GB2185877A - Cassette cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

A cassette cabinet has a bar (12) placed above the floor (8) at the back of each compartment (10) so that, when a cassette box (B2) is pushed at its top or bottom, the cassette box (B2) will pivot about the bar (12) and the bottom or top respectively of that cassette box (B2) will then be protruding past the fronts of adjacent cassette boxes, thereby facilitating removal of the cassette box (B2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cassette cabinet The invention relates to a cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes. A known kind of such cabinet comprises a shelf on which the boxes are stood on end, face to face with spines of the boxes positioned side by side across the front of the cabinet, rather like books standing on a shelf. Partitions may be provided for separating adjacent boxes and defining individual compartments for the boxes. With such cabinet, the boxes are stored immediately adjacent to one another, or immediately adjacent to the partitions, to save space. It is difficult to remove a selected cassette in its box as the boxes tend to stick to one another or to the partitions, owing to dampness or dust, particularly as there is insufficient room for fingers to be inserted to grasp the side faces of a box.

In accordance with the present invention, a cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes comprises a floor for supporting a number of boxes on end, face to face with front spines of the boxes extending side by side across the front of the cabinet, and a fixed bar extending across the back of the cabinet at a position spaced above the floor for engagement by intermediate portions of rear spines of the boxes, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the top or bottom of a front spine of a box is pressed into the cabinet, the box rocks about the bar and causes the bottom or top respectively of the front spine of that box to project outwardly beyond the front spines of adjacent boxes for gripping and removal of the box from the front of the cabinet.

This is a very simple and cheap solution to the problem of retrieving a selected boxed cassette from the cabinet.

The bar may be a rib, formed integrally with, or attached to, a rear wall of the cabinet. Alternatively, it may be a separate piece which is supported at its ends in side walls of the cabinet and/or by vertical partitions dividing the interior of the cabinet ir Ito compartments for individual cassette boxes or groups of boxes.

The bar is preferably spaced from the floor by approximately half the height of a cassette box standing on end. The user then has the choice of pressing in either the top or bottom of the front spine of the box to cause the bottom or top end, respectively, of the front spine to project outwardly for gripping.

A cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying views, in which:~ Figure 1 is a side view showing the cabinet in use; Figure 2 is a front elevation; and, Figure 3 is a perspective view.

The illustrated cabinet has a frame, which may be made of wood or plastics, and which consists essentially of a base 4, L-shaped side walls 5, a rear wall 6, a top wall 7, three shelves 8, vertical partitions 9, dividing each section of cabinet above a respective floor 8 into compartments 10 for individual cassette boxes, and a pair of sliding glass front doors 11 (omitted for the sake of clarity from Figure 2). A bar 12 extends across the back of each section and is supported by passing through slots in the rear edges of the partitions 9. The bars 12 are positioned above the respective floor 8 by just less than half the height of the sections.

When cassette boxes are stored in the compartments 10, as per box B,, a box (e.g. box B2) may readily be removed by pressing the top or bottom of the exposed front spine of the box, so that the box tilts about the respective bar 12 and the other end of the spine is projected forwardly for gripping and removal of the box from the cabinet.

1. A cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes comprising a floor for supporting a number of boxes on end, face to face with front spines of the boxes extending side by side across the front of the cabinet, and a fixed bar extending across the back of the cabinet at a position spaced above the floor for engagement by intermediate portions of rear spines of the boxes, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the top or bottom of a front spine of a box is pressed into the cabinet, the box rocks about the bar and causes the bottom or top respectively of the front spine of that box to project outwardly beyond the front spines of adjacent boxes for gripping and removal of the box from the front of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1, in which the bar is a rib, formed integrally with, or attached to, a rear wall of the cabinet.

3. A cabinet according to claim 1, in which the bar is a separate piece which is supported at its ends in side walls of the cabinet and/or by vertical partitions dividing the interior of the cabinet into compartments for individual cassette boxes or groups of boxes.

