Apparatus for holding a compact disk
The apparatus comprises a base portion ( 2 ) and at least two arms ( 1 ) resiliently cantilevered from the base portion ( 2 ), the inner ends of the arms ( 1 ) forming a button-like member ( 4 ) and each having a projection ( 4 A) for engaging on the outwardly facing surface of a compact disk ( 10 ) held on the apparatus. Depression of the button-like member ( 4 ) causes the projections ( 4 A) to move towards each other until their engagement on the disk ( 10 ) is released. An upstand ( 6 ) surrounds the disk ( 10 ) and is positioned close thereto so as to restrict movement of the disk ( 10 ) within its own plane. The inner ends ( 4 ) of the arms ( 1 ) may be shaped to reduce the risk of forces applied thereto in the plane of the disk ( 10 ) causing the disk ( 10 ) to be released. Finger recesses ( 6 A) in the upstand may be formed so as to inhibit access to the edge of a disk ( 10 ) whilst held by the apparatus but provide access thereto once the disk ( 10 ) has been released. 3-arm release mechanisms are also described.
1. An apparatus for holding a substantially planar recording medium having a central hole with a diameter, the apparatus comprising:
at least two arms each coupled to a base portion of the apparatus at a first radial distance from a center of the base portion and extending inwardly towards each other;
a recording medium-engaging member provided at the inner ends of said arms receivable in the central hole of the recording medium; and
protrusions arranged on the recording medium-engaging member to securely retain the recording medium by engaging an outwardly facing major surface of the recording medium at a second radial distance from the center of the base portion, the first radial distance being greater than said second radial distance, and the second radial distance being greater than half the diameter of the central hole of the recording medium.
2. The apparatus for holding a recording medium having a central hole as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when a recording medium is engaged with said recording medium-engaging member, pressure must be applied to said recording medium-engaging member to depress at least the center of the recording medium towards said base portion in order to release the engagement of said protrusions with the outwardly facing surface of the recording medium.
3. The apparatus for holding a recording medium having a central hole as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when a recording medium is engaged with said recording medium-engaging member, application of a pulling force on the recording medium causes the second radial distance to increase so as to more securely retain the recording medium.
4. The apparatus for holding a recording medium having a central hole as recited in claim 3 , wherein, when the center of a disk is pressed onto the recording medium-engaging structure, the arms are depressed by the disk from a raised position to a depressed position until the protrusions pass through the central hole thereof whereupon the arms revert to the raised position lifting the disk away from the base portion.
5. An apparatus for holding a substantially planar recording medium having a central hole with a diameter, the apparatus comprising:
at least two arms each coupled to a base portion of the apparatus and extending inwardly towards each other;
a recording medium-engaging structure provided at the inner ends of said arms receivable in the central hole of the recording medium; and
protrusions arranged on the recording medium-engaging structure,
the arms being movable between a raised position in which said protrusions are held in a first radial position of greater diameter than said hole and a depressed position in which said protrusions are held in a second radial position of smaller diameter than said hole, wherein the arrangement is such that application of a lifting force on the recording medium causes the recording medium engaging structure and said at least two arms to be lifted away from said base portion so as to urge said protrusions radially outwards from said first radial position thereby retaining the recording medium more tightly.
6. An apparatus for holding a recording medium having a central hole, the apparatus comprising:
at least two arms each coupled to a base portion of the apparatus at a first radial distance from a center of the base portion and extending inwardly towards each other, each of said at least two arms having a cut-away portion adjacent its inner end;
a recording medium-engaging member provided at the inner ends of said arms receivable in the central hole of the recording medium; and
protrusions arranged on the recording medium-engaging member to securely retain the recording medium by engaging an outwardly facing major surface of the recording medium at a second radial distance from the center of the base portion, the first radial distance being greater than said second radial distance, wherein each protrusion includes a lip the underside of which is substantially flat overlying the cut-away portion of a respective arm.
7. The apparatus for holding a recording medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the recording medium is a compact disk, and wherein the arrangement is such that application of a pulling force, in a direction away from the base portion of the apparatus, on the compact disk causes an increase in the second radial distance of the protrusions from the center of the base portion.