Case with simplified access to compact disks or similar disks

Abstract

The case holds one or more compact disks or similar optical disks such as digital video disks or digital versatile disks. When the case is opened, a hinged portion of the disk well is biased to pull the spindle and a portion of the disk well away from the disks, thereby making the disk or disks easy to remove from the case. Moreover, in the embodiment including multiple disks, the case includes pivoting tabs which correspond to each disk. These tabs can be pivoted to extend from the inner cylindrical wall of the case and urge the disk laterally so as to protrude from the remaining disk or disks. Simultaneously, in order to allow the lateral movement of the disk, the pivoting of the tab urges against a triangular boss thereby pulling against a strap to cause a hinged portion of the floor of the disk retainer portion to pivot further away from the disk, thereby removing the spindle and some lateral clips from engagement with the disks.

1 . A case for holding an optical disk, comprising: 
 an at least partially cylindrical wall for forming a disk well for holding the optical disk;    said disk well including a floor with a first portion fixed with respect to said at least partially cylindrical wall and a second portion hinged with respect to said first portion.    
   
   
       2 . The case of  claim 1  further including at least one slot formed in said cylindrical wall, and a tab mounted to be urged through said at least one slot to displace the disk.  
   
   
       3 . The case of  claim 2  wherein said tab laterally displaces the disk.  
   
   
       4 . The case of  claim 3  wherein said tab pivots through said slot.  
   
   
       5 . The case of  claim 4  further wherein said second portion pivots away from the disk in response said tab pivoting so as to displace the disk at least partially from said disk well.  
   
   
       6 . The case of  claim 5  including means for pivoting said second portion away from the disk in response to pivoting of said tab.  
   
   
       7 . The case of  claim 6  wherein said second portion includes a spindle for passing through a central aperture of the disk.  
   
   
       8 . The case of  claim 7  wherein said spindle is pulled out of the central aperture of the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk.  
   
   
       9 . The case of  claim 8  wherein said first portion includes first clips for engaging a periphery of the disk and said second portion includes second clips for engaging a periphery of the disk, wherein said first clips engage a periphery of the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk and wherein said second clips are free of engagement to the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk.  
   
   
       10 . The case of  claim 9  wherein said tab is pivoted between a first position wherein said tab does not extend through said slot in said cylindrical wall and a second position wherein said tab extends through said slot in said cylindrical wall.  
   
   
       11 . The case of  claim 10  further including apertures in an area of said case wherein a user can insert a user's finger to pivot said tab.  
   
   
       12 . The case of  claim 11  further including a strap with a first end which is affixed to said second portion and a second end which includes a boss element, and wherein said tab includes a finger which engages said boss element and, in response to the pivoting of said tab, pulls said strap thereby pivoting said second portion away from the disk.  
   
   
       13 . The case of  claim 12  further including a front cover, a spine, a rear cover, and a disk retainer portion hingeably engaged to said rear cover, said disk retainer portion including said disk well, said at least partially cylindrical wall, and said tab.  
   
   
       14 . The case of  claim 13  wherein said front cover can close against said rear cover.  
   
   
       15 . The case of  claim 14  wherein when said front cover is closed against said rear cover, said first portion is free of pivoting away from the disk.  
   
   
       16 . The case of  claim 15  wherein when said second portion pivots away from the disks, said disk retainer portion pivots with respect to said rear cover.  
   
   
       17 . The case of  claim 16  wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are integrally formed.  
   
   
       18 . The case of  claim 17  wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are formed from a single piece of plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The case of  claim 18  wherein a first living hinge is formed integrally between said front cover and said spine and a second living hinge is formed integrally between said rear cover and said spine.  
   
   
       20 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said disk well holds a plurality of disks; wherein a plurality of slots are formed on said at least partially cylindrical wall, each slot being formed at a height corresponding to a respective disk; and wherein a plurality of tabs are mounted to be urged through a respective slot to displace a respective disk.  
   
   
       21 . A case for holding at least one optical disk, comprising: 
 a front cover and a rear cover which have an open position and a closed position with respect to each other;    a disk well for holding the at least one optical disk, including an at least partially cylindrical wall and a floor with a first portion fixed with respect to said at least partially cylindrical wall and a second portion hinged with respect to said first portion; and    said first portion being biased with said second portion so that said first portion and said second portion engage the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position and said second portion pulls away from the at least one optical disk when said case is said open position.    
   
   
       22 . The case of  claim 21  wherein said second portion includes a spindle for engaging a central aperture of the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position.  
   
   
       23 . The case of  claim 22  wherein said second portion includes clips for engaging a periphery of said the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position.  
   
   
       24 . The case of  claim 23  further including a spine formed between said front cover and said rear cover.  
   
   
       25 . The case of  claim 24  wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are integrally formed.  
   
   
       26 . The case of  claim 25  wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are formed from a single piece of plastic.  
   
   
       27 . The case of  claim 26  wherein a first living hinge is formed integrally between said front cover and said spine and a second living hinge is formed integrally between said rear cover and said spine.