Abstract:
The invention is a modular and wooden blocks type of CD rack. The CD storage comprises of several individual modules. And with different combinations of different modules, one can assemble different types of racks for storing CD and CD box. The modules comprise side plate, end plate, back plate, bottom feet, stand plate, support beam, connection structure. Because of the different modules, multiple types of CD rack such as vertical, horizontal and plane type CD racks can be structured and therefore it is capable of storing CD jewelry case, CD boxes and other objects. The framed racks are stackable unlimitedly in both vertical and horizontal direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention is a modular and wooden block type CD rack, especially; a CD rack comprises of several different modules and can be assembled to multiple types of CD rack via different combinations of different Modules. The rack stores not only CD jewelry case or CD boxes, but also various kinds of objects of different thickness. The assembled rack can be unlimitedly stacked providing more storing space.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Presently, musical creation and computerize multimedia have being developed successfully, and CDs are getting more and more. Thus, the management for storing CD to save limited room and effectively utilize reserving room is becoming a great issue. A popular way is to store a number of CDs and CD boxes by racks.  
           [0003]    In prior art, a CD rack is an integral structure and it is only for storing case for single CD (or CD boxes storing CDs and the thickness are same), which means the prior art is suitable for fixed thickness and other different kinds of thickness will not be stored. Thus, the situation is not convenient for user. Furthermore, prior art is single purpose and is not able to match different applications. Therefore, there is a need to create a CD rack of multiple functions to adapt CD boxes of different style and different thickness.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The main purpose of the invention is to apply the concept of wooden blocks to assemble different kinds of CD racks. By using modules it is possible to make distinct types of CD racks for unlike sorts of thickness of CD boxes or other objects. Furthermore, the invention is beautiful in looking and effectively uses limited space available.  
           [0005]    The second purpose of the invention is to offer a module side plate. There are plural grooves on the two opposite side surfaces of the side plate and the grooves are spacing differently on the two side surfaces. By assigning the same side surface of the two side plates facing toward inside, objects of different thickness can be adapted in grooves.  
           [0006]    The modules for the invention contains side plate, end plate, back plate, bottom feet, support beam, connection pin, support rod, etc.  
           [0007]    Side plate is a plate object having plural ribs. The cross section of the side plate is in symmetry, and each end has a curved leading edge matching with an end plate. On its one side there are plural wide ribs sticking out and is used for loading thicker CD boxes. On the other side, there are plural narrow ribs for loading single pc CD box or thinner objects. The distances between narrow ribs are shorter..  
           [0008]    There are plural connection holes on side plates and the connection holes are the connection structures for connecting other modules. There is another type of connection structure, which separately arranged above and under side plates, and is for purpose of expanding the CD rack. Generally, the male and female dovetails design will be used.  
           [0009]    The goal to design the structure of side plate is variable functions. Thus, the side plates can be used as the right and left side plate of a vertical CD rack, or the up and down side plate of a horizontal CD rack. Furthermore, it can be a simple CD rack on desktop by adding bottom feet.  
           [0010]    The structure of the end plate is symmetrical. End plates are used as the up and down sides of a CD rack with a closed space. (or right and left sides of a horizontal CD rack). Furthermore, the end plates can be turned over to use and the functions are totally same. The tenons on end plates are protruded and for combining with connection holes of side plates. On the end plates there are plural connection holes for connecting with back plates.  
           [0011]    Two side plates and two end plates construct an internal room for storing, and it is the basic form of a CD rack.  
           [0012]    Back plates can be used alone and as a single piece CD rack adapting CD, floppy disk, MO, zip disk, mini disk, tape, etc. Also, the back plate combine with side plates, end plates for enhancing the overall strength of a vertical CD rack. The vertical CD rack is a tall structure. The back plate has hangers or hanging holes capable for wall mounting.  
           [0013]    Stand plate connects with the end plate of bottom, and the stand plate is to keep the rack stable when assembling vertical CD rack.  
           [0014]    Side bottom foot is matching with side plate, and it is to support side plate for constructing a simple CD rack or a horizontal CD rack.  
           [0015]    Extended foot constructs with end plate and side plate for building up the up and down sides of the closed reserving room.  
           [0016]    Stand pillar is in cooperation with side plates and supports the two side plates when constructing a horizontal CD rack. It then forms the to closed reserving room of the horizontal CD rack.  
