FLAT OBJECT STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL CABINET

Abstract: A disk storage and retrieval system comprised of envelopes (1) for holding and securing disks, a slotted storage cube (13) for holding the envelopes and a means (20) for dispensing envelopes from cataloged slots (12). The envelopes (1) serve to individually encase and protect the disk. The storage cube (13) serves to hold and organize the envelopes (1) in slots (12) from which the envelopes are easily accessible via a dispensing means (20) which when activated forces an envelope partially from its slot to a position where a biased hinge (6) of the envelope (1) opens a flap (7) on the envelope providing access to the disk in the envelope. The envelope (1) can be moved entirely out of its slot (12). The envelope (1) can protect the disk from ultraviolet rays and electromagnetic interference and the storage cube (13) can be used to lock (17, 18, 19) the envelopes in their slots (12) to prevent unauthorized use and storage cube can be locked (45, 46) to a table.

Description: FLAT OBJECT STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL CABINET This is a continuation-in-part of patent application serial number 06/785,235, filed October 7, 1985. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of cabinets and safes for holding, storing and locking and for retrieval of generally flat objects such as diskettes. Further, the present invention relates to a device or cabinet capable of holding and protecting flat data storage objects such as diskettes, floppy disks, laser disks or other data storage material on an individual basis. The device is also capable of holding and organizing for ready retrieval a number of flat objects present in their individual containers or envelopes such as for floppy disks. The objects are protected from undesirable environmental factors while remaining easily accessible to the user in the device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION All types of information in various forms is often put on one type of flat object or another of various shapes. For example information is placed on flexible computer diskettes, phonographic records, silicone chips, photographic paper, and various flat media on which works of art are drawn. These flat objects containing information are often of great value making it desirable to protect them from adverse environmental influences. However, the value of the objects is largely in the information and such information must remain readily accessible while being protected from " damage and stored in a locked cabinet or safe. Devices primarily oriented toward protective storage do I 2 not generally provide easy access, or where designed to provi easy access to the user, they a re too bulky for convenien storage and a re complicated and costly to manufacture. Th ladder containers do not generally include divider or separato elements with sidewalls to prevent or rest rict transvers movement of the flat objects. Fu rther, such devices do no generally provide an effective means for locking the container i a closed position to prevent casual tampering. united States Patent 4,501,357 to Park discloses a dis jacket w-hich is capable of containing and protecting a singl flat obj ect such as a magnet ic diskette. The device ca effectively protect a single disk but is somewhat cumbersome t open and close mak ing retrieval difficult and futther does no provide a device for holding, for retrieval , a large number o diskettes. A similar sort of disk envelope is disclosed in Unite States Patent 4,473,153 to Colangelo. United States Patent 4,162,006 to Wilson and Unite States Patent 4,162,007 to Bothun et al. disclose a device fo holding a plurality of diskettes. Since the diskettes a re no individually held in separate containers, they are all subject t environmental exposure and hazards when the device is opened t remove a single disk. Further, these devices are somewhat comple in structure. United States Patent 4,356,918 to Kahle et al. an United States Patent 4,478,335 to Long et al. each disclose dis conta iners whic h a re more s i mple in s t ruc tu re than thos disclosed by Wilson and Bothun et al. These containers hold number of diskette but provide no protection for individual diskettes when the container is open. The above described devices as well as the present invention are designed to hold flat objects, specifically floppy disk structures with rectangular casings such as disclosed in United States Patent 4,277,810 to Helmrich. The terms disk and diskette are used throughout this disclosure and are intended to be interchangeable with each other. Further, it should be understood that unless otherwise indicated, the term for any flat object, such as a phonograph records. Laser-disk or the like could be substituted as the present invention is useful in connection with the storage of a large varity of like flat objects although primarily designed for use with floppy disk structures containing computer program information. