Abstract:
A device for storing media comprises at least one frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon, a peripheral ledge around the support surface for preventing the media on the support surface from sliding off therefrom. The frame module also has a support structure for allowing the frame module to support another frame module similar thereto in a stacked relationship, such that the device is modular and expandable. The device also includes a cover module for covering the support structure of an uppermost one of the frame modules. Labels each having respective reference indicia thereon are each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the media, with a reference list being provided to receive information relating to a content of each one of the media in relation to the reference indicia on the label secured thereto, whereby the media in the device are classified. The device is open along both sides thereof extending between end walls of the frame module such that media can be removed from or inserted in the device from two opposite sides.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for storing various media and a classification system therefor.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    In this era of technology, media of all sorts are present in every aspect of today&#39;s lifestyle. Whether it is for leisure or for work, the amount of media handled daily by the typical person has increased impressively over the past few years. The format of the media has also taken a plurality of shapes. For instance, compact disks, videodisks, computer diskettes, are just a few examples of the media being used daily.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, plural storage devices, e.g. trays, have emerged to provide ways to store the media. As changes and novelties often occur in the media formats, it is frequent to have storage devices that are not ideally suited to comply with the storing requirements of the media. Among familiar occurrences are oversized storage systems in the wait of a person&#39;s media library to build up, a plurality of generally empty adjacent storage devices for each medium, storage devices filled to an extent where it is quite hard to find a given medium. As an example of a more specific case, compact disk racks often have slots for receiving single compact disk casings. However, double compact disk casings do not fit in these slots.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a storage device that is versatile.  
           [0007]    It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a multi-media storage device that is modular,  
           [0008]    It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a multi-media storage device that has an indexing system to facilitate the finding of a given medium stored in the device.  
           [0009]    Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing media, comprising;  
           [0010]    a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon, a peripheral ledge around said support surface for preventing the media on said support surface from sliding off therefrom, said frame module having also a support structure for allowing said frame module to receive thereon another frame module similar thereto in a stacked relationship, such that said device is expandable; and  
           [0011]    a cover module for covering the support structure of an uppermost one of said frame modules.  
           [0012]    Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing and classifying media, said device comprising:  
           [0013]    a casing having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon;  
           [0014]    labels each having respective reference indicia thereon and each adapted for being secured to a respective one of the media; and  
           [0015]    a reference list provided on said casing, said reference list being adapted to receive information thereon relating to a content of each one of the media in said casing in relation to said reference indicia of said label secured thereto, whereby the media in said device are classified.  
           [0016]    Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for storing media, comprising:  
           [0017]    a frame module having a support surface adapted for receiving media thereon and having end walls, and a cover module disposed on top of said end walls and at a distance from said support surface such that media is received between said support surface and said cover module, said device being open along both sides thereof extending between said end walls such that media can be removed from or inserted in said device from two opposite sides. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a partly exploded view of a storage device in accordance with the present invention having two storage trays;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage device of the present invention that has one storage tray shown here with media stored therein;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 2 but without a cover thereof for illustration purposes;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a vertical transversal cross-sectional view illustrating a medium being removed from the storage device;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view, fragmented, of the storage device having multiple trays; and 
     
    
       [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 4A and 5A are similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, hut show a variant of the storage device.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a multimedia storage device in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at  10 . The storage device  10  consists essentially of at least one frame module  12  and one cover module  14 . As will be described in detail hereinafter, the number of frame modules  12  in the storage device  10  depends on the number of storage levels or trays desired by a user. On the other hand, the storage device  10  always has one cover module  14 , notwithstanding the number of frame modules  12 . Therefore, the storage device  10  may expand with a person&#39;s media library.  
         [0026]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the storage device  10  has two frame modules  12  that are identical. Each frame module  12  has a base  20  and a pair of end structural walls  36 , The base  20  is formed by a rectangular panel  22  with lateral edge walls  24  disposed perpendicularly on lateral side edges of the panel  22 . The base  20  further has end edge walls  26  on end edges of the panel  22 . The lateral edge walls  24  and the end edge walls  26  form an upper peripheral ledge  28  projecting perpendicularly from a top surface  30  of the panel  22 , and a lower peripheral ledge  32  projecting perpendicularly from a bottom surface  34  of the panel  22 . The structural walls  36  extend upwardly from the upper surface  30  of the panel  22 . The structural walls  36  are received in abutment against a portion of the lateral edge walls  24  and are spaced from the end edge walls  26 , such that channels  38  are defined therebetween. Four slots  39  are formed in the upper peripheral ledge  28  (three of which are visible in FIG. 1) such that the channels  38  extend from side-to-side of the base  20 . The structural walls  36  are parallel one to another and are generally perpendicular to the panel  22 , Four slots  37  (two of which are visible in FIG. 1) are symmetrically formed in the lower peripheral ledge  32  and are positioned similarly to the position of the slots  39  in the upper peripheral ledge  28 , i.e. vertically opposite thereto.  
