Unlatching apparatus for media disk caddy

Abstract

A disk caddy for storing media disks in a disk caddy is disclosed. The disk caddy includes at least one leverage arm for disengaging the top cover to remove or store media disks within a disk cassette. The leverage arm may comprise a finger well, a gusset, a ring, or a releasable tab. Methods for removing a disk from a disk caddy are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for storing a disk comprising:  
     (a) a disk cassette having opposing side walls with slots that store one or more disks in a spaced apart configuration, and opposing end walls connected to the side walls;  
     (b) a bottom cover for sealing the lower portion of the disk cassette; 
 (c) a top cover for sealing the upper portion of the disk cassette; wherein a leverage arm is attached to at least one distal end of the top cover.  
 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leverage arm is located next to or below an offset area on at least one flap of the top cover.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leverage arm is selected from the group consisting of finger wells, gussets, rings, releasable tabs, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for storing a disk comprising: 
 a) a disk cassette comprising a wall structure having an open upper portion, two sidewalls, and two end walls, each end wall having a recess with a lip thereon;    b) a bottom cover for closing an open lower portion of the disk cassette; and    c) a top cover for covering the upper portion and each recess, the top cover having opposing flaps, each flap including an offset area, at least one flap having a first leverage arm adjacent to the offset area to facilitate removal of the cover.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first leverage arm is located adjacent to or below the offset area on at least one flap of the top cover.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first leverage arm is selected from the group consisting of a finger well, a gusset, a ring, or a releasable tab.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the releasable tab comprises a vertical portion extending from the flap, and having a hook thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a second leverage arm adjacent to or below the offset area of a second flap.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the leverage arms are selected from the group consisting of finger wells, gussets, rings, releasable tabs, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the leverage arms face downward relative to the bottom cover.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising an opening on the disk cassette for receiving the first leverage arm.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the opening is located on the lip of the end wall.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the opening projects from the end wall below the lip of the recess.  
   
   
       14 . A method for storing a disk in a caddy, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a caddy that includes a disk cassette having an upper edge, a bottom cover, and a top cover; the top cover having a primary surface and parallel flaps extending downward from the primary surface, each flap having an offset region; the disk cassette having a recess on each of two opposing end walls that are covered when the top cover is engaged to the upper edge of the cassette;    b) placing a first gripper under a leverage arm located adjacent to the offset region of the flap, while holding the opposite end of the caddy with a second gripper;    c) lifting the top cover by pulling the leverage arm outward and upward with the first gripper; and then removing or inserting at least one disk into the disk cassette.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gripper comprises either a mechanical member or a portion of a human hand.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the leverage arm is selected from the group consisting of a finger well, a gusset, a ring, or a releasable tab.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising attaching the top cover to the caddy by causing the channel of the top cover to engage with the upper edge of the disk cassette.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the top cover is secured to the caddy by engaging a pair of protrusions on a flap to a rib located below at least one recess of the disk cassette.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a second leverage arm at a second distal end of the top cover.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the second gripper is placed under the second leverage arm and the flaps are simultaneously pulled outward and upward to remove the top cover from the disk cassette.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the second gripper comprises either a mechanical member or a portion of a human hand.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the leverage arms are selected from the group consisting of finger wells, gussets, rings, releasable tabs, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       23 . A method for storing a disk in a caddy, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a caddy that includes a disk cassette having an upper edge, a bottom cover, and a top cover; the top cover having a primary surface and parallel flaps extending downward from the primary surface, each flap having an offset region; the disk cassette having a recess on each of two opposing end walls, each recess being covered when the top cover engages to the upper edge of the disk cassette;    b) placing a first gripper on a vertical portion of a leverage arm located adjacent to the flap, while holding the opposite end of the caddy with a second gripper;    c) removing the top cover by pushing the vertical portion of the leverage arm inward and then upward; and    d) removing or inserting at least one disk into the disk cassette.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first gripper comprises either a mechanical member or a portion of a human hand.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the leverage arm is a releasable tab that comprises a vertical portion extending from the flap, and having a hook thereon.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the top cover is secured to the disk cassette by engaging the hook of the tab to a lip located below at least one recess of the disk cassette.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the top cover is secured to the disk cassette by engaging the hook of the tab to an opening that projects from the end wall.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a second gripper is placed under a second leverage arm and the tabs are simultaneously pushed inward and upward to remove the top cover.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second gripper comprises either a mechanical member or a portion of a human hand.