Protective cover for an optical disc

A method of applying a protective cover to an optical disc with the use of an applicator means, said optical disc of circular configuration having a circular aperture centred therein and having an outer edge, said cover comprising a sheet of film of generally circular configuration, said film of a material that will not interfere with the read process of said disc when said cover is in place about said disc, and a plurality of resilient clasps oriented on a circumferential edge of said film, comprising the steps of:

• holding said cover with said clasps in a closed position oriented relative to said film toward said disc;
• expanding said clasps to an open position wider than an outside diameter of said disc;
• placing said disc within said expanded clasps, concentric with said cover;
• and
• returning said clasps to said closed position whereby said clasps engage said disc about said outer edge in a snap-on, spring-like fit wherein said applicator means comprises a holding means to hold said cover with said clasps oriented relative to said film toward said disc, an expanding ring concentric with said cover and comprising a plurality of resilient fingers, a means to orient and hold said disc concentric with said cover and a press means to exert a force on said disc in the direction of said cover, whereby said force urges said edge of said disc to co-operate with said resilient fingers to expand said clasps into said open position while urging said disc in position within said cover, whereby when said force is released, said resilient fingers return to an initial state and said clasps return to said closed position thereby engaging said edge of said disc in said snap-on spring-like fit.

A removable protective cover for use with an optical disc, said optical disc of circular configuration having a circular aperture centred therein with said circular aperture having a peripheral edge, the cover having an outer edge, said cover comprising:

• a first sheet of film of generally circular configuration corresponding to the circular configuration of said disc and of a material that will not interfere with the read process of said disc when said cover is in place about said disc;
• and
• a plurality of resilient clasps spaced about a peripheral edge of a circular aperture of said first sheet of film to engage said disc about an edge of said circular aperture of said disc;
• a second sheet of film of generally circular configuration corresponding to the circular configuration and size of said disc, said second sheet of film of a material that will not interfere with the read process of said disc when in place about said disc and a plurality of clasps spaced about a peripheral edge of a circular aperture of said second sheet to engage said disc about said edge of said circular aperture of said disc, said first and second sheets to engage said disc on opposite faces thereof and wherein said clasps of one of said oppositely facing sheets are alternating and offset relative to said clasps of the other of said opposite facing sheets.