Supports: racks – Special article – Recorded music type
Patent
1997-04-16
1999-08-03
Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
Supports: racks
Special article
Recorded music type
211163, 211205, 312 958, 2063081, A47F 500
Patent
active
059313153
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of modular storage and display devices and more specifically it is concerned with a modular device for storing and displaying essentially flat containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Storage and display devices for flat containers such as for example, compact disk, video and audio cassette containers and the like, have always been a subject for designers. Such devices should be, on the one hand, functional enabling storage of a maximum number of objects in a minimum space and with optimal access to items contained within such containers and, on the other hand, should be pleasing to the eye.
An important and highly desired character required from such devices is that they should preferably be modular, i.e. to facilitate expansion of their capacity and alter the arrangement of the stored and displayed objects. A still further desirable feature is that such devices should be able to receive a variety of containers with varying dimensions and also containers holding more than one article e.g. containers holding two compact-disks.
Storage and display devices for such flat containers have been previously proposed. For example there are known box-like storage structures in which the containers are retained vertically within receiving slots. The disadvantage of all such structures is that the content of the containers is not visible and inspecting their contents is not possible without removal from the storage structure. Furthermore, such structures occupy a relatively large space as compared with total amount of the accommodated containers.
G.B. Patent specification No. 2,239,595 discloses a storage and display device comprising a base mounted column adapted to have mounted thereon several display units each of which holding an article to be displayed. According, to this specification, each display unit is provided with an annular collar fitting around the column and a container gripping member attached to the collar and capable of rotation about a horizontal axis.
However, according to the disclosure of this specification, the contents of a stored container cannot be inspected without first removing the container from its gripping, member. Another drawback of this prior disclosure is that it is not a modular structure. Thus, adding or rearranging the disks along the column requires removal of all the preceding containers.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved modular storing and display device in which the above-referred to disadvantages are substantially reduced or overcome and the above-referred to desiderata are substantially fulfilled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a modular storage and display device for essentially flat containers comprising a vertically retained column and a plurality of connecting members mounted on said column, characterized in that said connecting members arc integrally formed at one portion thereof with a pair of resiliently displaceable gripping arms adapted to snap fit around the column so as to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the column and at an opposed portion of the connector with means for gripping an edge portion of the container.
A typical container with which the present invention is concerned comprises a base member, front and rear walls and a flap hinged adjacent a rear end thereof such as compact disk, video and audio cassette containers and the like, wherein according to one embodiment, structure formed of a top and a bottom essentially, horizontally extending supports, the distance between said supports being essentially equal to the thickness of the container, at least one of said supports being provided adjacent a rear wall of said gripping means with a grove suitable for snappingly receiving a ridge vertically projecting from an edge of the base member or flap of said container; the arrangement being such that a rear edge portion of said container is forcibly engaged between said flat supports and th
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Levy Rony
Lorentz Hilel
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