Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02228960 1998-02-03
TTTLE: DISC HOLDER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an indexing, storage and retrieval system for any
compact audio or video disc size medium which includes CD-ROM, CD-G, CD VIDEO
DISCS, AUDIO CDs, KARAOKE CDs, AND DVDs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the past the professional entertainers who provide music and video
using the digital compact disc format (disk jockey or DJ) had to provide some
makeshift
method of filing and retrieving a particular compact disc that could easily be
out of
order. This would entail sorting through a selection of discs to locate the
desired disc.
Once the disc was located, the DJ then had to open the cover or lid of the
storage device
to determine the track the desired selection was recorded. Often the inserts
in the
container that listed the song titles are misplaced, causing the DJ to be
unorganized and
fumbling for another disc while trying to locate the information on the
misplaced insert.
There are numerous storage units on the market for personal use into
which the plastic storage case for the compact disc can be inserted. There
also is a home
unit available through a television promotion that only holds a limited number
of discs
(up to 40 compact discs) in a series of thin plastic cradles. The problems
with this
previous unit are ( 1 ) that it is manufactured from very thin plastic, and is
not precision
made for the discs to be returned into the unit (2) the discs can contact the
adjacent disc
when retrieving and retracting the discs therefore making it possible to
damage the
3 0 stored discs with scratches (3) the operator would have a very difficult
time especially in
low light conditions to place the disc back in the very narrow slot (4) there
are no
guides for the disc to retract into the closed position and if one disc is out
of alignment.
the unit will not close and (5) there are also no means of transportation for
the disc
holder as it is only six inches wide and five inches deep with no handle for
ease of
3 5 carrying.
CA 02228960 1998-02-03
The present invention solves these problems so that when DJs are
providing entertainment for their audiences, they have easy access to any disc
in an
indexed storage cradle system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved storage cradle for
compact discs in which it is easy to return the disc into the slot.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved storage cradle
for compact discs adapted to keep the disc centered when fully inserted into
the cradle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an indexed storage cradle
system for individual indexed cradles so that the operator can store and
retrieve any
compact disc without touching the laser readable surface of the compact disc.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an indexed storage cradle
system for individual indexed cradles so that the person using this system
will be able to
open any individual cradle without inadvertently pulling down the adjacent
cradle.
Thus in accordance with the present invention there is provided an
improved storage cradle for compact discs. The cradle consists of a base
having
generally parallel vertically upstanding side walls, a rear wall and a
vertical upstanding
front wall. One of said side walls is higher than the other it is easy to
return the disc into
the slot formed between the two side walls. Means are provided on each of said
side
walls to keep the disc centered when fully inserted into the cradle.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is
3 0 provided an indexed storage cradle system for individual indexed cradles
so that the
person using this system will be able to open any individual cradle without
inadvertently pulling down the adjacent cradle. Each cradle consists of a base
having
generally parallel vertically upstanding side walls, a rear wall and a
vertical upstanding
front wall. One of said side walls is higher than the other it is easy to
return the disc into
3 5 the slot formed between the two side walls. Means are provided on each of
said side
walls to keep the disc centered when fully inserted into the cradle. The top
of the front
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CA 02228960 1998-02-03
wall of each cradle is provided with a cutout portion. A tab is provided
either on the
bottom or the top of said cutout to facilitate pulling down the cradle. The
location of the
tab alternates on adjacent cradles to minimize the chance of inadvertently
pulling down
the adjacent cradle.
Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent
in the course of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the preferred
embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with
reference
to the accompanying photographs and drawings, in which:
Photograph 1 is a side view of the cradles according to the present invention
.
Photograph 2 is a front view of the indexed storage cradle system according to
the
present invention .
Photograph 3 is a close up front view of the indexed storage cradle system
according to
the present invention
Figure 1 is a lateral plan view of one embodiment of the cradles according to
the present
invention shown in Photographs 1 and 2;
Figure 2 is a lateral plan view of a second embodiment of the cradles
according to the
present invention shown in Photographs 1 and 2;
3 0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Photograph 1 and Figures 1 and 2, a storage cradle for
compact discs according to the present invention is generally indicated at 1.
