FOLDABLE RACK FOR COMPACT DISC AND THE LIKE

Description FOLDABLE RACK FOR COM PACT DISC AND TH E LIKE

Technical Field

The invention relates to a rack used for storing and displaying compact discs, audio or video cassettes, laser disc, magazines, newspapers and the like. In particularly, the invention relates to a foldable rack that can be folded when it is not in' use and able to be unfolded when it is intended to use/set up, without a help of tools at all.

Background Art

The known compact discs are having two types of design. The first type is so designed that it can not be dismounted after the rack has been constructed. In contrast to the first type, in the second type, the rack was designed as a knockdown rack. The first type racks are generally formed from elements mostly connected to each other by means of permanent fasteners such as nails and adhesives having high fastening abilities. Since they can not be dismounted after being constructed, these types of racks need large space for storage. Especially if the racks need to be packed, in the case of transporting the rack from the construction site (workshop or factory) to market places (showroom) or to consumer locations, they will need large volume of packages causing the transport costs to become high. Furthermore, racks with such a fixed construction are prone to breakage when they are being delivered or transported because their construction less compact than racks packed in dismounted condition (knockdown type racks). Moreover, because the volume after being assembled is larger than before being assembled, racks with fixed construction need a stronger package so that requires higher cost for packages.

The second type racks, the knockdown type racks, can eliminate the drawbacks of the first type racks, racks with fixed construction. However, users or consumers need more time to assemble all elements of the racks in order to be able to use the racks and also need some tools such as screw driver, ell key, etc. Moreover, if the assembly are not handled very carefully, or if were not handled by an expert or are not using proper tools, there would be breakage during the assembly process.

Accordingly, an objective of the invention is to provide a compact disc rack that is able to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional racks above-mentioned

Summary of (he Invention

The purpose of the invention is to provide a rack used for storing and displaying compact discs, audio/video cassettes, laser disc, magazines, newspapers and the like. especially a foldable rack which is able to be folded when it is not in use and able to be unfolded when it is intended to use/set up, without using any tools at all.

The rack for compact discs according to the present invention is characterized by comprising two front legs each having recesses on one of its sides and the upper ends as well as the lower ends of the front legs are connected to cross bars, one rear leg having recesses on two of its sides and the lower end of the rear leg is connected to a cross bar having holes at its two opposite ends, rack element wherein two front ends of which are connected to recesses on said front legs, while the two rear ends of which are connected to recesses on said rear leg so that rack elements form a hinge mechanism allowing said rear leg able to be moved upwards and downwards approaching said front legs, and two leg locking systems each consisting of a locking arm and a locking box wherein said locking arm has a rotary shaft to be inserted into the hole at the cross bar's end and said locking arm also has a locking prong to be inserted into a locking box and wherein said locking box is provided on the lower part of said front legs.

By using the rack according to this invention, packaging and storage when the rack is unused could be made smaller while packaging cost and delivery also damage risk in delivery/transportation could be reduced. Besides, the rack could be directly assembled while no special care or skill to assemble it after unpacking the packaging.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The objectives and the advantages of the invention will be clearly understood from the disclosure of the invention with reference to the following drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack used for compact discs and the like according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the elements of the rack according to the present invention when the rack is in a disassembled state.

Figure 3 is a side view of the racks according to the present invention when the rack is in an assembled state (normal use).

Figure 4 is a side view similar to rack shown in Figure 3, but the rack is in the state of being not used.

Figure 5 A is a side view of a locking box used for the rack according to the present invention. Figure 5B is the locking box when seen from the rear of the rack, from the rear leg of the rack.

Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view of the locking box along line A-A in Figure 5B - j

Figure 6A is a side view of a locking arm used for the rack according to the present invention.

Figure 6B is a top plan view of the locking arm shown in Figure 6A. Figure 6C is a bottom plan view of the locking arm shown in Figure 6A. Figure 6D is a front view of the locking arm shown in Figure 6A.

Figure 6E is a cross-sectional view of a locking prong along line B-B in Figure 6D. Figure 6F and 6G are details of the surfaces of a rotary shaft of the locking arm.

Disclosure of the Invention It is apparent that the use of the rack according to the present invention is not only for compact discs, but it can also be used for audio and video cassette tapes, laser discs, magazines, newspapers, books etc. For these reasons, the invention entitles as "FOLDABLE RACK FOR COMPACT DISC AND THE LIKE." However, for the sake of the illustration of the invention, such a rack type is being mentioned as rack except it state otherwise. Generally, the rack according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. This rack comprises two front legs (10), the upper and the lower ends of which are connected by cross bars (20), one rear leg (40), rack elements (30), two locking leg systems each consisting of locking arms (60) and locking boxes (70). The front legs (10), the rear leg (40), cross bars (20) connecting the two front legs (10), locking arms (60) and locking boxes (70) are made of wood or light metal such as aluminum. The rack elements (30) are made of any flexible material such as plastic material and aluminum so that they are relatively light and flexible but are strong and rigid enough to support compact disk and the like. The cross section of the rack element is circular. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the rack element is 3 mm and the distance between two consecutive rack elements is 15 mm. The rack element is also releasable so that the distance between two consecutive rack elements can be adjusted by releasing the appropriate rack element.

