US3847316A

US3847316A - Rooftop tape storage rack

Info

Publication number: US3847316A
Application number: US00309051A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Mcinnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-11-24
Filing date: 1972-11-24
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12

Abstract

A rooftop tape storage rack comprising a unitary device having a bottom wall, spaced side walls, and an end wall, one side wall having an opening therein for permitting cartridges to be inserted and removed, and a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom wall through which a finger can be inserted to raise a cartridge for removal through the opening in said one side wall. Means are associated with said device for fastening said device to the roof of an automotive vehicle.

Description

States Patent 1 [111 3,847,316 Mclnnes 1 Nov. 12, 1974 1 ROOFTOP TAPE STORAGE RACK 239,727 2/1946 Switzerland 206/D1G. 32

[76] Inventor: Robert P. Mclnnes, l 108 Fairway Linden Mich- 48451 Primary E.\'am1'ner-Robert J. Spar [22} Filed; 24, 1972 Assistant Examiner-lerold M. Forsbcrg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & [21] App]. No.: 309,051 choate 521 its. (31....244/421 c, 224/4242 R, 224/4246 R I [51 lint. Cl B60m 7/08 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search..... 224/421 C, 42.1 CA, 29 A,

224/4242 R, 42.41, 42.46 R, 42.1 R, 42.45 A rooftop tape storage rack comprising a unitary dc- R; 206/73, DIG. 32, DIG. 36; 211/51, 49 D, vice having a bottom wall, spaced side walls, and an 41; 312/71 end wall, one side wall having an opening therein for permitting cartridges to be inserted and removed, and [56] References Cited a longitudinally extending slot in the bottom wall UNITED STATES PATENTS through which a finger can be inserted to raise a car- 1 tridge for removal through the opening in said one side wall. Means are associated with said device for 3,627,298 12 1971 Reese .:Iiiiiiiiiiiriiii: 20 /DlG: 36 fastening Said device to the roof of an automotive 3,666,337 5/1972 Sztorc 206/D1G. 36 hide- FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 522,794 4/1955 ltaly 224/421 C ,2 L .A /fi I [i-{ I L. ZZ/AHL.) H a U l noorror TAPE STORAGE RACK This invention relates to storage of tape cartridges and particularly to storage of such cartridges in automobiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In automobiles and the like, it has been common to incorporate tape decks which are used to play tape cartridges for the entertainment and amusement of the occupants of the automobile. One of the difficulties with respect to such devices is that cartridges must be stored, preferably out of the nonnal area of activity of the occupants.

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are I to provide a tape storage rack wherein cartridges can be stored adjacent the interior of the roof of the vehicle and readily accessible to the occupants; which is easily installed; which can be made at relatively low cost; which is aesthetically pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rooftop tape storage rack embodying the invention comprises a unitary device molded from organic plastic material and having a top wall, side walls, end walls and a bottom wall. The side walls have a substantially lesser height than said end wallsthereby forming an opening therein for receiving tape cartridges. The cartridges'are adapted to be held-in side-by-side relationship with the side walls engaging the ends of the cartridges. A slot is provided in the bottom walland extends substantially throughout the length thereof providing a finger receiving opening through which a finger can be inserted to liftthe cartridges for ready re moval from the openings in' said side walls. Laterally extending mounting panels extend from said end walls at the area of juncture of said end walls and said top wall to provide a means of attachment to the roof of the automotive vehicle.

DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the tape storage rack embodying the invention in position in an automobile.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, the tape storage deck 10 embodying the invention is adapted to be mounted on the inner surface of the roof ll of a vehicle A and is made as a unitary device of organic plastic material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic.

The rack 10 comprises a rectangular top wall 12 and a rectangular bottom wall 13 joined by end walls 14.

the interior of the roof 11 of the vehicle, there eral conformation.

Vertical re-enforcing ribs 21 extend between the undersurface of the panel portions 18 and the outer surface of the end wall 14.

The curved end portions are adjustably mounted on panel portions 18 by screws 20 and wing nuts 23 extending through elongated slots 24 in the panel portions 18. Eachpanel portion 19 includes a clearance slot 25 for the rib 21.

