MEDIA STORAGE CONTAINER WITH COOPERATING DISC RETAINING

HUBS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent

Application Serial Number 60/756,182 filed January 3, 2006; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to media storage containers and, more particularly, to a media storage container adapted to hold multiple disc-shaped items of recorded media. Specifically, the invention relates to the structure of the opposed retaining hubs that cooperate to retain the discshaped items of recorded media in the storage container.

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A single consumer media title, such as a feature film or an item of interactive software, is now frequently large enough to require multiple media storage discs to hold the media. Some media items are sold with two different versions such as widescreen and full screen. Some media items are sold with a "bonus material" disc which contains material related to the main disc.

Manufacturers desire to package and ship these discs together in a single container. One industry standard that has gained widespread acceptance in the industry is the 15 mm container. These containers are large enough to accommodate multiple discs. Some manufacturers desire, however, to use a thin media container such as one that may be easily mailed through the US

Postal Service. These manufacturers also desire a low profile storage container that holds two discs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a media storage container having a base and lid with a hub disposed on each of the base and lid. The hubs overlap each i

other when the lid is closed so that the overall height of the media storage container may be reduced.

In one configuration, the invention provides a hub configuration that stabilizes the media storage container when the lid is closed. The hub configuration also helps to retain the discs on the hubs when the lid is closed. The container is stabilized with hubs that engage each other when the lid is closed.

Another configuration of the invention provides a media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container including a base having a bottom wall; a lid having a top wall; the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base; a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first discshaped item of recorded media; the first hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the first hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers; a second hub connected to the top wall; the second hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second discshaped item of recorded media; the second hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the second hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers; the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position; and the first and second hubs engaging each other when the container is in the closed configuration to support the bottom wall away from the top wall; the first and second hubs engaging each other with the positioning fingers of the second hub engaging the retaining fingers of the first hub and the positioning fingers of the first hub engaging the retaining fingers of the second hub.

Another configuration of the invention provides a media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container including a base having a bottom wall; a lid having a top wall; the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base; a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first discshaped item of recorded media; the retaining fingers of the first hub defining the height of the first hub; a second hub connected to the top wall; the second

hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second disc-shaped item of recorded media; the retaining fingers of the second hub defining the height of the second hub; each retaining finger including a vertical leg, a shoulder, a locking flange, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position; the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position; and when the lid is in the closed position, the top wall is spaced from the bottom wall a first distance; the first distance being smaller than the sum of the heights of the first and second hubs such that the first and second hubs are overlapped with each other.

Another configuration of the invention provides a media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container including a base having a bottom wall; a lid having a top wall; the lid being pivotably connected to the base with a living hinge; the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base; a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first disc-shaped item of recorded media; the first hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the first hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers; a second hub connected to the top wall; the second hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second disc-shaped item of recorded media; the second hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the second hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers; the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position; the retaining fingers of the first hub being disposed along a first reference line; the retaining fingers of the second hub being disposed along a second reference line; the first reference line being disposed perpendicular to the second reference line when the lid is in the closed position; and each of the fingers having a vertical leg, a shoulder, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being wedge-shaped and disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position.

The features of these configurations may be used alone or in combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an open media storage container. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the disc holding hub disposed on the lid of the container. Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of one of the hubs.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the disc holding hub disposed on the base of the container.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken through the hubs when the container is in a closed configuration, Fig. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The media storage container of the invention is indicated generally by the numeral 2 in the accompanying drawings. Container 2 generally includes a base 10 having a bottom wall 12, a pair of sidewalls 14, and a front wall 16. Container 2 also generally includes a lid 20 having a top wall 22, a pair of sidewalls 24, and a front wall 26. Bottom wall 12 is connected to a hinge wall 30 with a first living hinge 32. A second living hinge 34 connects hinge wall 30 to top wall 22. Lid 20 is movable between open and closed positions with respect to base 10 about hinges 32 and 34. When lid 20 is in the closed position, the front and side walls overlap each other to define double walls about three sides of the container.

A disc retaining hub 50 is carried by each of base 10 and lid 20. Hubs 50 are aligned with each other such that they substantially (within a few mm) share a common axis when lid 20 is in the closed position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each hub 50 has a pair of retaining fingers 52 that are adapted to securely retain a media disc 54 on hub 50 within container 2. Each retaining finger 52 includes a vertical leg 56, a shoulder 58, a locking flange 60, and a horizontal arm 62. Arms 62 are wedge-shaped when viewed from above to provide room for the arms 62 on the other hub to be disposed in the space between arms 62 when the lid is closed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this position the hub arms 62 overlap each other such that hubs 50 are both aligned and overlapped.

Each locking flange 60 is adapted to be disposed over the edge of media disc 28 to retain disc 28 on hub 2. Locking flanges 60 are sized and configured to allow disc 28 to be forced over opposed locking flanges 60 with a snap fit connection. Flanges 60 may have angled upper surfaces with opposed underlying locking surfaces disposed perpendicular to the finger to lock discs 28 in place. Each flange 60 has a height that is less than half of the thickness of disc 54.

Retaining fingers 52 on the base hub are rotated a quarter turn (90 degrees) from retaining fingers 52 on lid hub so that fingers 52 overlap each other when the container is closed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This overlapped configuration allows the overall height of the container to be reduced resulting in a thinner container. In the exemplary embodiment, fingers 52 on lid 20 are disposed on a reference line 70 that is substantially perpendicular to living hinges 32 and 34 while fingers 52 of hub 50 on base 10 are disposed on a reference line 70 that is substantially parallel to living hinges 32 and 34. Other configurations are contemplated wherein reference lines 70 and 72 remain disposed at 90 degree angles regardless of their orientation with respect to the hinges. Another advantage to the overlapped finger configuration is that the flanges 60 may be configured to be trapped between media discs 54 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Hubs 50 may also include positioning fingers 80 disposed between retaining fingers 52. Each positioning finger 80 includes a vertical leg 82, a shoulder 84, and a horizontal arm 86. Arms 86 are wedge-shaped when viewed from above to match the size and shape of arms 86. In one configuration, arms 86 are slightly spaced from arms 62 when the container is closed. This configuration allows the container to close without any interference from the hubs. The arms 62 and 86 are close enough, however, to engage and provide support to the base and lid in situations where a compressive force is applied to the container. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, arms 62 and 86 are configured to engage each other when the container is closed to provide this support.

In one configuration, each hub 50 includes a shelf 90 that is raised above the upper surface of walls 12/22. Shelf 90 is used to add rigidity to the container at the locations of hubs 50. Shelf is also used to lift media discs 54

off of walls 12/22 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.