Patent ID: 6464088
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A47B,G11B

Abstract:
A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising:a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: (a) fist and second walls retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said first and second walls are sufficiently adapted to admit and frictionally retain at least a portion of at least one object to be retained by said holder while exposing at least part of a retained object for user selection and removal from said holder; (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending outward from said base with a slot located through said base and adjacent to said male holder-engaging mechanism; (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending outward from said base, having a distal end which distal end is shaped in order to be received in said slot; wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop; a fist rotation shaft having teeth; a second rotation shaft having teeth disposed parallel to and spaced-apart from said first rotation shaft a distance approximating half a length of said loop; wherein said loop engages said first and second rotation shafts so that he loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft and said second rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first and second rotation shaft as each said holder engages the first rotation shaft and as each holder engages the second rotation shaft; and wherein each distal end of each female holder-engaging mechanism can pass through said slot located adjacent to said male holder-engaging mechanism to which each female holder-engaging mechanism is inserted as the loop engages the teeth of the first rotation shaft causing adjacent holders to spread apart in relation to each other.