, the Front Panel in such a
Tray may swing around that line, thereby allowing the Front Panel
to open and close the opening over the Hinge Space when the Tray is
properly situated in the main body of the CD Case. Wherever a
movable panel is used to close the opening to the Hinge Space, a
latching mechanism may be employed to secure the movable end or
edge of such panel. Thus, for instance, the Front Panel of the Tray
of a CD Case of standard configuration which may swing around the
line formed by the thinned plastic of the Tray, as set forth
herein, may also be formed with small pins or hooks which may be
inserted into corresponding holes or openings in the main body of
the CD Case when the Tray is properly situated in the main body of
the CD Case. When such pins or hooks are inserted into such holes
or openings in the main body, they engage such holes or openings,
and thereby fix the movable end or edge of the Front Panel.
[0036] In each embodiment of the present invention, spacers may be
inserted within the Hinge Space to occupy space around an
additional item or product if such additional item or product is of
a shape or size which does not fit snugly within the Hinge Space of
the CD Case. An example of such spacers includes tabs or ledges
formed in the hard plastic of the Hinge Space, which tabs or ledges
fit snugly around a cylindrical object residing within the Hinge
Space, thereby holding the cylindrical object snugly in place. A
second example of such spacers includes a pin or tab extending from
one end of the Hinge Space, which pin or tab extends from that end
of the Hinge Space to an end of an additional item or product when
such is placed within the Hinge Space. Such pin or tab acts to
prevent the additional item or product from moving longitudinally
within the Hinge Space, and so reduces the likelihood the ends of
the additional item or product will contact the end of the Hinge
Space with sufficient force to break the additional item or product
or the end of the Hinge Space. Such modifications by formation of
spacers, tabs, ledges, and pins within the Hinge Space in a CD Case
are within the scope of the present invention in all cases-where
the additional item or product may be easily accessed through the
front, spine, back or ends of a Hinge Space formed according to the
present invention. Of course, all such spacers, tabs, and ledges
used to secure an object within the Hinge Space must be positioned
within the constraints of any movable panels formed to close the
opening or openings which provide access to the Hinge Space (or at
least in consideration of such movable panels).
[0037] The more important features of the invention have thus been
outlined, rather broadly, so that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Additional features of specific embodiments of the invention will
be described below. However, before explaining preferred
embodiments of the invention in detail, it may be noted briefly
that the present invention substantially departs from pre-existing
apparatus and methods of the prior art, and in so doing provides
the user with the highly desirable feature of direct access to the
Hinge Space of a CD Case. Such direct access is necessary to
provide the Co-marketing facility which is a central objective of
the present invention. Without such direct access, whether through
the front, back, or spine of the CD Case, a prospective purchaser
cannot easily remove the additional item or product which is
intended to be Co-marketed with the optical disk contained in the
CD Case.
Objects of the Invention
[0038] A principal object of the present invention is to provide
easy access to the Hinge Space in a CD Case.
[0039] A further principal object of the present invention is to
provide a storage, transport, and display apparatus for additional
item or products which might be sold with optical disks.
[0040] A further principal object of the present invention is to
provide a storage, transport, and display apparatus for optical
disks which might be sold or given away promotionally with
perfumes, or other additional item or products.
[0041] A further principal object of the present invention is to
allow a seller of optical disks to co-market additional item or
products.
[0042] A further principal object of the present invention is to
allow a seller of perfume, or other product which might be
contained in the Hinge Space of a CD Case to co-market optical
disks, or to provide them free for promotional purposes to sell the
additional item or product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0043] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate two preferred
embodiments of the present invention, and such drawings, together
with the description set forth herein, serve to explain the
principles of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawing of a CD case within
prior art, the top of the-case presented in open-configuration,
ready to accept an optical disk.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a front (or top) drawing of the CD case within
prior art shown in FIG. 1, the top of the case presented in closed
configuration.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view drawing of the CD case
within prior art shown in FIG. 1, drawn along line 3 of FIG. 2.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a front (or top) view drawing of a first preferred
embodiment of the CD Case of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view drawing of the first
preferred embodiment of the CD case of the present invention shown
in FIG. 4, drawn along line 5 of FIG. 4.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view drawing of a second
preferred embodiment of the CD case of the present invention, drawn
with a removable panel.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view drawing of the Tray a
second preferred embodiment of the CD case of the present
invention, drawn to sho the various angles at which one component
of the Tray may be formed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0051] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a CD case within the prior
art 10 is shown in perspective view, viewed from above. The case is
open, with Front Cover 11 rotationally attached to main body 12 of
the case at both ends of spine wall 18 (the wall along one edge
commonly referred to as the "spine" of the case) along one edge of
main body 12. The rotational attachment is accomplished by Front
Cover pins (not shown) which extend into corresponding holes (not
shown) in main body 12, thereby creating a hinge between main body
12 and the Front Cover 11. The hinge so created allows Front Cover
11 to rotate along an axis 16 close to one of its edges 17 in
substantially fixed rotational relationship with the corresponding
spine wall 18 along the spine of main body 12, as the cover pins
rotate within the corresponding holes of main body 12. Tray 20
appears in FIG. 1, properly positioned in main body 12, and ready
to accept an optical disk (not shown) in recessed well 22 formed in
Tray 20. On the hinge side of CD case 10, Tray 20 in FIG. 1 extends
from recessed well 22, up and over the space between the cover pins
of Front Cover 11 and corresponding holes in main body 12. The
extension of Tray 20 in this fashion creates Tray wall 24 between
recessed well 22 of Tray 20 and the space between the cover pins
and corresponding holes in main body 12. This space, which we refer
to herein, generally as the "hinge space" (and, as the hinge space
is modified consistent with the presented invention, the "Hinge
Space") is bounded on its bottom (or back) by main body 12, and
along its one side by spine wall 18 at the spine of CD case 10.
