Abstract:
A media storage and organization system is comprised of a durable enclosure and a plurality of inserts for holding photographs, negatives, digital computer disks, memory cards, slides, business cards, a calendar, and the like. Inserts are attached to the enclosure by means of a mounting rail, which is integral to a hinge used for connecting a top and bottom covers that form said enclosure.

Description:
[0001]    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES  
         [0002]    This patent claims priority of PPA Serial Number: 60/476,043 filed Jun. 04, 2003 
     
    
     
         [0003]    BACKGROUND  
           [0004]    1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
           [0005]    The present invention generally relates to storage and organization of media including photographs, negatives, compact disks, digital video disks, slides, memory cards, business cards, etc.  
           [0006]    2. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
           [0007]    Media, such as photographs, digital media disks, slides, memory cards, and business cards, are often marketed using packaging which organizes individual units. Users of such media need to organize and store multiple media within the same collection.  
           [0008]    As an example, film-based photographs are generally developed and printed at a photo-processing vendor; or, in the case of a digital photography, by a consumer directly using a computer, a printer, and a compact disk burner. Photographs are stored and organized by a variety of existing systems; these include the vendor&#39;s packaging, photo albums, and photo boxes.  
           [0009]    The most common method of storing photographs is using the vendor&#39;s packing. This generally consists of a paper or thin cardboard envelope in which the photographs, an index print, negatives, and a compact disk are stored. The envelope often has a label area on which to write information corresponding to the contents. This envelope, while common, does little to help consumers organize photographs and offers little protection from damage.  
           [0010]    Photo albums are excellent for displaying images but often do not solve the problem of archiving negatives or compact disks. Photo boxes, similar in size and capacity to a shoe box, are appropriate for storing photographs but the ability to organize, label, and retrieve specific items is limited. Thus, while the topic of photo organization and storage has been addressed, no system has been created which offers a complete solution.  
           [0011]    Furthermore, users of the other media mentioned above have similar needs for organization. They need a system of storage which accommodates a wide range of media and the flexibility to customize it for each of these media.  
           [0012]    The French company Posso Systems makes a media storage system which organizes media using a series of uniform storage containers. The system, sold under he trademark Media Box Space Saver, has dividers that enable 23 single CD&#39;s, 11 double CD&#39;s in their plastic box, or 100 single CD&#39;s in a sleeve to be stored. The Media Box Space Saver system can be stacked and arranged in order to address media, audio, video and computing filing needs.  
           [0013]    Advantus Corporation makes a Photo Organization System under the name KeepSafe® which uses polypropylene envelopes to store photographs and negatives. The KeepSafe® system also includes cases for storage of multiple envelopes. The Advantus system does not specify storage of a CD with the photographs and does not provide options for storing other media. The Advantus system does provide a label for the envelopes in the form of an adhesive-backed paper label.  
           [0014]    CD Projects, a US company, makes a system which works on guided rails; users can organize and reorganize CDs between portable units, without ever removing them from their protective sleeves. While the system has flexibility, it does not provide inserts for storing other media.  
           [0015]    Seifert et al. (US Pat. No. 5,725,098; issued Mar. 10, 1998) describe a similar system of media organization which uses a durable case to which several inserts can be attached. Seifert&#39;s system uses a two mounting blocks, located at each end of a seam created by two covers of an enclosure, for attaching and detaching inserts. However, Seifert&#39;s method of mounting creates potential binding and alignment problems.  
           [0016]    Kim et al. (US Pat. No. 6,239,968; issued May 29, 2001) disclose a case specifically for an electronic organizer using a mounting rail. The mounting rail is attached to the hinge which holds together two covers for protecting the organizer. The case is limited to storing only an electronic organizer and does not store any other items.  
           [0017]    Users need for a system of organizing media which gives them the ability to both organize and to have flexibility within the organizational system. Again using the example of photography, users have no system which (a) stores photographs, negatives, a compact disk, and an index print in a single archived location, (b) combines negatives, a compact disk, and an index print in a single labeled container, (c) reorganizes photographs and media cards within a variety of storage options, and (d) offers the flexibility to use elements of the system to store other types of media like disks, slides, memory cards, and business cards.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0018]    Accordingly, several advantages of the present invention are:  
           [0019]    (a) to provide an improved media storage system,  
           [0020]    (b) to provide a system which can store photographs, negatives, compact disks, digital video disks, slides, memory cards, and business cards in an organized manner in an enclosure;  
           [0021]    (c) to provide a system which can store additional supplemental items to media, for example, photographic negatives, index prints, labels, and compact disks) within an enclosure;  
           [0022]    (d) to provide a system which can customize inserts and allows different media to be stored in different methods within an enclosure;  
           [0023]    (e) to provide a system which can retain within, or without, a label visible from the exterior of an enclosure;  
           [0024]    (f) to provide storage racks and other storage methods for multiple enclosures.  
