US20040124749A1

US20040124749A1 - Disc storage device

Info

Publication number: US20040124749A1
Application number: US10/330,229
Authority: US
Inventors: Liu Song
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-30
Filing date: 2002-12-30
Publication date: 2004-07-01

Abstract

A disc storage device, which comprises: a box, plural trays installed in the box for receiving discs, plural connecting rods installed in the box, comprising hooks thereon for hooking and releasing the corresponding plural trays respectively, plural spring plates mounting the box and ends of the plural connecting rods respectively, plural driving rods, comprising first ends for driving the plural connecting rods respectively in the box and second ends outside the box, and plural spring levers, installed between the plural trays and the box; wherein, the second ends of the driving rods are pushed to actuate the corresponding connecting rods to release corresponding trays, the corresponding spring levers reject the trays outside of the box. The trays comprises stair shapes at both sides, thereby the upper portion of the trays are positioned between the corresponding rails at both sides and the lower portion of the trays are positioned between the corresponding slots at both sides. Therefore the trays are closely adjacent to each other. The space within the device is sufficiently utilized.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a disc storage device for receiving compact discs and managing thereof, in particular, to provide a disc storage device, which can reject discs trays by pushing buttons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compact discs like optical discs are commercially packaged in plastic enclosures to prevent damage during shipping and/or storage. To this end the industry has adopted, and the consumer has accepted, a thin planar compact disc storage case as the industry standard for protecting the disc from dust, dirt, scratches, fingerprints, and the like damaging elements. The compact disc storage case is a hard plastic case having a hinged cover with an internal support base, which clamps the disc in a secured position. However, while compact disc storage boxes store the individual discs, stacking the storage boxes creates an unmanageable pile that is difficult to maintain or procure a particular selection. For instance, if twenty compact disc storage boxes are placed in a stacked position, the removal of a single storage case near the bottom of a pile will cause the remainder of the pile to tip over or fall out of alignment.

Conventional disc storage devices used for maintaining the storage cases in alignment is a cabinet having at least two tightly fitting sides and a back wall. However, placement of compact disc storage boxes within such a cabinet makes removal difficult if the sides of the storage case cannot be grasped. Besides because of the thickness of the rails, there are spaces between disc cases are not sufficiently used.

Accordingly, a disc storage device that can help users easily take and place discs, easily manage the discs and sufficiently utilize the space within the device is needed and long desired.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore primary objective of the present invention to provide a disc storage device that can assist users to easily take and place discs and efficiently manage the discs

Another object of the invention is to provide a disc storage device that can sufficiently utilize the space within the device.

The present invention, briefly summarized, in one embodiment discloses a disc storage device, comprising: a box, plural trays installed in the box for receiving discs, plural connecting rods installed in the box, comprising hooks thereon for hooking and releasing the corresponding plural trays respectively, plural spring plates mounting the box and ends of the plural connecting rods respectively, plural driving rods, comprising first ends for driving the plural connecting rods respectively in the box and second ends outside the box, and plural spring levers, installed between the plural trays and the box; wherein, the second ends of the driving rods are pushed to actuate the corresponding connecting rods to release corresponding trays and the corresponding spring levers then reject the trays out of the box.

