The invention relates to a packaged and sealed data medium cover comprising a data medium and a method of packaging such a data medium cover.

The data medium cover (5) is packaged and sealed in a package consisting of a medium enclosing section (4) with cut (11) and cut-outs (I la, 18), a centre section (8), a lid (9). and a closing flap (10), and being in the unitary form of one integral piece of material with folds (14) between the individual panels and perforations (1,16) on the one side of the medium enclosing section (4) by supplying the data medium cover (5) with a separate sealing label (3) and fastening this on the package.

This method of packaging and sealing data medium covers is disclosed in registered Danish Design Application No. MR 1998 00856, published on July 31,1998.

In the design application, it is not. however, disclosed how the projecting sealing section is fitted to the data medium cover. The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this problem and, accordhlgly, the invention is characterised in that the fastened, projecting sealing section (3a) is a part of a separate sealing label (3) which is placed under the data medium (50) prior to closing the data medium cover (5).

The invention also relates to a method of implementing the packaging and sealing.

The method is of the kind set forth in the introductory part of Claim 4 and is characterised by the features set forth in the characterising part of said claim.

From Danish Utility Model Application No. DK9500067-U3 is, furthermore, known a packaging box for storing and sealing data media (preferably CD medium covers). The box is provided with openings so that the contents of the box is visible without breaking the sealing, which is in the form of a closing tag to be is sealed after the retainer section of the box has been closed.

The package used in connection with the present invention may, contrary to this prior art package, be transported and stored in unfolded condition (flat) due to its special design (cut, folded, glued, and perforated from one integral three-panel piece of material). This results in space being saved and reduced handling in connection with the packaging and sealing process since the package occupies little space and may, simply, be erected with one hand, upon which the package is ready to have the data medium with its cover inserted thereinto.

The special design of the package, furthermore, ensures that opening of the package may take place without breaking the sealing since the closing flap (10) on the lid (9) is simply pulled out of the cut (I ).

The data medium to be packaged and sealed according to the present invention may be any data medium, such as CD, CD-ROM, double-CD, mini-CD, double-mini-CD. DVD. double-DVD and VHS video tape. The only requirement is that the medium has a cover.

Adaptation of format requires that the formats of the package are adapted to the different format with respect to: depth, height, and width of the medium (enclosing section (4). the centre section (8), and the lid (9) of the package). In cases of a known format, the double format type (e. g., double-CD) may be constructed by changing only the depth of the package in relation to the single format type (e. g., CD). The format of the sealing label (3) is similarly adapted if the sealing function is desired to be maintained in the new format.

In the case of the sealing label (3), it will be the diameter of the cut-out hole in the seating label (3), as well as the length of the tongue, to which adhesive has been applied to the adhesive section of the sealing label (7) which should be adapted to the distance from the centre of the medium to the edge of the cover added to the distance between the point at which the sealing label (3) projects from the data medium cover (5) and the point on the package at which the label is fastened.

Figure 1: Shows two sealing labels (3) for placement into the data medium cover (5) prior to introduction of the data medium (50) thereinto. A sealing label may be provided with an adhesive section of the sealing label (7) and a covering (15) which is removed immediately prior to application, or the sealing label (3) is made as a tag where the backing paper occupies the entire label and the label has cut lines (52) on the section which is fastened to the package so that it becomes evident if any-one attempts to break the sealing since the cut lines will then ensure that the paper is broken. Or a combination of the two (single label without cut lines but with covering paper or tags with cut lines and backing paper).

Figure 2: Shows the correct placement of the sealing label (3) within the data medium cover (5) prior to introduction of the data medium (50) into the data medium cover (5).

Figure 3 : Shows the stamp pattern on the package. The various cut (11) and cut-outs (1 la, 18), perforations (1), folds (14), and adhesive bondings (13) can be seen here. The inner surface of the package faces up.

Figure 4: Shows a bird's eye perspective of the ready package (viewed from above).

Figure 4a: Shows a side view of the package, lying flat with its inner surface facing up. From this, it can be seen how the sealing label (3) and the sealing section (3a) are assembled by insertion of the data medium cover (5) comprising data medium (50) and the sealing label (3) into the medium enclosing section (4) of the package. The data medium cover (5) is slid horizontally into the medium enclosing section (4) with its back facing up, and the adhesive section ofthe sealing label (7) and the package are assembled following removal of covering paper or backing paper (15) from the sealing label (3). If the tag version of the label is used, the label is fastened immediately after removal of backing paper from the entire tag.

Figure 5: Shows the three-panel design of the package and how to close the package following insertion of data medium (50) into its data medium cover (5) and/or sealing. Shows the package viewed from above, at a bevel angle. Its inner surface faces up.

Figure 6: Again shows the package viewed from above, facing up.

Figure 7: Shows the three-panel design of the package (medium enclosing section (4), centre section (8), and lind (9)) and how to close the package following insertion of data medium (50) into the data medium cover (5) and/or sealing. Shows the package viewed from above, at a bevel angle.

Sealing is carried out as follows: 1) The medium enclosing section (4), which is flat at delivery, is erected.

2) The data medium cover (5) is supplied with the sealing label (3) and the medium is introduced on top of the sealing label (3).

3) The data medium cover (5) is closed and is inserted into package's erected medium enclosing section (4), its back facing up.

4) The adhesive section of the sealing label (7) and the package are locked together on the spot (12), either by means of the pre-applied adhesive on the sealing label, or by means of staple, or by means of both (adhesive + staple).

5) Hereafter, the package is closed by placing/folding the package's medium enclosing section (4), comprising data medium (50) as well as data medium cover (5), on top of the centre section (8) so that the front of the data medium cover (5) now faces up. Then, data medium (50) and data medium cover (5) is now placed/folded on top of the lid (9) and closing flap (10) is passed into pre-cut opening (11).

The invention relates to packaging and sealing of a data medium. The contents may optionally be sealed or not. Regardless of choice, the package has unbroken planes in its closed state, the package's inner and/or outer surfaces may be provided with a decorative print according to the wishes of the client, and may, if so desired, be provided with illustrating instructions on how to use the package (e. g., sealing and breaking of the sealing, advertising messages or something else). As the package is provided with a cut- out (18), the front of the contents is visible without it being necessary to damage the sealing. It is likewise possible to see the back of the data medium cover (5) without breaking the sealing; this requires, simply, that one tears along the perforation (I) on the back of the package. If one opts not to seal, one has a desirable and presentable gift, shipping and/or storage package with unbroken, protective planes carrying designs on all six sides, on the inner surface as well as on the outer one. As the package's material is unitary, it may be handled without having to be assembled, cut, glued, or anything else. If sealing is opted for, this is easily and speedily done by means of the sealing label (3).