U.S. patent application number 09/996785 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for stacking device for cd cases.
Invention is credited to Bennett, Jason, Chow, Tat-Chi.
Application Number | 20020066705 09/996785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7949523 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chow, Tat-Chi ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Stacking device for CD cases
Abstract
This invention relates to a stacking device for CD cases or
similar arranged in a general form of equilateral triangle. In
doing so, CD cases can be placed into the rack through all 3 sides
of the triangular device and the support platforms or rack elements
are generally supported by columns or similar spacing devices at
the corners of the equilateral triangle.
Inventors: |
Chow, Tat-Chi; (Kowloon,
HK) ; Bennett, Jason; (Central, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James A. LaBarre
BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 1404
Alexandria
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
7949523 |
Appl. No.: |
09/996785 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/40 ;
G9B/33.018; G9B/33.021 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/0483 20130101;
G11B 33/0466 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/40 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2000 |
DE |
20020387.8 |
Claims
1. A stacking device for CD cases or the like, with three rack
elements (1,2,3) which in relation to a basic contour (4) are
arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle, in each case at a
vertex, and between which there is provided a plurality of
horizontal compartments (5) which are respectively arranged one
above the other and at a distance apart, wherein the lateral
spacing between respective rack elements (1,2,3) which are adjacent
in the direction of a base line (4.1) is slightly larger than the
width (B) of a CD case (6) to be inserted into a compartment.
2. A stacking device according to claim 1, characterised in that
the rack elements (1,2,3) are each formed in one piece.
3. A stacking device according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
characterised in that the compartments (5) are each connected
individually to the rack elements (1,2,3).
4. A stacking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in
that a plurality of compartments (5) are joined together by
adhesion or cohesion to form a compartment block which is connected
to the rack elements (1,2,3).
5. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
characterised in that the rack elements (1,2,3) are each assembled
from a plurality of component parts, wherein at least one
compartment (5) is connected by adhesion or cohesion in each case
to three component parts of the rack elements associated with the
vertices.
6. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterised in that the rack elements (1,2,3) are joined together
via a base plate (7).
7. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the rack elements (1,2,3) are joined together
via a top element (8).
8. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterised in that the rack elements are each of lamellar
design.
9. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
characterised in that the compartments (5) each have a free space
(10) in the central region.
10. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that at least in the vicinity of the rack elements
(1,2 and 3) the compartments (5) are in each case formed by flat
webs (5.1) which are joined together in the central region.
11. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
characterised in that the rack elements (1.3,2.3,3.3) are securely
joined together by a base member (7) and a top member (8), and in
that compartments are each formed by lugs (14) on the rack elements
(1.3,2.3,3.3) which each extend in the direction of the central
region (13).
12. A stacking device according to claim 11, characterised in that
the lugs (14) are of planar form.
13. A stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
characterised in that the rack elements (1.2,2.2,3.2) are lamellar
and in each case extend along the basic contour (4) forming an
equilateral triangle, wherein the compartments are formed by slots
(12) in the interconnected lamellar rack elements.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] For stacking CD cases or similar plate-like cassettes in the
audio or video sector it is known to arrange three rod-like rack
elements perpendicularly on a base plate, a plurality of
horizontally aligned compartments arranged spaced apart one above
the other being connected to said rack elements. In this case the
arrangement is such that two front rack elements are so arranged at
a distance apart that an insertion aperture is provided which is of
slightly larger width than the width of the CD case to be inserted.
The rear rack element is disposed at a distance from the connecting
plane of the two front rack elements, which is smaller than the
length of the CD cases to be inserted so that the rear rack element
forms a stop member and the inserted CD case protrudes from the
insertion aperture and is readily accessible to be gripped. In this
stacking device the CD cases to be stacked can only be inserted
from one side.
[0002] The invention is based on the object of devising a stacking
device of the above-mentioned type, which makes it possible for CD
cases to be inserted into the compartments from a plurality of
sides.
[0003] This object is achieved by a stacking device for CD cases or
the like, with three rack elements which in relation to the basic
contour are arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle, in
each case at a vertex, and between which there is provided a
plurality of horizontal compartments which are respectively
arranged one above the other and at a distance apart, wherein the
lateral spacing between two respective rack elements which are
adjacent in the direction of a base line is slightly larger than
the width of a CD case to be inserted into a compartment. A
tower-like stacking device of this type has the advantage that CD
cases can be inserted from any side. The access to adjacent CD
cases is facilitated if the CD cases are inserted respectively into
successive compartments in each instance from a different side of
the triangular basic contour. However, this also offers the
possibility of co-ordinated stacking, in which a specific subject
range is allocated to each insertion side.
[0004] In a development of the invention it is provided for each of
the rack elements to be formed in one piece. In this case the rack
elements may be of rod-like design, for example produced from wood,
or may also be tubular produced from plastics material.
