Disk protective enclosure

Abstract

A container for CDs or DVDs include a case having lid, spine, and base portions, and a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts projecting forwardly from the base portion; and a main tray pivotally connected to the main hinge structure and having a secondary hinge structure pivotally supporting a secondary tray, the trays being movable as pages of a book. The main tray can have an additional secondary hinge structure engaging another secondary tray. Each of the trays can be double sided for retaining up to seven disks that contact their supporting structures in closing of the case. The main tray can have oppositely projecting rim portions for nesting the secondary trays flush with the main tray.

1 . A container for disks of the type having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising: 
 (a) a case comprising a base portion and a lid portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected for opening and closing of the case, the base portion including a base panel portion and a perimeter side portion, the base panel and side portions forming outside wall portions of the case;    (b) a base pedestal projecting forwardly from the base panel portion for retaining a first disk being one of the disks by engagement with the central opening thereof with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case;    (c) a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks, the main tray having a hinged connection within the case for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion and confined within the side portions of the base, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case; and    (d) a hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for engaging and pivotally supporting a secondary tray holding a third disk being yet another of the disks, the secondary tray engaging the hinge structure while holding the third disk.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from the main tray panel portion, the rim portion forming a cavity for receiving the secondary tray in flush relation to the main tray.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , in combination with the secondary tray comprising a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the secondary tray panel portion for retaining the third disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion and forming respective first and second cavities for receiving the secondary and tertiary trays in flush relation to the main tray.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 4 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a sixth disk on a second side of the secondary tray panel portion, the sixth disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the main tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a seventh disk on a second side of the main tray panel portion, the seventh disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the main tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a seventh disk on a second side of the main tray panel portion, the seventh disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge structure is a first hinge structure, the main tray further comprising a second hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinged connection of the main tray and the case for supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk opposite the main tray panel portion from the secondary tray, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the tertiary tray pedestal is double sided for supporting a fifth disk on a second side of the tertiary tray panel portion, the fifth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion.  
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the hinged connection of the main tray is to the base portion of the case, proximate the spine portion and in proximate alignment therewith.  
   
   
       25 . A container for a disk having a central opening, front and back face surfaces, and an outer perimeter, the container comprising: 
 (a) a case comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a generally rectangular spine portion, the base portion and the lid portion being hingedly connected along opposite side extremities of the spine portion, for opening and closing of the case, the base portion including a base panel portion and a perimeter side portion, the base panel and side portions forming outside wall portions of the case;    (b) a base pedestal projecting forwardly from the base panel portion for retaining a first disk being one of the disks by engagement with the central opening thereof with the first disk contacting only the base portion in closing of the case;    (c) a main hinge structure including a spaced pair of hinge posts connected to and projecting forwardly from the base portion;    (d) a main tray having a main tray panel portion with a main tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the main tray panel portion for holding a second disk being another of the disks and confined within the side portions of the base, the main tray being pivotally connected to the main hinge structure for movement between a first position generally parallel to the base panel portion, and a second position diverging from the base panel portion for accessing the base pedestal, with the second disk contacting only the main tray in closing of the case;    (e) a first hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray in proximate alignment with the main hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting a secondary tray holding a third disk being yet another of the disks, the secondary tray engaging the first hinge structure while holding the third disk; and    (f) a second hinge structure fixedly connected to the main tray opposite the main tray panel portion from the first hinge structure in proximate alignment with the hinge structure for engaging and pivotally supporting a tertiary tray holding a fourth disk being a further one of the disks, the tertiary tray engaging the second hinge structure while holding the fourth disk.    
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 25 , in combination with the secondary tray comprising a secondary tray panel portion and a secondary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the secondary tray panel portion for retaining the third disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the third disk contacting only the secondary tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from the main tray panel portion, the rim portion forming a cavity, the secondary tray being in flush relation to the main tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       28 . The container of  claim 26 , in combination with the tertiary tray comprising a tertiary tray panel portion and a tertiary tray pedestal projecting from a first side of the tertiary tray panel portion for retaining the fourth disk by engagement with the central opening thereof, the fourth disk contacting only the tertiary tray in closing of the case, the main tray also having rim portions projecting from opposite sided of the main panel portion for forming respective first and second tray-receiving cavities.  
   
   
       29 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the main tray further comprises a rim portion projecting from opposite sides of the main tray panel portion and forming respective first and second cavities, the secondary and tertiary trays being in flush relation to the main tray in closing of the case.  
   
   
       30 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the pedestals of each of the main, secondary, and tertiary trays are double sided for retaining respective seventh, fifth, and sixth disks, each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh disks contacting only the tertiary, secondary, and main trays, respectively, in closing of the case.