STORAGE DEVICE FOR CASSETTES

Abstract: A storage device for cassettes, more particularly sound tape cassettes, where several projecting parts (1) are arranged at the same height on holders (5, 6) and having a clear spacing between each projecting part (1) that is forming a recess (2) essentially corresponding to the thickness of the thickest part (4) of a cassette, where the breadth (thickness) of the projecting part essentially corresponds to the spacing between the thickest parts of two cassettes turned towards each other when the thinnest part (3) of another cassette is arranged between the thinnest parts of these cassettes, and in addition a small interspace, where further on two interacting holders (5, 6) with projecting parts are arranged in parallel in such a manner that the distances between the bottoms of the recesses of opposite holders essentially correspond to the distance from the edge of the thickest part (4) of a cassette to the opposite edge of the cassette on its thinnest part plus the extension of the thickest part from the first edge, in that a projecting part (1) on one holder is arranged right above the middle of one recess (2) on the opposite holder (6) and that one or more connecting parts are arranged between two holders at the lower edge of or below the holders (5, 6), for example in the form of a bottom (7).

Description: Storage device for cassettes The invention relates to a storage device for cassettes of the type having one part with greater thickness than the rest of the cassette, and more particularly to so-called sound tape cassettes. There is known a great number of storage devices for cassettes, both for cassettes with boxes and without boxes. One of the re¬ quirements one may have on storage devices for cassettes is that the storage principle makes it possible to take any of the cassettes without having to move any of the others. Another requirement is a storage which is easy to over-view. Both these requirements are satisfied to a certain extent by known devices where the cassettes are kept stored in parallel and lined up in the same direction, either in larger or smaller units that can be extended to shelves, cases, rotating tables and the like. Another requirement on such a storage device is that the cassettes, in case they are stored without boxes, should be protected against dust depending on the type of device in which they are stored. Further on any cassette should be easy to take without affecting other cassettes and also each cassette in the storage device should be easy to identify. With the steadily increasing number of cassettes to be stored, because of a steadily extended use and a steady increase in private collections, the requirement on compact storage is also increasing with simultaneous fulfilment of the above mentioned requirements. This is the case in various music, dancing and language institutions, schools, places where processing or storing with ADP is accomp¬ lished with such cassettes, and a great number of others places in addition to a steadily increasing degree even in private homes. DE 2541411 discloses a storage device for cassettes which device consists in a rectangular frame with inner projecting parts. The frame has on the upside and underside a cover and the cassettes are arranged in alignment with their long edges facing the covers and every other cassette having its thickest part turned upwards and the other cassettes having their thickest parts turned downwards. The thickest part of one cassette is in close contact with the thinnest part of the next cassette so that the distance between the cassettes corresponds to the projecting part of the thickest part. The advantages of this device are limited by the fact that in order to take away or insert cassettes the whole device has to be turned depending on in which direction the thickest part is turned. Even US 3 674132 discloses a storage device where the thickest part of one cassette is in close contact with the thinnest part of the next one and where all cassettes are in alignment. Accor¬ ding; to this device, however, the cassettes are arranged stan¬ ding with the shortest edge turned upwards. The above described storage devices show in comparison with ot¬ her known devices a relatively compact arrangement of the cas¬ settes although even here the distance between the thinnest parts of two cassettes corresponds to the projective part of the thickest part. The two devices have, however, one substantial disadvantage in that it is difficult to remove one particular cassette from the aligned row of cassettes. The known devices fulfils in various degree the above mentioned requirements on storage, but do not satisfy the requirement on easy removal and compactness. All the above mentioned requirements on storage of cassettes are, however, very well satisfied by the storage device according to the present invention, as characterized in the claims. With the device according to the present invention cassettes can be stored in loose separate boxes or in several in two directions connected boxes, if so desired with suitable covers to protect against dust, in cases, in shelves self-supporting or attached to for example a wall. In this case the cassettes can be placed ver- OMPI tically or horizontally in a device attached to a wall. In a de¬ vice according to the present invention the shape of the cassette itself, a shape which for sound tape cassettes all over the world is standarized, is utilized in order to acheive a compact storage and easy insertion and removal of cassettes from the device. On the drawing fig 1 shows one embodiment of the invention as a case with three separate compartments, fig 2 shows the principle of the invention with cassettes demarcated at one side by two pro¬ jecting parts, and fig 3 shows a sketch of a box having the front wall removed. Especially fig 2 shows the principle of the invention of a storage device which makes a compact storage of a great number of sound tape cassettes possible. The thickest part 4 of a cassette is arranged in a groove or a recess 2, formed between two projecting parts belonging to the device according to the invention, in that the edge of the part 4 is in close contact with the bottom of the recess and each of the lateral surfaces of the part 4 is in close contact with a lateral surface of the recesses. The opposite edge of the cassette which finish the end of the thin¬ nest part 3 of the cassette, is in close contact with the edge of the opposite projecting part 1. The latter projecting part is at¬ tached to a holder 5, while the former projecting part 1 is attached to a holder 6 which is in parallel with the holder 5. The removal and insertion of the cassettes takes place vertically on the drawing in fig 2, in such a way that the cassettes easily glide against neighbouring cassetts and projecting parts. The breadth of the projecting parts 1 and the recesses, or the length in parallel with the holders, as well as the length of the projecting parts towards the interior of the device, and the dis¬ tance beween two interacting holders 5 and 6, are determined by the dimensions of the standarized cassettes, partly also by the mate¬ rial used for these parts. To make it easy to take the cassettes it has proved to be suitable that the height of the holders 5, 6, as well as the height of pos¬ sible side walls that may be attached to the holders, is less than the length of the longest edge of the cassette, preferably 1 cm less. In one embodiment of the invention the following dimensions have proved to be suitable; the breadth (thickness) of the projecting parts 5.5 mm, their length towards the interior 15 mm, the breadth of the recesses 12.5 mm, the distance between the bottoms of the recesses of opposite holders 80 mm and the height of the holders or the side walls 90 mm. One of the short edges of each cassette is clearly visible for the user and can in a suitable way be given a marking of identification of the content of the cassette. The breadth or thickness of each projecting part also demarcates the distance between the thickest parts 4 of two cassettes which is a suitable distance to make it possible to take the cassette with two fingers at the part of the cassette which is located above its thickest part 4, in that the thickest partsof the cassette are located at one of the long edges of the cassette, but not extended over its whole length, but only over a middle part. The device can for example have the form of a box, as can be seen in fig 3, so that several boxes can be attached to each, other either at their long sides or at their short sides and consequently can be expanded if that is needed. Such boxes can also be put together in order to be placed in a case, as can be seen in fig 1, where the side wall 8, correspon¬ ding to that of fig 3, is lower than the height of the cassette, for example 1 cm lower. This makes it possible to transport a great number of cassettes at a small base plate. For example 25 cassettes will need a base plate of about 8 x 22,5 cm. The device according to the invention can be fabricated by transfer moulding of the boxes mentioned above, or by vacuum forming of for example velour finished polystyrene in the form of a plate which then can be bent to form several compartments corresponding to several boxes arranged beside each other which may then be placed in its own chest, case or larger box. One on the drawing not shown projection may preferably be arranged at the two end walls of each box in such a manner that the first and last cassette have another projection against its thinnest part in addition to the last projecting part. The devices described above can be used on a horizontal surface, or inclinedto a certain degree, but may also be arranged vertically, for example attached to a wall in such a way that the boxes form shelves where the holders 5, 6 are arranged horizontally or verti¬ cally and the cassettes thus are pulled out of or pushed in to the device with a horizontal motion. An identification mark may be attached to both the edges of the cassette and may refer to information on a belonging list or in¬ formation sign. Such a list may for example be attached on the cover 9 of a case in the way shown in fig 1 where the list 10 is shown. The projecting parts 1 may be made to reach the top edges of the holders 5,6 or the top edges of the side walls 8 and the bottom 7 of the box, or only a part of it, but at least over the thic¬ kest part 4 of the cassettes.