[0005] In a development of the invention it is provided for each of
the compartments to be connected individually to the rack elements.
In this embodiment the individual compartments are produced from
plastics material, for example, and are then secured to the rack
elements, for example in transverse slots in the rod-like rack
elements.
[0006] In another development of the invention it is provided for a
plurality of compartments to be joined together by adhesion or
cohesion to form a compartment block which is connected to the rack
elements. This development offers a simplification in manufacture,
since the compartment block, for example consisting of plastics
material, can be injection-moulded as one part which is then
securely connected to the three rack elements.
[0007] In another development of the invention it is provided for
each of the rack elements to be assembled from a plurality of
component parts, wherein at least one compartment is connected by
adhesion or cohesion in each case to three rack elements associated
with the vertices. In this embodiment individual compartments or
also one or more compartment blocks are produced by adhesion or
cohesion, for example as injection-moulded components from plastics
material, which are then assembled one above the other to form a
stacking element. This embodiment also offers the possibility of
producing, within a predetermined grid, stacking elements of
different height by a simple plug-and-socket connection.
[0008] According to the invention, the rack elements can be
securely joined together via a base plate and/or via a top member.
The base plate can be produced from a different heavy material so
that the stacking device is imparted a certain degree of basic
stability by the base plate and is protected from tipping.
[0009] In another development it is provided for the rack elements,
securely joined together by a base plate and a top plate, to have
as compartments respective inwardly directed lugs which in each
case extend in the direction of the base line on the adjacent rack
elements.
[0010] In another development of the invention it is provided for
the rack elements to be of lamellar design and they extend
respectively along the base lines forming an equilateral triangle,
wherein the compartments are formed by slots in the interconnected
lamellar rack elements. The width of the slots in horizontal
direction is slightly larger than the width of the CD cases to be
inserted, whereas the height of the slots in vertical direction is
slightly larger than the thickness of the CD cases to be
inserted.
[0011] Further features of the invention will be evident from the
claims and from the following description of examples of
embodiment.
[0012] The drawings show respectively in perspective view and in
plan view:
[0013] FIGS. 1, 2, 3 an embodiment of substantially triangular
basic contour;
[0014] FIGS. 4, 5 an embodiment of outwardly curved triangular
basic contour;
[0015] FIGS. 6, 7 an embodiment of substantially circular basic
contour;
[0016] FIGS. 8, 9 an embodiment of star-shaped basic contour;
[0017] FIGS. 10, 11 an embodiment with a base plate and top
plate;
[0018] FIG. 12 an embodiment with lamellar rack elements;
[0019] FIG. 13 a variant with web-like lugs as surface
elements;
[0020] FIG. 14 a variant of the embodiment according to FIG. 12 for
an embodiment according to FIG. 11;
[0021] FIGS. 15-17 a variant of the embodiment according to FIG.
8;
[0022] FIGS. 18-20 a variant of the embodiment according to FIG.
4.
[0023] The example of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 for a
column-like or tower-like stacking device for CD cases essentially
comprises three rack elements 1,2 and 3 which, as is evident from
FIG. 2,--in relation to a basic contour 4 in the form of an
equilateral triangle--are arranged respectively at the vertices of
the triangle. Between the three rack elements 1,2 and 3 there is
provided a plurality of horizontal compartments 5 which in each
case are arranged parallel one above the other and at a distance
apart. The lateral distance between two rack elements 1,2 and 2,3
and 3, 1 respectively which are adjacent in the direction of a base
line is, as is evident from FIG. 2, slightly larger than the width
B of a CD case 6 to be inserted into a compartment. In each case
two rack elements adjacent one another on a base line, for example
the rack elements 1 and 2, define an insertion aperture, whereas
the rack element 3 then serves as a limiting stop member for the CD
case 6. It is thereby possible to insert a CD case from each side
into each compartment. This is shown in plan view in FIG. 3 for
illustrative purposes. The individual CD cases 6.1,6.2,6.3 can
[sic] be inserted from each side of a base line 4.1 into a
compartment of the stacking device.
[0024] As already mentioned, the rack elements 1,2 and 3 can be
made in one piece, for example from wood, and can be securely
connected to one another via a base member 7, which is of
frame-like design in FIG. 1, but can also be in the form of a
plate, as shown in FIG. 10, and also via a corresponding top member
8. The individual lamellar compartments are then secured, for
example, in slots in the is rack elements 1,2 and 3.
[0025] In a similar manner it is also possible for the rack
elements to be produced individually in tubular form from a
plastics material with corresponding insertion slots, and in a
similar manner for the compartments to be of lamellar design with
corresponding projections in the corner zones, which can be
inserted into the insertion slots of the rack element. The three
rack elements 1,2 and 3 are then rigidly joined together via a
pushed-on base member 7 and a pushed-on base [sic] member 8.
