WO2006039749A1

WO2006039749A1 - Plastic media handler

Info

Publication number: WO2006039749A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne Andrew Trotter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-12
Filing date: 2005-10-12
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-12

Abstract

A plastic media handler comprises of a spherical rubber like air bladder with an attached suction cup. The suction cup has a small hole running through the center which allows air to pass out of when squeezing the bladder and when released causes air to be drawn into the bladder causing a suction effect. It is this suction effect which is used to grip and hold the media when the tool comes into contact with the desired media. Once gripped the tool allows easy movement to the desired location and to release the object when the bladder is squeezed.

Description

PLASTIC MEDIA HANDLER DESCRIPTION

1,TECHNlCAL DATA

A plastic media handler is a too! for handling plastic media for example compact discs , DVD discs and other flat plastic mediums. There is a need to easily handle the above types of mediums and by using this device they can easily be picked up, recovered or stored without contacting the skin onto the medium. The tool facilitates ease of recovering and accessing media and in doing so allows greater management of the media. Thus reducing damage to the media and may also lead to a cleaner medium by better storing when not in use. The tool is of a size that remains unobtrusive to the work area and may be stored attached to a flat smooth surface in a vertical position.

2.BACKGROUND ART

U.S Pat. No. 2,384,334, issued to Olsen discloses a pneumatic pickup device,

3-DlSCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a quick, inexpensive, easy to operate tool that allows the user to handle fiat plastic media.

Another object of the invention is to have greater control of media by being able to push and pull the media from storage cases.

Yet another object of the present invention is its small size and ease of manufacture which would reflect in its affordability and therefore multiple inventions may be in use in the immediate work area.

The invention uses a suction cup to attach itself onto the media, once attached holds on tight enough to allow proper handling while not applying any personal physical force to hold the suction cup in place. This may be useful when once picked up, the media disc may need to be put down again with the tool still attached. The tool consists of two operational parts that may be manufactured from the same material; the suction cup part is the means by which the tool holds the media to allow handling. The suction cup has a small hole running through the centre of it and into the bladder. The suction cup part is of a size to allow it to attach to the flat surface of the media and not to uneven surfaces that would allow air to pass under the edge of it. Made of a material that is flexible and allows effective sealing onto the surface of the medium. The other is a squeezable air bladder that may be a roundish or teardrop shape that is small enough fit between thumb and fingers where its small size allows for greater control and placement

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description given by the way of example only. 4.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG.1 shows a side view of the present invention.

FIG.2 shows a view of the suction cup end.

FIG.3 shows a perspective view of the invention as it would appear in use.

5.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

By referencing the side view FIG.1 the plastic media handler 9 comprises of two operational parts, a spherical air bladder 10 which would be fabricated from a material that is flexible with the characteristics of rubber and the other being a suction cup 11 that is joined to the bladder 10 .

The suction cup 11 with a small hole through the centre would also be fabricated of flexible material that allows effective sealing onto the surface of flie media.

Operation of the tool 9 is thus by holding the bladder 10 and gently squeezing the bladder 10 causing air to escape through the hole in suction cup 11 part. Next by placing the tool so that the suction cup 11 part comes into contact with the medium on a smooth area. At this time the squeezed in bladder 10 is released and air tries to return to the bladder 10 through the suction cup area causing it to attach itself to the medium. A holding pressure is now applied because of the pressure differential between air outside and inside the tool 9 because of the bladder 10 trying to return to its original position The tool 9 is now firmly attached to the medium; the medium can be handled and positioned.

Once attached to medium the present invention allows the medium to be set down tool 9 side down. Thus with the medium facing up and the user has freed up a hand so that other tasks may be achieved without having to detach the media.

When the attached medium is required to be released in a certain position, it is a matter of placing the medium in position and then gently squeezing the air bladder 10 part. This squeezing causes air to travel from the air bladder 10 area to the suction cup 11 area reducing the pressure differential and causing the suction cup 11 part to lose holding pressure. Once the holding pressure is lost the suction cup 11 part is released from the media .

FIG. 3 shows the present invention as it appears in use. The present invention shown is attached to the media in this case a compact disc 12 .

Allowing the disc 12 to be inserted into disc playing devices, returned to its storage case or left on the work surface disc 12 side up.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat i claim as my invention is;

1. An apparatus for handling plastic media comprising of : (a.) a spherical flexible air bladder with flattened hole .

(b.) a suction cup that is fitted tightly to the hole in said bladder with a small aperture that extends from centre of the suction cup into tjhe internal cavity of the bladder.

(c.) ability of the user to applying squeezing pressure to the bladder which forces air from the bladder and upon release of this pressure causes a suction as air is drawn back into to the expanding bladder providing the gripping effect for the media. By applying another squeezing pressure the bladder suction is negated and the media is released.

2. An apparatus for handling plastic media as described in claim 1 wherein the two operational parts are made of one continuous material.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the suction cup connects directly to the bladder.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 where the inventions allows it retain its shape when stored attached in the vertical plane.

5. A apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig1-3.