Insertable hinged tray for a multiple disc storage container

Abstract

A storage container for holding multiple discs includes a container cover and a container base, the container base including a rosette for supporting a disc within a disc mounting area thereon, a leaf including a rosette for mounting a disc on a first side thereof, the leaf being dimensioned to fit within the base when the container is closed, and a pair of hinges mounting the leaf adjacent the disc mounting area of the base for providing relative rotational movement between the base and the leaf, whereby a disc mounted on the base can be accessed by rotating the leaf about the hinge means when the container is open between an unpivoted rest position overlying the disc mounting area and a pivoted position.

1 . In a tray for holding multiple discs within a storage container having a container cover and a container base, said container base including disc engagement means for positioning and supporting a disc within a disc mounting area thereon, said container cover and container base being relatively movable between a container open orientation enabling access to the contents of the container and a container closed orientation for storage purposes, said tray comprising: 
 A. a leaf having first and second opposite sides, said first side incorporating a disc engagement means for engaging and holding a disc within a disc mounting area thereon and said second side being supported, directly or indirectly on said base, said leaf being dimensioned to fit within said base when said container is closed; and    B. hinge means between the container and the leaf for providing relative rotational movement between said leaf and said base, whereby a disc engaged on said base can be accessed by rotating the leaf about said hinge means when the container is open;    the improvement comprising:    C. said hinge means pivotally mounting said leaf on said base adjacent said disc mounting area for relative rotational movement between said base and said leaf about a pivot axis between an unpivoted position wherein said leaf overlies said disc mounting area on said base and a pivoted position in which said leaf is rotated about said hinge means through an angle of about 90° to 180° with said base, the unpivoted position of said leaf being the same relative to said base disc mounting area whether said container base and cover are in the container open or container closed orientation.    
     
     
         2 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 1 , including peripheral flanges depending from said leaf for a major length of the perimeter thereof, the depth of said peripheral flanges spacing the second side of said tray from any disc mounted in said disc mounting area of said base.  
     
     
         3 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a plurality of apertures defined in said leaf for reducing the amount of material necessary to form said leaf.  
     
     
         4 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 1 , including at least one pair of diametrically opposed finger wells formed in said base and communicating with said disc mounting area thereof, and further including at least one pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed in said leaf and communicating with the disc mounting area of said leaf, said apertures communicating and being in vertical registry with said finger wells when said leaf is in its unpivoted position.  
     
     
         5 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hinge means comprises at least one elongate pivot pin supported from the base adjacent said disc mounting area thereof and at least one tab mounted along one edge of said leaf, said tab having a pivot bore therein for receiving and retaining said pivot pin, whereby said leaf is pivotable about said at least one pivot pin for providing access to any disc mounted in said disc mounting area of said base, said hinge means further comprising: 
 A. said at least one tab having a free end remote from said leaf, the free end of said tab having a downwardly opening pivot bore along the underside thereof, said pivot bore penetrating said tab in a direction substantially parallel to said one edge of said leaf and being dimensioned to receive and pivotally retain said at least one pivot pin inserted therein; and    B. said at least one pivot pin having a longitudinal extent which is generally parallel to the edge of said leaf mounting said pivot pin-receiving bore and being supported at least a sufficient distance above said base that said pivot bore can fully engage said pivot pin.    
     
     
         6 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said leaf comprises two opposite lateral sides and two opposite transverse ends defining a generally planar rectangular body and said tab is cantilevered from one of said transverse ends.  
     
     
         7 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , further including a pair of laterally extending, spaced apart slots formed in said one edge of said leaf for defining a cantilevered tab between each pair of slots.  
     
     
         8 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , including a pair of pivot pin support flanges projecting upwardly from said base for supporting each pivot pin therebetween.  
     
     
         9 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said downwardly opening pivot bore comprises a generally C-shaped bore having an insertion slot whose width is less than the diameter of said pivot pin.  
     
     
         10 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said pivot bores are positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         11 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis for said leaf is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         12 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one tab is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         13 . In a storage container for holding multiple discs, said container comprising a container cover and a container base, said container base including disc engagement means for positioning and supporting a disc within a disc mounting area thereon, said container cover and container base being relatively movable between a container open orientation enabling access to the contents of the container and a container closed orientation for storage purposes, a leaf having first and second opposite sides, said first side incorporating a disc engagement means for engaging and holding a disc within a disc mounting area thereon and said second side being supported, directly or indirectly, on said base, said leaf being dimensioned to fit within said base when said container is closed and hinge means between the container and the leaf for providing relative rotational movement between said leaf and said base, whereby a disc engaged on said base can be accessed by rotating the leaf about said hinge means when the container is open, the improvement comprising: 
 said hinge means pivotally mounting said leaf on said base adjacent said disc mounting area for relative rotational movement between said base and said leaf about a pivot axis between an unpivoted position wherein said leaf overlies said disc mounting area on said base and a pivoted position in which said leaf is rotated about said hinge means through an angle of about 90° to 180° with said base, the unpivoted position of said leaf being the same relative to said base disc mounting area whether said container base and cover are in the container open or container closed orientation.    
     
     
         14 . A storage container, as claimed in  claim 13 , including at least one pair of diametrically opposed finger wells formed in said base and communicating with said disc mounting area thereof, and further including at least one pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed in said leaf and communicating with the disc mounting area of said leaf, said apertures communicating and being in vertical registry with said finger wells when said leaf is in its unpivoted position.  
     