           [0017]    Connection pin is to connect the side plate of adjacent CD rack when expanding the rack.  
           [0018]    Support beam cooperates with side bottom foot or extended foot for supporting CD box.  
           [0019]    When using, two side plates and two end plates build up a basic, closed reserving room, and thus a vertical CD rack. When narrow ribs on the two side plates are in the internal side of the closed reserving room, the resulting rack is for thinner CD box storing one pc CD in general. If turning over the right and left sides, and sides of wide ribs are in the internal side of the closed reserving room, another type of CD rack is formed, and it is for thicker CD boxes or other bigger objects.  
           [0020]    The first preferred embodiment comprises two side plates and two end plates. The two side plates with narrow ribs facing each other forms the internal walls of the closed reserving room. The two end plates comprise the up and down walls of the reserving room. A stand plate connects with the bottom end plate to increase the stability of the rack.  
           [0021]    The second preferred embodiment is to turn the two side plates of the first embodiment over and let the side with wide ribs facing each other and forms the closed reserving room. The two end plates are still in the same position. This embodiment is for storing thicker CD boxes or other objects.  
           [0022]    The third preferred embodiment is that installing two side bottom feet on one side plate. The bottom feet are on the side with wide ribs. A support beam is installed on the center between two bottom feet. This is a simple CD rack for storing CD box for one pc CD.  
           [0023]    The fourth preferred embodiment is a horizontal CD rack of single layer and comprises of two side plates, two side bottom feet, one support beam and four stand pillars. It is for the CD box storing single CD.  
           [0024]    The fifth preferred embodiment is a horizontal CD rack of two-layer and comprises of two side plates, four side bottom feet, two support beams and four stand pillars. After installing side bottom feet and support beams, a horizontal CD storage frame of two-layer is then formed and it is for the CD box storing single CD.  
           [0025]    The sixth preferred embodiment is a horizontal CD rack of single layer and comprises of two side plates, two end plates, two side bottom feet and one support beam.  
           [0026]    The seventh preferred embodiment is a horizontal CD rack of two-layer and comprises of two side plates, two end plates, two side bottom feet, two extended feet, two support beams. The outline is similar to the sixth preferred embodiment and the only difference is that the up plate has two extended feet.  
           [0027]    The eighth preferred embodiment is that turning over the up side plate of single layer horizontal CD rack and then making the sides with wide ribs toward up. Placing shield plates between wide ribs and the upper layer can be utilized for placing stationery.  
           [0028]    The ninth preferred embodiment is to use the back plate alone, and it is for medias, such as CD, floppy disk, MO, mini disk, zip disk, tape, etc. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    For more understanding about the purpose, features and functions of the invention, the following will be describing in detail with figures:  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1A shows 3-dimension view of the side plate of the invention, and it is the view from the side with narrow ribs.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1B shows 3-dimension view of the side plate of the invention, and it is the view from the side with wide ribs.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1C shows 3-dimension view of the back plate.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1D shows 3-dimension view of the end plate and front bottom foot.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2A shows a 3-dimension view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2B shows a 3-dimension view of another preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 2C shows a 3-dimension view of one preferred embodiment of the invention installed with a front bottom foot.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2D shows a 3-dimension view of one preferred embodiment of the invention installed with a back plate.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2E shows that variable amounts of vertical CD racks are extended along horizontal and vertical directions. The racks are connected by different connecting mechanism along different directions.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 3A shows another preferred embodiment of the invention. One of side plates combines with two side bottom feet and a support beam, and makes a simple CD rack.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3B shows the expansion of preferred embodiment in FIG. 3A. The simple CD rack can be extended in directions of either right or left.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3C is another preferred embodiment of the invention. A horizontal CD rack comprises of two side plates, support beams side bottom feet, stand pillars. The rack can be either single or two layers construction, depending on the amount of bottom foot and stand pillar used.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3D is another preferred embodiment of the invention. The horizontal CD rack comprises of two side plates, end plates, side bottom feet, extended feet.