The trays comprises stair shapes at both sides, thereby the upper portion of the trays are positioned between the corresponding rails at both sides and the lower portion of the trays are positioned between the corresponding slots at both sides. There will be no space waste between the trays. Therefore, the space within the device is sufficiently utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood after refer to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings wherein: [0009]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment; [0010]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of assembling the driving rods to the upper plate of an embodiment; [0011]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled embodiment; [0012]
FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view showing the trays hooked to connecting rods of an embodiment; [0013]
FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment showing the trays are released by pushing driving rods to actuate the connecting rods; [0014]
FIG. 6 is a perspective horizontal sectional view of an embodiment showing movement of a tray; [0015]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment used in a corresponding cabinet system; [0016]
FIG. 8 is a perspective horizontal sectional view showing an embodiment used in a corresponding cabinet system; [0017]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the movement of a tray of an embodiment used in a corresponding cabinet system. [0018]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment used in a regular drawer; [0019]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing the outward side of the tray has a recess shape;[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 of the drawings, [0021] reference numeral 1 refers generally to a disc storage device, comprising: a box 10, plural trays 20 installed in the box 10 for receiving discs, plural connecting rods 30 installed in the box 10, comprising hooks 31 thereon for hooking and releasing the corresponding plural trays 20 respectively, plural spring plates 34 mounting the box and ends of the plural connecting rods 30respectively, plural driving rods 40, comprising first ends 41 for driving the plural connecting rods 30 respectively in the box 10 and second ends 43 outside the box 10 and plural spring levers 25, installed between the plural trays 20 and the box 10 wherein, the second ends 43 of the driving rods 40 are pushed to actuate the corresponding connecting rods 30 to release corresponding trays 20 and the corresponding spring levers 25 then reject the trays out of the box 10. When pressure placed on the second ends 43 is released, the deformed spring plates 34 force connecting rods 30 and driving rods 40 back to their original positions.
The [0022] box 10 comprises: a front plate 12, a back plate 13, comprising a rack 130 thereon, the rack 130 having several through holes 131 and sliding slots 1 32 for adopting the connecting rods 30, a upper plate 14, comprising at least one beam 140 thereon, the beam 140 having several holes 141 therein for adapting the driving rods 40, a lower plate, and two side plates 11, comprising plural rails 110 thereon, the rails 110 forms slots 111 therebetween for receiving the plural trays 20,wherein the plates 11, 12, 13, 14 construct a three dimensional box structure.
The [0023] trays 20 comprise hooks 24 thereon for engaging with the hooks 31 on the connecting rods 30 respectively. When the tray 20 is pressed into the box 10, the spring lever 25 is compressed and the hook 24 engages with the hook 31. Therefore the tray 20 is fixed in the box 10.
The [0024] first ends 41 of the driving rods 40 have slope surfaces 42 thereon and the connecting rods 30 have through holes 32 corresponding to the slope surfaces 42 of the driving rods 40. Each one edge of the through holes 32 have an arc surface 33. If the second end 43 of the driving rod 40 is pressed, the first end 41 pushes the arc surface 33 with the slope surface 42, the connecting rod 30 therefore moves downward and the hook 24 is released from the hook 31. The trays 20 comprises stair shapes at both sides, thereby the upper portion of the trays 20 are positioned between corresponding rails 110 at both sides of the box 10 and the lower portion of the trays 20 are positioned between corresponding slots 111 at both sides of the box 10, Therefore the trays are closely adjacent to each other. The space within the device is sufficiently utilized.
The [0025] front plate 12 comprises plural ribs 120 corresponding to the rails 110 on the side plates 11, wherein the ribs 120 have slots 121 therebetween for the trays 20 to stretch out. The front plate 12 has plural button holes 122 for the second ends 43 of the driving rods 40 to stretch out of the box 10. Two wing plates 123 installed from two sides of the front plate 12. The wing plates 123 comprise inserting slots 124. The side plates 11 comprise connecting plates 112 with protrusions 113 thereon for being engaged with the inserting slots 124. The second end 43 of the driving rod 40 has a button 44 thereon and the button 44 is placed outside of the box 10.
With reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, the [0026] disc storage device 1 can be used in a disk storage system. The disc storage system, comprises: plural disc storage boxes1, each of the boxes 1 having positioning slots 125 at one side of each the box 1, a cabinet 50 having plural rooms 51 for adapting the storage boxes1, plural spring plates 56 located between the boxes 1 and the cabinet 50; and plural positioning mechanisms 52 installed beside the rooms 51, each the positioning mechanism 52 comprising: a positioning block 53, having a pointing end 530 to be pushed to the positioning slot 125 and a cave 531 with a slope surface 532 thereon, a spring 54 located at the opposite side of the pointing end 530 for pushing the positioning block 53 against the positioning slot 125, and a control button 55 having a end with a slope surface 550 matched with the slope surface 532 of the cave in the positioning block 53, wherein, the button 55 is pushed to force the spring 54 to be compressed. Accordingly the positioning block 53 is released from the positioning slot 125 and the spring plates 56 reject the box 1 outside the cabinet 50. When the pressure on the button 55 is released, the spring 54 return to its original position. If the box 1 is placed into the room 51, the wall of the box 1 presses against the pointing end 530 and force it compress the spring 54 to make the way of the box 1. When the box 1 is almost positioned, the pointing end 530 of positioning block 53 moves against the positioning slot 125 of the box 1 by the force of the spring 54. The box is fixed.
With reference to FIG. 11, for the convenience of users, in one embodiment of the invention, the [0027] tray 20 has a concave 61 thereon for receiving disc and the outward sides of the trays 20have a recess shape 21.
Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, and the novel features thereof are pointed out in appended claims. The disclosure, however, is illustrated only, and changes may be made in detail, especially, in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts, materials and the combination thereof within the principle of the invention, to the full extend indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. [0028]

