WO1981002829A1

WO1981002829A1 - Adjustable indexed record rack

Info

Publication number: WO1981002829A1
Application number: PCT/US1981/000418
Authority: WO
Inventors: M Tracy
Original assignee: M Tracy
Priority date: 1980-03-31
Filing date: 1981-03-26
Publication date: 1981-10-15
Also published as: EP0049282A1

Abstract

An improved method of storing a plurality of jacketed record albums (11) in a filing enclosure which can be adjusted to accommodate varying numbers of record albums. The record holder is composed of two vertical side supports (1) spaced apart and connecting with three horizontally aligned tube(s) (A), (B), and (C) of equal length, whereby said records rest upon two of said tubes (A)and (B) with third tube (C) serving to align and abut record albums. This invention has several features which allow it to adjust to the size of the record collection First, it is equipped with a thin, flat piece (4) which serves to buttress record albums against one of the two side supports (1). Second, the distance between said side supports may be increased by means of different diameter tubes (2) and (3) which are telescopically engaged. And third, threaded studs (7) which screw into tube ends allow for additional length of tubes (6) to be employed. This invention has an indexing system to allow for easy categorization of record albums. All three variations (8), (9), and (10) of said indexing system are slidably engaged with the front support tube(s) (A), with the rear portion of the indexing mechanisms designed to slip between vertically grouped record albums, while the front portion is exposed and readable to the eye.

Description

ADJUSTABLE INDEXED RECORD RACK

Field of Invention

This invention relates to phonograph records and specifically to an improved method of storing a plurality of record albums with their cardboard jackets in a filing enclosure, which can be adjusted to provide adequate storage space according to the number of albums to be received therein.

Discussion of Prior Art

Heretofore, phonograph record holders have most often been of the cabinet variety making record storage a somewhat costly proposition, such that many record collectors have improvised their own means of record storage. Popular methods include empty orange crates, open shelves, or just something firm to lean albums against.

Objects

This invention has as its principal object to provide an economical, neat, and simply constructed mechanism for holding records—a mechanism which, along with its low cost and simple design, is able to accommodate itself to the size of the record collection, thereby utilizing a minimum amount of room space.

A further object of this invention is to provide a storage rack or assemblage, which is suitable for one or more of any and all objects that are essentially flat or planar, such as the new laser tracked Laser Disc and Video Disc albums, which are now making their entrance in the marketplace; but also including such items as magazines, file folders, photographs, and photographic plates.

An added feature of this design is a novel indexing system that allows for easy filing and retrieval of filed record albums. An indexing system of the type illustrated in this invention is a significant improvement over existing record holders with no such indexing means, because record album jackets are of a nearly uniform shape and size, and, therefore, are not easily distinguishable from one another when grouped together with only jacket edges in view.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description thereof.

It should be noted before proceeding further that my invention is designed to store record albums inside of the square cardboard jackets they are commonly sold with. Therefore, wherever the words "records" or "record albums" appear in the specification, it is to be understood that record album jackets are also being referred to.

As regards the drawings of the three indexing system variations, it will be noted that in each said drawing only one indexing mechanism is shown. The actual number of indexing mechanisms would obviously depend on the needs of the record collector and how the index code is established—whether alphabetically or by some other arrangement.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a prospective view of my invention with record albums absent and with smaller diameter tubes extending out of larger diameter tubes. Eetween the two side supports is a thin flat piece, vertically positioned, and slidably engaged with said tubes.

Fig. 2 is also a prospective view of the record rack, again with record albums absent, and shows tubes disconnected with each other to better illustrate the manner in which they are to be joined. Smaller diameter tubes are shown adjacent to larger diameter tubes along with tube extensions—said extensions connecting to said smaller diameter tubes by means of studs.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary prospective view showing one end of the record rack. Jacketed record albums are present, vertically positioned, each one abutting the one next to it with no space between them. Said record albums are braced by side support—the continuity of said record plurality being broken at the point where indexing mechanism appears, to reveal the way in which said indexing mechanism is integrated with the rest of said record rack. Fig. 4 is a prospective view, again with record albums present. This fragmentary view features another indexing system variation, whereby indexing mechanism is held in place by four nodes, two of which are visible due to the cutaway of record plurality.