         [0027]    The cover module  14  is like a frame module  12  without the structural walls  36 . Therefore, the cover module has a rectangular-shaped panel  42 , with lateral edge walls  44  and end edge walls  46  forming an upper peripheral ledge  48  perpendicular to a top surface  50  of the panel  42 , and a lower peripheral ledge  52  perpendicular to a bottom surface  54  of the panel  22 . It is pointed out that, as the cover module  40  does not have structural walls, the cover module  14  does not have channels similar to the channels  38  of the frame module  12 . However, the cover module  14  has four slots  59  therein (two of which are visible) equivalent to the slots  39  of the frame module  12 . Similarly to the slots  39  of the frame module  12 , the slots  59  of the cover module  14  are defined in the lateral edge walls  44 . The cover module  14  could also be made identical to the base  20 , i.e. also with slots on both sides of its panel  42 ,  
         [0028]    Now that the physical configurations of the frame modules  12  and the cover module  14  of the storage device  10  have been described in detail, the assembly for functional use of the storage device  10  will now be described. FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate a storage device  10  assembled from two frame modules  12  and a cover module  14 . For clarity purposes, a first one (i.e. the lower one) of the frame modules  12  of FIG. 1 will be identified as “A” and another one (i.e. the upper one) will be identified as “B”. Therefore, letters “A” and “B” will be affixed to the reference numerals in the description. For instance, the frame module  12 A will designate the frame module  12  identified by “A” in FIG. 1. The frame module  12 B is positioned on top of the frame module  12 A, which rests on a floor F, by upper free ends of the structural walls  36 A being nested in a corresponding shape defined by the lower peripheral ledge  32 B and the bottom surface  34 B.  
         [0029]    The cover module  14  is positioned on the frame module  12 B in a similar fashion. Free ends of the structural walls  36 B will be nested in a corresponding shape defined by the lower peripheral ledge  52  and the bottom surface  54  of the cover module  14 . The cover module  14  is shown at  14 ′ in broken lines in FIG. 1 to illustrate how it is disposed on the frame module  12 B (see arrows  70 ). Therefore, the storage device  10  has two levels or trays of media storage, i.e. one for the upper surface  30  of each frame module  12 , along with a level of storage for other items on the upper surface  54  of the cover module  14 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 illustrates a storage device  10 ′ having a single storage level, but with various items J (compact disk circular magazines, pens, diskette boxes, etc.) stored on the upper surface  54  of the cover module  14  and restrained from falling by the upper peripheral ledge  48 . It is obvious that the storage device  10  may consist of one, two or more than two frame modules  12 .  
         [0031]    Returning to FIG. 1, a panel  66  is shown being slid into the channels  38  of the frame module  12 B of the storage device  10 . The panels  66  are sized so as to be slidably received in the slots  59  of the cover module  14  at the same time, Accordingly, the panels  66  are co-planar against outer surfaces of the structural walls  36 B. Although not shown, the channels  38  of the frame module  12 A may also receive such panels  66  therein, with atop portion of the panels  66  being slidably received in out that other suitable ways may be used to removably secure the panels  66  to the structural walls  3 A, such as fasteners like Velcro™, magnets, etc. The panels  66 , as will be explained hereinafter, will be used to display the media contents of the various levels or trays of the storage device  10 .  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a storage device  10  having one storage level or tray is shown storing various media conventional single compact-disk casings are shown at CD 1 , casings having two or more compact disks are shown at CD 2 , and typical compact disk collection box-sets are shown at CD 3 . Video-disk and CD-ROM casings are also shown stored in the storage device  10  and are illustrated by DVD. The above enumerated media are upstanding in the storage  10 , and are sized so as to be kept in the storage device  10  by abutting laterally against the upper peripheral ledge  28  which extends on both sides of the frame module  12 .  
