Sleeveless transparent optical disc storage unit

Abstract

Novel optical disc storage units comprising transparent polypropylene are provided. Such storage units exhibit sufficient impact resistance to protect the target disc and sufficient clarity that any informational literature may be placed entirely within the storage unit and easily viewed and read through the walls thereof without impediment. Furthermore, the target storage unit must also include a spine section of sufficient width to permit a section of the informational literature to be placed internally thereon and viewed and easily read (such as, for example, the title and accompanying language describing the target disc placed therein) substantially without impediment as well. Specific novel storage units, in addition to these necessarily transparent walls and spine portions, are also possible to maximize the benefits of the transparent properties thereof.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A transparent polypropylene-containing digital video storage system free from any transparent sleeves attached thereto, said storage system comprising a container adapted to house at least one optical disc, the container having a first side comprising a wall and a second side comprising a wall, said sides being separated by at least one living hinge and a transparent spine portion substantially free of refractive impediments, the system further comprising a single sheet of informational literature disposed between the disc and the container such that said single sheet of informational literature is in direct contact with said walls and said spine portion such that when said container is in its closed position said informational literature can be viewed and read through said walls and said spine portion and wherein the storage system further includes at least one peripheral edge, including at least one means for holding an optical disc, said at least one optical disc holding means being either permanently or temporarily attached to said at least one peripheral edge via a hinge, wherein said optical disc may be maneuvered outside of said container while simultaneously being held within said holding means which in turn remains attached to said at least one peripheral edge and wherein said at least one optical disc holding means comprises a tapered arm having a base attached to said at least one peripheral edge and a progressively tapered body portion extending away from the base to a distal end.  
   
   
       6 . The storage system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one optical disc is supported at the distal end.  
   
   
       7 . A transparent polypropylene-containing digital video storage system free from any transparent sleeves attached thereto, said storage system comprising a container adapted to house at least one optical disc, the container having a first side comprising a wall and a second side comprising a wall, said sides being separated by at least one living hinge and a transparent spine portion substantially free of refractive impediments, the system further comprising a single sheet of informational literature disposed between the disc and the container such that said single sheet of informational literature is in direct contact with said walls and said spine portion such that when said container is in its closed position said informational literature can be viewed and read through said walls and said spine portion and wherein the storage system further includes at least one peripheral edge, including a plurality of hinging arms for supporting optical discs, wherein at least a portion of the arms are attached to said at least one peripheral edge via hinges, wherein said optical discs may be maneuvered outside of said container while simultaneously being held within said holding means which in turn remains attached to said at least one peripheral edge.  
   
   
       8 . The storage system of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the hinging arms are of tapered construction having a base attached to at least one peripheral edge and a progressively tapered body portion extending away from the base to a distal end for supporting an optical disc.  
   
   
       9 . A transparent polypropylene-containing digital video storage system free from any transparent sleeves attached thereto, said storage system comprising a container adapted to house at least one optical disc, the container having a first side comprising a wall and a second side comprising a wall, said sides being separated by at least one living hinge and a non-reinforced transparent spine portion substantially free of refractive impediments, the system further comprising a single sheet of informational literature disposed between the disc and the container such that said single sheet of informational literature is in direct contact with said walls and said spine portion such that when said container is in its closed position said informational literature can be viewed and read through said walls and said spine portion and wherein the container further includes at least one peripheral edge, including at least one means for holding an optical disc, said at least one optical disc holding means being attached to said at least one peripheral edge via a hinge, wherein said optical disc may be maneuvered outside of said container while simultaneously being held within said holding means which in turn remains attached to said at least one peripheral edge and 
 wherein said at least one optical disc holding means comprises a tapered arm having a base attached to said at least one peripheral edge and a progressively tapered body portion extending away from the base to a distal end.    
   
   
       10 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one optical disc is supported at the distal end.  
   
   
       11 . A transparent polypropylene-containing digital video storage system free from any transparent sleeves attached thereto, said storage system comprising a container adapted to house at least one optical disc, the container having a first side comprising a wall and a second side comprising a wall, said sides being separated by at least one living hinge and a non-reinforced transparent spine portion substantially free of refractive impediments, the system further comprising a single sheet of informational literature disposed between the disc and the container such that said single sheet of informational literature is in direct contact with said walls and said spine portion such that when said container is in its closed position said informational literature can be viewed and read through said walls and said spine portion and wherein the container further includes at least one peripheral edge, including a plurality of hinging arms for supporting optical discs, wherein at least a portion of the arms are attached to at least one peripheral edge via hinges, wherein said optical discs may be maneuvered outside of said container while simultaneously being held within said holding means which in turn remain attached to said at least one peripheral edge.  
   
   
       12 . The storage system of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the hinging arms are of tapered construction having a base attached to at least one peripheral edge and a progressively tapered body portion extending away from the base to a distal end for supporting an optical disc.  
   
   
       13 . A digital video storage system free from any transparent sleeves attached thereto, said storage system comprising a container for housing at least one optical disc and a single sheet of informational literature wherein at least a portion of the informational literature is disposed between the optical disc and an interior surface of the container, the container having a first side comprising a wall and a second side comprising a wall, said sides being separated by at least one living hinge, the container further having a transparent spine portion substantially free of refractive impediments, wherein the single sheet of informational literature is disposed discontinuously between the optical disc and the interior surface of the container such that when said container is in its closed position, said informational literature is in direct contact with said walls and said spine portion of said storage unit and said informational literature can be viewed and read through said walls and said spine portion of said storage unit and such that portions of the optical disc not covered by the informational literature are viewable through said walls and said spine portion of said storage unit such that holographic images on said portions of the optical disc not covered by the informational literature are viewable through said walls and said spine portion.