Multimedia storage tray and method of making the same
The present invention provides an improved multimedia storage tray including at least two support rails that are independent or separate, i.e. not directly connected. The support rails advantageously are identical in shape with each generally including a top surface having a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge and a plurality of divider walls. The support rails are adapted to be attached to a furniture surface by a securing means in parallel, spaced apart, physically non-contacting relationship to each other. The divider walls are spaced apart substantially along the length of each support rail and cooperate with the top surface to provide storage spaces that accommodate different sized multimedia. The storage tray may be sold to the public already assembled in a furniture piece or sold directly to the do-it-your consumer as an after-market kit.
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The present invention relates to storage structures, and more particularly, to a storage tray that is adapted to support and store a variety of multimedia, alone or in conventional packaging, having a plurality of different sizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStorage structures for supporting and storing multimedia such as CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and cassette tapes are known, and these structures have been provided with storage compartments configured to the dimensions and contours of the object to be supported and stored. However, with the increase and popularity of packaged multimedia, new unfilled needs for multimedia storage structures, such as storage trays, have arisen including the need for fewer parts and easier assembly thereof. These storage trays, accordingly, should be adapted to provide storage and support for packaged as well as unpackaged multimedia having a plurality of different sizes.
Unfortunately, today's multimedia storage trays appear to have failed to meet these needs. Most notably, current storage trays include multiple parts that must be manufactured, supplied, tracked, shipped, inventoried and eventually assembled to form the complete product. These multiple part assemblies lead to significant administrative and labor costs, which increases the overall costs of production and, ultimately, the cost of the end product. In addition, multimedia storage trays that are available for purchase as after-market kits for do-it-yourself consumers tend to discourage consumers if they contain too many parts.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved storage tray that includes a reduced number of parts, is easily manufactured and assembled, and is adapted to provide storage and support for a variety of multimedia, alone or packaged, having a plurality of different sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an improved storage tray having a reduced number of parts that is easily manufactured and assembled, and adapted to store and support a variety of multimedia, alone or packaged, having a plurality of different sizes.
To this end, the multimedia storage tray includes at least two support rails that are independent or separate, i.e. not directly connected. The support rails advantageously are identical in shape with each generally including a top surface having a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, and a plurality of divider walls. The support rails are adapted to be attached to a furniture surface by a securing means. The means for securing may include a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive such as tape or glue, or combinations thereof, and the like. Notably, the divider walls are in parallel, spaced apart relationship substantially along the length of each support rail and cooperate with the top surface to provide storage spaces that accommodate different sized multimedia.
The storage trays of the present invention may be easily manufactured by methods commonly known in the art and may be sold pre-assembled in a furniture piece or to the do-it-yourself consumer as an after-market kit. As indicated above, the support rails of the storage tray are adapted to be secured to a piece of furniture, such as the upper surface of a drawer or shelf of an entertainment center. To assemble, two independent support rails, advantageously, are equally spaced apart at a desired width and in opposing parallel relationship and simply attached to a furniture surface using the means for securing, such as by inserting a screw within each of two spaced-apart apertures of each of the support rails and into the upper furniture surface. Accordingly, the attached support rails are devoid of an interconnecting framework, i.e. extra parts, and further cooperate to support and store a variety of packaged or unpackaged multimedia, e.g. CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, and the like, having a plurality of different sizes.
By virtue of the foregoing, there is thus provided an improved storage tray having a reduced number of parts that is easily manufactured and assembled, and adapted to store and support packaged or unpackaged multimedia having a plurality of different sizes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.
With reference to
As best shown in
A side wall 48 is disposed adjacent the first side edge 28 of the base 26 and extends therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base 26. The height of the side wall 48 advantageously is 26 to 29 mm, more advantageously, 27 to 28 mm, and most advantageously 27.5 mm. The raised ledge 42 further projects inwardly from the side wall 48 such that the edge 44 of the ledge 42 is situated between the first and second side edges 28, 30. The width of the raised ledge 42 advantageously is 15 to 18 mm, more advantageously, 16 to 17 mm, and most advantageously 16.7 mm. A beveled edge region 30A is situated adjacent the second side edge 30, intermediate the second edge 30 and lower surface 40, and extends the length (L) of each rail 12, 14. The beveled edge region 30A shapes downwardly toward the second edge 30, i.e. downwardly and inwardly toward the opposite rail when the storage tray 10 is assembled.
