Multi-media storage device

Abstract

A device for storing media comprises at least one frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon, a peripheral ledge around the support surface for preventing the media on the support surface from sliding off therefrom. The frame module also has a support structure for allowing the frame module to support another frame module similar thereto in a stacked relationship, such that the device is modular and expandable. The device also includes a cover module for covering the support structure of an uppermost one of the frame modules. Labels each having respective reference indicia thereon are each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the media, with a reference list being provided to receive information relating to a content of each one of the media in relation to the reference indicia on the label secured thereto, whereby the media in the device are classified. The device is open along both sides thereof extending between end walls of the frame module such that media can be removed from or inserted in the device from two opposite sides.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for storing various media and a classification system therefor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In this era of technology, media of all sorts are present in every aspect of today's lifestyle. Whether it is for leisure or for work, the amount of media handled daily by the typical person has increased impressively over the past few years. The format of the media has also taken a plurality of shapes. For instance, compact disks, videodisks, computer diskettes, are just a few examples of the media being used daily.

[0005] Accordingly, plural storage devices, e.g. trays, have emerged to provide ways to store the media. As changes and novelties often occur in the media formats, it is frequent to have storage devices that are not ideally suited to comply with the storing requirements of the media. Among familiar occurrences are oversized storage systems in the wait of a person's media library to build up, a plurality of generally empty adjacent storage devices for each medium, storage devices filled to an extent where it is quite hard to find a given medium. As an example of a more specific case, compact disk racks often have slots for receiving single compact disk casings. However, double compact disk casings do not fit in these slots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a storage device that is versatile.

[0007] It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a multi-media storage device that is modular,

[0008] It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a multi-media storage device that has an indexing system to facilitate the finding of a given medium stored in the device.

[0009] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing media, comprising;

[0010] a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon, a peripheral ledge around said support surface for preventing the media on said support surface from sliding off therefrom, said frame module having also a support structure for allowing said frame module to receive thereon another frame module similar thereto in a stacked relationship, such that said device is expandable; and

[0011] a cover module for covering the support structure of an uppermost one of said frame modules.

[0012] Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing and classifying media, said device comprising:

[0013] a casing having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon;

[0014] labels each having respective reference indicia thereon and each adapted for being secured to a respective one of the media; and

[0015] a reference list provided on said casing, said reference list being adapted to receive information thereon relating to a content of each one of the media in said casing in relation to said reference indicia of said label secured thereto, whereby the media in said device are classified.

[0016] Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing media, comprising:

[0017] a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon and having end walls, and a cover module disposed on top of said end walls and at a distance from said support surface such that media is received between said support surface and said cover module, said device being open along both sides thereof extending between said end walls such that media can be removed from or inserted in said device from two opposite sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a partly exploded view of a storage device in accordance with the present invention having two storage trays;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage device of the present invention that has one storage tray shown here with media stored therein;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 2 but without a cover thereof for illustration purposes;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a vertical transversal cross-sectional view illustrating a medium being removed from the storage device;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view, fragmented, of the storage device having multiple trays; and

[0024] FIGS. 4A and 5A are similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, hut show a variant of the storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, a multimedia storage device in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at 10. The storage device 10 consists essentially of at least one frame module 12 and one cover module 14. As will be described in detail hereinafter, the number of frame modules 12 in the storage device 10 depends on the number of storage levels or trays desired by a user. On the other hand, the storage device 10 always has one cover module 14, notwithstanding the number of frame modules 12. Therefore, the storage device 10 may expand with a person's media library.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the storage device 10 has two frame modules 12 that are identical. Each frame module 12 has a base 20 and a pair of end structural walls 36, The base 20 is formed by a rectangular panel 22 with lateral edge walls 24 disposed perpendicularly on lateral side edges of the panel 22. The base 20 further has end edge walls 26 on end edges of the panel 22. The lateral edge walls 24 and the end edge walls 26 form an upper peripheral ledge 28 projecting perpendicularly from a top surface 30 of the panel 22, and a lower peripheral ledge 32 projecting perpendicularly from a bottom surface 34 of the panel 22. The structural walls 36 extend upwardly from the upper surface 30 of the panel 22. The structural walls 36 are received in abutment against a portion of the lateral edge walls 24 and are spaced from the end edge walls 26, such that channels 38 are defined therebetween. Four slots 39 are formed in the upper peripheral ledge 28 (three of which are visible in FIG. 1) such that the channels 38 extend from side-to-side of the base 20. The structural walls 36 are parallel one to another and are generally perpendicular to the panel 22, Four slots 37 (two of which are visible in FIG. 1) are symmetrically formed in the lower peripheral ledge 32 and are positioned similarly to the position of the slots 39 in the upper peripheral ledge 28, i.e. vertically opposite thereto.