         [0033]    On the other hand, media of smaller dimensions than the above-mentioned media may also be stored in the storage device  10 . For instance, audiocassettes in their casings, which are generally illustrated at T as best shown in FIG. 3, are positioned upstanding in the frame module  12  of the storage device  10 , and are paired up in side-by-side relationship so as to be immobilized laterally by the upper peripheral ledge  28  of the storage device  10 . Similarly, as also best shown in FIG. 3, computer diskettes H are immobilized laterally in the storage device  10  by having a diskette box G filling an empty space caused by the width of the diskettes H with respect to the width of the frame module  12 . Other media (not shown) can also be received in the device  10 , such as compact disks in their flexible cardboard or cellophane sleeves.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS.  2  to  4 , a classification system is illustrated for keeping track of what is stored in the storage device  10 . Labels  60  (see FIG. 4) are provided in order to identify the media in the storage device  10 . The labels  60  may be of various types, but preferably have a tab portion  62  having an identification character, such one or many letters, or a numeral as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The tab portions  62  extend outwardly from the media so as to be visible when the media are stored in the storage device  10 . It is also preferred to provide each label  60  with an adhesive portion  64 , whereby the labels  60  may be stuck to the media. It is preferable to have the labels  60  positioned at various heights on the various media in order to avoid visual interference created by the label  60  of a first medium being too close to the label  60  of an adjacent medium. The tab portions  62  may also be transparent (e.g. except at their identification characters) to help see tab portions  62  located behind a given tab portion  62 .  
         [0035]    The labels  60  are used in conjunction with the panel  66 , which, as shown in FIG. 2, illustrates a chart with numerals thereon corresponding to the numerals on the labels  60  and with user-added information being provided on the chart or panel  66  opposite the numerals thereof, the information associated with a given numeral being indicative/descriptive of the media stored in the storage device  10  and bearing this given numeral on its label  60 .  
         [0036]    The panel  66  may have an ink-erasable surf ace such that the chart thereon may be hand-filled with the information concerning the media corresponding to the numerals, and erased when changes in the stored contents of the storage device  10  occur. It may also be a computer printout that is replaced and kept up-to-date. Although not shown in FIG. 1, each storage level of the storage device  10  has its own panel  66 , which can be inserted at either end of the frame module  12 . It is also pointed that the panels  66  may be folded so as to have a greater area for information to be filled thereon.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 4, a single compact disk casing CD 1  is shown being removed from the storage device  10  by a person P grasping the tab portion  62  of the label  60  and lifting it upwardly (see arrow  72 ) such that the casing CD 1  is above the upper peripheral ledge  28  of the frame module  12 . The casing CD 1  is then pulled outwardly (see arrow  74 ) of the storage device  10  by its tab portion  62 . These steps are repeated in order to remove any other media from the storage device  10 , and are reversed to put a medium back into the device  10 .  
         [0038]    As seen from the top view of FIG. 3, labels  60  may be provided on both sides of the wider media such that there are labels  60  on either side of the storage device  10 . This allows formats such as the compact-disk casings CD 1  to be removed from either side, On the other hand, media only exposed on one side of the storage device  10  because of their small width are removed from one of the sides of the storage device  10 , and labels  60  are positioned on these media in order to comply with the side they are to be removed from. The fact that the storage device  10  is open on both sides offers the advantage that there is no need for a first medium to be displaced in order for a second medium to be pulled out of the storage device  10 , as is the case with, for instance, the audiocassettes T. Also, it allows the device  10  to put up against a wall, or the like, on any of the two open sides thereof while allowing media to be removed therefrom through its unobstructed side, i.e. its side opposite the side located against the wall.  
         [0039]    The storage device  10  may consist in a plurality of materials. For instance, various metals and woods may be used, in which case the storage device  10  will be able to sustain the weight of various storing levels. Plastics and various polymers may be used in serial production of the storage devices  10  of the present invention and present characteristics which comply with the use of the storage device  10 .  
         [0040]    The device  10  is thus modular as the number of levels or trays thereof can be modified by adding or removing frame modules  12  from its stacked attitude. As the frame modules are exempt of partitions, the device  10  is versatile in being able to accommodate various articles of various sizes in customized arrangements in the frame module  12 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 4A and 5A illustrate a variant storage device  10 ′, wherein each storage module (two such modules being shown in FIG. 5A) is identical and includes the base  20  and a cover module  14 ′ that are fixedly secured respectively at lower and upper ends of the structural end walls  36 . In the device  10 , the cover module  14  is not fixed to the walls  36 . Therefore, in the storage device  10 ′, each module is stand-alone and can thus be used on its own, separately or in stacked relationship.  
         [0042]    In a further variant (not shown), the ends walls  36  could be detachable from both the base  20  and the cover module  14 / 14 ′ so that the storage device is more compact for packaging, or storage.