The rack is mounted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably immediately behind the front seat with the panel portions engaging the inner surface of the roof 11. The rack is supported either by engaging the end of the panel portions 18 with the conventional flanges 22 of the vehicle or by inserting fastening devices directly through the portions 19 into the roof.

A movable stop 26 of plastic material is provided in slot 17 and has slits 27 so that it can be slidingly positioned along slot 17 to prevent the tape cartridges from tipping and rattling.

After the rack is mounted, cartridges C can be inserted in side by side relationship through the opening 16 and readily removed therefrom. To facilitate removal of a particular cartridge from a group, the finger slot 17 is provided through which a finger can be inserted to lift the particular cartridge desired so that it can be grasped and removed from the opening 16. As will be seen in FIG. 2, the rack not only supports the cartridges but does so in a manner that the titles are readily visible through the opening 16. By storing the cartridges adjacent the roof, they are kept out of the way and also away from direct exposure to the sun.

is genclaim:

1. In a rooftop tape storage rack, the combination comprising a unitary device molded from organic plastic material and comprising a top wall, side walls, end walls and a bottom wall,

at least one of said side walls having a substantially lesser height than said end walls thereby forming an opening therein for receiving tape cartridges,

saidcartridges being adapted to be held in side-byside relationship with the side walls adapted to engage the ends of the cartridges,

a slot associated with the bottom wall and extending substantially throughout the length thereof providing a finger receiving opening through which a fin ger can be inserted to lift the cartridges for ready removal from the opening in said side walls,

' laterally extending integral mounting panels extending from said end walls at the area of juncture of said end walls and said top wall,

said laterally extending panels being curved generally downwardly with respect to said top wall,

re-enforcing ribs between said panel portions and said end walls,

extension panels adjustably mounted on said mounting panels,

and a stop adjustably mounted in said slot in said bottom wall for engaging the. cartridges,

means on said extension panels for attaching the device to a vehicle.

2. In a rooftop tape storage rack, the combination comprising 7 an elongated device comprising a top wall, side walls,

end walls and a bottom wall,

the length of said walls being many times the width thereof,

at least one of said side walls having an opening therethrough for insertion and removal of tape cartridges,

a slot associated with said bottom wall and a stop device adjustably. mounted along said slot for engaging the endmost cartridge of a series of cartridges,

said slot-providing a finger receiving opening through which a finger can be inserted to lift the cartridges for ready removal from the opening in said side walls,

Claims

1. In a rooftop tape storage rack, the combination comprising a unitary device molded from organic plastic material and comprising a top wall, side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, at least one of said side walls having a substantially lesser height than said end walls thereby forming an openingtherein for receiving tape cartridges, an opening therein said cartridges being adapted to be held in side-by-side relationship with the side walls adapted to engage the ends of the cartridges, a slot associated with the bottom wall and extending substantially throughout the length thereof providing a finger receiving opening through which a finger can be inserted to lift the cartridges for ready removal from the opening in said side walls, laterally extending integral mounting panels extending from said end walls at the area of juncture of said end walls and said top wall, said laterally extending panels being curved generally downwardly with respect to said top wall, re-enforcing ribs between said panel portions and said end walls, extension panels adjustably mounted on said mounting panels, and a stop adjustably mounted in said slot in said bottom wall for engaging the cartridges, means on said extension panels for attaching the device to a vehicle.

2. In a rooftop tape storage rack, the combination comprising an elongated device comprising a top wall, side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, the length of said walls being many times the width thereof, at least one of said side walls having an opening therethrough for insertion and removal of tape cartridges, a slot associated with said bottom wall and a stop device adjustably mounted along said slot for engaging the endmost cartridge of a series of cartridges, said slot providing a finger receiving opening through which a finger can be inserted to lift the cartridges for ready removal from the opening in said side walls, said cartridges being adapted to be held in side-by-side relation with the side walls adapted to engage the ends of said cartridges, and laterally extending mounting panels connected to and extending from said end walls longitudinally of the device, said panels includE extension panels adjustable longitudinally of said device, at least the end portions of said panels being curved generally downwardly with respect to the top wall and being adapted to generally conform with the interior of the roof of a vehicle, and means on said panels for attaching the device to a vehicle.