Abstract:
A storage container and matching cover for storing addressable objects. The storage container has an interconnect panel with a pair of laterally spaced address signal conductors extending vertically along the panel and terminating at the top and bottom edges of the panel in conductive terminal pads. The cover has an interconnect mechanism with spring biased translatable conductive probes positioned to mate with the conductive terminal pads of an upper and lower container when two containers are vertically stacked. The combination of the container and cover eliminates the need for individual USB jumper cables when interconnecting two or more vertically stacked containers. An auto alignment feature ensures that the containers are properly stacked with the terminal pads in contact with the conductive probes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to storage containers designed to enable remote electronic searching for objects, such as file folders and documents within file folders, located within the containers. More particularly, this invention relates to an addressable objects storage container with an interconnect panel for electrically interconnecting two or more such containers when stacked vertically. 
     Some known storage containers are constructed according to a unique design for enabling remote electronic searching for objects, such as file folders and documents within such file folders, located somewhere within a collection of electrically interconnected storage containers. Commonly assigned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/694,829 filed Jan. 8, 2013 for “Storage Container For Electronically Addressable File Folders And Documents”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses such a container design. Each container is provided with a pair of electrically conductive support rails mounted in the container interior near the top margin. The rails are laterally spaced by an amount designed to receive the ends of support braces incorporated into file folders removably placed within the container to provide both mechanical support for each file folder and electrical connections to circuitry including an address decoder located within one of the file folder support braces in each file folder. The circuitry in the support brace also includes a pair of visible indicators: a POWER ON indicator, and an ADDRESS MATCH indicator. The circuitry in the support brace is described and illustrated in commonly-assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/803,712 filed Jul. 2, 2010 for “Documents Management Using Remote Document Location And Retrieval”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A container circuit board is mounted in the container and contains electronic circuitry for receiving unique address signals supplied by a host computer via a local controller which identify a folder or document to be located. The rails within the container are individually coupled to the electronic circuitry on the container circuit board: one of the rails receives the address signals from the local controller and supplies them to all file folders residing in the container; and furnishes response signals from the file folders to the electronic circuitry of the container circuit board. These response signals are coupled to the local controller, which sends the information contained in the signals to the host computer. The information in the response signals includes the identification of the storage container in which the found folder is located. The visible POWER ON indicator on each file folder is activated whenever the folder brace is ohmically connected to the container rails in order to signify that the file folder is installed correctly and is operable. The visible ADDRESS MATCH indicator on each file folder is activated whenever the address stored in the circuitry in a folder brace matches the folder address supplied to the file folder circuitry by the local controller via the container rails. 
     Each container also has a visible indicator mounted on a wall in a position visible to a human operator standing within viewing distance of the storage container. This indicator is coupled to the electronic circuitry on the container circuit board and is illuminated whenever the address signals supplied by the host computer specify a file folder or document located in that container. An input connector and an output connector are also mounted on one of the walls of the container: the input connector receives the address signals from the host computer via the local controller; the output connector couples address signals from one container to another container and returns search result information from any container to the local controller. The local controller sends this information to the host computer. 
     The storage containers are typically distributed about a storage area with the input connector of one container coupled to the local controller and the output connector of that container coupled to the input connector of another container. The remaining ones of the collection of containers are electrically interconnected by coupling the output connector of a given container to the input connector of another container. The intercoupling is accomplished using USB jumper cables. 
     While the array of storage containers can be distributed about the storage area in any convenient manner, the most efficient use of the storage area can be achieved by stacking the containers vertically, with one container positioned on top of another. In this preferred configuration it is still necessary to electrically intercouple all containers in the vertical stack using the USB jumper cables. Depending on the number of containers in a stack, and the number of stacks of containers, this requires a relatively large number of USB jumper cables, which is less than optimal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises an addressable objects storage container of the type described above which is provided with an interconnect panel and a matching cover for the container having an interconnect mechanism which electrically intercouple the address signals supplied to that container by the local controller to the address signal conductors of another container when the two containers are stacked in a vertical configuration. This eliminates the need for USB jumper cables to intercouple the two containers when vertically stacked. 
