Other

Shape Corporation

W Tyler Fitzsimmons

Anthony L Gelardi

Alan B Lowry

Craig S Lovecky

Richard Rolfe

A compact disc container uses a plastic tray, a paperboard which is mechanically locked to the tray, and a clasp to hold the paperboard cover closed. Corner sections of the tray have elongated openings along outer walls to receive tabs which are bent up at right angles from a base panel of the board. The tabs are then bent inward over ribs in the corner section, and arcuate inner surfaces of the tabs lie against outer surfaces of segmental walls in the tray. Retainers hold the arcuate surfaces of the tabs downward. The outside of the tabs may be printed with the outside of the base and the cover, since the outside surfaces of the tabs appear within the tray. A spline panel extends from the base panel to the cover. The cover has an outer panel and an inner panel which are printed before they are folded and bonded. A second page is folded from an inward end of the inner panel. The fold between the inner panel and the second page acts as a spring, opening the cover and separating the second page from the inner panel when the cover is released. A clasp is received in an opening in the front wall of the tray. Projections from the tray are received within openings in the clasp, and arms extend into the front wall for holding the clasp over a closed cover. The forward edge of the cover has a curved cutout which matches a curved edge of a downward step within the lid of the cover to prevent lateral cover movement while the lid holds the cover closed. Sliding or rocking the clasp outward releases the cover.

Compact disc package with plastic tray

A plastic package for storing and selling at retail holds compact discs and accompanying 3.5' diskettes and literature. The container has two parts, a frame and a window. The frame, which is one molded piece, has a cover and a tray connected by a living hinge to form a book-like display. The tray has an opening in the base. Grippers positioned around the base retain a Jewel box inside the opening for external visual recognition. A hinged, foldable 3.5' diskette holder with a spring for securing multiple diskettes is connected by a second living hinge to the bottom wall of the tray. In an inward position, the holder extends along the base below the opening. A flap hinged to the base between the opening and the holder secures the Jewel box. A tab on the holder rests underneath an extension of the flap when the flap extends inward, perpendicular to the base. The flap/tab connection is strong and requires a screwdriver or coin to release. The cover has a clear window which extends around the top and inner side of the cover to entrap an L-shaped graphics card that display the front cover and spine graphics. A flexible retaining arm is molded to the cover for holding printed material. The cover and tray are held closed by a latch/aperture connection. The latch is molded as part of the tray and rests in a position perpendicular to the base of the tray. Once engaging the aperture, the latch can only be released by applying inward pressure to the top or side of the latch.

CD-Rom retailer

A reel spring including a wire having a flat central portion and two angled arms, each terminating in substantially planar pads, curved portions or pivot buttons. The flat central portion includes two spaced, open loops which receive corresponding projections formed on the cassette cover. The pads, curved portions or pivot buttons abut and bias the tape reel hubs downwardly when the cassette cover and base are mated. The methods of assembly include the steps of moving the loops against the projections until the corresponding projections are received by the loops and caulking or swaging the projections. The wire reel spring can be removed by merely moving the wire reel spring in the opposite direction.

Wire reel spring/cassette cover combinations and methods for assembly

A short leg and coil of a torsion spring fit on a dust door polar member and a long leg having a first end connected to the coil and a second free end extends therefrom. An offset is formed between the first and second ends of the long leg and is received by a cassette cover and the free end engages a perpendicular projection formed on a dust door latch. In a second embodiment, a lower portion of the latch can flex relative to an upper portion, and a leaf spring is integrally formed to extend from the upper portion. The dust door polar member has a cam which cooperates with the leaf spring. In the first embodiment, when the latch is actuated by a pin the dust door is unlatched and rotated to the open position. When the pin is released, the long leg biases the latch back into a latched position and, simultaneously, the rest of the spring closes the door. In the second embodiment, the pin flexes the lower portion of the latch relative to the upper portion, and the cam loads the leaf spring upon opening the door. Upon release of the pin, the lower portion of the latch flexes back and the door is closed.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, DC, United States of America

W Tyler Fitzsimmons