GB2262218A - Storage rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage rack for Compact Disc library boxes, comprises a sleeve (2, 3) capable of fitting round three edges of a library box (8, 9) the sleeve holding pairs of ledge members (4) located in side walls (3) of the rack, the ledge members (4) being capable of being extended from the side walls (3) to form a support ledge for a library box, in which the ledge members are formed of strip material which, when required, can be deflected inwards out of the plane defined by their respective side walls. This allows a simple adjustment of the ledge positions within the rack so that single and double thickness boxes are readily accommodated for storage. <IMAGE>

Description

STORAGE RACK This invention relates to a storage rack. In particular it relates to a storage rack for recorded sound or other software material when accommodated in Compact Disc library boxes.

In the provision of a CD library box storage rack, it is convenient if the library boxes are supported with one edge facing outwards so that an edge label with title can be readily seen by the user. Preferably, each box will have its own place within the rack so that removal and replacement of one box can be done without affecting the order of the other stored boxes.

The rack is therefore required to have intervening divisions between the separate library boxes so that after removal of one box, the remaining boxes will not tend to all fall together and thus conceal the space into which the removed box should be replaced.

With storage racks available at present, the racks include fixed division members intended to separate the stored boxes and these serve to keep a particular place clear when a selected box has been taken for reproducing the recorded material. However, many disc collectors have found that whilst these racks are convenient for the standard CD box having a given thickness, there is also the need to accommodate other library boxes which hold two Compact Discs and are of double the standard thickness. The conventional rack with its fixed division members does not allow the insertion of the double thickness boxes unless one or two dedicated spaces have been provided. Alternatively, of course a special rack with fixed division members spaced for the double boxes might be made but then such a rack could not be used conveniently for the single boxes.

The collector with a mixed collection of single and double CDs may thus find that the double boxes have to be stored at particular places in the rack and these places may not coincide with the collector's preference with regard to the nature of the recorded sound material and its logical location within the rack or rack system.

The present invention was devised to provide a storage rack suitable for accommodating single and double disc boxes where the two box thicknesses may be mixed with enhanced freedom within the capacity of the rack.

According to the invention, there is provided a storage rack comprising a sleeve capable of fitting round three edges of a CD library box, the sleeve holding pairs of ledge members located in side walls of the rack, the said members being capable of being extended from the said walls to form a support ledge for a library box, in which the ledge members are formed of strip material which, when required, can be deflected inwards out of the plane defined by their respective side walls.

Preferably, each ledge member is formed of a strip of flexible material mounted between fixed end supports.

In one embodiment, each ledge member is formed of flexible material tensioned so that it will tend to move into a stable condition when the support ledge is in its extended state.

Conveniently, the ledge member may be arranged to have a second stable condition when the support ledge is in its retracted state. The ledge member may be formed of a spring sheet metal material.

By way of example, some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a first embodiment of the storage rack shown in isometric view, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at the level of a support ledge, Figure 3 is a second embodiment of the rack in isometric view, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, Figure 5 is a third embodiment in isometric view, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment, Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are cross-sectional views of further embodiments, As depicted in Figure 1, the rack embodiment is formed of sheet metal which in this instance is a 1.5 gauge thickness of aluminium alloy that has been shaped by a pressing operation to form a sleeve capable of fitting round three edges of a CD library box.The sleeve 1 comprises a back 2 and two side walls 3. Each side wall 3 is formed of a double thickness of the metal sheet with an inner layer of the material carrying integrally formed ledge members 4. An outer layer of the material is shaped with a slot 6 aligned with each ledge member 4 so that a ledge member 4 will be able to pass through its respective slot 6, if the ledge member should be so displaced.

The outer layer of each side wall includes a portion 7 which has been dished inwardly of the plane of its wall. This operation has been effected in such a way as to shorten the distance between the points on the side walls where the ledge members 4 are attached and the result of this is that the ledge members will tend to bow outwards from the general plane of their supporting side wall. The ledge members 4 therefore will tend to lie, as shown in Figure 2, either to the left or to the right of the plane of their supporting side wall.

The spacing of the ledge members 4 in the side walls 3 is such that when all of the ledge members 4 are in their extended state they form shelf supports within the sleeve 1 enabling the sleeve to hold CD library boxes of the single size. When it is required for the rack to hold a library box of the double thickness size, the rack may be adapted at the required storage position by pushing the unwanted ledge member 4 from the inside of the sleeve so that the ledge member will spring into its retracted condition and pass through its respective slot 6 in the outer wall to remain in a stable retracted state. This ledge member therefore will not obstruct a double box when it is inserted into the sleeve and the double box can then be stored as easily as a single box.If it should be required to reconvert the rack to single box storage at that position, it is a very simple matter to push the relevant member 4 back through the slot 6 so that it will return to its extended position for single box support.

