Case and lock with improved disc protection

Abstract

A storage case comprises a top cover, a bottom cover, and a spine. The bottom cover includes a hub portion having a cylinder and is disposed on a frustum shaped member. The diameter of the cylinder is smaller than the upper diameter of the frustum shaped member. A plurality of projections are arranged around the hub portion on the bottom cover. The projections each include a first projection having a first height and a second projection having a second height higher than the first height. The first projections define a first circle with a first diameter. The second projections define a second circle with a diameter which is larger than a diameter of the first circle. A hub coupling member having a crescent extending therefrom is disposed on the top cover. The top and bottom covers each have a side wall disposed near the spine which are effective to create a second wall, parallel with the spine, when the covers are closed. The top and bottom covers each have locking portions disposed inwardly from the top and bottom covers. These locking portions allow for a lock to be placed on the storage case while remaining flush with the side of the storage case.

1 . A storage case for storing a recording medium having an opening with an opening width, the storage case comprising: 
 a first cover, the first cover including a seating area to seat the recording medium;    a second cover hingedly coupled to the first cover, the first and second covers capable of moving to a closed position whereby the second cover is placed over the first cover to restrict access to the seating area;    a hub disposed upon and extending upwardly from the first cover to receive the recording medium opening when the recording medium sits on the seating portion, the hub having a maximum external width which is less than or equal to the opening width; and    wherein the hub is disposed upon a frustum shaped support, the support having an external width greater than the opening width.    
   
   
       2 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hub is cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       3 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hub has a smooth external surface.  
   
   
       4 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the hub is integral with the frustrum support thereby forming a hub-support combination;    the hub-support combination is comprised of a fixed member fixed with respect to the first cover; and    the hub-support combination is further comprised of at least one resilient member, the resilient member is movable with respect to the first cover and is biased outwardly away from the fixed member.    
   
   
       5 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 4 , where the resilient member includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom.  
   
   
       6 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 4 , where the fixed member is y-shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the fixed member defines at least one void capable of receiving the resilient member.  
   
   
       8 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hub coupling member disposed on the second cover, the hub coupling member including at least one projection extending from the second cover.    
   
   
       9 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hub coupling member is sized so that when the first and second covers are in the closed position, the at least one projection restricts the recording medium's movement along the length of the hub.  
   
   
       10 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising at least two projections extending on either side of the hub to receive the hub therebetween when the first and second covers are in the closed position.  
   
   
       11 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the two projections extend from a frustum shaped support member.  
   
   
       12 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hub coupling member disposed on the second cover, the hub coupling member including at least two projections extending from the second cover to receive the hub therebetween when the first and second covers are in the closed position, the at least two projection being sized and arranged so that when the first and secured covers are in the closed portion, the at least two projections contact an recorded portion of the recording medium to restrict the recording medium's movement along the length of the hub.    
   
   
       13 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one projection extending from the first cover; wherein    the at least one projection includes a first projection extending to a first projection height with respect to the first cover and a second projection extending to a second projection height with respect to the first cover; and wherein    the first and second projections are sized to support the recording medium.    
   
   
       14 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of projections; and    at least some of the projections are spaced apart from each other by a recess disposed therebetween.    
   
   
       15 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections disposed symmetrical about the hub.  
   
   
       16 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least a first and second projection extending from the first cover; wherein    the first and second projections each include a lower projection extending to a first projection height with respect to the first cover and a higher projection extending to a second projection height with respect to the first cover, the first projection height being lower than the second projection height; and wherein    a distance between lower projections of the first and second projections is smaller than a distance between higher projections of the first and second projections.    
   
   
       17 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first cover includes a first lock portion; and    the second cover includes a second lock portion; wherein    the first and second lock portions are disposed inwardly from the first and second covers respectively, whereby a width of a combination of the first and second covers is wider than a width of a combination of the first and second lock portions, and the combination of the first and second covers includes a top portion and a bottom portion.    
   
   
       18 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a lock having two lock side walls and two lock end portions, the lock side walls being disposed around the first and second lock portions, and the lock end portions being disposed around the respective top and bottom portions.  
   
   
       19 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the lock side walls are flush with the first and second covers respectively.  
   
   
       20 . The storage case as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a width of the lock is approximately equal to a width of a combination of the first and second covers.