Figure 2 shows the rack according to the present invention in the state of having not been assembly (disentangled). Each of the two front legs ( 10) has recesses ( 12) on one of its sides, while the rear leg has recesses (42) on two of its sides. These recesses function to receive the end of rack elements (30) as will be mentioned later. Each rack element (30) consists of two limbs (32) connected by a connector (38). Each limb (32) has two end portions (34) and (36) each of which is bent in such a way that the end portion (34) is bent outwardly and will be inserted into recess (12) on the front leg (10) while the end portion (36) is bent inwardly and will be inserted into the recess (42) on the rear leg (40). By this method of assembly, rack elements (30) will also form a hinge mechanism allowing the rear leg (40) moves (vertically) relative to the two front legs ( 10) and vice versa

As shown in Figure 2, the lower end of the rear ieg (40) will be inserted into hole (52) provided in the middle of the longitudinal length of a cross bar (50). The cross bar (50) has also holes (54) at its opposite ends wherein the holes (52) function to accommodate and hold the rotary shafts (62') of the locking arms (60) Near to the lower part of the two front legs ( 10) there are provided locking boxes (70) having locking holes (73), as shown in Figures 5A-C, each of them is designed to receive a prong locking (61 ) provided on the end of locking arm (60).

Figure 3 shows a side view of the rack according to the present invention in the state of having been set up (normal use) In this state, locking arms (60) are locked (mounted) into the locking boxes (70) As mentioned above, rack elements (30) form a hinge mechanism allowing the rear leg (40) able to be moved vertically relative to front legs ( 10). This relative movement will make the rear leg (40) approach or close to the front legs ( 10). However, because the locking arms (60) being locked into the locking boxes (70). the movement of approaching of the rear leg by the hinge mechanism will stop or be prevented. It should be noted that the rack elements (30) are inclined backwards or are not in parallel with the floor (horizontal surface). When the rack elements (30) support the loads of compact discs, books, etc., the component of weight force of the load will push the rack -- in this case rear leg (40) ~ backwards. Instead, in this case, the weight force increases the tension in the locking member (60) so that the locking member will function more effectively.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, except for locking arms (60) being removed from locking boxes (70). The locking arms (60) is removed by withdrawing them in the direction as indicated by an arrow T With the removal of the locking arms (60) rack elements (30) can carry out their function as a hinge to move the front legs ( 10) vertically relative to rear leg (40) as indicated by double arrows X. This relative movement will fold the rear leg (40) next to the front legs (10). This folding is especially important when the rack is in the state of not being used (for the purpose of storing it) or when the rack is being packed wherein the volume of space to store it or of package become much less than volume required when the rack is in the state of being used (normal condition). Another advantage of the rack according to the present invention compared to conventional racks is that the rack according to the present invention need not to be disassembled by disconnecting all the components of the rack when it is stored or packed and assembled again when it requires to be used

Figure 5 A shows a side view of a locking box (70) used for the rack according to the present invention The locking box (70) has a protuberance (71 ) which will be inserted into a hole provide at the lower part of the front leg ( 10), holes (72, 74) provided for receiving bolts/screws for fixing the locking box (70) to the front leg ( 10), and a locking hole (73) for receiving the locking prong (61 ) Seeing from the behind, from the back of the rack, locking box looks as shown in Figure 5B If the locking box is cut along the cutting line A-A in Figure 5B, the box will be seen as in Figure 5C Figure 6A depicts a construction of the locking arm (60) as seen from the side, while Figure 6D is a front view of the locking arm shown in Figure 6A. The locking arm (60) consists of an arm (63), a rotary shaft (62) and a locking prong (61 ). As shown in Figure 6B, 6C and 6E the rotary shaft (62), at one end of it, has semi-sphere shaped portion (62") integrally connected to the arm (63) and, at the other end of it, a cylindrical portion (62') which is designed to be inserted into the hole (54) of the cross bar (50). The arm (63) also has a shape like a cylinder with a decreasing diameter from the point near the rotary shaft (62) towards the locking prong (61), while the two end portions of the arm has a shape like a semi-sphere. One end (61") of the locking prong (61 ) (in the proximity of the arm (63)) has a shape of a semi-sphere, while the other end (61 ') (far from the arm (63)) has a shape of a cylinder.

As shown in Figures 6F and 6G, the surface of the cylindrical part 62') of the rotary shaft (62) close to the semi-sphere shaped portion (62") has an inclination (65), while the cylindrical portion (62") of the rotary shaft (62) far from the semi-sphere shaped portion (62") has a thread (64). This inclination (65) and the thread (64) are provided to facilitate the insertion of the cylindrical portion (62') into the hole (54) on the cross bar (50) and to hold the cylindrical portion (62'). It is understood, even if persons skilled in the art will understand that the internal surface of the hole (54) should be designed to conform to the inclination (65) and the thread (64) so that the rotary shaft (62) of the locking arm (60) could be easily held and inserted into the hole (54).

It is believed that the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the embodiment of the present invention. It may be easy for the person skilled in this art to make modification to above said embodiment. For instance, the rack according to the present invention can be designed especially for compact discs only or for laser discs only wherein the difference between the rack for compact discs and the rack for laser discs resides only in their relative sizes. The above embodiment, therefore, is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined in the following appended claim.