Container for blank optical disks

#The invention relates to a container for blank optical disks, and particularly to a container that can hold a plurality of optical disks and has a case lid for retrieving individual blank optical disks.

#Optical disks are commonly used data recording media for storing relative large amounts of data. For instances, music, movies, and application programs are generally stored on optical disks. Optical disks that have no data recorded thereon are generally called blank optical disks. FIG. 1 shows a conventional container for holding blank optical disks. It mainly consists of a base seat and a case. The base seat is a circular disk with a round post mounted in the center. Blank optical disks are individually coupled on the round post through an opening formed in their centers. The case is substantially a hollow cylindrical barrel, which may encase the base seat.

#When users want to retrieve the blank optical disks for loading data, they have to remove the case, then take the required blank optical disks. However when multiple blank optical disks are stacked one upon another around the round post, it is difficult to remove one blank optical disk. Moreover, the round post has a certain length. When only a few blank optical disks are stacked around the round post, users have to remove the blank optical disks from the bottom section of the round post. This movement is not easy. Hence the design of conventional containers for holding blank optical disks generally is not user-friendly.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional container for holding blank optical disks.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the invention showing the assembled structure.

#FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the invention.

#Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the container for holding blank optical disks according to the invention consists of a case 10 and a case lid 20. The case 10 is substantially a hollow cylindrical barrel, which has an opening directing upwards. The case 10 has a bottom surface 11 and a wall 12 slightly larger than the outside diameter of a blank optical disk 30. The bottom surface 30 has a pen holder and a name clip 13 located thereon. The wall 12 forms a housing space 101 in the interior for holding blank optical disks 30. On the perimeter of the wall 12 there are a plurality of equally spaced troughs 102, 103, 104, and 105 extended in the axial direction. The contact surfaces between the troughs 102, 103, 104 and 105 and the wall 12 have respectively a slot 1021, 2031, 1041 and 1051. The bottom surface 11 has a pair of latch slots 111 and 112 corresponding to each trough 102 (also applicable to troughs 103, 104 and 105).

#Inside the troughs 102, 103, 104 and 105, there are respectively and sequentially disposed base seats 41, 42, 43 and 44, elastic elements 51, 52, 53 and 54, and retainers 61, 62, 63 and 64. The base seats 41, 42, 43 and 44 have respectively extended posts 411, 421, 431 and 441 mounting thereon in the center, and a pair of first coupling hooks 412 (same for the base seats 42 and 43) for engaging with the latch slots 111 and 112. The elastic elements 51, 52, 53 and 54 are coupled respectively on the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441. The posts 411, 421 and 431 are formed as a cross type. The posts 411, 421, 431 and 441 each have a top end forming a pair of second coupling hooks 4111 and 4112 (same for the posts 421, 431 and 441). The retainers 61, 62, 63 and 64 each have a cross-shaped slot 611 (same for the retainers 62, 63 and 64). The retainers 61, 62, 63 and 64 are respectively coupled with the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441 and are movable up or down on the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441. The second coupling hooks 4111 and 4112 on the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441 can prevent the retainers 61, 62, 63 and 64 from separating from the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441. In normal conditions, the retainers 61, 62, 63 and 64 are pushed by the elastic elements 51, 52, 53 and 54 to the top end of the posts 411, 421, 431 and 441.

#The retainer 62 has two pivotal lugs 621 and 622, which each have a pivotal aperture 6211 and 6221 formed thereon.