           [0025]    Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a media storage case according to the invention in a closed position.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the case in a latch-release position.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is an isometric assembly view of the case in an open position with an axle shown partially inserted into the hinge.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the case in the open position with a tray insert.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the tray insert.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the tray insert with photographs inserted.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the case in the open position with an album pages insert.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is an isometric exploded view of the album pages insert.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is an isometric assembly view of the album pages insert.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the case in the open position with a media card inserted.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the media card showing the top with negatives inserted.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the media card showing the top with digital media disk inserted.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the media card showing the bottom with an index print pocket.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 14 is an isometric assembly view of a slide storage insert.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 15 is an isometric assembly view of a digital media disk storage insert.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 16 is an isometric assembly view of a business card storage insert.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a storage rack with an enclosure inserted.  
                                                 REFERENCE NUMERALS                                16   Enclosure   18   Case       20   Top   22   Bottom       24   Hinge   26   Tray       27   Album   28   Pages       30   Media Card   32   Axle       36   Storage Rack   46   Photographs       48   Binder   50   Digital Media Disk       52   Index Print   54   Negatives       60   Top Latch   62   Curved Surface       66   Hinge knuckle   70   Attachment Base       72   Retention Rib   74   Mounting Rail       76   Mounting Rail Base   80   Label       84   Digital Media Disk Pocket   86   Negative Pocket       88   Index Print Pocket   90   Bottom Latch       92   C-channel   94   Detent       96   Rigid Card   100   Protrusion       102   Attachment Top   104   Notch       106   Hole   110   Release Button       112   Tab   114   Handle       116   Weld   118   Slides       120   Business Card   122   Memory Card       124   Label Pocket   126   Slot                  
 
     
    
     SUMMARY  
       [0043]    In accordance with the present invention a storage and organization system comprises an enclosure that incorporates various inserts for media such as photographs, digital computer disks, negatives, slides, business cards, and the like as well as storage racks for organizing multiple enclosures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0044]    Overview—FIGS. 3, 4,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  11 ,  12 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 , and  17   
         [0045]    A typical embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and  7 , which show an oenclosure  16  used for holding and organizing media including but not limited to photographs as shown in the present embodiment. An enclosure  16  generally refers to the assembly of a case  18 , a media card  30 , and one of either a tray  26  or an album  27 . Case  18  is an assembly of a top  20 , a bottom  22 , a hinge  24 , and an axle  32 . Case  18  is removably attached to either tray  26  or album  27 . Album  27  is configured to store a variety of media including but not limited to individual or a combination of photographs  26 , negatives  54 , digital media disks  50 , slides  118 , or business cards  120 . Media card  30  is removably attached to case  18 ; in the present embodiment it is attached to bottom  22 . Media card  30  includes a label  80 , a digital media disk pocket  84 , a negative pocket  86 , and an index card pocket  88 .  
         [0046]    Tray  26  is constructed such that it retains multiple individual card-type media, including photographs  46  and is generally attached to case  18  by means of hinge  24  as shown in FIG. 6. Album  27  is constructed of pages  28  attached to a binder  48 , which generally attaches to case  18  by means of hinge  24  as shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0047]    Multiple enclosures  16  can be organized by means of a storage rack  36  as shown in FIG. 17.  
         [0048]    Case—FIGS.  1  to  4   
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 3, case  18  is assembled of top  20 , bottom  22 , and hinge  24 , attached to each other by axle  32 . Axle  32  passes through hinge knuckles  66  on each of the assembled components. The current embodiment indicates two hinge knuckles  66  on top  20 , two hinge knuckles  66  on bottom  22 , and three hinge knuckles  66  on hinge  24  such that top  20  and bottom  22  can open at least 180 degrees.  
         [0050]    Top  20  is generally constructed from injection molded plastic material and forms a cavity when joined by means of hinge  24  and axle  32  to bottom  22 . In FIG. 3, top  20  and bottom  22  are secured in the closed configuration with a top latch  60  and a bottom latch  90  which overlap and interfere as they rotate on axle  32 . The overlapping interference is constructed of a female cavity on either the top latch  60  or the bottom latch  90 , and a male protrusion, small enough to fit within the female cavity, on the corresponding other part. Case  18  is opened by pressing on one of the parts, which can include a release button  110 , such that the material deflects and removes the interference from between the two parts, thus allowing the enclosure to open.  
         [0051]    Referring to FIG. 2, top  20  and bottom  22  are constructed with a curved surface  62 , which creates a positively loaded bias towards the opening of the latch between top  20  and bottom  22 . When the overlapping interference is removed as indicated above, the bias of curved surface  62  opens the case partially. The current embodiment allows a user to open case  18  by using only one hand by pressing on release button  110 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, bottom  22  has a retention rib  72  which acts to prevent photographs  46  from sliding out of tray  26  when enclosure  16  is closed. Retention rib  72  is distant from the axis of hinge  24  such that enclosure  16  closes properly when either tray  26  is filled with photographs  46  or album  27  is contained with case  18 .  
