Compact disc display tower

Details Compact disc display tower Compact disc display tower

1999-11-04

2001-03-20

Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)

Supports: racks

Special article

Recorded music type

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202861

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of entertainment display and storage devices, and more particularly to providing a tower height revolving stand for storing, displaying and viewably reviewing compact disc jewel cases in a manner which readily enables identification and selection, as well as in controlling the manner of display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Compact disc technology enables significant data to be placed on a disk of limited size. While the reduction in size has benefitted overall ownership, the shape of the compact discs and the jewel cases in which they are sold and stored has so reduced the end edge area for indicating the contents of the case that storing the compact discs flat in a long stack reduces the area for indicating the contents of the jewel case to such an extent that it is difficult to review the compact discs available. Storing the jewel cases in stacks where direct case-to-case contact is had also tends to scratch and damage the jewel cases. Each time the jewel cases are manually handled, more scratches occur.
Other compact disc support and storage structures are known. In one example, an individual jewel case support can be mounted on walls to give a tile effect and to show off the cases. In another example, a vertical square edge metal stand can have a series of cuts to accommodate each jewel case, with each case held in a cantilevered fashion. This also contributes to damaging the case since the pressure points are likely to be applied to the case at locations other than the edges.
What is therefore needed is a device which strikes an advantageous balance between the need to display the compact disc jewel cases, storage of the jewel cases, and selection and replacement into a storage medium without damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A motorized compact disc tower rack can hold a high number of jewel cases in a series of belt arranged spacing sleeves which rotates between two main side supports. The side supports may accommodate side lighting for effect, as well as top lighting illumination for showcasing the jewel cases as they pass from one side of the belt to the other by flipping over the top and underneath the bottom. The side sectional shape of the path of the conveyor plurality of spacing sleeves is radiused more sharply at the top to more dramatically physically illustrate the jewel case at the top which transitions from one side of the belt arranged spacing sleeves. The bottom larger radius turn provides a more gentle transition since the jewel cases are not typically viewed at the bottom.
The jewel cases insert into the sleeves at the front of the rack typically with the title information readable from the front as a vertical series of labels. The jewel cases are arranged at the top of the conveyor plurality of spacing sleeves so that the jewel case information faces in the same direction as the front of the rack. In this orientation, and regardless of the direction of travel of the conveyor belt arrangement of plurality of spacing sleeves, the jewel cases will flip over the top with the main face of the jewel case facing the front of the tower.
At the base of the tower, and forward and reverse actuation switches enable a user to select the forward or rearward movement of the conveyor of the plurality of spacing sleeves. Ideally, the user will simply watch the jewel cases as they flip over the top of the tower as the jewel cases travel up the front, flipping toward the back and down the back side of the tower, or as the jewel cases travel up the back, flipping toward the front and down the front side of the tower. A jewel case can be easily grasped at the upper portion of the conveyor arrangement of the plurality of spacing sleeves since the jewel cases are at maximum angular displacement with respect to adjacent jewel cases at that point. The adjacent angular displacement both helps the user to review the face of each jewel case and to grasp the case of interest. An optional spotlight illumination concentrates attention on the top jewel cases as they appear at their maximum angular displacement. Other options include side lighting which reacts to the audio level of music being played.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5040689 (1991-08-01), Hull et al.
patent: 5259515 (1993-11-01), Koeppel
patent: 5385397 (1995-01-01), Chow

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