US20050258055A1

US20050258055A1 - Multimedia storage support

Info

Publication number: US20050258055A1
Application number: US11/131,163
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis Menard
Original assignee: Nicolet Plastique Ltd
Current assignee: Nicolet Plastique Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-18
Filing date: 2005-05-17
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: EP1598828A3; EP1598828A2

Abstract

Disclosed is a multimedia storage support for receiving and holding CDs and DVDs as such as well as pockets containing CDs or DVDs and casings containing CDs or DVDs whatever be the size of these pockets and casing. This support in the form of a single piece having at least one storage opening provided with two opposite side walls and two opposite ends, each opening being also provided with a retractable fixation system consisting of deformable tongues. Each opening is further provided with recesses in at least of its opposite ends to receive and hold a CD or DVD or alternatively a pocket or a casing containing the same. The support may also be provided with holes and slots positioned in such manner as to facilitate its fixation to a holding structure. Advantageously also, the support may have lateral sides that are provided with tongues and grooves devised to allow fixation of the support to an adjacent support of the same shape, for the purpose of connecting several supports side by side and thus increasing the storage space.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multimedia storage support specially adapted for receiving and holding CDs or DVDs as such, that is in the shape of disks, as well as pockets containing CDs and DVDs or casings containing CDs or DVDs, whatever be the size of these pockets and casings.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

