Case for holding and storing small articles

Abstract

A case that holds and stores small articles is disclosed. The case includes a shallow base receptacle ( 101 ) having a bottom ( 102 ), hinged cover ( 112 ), and sides ( 106 ) that may be a compact disk (“CD”) jewel case. The bottom has an inside and an outside surface, and the inside surface is substantially covered with a preferably acid-free first tacky surface ( 108 ). In some embodiments, the inside surface of the cover includes a preferably acid-free second tacky surface ( 116 ). The case may include a magnetic surface ( 118 ) that is accessible when the cover is open, and may also include a non-skid surface ( 122 ) on the outside surface of the case bottom.

1 . A case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 a shallow base receptacle having a bottom and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first tacky surface that retains small articles; and    a cover hingedly coupled to said shallow base receptacle that opens and closes the case.    
   
   
       2 . A small article retention system that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 a shallow base receptacle having a bottom and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first tacky surface that retains small articles; and    a cover hingedly coupled to said shallow base receptacle that opens and closes said case.    
   
   
       3 . A method that makes a case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 providing a shallow base receptacle having a bottom and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first tacky surface that retains small articles; and    hingedly coupling a cover to said shallow base receptacle that opens and closes said case.    
   
   
       4 . A method to use a case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 retaining small articles using a first tacky surface within a shallow base receptacle having a bottom and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with said first tacky surface; and    opening and closing the case using a cover hingedly coupled to said shallow base receptacle.    
   
   
       5 . A dependent claim according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein said shallow base receptacle and said cover further comprise one of the following: a compact disc jewel case sized to hold standard compact discs, or a compact disc jewel case sized to hold mini compact discs.  
   
   
       6 . A dependent claim according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein said cover further comprises an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface of said cover is substantially covered with a second tacky surface that retains small articles.  
   
   
       7 . A dependent claim according to  claim 6  wherein said first tacky surface and said second tacky surface further comprise an acid-free tacky material.  
   
   
       8 . A dependent claim according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein said cover further comprises a magnetic surface accessible when said cover is open.  
   
   
       9 . A dependent claim according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4  wherein said bottom further comprises a non-skid surface coupled to said outside surface.  
   
   
       10 . A case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 a compact disc jewel case having a cover, bottom, and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles and a non-skid surface is coupled to said outside surface;    wherein said cover further comprises an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface of said cover is substantially covered with a second acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles; and    wherein said compact disc jewel case further comprises one of the following: a jewel case sized to hold standard compact discs or a jewel case sized to hold mini compact discs.    
   
   
       11 . An article retention system that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 a compact disc jewel case having a cover, bottom, and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles and a non-skid surface is coupled to said outside surface;    wherein said cover further comprises an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface of said cover is substantially covered with a second acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles; and    wherein said compact disc jewel case further comprises one of the following: a jewel case sized to hold standard compact discs or a jewel case sized to hold mini compact discs.    
   
   
       12 . A method that makes a case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 providing a compact disc jewel case having a cover, bottom, and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with a first acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles and a non-skid surface is coupled to said outside surface;    wherein said cover further comprises an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface of said cover is substantially covered with a second acid-free tacky surface that retains small articles; and    wherein said compact disc jewel case further comprises one of the following: a jewel case sized to hold standard compact discs or a jewel case sized to hold mini compact discs.    
   
   
       13 . A method to use a case that holds and stores small articles, comprising: 
 retaining small articles on a first acid-free tacky surface contained within a compact disc jewel case having a cover, bottom, and sides, said bottom has an inside and an outside surface, wherein said inside surface is substantially covered with said first acid-free tacky surface and a non-skid surface is coupled to said outside surface;    retaining small articles on a second acid-free tacky surface that substantially covers the inside surface of said cover; and    wherein said compact disc jewel case further comprises one of the following: a jewel case sized to hold standard compact discs or a jewel case sized to hold mini compact discs.