Optical disk protector and method of use

An optical disk protection system for protecting an optical disk, the optical disk having a plurality of operative tracks and a central aperture, the optical disk protection system comprising:

• an annular protective ring having a contact surface, an outer surface opposing the contact surface, an inner perimeter, and an outer perimeter, the contact surface including a means for adhering the annular protective ring to the optical disk, the contact surface being separated from the outer surface by a thickness of 0.30-1.10 mm, the inner perimeter having a diameter of between 38-44 mm, and the outer perimeter having a diameter of greater than the inner perimeter but less than 44.7 mm;
• and
• an applicator having an applicator engagement ring and an applicator perimeter, the applicator engagement ring being located concentrically within the applicator perimeter and adapted to frictionally engage the central aperture of the optical disk, and the applicator perimeter being shaped to frictionally engage the inner perimeter of the annular protective ring, such that when the annular protective ring is positioned around the applicator perimeter and the applicator engagement ring of the applicator is engaged with the central aperture of the optical disk, the annular protective ring is held adjacent the optical disk, correctly positioned concentrically around the central aperture of the optical disk and inside the plurality of operative tracks of the optical disk.

An optical disk comprising:

• a top disk surface;
• a bottom disk surface opposing the top disk surface;
• an outer disk perimeter;
• a central aperture positioned at the center of the outer disk perimeter;
• an annular protruding ring that is positioned concentrically around and adjacent to the central aperture;
• a plurality of operative tracks positioned concentrically within the outer disk perimeter and outside the annular protruding ring;
• and
• an annular protective ring extending upwardly from the bottom disk surface to form an outer surface that extends upwardly from the bottom disk surface approximately 0.30-1.10, the annular protective ring being positioned between the annular protruding ring and the plurality of data tracks.

An optical disk protection system for protecting an optical disk, the optical disk having a plurality of operative tracks positioned concentrically around an annular protruding ring that is positioned concentrically around a central aperture, the optical disk protection system comprising:

• an annular protective ring having a contact surface, an outer surface opposing the contact surface, an inner perimeter, and an outer perimeter,
• the contact surface including a means for adhering the annular protective ring to the optical disk,
• the contact surface being separated from the outer surface by a thickness of 0.10-0.55 mm,
• the inner perimeter having a diameter of greater than the diameter of the annular protruding ring, and
• the outer perimeter having a diameter of greater than the inner perimeter but less than the diameter of the plurality of operative tracks.

A method for protecting an optical disk, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the optical disk having a top disk surface, a bottom disk surface opposing the top disk surface, an outer disk perimeter, a central aperture positioned at the center of the outer disk perimeter, and a plurality of operative tracks positioned concentrically within the outer disk perimeter and having a diameter of approximately 44-45 mm;
• b) providing an annular protective ring having a contact surface, an outer surface opposing the contact surface, an inner perimeter, and an outer perimeter, the contact surface including a means for adhering the annular protective ring to the optical disk, the contact surface being separated from the outer surface by a thickness of 0.50-1.10 mm, the inner perimeter having a diameter of between 38-44 mm, and the outer perimeter having a diameter of greater than the inner perimeter but less than 44.7 mm;
• and
• c) positioning the annular protective ring concentrically around the central aperture of the optical disk and inside the plurality of operative tracks.