Storage container for recorded media

Abstract

A storage container for items of recorded media has at least two book-like pages connected by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the pages to lie flat in the open configuration. The hinge assembly is formed in a manner that eliminates the material of the inner plastic sheet during the vacuum-forming process to create a hinge assembly having little or no memory to allow the container to lie flat in an open condition.

1 . A media storage container having at least two pages connected together with a hinge that allows the pages to remain open in a flat configuration; the container comprising: 
 inner and outer sheets together to define a body having at least two pages connected together with a central hinge;    the central hinge having at least one living hinge; and    the inner sheet defining a slot disposed over the living hinge.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer sheets are vacuum formed together.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the pages includes a retention member adapted to hold an item of recorded media.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second pages include retention members.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sheet defines a plurality of slots disposed over the living hinge.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the inner sheet defines bridges that separate the slots.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the central hinge includes two spaced, parallel living hinges; the inner sheet defining at least one slot disposed over each of the living hinges.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the inner sheet defines a plurality of slots disposed over each of the living hinges.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate body sheet disposed between the inner and outer sheets of the body.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate body sheet is fabricated from a paper material.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the inner sheet defines opposed inner edges at the central hinge such that the central hinge is free of the inner sheet.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the inner sheet defines an adjacent area next to each of the inner edges; each of the adjacent areas being disposed directly against the intermediate body sheet.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein each of the adjacent areas is attached to the intermediate body sheet.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the inner sheet defines stepped areas; each adjacent area being disposed between a stepped area and an adjacent area.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sheet defines opposed inner edges at the central hinge such that the central hinge is free of the inner sheet.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body pages include two bases and two lids; the bases being connected together with the central hinge.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body pages include three bases and one lid; adjacent bases being connected together with the central hinge.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body pages include four bases; adjacent bases being connected together with the central hinge.