Flexible Case For Optical Media

Abstract

A flexible case is configured to hold an optical medium. The case includes a front casing, a rear casing, and a spine coupling the front casing to the rear casing. The case includes a plurality of sidewalls, and at least one of the sidewalls defines a flex region. The case has increased flexibility at the flex region.

1 . A flexible case comprising:
 a first casing including a generally planar first backing;   a second casing comprising:
 a generally planar second backing including a first surface; 
 a first sidewall extending at least partially in a direction normal to the first surface, the first sidewall defining a first flex region; and 
 a second sidewall extending at least partially in a direction normal to the first surface, the second sidewall defining a second flex region, wherein the first and second flex regions are aligned with a flex axis; and 
   a spine coupling the first casing with the second casing.   
   
   
       2 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are selected from left and right sidewalls, or top and bottom sidewalls, and wherein the first and second sidewalls are generally parallel. 
   
   
       3 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the first flex region divides the first sidewall into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is spaced from the second portion. 
   
   
       4 . The flexible case of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion is spaced from the second portion a distance in a range from about 1 inch to about 3 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the first flex region is a region having no wall portion, a region having a wall portion with reduced height relative to the first sidewall, a region having a wall portion with reduced width relative to the first sidewall, or a region having a material with increased flexibility relative to the material of the first sidewall. 
   
   
       6 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein when the flexible case is arranged in a closed position, the flexible case has increased flexibility about the flex axis as compared to flexibility about a non-flex axis. 
   
   
       7 . The flexible case of  claim 6 , wherein when the flexible case is subjected to a flex test, such that that flex axis of the flexible case is aligned at an edge of a generally flat surface, the flexible case is movable between a rest position and a flexed position without permanently damaging the flexible case. 
   
   
       8 . The flexible case of  claim 7 , wherein when the flexible case is moved between the rest position and the flexed position, a distal end of the flexible case is displaced a distance in a range from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches. 
   
   
       9 . The flexible case of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible case has a flex angle in a range from about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees as measured between the rest position and the flexed position. 
   
   
       10 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible case is flexible about a second flex axis generally perpendicular to the common flex axis. 
   
   
       11 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing further comprises a media tray including a hub, and wherein the first and second casings fold at the spine to define an open position and a closed position, wherein when the flexible case is in the closed position, the flexible case defines an interior volume sized to support an optical medium on the hub therein. 
   
   
       12 . The flexible case of  claim 11 , wherein the optical medium is of a type having an aperture with an aperture diameter in a range from about 14 mm to about 16 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover sheet extending across exterior surfaces of the first casing, the second casing, and the spine to support printed material between the exterior surfaces and the cover sheet. 
   
   
       14 . The flexible case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls define portions of corner supports. 
   
   
       15 . A case for holding an optical medium, the case comprising:
 a first casing having a first interior surface and a first pair of sidewalls connected to and extending from the first interior surface and at least partially in a direction generally normal to the interior surface, the first pair of sidewalls including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall defines a first flex region and wherein the second sidewall defines a second flex region;   a second casing having a second interior surface and a second pair of sidewalls connected to and extending from the second interior surface and at least partially in a direction generally normal to the second interior surface, the second pair of sidewalls including a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, wherein the third sidewall includes a third flex region and wherein the fourth sidewall defines a fourth flex region, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth flex regions are aligned along a flex axis; and   a spine coupling the first casing with the second casing, wherein the first and second casings are movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein when the case is in the closed position the case defines an interior space sized to support the optical medium therein.   
   
   
       16 . The case of  claim 15 , wherein the first casing further comprises first, second, third, and fourth corner supports, wherein the first pair of sidewalls are portions of the first, second, third, and fourth corner supports, and wherein each of the corner supports defines a protrusion and a recess, and wherein when the case is in the closed position, the second pair of sidewalls are received in the recesses and adjacent the protrusions of the corner supports. 
   
   
       17 . The case of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusions and the second pair of sidewalls are counter tapered to resist unintentional disengagement of the second pair of sidewalls from the protrusions when the case is in the closed position. 
   
   
       18 . The case of  claim 15 , wherein the first casing further comprises a pin extending from the first sidewall, and wherein the second casing further comprises a receptacle arranged and configured to receive the pin when the case is in the closed position to resist unintentional separation between the first and second casings. 
   
   
       19 . A method of making a flexible case, the method comprising:
 forming a first sheet of material including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface to define a front casing, a rear casing, and a spine, the front casing and the rear casing including a plurality of sidewalls connected to and extending from the first surface, wherein at least two of the plurality of sidewalls include flex regions aligned along a flex axis; and   fastening a second sheet of material across the second surface.   
   
   
       20 . The method of making a flexible case, wherein forming the first sheet comprises thermoforming, and wherein the first sheet of material is polyvinyl chloride having a thickness in a range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.02 inches.