Fig. 5 is another fragmentary prospective view similar to the two previous views. In this instance the indexing mechanism is a simple flat ring which slips-between the record albums to categorize them properly.

Fig. 6 is a prospective view showing in some detail the same indexing mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Tube receiving holes are clearly visible along with frontal projection, which is the tab whereon indexing information is to be stamped.

Fig. 7 is a detailed prospective view of the indexing mechanism shown in Fig. 4. The top of the tube receiving hole is tangent to the horizontal plane wherein the four nodes lie— two of said nodes are shown as phantom parts. The frontal projection is the index tab.

Fig. 8. is also a detailed prospective view Of the indexing mechanism of Fig. 5. This simple version is just a flat ring with a tube receiving hole.

Description

In the first embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1 three horizontally positioned tubes 2 are attached at their ends to a side support 1 by means of flat bolts 5. (The heads of flat bolts 5 should ideally be countersunk to give side supports 1 smooth flat surfaces.) In like manner three other horizontal tubes 3 of a smaller diameter are attached to the other side support 1; this second set of tubes 3 is diametrically opposed to the first set of larger diameter tubes 2, and, hence, suitably disposed to slide into said larger tubes 2.

Further, as illustrated in Fig. 1, record rack is equipped with a thin flat piece 4 held vertically in place by tubes 2 and 3. Said flat piece 4 is slidably engaged with tubes 2 and 3, and is movable along the length of said record rack from one side support 1 to the other.

Fig. 2 shows how further tube extensions 6 may be added by employing suitable fasteners, in this case threaded studs 7 which screw into tube ends of the same diameter 3 and 6 to join them firmly together.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the manner in which jacketed record albums 11 are situated inside the record rack. Said record albums 11, grouped vertically, rest upon front support tube(s) A and rear support tube(s) E. The abutment tube(s) C, elevate above tube(s) A and tube(s) B, functions as a stoppage to said, albums 11 which enter from the front of the record rack.

Grouped properly, the front edges of record .jackets create a fairly uniform face at the front of the record rack. It should be noted that it is the approximate. uniformity of record album size that allows for an indexing system of the type described in this invention.

The three indexing variations of this invention are all similar in that they all are slidably engaged with the front support tube(s) A. What differentiates them is the means by which they are prevented from rotating out of position on said front support tube(s) A.

In the case of the simple ring mechanism 10, this mechanism 10 is allowed to turn freely on front support tube(s) A, because index code can be read independent of how ring is positioned on said front support tube(s) A. This is because said index code is to be stamped in more than one spot around the perimeter of said ring 10.

The other two indexing variations 3 and 9 both have an index tab—the frontal projection upon which indexing information is to be stamped. Indexing mechanism 8 is slidably engaged with rear support tube(s) B as well as front support tube(s) A, and this is what keeps said index tab properly aligned.

Indexing mechanism 9 is. prevented from rotating out of nosition on front support tube(s) A by four nodes, horizontally aligned and parallel with each other. In this instance, it is the record albums 11 themselves, pressed snugly on each side of said indexing mechanism 9, and resting not only on said front support tube(s) A but upon said nodes as well, that keeps index tab in place.

Operation

The various expansion features of this invention can perhaps best be understood by examining the order in which they would most logically be utilized assuming a steadily increasing record collection.

With just a few albums 11 record rack is in a fully contracted position; that is, the smaller diameter tubes 3 are fully telescoped into the larger diameter tubes 2, such that side supports 1 are in their closest possible position to each other. With said few albums 11 this record plurality 11 is buttressed between thin flat piece 4 and one of the side supports 1. As more albums 11 are added, said thin flat piece 4 can be moved outward on tubes 2 and 3 to accommodate these.

The thin flat piece 4 may continue to be moved outward until it finally abuts one of the side supports 1, at which point said thin flat piece 4 is no longer useful and, therefore, may be removed. Now record albums 11 are buttressed against both side supports 1, while additional albums 11 may be accommodated by moving said side supports 1 apart as telescoping tubes 2 and 3 slide accordingly.