In the field of medias, there exist well-known means for stocking information of data, such as computerezed data, music, films and the like. The first one of these means is the compact disk, commonly called CD. Another of these means is the digital video disk, commonly called to as DVD.
It is known that CDs and DVDs are usually stored into pockets or into plastic casings that can be of different sizes and thicknesses. It is also well-known that there already exist supports for stocking CDs and DVDs for storage purposes. The problem however is that there exist numerous types of pockets and/or casings for CDs or DVDs of different shapes, sizes and thicknesses and each of the existing supports is usually of a specific form and size and thus may receive only given types of CDs or DVDs, pockets or casings. Therefore, there is a need for a CD or DVD storage system which would be versatile and easy to use, while being also aesthetic and offering the opportunity of being very easy to install in any kind of storing furniture and/or to be positioned directly onto a flat surface such as a table or a desk. In other words, there is presently a need for a media storage support that could be used with any kind of CDs, DVDs, pockets and casings containing the same, and which could be connected to other similar supports to form a storing area which, depending on the structure that must be given to such an area, would be installable onto either the vertical walls of a piece of furniture, directly onto a table or a desk, or to a lateral column in order to form a piece of furniture completely independent and capable of storing any kind of CDs, DVDs, pockets and casings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention is directed to a multimedia storage system which satisfies the above-mentioned needs.
More specifically, the invention is directed to a multimedia storage system for receiving and holding CDs or DVDs as such, as well as pockets containing CDs or DVDs and casings containing CDs or DVDs whatever the sizes of these pockets and casings, wherein this support is in the form of a single piece comprising at least one storage opening provided with two opposite side walls and two opposite ends, each opening being also provided with a retractable fixation system consisting of deformable tongues preferably located close to one of the opposite ends of said opening, each opening being further provided with recesses in at least one of its opposite ends to receive and hold a CD or DVD, a pocket or a casing containing the same.
When the piece comprises a plurality of storage openings, these openings extend adjacent to each other and are positioned so that their opposite ends be in same planes and the opposite walls of adjacent openings be also adjacent to each other. In such a case, the adjacent walls of the storage openings adjacent to each other are preferably spaced apart so as to form also a space sized to receive a CD or DVD as such.
Preferably also, the multimedia storage system according to the invention is provided with holes and slots located in such manner as to facilitate fixation of said support to a holding structure in either horizontal, vertical or inclined position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support is devised to be positioned at angle onto a holding structure.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the multimedia storage support has a lower surface that it is substantially flat and horizontal in order to allow positioning of it onto a table or a desk, without having to be positioned on, and be attached to a vertical wall or any other holding structure.
As disclosed hereinabove, the multimedia storage support according to the invention has the advantage of being versatile and thus capable of holding and storing CDs, DVDs, or pockets or casings containing them, whatever be the size and shape of such pockets and casings. The multimedia storage support according to the invention has also the advantage of being modular, thereby making it possible to connect it to other similar supports in order to satisfy the user's need in terms of required storage space. To allow such an assembly of several supports, each support preferably has lateral sides provided with attachments means such as tongues and groves that are devised to allow attachment of it to a similar multimedia storage support positioned adjacent to it, for the purposes of assembling several supports side by side.
In addition to the above-mentioned advantages, the multimedia storage support according to the invention may, depending on the shape that has been given to it, be installed onto the walls of a piece of furniture or of any other kind of holding structure, or either flat onto a table or desk, or to columns or any other support in order to form a storing assembly.
The multimedia storage support according to the invention further has the advantage of having a very simple structure and being very easy to manufacture, especially by moulding.
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following non restrictive description that follows of several preferred embodiments thereof, reference be made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a multimedia storage support according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, this support being provided with eight openings;
FIGS. 2 to 6 are front, side, top, bottom and rear plan views of the multimedias storages support shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing the universality of the support for receiving disks, pockets or casings of different shapes;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the way several supports as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, can be connected to each other and attached to a same holding structure, such as for example the walls of a shelf;
FIG. 9 is a partial front view of two adjacent supports like those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 before they are connected to each other, by means their lateral tongues and groves;
FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating a multimedia storage support similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, but wherein a slightly different lateral attachment system;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating several multimedia storage support according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein each support is provided with only one opening; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a piece of furniture incorporating a plurality of supports as shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The multimedia storage support according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings consists of a piece 1 preferably molded of a plastic material, such as a polyethylene/polypropylene polymeric resin. This piece 1 comprises a plurality of storage openings 3 that extend adjacent to each other and are positioned so that their opposite ends be in the same planes and the opposite walls of adjacent opening be also adjacent to each other. In FIGS. 1 to 9, the illustrated support comprises eight openings. It is worth noting however that the support could have more or less than eight openings.
As shown in FIG. 2, the piece 1 that forms the support has, when seen on a side view, a substantially equal and small thickness. Therefore, when the piece 1 is folded down, it occupies a small space and can therefore be stocked with numerous other similar pieces in a same box, such being particularly interesting in the field for storage purpose and distribution in the field of furniture to be assembled.
When the piece 1 is installed, it extends at an angle. In this position, the opposite side walls 5 of each storage opening 3 also extends at angle and permits to better hold the CDs, DVDs, pockets or casings that are inserted therein as is clearly shown in FIG. 7. In fact, in this particular position, the side walls 5 of each opening 3 permits to hold in a very efficient manner any element inserted therein whether it is in a horizontal, vertical or slightly inclined position.
As is also shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, each storage opening 3 comprises a retractable fixation system consisting of two tongues 7 which are deformable due to the elasticity of the molding material such allowing automatic adaptation of the opening 3 to the size of the pockets or casings to be stored. The tongues 7 are preferably located close to the end of the opening 3 that is in the lowest position when the storage support 1 is installed. On the other side of each opening are located two recesses 9 that are in line with the central axis of the storage opening, each recess 9 having a width that becomes smaller in the direction of the upper edge of the support.
Thanks to these recesses 9 and to the presence of the tongues 7, it is possible for each opening 3 to receive with the very same efficiency either a CD or DVD as such a pocket 11 containing such a CD or DVD, a casing 13 of small size containing a CD or a DVD or a casing 15 of a larger size for a DVD, as shown in FIG. 7.
In the bottom of the lower front end of each storage opening may also be located another central recess 17 which is specially adapted to receive a CD or DVD as such that is in the form of a disk, like the disk 19 shown in FIG. 7. This recess 17 is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. It is worth noting here that the recess 17 is and must actually be located between the tongues 7 just along in the central axis of the corresponding opening to avoid that any disk inserted therein be scratched by the tongue 7.
Advantageously also, the adjacent walls of each pair of storage openings 9 adjacent to each other may be spaced apart so as to define a space 21 which is also sized to receive and hold a CD or DVD 19, as is also shown in FIG. 7. The support according to the invention is therefore capable to receive and hold disk without pockets and/or casings.
As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the deformable tongues 7 is advantageously provided with an angular surface 19 on its upper surface 20 in order to facilitate insertion of a media. With such a structure, the lower edge of any media inserted into the storage opening comes in to contact with the angular surfaces 20 and thus force the tongues to open.
As is shown in greater details in FIG. 8, each support 1 can be connected to a suitable supporting surface by means of screws insertable into holes or slots 22 specially provided for this purpose in the lower front part of the support and/or in the lower side thereof (see FIGS. 5 and 6). As is also shown in particular in FIG. 9, each support is also provided on both of its sides with tongues 23 and with grooves 25 sized to receive the tongues of another adjacent support, such allowing assembly of several supports side by side, as it shown in FIG. 8.
It is worth noting that other conventional attachments means could be used instead of the tongues and groves disclosed therein above, for the purpose of assembling several supports side by side. In this connection, reference can be made to FIG. 10 which illustrate another type of attachment devise including a set of lateral grooves 25, which is intended to be used with a set of lateral teeth 26 projecting from the opposite side of the adjacent support.
Preferably, each side of the support also comprises, on both of its sides, an up and down some cavities 27 which allowed the insertion of pins or any other kind of supporting means 29 as shown in FIG. 8. Such also permits to install a set of supports directly onto a conventional shelf or rack without having to permanently fix the same by means of screws.
FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a multimedia storage support according to another preferred embodiment of the invention. In this second embodiment, the piece 1′ comprises only one single storage openings 3′. The piece 1′ also has, when seen in side view, a shape different from the shape of the piece 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. More specifically, the piece 1′ has a lower surface that is flat and horizontal, such permits to position it onto a table or the upper surface of a desk without having to fix it to the walls of a shelf or onto a holding structure. Like in the previously disclosed embodiment, the storage opening 3′ also comprises a retractable fixation system consisting of two tongues that are deformable thanks to the elasticity of the material used for the molding. The piece 1′ further comprises a recess 9′ in its rear end in order to receive and hold a CD or a DVD or pocket or casing containing the same. The piece 1′ also comprises attachment means consisting of cavities 25′ located in such manner as to match with hooks 23 of an adjacent support, such allowing attachment of several supports side by side, as is illustrated on the left hand side of FIG. 11.
The pieces 1′ that are so assembled that may therefore be connected and installed to form of several stairs that are attachable onto columns 31′ as shown in FIG. 12. In this particular illustrated embodiment, the columns 31′ are made in such manner as to form a storage structure of square shape. It is worth noting however that any other shape such as a triangular shape could be given to the structure. It is worth mentioning also that the structure that is so obtained could be provided with other elements and/or parts such as, for example, a base that would allow rotation of it about a vertical axis.
Of course, numerous modifications can be made to the present invention as disclosed thereinabove without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. A multimedia storage support for receiving and holding CDs or DVDs as such, as well as pockets containing CDs or DVDs and casings containing CDs or DVDs whatever the size of said pockets and casings, wherein said support is in the form of a single piece comprising at least one storage opening provided with two opposite side walls and two opposite ends, each opening being also provided with a retractable fixation system consisting of deformable tongues, each opening being further provided with recesses in at least one of its opposite ends to receive and hold a CD or DVD, a pocket or a casing containing said CD or DVD.

