Abstract:
A space-saving compact disk holder holds compact disks in thin, transparent sheaths without jewel cases. Each compact disk fits in a sheath that is connected to a stack segment by a connector. The stack segments have annular bodies that rotate about a common axis. In one embodiment, the stack segments are modular and interlock with one another. In another embodiment, a shaft passes through an axial core of each stack segment, such that the stack segments form a column. The stack segments rotate about a common axis such that compact disks above a selected compact disk can be moved out of the way to view and/or remove the selected compact disk from the column. The compact disk holder is a base for a desk lamp.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to storage of compact disks, and more specifically to a space-saving apparatus for storing compact disks.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Compact disks have become a common medium for storing data, such as computer programs, music files and motion pictures. Digital video disks are a similar medium used to store data in a higher-density format. A person today commonly possesses many digital video disks and compact disks and must find a place to store the many disks.  
         [0003]     There are several conventional means of storing digital video disks and compact disks (herein together referred to as CDs). Conventional CD storage units are often intended to store pre-recorded CDs and hold the CDs in their original jewel cases. Even the newer, thinner jewel cases are many times thicker than the CDs themselves. Thus, storing CDs in their jewel cases takes up more space than storing the CDs alone. CDs can be stored by stacking them on a rod that passes through the holes in the CDs. It is difficult, however, to identify individual CDs in a stack of CDs.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1A  (prior art) shows a storage rack assembly  10  for CDs. Rack assembly  10  stacks CDs using clips that are rotatably mounted to a rod  11 . A jewel case  12  containing a CD clips into a rack unit  13 . Rack unit  13  has a lug  14  with a cylindrical hole and a clip portion  15 . Rod  11  passes through the cylindrical hole, and rack unit  13  rotates about the axis of rod  11 .  
         [0005]      FIG. 1B  (prior art) shows rack unit  13  in more detail. A side of jewel case  12  clips into rack clip portion  15  of rack unit  13 . Jewel case  12  holds a CD  16  that is many times thinner than jewel case  12 . CD  16  rests on a base  17  within jewel case  12 . Rack assembly  10  allows an individual jewel case within a stack of jewel cases to be to be viewed by rotating the individual jewel case out from under jewel cases above the individual jewel case. Where a large number of CDs are stored, however, it is difficult to make a selection because a limited number of jewel cases fit on rod  11 . A search for a particular CD would cover multiple storage rack assemblies on multiple rods. Storing a large number of CDs in storage rack assembly  10  requires space to store the associated jewel cases.  
         [0006]     Thus, a holder for CDs is sought that saves space by storing CDs without their jewel cases but nevertheless allows an individual CD within a stack of CDs to be to be viewed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     A space-saving compact disk holder holds compact disks in thin, transparent sheaths without jewel cases. Each compact disk fits in a sheath that is connected to a stack segment by a connector. The stack segments have annular bodies that are rotatable about a common axis. In one embodiment, the stack segments are modular and interlock with one another. In another embodiment, a shaft passes through an axial core of each stack segment, such that the stack segments form a column.  
         [0008]     The stack segments are rotatable about a common axis such that compact disks above a selected compact disk can be moved out of the way to view and/or remove the selected compact disk from the column. The compact disk holder is a base for a desk lamp.  
         [0009]     Other embodiments and advantages are described in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  (prior art) is a side view of a prior art storage rack assembly for CDs.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1B  (prior art) is a partial cross-sectional view of a rack unit of the storage rack assembly of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of one embodiment of a stack segment used to hold CDs.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional side view of the stack segment of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2C  is a top-down view of the stack segment of  FIG. 2A .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top-down view of a connector with an open-ring coupling used to hold CDs.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of five stack segments stacked to form a column of stack segments.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of five stacked stack segments each holding a CD.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top-down view of a stack segment connected to a sheath by a connector.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of another embodiment of a stack segment used to hold CDs.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional side view of the stack segment of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of three stacked stack segments of the type shown in  FIG. 7A .  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top-down view of a sheath connected by a connector to a stack segment of the type shown in  FIG. 7A .  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a side view of yet another embodiment of a stack segment used to hold CDs.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is an exploded, perspective view of the stack segment of  FIG. 10  aligned with a shaft.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a CD holder with stack segments and a lamp. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2A  shows a stack segment  19  according to a first embodiment of a CD holder. Stack segment  19  has a spool-shaped, annular body  20 , with an upper disk  21 , a lower disk  22  and a circumferential groove  23  between upper disk  21  and lower disk  22 . Stack segment  19  has a barrel-shaped extension  24 . Barrel-shaped extension  24  has a ring snap fitting  25 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of stack segment  19  showing annular body  20  and an axial core  26  with a snap groove  27 . Axial core  26  functions as a receiving chamber. A barrel-shaped extension of a stack segment disposed immediately above stack segment  19  fits into axial core  26 . A ring snap fitting of a stack segment disposed immediately above stack segment  19  fits into snap groove  27 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 2C  is a top-down view of stack segment  19  showing upper disk  21 . Circumferential groove  23  is shown with a dashed line.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of a connector  28  with a proximal end  29  and a distal end  30 . Proximal end  29  of connector  28  has an open-ring coupling  31 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of stack segment  19  stacked on four other stack segments to form a column  32  of stack segments. Stack segment  19  is stacked on top of a second stack segment  33  such that ring snap fitting  25  of stack segment  19  fits into a snap groove  34  of second stack segment  33 . Axial core  26  of stack segment  19  is centered around axis  35 . Each of the stack segments of column  32  can rotate about axis  35 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a side view of column  32  of stack segments, also showing a cross section of five associated connectors and five CDs in sheaths. Stack segment  19  is stacked on top of column  32 . Connector  28  connects stack segment  19  to a sheath  36  holding a CD  37 . Sheath  36  holds CD  37  in a large pocket  38 . Distal end  30  of connector  28  fits into a small pocket  39  of sheath  36 . Open-ring coupling  31  on proximal end  29  of connector  28  snaps into circumferential groove  23  and wraps more than halfway around circumferential groove  23 . The bottom stack segment of column  32  can be snapped into a stable base to support column  32 . Each of the five sheaths is planar and each is orthogonal to axis  35 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top-down view of stack segment  19  connected to sheath  36  by connector  28 . Circumferential groove  23  is shown as a dashed line. Open-ring coupling  31  on proximal end  29  of connector  28  snaps around circumferential groove  23 . Distal end  30  of connector  28  fits snuggly into small pocket  39  of sheath  36 . CD  37  is shown as a dashed line within large pocket  38  of sheath  36 . The diameter of CD  37  is approximately  12  centimeters. The annular body  20  of stack segment  19  has a diameter of approximately 10 centimeters. Column  32  is stabilized by the relatively large diameter of its component stack segments.  
