# US 5,346,065 A · Media shipping container

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- Number: US 5,346,065 A
- Document ID: US5346065A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/016,780
- Filed: 1993-02-11
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-02-11
- Assignees: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
- Inventors: William M. Dunbar; Harold B. Stinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346065A

## CPC

- B65D 71/70: Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking
- B65D 25/106: {Elements projecting into a recess or through a hole in the articles}
- G11B 23/027: Containers for single reels or spools
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A container is used to hold and transport punched diskette media to prevent contamination of and damage to the media. The container includes an outer shell comprising a cover and a base formed of a durable, pre-formed material. The base has an inner surface having at least one protruding male structure suitable for receiving and mounting a first hollow portion of a spindle. The cover has a second inner surface having a recessed female structure suitable for receiving another portion of a spindle. In addition, a spindle mounting member designed to carry a plurality of punched diskette media is included in the container. The spindle mounting member is an elongate spindle with a hollowed end for placement on the protruding male structure in the base and an end suitable for placement within the recessed female structure in the cover. The spindle mounting member includes a circumferential or annular media holder suitable for supporting media placed on the spindle. A closure member securely closes the container. A handle is provided for carrying the container in a position which places the spindle in a horizontal plane so that the weight of the media is on the spindle during shipment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container for holding and transporting punched diskette media to prevent damage to the media, comprising:
a) an outer shell formed of durable preformed material, the outer shell having a first inner side surface and a second inner side surface, the first and the second inner side surfaces each having a first and a second recessed structure suitable for receiving a hollow spindle therein;
b) spindle mounting means for carrying a plurality of punched diskette media, the spindle mounting means comprising an elongate spindle with a first hollowed end for placement on the outer shell first recessed structure and a second chamfered end suitable for placement within the outer shell second recessed structure, the spindle mounting means having a media holder suitable for retaining media placed on the spindle;
c) outer shell closure means for securely closing the container; and
d) outer shell handle means for carrying the container in a position which always places the spindle in a horizontal orientation so that the weight of the media is on the spindle during carrying to reduce the pressure on other media and increase the effective yield of the media.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container of claim 1 in which the outer shell is vacuum formed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The container of claim 2 in which the spindle is manufactured from a light weight plastic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The container of claim 1 in which the spindle circumferential protruding lip around the first hollowed end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The container of claim 4 in which the media comprises a transparent polycarbonate media holder suitable for placement on the spindle circumferential protruding lip.

### Claim 6

A container for holding and transporting punched diskette media to prevent damage to the media, comprising:
(a) an outer shell formed of durable preformed material, the outer shell having a first inner side surface, having a plurality of protruding male structures suitable for receiving a plurality of hollow spindles thereon, and a second inner side surface having a plurality of recessed female structures suitable for receiving the spindles therein;
(b) a plurality of spindle mounting means for carrying a plurality of punched diskette media, the plurality of spindle mounting means comprising a plurality of elongate spindles having a first hollowed end for placement on the outer shell protruding male structure and a second end suitable for placement within the outer shell recessed female structure, the plurality of spindle mounting means having media holders suitable for supporting media placed on the spindles;
(c) outer shell closure means for securely closing the container; and
(d) outer shell handle means for carrying the container in a position which always places the spindles in a horizontal plane so that during carrying the weight of the media is on the spindles rather than on other media.

### Claim 7

A container for holding and transporting punched diskette media to prevent damage to the media, comprising:
(a) an outer shell formed of durable preformed material, the outer shell having a first inner side surface having a first plurality of recessed structures for receiving a plurality of hollow spindles therein, and a second inner side surface having a second plurality of recessed structures suitable for receiving said plurality of hollow spindles therein;
(b) a plurality of spindle mounting means for carrying a plurality of punched diskette media, the plurality of spindle mounting means comprising a plurality of elongate spindles having a first hollowed end for placement on the outer shell first recessed structure and a second chamfered end suitable for placement within the outer shell second recessed structure, the plurality of spindle mounting means having a plurality of media holders suitable for retaining media placed on the spindles;
(c) outer shell closure means for securely closing the container; and
(d) outer shell handle means for carrying the container in a position which always places the spindles in a horizontal orientation so that the weight of the media is on the spindles during carrying to reduce the pressure on other media and increase the effective yield of the media.

### Claim 8

A container for holding and transporting annular ring shaped sensitive material to prevent damage to the material, comprising:
(a) an outer shell formed of durable preformed material, the outer shell having a first inner side surface having a plurality of protruding male structures suitable for receiving a plurality of hollow spindles thereon, and a second inner side surface having a plurality of recessed female structures suitable for receiving the spindles therein;
(b) a plurality of spindle mounting means for carrying a plurality of ring shaped sensitive material, the spindle mounting means comprising a plurality of elongate spindles having a first hollowed end for placement on the outer shell protruding male structure and a second end suitable for placement within the outer shell recessed female structure, and the plurality of spindle mounting means having a plurality of holders suitable for supporting the ring shaped material placed on the spindles;
(c) outer shell closure means for securely closing the container; and
(d) outer shell handle means for carrying the container in a position which always places the spindles in a horizontal plane so that during carrying the weight of the sensitive material is on the spindles rather than on the sensitive material.