GB2282524A

GB2282524A - Compact disc storage rack

Info

Publication number: GB2282524A
Application number: GB9403459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwok Way Jackey Lee
Original assignee: SUNION Ltd
Current assignee: SUNION Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-15
Filing date: 1994-02-23
Publication date: 1995-04-12
Also published as: GB2282524A8; GB9319138D0; GB2282524A9; GB9403459D0

Abstract

A compact disc storage rack includes a plurality of clips 120 for connection each to a compact disc. Each clip 120 is arranged to rotate relative to a cylindrical support (100 Fig 2) to allow a compact disc case to be stored within the confines of the apparatus or swung to an openable position. The clip 120 is arranged so as only to grip the base member of a compact disc case and not the openable cover to allow the compact disc case to be held by the clip 120 when in the openable position and still allow the case to be opened. <IMAGE>

Description

COMPACT DISC STORAGE This invention relates to storage apparatus for compact discs.

Racks specifically for compact discs have been proposed which allow compact discs to be conveniently and compactly stored.

It is a disadvantage of known racks, however, that they do not easily allow a disc storage case to be viewed and opened without complete removal of the compact disc case from the rack.

It is a object of the invention to provide an improved compact disc storage device.

According to the invention in a first aspect there is provided storage apparatus for compact discs comprising at least one support, a plurality of retaining clips rotatably mounted on the support, each clip including means for gripping a compact disc case at a edge thereof.

Preferably several supports in the form of cylindrical rods are provided, the clips being threaded onto each rod and the rods being held between base and top members to form a unified structure.

The clips preferably have a cylindrical bore provided at one corner and first and second jaws protruding perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical bore, an edge of a compact disc case being received between the jaws in an interference fit. Compact disc cases include a base and a cover which is pivotally mounted on the base and extends most of one surface of the compact disc case. However, a edge of the case forms part of the base and the clip of the invention is arranged to engage that portion of the base so that engagement of the clip does not prevent the cover being opened. As the clip is rotatable, when the compact disc case is gripped by the retaining clip, the case can be rotated between a storage position in which the compact disc is compactly stored and a position in which the compact disc case remains held by the clip but the cover is openable thus allowing access to the compact disc.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: Is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2: Is a exploded view of the components of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 3: Is a enlarged perspective view of a clip of the embodiment of figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4: Is a exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5: Is a enlarged perspective view of a modification of the clip shown in figure 3.

With reference to figures 1-3 a first embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises three cylindrical rods 100, 102, 104, which are received at each end in respective bores formed in a base member 110 and a corresponding top member 112 to form a unified structure.

A plurality of compact disc case retaining clips 120, 125 are slidably placed upon rods 100, 102 and a example of a clip 120 for positioning upon rod 100 is shown illustrated in figure 2 with clip 125 being a mirror image and threaded on rod 102. Like clips are threaded upon each rod 100, 102 to form a stack from the top of the rod to the bottom as partly shown in figure 1.

Clip 120 is shown in more detail in figure 3 and comprises a cylindrical bore 150 provided in support portion 156.

The bore 150 is slightly larger than the diameter of rod 100 to allow the clip to be freely rotatable on the rod 100 First and second jaws 152, 154 extend from the support portion 156. The jaws 154, 152 are resilient and are spaced one from the other by a distance to provide an interference fit with the edge of a compact disc case as described below. To increase the elasticity of jaw 152, a opening 158 provided. Both jaws 152, 154 have bevelled edges 160, 162 to guide the compact disc case when engaging and may be provided with ribs on their internal contact surfaces to enhance the connection.

At each end of bore 150, an annular lip 164, 166 is provided. When clips 120 are placed one on top of the each other on rod 100, the clips touch only at the annular lips 164, 166 thus providing a lower friction contact.

Having the bore 150 provided at a corner of the clip 120 allows the attached compact disc to be swung outwardly to the maximum possible extent making the compact disc case easier to open.

