Patent Application
20210153648
The invention generally relates to organizers for records, and more particularly relates to a holder system and method for maintaining records, as well as books and similar objects, in upstanding and organized manner.
Vinyl records are historically a desired form of recorded media, and there has been a recent resurgence in collecting and favoring such media. Vinyl records typically are containable in rectangular cardboard sleeves. The sleeves often include text and graphics. The spines of the sleeves have often included musical band/entertainer and album names for each record. These records, and other similar flat books and other objects, often are stacked in various manners. The stacking has not been ideal because often organization of the stacking has been limited and stacking may lead to warp of stacked items or other damage. Also, organizational devices for records have often been limited in ability to vary according to sizing of collections and similar dimensional aspects.
It would be a significant improvement in the art and technology to provide organization devices for records and other items. It would also be an improvement for such devices to permit variable capacity for items. It would also be an improvement for display of items in desirably oriented manner. It would moreover be an improvement for particular orientation of organized items that will help retain and protect integrity of the items.
An embodiment of the invention is a system including a chassis, a track connected to the chassis, a fixed end fixedly connected to the chassis and the track, and an adjustable end selectively slidably connected to track and guided by the chassis.
Another embodiment of the invention is a record holder system including a frame of two ends and two sides, a fixed end attached to one of the ends of the frame, and a selectively adjustable end slidably connected to the frame.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method. The method includes forming a chassis of two ends and two sides, connecting a fixed end to one of the ends of the chassis, connecting a track to the chassis, and connecting an adjustable end to the track.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
Referring to
Referring to
In operation, the adjustable end 106 is located along the track 110 in desired spacing relation to the fixed end 104. Record albums, or other items, may be retained (such as, for nonexclusive example, in upright position) between the fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106. The adjustable end 106 is moveable to desired spacing location relative to the fixed end 104, and then engages to the track 110 to retain the spacing between the adjustable end 106 and the fixed end 104.
Referring to
The fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106 are each connected substantially perpendicular to the chassis 102 (i.e., raised from the chassis 102). The adjustable end 106 may extendingly raise shorter from the chassis 102, than the fixed end 104, although this is not necessary in all embodiments. The shelf 108 is connected to and extends along the left side 102c at least a portion of the left side 102c. The shelf 108 includes a lateral extension 108a and an upstanding side 108b. The shelf 108 may be selectively serrated 108c.
The fixed end 104 includes a downward slope on an angled face 306 that extends towards the adjustable end 106. The adjustable end 106 also includes a sloped face 304 extending at angle downwards facing the fixed end 104. In the downward slope of the angled face 306, near a top of the adjustable end 106, the adjustable end 106 includes a handle 302 for actuating the adjustable end 106 for release from engagement with and moving along the track 110.
In operation, the adjustable end 106 is gripped at the handle 302 and the handle 302 is depressed inward to the adjustable end 106. The depressed handle 302 releases the adjustable end 106 from grip to the track 110. The adjustable end 106 is slid along the track 110 to desired displacement of the adjustable end 106 from the fixed end 104 along the track 110. The indentation 112 may aid the grip of the handle 302.
Records or other items may be stacked upright between the fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106, either before or after the adjustable end 106 is selectively positioned along the track 110. For non-exclusive example, records (not shown) may be positioned upright against the fixed end 104. The adjustable end 106 may then be moved, by depression of the handle 302, along the track 110 to abut the records. The shelf 108 retains the records or other items in lateral position with respect to the chassis 102. The abutting adjustable end 106 in cooperation with the fixed end 104 situates the records or other items in upright position, such as for display, storage or other purpose.
Referring to
The handle 302 connects by a pin 608 to the clamp 602. The clamp 602, for non-exclusive example, is a strut 610 that is bent in opposing directions 612, 614 towards respective extents. The strut 610 includes a hole 616 towards an end opposing the handle 302. The hole 616 is sized to accommodate the track 110 of the chassis 102, and somewhat larger to allow crimp on the track 110 and release from crimp when the handle 302 is depressed.
The strut 610 passes through a throughway 618 in the bottom of the adjustable end 106. The throughway 618 is sized to allow the strut 610 to move with respect to the track 110, sufficient to permit engagement and disengagement crimp of the strut 610 to the track 110 when the handle 302 is positioned outward and inward, respectively. Next to the bend 614, a finger 622 is connected to the adjustable end 106 and engages an end of the strut 610 opposite the handle 302.
