A storage device for data carriers BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Data carriers of the type relevant for the present invention comprise a carrier surface having a circular outer circumference. The data carrier comprises a central hole. Such data carrier is used for storage of various sorts of data, primarily digital data. Examples of such data carriers are CD's and DVD's, e. g. for music storage, for data program storage, for game storage or for movie storage. The disc's have the same physical dimensions.

For the storage of the data carrier itself various storage devices have been used and described.

One example is the commonly known jewel box, which normally is used for storage of music CD's. This previously known box comprise a base plate from which a number of arms project upwardly in a circular arrangement. The arms are flexible and are adapted to hold the CD at the central hole of this when it is pressed downward over the arms. In order to remove the CD from the box it is necessary to grip the disc and, by applying a pulling force, release the disc from the arms. This procedure gives rise to several problems. First of all because it is difficult to get hold of the disc by hand as the access to the rim of the disc is limited, and secondly the grip actually obtained may be poor, possibly leading to a loss of grip. Furthermore the data-carrying surface of the storage device may contact the base part, which may lead to the loss or damage of data. This in a minor problem in connection with music, since data correction most often is present in the reading devices. In connection with other types of data this may however be crucial. It is obvious that this previously known device due to these disadvantages need to be replaced.

A further previously known device is disclosed in WO 96/14636. This previously known device features a press and release function, which by means of either the flexibility of flexible ejector elements in a base element or the flexibility of the disc itself is intended to

eject the disc upon applying a pressure on a locking element holding the disc at the central hole. The release function does however in many cases not show a satisfactory functionality, as the locking element in many cases still lock the disc after application of the release pressure. This malfunction may lead to damage of the disc when the user afterwards tries to remove the disc from the storage device. Furthermore the providing of a mechanical release and ejector system does require a significant accuracy in the manufacturing process in order to provide a satisfactory function with a low or zero failure frequency in the release function. The lack of the required accuracy in the tolerances may in fact lead to the before mentioned malfunction.

I still further prior art storage device is disclosed in EP 0356539. This previously known storage device is like the one described above of the type featuring a press and release function. The device is described as a development taking its starting point in a storage device corresponding to the above mentioned jewel box. The difficulties mentioned above in connection with W096/14636 also counts for this storage device, meaning that a significant accuracy is required in order to ensure a satisfactory function and that the risk of a malfunction is high.

These previously known devices all relates to storage devices capable of holding a single data carrier. A need for storage of several data carriers being mutually connected exists, as the storage of these in separate storage devices often causes problems in retrieving the correct data carriers. In connection with the storage of data carriers a need for simultaneous storage of a printed information material exists as well and at the same time provide for a slim design as well as a simple an reliable function of the device.

Based on this prior art the aim of the present invention is to provide a storage device for at least two data carriers, which has a reliable function, which facilitates the release of the data carrier from the storage device, which is capable of holding in a fixed position a printed information material and which at the same time is simple from a manufacturing point of view and from an operation point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention this is obtained by means of a storage device as defined in claim 1.

Due to the positioning of the holding means for the data carriers in the top and the bottom parts of the storage device, respectively, and the positioning of the holding means for the information material in the rear part or the connection part a very slim storage device is obtained, which is easy to operate, ie. remove the data carriers, and which is reliable. This also provides for a cost-effective manufacturing, as only a single mould is necessary for the manufacturing of the storage device. By means of such storage device it is possible to perform a releasable holding of a printed information material in the storage device. The insertion as well as the removal of this information material is facilitated by the positioning of this in the central area of the storage device, while at the same time the insertion, the holding and the removal of the data carriers is simple and reliable.

Several embodiments each presenting advantages are depicted in the dependant claims 2-6.

By the embodiment defined in claim 2, where the holding means for the information material comprises two separate mutually distanced sets of resilient gripping means an improvement is obtained in respect of insertion and holding as well as material consumption compared to a single holding means extending over a large length.

By the embodiment defined in claim 3, where the holding means comprises protrusions extending from arms in direction towards and opposed part of the holding means the holding of the information material is ensured and the material may be inserted to the bottom of the holding means without resistance beyond what is exerted by the holding means in the transverse direction.

By the embodiment defined in claim 4, where two opposed arms both comprises a protrusion this functionality is further improved.

By the embodiment defined in claim 5, where a protrusion is bevelled the insertion of the information material is significantly facilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the storage device according to the invention ; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the storage device shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the storage device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a further part of the storage device shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT From FIG. 1 a storage device appears in the form of a box comprising a base element 1 and a lid 2. These are also designated as first and a second side element, respectively. The base element and the lid are pivotally connected to a back element 3 and comprise means 4 for interlocking the two parts 1,2 in a releasable manner.

The base element and the lid element each comprises a number of arms 6 extending perpendicular to the base element ; in this case five arms 6. The number of arms may be lower or higher, but it has shown to be convenient that the number is of the order of four to six. Hereby the arms comply with the required rigidity and strength when the box is moulded from a soft plastics material in an injection moulding process. The arms are arranged in a circular order corresponding to the diameter of the hole in the data carrier.

Within the circle of the arms a movement-limiting element 7 or a stop is provided in the form of a cylindrical element. By means of this it is possible to avoid a possible fatigue of the arms 6 due to several to extensive bending operations of these. Furthermore this element 7 serves as a rest or abutment element for the users one finger when removing the data carrier from the storage device. In this manner the arms are freely movable without influence from the users finger. Surrounding the arms a circular support element 8 is provided to support the data carrier close to the central hole, preferably outside the data carrying area. At a further distance from the arms a number of discrete support elements 9,

four in all, are provided for supporting the outer rim of the data carrier. The discrete support elements are provided with a mutual distance, which allows the user to access the rim of the data carrier in a safe and reliable manner. The area between the discrete support elements is formed by curved recesses, which when abutting the central element 7 with one finger allows for gripping the rim of the data carrier with another finger, preferably the thumb, whereby the data carrier may be released in the desired safe and reliable manner. The back element comprises two sets of gripping elements 5 for holding an information material, e. g. a printed publication.

From FIG. 2 the features shown on FIG. 1 and described above becomes apparent in a sectional view. The structure of the means 5 for holding the information material becomes apparent. These holding means 5 are described more detailed in connection with Fig. 3 and 4, which are enlarged views of details of the storage device shown in FIG. 1 and 2.

The arms 6 may be arranged in such a manner and with such dimensions that the disc once placed and secured may be turned with very limited friction, which will allow the user to read text on the disc with out removing the disc from the storage device or without turning the latter.

The area 8 may be slightly higher than the area 9, hereby allowing a disc to be turned without contact at the outer circumference.

From FIG. 3 the holding means 5 appears in more detail. The holding means comprises two arms 10,11 extending from the back element 3, which at their outer free ends comprises bevelled protrusions 12 as shown in FIG. 4. The bevelled part 13 serves the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the information material. The bevelled part may be rectilinear inclined or rounded and still fulfil the purpose. The protrusions may extend over the entire length of the arms 10, 11 or may be mutually spaced on an arm and possibly be displaced in relation to similar protrusions on an opposed arm, hereby allowing these to be aligned or even overlap each other without actually touching each other as indicated in FIG. 3. The pressure force required between the arms 10, 11 may be determined and the material dimensions may be determined accordingly.