Storage rack for optical disc storage cases

• US 5,415,297 A
• Filed: 10/26/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynk Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lynk Incorporated
• Inventors: Serslev, Chris, Malik, Vijay S., Klein, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US08/143,254
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 211/41, 211/43, 211/194, 211/40, 211/184, 108/61
• US Class Current: 211/40
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/068 Cassette cabinets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/00 Sectional furniture, i.e. combinations of complete furniture units , e.g. assemblies of furniture units of the same kind such as linkable cabinets, tables, racks or shelf units switchboards or switch cubicles for the distribution of electric power H02B
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0405 for storing discs anti-theft cases with locking means E05B73/0023

Abstract

A modular storage rack for optical disc storage cases consisting of a plurality of rods extending between, and supported by, a pair of side frames. A slide abutment is removably connected to at least one of the rods for positionable sliding movement therealong, such that the abutment acts as a vertical support when less than the maximum number of cases is positioned upon the rack. Each side frame includes a groove arrangement in the top and a mating tongue arrangement at the bottom such that plural side frames may be stacked one upon the other in a stable manner. Each side frame also includes a tube support holes at each side thereof sized to receive an associated one of the rods. As such, the rods may be inserted within the receiving holes of two side frames to define a rack of single unit length. Thereafter, an additional pair of rods may be inserted into the receiving holes on an opposite side of one of the previous side frames, and a third side frame connected to the free ends of these additional rods. With this arrangement, a rack having two units length is provided by using only three side frames.

Claims

1. A modular storage rack system, comprising:

at least one pair of support tubes; and

at least two side frames, each including a pair of tube supports, each of said tube supports retaining an associated one of said support tubes such that said support tubes extend between said side frames with said side frames being substantially parallel; and

a slide abutment extending between, and connected to, two of said support tubes in a plane substantially parallel to said side frames, said slide abutment having a close sliding fit with at least one of said support tubes whereby said slide abutment may be manually moved along the longitudinal axis of said support tubes, but does not move upon application of forces solely by items stored upon said rack and abutting said slide abutment, said slide abutment having a generally L-shaped body, with a first end of said body including a snap claw mounted thereon and connected to an associated one of said support tubes to provide said close sliding fit, said snap claw being removable from said associated support tube.

2. A rack as in claim 1, wherein said body includes a U-shaped hook extending about a portion of the periphery of an associated one of said support tubes.

3. A rack as in claim 1, wherein each of said side frames includes a plurality of pairs of oppositely opening cavities, each of which is adapted to receive a respective end of one of said tubes, with a pair of said tubes extending between each adjacent pair of said frames, said tube supports being located above a lower end of said side frames whereby said support tubes are supported above the ground, and whereby one pair of said tubes may be connected to and extend between one pair of said side frames to define a single unit length rack having exterior ones of said frames, and an additional pair of said tubes may be connected to and extend between the open ones of said cavities of said exterior ones of said frames and an additional side frame to define a multiple unit rack having n units with the use of only n+1 side frames.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of said side frames includes a pair of spaced substantially vertically extending struts and un upper and a lower crossbar extending between and connected to said struts to define a generally rectangular configuration.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein each of said side frames is formed as a monolithic unit.