Booklet form paperboard package for media disks

Abstract

A package for housing one or more items such as optical media discs is constructed from alternating layers of material such as paper and paperboard. The various layers are adhered together to form the package. The package has a book like form. The layers of paperboard have internal spaces for holding discs. The layers of paper are folded and the folds make up at least part of a binding. Projections into the internal spaces may be used to limit unintended movement of the items within the internal spaces.

1 . A package for holding an item, comprising:
 a first layer of sheet material,   a second layer of sheet material,   a third layer of sheet material adhered between the first and second layers,
 wherein the third layer has a first cutout area with a first opening to at least one edge of the third layer, 
 wherein the first cutout area is sized to receive the item, and the first opening is large enough for the item to pass through the first opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cutout area in an edge of the first or second layer, wherein the second cutout area overlaps at least a portion of the first cutout area, and wherein the second cutout area is proximate to the first opening. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a third cutout area away from any edge of the first or second layer, wherein the third cutout area overlaps at least a portion of the first cutout area. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the third layer has a thickness substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the item. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second layer comprises a first extending portion hingedly attached thereto through a fold. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutout area comprises a yieldable constriction that resists movement of the item. 
     
     
         7 . A package for holding an item, comprising:
 a plurality of folded sheets each comprising two panels connected by a fold between the two panels, each panel having an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface;   at least one item-holding sheet, having a first face and a second face, wherein the first face is adhered to the outward facing surface of a first panel of one of the plurality of folded sheets, and the second face is adhered to the outward facing surface of a second panel of another of the plurality of folded sheets;   wherein the item-holding sheet has a first cutout area with a first opening to at least one edge of the item-holding layer, wherein the first cutout area is sized to receive the item, and the first opening is large enough for the item to pass through the first opening.   
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , further comprising a second cutout area in an edge of at least one of the first panel or the second panel, wherein the second cutout area overlaps at least a portion of the first cutout area, and wherein the second cutout area is proximate to the first opening. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 7 , further comprising a third cutout area in at least one of the first panel or the second panel, away from any edge of the first or second panel, wherein the third cutout area overlaps at least a portion of the first cutout area. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the item-holding layer has a thickness substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of the item. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the item-holding layer is made of one or more plies of sheet material. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first cutout area is sized to receive a disc. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first cutout area is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first cutout area has two sides and a bottom, and the bottom is rounded in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the second cutout area overlaps an edge of an item housed within the item-holding layer. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the third cutout area overlaps a central region of an item housed within the item-holding layer. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein at least one pair of the plurality of folded sheets is adhered together with no item-holding layer between the pair. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the item-holding layer holds more than one item. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 7 , the folded sheets and the item-holding sheets form pages of a booklet, with the folds at least in part forming a binding for the booklet. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second panels form an uninterrupted surface for receiving a printed image or printed information. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first cutout area comprises a yieldable constriction to resist movement of the item. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the yieldable constriction comprises one or more notches directed inward into the first cutout area. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 5 , further comprising
 a second extending portion extending from and hingedly attached to the first extending portion; and   an additional sheet comprising a flange;   wherein the second extending portion is folded upon the first extending portion, and the flange is held between the first extending portion and the second extending portion.   
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the additional sheet comprises at least one of a transparent, translucent, and opaque material. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 7 , further comprising
 an additional sheet with a flange hingedly attached thereto; and   an extending panel hingedly attached to the second panel of one of the plurality of sheets;   wherein the extending panel is folded upon the second panel, holding the flange between the extending panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the additional sheet comprises at least one of a transparent, translucent, and opaque material.