WO2010070687A1

WO2010070687A1 - Tray for containing disc-like elements such as cd, dvd, blu-ray disc and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2010070687A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aldo Pozzoli
Original assignee: Pozzoli S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-12-18
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2010-06-24

Abstract

A tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, comprising a plurality of mutually superimposed sheet- like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50). The sheet-like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) comprise, in a mutually superimposed arrangement, a base layer (10), a first containment layer (20) that forms at least one first impression (21) for accommodating a first disc-like element (22), an intermediate layer (30) with a first cutout (31) that affects the first impression (21) except for a first portion (32) that is superimposed on the first disc-like element (22) inserted in the first impression (21), a second containment layer (40) that forms a second through impression (41), with a first region (42) that affects the first impression (21) and with at least one second region (43) that defines the region for accommodating an additional disc-like element (44) that is only partially superimposed on the first disc-like element (22), and an upper layer (50) with a second cutout (51) that affects the second impression (41) except for a second portion (52) that is superimposed on the additional disc-like element (44) that is inserted in the second region (43).

Description

TRAY FOR CONTAINING DISC-LIKE ELEMENTS SUCH AS CD, DVD, BLU-RAY DISC AND THE LIKE Technical field

The present invention relates to a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like. Background art

As is known, in the manufacture of cases for containing disc-like elements, such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, there is an increasing current trend to make them by using natural materials, such as cardboard and the like.

In the background art, one proceeds typically by starting from a die- cut blank on which scoring lines or folding guides are provided by means of half-cuts or the like, so as to have a plurality of layers that are superimposed by folding the initial die-cut blank.

With the solutions of the known type, several types of drawbacks are currently encountered, the first being constituted by the fact that it is not possible to obtain a case that allows to retain two disc-like elements arranged so that they are staggered and partially superimposed, so as to obtain a case that falls within traditional criteria for the ratios between the sides and contains two disc-like elements.

Another problem is constituted by the fact that with the types of folding of the layers that are performed, it is necessary to print on both faces of the initial die-cut blank, consequently having to provide a quality finish for both faces of the die-cut sheet-like element that is used, with an obvious incidence on production costs. Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above by providing a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like that allows to define the regions for accommodating two discs which are staggered and partially superimposed, obtaining a mutual arrangement that corresponds to the arrangement shown in patent EP 0 676 763, where a containment tray obtained by molding plastic material is provided.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a particular production method that allows to obtain layering by starting from a die-cut blank that is printed on a single face and in which the positioning of the impressions being provided is ensured by the folding lines of the die-cut blank provided by means of half-cuts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, which thanks to its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tray that can be obtained easily starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, comprising a plurality of mutually superimposed sheet-like elements, characterized in that said sheet- like elements comprise, in a mutually superimposed arrangement, a base layer, a first containment layer that forms at least one first impression for accommodating a first disc-like element, an intermediate layer with a first cutout that affects said first impression except for a first portion that is superimposed on said first disc-like element inserted in said first impression, a second containment layer that forms a second through impression, with a first region that affects said first impression and with at least one second region that defines the region for accommodating an additional disc-like element that is only partially superimposed on said first disc-like element, and an upper layer with a second cutout that affects said second impression except for a second portion that is superimposed on said additional disc-like element that is inserted in said second region. Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the die-cut blank used to provide the tray, shown unfolded flat;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the folding lines obtained by means of half-cuts;

Figure 3 is a view of the die-cut blank with the initial folding step;

Figure 4 is a view of the die-cut blank during the final folding step;

Figure 5 is a view of the die-cut blank in a folded arrangement, with the blanking lines for final trimming shown in broken lines;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tray;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the layers that constitute the tray;

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tray, which accommodates two discs inside it. Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, the tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is constituted by a plurality of mutually superimposed sheet-like elements.

The sheet-like elements are obtained starting from a die-cut blank, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, which is provided by means of a sheet-like element made of paper-like material or of other natural materials and has a first and a second lower folding lines, designated by the reference numeral 3, which are constituted by half cuts on the rear face of the die-cut blank, and there are also first and second upper folding lines 5 and 6, obtained by means of half-cuts that are provided on the upper face of the die-cut blank and are parallel to the lower folding lines 3 and 4.

The die-cut blank 2 forms a base layer, designated by the reference numeral 10, which is delimited by the lower folding lines 3 and 4 that affect opposite edges of the base layer 10.

A first containment layer 20 is provided which is separated by means of the first lower folding line 3 and has a first impression 21 for accommodating a first disc-like element 22.

Crescent-shaped recesses 23 are formed on the impression and allow to extract the disc.

The first containment layer 20 is separated by means of the first upper folding line 5 from an intermediate layer 30, which has a first cutout 31 that substantially repeats the shape of the impression 21 except for a first portion 32 that is superimposed on the first disc-like element 22, at least for a certain extent, so as to act as an element for retaining the disc in its seat.

The base layer 10 is separated by means of the second lower folding line 4 from a second containment layer 40, which forms a second through impression 41, which has a first region 42, which in practice is superimposed on the first impression, and a second region 43, which defines the region for accommodating an additional disc-like element 44, which is accommodated so that it is only partially superimposed on the first disc-like element 22, in practice axially offset from it by a portion of eccentricity that allows to obtain the traditional ratios between the longer side and the shorter side of the case.

The second containment layer 40 is separated by means of the second upper folding line 6 from an upper layer 50, which defines a second cutout 51 that affects the second impression 41 except for a second portion 52 that is superimposed on the disc-like element 44 inserted in the second region 43 of the second impression 41.

In this case also, the portion 52 is designed to act as a retention element for the disc inserted in the second region 43.