         [0035]     In the first embodiment, sheath  36  is made of a stiff, clear plastic, such as that used to make liner sleeves of loose-leaf notebooks. CD  37 , as well as writing and pictures on the face of CD  37 , can be seen through the clear plastic. Upper and lower flaps of large pocket  38  are bonded together by annealing at a high temperature. The upper and lower flaps are connected at seam  40 . An additional flap is connected to the upper flap of large pocket  38  at seam  41  and forms small pocket  39 .  
         [0036]     In other embodiments, sheath  36 , connector  28  and stack segment  19  are integrally formed of one piece of rigid plastic.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of a second embodiment of a CD holder. Stack segment  42  has a washer-shaped, annular body  43  and a barrel-shaped extension  44 . Barrel-shaped extension  44  has a ring snap fitting  45 .  FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of stack segment  42  showing annular body  43  and an axial core  46  with a snap groove  47 . A female coupling  48  is formed in annular body  43 . Female coupling  48  has a semi-spherical groove  49 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  shows stack segment  42  stacked on two other similar stack segments.  FIG. 8  also shows a cross section of three associated connectors and three CDs in sheaths. Ring snap fitting  45  of stack segment  42  fits into a snap groove of a stack segment below stack segment  42 . Axial core  46  of stack segment  42 , as well as the axial cores of the other two stack segments, can rotate about an axis  50 . Sheath  36  holding CD  37  is shown connected to stack segment  42  by a rectangular connector  51 . A distal end  52  of connector  51  fits into small pocket  39  of sheath  36 . A proximal end  53  of connector  51  snaps into female coupling  48 . Connector  51  has a ball snap fitting  54  that snaps into semi-spherical groove  49 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is a top-down view of sheath  36  connected to stack segment  42  by connector  51 . Ball snap fitting  54  fits into semi-spherical groove  49 . A second ball snap fitting on connector  51  opposite ball snap fitting  54  snaps into a second semi-spherical groove within female coupling  48 . The annular body  43  of stack segment  42  has a diameter of about 15 centimeters.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a CD holder. Stack segment  55  is washer-shaped and has an axial core  56 . Stack segment  55  has a female coupling  57  with a semi-spherical groove  58 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 11  shows axial core  56  of stack segment  55  aligned with a shaft  59  and an axial core  60  of a second stack segment  61 . Stack segment  55 , second stack segment  61  and rod  59  are aligned such that shaft  59  can pass through axial core  60  and then through axial core  56 . Female coupling  57  within stack segment  55  is shown with dashed lines. Second stack segment  61  is shown with a female coupling  62 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 12  shows a CD holder  63  that comprises a plurality of stack segments, including stack segment  55 . The plurality of stack segments form a column  64  of stack segments. Sheath  36  contains CD  37 . Sheath  36  is connected by connector  51  to a stack segment at the bottom of column  64 . A shaft  65  passes through an axial core of each of the plurality of stack segments of column  64 . A lamp  66  is disposed at the top of shaft  65 . A heavy, stable base  67  supports shaft  65 . A cord  68  attached to base  67  provides CD holder  63  and lamp  66  with a power supply.  
         [0043]     In one embodiment, lamp  66  includes a bundle of optical fibers. The bundle extends upward from a light source in base  67  and through the central core of the stack segments. The upper ends of the fibers fan out from one another above the top most stack segment of the column. The light source in the base emits light that travels up the optical fibers and is transmitted out of the upper ends of the optical fibers. The light source may be a kaleidoscope type source that changes the colors of light transmitted through the optical fibers. Light from the optical fibers may, for example, be made to move and dance on the ceiling of a darkened room when the optical fibers are moved, for example by a hand or wind currents.  
         [0044]     Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, a stack segment and a compact disc holder are integrally formed from a single piece of rigid plastic. The compact disc holder may be a rigid surface upon which the compact disc rests. The compact disc holder may have a central protruding peg that friction fits into the axial hole in a compact disc such that the compact disc is removably fixed onto the rigid compact disc holder. Although stack segments are described above that interlock with one another, stack segments in accordance with some embodiments are smooth washer-shaped structures that can slide over each other such that the axial cores of successive stack segments going up the column are slightly displaced with respect to one another. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.