4. A cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, in which the bar is spaced from the floor by approximately half the height of a cassette box standing on end.

5. A cabinet substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cassette cabinet The invention relates to a cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes. A known kind of such cabinet comprises a shelf on which the boxes are stood on end, face to face with spines of the boxes positioned side by side across the front of the cabinet, rather like books standing on a shelf. Partitions may be provided for separating adjacent boxes and defining individual compartments for the boxes. With such cabinet, the boxes are stored immediately adjacent to one another, or immediately adjacent to the partitions, to save space. It is difficult to remove a selected cassette in its box as the boxes tend to stick to one another or to the partitions, owing to dampness or dust, particularly as there is insufficient room for fingers to be inserted to grasp the side faces of a box. In accordance with the present invention, a cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes comprises a floor for supporting a number of boxes on end, face to face with front spines of the boxes extending side by side across the front of the cabinet, and a fixed bar extending across the back of the cabinet at a position spaced above the floor for engagement by intermediate portions of rear spines of the boxes, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the top or bottom of a front spine of a box is pressed into the cabinet, the box rocks about the bar and causes the bottom or top respectively of the front spine of that box to project outwardly beyond the front spines of adjacent boxes for gripping and removal of the box from the front of the cabinet. This is a very simple and cheap solution to the problem of retrieving a selected boxed cassette from the cabinet. The bar may be a rib, formed integrally with, or attached to, a rear wall of the cabinet. Alternatively, it may be a separate piece which is supported at its ends in side walls of the cabinet and/or by vertical partitions dividing the interior of the cabinet ir Ito compartments for individual cassette boxes or groups of boxes. The bar is preferably spaced from the floor by approximately half the height of a cassette box standing on end. The user then has the choice of pressing in either the top or bottom of the front spine of the box to cause the bottom or top end, respectively, of the front spine to project outwardly for gripping. A cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying views, in which:~ Figure 1 is a side view showing the cabinet in use; Figure 2 is a front elevation; and, Figure 3 is a perspective view. The illustrated cabinet has a frame, which may be made of wood or plastics, and which consists essentially of a base 4, L-shaped side walls 5, a rear wall 6, a top wall 7, three shelves 8, vertical partitions 9, dividing each section of cabinet above a respective floor 8 into compartments 10 for individual cassette boxes, and a pair of sliding glass front doors 11 (omitted for the sake of clarity from Figure 2). A bar 12 extends across the back of each section and is supported by passing through slots in the rear edges of the partitions 9. The bars 12 are positioned above the respective floor 8 by just less than half the height of the sections. When cassette boxes are stored in the compartments 10, as per box B,, a box (e.g. box B2) may readily be removed by pressing the top or bottom of the exposed front spine of the box, so that the box tilts about the respective bar 12 and the other end of the spine is projected forwardly for gripping and removal of the box from the cabinet. CLAIMS

1. A cabinet for storing boxed tape cassettes comprising a floor for supporting a number of boxes on end, face to face with front spines of the boxes extending side by side across the front of the cabinet, and a fixed bar extending across the back of the cabinet at a position spaced above the floor for engagement by intermediate portions of rear spines of the boxes, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the top or bottom of a front spine of a box is pressed into the cabinet, the box rocks about the bar and causes the bottom or top respectively of the front spine of that box to project outwardly beyond the front spines of adjacent boxes for gripping and removal of the box from the front of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1, in which the bar is a rib, formed integrally with, or attached to, a rear wall of the cabinet.

3. A cabinet according to claim 1, in which the bar is a separate piece which is supported at its ends in side walls of the cabinet and/or by vertical partitions dividing the interior of the cabinet into compartments for individual cassette boxes or groups of boxes.

4. A cabinet according to any of the preceding claims, in which the bar is spaced from the floor by approximately half the height of a cassette box standing on end.

5. A cabinet substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.