HOUSINGS

Abstract

The invention relates generally to housings such as storage containers and to containers for sets of items that are likely to be selected either singly or in groups. In particular, but not necessarily so restricted, the present invention relates to a housing for receiving items for recording/recorded media such as floppy diskettes, computer/audio/video data tapes on reels or cartridges, dvd/ cd/ computer discs/ game discs and the like which should be stored in a clean and secure environment. Prior storage elements for computer disks, including floppy disks and diskettes, generally do not provide adequate simultaneous dispersement of the disks for ease of viewing and access. Storage containers for computer disks generally do not provide means for storing the containers themselves in an efficient manner, but users must rely on conventional bookshelves or other filing means which are not always appropriate or convenient. CDs/DVDs are generally stored in cases which are generally rectangular. Cases for the purpose of holding, protecting and identifying compact discs, digital video discs, and mini-discs have been in existence in various designs since the “disc” format came into the public domain. The present invention seeks to provide a light weight, inexpensive storage case for the above items, which can conveniently provide. The present invention seeks to provide a modular system for storage of dvd/ cd/ computer discs/ game discs and the like. The present invention also seeks to provide a storage means which can provide a secure means of storage whilst providing simple retrieval of stored items. The present invention also seeks to provide an organizing capability for stored items since each container may be connected to a plurality of identical containers to form a self-contained storage unit.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates generally to housings such as storage containers and to containers for sets of items that are likely to be selected either singly or in groups. In particular, but not necessarily so restricted, the present invention relates to a modular product providing a housing and/or a modular container for receiving items for recording/recorded media such as floppy diskettes, computer/ audio/ video data tapes on reels or cartridges, dvd/ cd/ computer discs/ game discs and the like which should be stored in a clean and secure environment.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Prior storage elements for computer disks, including floppy disks and diskettes, generally do not provide adequate simultaneous dispersement of the disks for ease of viewing and access.

Storage containers for computer disks generally do not provide means for storing the containers themselves in an efficient manner, but users must rely on conventional bookshelves or other filing means which are not always appropriate or convenient. CDs/DVDs are generally stored in cases which are generally rectangular. Cases for the purpose of holding, protecting and identifying compact discs, digital video discs, and mini-discs have been in existence in various designs since the “disc” format came into the public domain. The design of these cases has not been significantly changed since that time. The basic design incorporates a base, into which is placed a disc tray for the purpose of holding the compact disc, and a hinge. The standard 3-piece compact disc container or “jewel box” is constructed of a top, bottom and disc tray. The mini-disc container is usually 2 pieces: a top and bottom. These pieces are formed usually of a clear or coloured plastics material.

One problem that has existed from the onset with these designs and continues to this day is the ability to easily identify the content of the material contained within the each case. Currently without physically handling the containers to read the 8 mm (¼″) “spine label” area provided for this purpose or to expose the complete case to look at the front of the approximate 5 inch by 5 and a half inch top, or opening the case and removing the disc, there is no easy way to identify the contents. By having an arrangement whereby cases can be placed in a particular or arbitrary order, then the use of a rigid system can assist in the identification of the content of these cases.

The current design of these cases does not allow for any type of individualization, personalization or unique ways for identification. Sometimes the base and top are clear plastic with the disc tray either white or black. None of these designs, or combinations provides a way of clearly identifying the content contained within the case from the side or spine label area. The few disk storage containers which do attempt to separate the disks for viewing and access generally do so by dispersing the disks in a stepped fashion with adjacent disks remaining in contact with one another, thereby presenting some difficulty in withdrawing a single disk and the ever present danger of distorting or scratching one of the disks in the process.