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is a generally flat medium storage and retrieval cabinet or apparatus for data storage material such as a disk. The storage and retrieval apparatus or device is comprised of a plurality of storage envelopes or draws, a storage container or cabinet that may be in the form of a cube for holding the envelopes or draws and a mechanical directory selection system and/or a computer keyboard directory selection system for allowing selective retrieval of the data storage material or disk in the envelopes. The storage cube may be rectangular or of other shapes. Each of the plurality of envelopes or draws includes a compartment or covered draw and an opening portion means or lid for gaining access to the compartment or draw. The storage apparatus includes means for supporting and containing a plurality of envelopes. Each opening portion means or lid of an envelope or draw is held in either a closed position when the envelope is completely within the cabinet or an open position when the envelope is in an extended position. The lid may be designed for manual operation by removing the biasing means. The storage apparatus and envelopes include envelope retaining means an dispensing means or latch control system. The envelope retaining means and the dispensing means are connected to and between eaoh of the envelopes and the storage apparatus. The envelope retaining means and the dispensing means secure each of the envelopes in the storage apparatus and allow for movement of each of the envelopes at least partially out of the storage apparatus in an extended position. Each of the envelopes or draws include a body portion. The opening portion means or lid is connected to the body portion by a biasing hinge means. The opening portion means opens automatically when the apparatus is moved partially out of the storage apparatus. The opening portion means is closed automatically when the envelope is moved completely into the storage apparatus. The locking mechanism can lock all the envelopes or draws closed. The locking mechanism can also prevent removal of the envelopes or draws. The locking mechanism may be actuated with the push buttons to remove a desired envelope from the device or cabinet. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device or cabinet capable of individually storing, cataloging and protecting data storage materials such as diskettes which are held in a group in a storage apparatus such as a cube from which they may be individually retrieved via a selection system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device or cabinet capable of securely protecting individual data storage materials such as disks in a device whereby the data storage materials or disks remain easily accessible. A further object is to provide a non-complex latching mechanism. Yet .another object of the invention is to provide a device which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be operable in connection with a computer keyboard to allow rapid data storage apparatus or disk selection and retrieval. Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of protecting data storage apparatus or diskettes from undesirab-le environmental effects and hazards due to factors such as ultraviolet rays and elec ro-magnetic interference. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be stacked in a modular design with other like devices to allow the system to be expanded. Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which includes a locking mechanism to aid in preventing the unauthorized removal and use of the stored data storage apparatus or diskettes and the unauthorized removal of the device from the work station. These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a perspective plan view of an envelope portion of the present invention; Figure IB is a side view of the envelope portion with a phantom view of the opening portion means in an open position. Figure 2A is an illustration of a front plan view of the storage apparatus in the form of a cube holding envelopes; Figure 2B is a blow up of a circled portion of Figure 2A partially in cross section. Figure 2C is an illustration of an additional .front panel containing signalling means. Figure 3A is an illustration of a side plan view of the storage apparatus in the form of a cube shown in Figure 2 with the side removed to illustrate the rear connection of the envelopes. Figure 3B is a blow up of a port ion of a side view of one embodiment of the envelope shown in Figures IB and 3A. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional overhead plan view of the storage apparatus in the form of a cube shown in Figures 2A and 3A with the top removed to illustrate said one embodiment of the envelope and the latch means; and Figure 5A is a block d iag ram illust rating a k eyboa rd connected to the storage apparatus latching means housing portion or the signalling means housing portion. Figu re 5B is an el ect r ical d iag ram t o il lust rate the hook up of the computer switches to the signalling means . Figure 6 is another embodiment of the storage- apparatus or cabinet . Figure 7 is a bottom partial cross section of one corner of the storage apparatus taken along lines X-X and looking in the direction of the arrows in Figure 6 showing a bottom assembly view of the body of the latching control system. Figure 8A is a right side view of the L-shaped part of the body of the latching control system. Figure 8B is a front view of the L-shaped part of the body. Figure 8C is a left view of the L-shaped part of the body. Figure 8D is a top view of the L-shaped part of the body. Figure 9A is a right side view of the second part of the body. Figure 9B is a front view of the second part of the body. Figure 9C is a left view of the second part of the body. Figure 9D is a top view of the second part of the body. Figure 10 is an illustration of a bottom view of some of the push button release means and latching component. Figure 11 is a top view of the draw or envelope. Figure 12 is a bottom view of the draw or envelope bottom . Figu re 13 is a right side view of the draw or envelope . Figu re 14 is a f ront vi ew of the draw or envel ope bottom . Figure 15 is a front view of a dual column cabinet. Figure 16 is a top view of a biasing O-ring block. Figure 17 is a side view of the biasing O-ring block. Figure 18 is a side view of the second member or blade. Figures 19 and 20 are side views of latching linage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The original embodiment is illustrated in Figures 1 through 5. The second and preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 6 through 20. The original envelope 1 is shown in Figures 1A and IB and includes a compartment between the top 5 and the bottom 9. A plurality of like envelopes are used in the device or cabinet 13 in Figure 2A. The envelope 1 has an opening portion means 6, 7 and 8 for gaining access to the compartment between top 5 and bottom 9. Between the opening portion means and the top 5 is the biasing hinge means 6. The storage apparatus 13 shown in Figures 2A and 3A include means for supporting and containing all of the envelopes. Each opening portion means 6, 7 and 8 of an envelope are held in either closed position shown in Figure IB or an open position shown in Figure 1A. The storage apparatus 13 and envelopes include envelope retaining means 21, 22, 23 and 24 dispensing means 20. The envelope retaining means and the dispensing means are connected to and between each of the envelopes 1 and the storage apparatus 13. The envelope retaining means and the dispensing means secure each of the envelopes in the storage apparatus 13 and allow for movement 0 f each of the envelopes 1 at least' partially out of the storage apparatus 13. The opening portion means 6, 7 and 8 opens as shown in Figure 1A automatically when the envelope is moved partially out of the storage apparatus as illustrated in Figure 4. The opening portion means is closed as shown in Figure IB automatically when the envelope is moved completely into the storage apparatus 13. Referring to Figure 1 a perspective view of an opened envelope 1 illustrated in an opened position by numeral2. The envelope 1 is comprised of vacuum-formed plastic parts 5 and 9 or molded parts or injection molded parts or parts manufactured by other known means which may be molded, glued, bonded or welded to each other. The top 5 is comprised of a main planar area 3, a hinge crease 6, an opening flap 7, and a lip 8. The top 5 includes a rear lip 81 shown in Figure 3B. The bottom 9 is comprised of a main bottom surface 4, side edges 10 and 10' at right angles to the bottom surface 4 and connecting strip edge 11 and ll 1 at right angles to the edges 10 and 10*, but parallel to bottom surface 4. The top 5 is connected to bottom 5 along portions of the strips 11 and ll 1 and rear edges 82. The envelope 1 can be of any size but is may be designed so as to accomodate a standard size disk and its envelope, if any, with only a minimum amount of play with respect to the width, length and thickness. Envelope 1 may be sized to take 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" disks or other size disks or other types of generally flat data storage material such as compact laser-disks, micro fiche or other media not illustrated. The envelope 1 is 10 preferrably comprised of a material which is capable o protecting the contents from undesirable environmental influence such as ultraviolet rays and electromagnetic interference. Th hinge 6 is preferably constructed at least in part, of a materia capable of retaining a physical memory, i.e. a material which ca be bent into one position, the closed position shown in Figure I _- but will "remember" and seek to return to another position, th opened postion shown in Figure 1A by numeral 2. Accordingly, whe the envelope 2 is closed the flap 7 is bent so that it contact the strips 11 and 11' but pops open to the position shown i Figure 1A due to the "memory" of the hinge 6 when nothin prevents it from opening. The hinge 6 "remembers'' the ope position and continually