Claims

We claim:

1. A disc storage device, comprising:

a box;

plural trays installed in said box for receiving discs;

plural connecting rods installed in said box, comprising hooks thereon for hooking and releasing said plural trays respectively;

plural spring plates mounting said box and ends of said plural connecting rods respectively;

plural driving rods, comprising first ends for driving said plural connecting rods respectively in said box and second ends outside said box; and

plural spring levers, installed between said plural trays and said box;

wherein, said second ends of said driving rods are pushed to actuate said connecting rods to release said trays and said spring levers reject said trays outside of said box correspondingly.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said box comprises:

a front plate;

a back plate, comprising a rack thereon, said rack has several through holes and sliding slots for adopting said connecting rods;

an upper plate, comprising at least one beam thereon, said beam having several holes therein for adapting said driving rods;

a lower plate; and

two side plates, comprising plural rails thereon, said rails forms slots therebetween for receiving said plural trays,

wherein said plates construct a three dimensional box structure.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said trays comprise hooks thereon for being engaged with said hooks on the connecting rods respectively.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said first ends of said driving rods have slope surfaces thereon, said connecting rods have through holes corresponding to said slope surfaces and each one side of said through holes having an arc surface.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said trays have a concave thereon and the outward sides of said trays have a recess shape.

6. The storage device of claim 2, wherein said trays comprises stair shapes at both sides, thereby the upper portion of said trays are positioned between corresponding said rails at both sides and the lower portion of said trays are positioned between corresponding said slots at both sides.

7. The storage device of claim 2, wherein one of said side plates has a positioning slot at the outward surface of said side plate.

8. The storage device of claim 2, wherein said front plate comprises

plural ribs corresponding to the rails on the side plates, wherein said ribs have slots therebetween for said trays to stretch out;

plural button holes for said second ends of said driving rods to stretch out;

two wing plates installed from two sides of said front plate, said wing plates comprise inserting slots.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein each said side plates comprise connecting plates having protrusions thereon for being engaged with said inserting slots.

10. The storage device of claim 8, wherein each said second end of said driving rod has a button thereon, said button is placed outside of said box.

11. A disc storage system, comprising:

plural disc storage boxes, each of said boxes has a positioning slot at one side of each said box;

a cabinet having plural rooms for adapting said storage boxes;

plural spring plates located between said boxes and said cabinet; and

plural positioning mechanisms installed beside said rooms, each said positioning mechanism comprising:

a positioning block, having a pointing end for inserting to said positioning slot and a cave with a slope surface thereon;

a spring located at the opposite side of the pointing end for pushing said positioning block against said positioning slot; and

a control button having an end with a slope surface matched with said slope surface of said cave in said positioning block,

wherein, said button is pushed to force the spring being compressed, said positioning block is released from said positioning slot and said spring plates reject said box outside of said cabinet.