     
         15 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said hinge means comprises at least one elongate pivot pin supported from the base adjacent said disc mounting area thereof and at least one tab mounted along one edge of said leaf, said tab having a pivot bore therein for receiving and retaining said pivot pin, whereby said leaf is pivotable about said at least one pivot pin for providing access to any disc mounted in said disc mounting area of said base, said hinge means further comprising: 
 A. said at least one tab having a free end remote from said leaf, the free end of said tab having a downwardly opening pivot bore along the underside thereof, said pivot bore penetrating said tab in a direction substantially parallel to said one edge of said leaf and being dimensioned to receive and pivotally retain said at least one pivot pin inserted therein; and    B. said at least one pivot pin having a longitudinal extent which is generally parallel to the edge of said leaf mounting said pivot pin-receiving bore and being supported at least a sufficient distance above said base that said pivot bore can fully engage said pivot pin.    
     
     
         16 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said leaf comprises two opposite lateral sides and two opposite transverse ends defining a generally planar rectangular body and said tab is cantilevered from one of said transverse ends  
     
     
         17 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , further including a pair of laterally extending, spaced apart slots formed in said one edge of said leaf for defining a cantilevered tab between each pair of slots.  
     
     
         18 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , including a pair of pivot pin support flanges projecting upwardly from said base for supporting each pivot pin therebetween.  
     
     
         19 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said downwardly opening pivot bore comprises a generally C-shaped bore having an insertion slot whose width is less than the diameter of said pivot pin.  
     
     
         20 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said pivot bores are positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         21 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pivot axis for said leaf is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         22 . A tray, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one tab is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         23 . A storage package for holding multiple recording discs comprising: 
 A. a plurality of panels including a pair of end panels, said plurality of panels being movable between an open package orientation enabling access to the contents of the package and a closed package orientation for storage purposes, said plurality of panels in said closed orientation defining at least one spine;    B. a holder formed of plastic disposed on one of said end panels for receiving and maintaining a disc on a disc mounting area thereof;    C. an end cap formed of plastic pivotally secured to said holder, said end cap including means for releasably engaging said holder when said plurality of panels is in said closed orientation, thereby to preclude accidental movement of said panels out of said closed orientation;    D. a leaf having first and second opposite sides, said first side incorporating a disc engagement means for engaging and holding a disc within a disc mounting area thereon and said second side being supported, directly or indirectly, on said holder, said leaf being dimensioned to fit within said holder when said package is closed and hinge means between the package and the leaf for providing relative rotational movement between said leaf and said holder, whereby a disc engaged on said holder can be accessed by rotating the leaf about said hinge means when the package is open, the improvement comprising:    E. said hinge means pivotally mounting said leaf on said holder adjacent said disc mounting area for relative rotational movement between said base and said leaf about a pivot axis between an unpivoted position wherein said leaf overlies said disc mounting area on said holder and a pivoted position in which said leaf is rotated about said hinge means through an angle of about 90° to 180° with said holder, the unpivoted position of said leaf being the same relative to said holder disc mounting area whether said panels are in the package open or package closed orientation.    
     
     
         24 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , including at least one pair of diametrically opposed finger wells formed in said holder and communicating with said disc mounting area thereof, and further including at least one pair of diametrically opposed apertures formed in said leaf and communicating with the disc mounting area of said leaf, said apertures communicating and being in vertical registry with said finger wells when said leaf is in its unpivoted position.  
     
     
         25 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said hinge means comprises at least one elongate pivot pin supported from the holder adjacent said disc mounting area thereof and at least one tab mounted along one edge of said leaf, said tab having a pivot bore therein for receiving and retaining said pivot pin, whereby said leaf is pivotable about said at least one pivot pin for providing access to any disc mounted in said disc mounting area of said holder, said hinge means further comprising: 
 A. said at least one tab having a free end remote from said leaf, the free end of said tab having a downwardly opening pivot bore along the underside thereof, said pivot bore penetrating said tab in a direction substantially parallel to said one edge of said leaf and being dimensioned to receive and pivotally retain said at least one pivot pin inserted therein; and    B. said at least one pivot pin having a longitudinal extent which is generally parallel to the edge of said leaf mounting said pivot pin-receiving bore and being supported at least a sufficient distance above said base that said pivot bore can fully engage said pivot pin.    
     
     
         26 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said leaf comprises two opposite lateral sides and two opposite transverse ends defining a generally planar rectangular body and said tab is cantilevered from one of said transverse ends  
     
     
         27 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , further including a pair of laterally extending, spaced apart slots formed in said one edge of said leaf for defining a cantilevered tab between each pair of slots.  
     
     
         28 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , including a pair of pivot pin support flanges projecting upwardly from said base for supporting each pivot pin therebetween.  
     
     
         29 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said downwardly opening pivot bore comprises a generally C-shaped bore having an insertion slot whose width is less than the diameter of said pivot pin.  
     
     
         30 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said pivot bores are positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         31 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the pivot axis for said leaf is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         32 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said at least one tab is positioned substantially entirely within the dimensional extent of said leaf.  
     
     
         33 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said end cap is directly pivotally secured to said holder by a living hinge.  
     
     
         34 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said end cap and said holder are of a unitary, integral, one-piece construction formed in a single molding operation.  
     
     
         35 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of panels is formed of paper board.  
     
     
         36 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said end cap is generally U-shaped and said holder has a generally planar and generally rectangular holder body, including a pair of opposed lateral holder sidewalls and a pair of opposed transverse holder sidewalls.  
     
     
         37 . A storage package, as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein said holder sidewalls extend upwardly above the plane of said holder body for a major length thereof and extend downwardly below the plane of said holder body for substantially the entire length thereof.