Individual case for phonograph records

Claim 2

In an individual case for discrete miscellaneous articles composed of a thin molded synthetic material, the case having a substantially rectangular body, and a substantially rectangular lid hingedly jointed to said rectangular body, wherein the improvement comprises: first and second flush joints formed by cooperating elements in the body and the lid, each flush joint consisting of a male member and a female member, wherein said first joint is formed on the four rectilinear edges of the case and said second joint is formed in a shape encircling the outer periphery of the miscellaneous article, whereby said first and second flush joints allow for tight closure between the case body and the case lid and simultaneously stiffens the edges of the case body and the case lid to provide a very rigid case for better protection of the miscellaneous article.

Claim 3

In an individual case for phonograph records composed of a thin molded synthetic material and having an aperture in the center thereof and an annular recessed portion to receive the grooved portion of the record, the case having a substantially rectangular body, and a substantially rectangular lid hingedly jointed to said rectangular body at one edge, wherein the improvement comprises: first and second flush joints formed by cooperating elements in the body and the lid, each flush joint consisting of a male member and a female member, wherein said first joint is formed on the four rectilinear edges of the case and said second joint is circular and encircles the outer periphery of the record, with said male member of said second joint determining the position of the space occupied by the record and also pre-centering the record in the body of the case; whereby said first and second flush joints allow for a tight closure between the case body and the case lid and simultaneously stiffens the edges of the case body and the case lid to provide a very rigid case for better protection of the record.

Claim 4

In an individual case for phonograph records composed of a thin molded synthetic material and having an aperture in the center thereof and an annular recessed portion to receive the grooved portion of the record, the case having a substantially rectangular body, and a substantially rectangular lid hingedly jointed to said rectangular body at one edge, wherein the improvement comprises: first and second flush joints formed by cooperating elements in the body and the lid, each flush joint consisting of a male member and a female member, wherein said first joint is formed on the four rectilinear edges of the case and said second joint is circular and encircles the outer periphery of the record, with said male member of said second joint determining the position of the space occupied by the record and also pre-centering the record in the body of the case; whereby said first and second flush joints allow for a tight closure between the case body and the case lid and simultaneously stiffens the edges of the case body and the case lid to provide a very rigid case for better protection of the record.

Claim 5

A case according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said body of the case forms said male elements of said first and second joints, and said female elements of said first and second flush joints are formed by a portion of said lid.

Claim 6

A case according to claim 2, wherein said record has a spindle hole and said centering pin for the record passes through said spindle hole in the record and extends up to the lid to keep the record in place, and once the case has been closed, the centering pin abuts said case lid, thus preventing, in cooperation with said two flush joints, the record from being crushed.

Claim 7

A case according to claim 4, wherein said centering pin is conical to exercise a slight wedging effect against the inner edge of said spindle hole in the record.

Claim 8

A case in accordance with claim 5, wherein said male element of said first joint is interrupted at the four corners of said case body, to facilitate opening and closure thereof, while said female element of said first joint is continuous on the lid periphery thereby insuring rigidity of said first joint.

Claim 9

A case according to claim 2, wherein said male element of said second joint contains a notch to facilitate lifting the record from its space.

Claim 10

A case according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said body and of said lid each form two plane circular bearing zones for support of the record, corresponding respectively to the record center label and the record ungrooved periphery, another portion of said body and of said lid form an annular recess corresponding to the grooved part of the record such that the grooves stand free of said body and said lid of the case, said recess also contributing by the circular edges thereof to stiffening said body and said lid of the case.

Claim 11

A case according to claim 2, wherein tabs facilitating opening of the case are formed respectively on one edge of said lid and of said body, said tabs also being usable as filing markers.

Claim 12

A case according to claim 2, wherein the case is made wholly of plastic, the lid, and if desired, the body being printed or embossed to show any desirable inscription.

Claim 13

A case according to claim 2 further including at least one stiffener member between said female members of said first and second joints.

Claim 14

A case according to claim 2 further including at least one stiffener member between said male members of said first and second flush joints.