strives to be in the open position. Th flap 7 is closed by movement into the channels 12 having members 51 and 52 shown in Figure 2A and 2B. A plurality of envelopes 1 shown in Figures 2A and 3 are slid into slots 12 of the storage cube 13 shown in Figure 2A. When an envelope 1 is positioned completely in the slots 12, the flaps 7 of the envelopes are closed by the upper portion such as 51 of slot 12. The flap 7 encloses a disk stored in the envelope 1 and protects it from undesirable environmental influences or hazards. By pressing one of the buttons 14 shown in Figure 2A opposite a slot 12, the envelope 1 in the slot 12 is automatically pushed out of the slot 12 by spring 20 shown in Figure 4 a distance equal to or slightly more than the depth X of the flap 7. The envelope moves out a distance from the front of '! 11 the storage cube 13. The flap 7 is automatically opened through the hinge 6 memory so that a disk in the envelope 1 can be easily removed, as illustrated in Figure 1A. A set of lights or LED 15 shown in Figures 2C, 5A and 5B may also be positioned opposite each of the buttons 14 and slot 12. The LED panel 16 is connected by electrical conduit 41 with a computer keyboard 40 as illustrated in Figure 5A. When an operator requires a particular piece of information on a disk in one of the envelopes 1 the file name of the required disk is typed on the keyboard. As a result, the particular solenoid controlled switch 15' is closed by well known means to light LED 15" positioned next to the particular slot 12 holding the particular envelope 1 with the desired disk. The particular light will light up indicating its storage location. This allows immediate identification of a particular disk in an array of. disks. A touch of the particular button 14 will mechanically release the envelope 1 by a spring 20 pushing the envelope out of the slot 12 to allow the flap 7 to automatically open and provide access to the desired disk. Once the envelope has moved distance Y the spring will be in position shown by numeral 20'. Therefore electrically actuated solenoid switch 30 may also be actuated by coil 15'" to electromechanically actuate the latch button 14* to • release envelope 1. Figure 3A is a side view of the storage cube 13 shown in Figure 2A. As shown in Figure 3A, a front cover 17 can be used to cover all of the lips 8 of the envelopes 1 for security purposes. The cover 17 can be securely held in place by lever 18 connected to an ordinary keylock mechanism 19. Lever 18 rotates ϊ 1 2 about axis 43 by use of a key to engage or release cover 17 having its opposite end in notch 44. The side faces of the storage cube 40 and 41 may be extended outward from end to the right of member 17 in Figure 3A. The extended face may be also notched as at 44 to allow member 17 to be secured. It should be noted that the storage cube may also be secured to a table or the like by a bolt and bolt head 45 having a nut 46 positioned behind the front cover 17. The front cover 17 may be another envelope or a plate having the same general shape so that it may be stored in a slot when -not in use. Figure 4 is an overhead view of the storage cube 13 shown in Figures 2 and 3 with the top 47 removed. The main planar area 3 of the top 5, hinge 6 and flap 7 of the envelope 1 can be seen in Figure 4. A spring 20 is at the back of each envelope 1. The spring 20 continually forces each envelope 1 outward from its respective slot 12. However, a latch 21 biased to the left into indentation 22 in the side of envelope 1 shown in Figure J.B prevents the spring 20 from moving the envelope 1 out of its slot 12. When a button 14' (Figure 2A) is pushed from the position 50 to the right to the phantom position at 51, the mechanical connection between the button 14' with latch 21 is withdrawn from the indentation 22 and allows the spring 20 to move to position 20' shown in dotted lines. The rear of the envelope moves distance Z that is equal to distance Y. In this position the flap 7 extends out a distance Y from the slot 12 allowing it to open due to the memory hinge 6 as shown in Figure 1A. The envelope moves out until latch 23 of button 14* mechanism engages the back I of slot 24. By withdrawing t 13 he latch 23 f Irom the indentation 24 by moving 14' further to the right, the envelope 1 can be withdrawn entirely from its slot 12. The slots 22 and 24 are shown in Figure IB. Complete removal of an envelope 1 from a slot 12 is generally not necessary. The spring 20 and latch 21 could be replaced by other means capable of forcing the envelope 2 from its slot 12 and allowing it to be partially forced out so that the flap 7 might open. The spring 20 is automatically recocked by closing the flap 7 and pushing the envelope 1 back into the slot 12 a distaηce equal to Y and Z. The engaging latch 21 again finds and is placed in slot 22 manually or by a bias means pushing button 14' to the left, not shown. The arm 50 with button 14' on its end may be a spring attached to the cube 13 near the rear of the cube. Referring how to the preferred