GB2304274A

GB2304274A - Holder eg for compact disc containers

Info

Publication number: GB2304274A
Application number: GB9603358A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sze Man Mok
Original assignee: SUN HING AUDIO EQUIPMENT MFY L; Sun Hing Audio Equipment Mfy Ltd
Current assignee: SUN HING AUDIO EQUIPMENT MFY L; Sun Hing Audio Equipment Mfy Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-18
Filing date: 1996-02-16
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-16
Also published as: FR2737935B1; GB2304274B; CN1143811A; DE29513278U1; HK1000307A1; FR2737935A1; GB9603358D0

Abstract

A storage unit (1) for holding flat objects, particularly compact disc containers comprises at least two side walls (2) which bound a holding area for the objects, each side wall having at least one standing surface (5) for standing on a substantially horizontal support surface, and at least one support element (6) which is arranged on the storage unit (1) and which, when the storage unit (1) is set up, forms a support point arranged on the support surface outside the holding area bounded by the side walls (2). The standing surfaces (5) of the side walls (2) are preferably designed to enable the storage unit (1) to stand at a slope relative to the horizontal support surface.

Description

Title: Storage unit for holding flat objects, particularly for holding compact disc containers Description The invention relates to a storage unit for holding flat objects, particularly for holding compact dise containers.

A multiplicity of design variations are known for such storage units. The design of such storage units is often unusual; for example, they frequently have a towerlike shape and are in the form of a free-standing, decorative cabinet. The compact disc containers are arranged either in insertion strips disposed one above the other or on braces extending between the side walls of the storage unit. Zn order to enable a large number of compact dise containers to be stored, these so-called "CD towers" have a considerable height. For aesthetic reasons the compact dise containers are usually arranged in a single row one above the other. This results in an unfavourable ratio of storage unit height to standing area. The stability of structures of this kind often leaves much to be desired.Hasty extraction of a compact disc container can be enough to tip over the storage unit. The arrangement of a storage unit of this kind free-standing in the room is dangerous in particular when small children are present. Compact disc containers are well known to be attractive to small children, so that a CD tower arranged free-standing in a room is always at the mercy of small children at play and liable to be accidentally tipped over by them.

The object on which the invention is based is therefore that of providing a storage unit of the type initially mentioned, which has improved stability at the cost of only a slight sacrifice of aesthetic effect.

According to the invention this object is achieved with a storage unit for holding flat objects, particularly for holding compact dise containers, which comprises at least two side walls which bound a holding area for the objeets, each of which side walls has at least one standing surface for standing on a substantially horizontal support surface, and which comprises at least one support element which is arranged on the storage unit and which, when the storage unit is set up, forms a support point arranged on the support surface outside the holding area bounded by the side walls. The effective standing area of the storage unit is thereby enlarged and security against tipping-over is decisively improved.

The standing surfaces of the side walls are preferably arranged to enable the storage unit to stand at a slope relative to the horizontal support surface.

When the storage unit is set up on an even support surface, the projection of the centre of gravity of the storage unit into the plane of the support surface is then in an advantageous manner situated between the support point formed by the support element and the standing surface of the side walls. A preferred tipping direction is thereby predetermined, but in that direction the storage unit is reliably held by the support element.

The storage unit construction is thereby made particularly stable and the storage unit can thus without misgivings be arranged free-standing in a room.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention each of the side walls has at least one rectilinearly extending contact edge intended to rest against a wall and fastening means for wall mounting. The storage unit can thus either be arranged free-standing in a room or be fastened to a wall.

The support element may be arranged on the storage unit such as to be able to be pulled in and out and/or to be pivoted in and out.

The support element is expediently articulated on the storage unit for pivoting in and out, it being possible for the support element to be secured in the pivoted-out position, in which it projects out of the plane defined by the contact edges of the side walls. If the storage unit is to be wall mounted, the support element can be pivoted-in so that, in the pivoted-in position, it fits into the space bounded by the side walls and thus it is ensured that the storage unit will lie perfectly against the wall. This has in addition the advantage that the support element is not visible when the storage unit is mounted on a wall.

The side walls are expediently joined to one another by braces, one brace serving as pivot pin for the support element.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the support elacont has at least one catch means, which in the secured position cooperates with a complementary catch means of a side wall. On one side of the storage unit it is also possible to provide a plurality of support elements, which are arranged for joint pivoting on a brace and engage by means of catch projections in corresponding catch recesses in the side walls.

