Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF ~HE INVEN~ION -
The present invention relates to a storage rack
for flat rectangular articles such as compact discs,
computer discs, video cassettes, audio cassettes and the
like.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various stands, racks or holders are used for
storing flat relatively thin rectangular or regular
shaped articles such as compact discs, computer discs,
video cassettes, audio cassettes and the like. Some of
these racks have inclined storage compartments in order
to secure the edge portion of articles slidably received
in an overhanging position relative to the rack.
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One such storage rack is described in U.S.
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15~ patent No. 5,027,955 issued July 2, 1991 to Shoemaker et
al;. The rack described in this patent comprises a series
of~spaced shelf flanges projecting outwardly from a rear
wall whlch, in turn, is inc~lined rearwardly. The ehelf ;~
flanges~are arranged to slidably;receive the rear edge `
~ portion of~ an article which is supported in a generally
horizontal orientation. However, such storage rack is
not provlded with any means~ to securely retain the~
articles on the flanges so that vibrations or other ~ ~s~
accidental shocks to which the rack may be sub~ected, may
cause the articles to slip off the flanges.
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OBJECTS AND 8TATEMENT OF THE INV~NTION
:
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a storage rack which avoids the problems of
presently known storage racks for such articles. This is
achieved by providing an integral body made of plastic
material and displaying a plurality of vertical
rectangular compartments in which are integrally formed
clamping tongues which engage and retain the edge portion
of the articles stored in the compartments. -~
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It is also an object of the present invention
to easily accomplish the storing and removal of articles
to and from the rack.
It is also an object of the present invention
~ to provide a rack which is so constructed as to be
~ engageable with similarly-constructed racks to define a
mural~or like arrangement.
The present invention therefore relates to a
storage rack for flat, rectangular articles, such as
compact or computer discs, video or audio cassettes, and
~20 the like, comprising: a structural body formed of molded
plastic material and displaying a plurality of vertical
rectangular compartments, each defined by wall means
including a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite side
walls, the walls being distanced from one another to
define an area adapted to slidabIy receive therein an
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edge portion of the articles; one of the walls has an
aperture and an integral tongue portion adapted to be
~lexed in and out of the aperture. The tongue portion
extends into the article receiving area and provides a
clamping force to press against the edge portion of the
article when slidably received in the area.
In one preferred form of the invention, the
compartment has an area corresponding substantially to
that of the cross sectional area of the article inserted
therein, with the top and bottom walls being parallel to
one another so as to maintain the stored articles in
horizontal orientation.
In another form of the invention, the rack is
so constructed that it may be assembled with similarly
constructed racks to form a mural.
Other objects and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will become
; apparent from the detail~ed desorlption given hereinafter.
It should be understood, however, that this detailed
description, while indicating preferred embodiments of
the invention, is given by way of il~lustration only,
since various changes and modiflcations within the spirit
and scope of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art.
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BRIEF DESCRIPq!ION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a number
of storage racks made in accordance with the present
invention and arranged in adjacent relationship to one
5 another;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a storage rack
made in accordance with the present invention shown
mounted to upper and lower similarly constructed storage
racks;
10 Figure 3 is a front elevation of the storage
rack;
Figure 4 is an enlarged rear view of parts of
two inter-engaged racks
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional
15 elevation showing the engagement of three articles into
the top free compartments of a storage rack;
:: Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the
clamping arrangement of the uppermost compartment of the
;~ storage rack;
~: 20 ~ : Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the
: clamping arrangement of the other compartments of the
storage rack; and
: Figure 8, which is located on the same sheet as
figure 3, is a front elevation showing another embodiment
: of a storage rack made in accordance with the present
invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT5
Referring to figure 1, there is shown an
arrangement of five storage racks 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Such arrangement may be mounted to a vertical surface,
such as a wall, or may be provided with some support to
define a vertical upstanding rack display to receive
articles, such as a compact disc 22, which may or may not
be provided with a removable identification clip 24.
Referring to figures 2 and 3, the storage rack
12 consists of a structural body formed of molded plastic
material displaying a series of vertical compartments,
each defining a narrow rectangular chamber in which is
slidably received the edge portion of the article 22.
Each compartment is defined by a rear wall 30, a top wall
32, a bottom wall 34 and opposite side walls 36 and 38.
These walls define a restricted area which is slightly
greater than the cross-section of the article to be
~stored. The front edges of the top, bottom and side
walls are slightly rounded to facilitate the insertion of
the article to be stored.
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The rack 12 has planar side faces 40 and 42 and
a rear face 44 which is provided with integral
projections 46 and 48 having appropriate openings 50 and
52, respectively, to receive fastening means (not shown)
to secure the rack to a vertical surface, such as a wall.
The rear face also displays three integral projections ~
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ff~fff9~f7ff7s
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54, 56 and 58, the function of which will now be
described with respect to figure 4 in which two
superposed similarly-constructed racks are shown
vertically engaged to one another. The lower projection
58 of rack 12 has a projecting rectangular flange 60
which is adapted to rest on the top edge 62 (see figure
5) of the upper projection 54 on the rear face of the
underlying rack 20. The intermediate projection 56
serves as a spacer to prevent inward bending of the rack
thereby maintaining the rear face of the rack in a
substantially vertical plane.
The present invention is concerned with
providing means in each compartment creating a clamping
force to be exerted on the article being inserted. Thus,
in each compartment, there is provided an integral tongue
portion, generally designated 64, the tongue portion in
the uppermost compartment~ has been designated ffS4').
Referring to figure 6j tongue portion 64' is made
retractable within a correspondingly shaped aperture in
; 20 the concave surface 68' of the upper wall 32. The
retraction of the tongue portion 64' ie permitted by the
provision of an opening 70 in the rear wall 30. As
illustrated in figure 5, a narrow restriction 72 is
provided at the entrance of the compartment to facilitate
the pivotal movement of the clamping tongue 64' in and
out of the compartment area. This restriction is
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followed by a narrow sloping edge 73 to facilitate the
contact and the raising of the tongue.
Referring to figure 7, for the other
compartments of the storage rack, the tongue portion 64
in the top wall of the compartment extends in a larger
aperture 72 than that of the top wall in the uppermost
compartment; this aperture is contiguous with the opening
70 in the rear wall 30. ~;
As can be seen in figure 5, the insertion of
the edge portion of an article 22 retracts upwardly the
tongue portion 64 or 64', which thereafter exerts a
clamping force on the top face of the received article.
In figure 8~, there is shown the lower part of
; a~storage rack 80 according to another embodiment of~the
15~ present invention wherein the clamping tongues 82 are
prov~ided on one of the ~sidewalls of the compartments.
Similarly, other storage racks~may~be constructed with
clamping tongues~on the~bcttom wall, or on both opposite
side walls, of the ccmpartments.
Although the lnvention has been described above
with respect to two specific forms, it will be evident to
- a person skilled in the art that it may be modified and
refined in var1ous ways. For example, the compartments
can be made to have an area correeponding to the
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particular articles to be stored, such as computer discs,
audio of video cassettes and the like. It is therefore
wished to have it understood that the present invention
should not be limited in interpretation, except by the
terms of the following claims.
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