More recently, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors have been manufactured with memory capabilities—commonly referred to as USB sticks—which provide convenient devices for the storage and transfer of data. Whilst convenient to use, they are not conveniently stored since, being small and lightweight, they are easily overlooked and readily lost and require a convenient storage means.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,943 provides a container for holding a cassette that includes a rectangular casing into which a cassette can be directly inserted and stored and a frame-like bottomless slide which is positioned in the casing and selectively operated for moving the cassette into and out of the casing. An hourglass-type spring is positioned between the slide and casing to urge the slide to an upwardly extended cassette-exposing position. A selectively releasable locking mechanism for retaining the slide in a cassette-storing position includes a finger pressure contact indentation formed in the front wall of the slide and double-latch locking projections formed on the front of the slide and casing at opposite sides of the finger pressure contact indentation. Hublock projections formed on the slide engage the hub-openings of a stored cassette only when the slide is in its cassette-storing position. The configuration of the slide and casing is such to provide smooth and easy operation of the container and to ensure continued satisfactory and proper operation by not being highly vulnerable to misalignment, warping and dimensional variations in the component parts. The casing and slide are formed of a single piece of mouldable material with all the subcomponents (except the spring) being integrally moulded as a part of the casing or slide.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,655 discloses a container for storing disks and tapes which includes a housing having a manually operated closure member which is pivoted to the housing and also pivoted to a movable slide in the bottom of the housing. The double pivots are arranged so that when the closure member is opened, the slide is moved in a direction out of the storage compartment of the container. The free end of the slide is formed with an upstanding lip which contacts the rear edge of the stored item which is resting on the upper surface of the slide and moves the item partially out of the storage compartment when the closure member is opened so that the item may be grasped and completely removed from the storage compartment. The container is provided with spaced elongated feet, which may be interlocked with a “T” channel member on the top of another identical container so that the containers may be vertically stacked, with similar features on major surfaces wherein tongues cooperate with grooves on the exterior of the opposite major surfaces of another identical container so that adjacent containers may be attached in a row.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,369 discloses a container having a shell with an open front forming a storage compartment and a door pivotally connected to the shell to close the front of the storage compartment. A slide having a contact leg at its rear edge is located at the bottom of the storage container and is pivotally connected at its forward edge to the door. The pivotal connection between the slide and the door is located above the pivotal connection between the door and the shell when the door is in the closed position. When the door is pivoted into the open position, the slide is moved forwardly out of the storage compartment by the pivotal connection between the forward edge of the slide and the door and the contact leg on the slide contacts an item resting on the slide to move the item out of the storage compartment.

EP0872845 discloses a generally rectangular housing defining a storage space for reception of a number of cds or video audio cassettes and a co-operating holder for mounting the housing on a support surface. Each housing may be provided with complementary interlocking guides on opposing outside surfaces, allowing adjacent housings to be coupled together.

GB2388523 provides an add-on storage device for flat objects such as cds and dvds and comprises at least two box shaped housing elements which are open at a front and lie against one another with facing side walls. At least two clip shaped connecting elements can be pushed onto two adjoining sidewalls in a predetermined fastening region.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a light weight, inexpensive storage case for the above items, which can conveniently provide. The present invention seeks to provide a modular system for storage of dvd/ cd/ computer discs/ game discs and the like. The present invention also seeks to provide a storage means which can provide a secure means of storage whilst providing simple retrieval of stored items. The present invention also seeks to provide an organizing capability for stored items since each container may be connected to a plurality of identical containers to form a self-contained storage unit.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a housing arrangement comprising first and second housings, wherein first and second housings have a common plane of interface, the first and second housing faces comprising, respectively first and second mating surfaces, the first mating surface comprising parallel spaced apart channels defined between upstanding members, the walls being defined by an undercut portion; wherein the second mating surface comprises a set of upstanding members being symmetrically disposed about a common centre, each upstanding member having a corresponding undercut wall portion and being adapted so that two of said upstanding members can be inserted in a channel defined in said first mating surface, whereby the first and second housings can be slidably connected with respect to each other in two or more rotational orientations with respect to each other.

The housing arrangement can be of many shapes: the housing can comprise a rectangular cylinder, a circular cylinder, a hexagonal cylinder or many other types of cylinder, since it is the alignment of mating channels and upstanding elements define the numbers of different orientations, which can be independent of the number of sides of the housings.

For additional functionality, the housings may have doors or be open apertures, to accept cds, dvds, video cassettes, USB sticks and other devices.

The upstanding members of the second surface present an edge portion in the channels of the first mating surface and can be of many shapes. Conveniently they are of a generally square in plan view, or circular in plan view, although many configurations are possible, in one preferred embodiment, the upstanding member is generally square in plan view except that three of the corners are rounded.

Providing a secure door and lining the whole container with metal or metallic coating protects the disks against any possible outside electromagnetic or radio wave action which might otherwise alter or destroy the information stored magnetically on the disks.

Great ease of operation and storage is thereby provided in a modular unit which can be manufactured inexpensively and simply by common plastic moulding processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the Figures as shown in the accompanying drawing sheets, wherein:

• • FIGS. 1a& b show prior art housings;

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 a-d show two housings, each generally dimensioned as a generally equilateral cube dimensions, connected along two planes, in four orientations;

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in perspective view;

FIGS. 3 b-e show various view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4 a-d show plan and side views of the two further embodiments;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a still further embodiment;

FIGS. 6 a-d show plan and side views of three further embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a still further embodiment;

FIGS. 8 a-c show an embodiment wherein each housing comprising a hexagonal cylinder;

FIGS. 9 a-c show an embodiment wherein each housing comprising a triangular cylinder;

FIGS. 10-13 show examples of still further embodiments; and,

FIGS. 14 a-c, 15 & 16 show specific arrangements possible with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There will now be described, by way of example only, the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the present invention. In the following description, numerous specific details are set out in order to provide a complete understanding to the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be put into practice with variations of the specific

With reference to FIG. 1a, there is shown a storage box in accordance with EP0872845, which comprises a generally rectangular housing defining a storage space for reception of a number of cds etc. FIG. 1b shows a further prior art arrangement, in accordance with the teaching of GB2388523, wherein add-on storage devices for cds etc. are attached together with the use of clips.