embodiment. Figure 6 in the drawings shows the preferred embodiment of the storage apparatus 100. The casing or cabinet is shown as numeral 140 having a top 141, a left side 142 and a right side 143 with an indented front face 144. A plurality of push buttons 120 numbering twenty-five are used to control the opening and releasing of the individual floppy disk draw 130 or envelope 130. Each button 120 control the movement of a particular draw 130 or envelope 130. The preferred embodiment of each draw 130 or envelope 130 shown in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 includes a bottom 131, two sides 132 and 133 and a fixed top portion 134 and movable lid 135 or opening portion means 135. The lid 135 may be connected by a lid hinge means 136 including hinge pin 136' and hinge members I 1 4 136" and 136" * . The l id hinge means may include a small leaf spring , not shown , to automat ically open the lid 135 when the draw is open to its extended position as shown in Figure 6. Also, the h ing e sepa rat i on 137 may be a plas t ic h ing e that automatically biases the lid to an open position, replacing the lid hinge means 136 and 136' , 136" and 136 « " . The top 134 and bottom 131 provide overhanging portions on the sides and the rear. The overhanging portions provide a C-shaped right slide draw portion at 138 and similar left slide draw portion 139. The rear portion 139 ' may include a leaf spring to move the draw outward when unlatched. Each draw portion slides in a slot 145 on the left s ide as shown in F igu re 6. A comparabl e slot is positioned on the right side within the casing 140. Each envelope includes latching membe rs 150 and 152. The forward latching member 150 is shown in Figures 11 and 13 and the rear latching member 152 is shown in Figures 11 and 13. The preferred storage apparatus 100 is shown in Figure 6 includes latching coctrol system 102 shown in Figu re 7. The control system 102 includes a body cons isting of two inj ection molded parts 104 and 106 shown in Figure 7. The L-shaped part 104 is shown in detail in Figures 8A, 8B and 8C. The second part 106 is shown in detail in Figures 9A, 9B and 9C. Side 110 of the second part 106 is welded to s ide 108 of the L-shaped pa rt 104. The opposite side 112 of L-shaped part 104 and the opposite side 114 of the second part 106 is shown in Figures 6 , 7A-D and 8A-D. The side 116 of the L-shaped part 104 is connected to side 118 of the second pa rt 106. This body supports and guides the latching components! The push buttons 120 are not usable when the lock 160 is in a lock position as shown in Figure 10. hen the key is placed in lock and turned in the direction of arrow Y it will lock the blade 162 from movement in the direction of arrow A. This prevents inward movement of push button 120 and prevents movement of envelope 130. The push button cams member 162 in the direction of arrow A by engaging cam surface 163 and surface 164 of member 162 when the lock member 160' is in the position shown. Notches 163 is engaged by a biasing means such as an O-ring band to bias button 120 outward. Each button may include a coil spring to ensure outward positioning. The biasing means may be a biasing O-ring or rubber band 167 in block 166 shown as a top view in Figure 7 and as block 166 shown in Figures 16 and 17. When button 120 in Figure 10 is moved inward in opening 120', member or blade 162 is moved out of position behind 150 in the direction to arrow A. The envelope 130 moves under a spring in the direction of arrow B until stop 152 engages blade 168. When blade 168 is unlatched by movement of lock member 160 1 by further rotation in the direction of arrow Y, the stop 152 of the previously depressed button will allow the envelope to move forward with stop 152 engaging blade 162. Upon again pressing the button 120 the envelope will be allowed to be removed from the cabinet. Each member 162 moves in slots 162' in the block. Each blade 162 may be biased into a latched position and moved out of that position. The end 167 is disengaged from latch 150 and the envelope moves outward under the influence of a biasing spring or I " •6 other biasing means engaging each envelope in the direction of arrow B until stop 152 engages the second members or blades 168. Each of the second member or blade 168 prevents complete removal of the envelope 130 until the key lock again turned further to move each blade 168 in the direction of arrow C to prevent engagement of stop 152 and blade 168. The blade 168 can be a single member as shown in Figure 18 with a plurality of engaging ends 169. Figures 19 and 20 show link members 170 and 172 respectively that may be used to operate between the lock 160 and member 160' and the blades 162 and 168. Any type of well known linkage may be used. The present invention has been disclosed and described herein in what is considered to be its preferred embodiments. However, it is recognized that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and such modifications are intended to come within the scope of this invention.