This space is also bounded on its other side, when Tray 20 is
properly positioned within main body 12, by Tray wall 24, and on
its front or top by Front Panel 25. The sum of these components
bounding the hinge space creates an elongated enclosure between the
cover pins and corresponding holes in the main body.
[0052] Turning now to FIG. 2, a front (or top) drawing of CD case
10 within prior art of FIG. 1 is shown, with Front Cover 11, formed
of clear plastic in FIG. 2, in position over main body 12 of case
10, so that case 10 is presented in a closed configuration. FIG. 2
also shows Tray 20, with recessed well 22, under the clear plastic
of Front Cover 11. FIG. 2 also shows spine wall 18 along the spine
of the CD Case, Tray wall 24, and Front Panel 25.
[0053] In FIG. 3, a cross sectional view drawing of the CD case
within prior art shown in FIG. 1 is shown, the cross section drawn
along line 3 of FIG. 2. Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows many of the-same
components as appear in FIG. 2, i.e. Front Cover 11, formed of
clear plastic, in position over main body 12 of case 10, also
presented in a closed configuration, with Tray 20, and recessed
well 22 in Tray 20, under the clear plastic of Front Cover 11, and
spine wall 18, Tray wall 24, and Front Panel 25. However, in FIG.
3, hinge space 30, which extends the length of the spine of case
10, clearly appears bounded at its back by the back of main body
12, at its one side by spine wall 18, at its Tray side by Tray wall
24, and at its front by Front Panel 25. It should be noted that
hinge space 30 is entirely enclosed by such components, each of
which are rigid components formed from main body 12 or Tray 20.
Accordingly, materials placed within hinge space 30 cannot be
removed from hinge space 30 without removing Tray 20, or breaking
one of these rigid components.
[0054] Turning now to FIG. 4, a front (or top) view drawing of a
first preferred embodiment of the CD Case of the present invention
is shown, with changes to main body 12, Tray 20, and Front Cover 11
consistent with the present invention. More particularly, main body
12 is again shown as in FIG. 2, again with Front Cover 11, formed
of clear plastic in FIG. 2, in position over main body 12 of case
10, so that case 10 is presented in a closed configuration. FIG. 4
also shows Tray 20, with recessed well 22, under the clear plastic
of Front Cover 11. FIG. 2 also shows spine wall 18 along the spine
of the CD Case, and Tray wall 24. However, Hinge Space 30 in FIG. 4
is open at its front, there being no Front Panel 25 to close it as
in prior art. Without Front Panel 25, the front side of the
interior of main body 12, that is, area 31 between spine wall 18
and Tray wall 24, may be seen through Hinge Space 30. Thus, Tray 20
is properly (and snugly) placed in main body 12 on three sides of
Tray 20, but on the fourth side Tray 20 ends with Tray wall 24,
there being no Front Panel 25 covering the front of Hinge Space 30.
As Front Panel 25 is therefore missing from Tray 20 in the present
invention, a user has immediate access to Hinge Space 30 because
Front Cover 11, in the present invention and in prior art, only
covers the space above an optical disk placed in recessed well 22,
and does not extend over Hinge Space 30. Accordingly, by merely
removing Front Panel 25, Hinge Space 30 is left open, and materials
may be easily placed in, and removed from, Hinge Space 30 without
removing Tray 20 from its secure position in main body 12.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view drawing of the first
preferred embodiment of the CD case of the present invention shown
in FIG. 4, drawn along line 5 of FIG. 4. Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows
many of the same components as appear in FIG. 4, i.e. Front Cover
11, formed of clear plastic, in position over main body 12 of case
10. In FIG. 5, the present invention is also presented in a closed
configuration, with Tray 20, with recessed well 22, under the clear
plastic of Front Cover 11, and spine wall 18, and Tray wall 24.
However, because Hinge Space 30 in FIGS. 4 and 5 is open at its
front, there being no Front Panel to close this space as in prior
art, the front side of the interior of main body 12 may be seen
below Hinge Space 30, in area 31 between spine wall 18 and Tray
wall 24, there being no Front Panel 25 to close Hinge Space 30 as
in prior art. Without Front Panel 25, Again, Tray 20 is properly
(and snugly) placed in main body 12 in FIG. 5, but Tray 20 in FIG.