A compact disc case 200 is shown in figure 2. The case comprises a base member 202 to which a cover 204 is pivotally connected. The cover 204 does not extend the full area of one side but the base rises to form part of the surface at one edge 206. The jaws 154, 152 engage this portion 206 of the base 202 as shown so that the clip is connected to the compact disc case 200 while still allowing cover 204 to be opened exposing the compact disc 210 (figure 1). In use the rods 100-104 are connected to the base and the top members 110 and 112 with clips 120 being threaded onto rod 100 and clips 125, being the'mirror image of clips 120, being threaded onto rod 102 to form two columns of relatively rotatable clips. Compact disc cases are then connected to each clip as shown in figure 1 so that two columns of compact disc cases can be stored within the confines of the base and top members. If it is desired to view a compact disc case or remove the compact disc, the case and clip are rotated as shown in figure 1 to a position where the case is outside of the confines of the top and base members but is still securely held by the clip. At such a position, the cover 204 may be opened and the compact disc removed with the case still firmly held by clip.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figure 4 in which four rods 300-306 are provided between base and top member 310,312. Clips 320 are provided in a like manner to the first embodiment except that with the second embodiment all the clips 320 can be of the same kind and mirror image clips (such as 125) are not necessary.

Furthermore, all four rods can be used to support compact discs.

With the embodiment of figure 4, a "lazy susan" 370 is provided, comprising first and second plates 372, 374 between which a ball bearing race is disposed to allow relative rotation, member 372 being connected to base member 312 to allow the storage device to be rotatable.

Preferably, the rods are formed from stainless steel, the top and base members are preferably formed from wood from injection moulded plastics material such as ABS, HIPS, SAN, Acrylic, PS and the clips are formed from injection moulded plastics material such as ABS, HIPS, SAN, Acrylic, PS.

A modification to the clip of figure 3 as shown in figure 5.

In the clip of figure 5, like reference numerals have like reference numerals to that of figure 3 with the addition of 300.

The clip of figure 5 includes several improvements to assist in the operation of the embodiment of the invention.

Specifically, jaws 454, 452 have two spaced projections 480, 481 and openings 482, 483. The two projections, 480, 481 have less resistance to elastic deformations thus making it easier to insert a compact disc while retaining a firm grip over a distributed area.

The cylindrical bore 450 is provided with a axial slot 451 which enables the sides of the cylinder to deform resiliently in response to slight variations in the diameter of rods 300.

A side wall 485 is provided to assist in accurate location of the side of the compact disc box. The side wall where it meets the base 456 of the clip is formed with a recess 486 to accommodate any projection of the cover 204 of the compact disc case when this is opened.

Claims

CLAIM

1. Apparatus for storage of compact discs comprising at least one support, a plurality of retaining clips rotatably mounted on the support, each clip including means for gripping a compact disc case at an edge thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is a cylindrical rod connected to a support member and the clips are adjacently disposed on the rod.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rod is disposed between two support members.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least two rods are provided between the support members to form a unified structure.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein four said rods are provided.

6. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 2-5 further comprising means connected to a said support member for rotation thereof relative to a support surface.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip includes a cylindrical bore engaging the support.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bore is disposed at a corner of the clip.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bore has a raised rim at at least one end engaging a adjacent said clip.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the sides of the bore are provided with a slit to allow flexure.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gripping means comprises first and second jaws, at least one of the jaws being resilient.

12. Apparatus as claimed in 11 wherein at least one jaw comprises at least two gripping projections.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein a said jaw includes at least one raised rib on a gripping surface.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip includes a side member adjacent the gripping means, to locate the side of the said compact disc case when gripped by said gripping means.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the compact disc case comprises a base member and an openable cover, the gripping means being arranged to grip only the base member and not the cover.

16. In combination apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and at least one compact disc case, they or each case being held by a respective clip.

17. Apparatus for storage of compact discs substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 3 or figures 3 and 4 or as modified in figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.