Hinge-less Disc Case with Snap-fit Retention and Internal Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CD and DVD cases with hinges are not suitable for automated retail environments and can cause disc scratching due to their design, which leads to issues with handling and storage.
Innovation Solution
A hinge-less disc case with opposing retention features, or 'saddles,' that hold the disc securely without opening or closing, and internal channels to prevent surface contact and structural supports for mechanical stability, allowing for secure storage and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinged disc case is used, then the disc can be stored and protected, but the case cannot be handled by automated material handling equipment and may cause disc scratching
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is completely removed from the disc case design. Instead of using a hinged lid that opens and closes, the invention uses a snap-fit mechanism where the lid permanently engages with the base, eliminating the hinge and its associated problems with automated handling and disc scratching.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a case that opens and closes like traditional hinged cases, the invention inverts the approach by creating a case where the lid snaps shut and remains closed, with the opening mechanism requiring deliberate user action to separate the halves.
2Ease of operation
If a hinged disc case is used, then the disc can be accessed by opening the case, but the case is not dimensionally uniform and cannot be stacked uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is removed entirely, replacing it with a snap-fit closure system. This eliminates the variable geometry created by hinged openings, allowing the case to maintain a uniform rectangular prism shape that can be stacked efficiently in automated retail environments.
3Reliability
If the disc case has interior surfaces for the disc to rest on, then the disc can be stored, but the disc surfaces may be scratched during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary element - a flexible membrane or cushioning material - between the disc and the case interior surfaces. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact between the disc and potentially scratching surfaces while still providing secure storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The case uses flexible membrane linings or thin film cushioning materials to line the interior surfaces. These flexible layers conform to the disc shape, provide protection, and eliminate scratching concerns while maintaining secure disc storage.
4Ease of operation
If a hinge mechanism is used to open and close the case, then the disc can be accessed, but the case requires complex mechanical components that deform under mechanical gripping
Solution Approach 1:
The entire hinge mechanism is extracted from the design, replacing it with a simple snap-fit closure system. This eliminates the complex mechanical components that deform under gripping forces, resulting in a case that maintains its structural integrity during automated handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is divided into separate modular components (base and lid) that connect through a snap-fit mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be structurally optimized for strength while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hinge-less design ensures discs are securely stored and handled without scratching, is dimensionally uniform for automated systems, and can be easily identified and retrieved, providing a compact and durable solution for disc storage.
Implementation Method 1
The saddles deflect when the disc is pressed into the case and spring back to their original shape when the disc is in its final resting position
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for storing a disc, such as a CD or DVD. A disc storage case includes a housing having a top wall coupled to a bottom wall with a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall. The top wall, the bottom wall, and the four side walls define an enclosure. The case also includes an opening in the fourth side wall for access to the enclosure and is adapted to receive a disc. The case also includes a first member adjacent the first side wall and a second member adjacent the third side wall. The first member and the second member are adapted to cooperate to receive and secure the disc within the enclosure.