At extent of the strut 610 opposite the handle 302, the strut 610 abuts the finger 622 counter to the spring 620. The spring device 622 retains the strut 610 in position disengaged from the track 110 when the handle 302 is pressed to move the adjustable end 106. Sides of the throughway 618 engage the track 110 when the handle 302 is in non-depressed state, in order to crimp the track 110 and retain the adjustable end 106 in position along the track 110. Sides of the throughway 618 disengage the track 110 when the handle 302 is pressed, in order to disengage crimp of the track 110 and allow repositioning of the adjustable end 106 along the track 110 and in desired relation to the fixed end 104.
In operation, the chassis 102 sits on a surface, such as a table top, floor, or other surface. The adjustable end 106 and the fixed end 104 project upward. Records or other items are stacked upright against the fixed end 104, along space between the fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106. Records, as non-exclusive example, may rest on a side against the shelf 108. The handle 302 of the adjustable end 106 is manually pressed, thereby declamping the adjustable end 106 from engagement with the track 110. The adjustable end 106 is moved along the track 110 to abut the records or other items on opposing face/side from the fixed end 104. When the adjustable end 106 is so positioned, the handle 302 is released and the clamp 602 of the adjustable end 106 engages the track 110 to retain the adjustable end 106 in position.
Referring to
In operation, the handle 302 remains biased outward in the depression 604 unless and until depressed. The spring 620 causes friction along the track 110 where the sides of the hole 616 contact the track 110, unless and until the handle 302 is depressed. When the handle 302 is depressed, the strut 610 moves slightly away from direction of the sloped face 304. This causes the hole 616 to reposition for sliding passage of the strut 610 along the track.
Referring to
Referring to
The clamp 602 of the adjustable end 106 is connected to the handle 302. The handle 302 is within the depression 604 in the sloped face 306. The handle 302 is biased outward in the depression 604 when the clamp 602 engages the adjustable end 106 to the track 110. When the handle 302 is pressed inward in the depression 604, the clamp 602 disengages from the track 110 and the adjustable end 106 may be slid along the track 110 and guided by the chassis 102.
The clamp 602 includes the strut 610. The strut 610 includes the opposing bends 612, 614. The spring 620 engages the strut 610 to bias the strut 610, and by consequence the handle 302, outward in the depression 604 and with the strut 610 engaging the track 110. The strut 610, when engaged to the track 110 in such manner, retains the adjustable end 106 in position along the track 110.
Press of the handle 302 into the depression 604 pushes and slightly deforms the strut 610 against the finger 622. This disengages the clamp 602 of the adjustable end 106 to the track 110, and allows the adjustable end 106 to be slid along the track 110 guided by the chassis 110. When the handle 302 is not pressed, the spring 620 biases the strut 610 against the finger 622 and sides of the hole 616 engage the track 110 to restrict movement of the adjustable end 106 along the track 110 and chassis 102.
In operation, the chassis 102 sits on a surface. The adjustable end 106 and the fixed end 104 project upward from the chassis 102. Records or other items are placed upright against the fixed end 104 between the fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106. The shelf 108 can retain the records in uniformity along edges. The handle 302 of the adjustable end 106 is manually pressed to disengage the adjustable end 106 from engagement with the track 110 to allow the adjustable end 106 to be slid along the track 110 as guided by the chassis 102. The adjustable end 106 when so disengaged is moved along the track 110 to abut and stack the records between the fixed end 104 and the adjustable end 106. Release of press of the handle 302 clamps the adjustable end 106 to the track 110 to retain the adjustable end 106 in position relative to the fixed end 104.
As will be understood, wide variation is possible in the foregoing embodiments. Various clamping devices are possible in the adjustable end. Further, the sloped or angled faces of the respective ends may be differently configured, such as for non-exclusive example, the faces may be relatively perpendicular to the chassis and track. The handle can be located in other positions in the adjustable end. Variety of surface elements are possible in faces and sides of the ends. A variety of materials and manners of manufacture are possible in the embodiments, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, polymer, wood, and others, and various elements may be formed of different or same materials, and manufacture may include, but is not limited to, molding, gluing, attaching, and others.
In the foregoing, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that various modifications, substitutions, deletions, and additions can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications substitutions, deletions, and additions are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that may have been described above with regard to specific embodiments, as well as device(s), connection(s), step(s) and element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element.