Claims: What I Claim Is: 1. An information storage material, storage and retrieva device comprising: a plurality of envelopes including a compartment in each envelope, and each said envelope including an opening portion means for gaining access to said compartment, a storage apparatus including means for supporting and containing said plurality of envelopes with each said • opening portion means in a closed position or an open position, and an envelope retaining and at least partially dispensing means connected to and between each said envelope and said storage apparatus, said envelope retaining and dispensing means for securing each said envelope in said storage apparatus in a closed position and for moving each said envelope at least partially out of said storage apparatus in an opened position. 2. An information storage material, storage and retrieval device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said envelope including a body portion, said opening portion means connected to said body portion by a biasing hinge means. 3. An information storage material, storage and retrieval device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said opening portion means opens automatically when said envelope is partially out of said storage apparatus and closes automatically when said envelope is in said storage apparatus .' 18 4. An informat ion storage mate r ial , storage and ret r iev device, comprising: a plu ral ity of envelopes with each being comprised of first four-sided planar members attached to a seco four-sided planar member similar in width and length said f irst member, said second member having a ma surface and a hinge which extends across the width said second member, said hinge being provided with biasing means which continually biases a flap porti of the said main surface of said second member into different plan than the remainder of said seco member allowing the envelope to be opened; a storage apparatus comprised of a four-sided frame havi a plurality of slots, each extending from a first si of the frame to a second opposite side, with said slo being positioned adjacent to each other with each said slots being capable of retaining therein envelope; and an envelope retaining and dispensing means comprised of envelope biasing means for biasing said envelope fr its said slot and a latch connected to an actuati means such that the latch reta ins the envelope in i said slot until actuation releases said latch a a l l ow s sa id envel ope b ia s ing means to move sa i envelope from its said slot such that said flap porti is opened. 5. A disk storage and retrieval device, comprising : a plurality of envelopes with each envelope being capab of individually holdin a disk and having an openi flap which is continually urged toward an op position; a storage cube comprised of a plurality of slots f holding said envelopes; and a selection system including a biasing means and actuation means which when actuated releases a sa envelope and allows said biasing means to force sa envelope from its said slot to the extent that sa • flap of said envelope opens. 6. A disk storage and retrieval device as claimed in claim wherein said device is comprised of a polymeric moldable plast material resistant to UV rays and electromagnetic interference. 7. A device as set forth in claim 4 including a signallin means associated with each said slot, said signalling mean connected to a computer to identify a slot in an array of slots.

Inventors: COBURN TERRY JAMES, KOSSACK EDGAR WALTER, LEMMENS HARRY M, COBURN, TERRY, JAMES, KOSSACK, EDGAR, WALTER, LEMMENS, HARRY, M.
Applicants: DISKETECH INT INC, DISKETECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A47B81
IPC codes: G11B33