Claims: Claims 1. A storage device for cassettes, more particularly sound tape cassettes, characterized in that several projecting parts (1) are arranged at the same height on holders (5,6) and having a clear spacing be¬ tween each projecting part (1) that is forming a recess (2) essen¬ tially corresponding to the thickness of the thickest part (4) of a cassette, wherein the breadth (thickness) of the projecting part (1) essentially corresponds to the spacing between the thickest parts of two cassettes turned towards each other when the thinnest part (3) of another cassette, and in addition a small interspace, is arranged between the thinnest parts (3) of these cassettes, wherein two interacting holders (5,6) withprojecting parts (1) are arranged in parallel in such a manner that the distances between the bottoms of the recesses of opposite holders essentially cor¬ respond to the distance from the edge of the thickest part (4) of a cassette to the opposite edge of the cassette on its thinnest part plus the extension of the thickest part from the first edge, in that a projecting part (1) on one holder is arranged right above the middle of a recess (2) on the opposite holder (6) and that one or more connecting parts are arranged between the two holders at the lower edge of or below the holders (5,6), for example in the form of a bottom (7). 2. A storage device according to claim 1, wherein the holders (5,6) are arranged on or on a part of side walls in a box , where¬ in the connecting part or connecting parts constitute the bottom (7) of the box and where the side walls (8) are lower than the longest edge of a cassette, in that the part of the cassette which reach out from two neighbouring cassettes easily can be taken, where¬ in the box may have a cover (9) which protects the cassettes from dust. 3. A storage device according to claims 1-2, wherein the projec ¬ ting parts (1) reach inward from one holder (5) toward a corres ¬ ponding holder (6) with a length corresponding to the length of the thickest part (4) of a cassette from its edge. 4. A storage device according to claims 1-3, wherein the projec¬ ting parts (1) are formed by pressing a plate. 5. A storage device according to claim 4, wherein each plate is formed with several rows of projecting parts (1) so that the plate when it is bent may form several parallel compartments for the storage of cassettes and can be placed in its own device, for ex¬ ample a box, case, etc. 6. A storage device according to claims 4-5, wherein the plate is made of velour finished polystyrene. 7. A storage device according to claims 1-3, wherein it is formed as a transfer moulded plastic box which may be attached to other boxes at their short sides and their long sides in such a way that the storage device may, if so needed, be expanded in both direc¬ tions, both when it is arranged horizontally and when it is arran¬ ged vertically, for example on a wall. 8. A storage device according to claims 1-7, wherein the projec¬ ting parts have a height which is less than that of the holders (5,6) and the side walls respectively. *§UREA * OMPI

Inventors: FINSTAD OLA, FINSTAD, OLA
Applicants: FINSTAD OLA, FINSTAD, OLA
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G11B33
IPC codes: G11B23