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 3E is another preferred embodiment of the invention. Wide ribs of one side plate are pointing upward, making rooms for storing general objects.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3F shows 3-dimension view of one preferred embodiment of the invention with a support beam and two bottom feet, and presents the embodiment by rotating it 90 degrees. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0045]    The invention is a modular blocks assembly CD rack. The invention comprises of several different modules and can be free assembled to different types of racks via different numbers of modules. The modules contain side plate  10 , end plate  35 , back plate  30 , bottom foot  15 , stand plate  40 , support beam  20  and related connection components. By using different modules, multiple types of racks such as vertical, horizontal and plane type CD rack can be constructed and therefore capable of storing CD boxes, other keeping boxes or other objects of different thickness. All the racks constructed can be free expanded via connection mechanism and provide more reserving rooms for storing. Preferred connection mechanism comprises one of the following pairs: connection pins and connection holes, bolts and tap holes, keys and key slots, female and male dovetails or bulges and grooves, which are prior art connection structures.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 1A and 1B show the same side plate viewing from different sides, numbered with side plates  5  and  10 . FIG. 1A is the side plate  5  with narrow ribs  50  and FIG. 1B is the side plate  10  with wide ribs  45 . We will use side plate  10  to represent the side plate from now on, because FIGS. 1A and 1B are two side views of the same side plate. Side plate  10  is a plane type and hollow frame structure. Both side plate end  11  and side plate cross section are symmetric. The front and rear ends are with arc-shaped edges  12 . One side of the side plate is with plural narrow ribs  50  and the space between ribs  50  is smaller, and it is for supporting thinner CD boxes or other slice type of objects. The other side of side plate  10  is with plural wide ribs  45  and the space between wide ribs  45  is larger, and it is for supporting thicker CD boxes or other objects. In the preferred embodiment, the narrow ribs  50  and wide ribs  45  are tilting at the front end when assembled, and it prevents the falling of CDs or CD boxes out of the rack.  
         [0047]    On the two short sides of side plate  10 , there are plural connection holes  55  and the connection holes  55  penetrate side plate  10 . The connection holes  55  have multiple functions. Connections between side plate  10  and end plate  35 , (as FIGS. 1D and 2A), side plate  10  and another side plate  10  face to face (as FIG. 2E), side plate  10  and stand pillars  25  (as FIG. 3C), are all through the holes  55 . On the outskirts of the short sides of side plate  10 , there are male dovetail  60  and female dovetail  65 . The locations of the male dovetail  60  and female dovetail  65  are opposite on the two short sides of side plate  10  in order that two side plates  10  can be connected via this mechanism. .  
         [0048]    Referring to FIG. 1C, it is a back plate  30  and the purpose of the back plate  30  is to make the rack looks nicer and increase the rigidity of the whole structure. Around the inside of the peripheral of back plate  30 , there are plural separators  31  and  32 . The spacing between separators  31  in horizontal direction is not necessarily the same as the spacing between separators  32  in vertical direction, so they can be used for adapting objects of different thickness. In the preferred embodiment, the back plate  30  also can be utilized alone to adapt plural CD boxes in between separators  31  and  32 . By different spacing between separators  31  or  32 , different media such as CD, floppy disk, MO, mini disk, zip disk, tape, etc. can be seated on the back plate. Back plate  30  has tenons  33  and hanging holes  34 , and the tenons  33  are the connection mechanism for connecting with end plates  35 . Hanging holes  34  is for mounting the whole rack on wall by nails or hangers (not shown in figure).  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 1D shows a 3-dimension view for end plate  35  and stand plate  40 . End plate  35  is a symmetrical structure and there is an arc-shaped front edge  37  at its front end. At both sides of the front end, there are arc-shaped feet  38  and the arc-shaped feet  38  are matched with arc-shaped edges  12  of side plate  10 . Each of two sides of end plate  35  is with plural tenons  36 . When connecting with side plate  10 , tenons  36  are inserted into connection holes  55  of side plate or connecting pin  85 . The center part of end plate  35  is hollow  75  and the front edge of end plate  35  is end plate front edge  80  with arc-shaped and streamlined. Having end plate front edge  80  with arc-shaped and streamlined is to save material and increase appearance of good looking. There is an arc-shaped slot  41  in the rear of stand plate  40  and it is matched with end plate front edge  80  and so they can be bound together. In assembling a vertical CD rack, adding on the stand plate  40  may increase the base area of the rack and increase its stability as well, so the rack is not easy to fall. The front part of stand plate  40  is a slope  90  for better looking.  
