Protective Sleeve For A Disc-Shaped Recording Medium, Such As A Compact Disc, A Holder For A Sleeve And An Assembly Of A Holder And A Sleeve

Abstract

A protective sleeve ( 1 ) comprises sheets ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) of a flexible material. The sheets ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) are arranged in four layers on top of each other, each sheet ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge and two mutually opposed side edges connecting the top edges and bottom edges. Each respective sheet ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ) is attached to an adjacent sheet along at least two opposing edges of the respective sheet so as to form a front pocket ( 7 ), a central pocket ( 8 ) and a back pocket ( 9 ). The central pocket ( 8 ) is open at the top edges and is adapted to contain a disc-shaped recording medium ( 10 ). The bottom of the central pocket ( 8 ), determining the depth into which the recording medium ( 10 ) may be inserted in the central pocket ( 8 ), is defined at a substantial distance (D) from the bottom edges of the sheets ( 2, 3, 4, 5 ). A holder comprises a flat bottom element carrying a plurality of ribs forming between them slots, in which are provided lateral projections for engagement with a fastening strip of the sleeves.

1 : A protective sleeve for a disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter, such as a compact disc, said sleeve having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front and a back and comprising sheets of flexible material,
 the sheets being arranged in at least four layers on top of each other to provide in succession a back sheet, a first central sheet, a second central sheet and a front sheet, each sheet having a top edge, an opposing bottom edge and two mutually opposed side edges connecting the top edges and bottom edges, each respective sheet of said back sheet, first and second central sheet and front sheet being attached to an adjacent sheet along at least two opposing edges of said respective sheet so as to form a front pocket, a central pocket and a back pocket,   the central pocket being open at the top edges and being adapted to contain said disc-shaped recording medium, wherein the bottom of the central pocket, determining the depth to which the disc-shaped recording medium may be inserted in the central pocket, is defined at a substantial distance from the bottom edge of at least one of the sheets.   
   
   
       2 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , comprising at least four sheets of flexible material wherein each of said respective sheets is attached to its adjacent sheet(s) at the bottom edges and at least one of the two side edges. 
   
   
       3 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge of at least one of the first and second central sheet is situated between the bottom of the central pocket and the bottom edges of the front sheet and the back sheet and above an area of mutual attachment of sheets adjacent the bottom of the sleeve. 
   
   
       4 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein a single piece of sheet material is folded to provide the first and the second central sheet said sheets being connected by a fold constituting the bottom edges of said sheets. 
   
   
       5 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom part of one of the first and the second central sheet is folded 180° towards and attached to the other of said central sheets. 
   
   
       6 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance is at least approximately 10 mm, preferably approximately 30 mm, and wherein the disc-shaped recording medium in its position inserted in the central pocket projects over the top edge of one of the two central sheets. 
   
   
       7 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the first central sheet at its top edge is provided with a flap for engaging the edge of the disc-shaped recording medium in its position inserted in the central pocket and the second central sheet is provided with a recess providing access to the disc-shaped recording medium in the central pocket. 
   
   
       8 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sheets is manufactured from a transparent material. 
   
   
       9 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheets are provided with substantially rectangular dimensions and that the sheets are attached to respective adjacent sheets at both side edges. 
   
   
       10 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is provided at least one of the bottom the left side and the right side with a fastening strip. 
   
   
       11 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastening strip is a key which is provided with a number of resilient barb-like projections. 
   
   
       12 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastening strip is provided with a number of holes. 
   
   
       13 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 10 , wherein a reinforcement strip is included along the fastening strip. 
   
   
       14 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 3 , wherein the fastening strip is provided at the bottom of the sleeve and bottom areas of the first and the second central sheet overlap the reinforcement strip. 
   
   
       15 : A protective sleeve according to  claim 13 , wherein the reinforcement strip is made of a sheet material more rigid than the central sheets. 
   
   
       16 . A protective sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve is adapted to contain a front cover, a compact disc and a back cover of an ordinary jewel-case in the front pocket, the central pocket and the back pocket, respectively. 
   
   
       17 : A flexible sleeve holder for holding sleeves of sheets of flexible material, comprising a flat bottom element with two opposing large surfaces, a first surface of said opposing surfaces carrying a plurality of parallel ribs each having two rib sides and forming between them sleeve receiving slots, said ribs carrying on at least one rib side and in a distance from the bottom element lateral projections, said projections leaving clearances in the slots. 
   
   
       18 : A holder according to  claim 17  wherein said clearances are less than 1.7 mm, preferably less than 1.2 mm and more preferably less than 1.0 mm. 
   
   
       19 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said clearances are greater 0.4 mm, preferably greater than 0.6 mm. 
   
   
       20 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein the bottom element at a second surface opposing said first surface is provided a mounting member. 
   
   
       21 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said ribs are carrying projection on both rib sides said projection being arranged two and two mutually opposed. 
   
   
       22 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein each rib side carries at least two discrete projections. 
   
   
       23 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said projections have lower sides proximate to the bottom element and upper sides distal to the bottom element, the upper sides of two projections mutually opposed in a slot being convergent in a direction towards the bottom element, and the lower sides of two projections mutually opposed in a slot being convergent in a direction away from the bottom element. 
   
   
       24 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said projections have lower sides proximate to the bottom element and upper sides distal to the bottom element, the upper sides of two projections mutually opposed in a slot being convergent in a direction towards the bottom element, and the lower sides of two projections mutually opposed in a slot being not convergent in a direction away from the bottom element. 
   
   
       25 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said slots are extending in a longitudinal direction, each projection being elongate in the longitudinal direction and having mutually opposed first and second ends the first ends being tapered the second ends being blunt. 
   
   
       26 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein the slots are open in one end and closed in an opposite end. 
   
   
       27 : A holder according to  claim 26 , wherein a movable bar is arranged across the open ends of the slots. 
   
   
       28 : A holder according to  claim 17 , wherein the ribs are elastically yieldable towards each other. 
   
   
       29 : An assembly comprising a sleeve of flexible sheet material and a flexible sleeve holder therefore,
 said sleeve comprising at least two layers of flexible sheet material interconnected to provide a pocket between them, said sleeve having an edge and being provided with a fastening strip along said edge, said fastening strip comprising a thickening strip and an engagement edge,   said holder comprising a flat bottom element with two opposing large surfaces, a first surface of said opposing surfaces carrying a plurality of parallel ribs each having two rib sides and forming between them sleeve receiving slots, said ribs carrying on at least one rib side and in a distance from the bottom element lateral projections, said projections leaving clearances in the slots,   said projections engaging said engagement edge to retain the sleeve releasably in the holder.   
   
   
       30 : An assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said engagement edge is provided by a resilient barb-like projection on the fastening strip. 
   
   
       31 : An assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said engagement edge is an edge of an elongated hole in the sleeve through or adjacent the thickening strip, said elongated hole extending along said edge of the sleeve. 
   
   
       32 : An assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the thickening strip is made of a sheet material more rigid that the any of the two flexible sheets. 
   
   
       33 : An assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein the sheet material of the thickening strip is at least twice as thick as any of the two flexible sheets. 
   
   
       34 . An assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the sleeve along said edge comprise a reinforcement strip. 
   
   
       35 - 36 . (canceled)