This invention relates generally to storage containers and, more particularly, to an electronic media storage apparatus that enables a maximum number of media items to be stored while still providing comfortable viewing or selection of respective media items.
Maximizing the storage of media items such as CD/DVD cases is very important in order to conserve space such as on a television or stereo cabinet, desk, or similar location. Ideally, media items are positioned tightly adjacent one another to make complete use of available space such as in a basket, box, or similar storage container. Although assumably effective to store a plurality of media items, the existing products or prior patent proposals do not enable a user to see or read the title of the media item when multiple media items are sandwiched tightly against each other. In other words, the goals of (1) positioning a maximum number of media items in a basket, box, or similar container and (2) being able to visually perceive the title or image on each media item without removing the respective media item from its stored position are not currently able to be satisfied simultaneously with current products and prior patent proposals.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have an electronic media storage apparatus that enables a user, in one configuration, to tightly position multiple media items adjacent one another for storage purposes. Further, it would be desirable to have an electronic media storage apparatus that enables a user, in another configuration, to easily manipulate stored media items to visually perceive respective titles or images without having to fully remove each one. In addition, it would be desirable to have an electronic media storage apparatus having a lid configured to seal media containers from dust during storage.
An electronic media storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower housing having a floor, opposed side walls, and a rear wall. The media storage apparatus includes a front wall movable between open and closed configurations. The storage apparatus also includes a cover having a top portion, opposed first and second sides extending downwardly from the top portion, and opposed front and rear ends extending downwardly from the top portion. The lower housing side walls, lower housing rear wall, and front wall collectively define a continuous lip at an upper end of the lower housing and an upper end of the front wall when the front wall is at the closed configuration. The cover is removably coupled to the lower housing and the front wall. When the front wall is at the closed configuration and the cover is coupled to the lower housing and the front wall, a hermetic cavity is formed between the lower housing, the front wall, and the cover; the cavity being sized to receive at least one electronic media item.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an electronic media storage apparatus for storing a plurality of media items.
Another object of this invention is to provide an electronic media storage apparatus, as aforesaid, that tightly secures media containers in an enclosed environment.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an electronic media storage apparatus, as aforesaid, having a movable front wall for selectively providing enhanced space for a user to view media container titles.
A further object of this invention is to provide an electronic media storage apparatus, as aforesaid, that provides a hermetically sealed cavity so that the media containers are substantially protected from contamination.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an electronic media storage apparatus, as aforesaid, that is user-friendly to use.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
a is a top view of the storage apparatus as in
b is a sectional view taken along line 8b-8b of
a is a side view of the storage apparatus as in
b is a sectional view taken along line 9b-9b of
c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of
An electronic media storage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
The lower housing 110 is specifically shown in
A floor stop 150a is coupled to the lower housing floor 112 (
As will be apparent from viewing
Turning to the cover 170, the cover 170 (
When the front wall 140 is at the closed configuration 140b and the cover 170 is coupled to the lower housing 110 and the front wall 140, the outer face 172a of the cover first side 172 is generally coplanar with the outer face 114a of the lower housing first side wall 114; the outer face 174a of the cover second side 174 is generally coplanar with the outer face 116a of the lower housing second side wall 116; the outer face 178a of the cover rear end 178 is generally coplanar with the outer face 118a of the lower housing rear wall 118; and the outer face 176a of the cover front end 176 is generally coplanar with the outer face 144a of the front wall 140. Due to the interaction between the lower housing 110, the front wall 140, and the cover 170, a hermetic cavity 180 (
The hermetic cavity 180 is sized to receive at least one electronic media item 10. When sized to receive a plurality of electronic media items 10, at least one divider (not shown) may be removably positioned between the side walls 114, 116 of the lower housing 110 to separate at least one of the electronic media items 10 from at least one other electronic media items 10.
In use, the electronic media item(s) 10 may be placed inside the lower housing 110, the front wall 140 may be moved to the closed configuration 140b, and the cover 170 may be attached as described above, hermetically sealing the cavity 180 (and the electronic media item(s) 10). The entire electronic media storage apparatus 100 (with the enclosed electronic media item(s) 10) may then be shipped or stored, protecting the enclosed electronic media item(s) 10 from breakage, dust, and other damage. If being shipped, it may be desirable to further secure the cover 170 to the lower housing 110 (e.g., using an adhesive tape). If being stored, the electronic media storage apparatus 100 may be easily stacked due to its configuration.
To remove the electronic media item(s) 10 from the electronic media storage apparatus 100, the cover 170 is first detached. Then the front wall 140 may be moved to the open configuration 140a. For ease of access, any electronic media item 10 on the slide 152 (and particularly on the rib 122) may be moved away from the rear wall 118 when the front wall 140 moves to the open configuration 140a.
b show another embodiment of an electronic media storage apparatus 200 that is substantially similar to the embodiment 100, except as specifically noted and/or shown, or as would be inherent. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment 100 (and thus the embodiment 200) may be modified in various ways, such as through incorporating all or part of any of the various described embodiments, for example. For uniformity and brevity, corresponding reference numbers may be used to indicate corresponding parts, though with any noted deviations.
In embodiment 200, the front wall 240 (replacing the front wall 140) rotates relative to the lower housing 110 when moving between open (
Use of the embodiment 200 is similar to use of the embodiment 100, though the front wall 240 rotates relative to the lower housing 110 instead of sliding relative to the lower housing 110. While the electronic media items 10 in the embodiment 200 are not slid similar to the sliding that may be caused by the movement of the ribs 122 in the embodiment 100, the electronic media items 10 may nevertheless rotate outwardly (in the same general direction as the front wall 140) due to the movement of the front wall 240.
More particularly, side stops 150b are coupled to the inner face 114b and 116b of the first 114 and second 116 side walls, respectively, of the lower housing 110. The front wall 140 includes a first guide 155 and a second guide 155a as described earlier with reference to
In combination, the floor stop 150a positioned on the lower housing floor 112b and the side stops 150b opposed from one another on side walls 114 and 116 enable the front wall 140 to slide into or out of the lower housing 110 with enhanced smoothness and efficiency as well as to prevent a rotational movement of the front wall 140 while cooperating to limit an over-extension or complete removal of the front wall 140 therefrom.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
This application is a continuation-in-part application hat claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/897,229 filed Oct. 4, 2010 and titled Electronic Media Storage Apparatus.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12897229 | Oct 2010 | US |
Child | 14053772 | US |