Disc case

Abstract

A disc case is constructed for receiving releasably a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting the disc rotatably in the disc case, and can be set into a reproducing apparatus with the disc received in the disc case. The disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving area on its central portion; a second case member associated with the first case member to be able to open and close the disc receiving area; and locking means having first and second locking members, a first locking member being formed integrally on one of the first and second case members and a second locking member being formed integrally on the other of the first and second case members and locks the first and second case members in a closed state with the disc receiving area closed in cooperation with the first locking member. The second locking member has an opening button which elastically deforms the second locking member and release the locking of the first and second case members when operated. The second locking member further comprises a spacing member which space the first and second case member from each other in the direction to open when the operating button is operated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A disc case for receiving a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting said disc rotatably in said disc case, said disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus with said disc received in said disc case and receiving said disc releasably, wherein said disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving area on its central portion;   a second case member associated with said first case member to be able to open and close said disc receiving area; and   locking means having two locking members, a first locking member which is formed integrally on one of said first and second case members and a second locking member which is formed integrally on the other of said first and second case members and locks said first and second case members in a closed state with said disc receiving area closed in cooperation with said first locking member,   said second locking member having integrally an operating part which release the locking of said first and second case members when operated, said first locking member including a surface portion means which limits movement of said operating part to thereby reduce movement of said second locking member when said opening part is operated to release the locking of said first and second case members.   
     
     
       2. A disc case according to claim 1, wherein said operating part comprising an operating button, and wherein said second locking member comprises an elastic arm member connected to said operating button. 
     
     
       3. A disc case according to claim 2, wherein said elastic arm member comprising at least two arms arranged in line, and wherein the locking of said first and second case members is released by elastic deformations of said two arms in the direction of such line in accordance with the movement of said operating button which is produced by its operation in the direction of said line. 
     
     
       4. A disc case according to claim 2, wherein said disc case further comprises: a spacing member for spacing said first and second case member, which is arranged on one of said first and second case member on which said first locking member is arranged, and which spaces said first and second case member from each other in the direction to open in accordance with the elastic deformation of said arms which is produced by the operation of said operating button.   
     
     
       5. A disc case for receiving a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting said disc rotatably in said disc case, said disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus with said disc received in said disc case and receiving said disc releasably, wherein said disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving area on its central portion;   a second case member associated with said first case member to be able to open and close said disc receiving area; and   locking means for holding said first and second case member in a closed state with said disc receiving area closed; said locking means having a first locking member on said first case member and a second locking member on said second case member, said second locking member having an operating part which releases the locking of said first and second case members when operated, said first locking member including a surface portion means which limits the movement of said operating part to thereby reduce movement of said second locking member when said operating part is operated to release the locking of said first and second case members;   said first case member comprising a frame with a recess, which forms said disc receiving area, on its central portion; and a magazine plate applied to a surface of said frame;   said magazine plate being provided with an inserting aperture through which a turntable of the reproducing apparatus for driving to rotate said disc is introduced in a region of a position corresponding to said recess of said frame; and another inserting aperture through which a reproducing head of the reproducing apparatus accesses a portion of information data recorded on said disc.   
     
     
       6. A disc case according to claim 5, wherein said magazine plate is made of metal plate. 
     
     
       7. A disc case according to claim 5, wherein said frame of said first case member is made of plastics and provided with a plurality of bosses disposed on said frame for connecting said frame to said magazine plate; wherein said magazine plate is provided with a plurality of holes for engaging said bosses; and wherein said frame and said magazine plate are connected by press said bosses with heat in the state inserted into said holes of said magazine plate. 
     
     
       8. A disc case according to claim 7, wherein said magazine plate is made of metal plate. 
     
     
       9. A disc case according to claim 5, further comprising: a shutter plate, which is interposed and supported rotatably between said frame and said magazine plate of said first case member, for opening and closing said another inserting aperture provided on said magazine plate by its rotation.   
     
     
       10. A disc case according to claim 9, wherein an axis of rotation of said shutter plate is eccentric to the center of said shutter plate, and wherein an operating part for operating said shutter plate to open and close is formed in a region near said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       11. A disc case according to claim 10, wherein said shutter plate has a substantially elliptical inserting aperture through which the turntable for driving to rotate said disc is introduced, and another inserting aperture of slit form through which the reproducing head accesses a portion of information data recorded on said disc when said shutter plate opened. 
     
     
       12. A disc case for receiving a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting said disc rotatably in said disc case, said disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus with said disc received in said disc case, wherein said disc case receives said disc releasably and wherein, while set into the reproducing apparatus, while said disc case is fixed in position within the reproducing apparatus, said disc is driven in rotation and said information data are reproduced by the reproducing apparatus, and wherein said disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving are on its central portion;   a second case member associated with said first case member to be able to open and close said disc receiving area;   locking means for holding said first and second case members in a closed state with said disc receiving area closed, said first case member having a first locking member and said second case member having a second locking member engagable with said first locking member, said second locking member having an operating part which releases the locking of said first and second case members when operated, said first locking member including a surface portion means which limits movement of said operating part to thereby reduce movement of said locking member when said operating part is operated to release the locking of said first and second case members; and   at least a pair of holes, arranged on at least surface of said disc case, for positioning said disc case by engaging projections arranged on the reproducing apparatus during set into the reproducing apparatus, one hole of said pair of holes being formed as a loose hold.   
     
     
       13. A disc case according to claim 12, wherein said holes formed symmetrically with the center of said disc case. .Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A disc case for receiving a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting said disc rotatably in said disc case, said disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus with said disc received in said disc case and receiving said disc releasably, wherein said disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving area on its central portion;   a second case member associated with said first case member to be able to open and close said disc receiving area so that a disc can be removed from said disc receiving area when said disc receiving area is open;   locking means having two locking members, a first locking member which is formed integrally on one of said first and second case members and a second locking member which is formed integrally on the other of said first and second case members and locks said first and second case members in a closed state with said disc receiving area closed in cooperation with said first locking member; and   a disc stabilizer rotatably supported within the disc case for supporting the disc disposed in said disc receiving area for rotation. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  A disc case for receiving a disc on which information data are recorded and for supporting said disc rotatably in said disc case, said disc case being able to be set into a reproducing apparatus with said disc received in said disc case and receiving said disc releasably, wherein said disc case comprises: a first case member having a disc receiving area on its central portion;   a second case member associated with said first case member to be able to open and close said disc receiving area so that a disc can be removed from said disc receiving area when said disc receiving area is open;   locking means having two locking members, a first locking member which is formed integrally on one of said first and second case members and a second locking member which is formed integrally on the other of said first and second case members and locks said first and second case members in a closed state with said disc receiving area closed in cooperation with said first locking member; and   a disc stabilizer rotatably supported within the disc case for supporting the disc disposed in said disc receiving area for rotation, and rotatably clamping the disc by cooperating with a disc rotation member of the reproducing apparatus so that the disc is rotatable in said case by the disc rotating member without contact between said disc and said disc case. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  A disc case according to claim 15, further comprising aperture means to permit the disc enclosed within said disc case to be optically read by the reproducing apparatus, said disc and the reproducing apparatus being constructed as an optical recording and reproducing system including a light beam where said light beam is introducable from said reproducing apparatus through said aperture. .Iaddend.