The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for storing and dispensing a plurality of media. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a media-dispensing apparatus and method that allows only the contents from a single slot or compartment to be removed from the apparatus before a user has access to the contents of another slot or compartment.
Storage and organization of various items, such as video game cartridges and CDs, often cause problems for many people. In particular, people tend to not have a designated storage area or device for items like cartridges and CDs. Further, even when such storage devices are available, it is common for people not to utilize such devices. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for cartridges and CDs, for instance, to be misplaced and/or lost.
It is especially likely for children to use a game cartridge and not return it to its designated place before taking another game cartridge to use. This behavior commonly results in lost or misplaced game cartridges. As a result, parents often have to purchase a duplicate game cartridge to replace one that their child has lost.
Accordingly, a media-dispensing device that stores media and only allows the contents from a single slot or compartment to be removed at a time may be helpful.
The present disclosure relates to a media-dispensing apparatus including a housing, a plurality of compartments and a locking structure. The plurality of compartments are disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing. Each compartment is configured to hold at least one unit at least partially therein. The access structure is disposed in movable relation with respect to the plurality of compartments. At least a portion of the locking structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the plurality of compartments. The locking structure is configured to inhibit movement between the access structure and the plurality of compartments.
The present disclosure also relates to a media-dispensing apparatus including a housing, a plurality of compartments and a locking structure. The plurality of compartments is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing and each of the plurality of compartments is configured to hold at least one media unit therein. The locking structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the plurality of compartments. The locking structure is configured to inhibit access to a media unit disposed in a compartment when a single compartment does not include a media unit therein.
The present disclosure also relates to a method of dispensing media. The method includes providing a media-dispensing apparatus including a plurality of compartments where each compartment is configured to hold a unit at least partially therein. The method also includes removing a unit from a first compartment, returning a unit to the first compartment and moving at least a portion of the media-dispensing apparatus to allow access to a second compartment. Each of the plurality of compartments must have a unit at least partially therein to allow access to the second compartment.
Embodiments of the presently disclosed media-dispensing apparatus are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the presently media-dispensing apparatus are described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.
A media-dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure is referred to in the figures as reference numeral 100. Media-dispensing apparatus 100 is configured to store and dispense different types of media 200, including, for example, gaming cartridges, CDs, DVDs, memory cards, etc. (collectively referred to as “media,” “unit,” or “media unit” herein). As used herein, the use of the terms “media” and “unit” are also intended to include place holders and blanks.
Media-dispensing apparatus 100 only allows a unit 200 from one of its compartments to be dispensed therefrom at a time. That is, once a unit 200 is removed from apparatus 100, that unit 200 (or a different unit) must be replaced in apparatus 100 before another unit 200 can be removed.
In
With reference to
Access structure 130 includes at least one of a slot 160 in housing 110 and a door 170. In the embodiment illustrated in
Although door 170 is shown on a top surface 116 of housing 110, it is envisioned that door 170 may be disposed at a location on the periphery of cartridge dispenser 100a. In such an embodiment, locking structure 140 may be disposed adjacent a substantial center of the apparatus or one of its parts. Here, locking structure 140 may bias a unit or blank outwardly from the center of cartridge dispenser 100a.
Locking structure 140 is illustrated in
Insertion of a unit 200a into an empty compartment (i.e., 120a in
In the embodiment where locking structure 140 is biased towards its first position, it is envisioned that moving door 170 from its second position towards its first position overcomes the biasing force of locking structure 140 and helps secure unit 200a within compartment 120. Further, protrusions 172 (
Chamber 150 is also shown including a plurality of rails 180, with each rail 180 being disposed between adjacent compartments 120 (
As shown in the figures, housing 110 may include a first portion 110a and a second portion 110b, which are connected by any suitable means (e.g., sonic welding, press-fit, joining structures, adhesives, etc.). It is envisioned that at least a portion of housing 110 may be made of a transparent or translucent material (and/or may include a window), thus enabling a user to view the contents of at least one compartment 120. Additionally, at least one opening 112 may be included in housing 110, such that a side 156 of chamber 150 is accessible by a user to facilitate rotation of chamber 150 with respect to housing 110, for example. A series of projections 158 is also illustrated at least partially along side 156 of chamber 150 to further help a user's ability to rotate chamber 150.