         [0050]    Following are some preferred embodiments for the invention:  
         [0051]    Referring to FIG. 2A, which is one of the preferred embodiments of the invention. The two side plates  5  and  10 , with narrow ribs  50  face to face, cooperating with two end plates  35 , forms a CD rack. The narrow ribs  50  form smaller spacing so thinner objects (such as CD boxes for single CD, etc.) can be kept in there.  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 2B, it is another preferred embodiment of the invention. The two side plates  5  and  10 , with wide ribs  45  face to face, cooperating with two end plates  35  forms a CD rack. A reserving room is then formed. The wide ribs  45  form wider spacing and so thicker objects (such as CD boxes for plural CDs, etc.) can be kept in there.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIG. 2C, it is another preferred embodiment of the invention and similar to FIG. 2A. Moreover, adding stand plate  40  to the front edge of end plate  35  at the bottom provides more stability.  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 2D, it is another preferred embodiment of the invention and similar to FIG. 2A. Adding back plate  30  to the two side plates  5  and  10  and the end plates  35  for being a back plate, the structure of the whole CD rack is enhanced. The function of connecting pin  85  is to connect the adjacent side plates  10  of the racks shown as FIGS. 2A, 2B or  2 D, in order to expand racks along the horizontal direction. Furthermore, male dovetail sets  60  and female dovetail sets  65  can connect the two adjacent side plates  10  along vertical direction. Hence, the racks can be expanded in vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 2E. In that embodiment there are several layers of CD racks stacked vertically via male and female dovetail sets. The dovetail sets mechanism prevents the fall of stacked racks. Plural connecting pins  85  are to connect plural side plates  10  for horizontal extension. The connecting pin  85  can be a cross-cut hollow shaft.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 3F is another embodiment of the invention. It is a 3-dimension view of FIG. 2A adding with a support beam  20  and two bottom feet  15 , and then shows the state of rotating 90 degrees. Two bottom feet  15  are punched plural beam holes (no numbers) for support beams  20  to fit in. To utilize the embodiment, placing the rack with two bottom feet  15  toward down (means two side plates  10  are toward up and down and two end plates  35  are toward right and left directions). Thus, CD boxes (not shown) can be inserted into the space formed by narrow ribs vertically, and the bottoms of CD boxes are against the support beam  20  because of the gravity from CD boxes.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 3A is another embodiment of the invention, which is with a support beam  20  and two bottom feet  15  to one side plate  5 . To utilize the embodiment, CD boxes (not shown) are vertically inserted into the space formed by narrow ribs, and then the bottoms of CD boxes are against the support beam  20  because of the gravity from CD boxes. Hence, the side plate  5  can be used alone for reserving objects and the end plates  35  are not needed under the condition. On the hand, it is possible to let the side plate  10  with wide ribs  45  toward up in order to reserve thicker CD boxes for multiple CDs.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 3B shows the expansion of the racks as in FIG. 3A, via male dovetail sets  60  and female dovetail sets  65 . It consolidates multiple side plates  5  horizontally for keeping more CD boxes for single CD.  
         [0058]    As shown in FIG. 3C, it is a preferred embodiment using plural stand pillars  25  to connect side plates  5 . Using structure shown as in FIG. 3A, it is possible to stack more side plates vertically to store more objects.  
         [0059]    Referring to FIG. 3D, it is another preferred embodiment. It uses extension feet  95  to connect end plates  35  and side plate  5 . Each extended foot  95  has connection holes (not shown) on it. The side plate  5  and end plates  35  are connected via the connecting pins  85  that are fitting into the connection holes in extended foot and side plate. Side plates  35  are used to connect the up side plate  10  and down side plate  5 , so the stand pillars  25  as in FIG. 3C will not be used.  
         [0060]    Referring to FIG. 3E, it is similar to the construction of FIG. 3C, and the only difference is that the up side plate with wide ribs  45  toward up of the arrangement, even more, each reserving slot formed by wide ribs  45  has a slice of shield plate  100 , therefore, the up side plate is for placing stationary, etc.  
         [0061]    Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be limited by the disclosure here. Any variation using the principles disclosed in this invention by persons skilled in the art is still in the scope of this invention. This invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.