[0026] The compartments can in this case take the form of
continuous plates or else, as shown in FIG. 2, they can be of
frame-like design with a web 9 defining the peripheral contour,
which encloses a free space 10.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows in plan view the possibility of insertion for
CD cases 6 which are then inserted one above the other in each case
from a different side, as indicated by the arrows I, II, and
II.
[0028] FIGS. 4,5 illustrate an embodiment which corresponds in its
construction to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1,2 but which
visually is of substantially triangular configuration with
outwardly bulging contour. As indicated by the dividing line D in
the rack elements, the device can be assembled from a plurality of
component parts.
[0029] The embodiment according to FIGS. 6, 7 corresponds in its
construction to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1,2. The
difference merely lies in the fact that the stacking device is
generally of rather cylindrical appearance over the peripheral
contour of the compartments 5.
[0030] The embodiment according to FIGS. 8,9 again corresponds in
its basic construction to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1,2.
However, in this embodiment the compartments are formed by
star-shaped flat webs 5.1 so that the stacking device is generally
of star-shaped appearance.
[0031] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment in which the base member
7.1 is in the form of a plate and the top member 8.1 is also
plate-like and joins together the rack elements 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1.
The special advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that at
least the base member 7.1 can be produced from a material of
relatively high inherent weight, thereby imparting relatively high
stability to the stacking device. As a variant each of the
described embodiments can be provided in each case with a
correspondingly formed plate-like base member 7.1 and/or a top
member 8.1.
[0032] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment in which the rack elements
1.2,2.2 and 3.2 are each of lamellar design and are joined together
in the vicinity of their lateral edges 11 so that the surface
regions extend approximately along the base line 4. The individual
rack elements are provided with slots 12 which are delimited by
webs 12.1 and which form the compartments. In this embodiment too a
CD case can be inserted from each side. The lamellar rack elements
1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 do not, as shown here, have to be flat but can be
inwardly or outwardly curved in relation to the vertical centre
axis 13. In this case the lateral edges 11 can extend at a distance
apart and be securely connected to one another via transverse
webs.
[0033] FIG. 13 illustrates a variant of the embodiment according to
FIG. 8. In this embodiment the rack elements 1.3,2.3,3.3 are each
securely joined together with a base member 7 and a top member 8.
The compartments are in this case not formed by planar or
frame-like parts which extend respectively up to the adjacent rack
element. In this embodiment, as is evident from the view in FIG.
13, the compartments are each formed by web-like lugs 14 on the
individual racks, which each point towards the centre axis 13. Each
rack element is thus of comb-like structure.
[0034] The embodiment according to FIG. 12 can also be similar
design. The individual webs defining the slots 12 do not extend
over the full width of a rack element but only as lugs 12.2, as is
illustrated in FIG. 14, in each case at a short distance from the
lateral edge 11 so that the lamellar rack element has a central
opening 15 which has a comb-like boundary line 16 in each case
parallel to its two side edges 11.
[0035] Stacking devices of this type can be provided in each case
in the vicinity of the base member and/or in the vicinity of the
top member with recesses and/or projections so that a plurality of
such stacking devices can be arranged tower-like one above the
other by means of a plug-and-socket connection.
[0036] FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the
embodiment according to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, as is further
evident from the plan view of the top member 8 in FIG. 16 and of
the base member 7 in FIG. 17, respective boundary plates 8.2 and
7.2 are provided which are securely connected to vertically aligned
webs 8.3 and 7.3 respectively which are arranged radially. The
boundary plate 8.2 with the webs 8.3 and correspondingly the
boundary plate 7.2 with the webs 7.3 respectively form the base
member 7 and the top member 8. The webs 7.3. and 8.3 extend at the
ends into connector elements 7.4 and 8.4 respectively which are
aligned perpendicularly to the plane of the boundary plate 8.2. and
which are correspondingly fitted into the ends of the hollow rack
elements 1,2 and 3.
[0037] In this embodiment the frame-like compartments 5 are of
approximately triangular ground plan contour in which, however, the
peripheral contour extends inwardly curved between the rack
elements 1,2 and 3. As is illustrated in FIG. 15, the compartments
5 are frame-like with a free space 10. However, it is also possible
for the compartments to be of correspondingly lamellar form. The
peripheral contour of the boundary plate 8.2 is in this case
identical to the peripheral contour of the compartments 5.
[0038] FIGS. 18 to 20 illustrate a variant of the embodiment
according to FIG. 4, namely in a perspective view (FIG. 18), in a
top view of the top member 8 (FIG. 19) and in a view of the base
member 7 from below (FIG. 20). In this embodiment the top member 8
is in the form of a plate. In this embodiment the base member 7 is
of frame-like design, wherein the frame is substantially U-shaped
in cross-section.
* * * * *