Fixed Panel, Hinged Disc Storage Package

Abstract

A package for discs that includes a frame and a planar insert. The frame includes a front face and a rear face, connected by a hinge allowing access to the disc housed between the faces. The planar insert is attached to both faces of the frame. The hinge is flexible, allowing the faces to pivot and the frame to open to accommodate relative movement of the planar insert and the frame.

1 . A disc package comprising a frame and a planar insert the frame, the frame comprising a front face and a rear face connected by a hinge;
 the planar insert being attached to the front frame face and to the rear frame face;   the hinge being connected to an edge of the front face and to an edge of the rear face, so that the faces pivot about their edges with respect to the hinge as the package moves from a closed position in which the faces abut each other to an open position in which the faces are positioned so that they do not abut one another, and,   the hinge being flexible so that, when moving between the first and second positions, the distance between the face edges does not change enough to distort or damage the planar insert.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  in which the frame and hinge are a single injection molded plastic piece, 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2  in which the frame and hinge comprise polypropylene or polyethylene. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1  in which the planar insert is attached to at least one frame faces with an adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 4  in which the planar insert is attached to both frame faces with an adhesive. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 4  in which the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 1  in which the hinge comprises at least one hinge piece, said piece comprising two generally planar segments separated by at least one central fold line; each of the generally planar segments being attached to one of the frame faces by a frame-face fold line; whereby the hinge moves between the open and closed positions by flexing along the central fold line and along the frame-face fold lines, and the angle between the two planar segments changes. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7  in which the hinge piece comprises multiple central fold lines. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 7  or  claim 8  in which the hinge comprises multiple hinge pieces.