The invention is explained below by way of example with the aid of the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the storage unit according to the invention, with the support elements pivoted-out and secured, Figure 2 shows a side view of the storage unit according to Figure 1, with the support elements pivotedin, in preparation for wall mounting, Figure 3 shows a rear view of the storage unit with the support elements pivoted-out and secured, and Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section through the storage unit with the support elements pivoted in.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the storage unit 1 consists essentially of two side walls 2, which are joined to one another by means of braces 3. The braces 3 are in the form of aluminium rods of circular crosssection.

Zn Figures 1 and 2 insertion strips 4, for holding compact disc containers between the side walls 2, are represented in an indicative way.

The side walls 2 joined to one another by the braces 3 form a tower-like framework, which is suitable both for wall mounting and for standing on a substantially horizontal support surface. Figure 1 shows the storage unit 1 in the standing state. The side walls 2 are each provided with chamfered standing surfaces 5, so that the storage unit 1 assumes an inclined standing position relative to the supporting surface. In the inclined position the projection of the centre of gravity of the storage unit into the supporting surface is arranged outside the plan of the storage unit. In order to prevent the tipping-over of the storage unit 1, pivotable support elements 6 in the form of additional standing feet are provided on one of the braces 3. The standing feet 6 form a support counteracting the tipping moment of the storage unit 1.The effective standing surface of the storage unit 1 is thereby enlarged such that accidental tipping-over is reliably prevented.

For wall mounting, the side walls are provided with a rectilinearly extending contact edge 7. When the standing feet 6 are pivoted-in, the side walls 7 can bear by the contact edge 7 against a wall over their entire length. With the aid of additional fastening means, for example with the aid of angle sections or of eyes fastened on the side walls 2, the storage unit 1 can be screwed to a wall. The standing feet 6 are then avantageously so arranged that they are not visible from the front of the storage unit 1 when the latter has been filled with compact disc containers.

In order to be able to secure the standing feet 6 in the pivoted-out position, they are provided with catch projections 8 which in the secured position engage in corresponding catch recesses 9 in the side walls 2.

The standing feet 6 are in the form of L-shaped links, whose bent-over end 10 has a circular crosssection. The bent-over end 10 of the standing feet 6 may be made of an elastomeric material, or be covered with an elastomeric material, to prevent slipping.

In the pivoted-in position the standing feet fit into the area bounded by the side walls 2. For this purpose the standing feet 6 are arranged for axial movement on the brace 3 serving as pivot pin. For the purpose of pivoting-in, the standing feet 6 are moved towards one another in the axial direction of the brace 3, in such a manner that the bent-over ends 10 can be pivoted-in between the side walls 2. The bent-over ends 10 of the standing feet 6 can likewise be introduced into a circular socket 11, provided in each of the side walls 2, by axial movement on the brace 3. Consequently, the standing feet 6 take up as little as possible of the storage space for compact disc containers. The arranged ment of the standing feet 6 is in addition selected such that the space occupied inside the area bounded by the side walls 3 because of the pivoting of the standing feet 6 is as small as possible.

Claims

1. Storage unit (1) for holding flat objects, particularly for holding compact dise containers, which comprises at least two side walls (2) which bound a holding area for the objects, each of which side walls has at least one standing surf ace (5) for standing on a subitantially horizontal support surf ace, and which comprises at least one support element (6) which is arranged on the storage unit (1) and which, when the storage unit (1) is set up, forms a support point arranged on the support surface outside the holding area bounded by the side walls (2).

2. Storage unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the standing surfaces (5) of the side walls (2) are designed to enable the storage unit (1) to stand at a slope relative to the horizontal support surface.

3. Storage unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the side walls (2) has at least one rectilinearly extending contact edge (7) intended to rest against a wall and fastening means for wall mounting.

4. Storage unit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support element (6) is arranged on the storage unit (1) such as to be able to be pulled in and out and/or to be pivoted in and out.

5. Storage unit according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support element (6) is articulated on the storage unit (1) for pivoting in and out, and in that the support element (6) can be secured in the pivoted-out position, in which it projects out of the plane defined by the contact edges (7) of the side walls (2).

6. Storage unit according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the side walls (2) are joined to one another by braces (3), and in that one brace (3) serves as pivot pin for the support element (6).

7. Storage unit according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support element (6) has at least one catch means (8), which in the secured position cooperates with a complementary catch means (9) of a side wall (2).