FIG. 2 shows two cubic housings 12, 14 in accordance with the present invention, having sides A, B, C, D, E & F and A′, B′, C′, D′, E′ & F′, respectively. Sides E and E′ comprise first and second types of connecting faces. First type face, as shown by face E comprises three channels 16 defined between upstanding elements a, b, c & d. Into these channels, upstanding elements 18 of second type face E′ can be slidably inserted. FIGS. 2a-d show how the two housings can be connected to each other. Of course, it would also be possible to have one housing offset with respect to another housing so that all the channels nor all the upstanding elements are within a corresponding upstanding element or channel, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 3a, there is shown a further embodiment in accordance with the invention, where there is shown a first housing 20, with a first major surface 22 having five upstanding elements, 24a-e, wherein the walls of the upstanding elements define channels 23 between each adjacent upstanding member, with each pair of oppositely directed walls each being undercut in profile. Side 26 does not define any particular surface arrangement; side 27 defines an aperture to accept a rectangular shaped box, for example a cd case, within such an aperture. Other types of aperture may be defined: side 27 may be closed, for example housing an electronics device; electrical contacts and/or switches may be placed thereon. Sides 28 and 29 are not visible, as is second major surface 30: second major surface is 180° oppositely directed to first major surface 22, in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 b is a plan view of the second major surface 30, showing eight upstanding generally square elements 32. Each of the upstanding elements has a first corner which is directed generally centre-ward of the major surface; this first corner is defined by the two side walls being at a right-angle, one with respect to the other, with the other corners having rounded or radiused corners. The eight upstanding elements are of such a width and spaced apart such that they can interlock with the channels 23 and upstanding elements 24 of a first type of surface. The four outermost upstanding elements 32 could be complemented by a further eight upstanding elements, spaced between the outermost corner elements, in a parallel spaced apart relationship corresponding to the inner four upstanding elements. The configuration is such that this second type of face may be readily interlocked with the first type of inter connecting face 22, with channels 23.

FIG. 3 c shows a side view of the embodiment shown on FIG. 3a: on the uppermost surface (seen in plan), there are linearly directed elements 24a-d which define channels 23 therebetween. The ends of the upstanding elements are depicted as being radiused whereby the components can be received one with respect to each other relatively easily. The undercut in the walls of the upstanding members 25 can also be clearly seen. Conveniently the product could be made from a polypropylene plastics material, but, of course could in fact be made from many materials, such as aluminium, being cast and then machined, but this would require many machining operations and would then be expensive to manufacture, compared with a plastics moulded component. Die cast moulding is also possible. Notwithstanding this, the materials should be so chose that two mating surfaces don not slip with respect to each other. Either the materials are of such a type that this would not, ordinarily occur, but in the case of anodised aluminium, it may be best to have rubber-like or polymeric plastics materials which prevent slippage of one component with respect to another.

FIG. 3 d shows a view of a face 27 with an opening, for example being dimensioned to accept and retain cds, reference numeral 24a is an upper edge defining part of an upstanding element, the other longitudinal side defining one side of a channel 23. Numeral 33 indicates part of the rear wall (the inside surface of face 29 of the housing 20) with apertures indicated by numerals 34, 35 whereby the housing could be fastened to a wall by, for example, screw fastening means, rivets or the like. Reference numeral 36 indicates guide members which assist in the alignment and retention of cd cases and the like when inserted into the housing. FIG. 3e shows a view of the opposite side 29 to the side with an opening 27, having apertures 34, 35 as described above.

