US20060021954A1

US20060021954A1 - Compact disk collector

Info

Publication number: US20060021954A1
Application number: US10/900,083
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-28
Filing date: 2004-07-28
Publication date: 2006-02-02

Abstract

A compact disk collector for collecting compact disk is provided. The compact disk collector includes a plurality of main bodies and at least a pivotal member. Each main body includes an upper cover and a lower cover combining with the upper cover. The upper cover includes a retainer groove for placing a compact disk box standing therein. The lower cover forms a first connection portion and a second connection portion respectively extended from the lower cover. The number of the pivotal members is one smaller than that of the main bodies. The pivotal member penetrates and combines the first connection portion of one main body and the second connection portion of the other main body. Therefore, the compact disk collector can be adjusted or rearranged into different forms or shapes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a compact disk collector, and more particularly to a compact disk collector that can be deformed or rearranged into different forms or shapes.
The recent advancement of computer industry has developed many different kinds of new products. In particular, the main stream of the access element of a storage device has also been promoted to optical disks, such as compact disk (CD) and digital video disk (DVD). Since such optical disk is highly portable and massively voluminous, they are gradually replacing the conventional magnetic tapes and becoming part of our daily life. However, as the number of disks increases, the collection and preservation of the disks become an important issue.
Conventional design of a compact disk collector emphasizes the number of compact disk boxes that can be retained in the compact disk collector. For this reason, larger and larger compact disk collectors are developed, which also largely increases the cost for transportation and package. Therefore, a detachable compact disk collector is developed and published in Taiwanese new utility patent no. 277742, entitled “Combinational compact disk collector”. The disk collector includes a plurality of unit layers. There is formed a plurality of hollow pillars above the corners of each layer and a plurality of supporting pillars below each layer. The supporting pillars on one unit layer are so disposed that correspond to the hollow pillars on another unit layer, thereby combining the two unit layers together. Moreover, there is formed a cylinder and an opened ring outside of each hollow pillar. By elastically incorporating the opened rings with the cylinders, the unit layers can be combined from all directions, thereby forming a combinational compact disk collector.
Although the conventional combinational compact disk collector described above is advantageous in that the transportation cost is lowered and the package size is shrunk, however, it still includes the following drawbacks. Since the unit layers are combined through elastically incorporating the cylinders with the opened rings, the cylinders and the opened rings are easily disengaged especially when there are too many compact disk boxes disposed thereon, and especially when moving or cleaning the entire compact disk collector. In addition, the compact disk collector composed of those unit layers can not be deformed, and thus requiring quite a large space for placing the collector. Furthermore, such compact disk collector can only be placed on a flat desktop or surface, thereby further narrowing the already insufficient working space.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to the development of a new compact disk collector that can resolve the problems set forth above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a compact disk collector that can properly be adjusted or rearranged into different forms or shapes so as to fit into a limited space. The compact disk collector can be placed on a desktop or hanged on the wall.
Accordingly the compact disk collector includes a plurality of main bodies and at least a pivotal member. The main body includes an upper cover and a lower cover combining with the upper cover. The upper cover includes a retainer groove for placing a compact disk box thereon. The lower cover forms a first connection portion and a second connection portion respectively extended from the lower cover. The number of the pivotal members is one smaller than that of the main bodies. The pivotal member penetrates and combines the first connection portion and the second connection portion of two main bodies respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an explosive view of a compact disk collector of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an explosive view of the compact disk collector of the present invention that is partially assembled.
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial sectional view of the compact disk collector of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the compact disk collector of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a compact disk collector in use according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a compact disk collector in use according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a compact disk collector in use according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to better understanding the features and technical contents of the present invention, the present invention is hereinafter described in detail by incorporating with the accompanied drawings. However, the accompanied drawings are only for the convenience of illustration and description, no limitation is intended thereto.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an explosive view, a partially assembled explosive view and a partial sectional view of a compact disk collector of the present invention are illustrated, respectively. The compact disk collector includes a main body 10 and a pivotal member 20.
The main body 10 is fabricated by injection molding a plastic material. The main body 10 includes an upper cover 11 and a lower cover 12 to be combined together. On the top surface of the upper cover 11, a retainer groove 111 is formed for placing a compact disk box standing therein. A shielding cover 112 is formed on the upper cover 11 extending from one end of the retainer groove 111. In addition, a plurality of protrusive pillars 113 is formed on the internal portion of the upper cover 11. Each of the protrusive pillars 113 includes a blind hole 114 formed at the center of the protrusive pillar 113.