[0027] The cover module 14 is like a frame module 12 without the structural walls 36. Therefore, the cover module has a rectangular-shaped panel 42, with lateral edge walls 44 and end edge walls 46 forming an upper peripheral ledge 48 perpendicular to a top surface 50 of the panel 42, and a lower peripheral ledge 52 perpendicular to a bottom surface 54 of the panel 22. It is pointed out that, as the cover module 40 does not have structural walls, the cover module 14 does not have channels similar to the channels 38 of the frame module 12. However, the cover module 14 has four slots 59 therein (two of which are visible) equivalent to the slots 39 of the frame module 12. Similarly to the slots 39 of the frame module 12, the slots 59 of the cover module 14 are defined in the lateral edge walls 44. The cover module 14 could also be made identical to the base 20, i.e. also with slots on both sides of its panel 42,

[0028] Now that the physical configurations of the frame modules 12 and the cover module 14 of the storage device 10 have been described in detail, the assembly for functional use of the storage device 10 will now be described. FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate a storage device 10 assembled from two frame modules 12 and a cover module 14. For clarity purposes, a first one (i.e. the lower one) of the frame modules 12 of FIG. 1 will be identified as “A” and another one (i.e. the upper one) will be identified as “B”. Therefore, letters “A” and “B” will be affixed to the reference numerals in the description. For instance, the frame module 12A will designate the frame module 12 identified by “A” in FIG. 1. The frame module 12B is positioned on top of the frame module 12A, which rests on a floor F, by upper free ends of the structural walls 36A being nested in a corresponding shape defined by the lower peripheral ledge 32B and the bottom surface 34B.

[0029] The cover module 14 is positioned on the frame module 12B in a similar fashion. Free ends of the structural walls 36B will be nested in a corresponding shape defined by the lower peripheral ledge 52 and the bottom surface 54 of the cover module 14. The cover module 14 is shown at 14′ in broken lines in FIG. 1 to illustrate how it is disposed on the frame module 12B (see arrows 70). Therefore, the storage device 10 has two levels or trays of media storage, i.e. one for the upper surface 30 of each frame module 12, along with a level of storage for other items on the upper surface 54 of the cover module 14.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a storage device 10′ having a single storage level, but with various items J (compact disk circular magazines, pens, diskette boxes, etc.) stored on the upper surface 54 of the cover module 14 and restrained from falling by the upper peripheral ledge 48. It is obvious that the storage device 10 may consist of one, two or more than two frame modules 12.

[0031] Returning to FIG. 1, a panel 66 is shown being slid into the channels 38 of the frame module 12B of the storage device 10. The panels 66 are sized so as to be slidably received in the slots 59 of the cover module 14 at the same time, Accordingly, the panels 66 are co-planar against outer surfaces of the structural walls 36B. Although not shown, the channels 38 of the frame module 12A may also receive such panels 66 therein, with atop portion of the panels 66 being slidably received in out that other suitable ways may be used to removably secure the panels 66 to the structural walls 3A, such as fasteners like Velcro™, magnets, etc. The panels 66, as will be explained hereinafter, will be used to display the media contents of the various levels or trays of the storage device 10.

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a storage device 10 having one storage level or tray is shown storing various media conventional single compact-disk casings are shown at CD1, casings having two or more compact disks are shown at CD2, and typical compact disk collection box-sets are shown at CD3. Video-disk and CD-ROM casings are also shown stored in the storage device 10 and are illustrated by DVD. The above enumerated media are upstanding in the storage 10, and are sized so as to be kept in the storage device 10 by abutting laterally against the upper peripheral ledge 28 which extends on both sides of the frame module 12.

[0033] On the other hand, media of smaller dimensions than the above-mentioned media may also be stored in the storage device 10. For instance, audiocassettes in their casings, which are generally illustrated at T as best shown in FIG. 3, are positioned upstanding in the frame module 12 of the storage device 10, and are paired up in side-by-side relationship so as to be immobilized laterally by the upper peripheral ledge 28 of the storage device 10. Similarly, as also best shown in FIG. 3, computer diskettes H are immobilized laterally in the storage device 10 by having a diskette box G filling an empty space caused by the width of the diskettes H with respect to the width of the frame module 12. Other media (not shown) can also be received in the device 10, such as compact disks in their flexible cardboard or cellophane sleeves.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a classification system is illustrated for keeping track of what is stored in the storage device 10. Labels 60 (see FIG. 4) are provided in order to identify the media in the storage device 10. The labels 60 may be of various types, but preferably have a tab portion 62 having an identification character, such one or many letters, or a numeral as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The tab portions 62 extend outwardly from the media so as to be visible when the media are stored in the storage device 10. It is also preferred to provide each label 60 with an adhesive portion 64, whereby the labels 60 may be stuck to the media. It is preferable to have the labels 60 positioned at various heights on the various media in order to avoid visual interference created by the label 60 of a first medium being too close to the label 60 of an adjacent medium. The tab portions 62 may also be transparent (e.g. except at their identification characters) to help see tab portions 62 located behind a given tab portion 62.