As tubes 2 and 3 reach the limit of their extension said record rack may be further enlarged to whatever length is required by adding more tubes 6 by means of studs 7.

The thin flat piece 4 is itself held in place against record albums 11 do to the pressure of said albums 11 leaning against the uppermost part of said flat piece 4, causing said piece 4 to tilt slightly from the vertical, and thereby creating a friction between said piece 4 and tubes 2. Or, by a more secure method of, for example, rubber rings which grip tightly around said tubes 2 to serve as a stop to prevent said thin flat piece 4 from moving away from record albums 11.

As regards the novel indexing system illustrated in my invention, it should be noted that it is the vertically grouped record albums 11 themselves which prevent the three indexing variations 8, 9, and 10 from moving out of place along the length of front support tube(s) A whereon they are slidably engaged. This is because, in the three variations 8, 9, and 10, the rear portion of the indexing mechanism slips between said records 11 to categorize them, and in so doing said mechanism is inturn held in place along the length of said front support tube(s) A.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scone of my invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment. Many other variations are possible; for example, means other than bolts could be used to attach the tubes to the side supports, such as spot welding or certain other fasteners,

In the same way other methods besides studs could be used for adding tube extensions in order to enlarge the record rack.

As an example, the tubes themselves could be threaded on their ends to attach directly to each, other.

Variations , other than those already illustrated , to prevent index tabs from rotating out of position on front support tube( s) are conceivable, such as employing a non-circular front support tube( s) with a corresponding tube receiving hole cut in the index mechanism in the shape of the circumference of said non-circular tube( s) .

Accordingly, the scope of my invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

ClaimsI claim:

1. A method of storing a plurality of jacketed record albums in a rack comprising two vertical side supports, spaced apart by three horizontally positioned tubes of equal length, said side supports connecting with the ends of said tubes, whereby vertically placed record albums rest on two of said tubes which act as a base. Said third tube is elevated above the other two said tubes, and is at the rear of said record rack serving to align and abut said albums. Comprising also a thin flat piece, vertically positioned between said side supports, and slidably engaged with said three tubes, thereby making said flat piece movable along the length of said record rack. Said thin flat piece serves to buttress said record albums against one of the two said side supports.

2. The record rack of claim 1 wherein the three tubes of claim 1 are provided with paired tube members of a small.er diameter, whereby said larger diameter tubes of claim 1 are joined at their ends to one of the two side supports, while said smaller diameter tubes are adjoined to the other side support. Said set of smaller diameter tubes is diametrically opposed to said set of larger diameter tubes, with said smaller tubes fitting inside and slidably engaged with said larger tubes. Hence, the distance between the two said side supports can be adjusted to buttress varying numbers of vertically placed record albums.

3. The record rack of claim 1 wherein the length of said rack may be expanded further by adding more tubes by means of threaded studs which screw into tube ends to attach tubes firmly together.

4. The record rack of claims 1, 2, and 3 wherein an indexing system is provided comprising a plurality of index rings with a tube receiving hole in the center of each ring. Said rings are slidably engaged with front support tube(s), whereby the rear portion of each ring slips between record albums, while the front portion conveys the indexing code.

5. The record rack of claims 1, 2, and 3 wherein an indexing system is provided comprising a plurality of indexing mechanisms, each said mechanism with an index tab projecting out from between record albums to convey indexing information. A pair of tube receiveing holes makes said mechanisms slidably engaged with rear support tube(s) as well as front support tube(s), thereby preventing indexing mechanisms from rotating out of position on said front support tube(s).

6. The record rack of claims 1, 2, and 3 wherein an indexing system is provided comprising a plurality of indexing mechanisms, each said mechanism with an index tab projecting out from between record albums to elicit indexing information. Said mechanisms are slidably engaged with front support tube(s) and are prevented from rotating out of position on said-tube(s) by record albums themselves situated snugly on the sides of each said mechanism, the bottom edges of said record albums resting on mechanism's four nodes.