Figure 1 shows the rack with a single box 8 and a double box 9 supported on ledge members 4. Other ledge members 4 have been adjusted to enable further double boxes to be inserted.

With some constructions of rack it will be possible for the change from the extended to the retracted position of any ledge member 4 to be effected by firm pressure on an inserted double thickness box so that the box itself will serve to push the ledge member 4 into its retracted position.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment where the sleeve 1 is constructed of a plastics composition or it could possibly be made of wood. The side walls 3 have a partly hollow construction and the ledge members 4 are provided in a suitably formed metal sheet 11 attached to the inner side of each wall 3. The rack is depicted as accommodating three double size boxes 9.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 4 shows the possible positions which the ledge members 4 may adopt. With a ledge member extended it can form a shelf support for a library box but when the member is retracted it lies substantially within the hollow of its side wall 3 and does not interfere with the insertion of a double size box into the rack.

This construction has an advantage in providing a smooth external appearance to the side wall of the rack and any ledge member can be readily pulled out from its retracted position whenever this is needed. In fact, the ledge member can be arranged to have only a single stable position when it is in the extended condition and, when the member is retracted, this can just come to rest against a stop 12 in the hollow side wall.

Figure 5 depicts a third embodiment where the sleeve 1 is again constructed of a plastics composition or possibly wood.

The side walls 3 have slots 6 passing completely through these walls and ledge members 4 are provided in a metal sheet 11 attached to the inner surface of each wall 3. The ledge members 4 in the extended position act as before as shelf supports for the boxes t6 be stored. However, when the ledge members 4 are moved into their retracted position, the members lie wholly within the slots 6 in the side walls 3 so that the external appearance of the storage rack is not changed significantly. It is thus a simple matter to reposition a ledge member into its extended state by inserting a small article such as a coin in the relevant slot 6 to push the ledge member 4 towards the inner side of the wall.

The rack is shown as accommodating a mixed collection of single size boxes 8 and double boxes 9.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the Figure 5 construction.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a very simple form of the invention where the rack has a single thickness of metal for the back 2 and side walls 3. The side walls, however are slitted suitably to form the ledge members 4 and the material of these members is then expanded to make it bow out beyond the normal plane of the side wall 3. The expanded material of each ledge member 4 will then be in a bistable spring condition so that it will tend to lie either to the right or to the left of the side wall plane. The ledge member can thus be extended to form a shelf or the member can be retracted as described with earlier embodiments.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment somewhat similar to that of Figure 1. The embodiment is of sheet metal with a back 2 of a single thickness and side walls 3 of double thickness. The ledge members 4 are formed by cutting slits in the material of the inner layer and the material between these slits is then expanded so that it will tend to bow out beyond the normal plane of that layer. The outer layer of each side wall 3 includes slots each of which is aligned with a ledge member as described for the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 9 shows a construction which is of a plastics composition and conveniently, may be made as a single-piece moulding.

Figure 10 shows a construction from a single piece of sheet metal which is an alternative to those of Figures 1, 7 and 8.

In use of the storage rack of the invention, it has been found to be particularly convenient to be able to mix single and double thickness library boxes wherever required within the capacity of the rack. A ledge member can be readily switched from its retracted to its extended condition so there is no problem in rearranging the stored material in the rack.

No tools are required to make the necessary change and there are no detachable pieces which might get mislaid.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For instance, it is not essential that the ledge members should be formed of a sheet metal and they could be alternatively of a plastics composition.

Claims (7)

1 A storage rack for Compact Disc library boxes, the rack comprising a sleeve capable of fitting round three edges of a library box, the sleeve holding pairs of ledge members located in side walls of the rack, the said members being capable of being extended from the said walls to form a support ledge for a library box, in which the ledge members are formed of strip material which, when required, can be deflected inwards out of the plane defined by their respective side walls.

2 A storage rack as claimed in Claim 1, in which each ledge member is formed of a strip of flexible material mounted between fixed end supports.

3 A storage rack as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which each ledge member is formed of flexible material tensioned so that it will tend to move into a stable condition when the support ledge is in its extended state.

4 A storage rack as claimed in Claim 3, in which each ledge member has a second stable condition when the support ledge is in its retracted state.

5 A storage rack as claimed on any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the ledge member is formed of a spring sheet metal material.

6 A storage rack as claimed on any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which each ledge member is formed of the same material as that forming the sleeve.

7 A storage rack substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.