In a contemplated use, it is envisioned that cartridge dispenser 100a includes a combination of seven blank units or usable cartridges 200a therein and one empty compartment 120a (
When a desired unit 200a is substantially aligned with access structure 130, user may open door 170, thus causing locking structure 140 to move towards its first position (
Referring now to
Each of plurality of holders 520 includes a sleeve 550 disposed in mechanical cooperation therewith. Each sleeve 550 is translatable along a track 522 of its associated holder 520 between a first position where sleeve 550 blocks access to its associated holder 520 (
Housing 510 of disc dispenser 100b is shown including end plates 570 and three rods 572 (a single rod 572 is visible in
When disc dispenser 100b is full with units or discs 200b, groove 552 of each sleeve 550 and channel 521 of each holder 520 are substantially aligned with grooves and channels of adjacent sleeves and holders, respectively. As can be appreciated with reference to
To gain access to desired disc 200b, the user moves access structure 530 (e.g., in the direction of arrow “D” in
Holding structure 554 and locking structure 540 are configured such that, when engaged with one another (
It is envisioned that portions of track 522 and/or locking structure 540 for use with a single sleeve 550 may be disposed on two adjacent holders 520 and/or end plates 570. That is, sleeve 550 may be translated along and/or guided by portions of track 522 on its associated holder 520 and an adjacent holder. Further, holding structure 554 may be engagable with portions of locking structure 540 disposed on its associated holder 520 and an adjacent holder.
It is also envisioned that media-dispensing apparatus 100 includes an attachment structure 190 (
In a contemplated embodiment, compartments of the media-dispensing apparatus 100 include indicia, such as numbers, which facilitate organization of the units (
While not explicitly shown in the accompanying figures, various-sized media-dispensing apparatuses 100 can be used to store and dispense units 200 of various shapes and sizes. For instance, media-dispensing apparatus 100 may be configured to store and dispense games for NINTENDO DS®, SONY PLAYSTATION® (PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP), UMD, GAME BOY® SP, educational cartridges (e.g., LEAPFROG®, memory cards, audio CDs, and/or video DVDs.
In an envisioned embodiment the apparatus may have a compartment and/or a series of sleeves disposed thereon for storage of blanks. Additionally, each blank may include indicia thereon, such as advertisements. Further, the blanks may be a different color from units to help a user quickly distinguish blanks from units. It may also be useful to provide a transparent or translucent cover to facilitate the viewing of units/blanks.
It is further envisioned that a handle may be affixed to media-dispensing apparatus 100. Additionally, media-dispensing apparatus 100 may be configured to attach to a keychain or be used as a keychain. It is also envisioned that the apparatus may be configured to fit on or within a console of an automobile. Here, media-dispensing apparatus 100 may hold CDs and/or DVDs for driver and/or passenger use. Further, media-dispensing apparatus 100 may be affixed or otherwise connectable to a gaming system, a stereo, a DVD player, the case of a unit or another suitable device.
It is additionally envisioned that units of different sizes can operably fit within media-dispensing apparatus 100. For instance, an adapter, the approximate size of a unit or blank (e.g., the size of a typical CD), may be available that includes a sleeve therein which accepts a unit of a different size (e.g., the size of a mini-disc). Further, a media-dispensing apparatus 100 designed to accept a relatively large unit (e.g., a game cartridge for Nintendo®) may includes adapters which are sized substantially equal to the relatively large unit. Here, other types of units (e.g., CDs, mini-CDs, smaller cartridges) may be able to fit within the adapter. Thus, a single media-dispensing apparatus 100 can be used for storing and individually dispensing many types of media.
The present disclosure also relates to a method of dispensing media. The method includes providing media-dispensing apparatus 100 (such as in an embodiment described above) including plurality of compartments where each compartment is configured to hold a unit 200 at least partially therein. The method also includes removing a unit 200 from a first compartment, returning a unit 200 to the first compartment and moving at least a portion of the media-dispensing apparatus to allow access to a compartment chamber. Each of the plurality of compartments must have a unit 200 at least partially therein to allow access to the second compartment.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, while the figures depict certain embodiments of media-dispensing apparatus 100, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific illustrated embodiments. Additionally, cartridge dispenser 100a may be configured to have more or fewer than the eight illustrated compartments 120 and disc dispenser 100b may be configured to have more or fewer than the [amount shown in
This application claims the benefits of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/872,719 entitled “Media Storage and Dispensing Apparatus” which was filed on Dec. 4, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/823,165 entitled “CD BUTLER” which was filed on Aug. 22, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/806,941 entitled “CD BUTLER” which was filed on Jul. 11, 2006, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60872719 | Dec 2006 | US | |
60823165 | Aug 2006 | US | |
60806941 | Jul 2006 | US |