With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, there are shown in plan view (towards the second surface, with first surface in dashed lines) and profile (through dotted line 44) an example of an embodiment of the invention with eight square upstanding elements 40 and three upstanding linear elements 42, extending from one side of the housing to another. FIGS. 4c and 4d, again shown, respectively in plan view (towards the second surface, with first surface in dashed lines) and profile (through dotted line 44) an example of an embodiment of the invention with nine square upstanding elements 40 and four upstanding linear elements 42, extending from one side of the housing to another. FIG. 5 shows in perspective view a still further embodiment wherein the eight upstanding button elements on one side form a general “W” shape. With correspondingly dimensioned channels, then the second surface shown can be slidably received in a first surface of another housing made in accordance with the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b, there are shown in plan view (towards the second surface, with first surface in dashed lines) and profile (through dotted line 64) an example of an embodiment of the invention with eight round upstanding elements 60 and three upstanding linear elements 62, extending from one side of the housing to another. FIGS. 6c and 6d, again shown, respectively in plan view (towards the second surface, with first surface in dashed lines) and profile (through dotted line 65) an example of an embodiment of the invention with five round upstanding elements 60 and four upstanding linear elements 62, extending from one side of the housing to another. FIGS. 6e and 6f, again shown, respectively in plan view (towards the second surface, with first surface in dashed lines) and profile (through dotted line 66) an example of an embodiment of the invention with nine round upstanding elements 60 and four upstanding linear elements 62, extending from one side of the housing to another. FIG. 7 shows in perspective view a still further embodiment wherein the eight upstanding button elements on one side form a general “W” shape. With correspondingly dimensioned channels, then the second surface shown can be slidably received in a first surface of another housing made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 shows two hexagonal housing elements with ends comprising first and second type faces; One housing element shows sides of hexagon E, F & G and shows a first type end face: the other housing element has hexagonal sides E′, F′, G′, H′, I′ & J′ with a second type end face, with three upstanding elements 82. The upstanding elements are shown as square, but may be other shapes, for example, of a circular configuration, elliptical configuration or other configuration. In the first type of surface, only two channels 84 are shown, but six would be present to provide 60° symmetry, with sufficient strength for typical materials, with at least one upstanding element located in at least two channels. FIG. 8a shows the two hexagonal housings connected in a first orientation: FIG. 8b shows the two hexagonal housings connected in a second orientation, 180° to the first orientation.

FIG. 9 a shows two triangle housing elements with ends comprising first and second type faces; One housing element shows sides of triangle K, L & M and shows a first type end face: the other housing element has triangle sides K′, L′, & M′ with a second type end face, with three upstanding elements 82. The upstanding elements ate shown as square, but may be other shapes, for example, of a circular configuration, elliptical configuration or other configuration. In the first type of surface, only two channels 84 are shown, but three would be present to provide 120° symmetry, with sufficient strength for typical materials, with at least one upstanding element located in at least two channels. FIG. 9b shows the two triangular housings connected in a first orientation: FIG. 9c shows the two triangular housings connected in a second orientation, 120° to the first orientation.

FIGS. 10-13 show examples of further extensions of the present concept, to include, for example, a cd player or dvd player (FIG. 10), a modular loudspeaker (FIG. 11), a lighting arrangement (FIGS. 12 & 13). It would also be possible to have a plasma display screen arranged on one face of a housing in accordance with the invention. For these applications, it would be useful to have electrical supply connections, which could be provided through a low voltage supply, the connections being integrated through a number of housings. Conveniently, one housing would have a low voltage supply and transformer, with a heat sink as appropriate, which housing would be able to supply other housings. Low voltage supply connectors could be arranged about the round or square upstanding elements, with due regard to prevent short circuits.

FIGS. 14 a-c show further design possibilities and also show housings which have first and second faces which subtend arcs of 45° and 30°. Certain of the housings could be fastened to a wall so as to secure a arrangement, although fixing an arrangement of housings, whilst optional for certain applications would be necessary for others. It may also be necessary to attach a major surface of one housing to a wall or desk.

It will be appreciated that the designs may vary in detail. It may be deemed necessary to have corresponding raised element and depression associated with adjacent surfaces whereby the mutually co-operating surfaces may be retained in one of several positions. For example the depressions may be associated with the upstanding elements 32 and the raised elements may reside in the channels 23; alternatively, the situation may be that the raised elements reside on the upstanding channels. the depressions may be on both sides; the depressions and raised elements providing detent mechanism whereby the components may slide easily yet be engaged together by means of the detent mechanism.

Claims

1. A housing arrangement comprising first and second housings, wherein the first and second housings are operably coupled by first and second mating surface in a common interface, wherein the first mating surface comprises parallel spaced apart channels defined between upstanding members, the walls being defined by an undercut portion; wherein the second mating surface comprises a set of upstanding members being symmetrically disposed about a common centre in the plane, each upstanding member having a corresponding undercut wall portion and being adapted so that two of said upstanding members can be inserted in a channel defined in said first mating surface, whereby the first and second housings can be slidably connected with respect to each other in a common plane of interface in two or more rotational orientations with respect to each other.

2. A housing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a rectangular cylinder.

3. A housing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a circular cylinder.

4. A housing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a hexagonal cylinder.

5. A housing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a triangular cylinder.

6. A housing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the upstanding elements are square, square with one or more radiused corners, triangular, circular or elliptical in section.