         [0053]    Tray and Album—FIGS.  3  to  9 .  14  to  16   
         [0054]    Tray  26  is an enclosure for storing photographs  46  and is removably attached to case  18 . In FIG. 6, tray  26  stores photographs  46  in a stack by providing a rectangular enclosure with five closed sides and a sixth open side for access. Also referring to FIG. 4, when tray  26  with photographs  46  is captured within case  18 , the sixth side of the rectangular enclosure is formed by retention ribs  72  on bottom  22 . The retention rib  72  extends from the bottom  22  such that it is proximate to top  20  when case  18  is closed. Thus, tray  26  in combination with case  18  form an enclosure which secures photographs  46  and prevents them from sliding out of tray  26 . The enclosure stores single or multiple photographs  46 . Tray  26  is constructed to allow for simplification in the molding process—specifically no additional core is needed to form the cavity for holding photographs  46 . Other alternatives also exist for creating such a cavity.  
         [0055]    The size of tray  26  is determined by photographic media commonly available. The current embodiment envisions an oversized cavity of 100 mm by 150 mm. The number of photographs  46  can vary as well and the current embodiment can have a maximum cavity thickness equal to the stacking of approximately  52  photographs.  
         [0056]    Tray  26  is removably attached to the case  18  by hinge  24 . In FIG,  6 , tray  26  integrates a C-channel  92 , a tube with a longitudinal section less that 180 degrees removed. One end of C-channel  92  is closed and the other end open. Hinge  24  has a mounting rail  74  whose outer diameter roughly corresponds to the inner diameter of C-channel  92  and, at one end, a mounting rail base  76 . C-channel  92  slides over mounting rail  74 , shown in FIG. 3, as the primary means of removably attaching the parts together. Mounting rail  74  is attached to hinge  24  such that it does not interfere with C-channel  92  sliding over mounting rail  74 . As shown in FIG. 3 and  6 , it is possible to hinder the accidental detachment of C-channel  92  from mounting rail  74  by means of a detent  94  or other suitable method of providing frictional interference between the parts. Album  27  constructed of pages  28  and binder  48 . In FIG. 8, pages  28  are generally constructed as multiple pages, each pocket sized for the storage and viewing of an individual photograph in the current embodiment. Each pocket is sealed on three sides with an opening for inserting the photograph. The individual pages are attached together to form a book bound in the center and an individual page can be turned to view an individual photograph. Album  27  preferably has a sandwich construction and is die-cut for providing pockets and binding the book. A variety of manufacturing techniques exist for accomplishing this, the most common being sheet plastic material which is heat or ultrasonically welded together at a weld  116  and die-cut to the appropriate size.  
         [0057]    Again in FIG. 8, one or more pages  28  are attached to binder  48  as an assembly by established manufacturing methods, in the current embodiment by means of ultrasonic welding or heat staking. Binder  48  has C-channel  92  similar to tray  26 .  
         [0058]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, enclosure  16  can be made of case  18  coupled with either tray  26  or album  27 . As enclosure  16  will use the same manufactured case  18 , the dimensions and specifications of tray  26  and album  27  are necessarily co-dependent, specifically the maximum size dimensions, the attachment method to hinge  24 , and the placement of retention ribs  72 . As shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and  16 , album  27  can be manufactured in other embodiments to hold negatives  54 , digital media disks  50 , slides  118 , memory cards  122 , or business cards  120 .  
         [0059]    Media Card—FIGS. 10-13  
         [0060]    Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, media card  30  incorporates a label  80 , a digital media disk pocket  84 , a negative pocket  86 , and an index card pocket  88 . Media card  30  has a sandwich construction commonly used in manufacturing. At the center of the construction is a rigid card  96  which can be constructed of sheet plastic or paper material. The outer planes of the sandwich construction are negative pocket  86  and index print pocket  88 , depicted as one on top and one on the bottom. Pockets can be formed by sealing on two or three sides or by means of single points at necessary locations to secure media. Media card  30  is constructed using thermoform plastics and heat or ultrasonic welding techniques combined with die-cutting. Pockets can be formed alternatively in a variety of combinations on the top and/or bottom surface of media card  30 . Pockets can also be combined to contain more than one article or medium.  