2. The multimedia storage support according to claim 1, wherein said piece comprises a plurality of said at least one storage opening, said openings extending adjacent to each other and being positioned so that their opposite ends be in same planes and the opposite walls of adjacent openings be also adjacent to each other.

3. The multimedia storage support according to claim 2, wherein the adjacent walls of the storage openings adjacent to each other are spaced apart so as to also form a space sized to receive a CD or DVD as such.

4. The multimedia storage system according to claim 1, wherein said support is also provided with holes and slots located in such manner as to facilitate fixation of said support to a holding structure.

5. The multimedia storage support according to claim 1, wherein said support has lateral sides provided with attachment means devised to allow attachment of said support to a similar multimedia storage support positioned adjacent to it, for the purpose of assembling several supports side by side.

6. The multimedia storage support according to claim 1, wherein the deformable tongues are located close to one of the opposite ends of the storage opening containing them.

7. The multimedia storage support according to claim 1, wherein said support is of substantially constant thickness when seen in side view, and is devised to be positioned at angle onto a holding structure.

8. The multimedia storage support according to claim 1, wherein said support has a lower surface that it is substantially flat and horizontal in order to allow positioning of the support onto a table or a desk.

9. The multimedia storage support according to claim 3, wherein:

said support is also provided with holes and slots located in such manner as to facilitate fixation of said support to a holding structure; and

said support lateral sides provided with attachment means devised to allow attachments of said support to a similar multimedia storage support positioned adjacent to it, for the purpose of assembling several supports side by side.

10. The multimedia storage support according to claim 9, wherein the deformable tongues are located close to one of the opposite ends of the storage opening containing them.

11. The multimedia storage support according to claim 10, wherein said support is of substantially constant thickness when seen in side view and is devised to be positioned at angle onto a holding structure.

12. The multimedia storage support according to claim 10, wherein said support has a lower surface that it is substantially flat and horizontal in order to allow positioning of the support onto a table or a desk.

13. The multimedia storage support according to claim 2, wherein the deformable tongues are located close to one of the opposite ends of the storage opening containing them.

14. The multimedia storage support according to claim 3, wherein the deformable tongues are located closed to one of the opposite ends of the storage opening containing them.

15. The multimedia storage support according to claim 5, wherein said support is of substantially constant thickness when seen in side view and is devised to be positioned at angle onto a holding structure.

16. The multimedia storage support according to claim 5, wherein said support has a lower surface that it is substantially flat and horizontal in order to allow positioning of the support onto a table or a desk.