Media storage container with cooperating disc retaining hubs

Abstract

A media storage container has a base and lid with a hub disposed on each of the base and lid. The hubs overlap each other when the lid is closed so that the overall height of the media storage container may be reduced. In one configuration, the hubs engage each other to stabilize the media storage container when the lid is closed. In one configuration, each hub includes a pair of positioning fingers disposed between retaining fingers. The positioning fingers have a height less than the height of the retaining fingers and do not snap over the top of the media disc when the media disc is disposed on the hub. Each positioning finger includes an upper arm that may engage the upper arm of the retaining finger when the lid is closed to help hold the discs on the hubs.

1 . A media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom wall;    a lid having a top wall;    the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;    a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the first hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the first hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers;    a second hub connected to the top wall; the second hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the second hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the second hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers;    the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position; and    the first and second hubs engaging each other when the container is in the closed configuration to support the bottom wall away from the top wall; the first and second hubs engaging each other with the positioning fingers of the second hub engaging the retaining fingers of the first hub and the positioning fingers of the first hub engaging the retaining fingers of the second hub.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom and top walls have central portions; the first hub being disposed at the central portion of the bottom wall and the second hub being disposed at the central portion of the top wall.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second hubs overlap to interlock with each other when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining fingers of the first hub are disposed along a first reference line and the retaining fingers of the second hub are disposed along a second reference line; the first reference line being disposed perpendicular to the second reference line when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lid is connected to the base with a living hinge; the first reference line being disposed parallel to the living hinge and the second reference line being disposed perpendicular to the living hinge.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first hub includes a shelf connected to the bottom wall and the second hub includes a shelf connected to the top wall.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the retaining fingers includes a locking flange; the locking flanges adapted to be disposed between the upper surfaces of media discs when media discs are held on the first and second hubs.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each retaining finger includes a vertical leg, a shoulder, a locking flange, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each positioning finger includes a vertical leg, a shoulder, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the horizontal arms of the fingers are aligned and in contact with each other when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal walls are wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       12 . A media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom wall;    a lid having a top wall;    the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;    a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the retaining fingers of the first hub defining the height of the first hub;    a second hub connected to the top wall; the second hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the retaining fingers of the second hub defining the height of the second hub;    each retaining finger including a vertical leg, a shoulder, a locking flange, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position;    the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position; and    when the lid is in the closed position, the top wall is spaced from the bottom wall a first distance; the first distance being smaller than the sum of the heights of the first and second hubs such that the first and second hubs are overlapped with each other.    
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining fingers of the first hub are disposed along a first reference line and the retaining fingers of the second hub are disposed along a second reference line; the first reference line being disposed perpendicular to the second reference line when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the lid is connected to the base with a living hinge; the first reference line being disposed parallel to the living hinge and the second reference line being disposed perpendicular to the living hinge.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second hubs engage each other when the container is in the closed configuration to support the bottom wall away from the top wall; the first and second hubs engaging each other with the positioning fingers of the second hub engaging the retaining fingers of the first hub and the positioning fingers of the first hub engaging the retaining fingers of the second hub.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the first hub has a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the first hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers; and the second hub has a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the second hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers.  
   
   
       17 . A media storage container for holding first and second disc-shaped items of recorded media; the media storage container comprising: 
 a base having a bottom wall;    a lid having a top wall;    the lid being pivotably connected to the base with a living hinge;    the lid being movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base;    a first hub connected to the bottom wall; the first hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the first disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the first hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the first hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers;    a second hub connected to the top wall; the second hub having a pair of retaining fingers adapted to releasably retain the second disc-shaped item of recorded media;    the second hub having a pair of positioning fingers; each positioning finger of the second hub being disposed between two of the retaining fingers;    the first and second hubs being aligned when the lid is in the closed position;    the retaining fingers of the first hub being disposed along a first reference line;    the retaining fingers of the second hub being disposed along a second reference line;    the first reference line being disposed perpendicular to the second reference line when the lid is in the closed position; and    each of the fingers having a vertical leg, a shoulder, and a horizontal arm; the horizontal arms being wedge-shaped and disposed parallel to the bottom wall and top wall when the lid is in the closed position.    
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the first reference line is disposed parallel to the living hinge and the second reference line is disposed perpendicular to the living hinge.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the retaining fingers of the first hub define the height of the first hub and the retaining fingers of the second hub define the height of the second hub; 
 the top wall being spaced from the bottom wall a first distance when the lid is in the closed position; and    the first distance being smaller than the sum of the heights of the first and second hubs such that the first and second hubs are overlapped with each other.    
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second hubs engage each other when the container is in the closed configuration to support the bottom wall away from the top wall; the first and second hubs engaging each other with the positioning fingers of the second hub engaging the retaining fingers of the first hub and the positioning fingers of the first hub engaging the retaining fingers of the second hub.