Securing device for data carriers

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing device for at least one circular data carrier, comprising a central opening arranged in a housing, said housing comprising a central section on which a ring of tongue-like elements is secured, said elements engaging in an elastic manner in the central opening of the at least one data carrier. The aim of the invention is to prevent the data carriers, e.g. CDs or DVDs, from falling out of the housing. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the central part comprises an inner area which is essentially circular in shape and wherein the tongue-like elements are secured on the inner edge at a certain distance so that gaps remain between the tongue-like elements and that the inner area comprises means which enable a highly elastic movement of the ring of tongue-like elements relative to the housing.

1 . Fastening device for at least one disc shaped data carrier ( 2 ) with a central opening in a cassette, wherein the cassette comprises a middle part ( 1 ) on which a crown of tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 , : 21 ) is provided, elastically insertable into the central opening of the at least one data carrier ( 2 ), 
 characterised in that  
 the middle part ( 1 ) comprises an inner, substantially disc shaped part ( 10 ) on the inner edge of which the tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) are mounted spaced from each other such that between the tongues there is slots ( 4 ), and in that the inner part ( 10 ) is provided with means ( 11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ) allowing an increased elastic mobility of the crown of tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) with respect to the cassette.  
 
     
     
         2 . Fastening device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the disc shaped data carrier ( 2 ) is a CD or a DVD.  
     
     
         3 . Fastening device according to any of the claims  1  or  2 , characterised in that the means ( 11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ) allow an increased mobility of the crown of tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the data carrier ( 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . Fastening device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the means ( 11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ) are provided as a, preferentially circumferential, recessed region ( 11 ,  15 ,  16 ), and/or as a, preferentially circumferential, rippled design ( 14 ), and/or in the form of holes ( 18 ) in the inner part ( 10 ).  
     
     
         5 . Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the middle part ( 1 ) comprises on the radial outer side of the inner part ( 10 ) a substantially circumferential supporting ring ( 8 ) for supporting the data carrier ( 2 ), and in that preferentially the means ( 11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ) are located substantially on the radial inner side of said supporting ring ( 8 ).  
     
     
         6 . Fastening device according to one of the claims  3 - 5 , characterised in that the fastening device is made of polypropylene, that the means ( 11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ) are provided as a circumferential, uninterrupted recessed portion ( 11 ,  15 ,  16 ), and in that compared to other portions of the middle part ( 2 ) the recessed portion ( 11 ,  15 ,  16 ) has a thickness of the material which is lower by 20 to 70%, preferentially lower by the 30 to 50%.  
     
     
         7 . Fastening device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the recessed portion is provided as a planar circular disc ( 11 ), as a cone ( 15 ) converging towards the noses or as a cone ( 16 ) downward sloping towards the noses.  
     
     
         8 . Fastening device according to any of the claims  6  are  7 , characterised in that the inner part ( 10 ) in the recessed region has a thickness of in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 millimetre, particularly of in the range of 0.7 millimetre, and in that in particular the recessed portion has a radial width (b) of in the range of 2 to 8 millimetre, preferentially in the range of 4 to 5 millimetre.  
     
     
         9 . Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the crown comprises  8  tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ), and in that in particular preferentially alternatingly only every second tongue ( 3 ) is provided with a nose ( 6 ,  20 ) for the axial fixation of the data carrier ( 2 ).  
     
     
         10 . Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tongues ( 19 ,  21 ) can take up two data carriers ( 2 ) on top of each other, wherein in particular preferably alternatingly only every second tongue ( 19 ) is provided with a nose ( 20 ) for axial fixation of the data carrier ( 2 ), while the other tongues ( 21 ) are provided with ribs ( 22 ) for keeping the data carriers ( 2 ) at a defined distance.  
     
     
         11 . Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least two of the tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) of the crown are elastically connected with each other in certain regions.  
     
     
         12 . Fastening device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the elastic connection is provided by means of spring elements ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ), which preferably connect adjacent tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) in a manner such that the slots ( 4 ) are bridged.  
     
     
         13 . Fastening device according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the spring elements ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ) are provided as one piece with the tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) in the form of flexible, planar lamellae with a width in the range of 0.8 to 3 millimetre, preferably in the range of 1 to 2 mlllimetre, and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.4 nillimetre, preferably with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 millinetre.  
     
     
         14 . Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that all the tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) are connected with each other, or that if 8 tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ) are present, three opposite tongues are connected by means of two spring elements ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ) in the region of the central tips of the radial arms ( 13 ) of the tongues ( 3 ,  3 ′,  19 ,  21 ).