GB2271762A

GB2271762A - Portable laser disc storage case assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2271762A
Application number: GB9321959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi-Tai Lin
Original assignee: LIN CHI TAI
Current assignee: LIN CHI TAI
Priority date: 1992-10-26
Filing date: 1993-10-25
Publication date: 1994-04-27
Also published as: GB9321959D0; CN2175456Y

Abstract

A portable laser disc storage case assembly for carrying laser discs includes a base plate 2, a top cover plate 1, and a plurality of unit cases 3 connected between the base plate 2 and the top cover plate 1 through dovetail joints. The unit cases 3 can be connected one above another or side matched through respective dovetail joints. In each case 3a laser disc carrier has a hub formed of three fixed pawls and a movable pawl for holding the loaded laser disc in place. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE LASER DISC STORAGE CASE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage case assembly for keeping audio laser discs and arranging them in order. The number of storage chambers of the storage case assembly can be conveniently adjusted according to the quantity of the laser discs to be kept.

Various storage cases are known and widely used for keeping audio laser discs. These storage cases are commonly designed for use indoors and not X suitable for carrying audio laser discs with the hand.

Furthermore, these storage cases are commonly not adjustable. Once a storage case was made, its storage space can non longer be changed according to the quantity of the audio laser discs to be storea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the aforesaid disadvantages. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laser disc storage case assembly which can be used in a room or carried with the hand. It is another object of the present invention to provide a laser disc storage case assembly which can be conveniently adjusted according to the quantity of the audio laser discs to be stored. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a laser disc storage case assembly which can be conveniently adjusted according to the Quantity of the audio laser discs to be stored, by the user without the use of any hand tools.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser disc storage case assembly is generally comprised of a top cover plate, a base plate, and a set of unit cases connected between the top cover plate and the base plate through dovetail joints.

According to another aspect of the present invention, each unit case has a laser disc carrier for holding a laser disc. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the laser disc carrier has a hub formed of three fixed pawls and a movable pawl for retaining the loaded laser disc in place. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the base plate may be attached with a double-sided sticker for sticking on a flat surf ace According to still another aspect of the present invention, each dovetail tenon has one end terminated into a smoothly curved edge for inserting into either matching dovetail groove smoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig 1 is an elevational view of a laser disc storage case assembly embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the maser disc storage case assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a unit case according to the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates the procedures in storing an audio laser disc in a unit case; Fig. 5 illustrates an alternate form of the present invention; Fig. 6 illustrates another alternate form of the present invention; and Fig. 7 illustrates still another alternate form of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Pigs. 1 and 2, a laser disc storage case assembly as constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a top cover plate 1, a base plate 2, and a plurality of unitary cases 3. The top cover plate 1 and the base plate 2 are equal in size and joined by a plurality of unitary cases 3. The top cover plate 1 is made from a flat, rectangular plate having a handle 11 on the top edge thereof and pairs of parallel dovetail grooves 12 through the bottom edge thereof.The base plate 2 is made from flat, rectangular plate having pairs of of parallel dovetail tenons 21 respectively fitted into the parallel dovetail grooves 12 on the top cover plate 1.

A unit case 3 according to the present invention is made in a hollow, rectangular structure having a pair of top dovetail tenons 31 on the top edge thereof alternatively fitted into either pair of dovetail grooves 12 on the top cover plate 1, a pair of bottom dovetail grooves 32 on the bottom edge thereof into which either pair of dovetail tenons 21 on the base plate 2 or the pair of top dovetail tenons 31 on another unit case 3 may fit, a lateral dovetail tenon 33 on one side wall thereof, and a lateral dovetail groove 34 on the opposite side wall thereof. By fitting the lateral dovetail .tenon 33 on one unit case 3 into the lateral dovetail groove 34 on another unit case 3, a plurality of unit cases 3 are side matched and firmly connected in series.By fitting the pair of top dovetail tenons 31 on one unit case 3 into the pair of bottom dovetail grooves 32 on another unit case , a plurality of unit cases 3 are connected one above another. As soon as a set of unit cases 3 have been connected together longitudinally and latitudinally, the base plate 2 and the top cover plate 1 are respectively attached to the unit cases 3 on the bottom and the unit cases 3 on the top through respective dovetail joints.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, each unit case 3 has a front opening 35, through which a respective laser disc carrier 4 is drawn out of the unit case 3 then pushed back into place, and two opposite dents 351 on the inside adjacent to the front opening 351 for holding the respective laser disc carrier 4 in place. The laser disc carrier 4 is made in a substantially /\shaped cross section having a circular recess 41 on the top edge thereof, two opposite side openings 42,43, two raised portions 44 on two opposite side walls thereof releasably and respectively fitted into the dents 351, and three fixed pawls 411,412,413 and one movable pawl 414 formed into a hub on the center of the circular recess 41 for loading an audio laser disc A.By inserting the hub 411,412,413,414 into the center hole Al on the audio laser disc A, the audio laser disc A becomes firmly retained on the laser disc Carrier 4 within the circular recess 41. As illustrated in Fig.~4, the fixed pawls 411,412,413 are respectively disposed at the same height, and the movable pawl 414 is disposed at a lower position. The movable pawl 414 has a bottom end formed into a transverse leg 415 obliquely inserted through a slot 416 (see Fig. 3) on the circular recess 41 and connected to an inside wall of the laser disc carrier 4. The bottom edge of the transverse leg 415 is disposed below the bottommost edge of the laser disc carrier 4. Inserting the laser disc carrier 4 into the front opening 35 of the respective unit case 3 causes the movable pawl 414 to move upwards in stopping against the peripheral edge of the center hole Al, and therefore the audio laser disc A is firmly retained in place. As the laser disc carrier 4 was completely inserted into the respective unit case 3, the two raised portions 44 respectively fit into the two opposite dents 351, and therefore the laser disc carrier 4 becomes firmly retained inside the unit case 3.