5 ends with Tray wall 24. As a result, a user has immediate access
to Hinge Space 30 because Front Cover 11, in the present invention
and in prior art, only covers the space above an optical disk
placed in recessed well 22, and does not extend over Hinge Space
30. In FIG. 5, Hinge Space 30, which extends the length of the
spine of case 10, again appears bounded at its back by the back of
main body 12 (while presenting area 31 to the exterior of the CD
case) at its one side by spine wall 18, and at its Tray side by
Tray wall 24. In FIG. 5, Hinge Space 30 is clearly open at its
front (or top) because of the absence of the Front Panel usually
found in prior art. As a result, materials placed within Hinge
Space 30 can be readily removed from Hinge Space 30 without
removing Tray 20, or breaking one of the rigid components which
bound it. The first embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 may each be covered by thin plastic sheeting to close
Hinge Space 30, and thereby hold an object placed there within
Hinge Space 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0056] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view drawing of a second
preferred embodiment of the CD case of the present invention, drawn
along a line which bisects the CD case of the present invention,
similar to bisecting line 5 drawn in FIG. 4. Accordingly, FIG. 6
shows many of the same components as appear in FIG. 5, i.e. Front
Cover 11, formed of clear plastic, in position over main body 12 of
case 10. In FIG. 5, the present invention is also presented in a
closed configuration, with Tray 20, with recessed well 22, under
the clear plastic of Front Cover 11, and spine wall 18, and Tray
wall 24. However, in FIG. 6, Tray wall 24 is only formed
substantially half height, which configuration allows removable
panel 40, when placed within case 10, to extend the entire width of
case 10. Thus, removable 40 panel may be placed in such position as
to extend from line 41-near one side of main body 12, all the way
across the front of the case over Tray well 22, through Hinge Space
30, and up to line 42 near spine wall 18. Since there is no Front
Panel to close Hinge Space 30 in this embodiment as in prior art,
the front side of the interior of main body 12 may be seen below
Hinge Space 30, in area 31 between spine wall 18 and Tray wall 24,
before placement of removable panel 40. However; with removable
panel 40 in place, end 42 of removable panel 40 may cover the area
between Tray wall 24 and spine wall 18. As a result, an object
placed within Hinge Space 30 may also be covered by end 42 of
removable panel 40, or such object placed within Hinge Space 30 may
even be held in place within Hinge Space 30 even if the CD case of
the present invention is not sealed with the plastic cover
envisioned by most embodiments. In FIG. 6, Hinge Space 30, which
extends the length of the spine of case 10, again appears bounded
at its back by the back of main body 12 (while presenting area 31
to the exterior of the CD case if removable panel 40 is absent), at
its one side by spine wall 18, and at its Tray side by Tray wall
24. In FIG. 6, Hinge Space 30 is clearly open at its front (or top)
if removable panel 40 is absent or removed from case 10, so
materials placed within Hinge Space 30 can be readily removed from
Hinge Space 30 without removing Tray 20, merely by sliding or
removing panel 40. Tray wall 24 in this embodiment may be formed
taller, to securely hold removable panel in place by exertion of
pressure on removable-panel so that it in turn presses against
front cover 11. Tray wall 24 may also be formed shorter, as low as
the level of the top surface of an optical disk residing in
recessed well 22, to allow removable panel 40 to move more freely
in case 10, or allow other items or objects to be placed in case 10
above or below removable panel 40 in and around recessed well 22,
or below removable panel 40 in Hinge Space 30.
[0057] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view drawing which shows further
Tray modifications of the second preferred embodiment of the CD
case shown in FIG. 6, again drawn along a line which bisects the CD
case, similar to bisecting line 5 drawn in FIG. 4. However, in FIG.
7 only Tray 20 is shown with such modifications, the Front Cover 11
and main body 12 of case 10 being left out for clarity. In FIG. 7,
Tray wall 24 may be formed substantially half height, as in FIG. 6,
or higher, or Tray wall 24 may formed full height, to separate
Hinge Space 30 from the remainder of the interior of case 10. Also,
the distal end 45 of Tray wall 24 may be formed to extend upward
(if the CD Case is laying flat) vertically from its lower proximate
end 46, which is joined with the remainder of Tray 20 along
proximate end 46, or the distal end 45 of Tray wall 24 may be
formed to extend upward at an angle from its lower proximate end
46. The variety of possible configurations for forming Tray wall 24
as part of Tray 20 allows panels, such as panel 40 in FIG. 6 to
reside loosely within Case 10, or be tightly-held between distal
end 45 and Cover 11.
[0058] The variety of possible configurations for forming Tray wall
24 as part of Tray 20 also allows Hinge Space 30 to be configured
for oddly shaped objects, or reduced or increased in size panels
according to the requirements of the object to be delivered with
the optical disk in case 10.
[0059] Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the
art from consideration of the specification and practice of the
invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification
and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of
the invention being indicated by the following claims and
equivalents.
* * * * *