Package for Universal Media Disc

Abstract

A package for holding one or more media cartridges includes a tray, which has at least one latch for engaging the one or more media cartridges. The tray can have one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of one or more media cartridges. Each receptacle is preferably contoured to substantially follow a contour of the media cartridge(s). Each receptacle includes at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, associated with each of the one or more receptacles. The at least one latch is configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge.

1 . A tray for holding one or more media cartridges, the tray comprising:
 a main body portion having one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle being contoured to substantially follow a contour of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle including at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, and configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge.   
   
   
       2 . The tray of  claim 1 , comprising first and second opposed latches, the first and second latches being adapted and configured to engage opposite first and second edges of the media cartridge. 
   
   
       3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second latches are configured and adapted to frictionally engage opposite sidewall edges of a media cartridge to inhibit removal of the media cartridge from the tray. 
   
   
       4 . The tray of  claim 2 , further comprising a finger well to enable grasping of a media cartridge by a user, the well being defined along the contour of at least one of the one or more receptacles, at a point intermediate the first and second latches. 
   
   
       5 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall substantially following a contour of a media cartridge to be held therein. 
   
   
       6 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second latches are defined in the sidewall of the receptacle, at positions substantially opposite one another. 
   
   
       7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is configured and adapted to frictionally engage a sidewall edges of the media cartridge to inhibit removal of the cartridge from the tray. 
   
   
       8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes two or more receptacles configured and adapted to receive two or more media cartridges in an overlapping relationship. 
   
   
       9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall being provided with a stepped contour, to define separate receptacles for each media cartridge and to facilitate overlapping of the cartridges. 
   
   
       10 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein each receptacle includes a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall being provided with one or more protrusions configured and adapted to closely match a contour of a media cartridge. 
   
   
       11 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more receptacles is defined within a larger receptacle of the main body portion. 
   
   
       12 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover secured thereto, the cover including a hinge defining a lid portion thereof, for removably covering the tray. 
   
   
       13 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable sleeve, for slideable engagement with the tray, the sleeve being configured and adapted to protect contents of the tray. 
   
   
       14 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is defined by at least one slit provided in the sidewall of the tray. 
   
   
       15 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit. 
   
   
       16 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch includes a pawl extending from an upper end of each of the latch, for engaging an edge of an upper surface of a media cartridge, to inhibit removal of the cartridge from the tray. 
   
   
       17 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is provided with an aperture defined therein, configured to pre-select a bending resistance of the latch. 
   
   
       18 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more protrusions defined along a sidewall of the receptacle to closely follow a contour of a media cartridge to be held therein. 
   
   
       19 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient tab defined in a bottom wall thereof for engaging a media disc held within a respective media cartridge, for urging the media disc toward an opposite wall of the cartridge to protect an optical surface of the media disc from damage. 
   
   
       20 . The tray of  claim 19 , wherein the resilient tab is defined by a slit formed in a bottom wall of a receptacle and includes a protrusion at its distal end for contacting a portion of a media disc held with a media cartridge. 
   
   
       21 . The tray of  claim 20 , wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit. 
   
   
       22 . A tray for holding one or more media cartridges, the tray comprising:
 a main body portion having one or more receptacles defined therein for accepting each of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle being contoured to substantially follow a contour of the one or more media cartridges, each receptacle including:   at least one resilient latch defined in the wall of the tray, and configured and adapted to engage a first edge of a media cartridge; and   a resilient tab defined in a bottom wall thereof for engaging a media disc held within a respective media cartridge, for urging the media disc toward an opposite wall of the cartridge to protect an optical surface of the media disc from damage.   
   
   
       23 . The tray of  claim 22 , wherein the resilient tab is defined by a slit formed in a bottom wall of a receptacle and includes a protrusion at its distal end for contacting a portion of a media disc held with a media cartridge. 
   
   
       24 . The tray of  claim 23 , wherein the slit is a substantially U-shaped slit.