A first connection portion 121 and a second connection portion 122 are formed extending from one end of the lower cover 12. The bottom surface of the first connection portion 121 and the bottom surface of the lower cover 12 form a flat surface, so as to be securely placed on a flat surface. A circular through hole 123 is formed at the center of the first connection portion 121. A first protrusive ring 124 having a diameter smaller than that of the through hole 123 is formed on the side surface of the through hole 123 adjacent the bottom portion of the through hole 123. A ring shaped groove 125 is formed surrounding the through hole 123, so as to provide the through hole 123 with the capacities of elastic deformation. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the second connection portion 122 is aligned with the top surface of the first connection portion 121. A circular hole 126 is formed on the second connection portion 122. A second protrusive ring 127 having a diameter smaller than that of the hole 126 is formed on the bottom surface of the hole 126. The inner rim diameter of the second protrusive ring 127 is the same as that of the through hole 123 of the first connection portion 121. In addition, a plurality of rectangular pillars 12 are protrusively formed on two ends of the internal portion of the lower cover 12. The rectangular pillars 128 are to incorporate with the blind holes 114 of the upper cover 11, thereby combining the upper cover 11 and the lower cover 12.
The pivotal member 20 includes a protrusive ring 21 and a cylindrical barrel 22 downwardly extended from the protrusive ring 21. There is formed a hanging hole 23 at the center of the pivotal member 20 so as to act as a alignment point for vertically being hanged on a wall. Furthermore, the protrusive ring 21 can be disposed into the circular hole 126 of the second connection portion 122, and the top surface of the protrusive ring 21 has a cross shaped groove 211 formed thereon for cooperating with a tool such as a screw driver. Moreover, a plurality of equally spaced curved pillars 221 are protrusively formed around the cylindrical barrel 22. A circular concave ring 222 is formed adjacent the bottom surface of each of the curved pillars 221. The distances between the concave rings 222 are corresponding to the thickness of the first protrusive ring 124 of the first connection portion 121. In addition, the outer diameter of each of the curved pillars 221 is corresponding to the diameter of the through hole 123 of the first connection portion 121.
In combination, the bottom surface of the second connection portion 122 of the lower cover 12 contacts the top surface of the first connection portion 121 of the neighboring lower cover 12. The second protrusive ring 127 of the second connection portion 122 faces the through hole 123 of the first connection portion 121, and sequentially inserts the cylindrical barrel 22 of the pivotal member 20 into the circular hole 126 and the through hole 123. While the curved pillar 221 of the pivotal member 20 passes through the first protrusive ring 124 of the through hole 123, the curved pillars 221 will be elastically deformed and pressed therein. Later, the first protrusive ring 124 can be locked just right into the concave ring 222 of the pivotal member 20, so as to form a secure connection. Next, each of the blind hole 114 of the upper cover 11 is connected with the rectangular pillar 128 of the lower cover 12, covering the shielding cover 112 of the upper cover 11 onto the second connection portion, so as to form a combined compact disk collector.
Referring to FIG. 4, the perspective view of a compact disk collector of the present invention is illustrated. The compact disk collector includes a harness member 20. The harness member 30 is used for combining the head and tail of the main bodies 10. The harness member 30 includes a ring portion 31 and a barrel shape portion 32 upwardly extended from the ring portion 31. A penetrating hole 33 is formed at the center of the harness member 30. In addition, a plurality of equally spaced curved pillar 321 is protrusively formed around the barrel shape portion 32. The outer diameter of each of the curved pillar 321 is corresponding to the diameter of the second protrusive ring 127 of the second connection portion 122. The harness member 30 is harnessed on the lower cover 12 and the bottom surface thereof is aligned with the bottom surface with the lower cover 12, while another harness member 30 is harnessed on the upper cover 11, thereby forming a flat surface for securely placing the compact disk collector on any flat surface.
Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. By employing a plurality of main body 10 being connected through a plurality of pivotal members 20, various different kinds of combinations can be formed. The number of pivotal members 20 is one less than the number of the main bodies 10. The compact disk collector can be combined into various kinds of shapes, such as an L-shape, a U-shape, an S-shape, a linear shape (as shown in FIG. 5), an inner circular shape having the retainer groove 111 disposed at the internal side (as shown in FIG. 6), or an outer circular shape having the retainer groove 111 being disposed at the external side. The users can adjust the combination to best fit their need and their working space. For example, an L-shape can be employed for placing the compact disk collector at a corner. Or, one can hang the collector on the wall, so as to utilize the limited working space.
The compact disk collector has at least the following advantages. Since the main body and the pivotal member form a modularized product, the users may gradually add new modules in accordance with the actual need. In addition, the compact disk collector of the present invention can be adjusted or rearranged to comply with the working space. The collector can be horizontally placed on a desktop or vertically hanged on the wall. Therefore, a huge variety of combination forms can be realized.
In summary, the compact disk collector of the present invention indeed contains patentable subject matter that is consistent with the utility, novelty and non-obviousness requirements as set forth in the patent law. Therefore, a grant of letters patent for the present invention is respectively requested.
Although, the compact disk collector of the present invention has been heretofore described in detail by exemplifying the use of the collector with a compact disk. However, the term “compact disk” here should be construed to include all possible data storage medium, such as optical disks and magnetic disks. Since, any person having ordinary skill in the art may readily find various equivalent alterations or modifications in light of the features as disclosed above, it is appreciated that the scope of the present invention is defined in the following claims. Therefore, all such equivalent alterations or modifications without departing from the subject matter as set forth in the following claims is considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A compact disk collector, comprising:

one or more main bodies, each comprising an upper cover and a lower cover combining with the upper cover, the upper cover comprising a retainer groove for placing a compact disk thereon, and the lower cover forming a first connection portion and a second connection portion respectively extended therefrom; and

one or more pivotal members, the number of which being one smaller than that of the main bodies, said pivotal member penetrating and combining the first connection portion of one said main body and the second connection portion of the other said main body.

2. The collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the combination of said main bodies and said pivotal members forms a circular.

3. The collector as recited in claim 1, wherein a shielding cover is formed at one end of the upper cover for covering the second connection portion.

4. The collector as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of blind holes are formed inside of the upper cover, and a plurality of rectangular pillars are formed inside of the lower cover, each blind hole corresponding to each rectangular pillar for combining the upper cover and the lower cover together.

5. The collector as recited in claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed on the first connection portion, a circular hole is formed on the second connection portion, and the pivotal member comprises a protrusive ring portion and a cylindrical barrel being disposed in the circular hole and the through hole, respectively.

6. The collector as recited in claim 5, wherein a first protrusive ring is formed on the bottom sidewall of the through hole, and a concave ring is formed on the cylindrical barrel, the concave ring securely locking the first protrusive ring in position.

7. The collector as recited in claim 5, wherein a plurality of curved pillars are protrusively formed around the cylindrical barrel to obtain, an outer diameter of the surrounding curved pillars corresponding to the diameter of the through hole.

8. The collector as recited in claim 1, wherein a hanging hole is formed at the center of the pivotal member for hanging on the wall.

9. The collector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a harness member being combined to a free first connection portion or a free second connection portion so that a surface thereofis at the same level with respect to the top surface of the upper cover or the bottom surface of the lower cover, respectively.

10. The collector as recited in claim 9, wherein the harness member comprises a ring portion and a barrel shape portion, and a plurality of curved pillars are formed around the barrel shape portion, each curved pillar being harnessed onto the second connection portion.