[0035] The labels 60 are used in conjunction with the panel 66, which, as shown in FIG. 2, illustrates a chart with numerals thereon corresponding to the numerals on the labels 60 and with user-added information being provided on the chart or panel 66 opposite the numerals thereof, the information associated with a given numeral being indicative/descriptive of the media stored in the storage device 10 and bearing this given numeral on its label 60.

[0036] The panel 66 may have an ink-erasable surf ace such that the chart thereon may be hand-filled with the information concerning the media corresponding to the numerals, and erased when changes in the stored contents of the storage device 10 occur. It may also be a computer printout that is replaced and kept up-to-date. Although not shown in FIG. 1, each storage level of the storage device 10 has its own panel 66, which can be inserted at either end of the frame module 12. It is also pointed that the panels 66 may be folded so as to have a greater area for information to be filled thereon.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, a single compact disk casing CD1 is shown being removed from the storage device 10 by a person P grasping the tab portion 62 of the label 60 and lifting it upwardly (see arrow 72) such that the casing CD1 is above the upper peripheral ledge 28 of the frame module 12. The casing CD1 is then pulled outwardly (see arrow 74) of the storage device 10 by its tab portion 62. These steps are repeated in order to remove any other media from the storage device 10, and are reversed to put a medium back into the device 10.

[0038] As seen from the top view of FIG. 3, labels 60 may be provided on both sides of the wider media such that there are labels 60 on either side of the storage device 10. This allows formats such as the compact-disk casings CD1 to be removed from either side, On the other hand, media only exposed on one side of the storage device 10 because of their small width are removed from one of the sides of the storage device 10, and labels 60 are positioned on these media in order to comply with the side they are to be removed from. The fact that the storage device 10 is open on both sides offers the advantage that there is no need for a first medium to be displaced in order for a second medium to be pulled out of the storage device 10, as is the case with, for instance, the audiocassettes T. Also, it allows the device 10 to put up against a wall, or the like, on any of the two open sides thereof while allowing media to be removed therefrom through its unobstructed side, i.e. its side opposite the side located against the wall.

[0039] The storage device 10 may consist in a plurality of materials. For instance, various metals and woods may be used, in which case the storage device 10 will be able to sustain the weight of various storing levels. Plastics and various polymers may be used in serial production of the storage devices 10 of the present invention and present characteristics which comply with the use of the storage device 10.

[0040] The device 10 is thus modular as the number of levels or trays thereof can be modified by adding or removing frame modules 12 from its stacked attitude. As the frame modules are exempt of partitions, the device 10 is versatile in being able to accommodate various articles of various sizes in customized arrangements in the frame module 12.

[0041] FIGS. 4A and 5A illustrate a variant storage device 10′, wherein each storage module (two such modules being shown in FIG. 5A) is identical and includes the base 20 and a cover module 14′ that are fixedly secured respectively at lower and upper ends of the structural end walls 36. In the device 10, the cover module 14 is not fixed to the walls 36. Therefore, in the storage device 10′, each module is stand-alone and can thus be used on its own, separately or in stacked relationship.

[0042] In a further variant (not shown), the ends walls 36 could be detachable from both the base 20 and the cover module 14/14′ so that the storage device is more compact for packaging, or storage.

Claims

1. A device for storing media, comprising:

a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon, a peripheral ledge around said support surface for preventing the media on said support surface from sliding off therefrom, said frame module having also a support structure for allowing said frame module to receive thereon another frame module similar thereto in a stacked relationship, such that said device is expandable; and

a cover module for covering the support structure of an uppermost one of said frame modules.

2. A device for storing and classifying media, said device comprising;

a casing having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon;

labels each having respective reference indicia thereon and each adapted for being secured to a respective one of the media; and

a reference list provided on said casing, said reference list being adapted to receive information thereon relating to a content of each one of the media in said casing in relation to said reference indicia of said label secured thereto, whereby the media in said device are classified.

3. A device for storing media, comprising:

a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon and having end walls, and a cover module disposed on top of said end walls and at a distance from said support surface such that media is received between said support surface and said cover module, said device being open along both sides thereof extending between said end walls such that media can be removed from or inserted in said device from two opposite sides.