         [0061]    Referring to FIG. 11, label  80  is constructed of a material upon which common marking media can write, generally paper in the current embodiment. There are a variety of ways that label  80  can be attached to media card  30 . A label pocket  124  is open on one or two sides into which a paper card can be removably inserted. Rigid card  96  includes a protrusion  100  which acts to guide the placement of label  80 , specifically when media card  30  is inserted into case  18 . Protrusion  100  enables label pocket  124  to bend such that it is coplanar with the corresponding side wall of either top  20  or bottom  22 . By orienting label  80  coplanar to the side wall, label  80  can more easily be read from the exterior of case  18 . Alternatively, protrusion  100  can be manufactured of a material that can be marked with common media to make label  80  visible from the exterior of case  18 .  
         [0062]    Media card  30  (FIG. 10) integrates several features for securing it to case  18 . An attachment base  70  and an attachment top  102  are included for this purpose. Media card  30  can be attached to either top  20  or bottom  22 , the current configuration showing it on bottom  22 . Media card  30  has a notch  104  which corresponds in size to attachment base  70  and a tab  112  which corresponds in size to attachment top  102 . With media card  30  coplanar and in contact with bottom  22 , notch  104  is inserted into attachment base  70 . Tab  112  is then inserted into attachment top  102  to create an interference fit. By such a method of insertion, media card  30  is captured by bottom  22  at attachment base  70  and attachment top  102 . Media card  30  is removed from bottom  22  by a handle  114  which, when pulled vertically, removes tab  112  from attachment top  102  and, subsequently, notch  104  from attachment base  70 .  
         [0063]    Storage Rack System—FIG. 17  
         [0064]    Multiple enclosures  16  can be organized using a variety of storage systems. FIG. 17 shows multiple enclosures  16  stored in a storage rack  36 . Enclosure  16  is oriented in storage rack  36  such that label  80  is oriented outwards. Enclosure  16  attaches to storage rack  36  by means of simple placement in a slot  126 , and held in place by friction. Storage rack  36  can be used on a flat planar surface like a table or the bottom of a drawer, or can be attached to a vertical surface by means of a screw at a hole  106 .  
         [0065]    Alternative Embodiments  
         [0066]    Alternatively, the system described above can use inserts, similar to tray  26  or album  27 , modified to store specific media.  
         [0067]    Case  18  can be realized in a variety of ways using alternative materials, opening and closing mechanisms, and form factors. Using specific injection-molding techniques, an alternative embodiment combines top  20  and bottom  22  into the same part using what is commonly referred to as a live hinge or film-joint hinge. Additionally, again with injection-molding techniques, any combination of two or more of hinge  24 , top  20 , and bottom  22  can be integrated into the same part and act substantially as case  18 .  
         [0068]    Tray  26 , album  27 , or any alternative embodiments can also be permanently attached to one of the top  20 , bottom  22 , or hinge  24 .  
         [0069]    Given the sensitivity of photographic materials, the system can be made using more expensive archival materials.  
       Operation  
       [0070]    Enclosure  16  (FIG. 4) is opened and one or more photographs  46  are inserted as a stack into tray  26  in one configuration and individually in pages  28  in album  27  (FIG. 7). Photographic negatives  54  or digital media disk  50 , used for backing-up digital photographs, are stored by removing media card  30  (FIG. 10) from bottom  22  and sliding them into negative pocket  86  (FIG. 11) or digital media disk pocket  84  (FIG. 12), respectively. Label  80  (FIG. 11) is removed from label pocket  124 , written upon to identify the contents of enclosure  16 , and replaced in label pocket  124 . Index print pocket  88  (FIG. 13), open at one or more ends, can receive a photograph or an index print. Once populated, media card  30  is placed back in bottom  22  as described above.  
         [0071]    Multiple enclosures  16  (FIG. 17) can be stored vertically or horizontally on a surface or using storage rack  36  to organize them in a drawer, on a table, or on a vertical surface like a wall. Inserts like tray  26  or album  27  can be removed and used with other parts of a future further-expanded system of organization.  
       Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope  
       [0072]    It has been shown that enclosure  16  is an improved system for storing and organizing a plurality of media including photographic material, digital media disks, and business cards. By creating a case  18  to which different inserts can be attached including media card  30 , tray  26 , and album  27 , which can be fabricated to store a plurality of media, a user can store multiple diverse items in a single flexible system. Additionally, a manufacturer need not create high investment tooling for case  18  for each new media being stored; rather, the manufacturer need only create new inserts to accommodate the storage of new media.  
         [0073]    The system can store additional items supplemental to media (for example, for photographs it would be negatives, an index print, a label, and a compact disk) within enclosure  16 . Enclosure  16  can be further stored in storage rack  36  to add additional functionality to the system.  
         [0074]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. While certain exemplary embodiments have been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, such embodiments are merely illustrative of and are not restrictive to the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. For example, enclosure  16  might be manufactured as a single piece using a live hinge; a mechanical clip might be used to secure tray  26  or album  27  to hinge  24 ; tray  26  or album  27  might be permanently attached to enclosure  16  while still retaining the manufacturing flexibility of the storage system; etc.  
         [0075]    Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.