The die-cut blank 2, as shown schematically in the figures, can be printed for surface finishing by means of printed material 60 only on one face, and it is further possible to print only the faces or portions of faces that ultimately will be visible when the element is completely assembled.

With the specific example, printing is provided on the base layer, on the intermediate layer and on the upper layer.

To obtain the casing, one proceeds, after die-cutting the die-cut blank 2, with the provision of the folding lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 and with printing on the affected regions, then the first containment layer is folded onto the base layer and the intermediate layer is folded onto the first containment layer.

It is important to note that the folds 3 and 5 are provided in such a manner that rotation to perform folding occurs along mutually opposite directions; in particular, the rotation of the first containment layer 20 occurs in one direction, while the rotation of the intermediate layer 30 with respect to the first containment layer 20 occurs in the opposite direction.

Once folding of the layers 20 and 30 onto the layer 10 has been performed, folding of the second containment layer about the line 4 is performed, with a direction of rotation that is opposite with respect to the direction of rotation used for the rotation of the layer 20 onto the layer 10.

It should be noted that the second folding line 4 is spaced with respect to the position assumed by the first upper folding line 5 when the layer 20 and the layer 30 are folded onto the base layer.

This is done to allow to have protruding flaps, designated by the reference numeral 55 in Figure 5, that allow slight flexing so as to facilitate the superimposing of the layer 40 onto the layer 30 without creating forcings or damage in the folding region.

Once folding of the layer 50 onto the layer 40 has been completed, by means of an opposite rotation with respect to the rotation of the layer 40 with respect to the base layer, one obtains a folded die-cut blank in which the several layers are connected one another by interposing ordinary adhesive layers.

In order to perform final finishing, blanking or trimming lines 61 are provided which allow to obtain the tray, which can be connected to a cover or to any other containment element deemed appropriate.

From what has been described above it is therefore evident that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that it is possible to have a layered tray that is obtained by means of natural materials and allows to contain at least two partially superimposed discs, so as to provide cases in which the various dimensional ratios fall within traditional criteria.

Another important aspect further consists in that the method used, which is based on making folds in opposite directions, allows to print a single face of the die-cut blank, thus simplifying all the various associated operations.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, BIu- Ray Discs and the like, comprising a plurality of mutually superimposed sheet-like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50), characterized in that said sheet- like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) comprise, in a mutually superimposed arrangement, a base layer (10), a first containment layer (20) that forms at least one first impression (21) for accommodating a first disc-like element (22), an intermediate layer (30) with a first cutout (31) that affects said first impression (21) except for a first portion (32) that is superimposed on said first disc-like element (22) inserted in said first impression (21), a second containment layer (40) that forms a second through impression (41), with a first region (42) that affects said first impression (21) and with at least one second region (43) that defines the region for accommodating an additional disc-like element (44) that is only partially superimposed on said first disc- like element (22), and an upper layer (50) with a second cutout (51) that affects said second impression (41) except for a second portion (52) that is superimposed on said additional disc-like element (44) that is inserted in said second region (43).

2. The tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said sheet-like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) are made of paper-like material.

3. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sheet-like elements (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) are obtained from a die-cut blank (2), which forms first and second lower folding lines (3, 4) and first and second upper folding lines (5, 6) which are mutually parallel, said lower folding lines (3, 4) being constituted by half- cuts formed on the lower face and said first and second upper folding lines (5, 6) being obtained by half-cuts formed on the upper face, said folding lines (3, 4, 5 and 6) being mutually parallel.

3. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second lower folding lines (3, 4) are formed on mutually opposite edges of said base layer (10), said first upper folding line (5) being formed between said first containment layer (20) and said intermediate layer (30), said second upper folding line (6) being formed between said second containment layer (40) and said upper layer (50).

4. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first containment layer (20) is superimposed on said base layer (10) with an opposite rotation with respect to the rotation for superimposing said intermediate layer (30) onto said first containment layer (20), said second containment layer (40) being rotated with respect to said base layer (10) with an opposite rotation with respect to the rotation for superimposing said upper layer (50) on said second containment layer (40).

5. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second lower folding line (4) is spaced with respect to the arrangement of said first lower folding line (3) with said intermediate layer (30) superimposed on said first containment layer (20), which in turn is superimposed on said base layer (10), in order to define protruding flaps (55) that are adapted to allow the superimposing of said second containment layer (40) on said intermediate layer (30).

6. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises perimetrically blanking lines (61) for the alignment of the perimetric edges of said layers (10, 20, 30, 40, 50).

7. The tray according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises printed regions (60) arranged on a single face of said die-cut blank (2).

8. A method for providing a tray for containing disc-like elements such as CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs and the like, characterized in that it consists in preparing a die-cut blank (2) that forms a base layer (10), on which it is possible to position, by means of a first lower folding line (3) provided by means of a half-cut, a first containment layer (20), an intermediate layer (30) being superimposable on said first containment layer (20) with an opposite rotation with respect to the rotation of said first containment layer (20) relative to said base layer (10) about a first upper folding line (5).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that a second containment layer (40) is provided on said die-cut blank (2) and is separated from said base layer (10) by a second lower folding line (4) obtained by means of a lower half-cut, an upper layer (50) being laterally adjacent to said second containment layer (40) with the separation of a second upper folding line (6) obtained by means of a half-cut, said second containment layer (40) being folded onto said intermediate layer (30) with an opposite rotation with respect to the rotation for superimposing said upper layer (50) on said second containment layer (40), a blanking being further performed which affects the edges of said superimposed layers.

10. The method according to one or more of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that it provides the printing (60) of pictures in general on a single face of said die-cut blank (2).