Multimedia stacker rack

• US 5,848,709 A
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laserline Company The
• Original Assignee: Creative Point, Inc. (Meadwestvaco Corporation)
• Inventors: Gelphman, Steven A., Palmer, Peter J., Palmer, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US09/002,745
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 211/40, 211/41.12, 211/184, 211/194, 211/42, 211/43, D 6/407, 206/308.1, 206/387.15
• US Class Current: 211/40
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/583 by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/068 Cassette cabinets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0215 Stackable frames, or frame elements, with upright parts connected by inserting the ends or tips of the uprights, e.g. at the corners, into the uprights of the next frame or frame element, e.g. coaxial tubular ends
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/141 for stacking vertically, e.g. newspaper holders
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0236 Containers for several cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0405 for storing discs anti-theft cases with locking means E05B73/0023

Abstract

A storage container (10) for storing, transporting and displaying various information and entertainment storage media, the container (10) including a floor panel (12) having a front edge (16) and a rear edge (17), and right and left edges (18, 19), a back wall (13) which attaches to the rear edge of the floor panel (17), left and right side panels (14, 15), which are attached to the left and right edges (18, 19) respectively of the floor panel (12), each side panel (14, 15) having a lower portion which terminates in a front foot (32) and the back wall (13) including a vertebra (50) which has a lower portion which terminates in a rear foot (52).

Also disclosed is a system of stackable storage containers (100) for storing, transporting and displaying various information and entertainment storage media, including a plurality of containers (10) having front and rear feet (32, 52), side panel contact shelves (20), vertebra contact shelves (54), and vertebrae (50), which are in alignment such that when an upper storage container (10) is stacked vertically upon a lower storage container (10), the front feet (32) of the upper storage container (10) rest upon the side panel contact shelves (20) and the rear foot (52) of the upper storage container (10) rests on the vertebra contact shelf (54) of the lower storage container (10), and the vertebrae (50) align to form a spine (110).

Claims

1. A storage container for storing, transporting and displaying various information and entertainment storage media the container comprising:

a floor panel having a front edge and a rear edge, and right and left edges;

a back wall which attaches to the rear edge of said floor panel;

left and right side panels, which are attached to the left and right edges respectively of said floor panel, each said side panel having a lower portion which terminates in a front foot; and

said back wall including a vertebra, said vertebra having a lower portion which terminates in a rear foot.

2. The storage container of claim 1 wherein:

said front and rear edges of said floor panel are sections of concentric arcs where said front edge is of larger arc radius than the arc radius of the rear edge, so that displayed media, when stored in said storage containers as to stand vertically, are held in a fanned-out configuration.

3. The storage container of claim 1 wherein:

said left and right side panels each include a handle portion.

4. The storage container of claim 3 wherein:

said handle portions include a texture area, to aid in gripping when handled.

5. The storage container of claim 1 wherein:

said container includes a divider which slidably engages said floor panel, said slider being positionable intermediate said side panels to support stored items in an upright position.

6. The storage container of claim 1 wherein:

said floor panel is tilted, such that said floor panel front edge is higher than said floor panel rear edge relative to a horizontal plane.

7. The storage container of claim 1 wherein:

said back wall of the container is contoured with an indent to accommodate the vertebra portion of a second instance of the container, for nesting together for storage or transporting.

8. A system of stackable storage containers for storing, transporting and displaying various information and entertainment storage media the container comprising:

a floor panel having a front edge and a rear edge, and right and left edges;

a back wall which attaches to the rear edge of said floor panel;

left and right side panels, which are attached to the left and right edges respectively of said floor panel, each said side panel having a lower portion which terminates in a front foot;

said back wall including a vertebra, said vertebra having a lower portion which terminates in a rear foot;

said front and rear feet, said side panel contact shelves, said vertebra contact shelves, and said vertebra of said storage containers are aligned such that when an upper storage container is stacked vertically upon a lower storage container, said front feet of the upper storage container rest upon said side panel contact shelves of the lower storage container, and said rear foot of the upper storage container rests on said vertebra contact shelf of the lower storage container, and said vertebrae of the upper and lower storage containers align to form a spine.

9. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

said vertebrae include retaining means for attaching a lower storage container to an upper storage container, to provide stability to the overall structure.

10. The system of storage containers of claim 9 wherein:

said retaining means includes at least one retaining tab on the upper portion of the vertebra of said lower storage container which engages at least one retaining slot in the lower portion of said upper storage container.

11. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

said front and rear edges of said floor panel are sections of concentric arcs with said front edge of larger arc radius than the rear edge, so that displayed media when stored as to stand vertically, are held in a fanned out configuration.

12. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

said left and right side panels each include a handle portion.

13. The system of storage containers of claim 12 wherein:

said handle portions include a texture area, to aid in gripping when handled.

14. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

each said container includes a divider which slidably engages said floor panel, said slider being positionable intermediate said side panels to support stored items in an upright position.

15. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

said floor panels are tilted, such that each said floor panel front edge is higher than said floor panel rear edge relative to a horizontal plane.

16. The system of storage containers of claim 8 wherein:

said back wall is contoured with an indent to accommodate the vertebra of said second container which is nested with said first container for storage or transporting.