Referring to Fig. 5, therein illustrated is an alternate form of the present invention. In this alternate form, the structure of the unit cases 3 remain unchanged, however, the size of the top cover plate 1 and the base plate 2 has been reduced for holding a single stack of unit cases 3.

Referring to Fig. 6, therein illustrated is another alternate form of the present invention. In this alternate form, the top cover plate 1 has an upright hanging plate 14 with hanging hole 141 and two reinforcing ribs 142 on the top for hanging.

Furthermore, a back-glued pad B may be fastened to the base plate 2 for sticking the base plate 2 on a flat surface.

Referring to Fig. 7, therein illustrates is still another alternate form of the present invention.

In this alternate form, each unit case 3 has only a single top dovetail tenon 31 and a single bottom dovetail groove 32. This arrangement does not affects the functional operation of the present invention.

It is to be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention and the present invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification. For example, either dovetail tenon may have one end terminated into a smoothly curved edge so that it can be conveniently inserted into a matching dovetail groove.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A laser disc storaae case assembly comprising: a base plate having at least one dovetail tenon on a top edge thereof, a top cover plate having a handle on a top edge thereof and at least one dovetail groove on a bottom edge thereof; a plurality of unit cases connected between said base plate and said top cover plate through dovetail joints, each unit case havin a first dovetail tenon on the top for fitting into either dovetail groove on said top cover plate, a first dovetail groove on the bottom into which either dovetail tenon on said base plate may fit, a second dovetail tenon on one side, a second dovetail groove on an opposite side, and a laser disc carrier made to slide in and out of a receiving chamber on the inside for holding a laser disc; and wherein by fitting the first dovetail tenon on one unit case into the first dovetail groove on another unit case, a plurality of unit vases are connected one above another; by fitting the second dovetail tenon on one unit case into the second dovetail groove on another unit case, a plurality of unit cases are side-matched.

2. The laser disc storage case assembly of claim 1 wherein said laser disc carrier is made in a substantially /\-shaped cross section having a circular recess on a top edge thereof, two opposite side openings for passing the hands in loading or removing a laser disc, two raised portions on two opposite side walls thereof releasably and respectively fitted into two opposite dents inside either unit case, and a hub on the center of the circular recess for loading a laser disc.

3. The laser disc storage case assembly according to claim 2 wherein the hub on either laser disc carrier is consisted of three fixed pawls and one movable pawl respectively inserted into the center hole on the laser disc loaded, said fixed pawls being disposed at the same height, said movable pawl being disposed at a lower position and having a bottom end formed into a transverse leg obliquely inserted through a slot on the circular recess and connected to an inside wall of the respective laser disc carrier; said movable pawl being moved upwards to firmly retain the laser disc in place as the laser disc carrier was inserted into the respective unit case.

4. The laser disc storage case assembly of claim 1 wherein the number of dovetail groove on said top cover plate is equal to the number of dovetail tenon on said base plate.

5. The laser disc storage case assembly of claim 1 wherein said top cover plate has a hanger means on the top for hanging.

6. The laser disc storage case assembly of claim 1 wherein said base plate has a bottom edge attached with a double-sided sticker for sticking on a flat surface.

7. The laser disc storage case assembly of claim 1 wherein either dovetail tenon has one end terminated into a smoothly curved edge to facilitate insertion into either matching dovetail groove.