APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND PACKAGING DISCS AND A METHOD FOR
MAKING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention in general, relates to an apparatus for holding and packaging discs and a method for making the same and in particular to a technique for storing a large number of optical discs in a stacked up manner, utilizing an apparatus, having a specially designed locking system for locking/unlocking purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ideally, discs are required to be stored in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected, and for easiness in handling the apparatus meant for the purpose
The available apparatuses in the market meant for that purpose, popularly known as cake boxes, are excessively heavy, and are designed in such a manner so that the optical discs are fully covered, leaving the information area more vulnerable to damage. Furthermore, such apparatuses are not easy to handle and have low stuffing capacity. In all such apparatuses, as stated aforesaid, the outer area of the optical discs are required to be covered with a covering material. This also leads to undesirable consumption of covering material such as plastic material, as the outer area does not have stored information, and undesirable rise in the manufacturing cost of such apparatus. Consequently, the cost of the final product, sold to customers is also undesirably high. Ideally the basic requirement of the customers is storing the optical discs in a stacked up manner in bunches of at least hundred, for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected. Easiness in handling and cost-effectiveness of the apparatus, meant for the purpose are further concerns of the customers. Attempts are on over the years for designing a simplified, cost effective, reasonably light apparatus for holding and packaging optical discs, so that discs can be stored in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred safely, without hampering the information area and also for easiness in handling of the apparatus meant for the purpose. Furthermore, attempts have been made to increase the stuffing capacity of
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such apparatuses as well. However, significant development to that effect has not been achieved as yet.
The issued US Patent US 6296114 discloses an apparatus having a spindle from a base of the apparatus, popularly known as "Cake Box", however, such document also does not teach a simplified, cost-effective, handy apparatus for holding and packaging optical discs, which simultaneously ensures safely storing optical discs in bunches of at least hundred in a stacked up manner, so that the information area is not hampered. Further, the stuffing capacity of the apparatus protected by the said patent is also not up to the mark.
Accordingly, there was a long felt need to design an apparatus for holding and packaging optical discs in a stacked up manner safely, without affecting the information area which is simultaneously simplified, cost-effective, handy , reasonably light and has reasonably high stuffing capacity. The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.
All through out the specification including the claims, reference has been made to optical discs/discs for the sake of understanding, but is not to limited to those and the present invention embraces all similar items in the field, as may be understood by persons skilled in the art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding and
packaging discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred for safe keeping
and ensuring that the information area is not affected.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding and
packaging discs in a stacked up manner, by utilizing optimum covering material such as
plastic.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding and
packaging discs, which has a simplified design, is reasonably light and is cost-effective.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding and
packaging discs in a stacked up manner, such that an improved aesthetic look is
achieved and stuffing capacity is reasonably increased.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding and packaging discs which is environment friendly.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved package of stacked up discs, which does not hamper the information area, is reasonably light, cost-effective, utilizes less covering material such as plastic and is handy. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for making an apparatus for packaging discs in a stacked up manner in bunches of at least one hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected.
How the foregoing objects are achieved and the other aspects of the present invention, will be clear from the following description which is purely by way of understanding and not by way of any sort of limitation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for holding and packaging
discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred including a top cover, a
means for holding discs and a base wherein said means for holding discs is provided
with a locking facility at its top end for locking/unlocking said cover, and the other end of
said means ends up in said base, said top cover being adapted to be operatively
connected with said means, whereby safe keeping of said discs without hampering the
information area, is ensured, as well as reasonable light weight, reasonable stuffing
capacity, cost-effectiveness are also ensured.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention :
-said locking facility is a quarter turn locking facility.
-said means for holding discs comprises a threaded cylindrical rod.
-said rod is adapted to be flexible in length to obtain packs of varying length.
-said top cover is provided with a gripping facility.
-said gripping facility comprises a handle.
-said rod is provided with a support from the ID of the discs, whereby the discs do not
slip while the user tears off the shrink pouch.

The present invention also provides a package of discs arranged in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred, obtained by applying the apparatus as described above, comprising at least one hundred stacked up discs wherein the said discs are stored safely, without hampering the information area by virtue of the locking facility of the apparatus, provided at the top end of the means for holding the discs, and the top cover of the apparatus being in operative connectivity, with said means for holding the discs.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention, a spacer exists at both ends of the stack of discs.
The present invention also provides a method for making an apparatus for packaging discs in a stacked up manner in bunches of at least one hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected, including :
a) Calculation of the height of at least one hundred discs with packing material
accommodation inside the apparatus
b) Designing a locking system cylindrical rod that ends in a base at the bottom
end.
c) Designing a top cover that connects the top end of the cylindrical rod with male -female locking system.
d) Designing a gripping handle, which fix in top cover for hoisting.
e) Designing and developing of the molds for the above design.
f) Operatively connecting the various components.
g) Quality checking of the samples with proper validation and verification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of some preferred embodiments and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying drawings.
Fig 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for holding and packaging discs in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 2 illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, showing the stacking of discs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following describes some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are purely for the sake of understanding the performance of the invention, and not by way of any sort of limitation.
As stated before, the apparatuses known in the art for holding and packaging discs popularly known as cake boxes, are excessively heavy, and are designed in such a manner so that the optical discs are fully covered, leaving the information area more vulnerable to damage. So, such apparatuses are unable to meet the basic requirements of the customers, namely storing the discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred safely, without hampering the information area and also easiness in handling of the apparatus, meant for the purpose. Further, such apparatuses do not have reasonable stuffing capacity, requires use of too much covering material, such as plastic and are costly as well.
The present invention aims at providing an apparatus for holding and packaging discs, so that the discs can be stored in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred safely, without hampering the information area and also for ensuring easiness in handling. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is also less costly and has reasonable stuffing capacity.
For achieving the advantages as stated before, the apparatus in accordance with the present invention as shown in the accompanying Figure 1, also popularly known as Cake Box preferably includes a handle with finger grip (1), a top cover (2), a cylindrical rod for holding discs (4) one end of which ends in a fixed in base (5) and its other hand is equipped with a quarter turn lock system (3). Preferably, a spacer exists at both ends of the stack of discs of the packaging done by the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The accompanying Figure 2 illustrates the packaging of stacked discs (6) in accordance with the present invention.

