Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COMPACT DISK (CD) JEWEL CASE HtNGE STORAGE
APPARATUS AND MARKETING METHOD
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The applicant has filed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Offie
two disclosure document deposit requests covering the invention disclosed
herein on May 23, 2005. These filings were 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
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
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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."
The present invention also provides a marketing method for
presenting two or more items to a prospective purchaser. With such a
method, one may place an additional item in the space near the hinge of a
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.
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.
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BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION
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.
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
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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.
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
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much more than identifying information printed on paper.
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
5 the space adjacent the hinge. Uniformly, the purpose of such arrangements
has been one of two:
(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.
(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.
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:
U.S. Patent Number 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.
U.S. Patent Number 5,893,455 to Biedebach et al., which
discloses a compact disk package with spine insert, in which a fully enciosed
space is defined by the three parts of a CD Case.
U.S. Patent Number 5,971,143 to Yoshioka, which discloses a
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compact disk package with ornamental and fragrance effects created by
filling a space in the hinge portion of a CD Case.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
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 (east 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.
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 Ca'se 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
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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.
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.
With this arrangement of components in a standard CD Case,
the Front Cover of the standard CD Case completely covers an optical disk
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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
5 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
10 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.
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 intericir 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.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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. -
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
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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.
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.
In another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the
present invention, the CD Case is left open as the Tray is again formed
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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).
Another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the
present invention, that embodiment with the half-wa!l 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.
As one example of the use of the removable panel, a rigid
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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).
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.
As one example of the use of the removable panel, a rigid
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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,
5 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,
10 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
15 make a direct association between the artist, his work, and the
enterprise).
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
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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 additiona) 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 com applications the
additional
item may be sampled at this time.
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.
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
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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.
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.
In embodiments where movable panels are desirable, such
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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 wail, 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.
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.
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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 (east in consideration of such movable panels).
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
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intended to be Co-marketed with the optical disk contained in the CD Case.
Objects of the Invention
5 A principal object of the present invention is to provide easy
access to the Hinge Space in a CD Case.
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.
10 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.
A further principal object of the present invention is to allow a
15 seller of optical disks to co-market additional item or products.
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
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Fig. 4 is a front (or top) view drawing of a first preferred
embodiment of the CD Case of the present invention_
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 iine 5 of Fig. 4.
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.
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
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 a
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
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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.
Turning now to Fig. 2, a front (or top) drawing of CD case 10
within prior art of Fig. I 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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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
20 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
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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.
5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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
10 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
15 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
20 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
25 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
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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 piaced
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.
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
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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.
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.
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.
