Apparatus for holding media storage disk

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a media storage disk of a kind having a surface forming a central hole. The apparatus includes a base portion and two arms, each arm resiliently cantilevered and extending substantially perpendicular from the base portion. A disk locating means includes two portions, each having a disk engageable region. The two portions are also articulated to each other about an articulation axis and each portion is pivotally connected to one of the arms, respectively, about a pivot axis, the articulation axis located between the pivot axes. The two portions are moveable in a manner that moves the articulation axis from a side on one side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk securing condition, to a position on the other side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk releasing condition.

1 . An apparatus for holding a media storage disk of a kind having a central hole said apparatus comprising: 
 base portion    at least two arms each resiliently cantilevered upwardly from the base portion a disk locating means consisting of at least two portions which each include at least one disk engagable region, said at least two portions articulated to each other about at least one articulation axis and each pivotally connected to a respective arm about a pivot axis, one for each portion and located on each side of said articulation axis, said at least two portions movable in a manner that moves said at least one articulation axis from a position above said at least two pivot axis wherein said two portions are in a disk securing condition, to a position below said at least two pivot axis wherein said two portions are in a disk releasing condition.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1    wherein said disk engagable regions of said two portions are, in said disk releasing condition, more proximate to each other than in said disk securing condition.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 1    wherein said disk engagable regions each include a central hole engagable region and a lip to, in securing condition, provide a retention of said disk from moving upwardly.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 3    wherein said lips of said disk engagable regions, when said at least two portions are in said disk securing condition, arc further apart from each other than the said central hole engagable regions.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 3    or    4    wherein said lips of said disk engagable regions, when said two portions are in said disk releasing condition, are closer to each other than said central hole engagable region of said disk engaging regions.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    5    wherein there is one articulation axis.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    6    wherein each of said at least two portions includes a member extending from said at least one disk engaging region and pivotably connected at said at least one articulation axis, to the like member of the other portion(s).  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 7    wherein said members provide a location where said disk locating means can be toggled by the user of the apparatus from at least said disk securing condition to said disk releasing condition.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claim 1    to  8  wherein a disk lifting arm extends radially outwardly from each said portion to underlie a disk (when one is located with said apparatus) and each to move integrally with their respective portion between 
 a position below said central hole engagable region in said disk securing condition, and  
 a position above said central hole engagable region in said disk releasing condition.  
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 9    wherein said lifting arms locate against the downwardly facing surface of a disk in said disk releasing condition, and on application of a downward force to said disk toggle said disk locating means from said disk releasing condition to said disk securing condition.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    10    wherein there are two portions and for each a respective pivot axis provided at the ends of said at least two arms.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 11    wherein when viewed in a direction along said axes, each of said two portion provides said articulation axis, pivot axis and said lip in a spatial arrangement to be at an apex of an imaginary triangular.  
     
     
         13 . A disk engaging apparatus to engage a disk of a kind having a central aperture 
 said apparatus comprising    a base,    a disk fastening member consisting of at least two portions articulated to each other about and extending outwardly from at least one central articulation axis 
 each portion being pivotably secured outwardly of said at least one central articulation axis to mounting members provided from said base, said mountings members are adapted to allow the pivot axis to displace inwardly and outwardly to each other but are biased towards a condition wherein the distance between the pivot axis of each portion and the articulation axis is greater than the horizontal distance component between the said pivot axis and the articulation axis,  
 each portion of said disk fastening member presenting disk engagable regions to rotate inwardly and outwardly to each other about their respective pivot axis and to thereby respectively engage and disengage with the central aperture of the disk.  
   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 13    wherein said disk fastening member also includes for each of said portions a disk lifting member having a region to contact the downwardly facing surface of a disk outwardly from said disk engagable region, and pivot axis, said disk lifting member integrally movable with its respective portion about the pivot axis.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in    claim 14    wherein each said disk lifting member is an arm extending radially outwardly from its respective portion and positions said disk in a disengaged condition above the disk engagable regions of each said portion.