The locking system (3), provided at the top end of the cylindrical rod, has been tested and found to be ideal for withstanding the load of at least hundred discs, without any quality problem.
Some of the advantages of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention and the package of stacked discs, obtained by applying the same, may be summarized as below.
a) Hosting of at least hundred discs in a stacked up manner, for safe keeping so that the information area is not hampered.
b) Reduced cost of packing material as no extra packing material is used to compensate the empty space in bigger cake box.
c) Increased stuff ability.
d) Easily operable and handy.
e) Reasonably low weight
f) Reduced cost of end product
g) Improved aesthetics
The principal object of the present invention is achieved by the design of the cylindrical rod (4) between the base (5) and top cover (2), the top end of which is equipped with a quarter turn locking system, for locking and unlocking cover part.
The threaded cylindrical rod at one end ends up in a fixed base, while at the other end exists the quarter turn locking facility. The top cover is adapted and designed, to ensure operative connectivity with the quarter turn locking system. This facility ensures holding and packaging discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected. It also eliminates application of excessive covering material such as plastics and reduces the weight of the overall apparatus, reasonably. This aspect together with the gripping facility (1) enables easy handling of the apparatus. By changing the length of the rod cake box of different packs can be obtained.

The prime advantages of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention and the package of stacked discs, obtained by applying the same, are as follows:
a ) Safety of discs as compared to conventional cake box & BOS pack.
b) This can be used as a cake box (economic version).
Unlike conventional cake box pack, preferably, there is a support of the rod from the ID
of the discs, hence the discs do not flea while the user tears off the shrink pouch.
The apparatus in accordance with the present invention, also popularly know as Cake
Box, is capable to hold 100 discs successfully with no quality defects in the discs. The
height, hoisting and locking system of the cake box are calculated in such a manner that
it successfully retains at least hundred discs and spacer as per customer specifications.
It has been able to pass all the quality parameters.
As stated before, the present invention also includes an improved method for making an
apparatus for packaging discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least one
hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area, is not affected.
The following are some of the salient steps, of the method for making an apparatus for
packaging discs in a stacked up manner. In bunches of at least one hundred for safe
keeping and ensuring that the information area is not affected.
a) Calculation of the height of at least one hundred discs with packing material accommodation inside the cake box.
b) Designing a quarter turn locking system cylindrical rod that ends in a base at the bottom end.
c) Designing a top cover that connects the top end of the cylindrical rod with male - female quarter turn locking System.
d) Designing a gripping handle, which fix in top cover for hoisting.
e) Designing and Developing of the molds for the above design.
f) Quality checking of the samples with proper validation and verification.
Just like the apparatus and the package of stacked discs of the present invention, the aforesaid method has been also found to be immensely advantageous in respect of its

technical improvement and economic significance, as discussed hereinbefore, which was hitherto unknown and unachievable.
The present invention has been described with reference to some drawings and preferred embodiments, purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described hereinbefore and what has been claimed hereinafter.

WE CLAIM
1.An apparatus for holding and packaging discs in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred including a top cover, a means for holding discs and a base wherein said means for holding discs is provided with a locking facility at its top end for locking/unlocking said cover, and the other end of said means ends up in said base, said top cover being adapted to be operatively connected with said means, whereby safe keeping of said discs without hampering the information area, is ensured, as well as reasonable light weight, reasonable stuffing capacity, cost-effectiveness are also ensured.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking facility is a quarter turn locking facility.
3. The apparatus for holding and packaging discs as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said means for holding discs comprises a threaded cylindrical rod.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod is adapted to be flexible in length to obtain packs of varying length.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said top cover is provided with a gripping facility.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said gripping facility comprises a
handle.
7. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said rod is provided with a support from the ID of the discs, whereby the discs do not slip while the user tears off the shrink pouch.
8. A package of discs arranged in a stacked up manner, in bunches of at least hundred, obtained by applying the apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least one hundred stacked up discs wherein the said discs are stored safely, without hampering the information area by virtue of the locking facility of the apparatus, provided at the top end of the means for holding the discs, and the top cover of the apparatus being in operative connectivity, with said means for holding the discs.

9. The package of discs arranged in a stacked up manner as claimed in claim 8 wherein
a spacer exists at both ends of the stack of discs.
10. A method for making an apparatus for packaging discs in a stacked up manner in
bunches of at least one hundred for safe keeping and ensuring that the information area
is not affected, including :
a) Calculation of the height of at least one hundred discs with packing material
accommodation inside the apparatus
b) Designing a locking system cylindrical rod that ends in a base at the bottom
end
c) Designing a top cover that connects the top end of the cylindrical rod with male
- female locking system
d) Designing a gripping handle, which fix in top cover for hoisting
e) Designing and developing of the molds for the above design
f) Operatively connecting the various components
g) Quality checking of the samples with proper validation and verification