CD Rack with dual disc case holder
View Patent ↗A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.
1. A holder that can hold CD cases and cases for other items and usable to create a continuous loop formed by interlocking adjacent such holders, the holder comprising:
a base having a holder engaging mechanism extending therefrom and said holder engaging mechanism adapted to engage an adjacent holder in order to form the continuous loop;
said holder including first and second outer sidewalls and a partition sidewall located between the first and second outer sidewalls, with said first outer sidewall and said partition sidewall with said base defining a first space adapted to receive a first case, and with said second outer sidewall and said partition sidewall with said base defining a second space adapted to receive a second case;
wherein said holder includes at least a first member which is adapted to frictionally retain a first case in said first space, and at least a second member which is adapted to frictionally retain a second case in said second space; and
wherein said holder engaging mechanism includes:
a first holder-engaging mechanism including a slot located adjacent thereto;
a second holder-engaging mechanism having a distal end extending out from the base; and
wherein said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a second holder-engaging mechanism of a second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a first holder-engaging mechanism on a third holder to form a continuous loop.
2. The holder of claim 1 further including:
said first member is a first bump which extends from said base in said first space; and
said second member is a second bump which extends from said base in said second space.
3. The holder of claim 1 further including:
said first member is a pair of lower walls which extend from said base in said first space; and
said second member is a pair of lower walls which extend from said base in said second space.
4. The holder of claim 1 wherein:
the first holder-engaging mechanism is a male mechanism;
the second holder-engaging mechanism is a female mechanism.
5. A holder usable to create a continuous loop formed by interlocking adjacent such holders, the holder comprising:
a base having a first holder-engaging mechanism extending out from the base with a slot located adjacent thereto and a second holder-engaging mechanism extending out from the base and having a distal end, which distal end is shaped and adapted in order to be received in a slot of a second holder;
at least three fingers extending from the base adapted to retain at least a portion of a first object and a second object; wherein the fingers are defined between an upper wall and a lower wall; and
wherein said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a second holder-engaging mechanism of a second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a first holder-engaging mechanism on a third holder to form a continuous loop.
6. The holder of claim 5 wherein:
the fingers are defined there between a first space and a second space.
7. The holder of claim 5 further including:
at least one pair of projections adapted to frictionally engage the objects.
8. The holder of claim 5 wherein:
the first holder-engaging mechanism is a male mechanism; and
the second holder-engaging mechanism is a female mechanism.
9. The holder of claim 5 wherein:
said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to have the first holder-engaging mechanism on the third holder nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism said holder to form a continuous loop.
10. The holder of claim 5 wherein:
the distal end of the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder can pass through said slot located adjacent to the first holder-engaging mechanism of said holder to which the second holder-engaging mechanism is inserted to allow the second said holder to spread apart from said holder.
11. A holder usable to create a continuous loop formed by interlocking adjacent such holders, the holder comprising:
a base having an interior surface, the interior surface having a first holder-engaging mechanism extending there from with a slot located adjacent thereto and a second holder-engaging mechanism extending from the interior surface having a distal end, which distal end is shaped and adapted in order to be received in a slot of a second holder;
a first spaced defined between a first wall and a second wall; a second space defined between the second wall and a third wall; wherein the spaces are adapted to retain an object therein; and
wherein said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a second holder-engaging mechanism of a second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a first holder-engaging mechanism on a third holder to form a continuous loop.
12. The holder of claim 11 further including:
at least one projection adapted to frictionally engage at least one object in the first space and the second space.
13. The holder of claim 11 wherein:
the first holder-engaging mechanism is a male mechanism; and
the second holder-engaging mechanism is a female mechanism.
14. The holder of claim 11 wherein:
said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to have the first holder-engaging mechanism on the third holder nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism said holder to form a continuous loop.
15. The holder of claim 11 wherein:
the distal end of the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder can pass through said slot located adjacent to the first holder-engaging mechanism of said holder to which the second holder-engaging mechanism is inserted to allow the second said holder to spread apart from said holder.
16. A holder usable to create a continuous loop formed by interlocking adjacent such holders, the holder comprising:
a base having an interior surface having a holder-engaging mechanism to interlock adjacent holders;
a first finger and a partition extending from the base adapted to retain at least a portion of a first object; a second finger with the partition extending from the base adapted to retain at least a portion of a second object; and
wherein the holder-engaging mechanism includes:
a first holder-engaging extending from the interior surface;
a second holder-engaging mechanism having a distal end extending from the interior surface; and
wherein said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a second holder-engaging mechanism of a second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to interlock with a first holder-engaging mechanism on a third holder to form a continuous loop.
17. The holder of claim 16 further including:
at least one projection adapted to frictionally engage the objects.
18. The holder of claim 16 wherein:
the first holder-engaging mechanism is a male mechanism; and
the second holder-engaging mechanism is a female mechanism.
19. The holder of claim 16 wherein:
said first holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder, and said second holder-engaging mechanism on said holder is adapted to have the first holder-engaging mechanism on the third holder nest in the second holder-engaging mechanism said holder to form a continuous loop.
20. The holder of claim 16 wherein said holder engaging mechanism includes:
wherein the distal end of the second holder-engaging mechanism of the second said holder can pass through said slot located adjacent to the first holder-engaging mechanism of said holder to which the second holder-engaging mechanism is inserted to allow the second said holder to spread apart from said holder.