     In a broadest aspect, the invention comprises a storage container for removably storing addressable objects, the storage container including a plurality of walls forming a storage volume with an upper region, and an interconnect panel secured to one of the plurality of walls, the interconnect panel having a top edge and a bottom edge and including a pair of laterally spaced address signal conductors extending between the top edge and the bottom edge and terminating in conductive terminal pads; and 
     a cover for the storage container, the cover including an interconnect mechanism secured thereto and having a laterally spaced pair of spring biased translatable conductive probes, the location of the interconnect mechanism on the cover and the spacing of the probes enabling the probes to individually engage the terminal pads of an upper container and a lower container when the upper container and the lower container are stacked in a vertical manner so that address signals present on the address signal conductors of one of the upper container and the lower container are coupled to the address signal conductors of the other one of the upper container and the lower container. 
     The interconnect panel preferably has an address signal input port coupled to the address signal conductors and an address signal output port coupled to the address signal conductors. 
     The storage container has a pair of laterally spaced electrically conductive mounting rods within the upper region; and the interconnect panel includes a pair of mounting clips each electrically coupled to a different one of the address signal conductors and each secured to the interconnect panel adjacent the top edge, with each mounting clip being engaged with a different one of the pair of mounting rods to secure the interconnect panel to the wall of the container at the upper edge of the interconnect panel. Fastener means is used to secure the lower edge of the interconnect panel to the wall of the container 
     The cover has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture; and the interconnect mechanism includes a mounting block secured to the cover for containing the probes, the mounting block being positioned on the cover with the probes extending through the aperture. The mounting block has a laterally spaced pair of through bores for containing the probes; and a pair of generally cylindrical ferrules are each secured in a different one of the through bores, with the probes translatably received within the ferrules, and a pair of biassing springs are each mounted in a different one of the ferrules between an opposing pair of probes for urging the corresponding pair of probes outwardly of the mounting block. 
     An auto alignment mechanism is included for urging an upper container into proper physical alignment with the cover of a lower container when the upper container and the lower container are stacked in a vertical manner. The auto alignment mechanism preferably comprises mutually conformable shapes to the upper surface of the cover and the bottom of the container so that mutual engagement with a snug fit is achieved between a cover and the bottom of a container. 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a storage container incorporating the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic partial plan view illustrating the reverse side of the interconnect panel of  FIG. 1  and the interconnection between the panel and the address rails of the container; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial top plan view illustrating the mechanical and electrical connection elements at the top edge of the interconnect panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the mechanical and electrical interconnector mechanism mounted in the cover of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the configuration of the cover-mounted interconnector mechanism when one container is stacked on top of a lower container; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic views of the top of a container cover and the bottom of a container, respectively, illustrating the auto alignment feature of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing four containers in a vertically stacked array. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a storage container and a cover incorporating the invention. As seen in this FIG., a storage container  10  has an interconnect panel  12  secured to a front wall  13 . In the preferred embodiment, the bottom region of interconnect panel  12  is secured to the bottom region of container wall  13  by any suitable fastening means, such as screw fasteners which pass through holes formed in wall  13  at appropriate positions and engage interconnect panel  12 . The top region of interconnect panel  12  is secured to the top region of container wall  13  in the manner described below with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . A removable cover  14  is provided with a mechanical and electrical interconnector mechanism  15  in a region overlying the top of the interconnect panel  12  when the cover  14  is mounted on the container  10 . Cover  14  is provided with a recess  17  extending generally around the inside of the periphery of cover  14  as part of an auto alignment feature described below. Interconnect panel  12  includes a container visible indicator  18 , a USB input port  19 , and a USB output port  20 . Visible indicator  18  is illuminated whenever an object located in container  10  has an address which matches the address supplied to the container. The object address is supplied to container  10  either directly from a local controller described below in conjunction with  FIG. 8 , or indirectly from the local controller via a USB cable connected between the container  10  and another container to which the object address has been supplied. USB input port  19  provides an electrical connection to the local controller or the USB output of another container. USB output port  20  functions to provide address output signals to another container when the two are interconnected by a USB jumper cable as described above. This is necessary when the two containers are not mutually stacked in a vertical attitude. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic partial plan view illustrating the reverse side of the interconnect panel  12 . As seen in this FIG., interconnect panel  12  has a pair of electrical address conductors  22 ,  23  extending from the top region to the bottom region. Conductors  22 ,  23  may be individual discrete wires or conductive traces plated onto the reverse surface of panel  12 . Both address conductors  22 ,  23  are electrically connected to both the input port  19  and the output port  20  of panel  12 . Conductor  22  is connected to an upper electrically conductive terminal pad  25  at the upper end and is connected to a lower electrically conductive terminal pad  26  at the lower end. Similarly, conductor  23  is connected to an upper electrically conductive terminal pad  27  at the upper end and is connected to a lower electrically conductive terminal pad  28  at the lower end. As described more fully below, lower terminal pads  26 ,  28  electrically connect to the address conductors of a lower container when the container bearing interconnect panel  12  is stacked on top of another container with a cover  14  in between. Upper terminal pads  25 ,  27  electrically connect to the address conductors of an upper container stacked on top of the container bearing interconnect panel  12 . Visible indicator  18  and an MCU are connected between conductors  22 ,  23 . 
     A pair of fastener receptacles  30 ,  31  are positioned at the lower region of panel  12  and serve to provide securement means for the fasteners used to secure the lower region of panel  12  to the lower region of container wall  13 . Receptacles  30 ,  31  may be bosses formed in the reverse surface of panel  12 , each with a blind bore, or internally threaded nuts adhered to the reverse surface of panel  12 . The upper region of panel  12  is secured to the upper region of container  10  by means of mounting clips  33 ,  34  secured to the upper region of panel  12  in the laterally spaced configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . Each clip  33 ,  34  engages an associated electrically conductive rod  36 ,  37 , and each rod  36 ,  37  is secured to the wall  13  of container  10 . Rod  36  is electrically connected to a first conductive rail  40  located in the interior of container  10 , while rod  37  is electrically connected to a second conductive rail  41  also located in the interior of container  10 . Rails  40 ,  41  are laterally spaced inside container  10  by an amount designed to receive file folders containing the electrical circuitry described above for receiving object address signals supplied to the container  10 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the mounting clip  33  installed on rod  36 . As seen in these Figs., clip  33  has three upstanding curved arms  43 - 45  which partially encircle rod  36  to form a releasable clamping connection. The configuration of clip  34  and rod  37  is identical to that depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . To install interconnect panel  12  on wall  13  of container  10 , clips  33 ,  34  are first maneuvered onto rods  36 ,  37  to secure the upper region, after which fasteners are maneuvered from the inside of container  10  through the holes formed in the lower region of wall  13  and installed in fastener receptacles  30 ,  31  to secure the lower region. Panel  12  can be removed from wall  13  of container  10  by simply reversing the steps just described. 