As further shown in
With continuing reference to
The support rails 12, 14 of the storage tray 10 of the present invention are formed of a relatively rigid material such as plastic, advantageously polypropylene, and may be manufactured by methods commonly known in the art including suitable thermoplastic molding or forming processes such as injection molding, compression molding, thermoforming or the like. The storage tray 10 may be sold to the public already assembled in a furniture piece (not shown) or sold directly to the do-it-your consumer as an after-market kit which may include two or more support rails 12, 14 and, optionally, one or more securing means such as screws 20, nails, tacks, staples adhesives such as tape or glue, or combinations thereof, and the like.
As best shown in
While it is understood that the support rails 12, 14 may be of different shapes and/or sizes, advantageously, the support rails 12, 14 are identical. It is further understood that more than two support rails 12, 14 may be provided for attaching to a furniture piece. For example, three support rails could be provided wherein two support rails placed end-to-end have a total length which is equal in length to a third support rail. Accordingly, these two rails may be adjacently attached to a furniture surface in a spaced-apart and opposing parallel relation to the third support rail.
As further shown in
As best shown in
As best shown in
As best shown in
Accordingly, the storage tray 10 is adapted to accommodate each variety of packaged multimedia 21, 22, 23, 24 wherein each multimedia 21, 22, 23, 24 extends and is supported therebetween to allow for storage thereof.
By virtue of the foregoing, there is thus provided an improved storage tray 10 having a reduced number of parts that is easily manufactured and assembled, and adapted to store and support a variety of multimedia, alone or packaged, having a plurality of different sizes.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.
Claims
1. A multimedia storage tray, comprising:
- at least two independent support rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface in spaced, parallel, physically non-contacting relationship to each other, the at least two support rails including:
- an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;
- a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and
- a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.
2. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the at least two support rails to the furniture surface.
3. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the at least two support rails are identical.
4. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
5. The storage tray of claim 4 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
6. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
7. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
8. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
9. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
10. A method of making a multimedia storage tray, comprising;
- providing a first support rail;
- providing a second support rail, each of the first and second rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface and including: an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends; a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes; and
- mounting the first and second support rails in spaced, parallel, physically non-contacting relation to each other on the furniture surface.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing the first and second support rails includes plastic mold injecting the first and second support rails.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second support rails include at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the first and second support rails to the furniture surface.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second support rails are identical.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
20. A multimedia storage tray assembly, comprising:
- a furniture piece including an upper surface; and
- a multimedia storage tray including at least two support rails being equally spaced apart in opposing parallel relation and attached to the upper surface of the furniture piece at one of a plurality of desired widths wherein the at least two support rails are devoid of an interconnecting framework which connects the at least two support rails in direct physical contact with each other and are adapted to support and store a plurality of multimedia having different sizes.
21. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein the at least two support rails are removably attached to the upper surface.
22. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein the upper surface includes a drawer or shelf surface.
23. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein the storage tray is moveably secured from a first storage position to a second position.
24. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein the upper surface is flat.
25. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 further including a means for securing each of the at least two support rails to the upper surface.
26. The storage tray assembly of claim 25 wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.
27. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture therein, and further including a means for securing each of the at least two support rails to the upper surface, the means for securing being received within the at least one aperture of each of the at least two support rails and cooperating with the upper surface such that each of the at least two support rails are attached thereto.
28. The storage tray assembly of claim 20 wherein the at least two support rails includes:
- an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;
- a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and
- a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.
29. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the at least two support rails are identical.
30. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
31. The storage tray assembly of claim 30 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
32. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
33. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
34. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
35. The storage tray assembly of claim 28 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
36. A method of assembling a multimedia storage tray assembly, comprising:
- providing a multimedia support tray including at least two independent support rails;
- providing a furniture piece having an upper surface; and
- attaching the at least two support rails to the upper surface of the furniture piece, the at least two support rails being equally spaced apart in opposing parallel relation at one of a plurality of desired widths and devoid of an interconnecting framework which directly physically contacts the at least two rails to each other, whereby multimedia having different sizes may be supported and stored therebetween.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the at least two support rails are removably attached to the upper surface.
38. The method of claim 36 wherein the upper surface includes a drawer or shelf surface.
39. The method of claim 36 wherein the storage tray is moveable from a first storage position to a second position.
40. The method of claim 36 wherein the upper surface is flat.
41. The method of claim 36 further including providing a means for securing the at least two support rails to the upper surface and attaching the at least two support rails to the upper surface with the means for securing.
42. The method of claim 41 wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.
43. The method of claim 41 wherein each of the at least two support rails include at least one aperture, and wherein the means for securing are received within the at least one aperture of the at least two support rails and cooperate with the upper surface such that each of the at least two support rails are attached thereto.
44. The method of claim 36 wherein providing the at least two support rails includes plastic mold injecting the at least two support rails.
45. The method of claim 36 wherein the at least two support rails include:
- an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;
- a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and
- a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least two support rails are identical.
47. The method of claim 45 wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
49. The method of claim 45 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
50. The method of claim 45 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
51. The method of claim 45 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
52. The method of claim 45 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
53. A multimedia storage tray kit, comprising:
- at least two independent support rails adapted to be attached to a furniture surface, the at least two support rails including: an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends; a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes; and
- a means for securing the at least two support rails to the furniture surface in space apart, parallel, physically non-contacting relationship to each other.
54. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the means for securing includes a nail, screw, tack, staple, adhesive, or combination thereof.
55. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein each of the at least two support rails includes at least one aperture therein adapted to receive the means for securing.
56. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the at least two support rails are identical.
57. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
58. The storage tray kit of claim 57 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
59. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
60. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
61. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
62. The storage tray kit of claim 53 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
63. A multimedia support rail adapted for use in a multimedia storage tray, comprising:
- an elongated base having a length and a width, first and second laterally spaced side edges, first and second longitudinal ends, and a top surface, the top surface including a lower surface and a raised ledge having an edge, the raised ledge extending along the first side edge between the first and second longitudinal ends;
- a side wall disposed adjacent the first side edge of the base and extending therealong in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base, the raised ledge projecting inwardly from the side wall such that the edge of the ledge is situated between the first and second side edges; and
- a plurality of alternating first and second parallel divider walls being spaced equally apart along the length of the base, the first divider walls extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the raised ledge and second side edge, the second divider walls further extending inwardly and in a transverse direction from the side wall and terminate between the edge of the ledge and the first side edge, wherein opposing divider walls define storage space adapted to receive multimedia having different sizes.
64. The rail of claim 63 wherein two of the plurality of divider walls define first and second end walls disposed on the first and second longitudinal ends of the base and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, adjacent the side wall, each of the first and second end walls having a side edge joined to the side wall to form a corner.
65. The rail of claim 64 wherein the two of the plurality of divider walls are first divider walls.
66. The rail of claim 63 wherein the support rail is adapted for use with an identical second support rail as a multimedia storage tray.
67. The rail of claim 63 wherein the first divider walls further extend away from the top surface, and wherein the second divider walls further extend away from the raised ledge.
68. The rail of claim 63 wherein the first divider walls are equal in size and wherein the second divider walls are equal in size.
69. The rail of claim 63 wherein the first and second divider walls and the side wall are equal in height.
70. The rail of claim 63 wherein the lower surface and raised ledge are flat.
71. The rail of claim 63 wherein the support rail includes at least one aperture adapted to receive a means for securing the support rail to a furniture surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 5, 2006
Applicant:
Inventor: Tony Yang (Gahanna, OH)
Application Number: 10/881,179
International Classification: B65D 85/575 (20060101);