Each cradle
1 consists of a base 2 having generally parallel vertically upstanding side
walls 3 and 4, a
3 5 rear wall 5 and a vertical upstanding front wall 6. One of said side walls
3 is higher than
the other side wall 4 so that it acts as a guide when returning the disc into
the slot 7
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CA 02228960 1998-02-03
formed between the two side walls 3 and 4. The slot 7 or distance between the
side
walls 3 and 4 is sized to accommodate the thickness of an individual compact
disc being
stored. Means are provided on each of said side walls 3 and 4 to keep the disc
centered
when fully inserted into the cradle. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures
1 and 2
there are two indented plastic tabs 8 and 9 on the side walls 3 and 4 adjacent
the bottom
of the slot 7 that grip the unreadable outer edge of the discs to keep the
disc centered
when fully inserted into the cradle. The wider side 3 of the cradle also has
two
protective strips of felt 10 and 11 to ensure that the readable side of the
compact disc is
not scratched when removing and replacing the discs.
Referring to Photographs 2 and 3 an indexed storage cradle system for
individual indexed cradles 1 so that the operator can store and retrieve any
compact disc
without touching the laser readable surface of the compact disc according to
the present
invention is illustrated. The storage cradle system shown in the Photographs
holds up to
200 discs in individual indexed cradles of Figures 1 and 2 so that the
operator can store
and retrieve any compact disc without touching the laser readable surface of
the
compact disc. The storage cradle system consists of a housing onto which a
series of
cradles as shown in Figures 1 and 2 are rotatably mounted in parallel. Each
cradle 1 is
provided with a hole 12 through the side walls 3 and 4 adjacent the front wall
6 and
above base 2. A solid steel rod is inserted through the holes 12 on each
cradle. The rod is
then mounted to the side walls of the housing. The cradles can rotate around
the rod to
permit the discs to be inserted and removed from the slot 7. To facilitate the
rotation or
pivoting of the cradles that portion 13 of the front wall 6 adjacent base 2 is
angled.
When opened fully (i.e. rotated forward), the cradle rests on neoprene rubber
for further
protection. A spacer is preferably placed between adjacent cradles in order
that they
will not bind against the adjacent cradle when retrieving or retracting discs
from the
unit. In the preferred embodiment the spacer 14 consists of a washer around
the outside
of hole 12 on side wall 3. The spacer can be formed integrally with the
cradle.
3 0 In order to facilitate the pivoting of the cradles means are provided on
the
top 15 and 16 of the front wall 6 of each of the cradles of Figures 1 and 2.
The top 15 of
the front wall 6 of the cradle in Figure 1 is provided with a cutout portion
17. A tab 18 is
provided on the bottom 19 of said cutout to facilitate pulling down the
cradle. The top
16 of the front wall 6 of the cradle of Figure 2 is also provided with a
cutout portion 20.
3 5 A tab 21 is provided on the top 22 of said cutout to facilitate pulling
down the cradle.
As noted above the cradle of Figure 1 and the cradle of Figure 2 are
alternatively placed
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on the rod. The location of the tabs 18 and 21 alternate on adjacent cradles
to minirriize
the chance of inadvertently pulling down the adjacent cradle.
As shown in Photograph 2 the housing for the cradles consists of a
rectangular box with a detachable or hinged cover. A handle is provided on the
top of
the box. The inserts that were contained in the original plastic case with the
compact
disc are placed in plastic sleeves in a binder. The binder is cross referenced
to the
indexed cradle number in the storage system. The index number is preferably
placed
above the cradle as shown in the photographs.
Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention
and certain possible modifications thereto, it should be apparent to those of
ordinary
skill in the art that the invention permits of further modification in
arrangement and
detail. A11 such modifications are covered by the scope of the invention.
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