     Address conductor  22  is electrically connected to clip  33  directly. Address conductor  23  is electrically connected to clip  34  through a resistor  47 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the mechanical and electrical interconnector mechanism  15  mounted in the cover  14  of the container  10 . As seen in this FIG., interconnector mechanism  15  includes a mounting block  51  received within an aperture in cover  14  and secured to cover  14  by means of threaded fasteners  53 ,  54  installed from underneath. Mounting block  51  has a pair of electrically conductive spring biased probe assemblies  56 ,  57  which are press fitted into laterally spaced, vertically oriented bores formed in mounting block  51 . Each probe assembly  56 ,  57  has a central generally cylindrical ferrule  58  with inwardly turned upper and lower retaining flanges  60 ,  61 , a pair of vertically translatable contact probes  62 ,  63 , and a biassing spring  65  having ends in contact with the inner end surfaces of contact probes  62 ,  63 . The inner end of each contact probe  62 ,  63  has an outwardly turned retaining flange which can engage with the retaining flanges  60 ,  61  to capture each contact probe  62 ,  63  within ferrule  58 . Thus, contact probes  52 ,  63  are capable of translatory motion inwardly of ferrule  58  in the vertical direction when pressure is applied from above or below. In the absence of such pressure, each contact probe  62 ,  63  is biased to the outward vertical limit by biasing spring  65 . In  FIG. 5 , interconnector mechanism  15  is shown in the quiescent state with no external pressure applied and contact probes  62 ,  63  in the fully extended state under the influence of biasing spring  65 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  but illustrating the configuration of the cover-mounted interconnector mechanism  15  when one container is stacked on top of another, lower container. As seen in this FIG., the lower electrically conductive terminal pads  26 ,  28  of the interconnect panel  12  U of the upper container  10  U are mated with the upper contact probes  62  of the interconnector mechanism mounted in the lower container cover  14 . The probes  62  are partially retracted into the interior of ferrule  58  by the weight of upper container  10  U. The upper electrically conductive terminal pads  25 ,  27  of the interconnect panel  12  L of the lower container  10  L are mated with the lower contact probes  63  of the interconnector mechanism  15  mounted in the lower container cover  14 . The probes  63  are also partially retracted into the interior of ferrule  58 . Biassing spring  65  is compressed thereby assuring effective contact between elements  26 ,  28 , and  62 , and between elements  25 ,  27 , and  63 . Thus, any address signals present within the electrical address conductors  22 ,  23  on the interconnect panel  12  in either container are transferred to the electrical address connectors  22 ,  23  on the interconnect panel  12  in the other container whenever one container is properly stacked on top of another container. 
     In order to facilitate proper alignment of the containers when stacking, an auto alignment feature is incorporated into the preferred embodiment.  FIGS. 7A and 7B , which are schematic views of the top of a container cover  14  and the bottom of a container  10 , respectively, illustrate this feature. With reference to  FIG. 7A , a recess  17  extends generally peripherally of cover  14  just inwardly of the outer edge  16 . With reference to  FIG. 7B , the bottom of container  10  has an L-shaped contour at each corner. The relative dimensions of recess  17  and the L-shaped contours are selected so that the bottom of container  10  is snugly received by recess  17  whenever one container is stacked on top of another container. In this aligned configuration, the electrical contact members described about are properly engaged. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing four containers  10 - 1  . . .  10 - 4  in a vertically stacked array. A local controller  70  is electrically coupled to a first container  10 - 1  in the stack by means of a USB cable  71  connected to the local controller  70  and the input port  19 - 1  of container  10 - 1 . Local controller  70  receives object address signals from a host computer (not shown) and supplies these signals to container  10 - 1 . The object address signals are forwarded to the remaining containers in the stack by means of the interconnect panels  12 - 1  . . .  12 - 4  and the interconnect mechanisms  15 - 1  . . .  15 - 3  in the covers  14 - 1  . . .  14 - 3  of the containers  10 - 1  . . .  10 - 3 . Response signals from any of the containers  10 - 1  . . .  10 - 4  are returned to local controller  70  via the same panels and interconnect mechanisms. 
     As will now be apparent, storage containers incorporating the invention afford the advantage of eliminating the need for attaching USB jumper cables when a plurality of such containers are vertically stacked. At the same time, USB jumper cables can be used to interconnect such containers when they are arrayed in a non-vertically stacked configuration. Further, the auto alignment feature simplifies the stacking process. 
     Although the above provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, while the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to an interconnect panel  12  having a USB output port  20 , this port may be eliminated if the container will only be used in a vertically stacked array. In addition, while the auto alignment feature has been described and illustrated with particular contours for the cover  14  and the container bottom, other geometries affording the same auto alignment may be employed, if desired. Therefore, the above should not be construed as limiting the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.