Compact media archive

Abstract

A unit created to store and organize large numbers of laser discs in a significantly reduced space is disclosed. The unit, known as the Compact Media Archive, consists of folded cards made from durable paper or plastic sheets ( 11 ). Margins perpendicular to the fold of each card ( 12 ) are glued while the side parallel to the fold is left open ( 14 ) to form a compartmental subunit ( 13 ). Connecting the outer surfaces of the subunits in succession yields the Compact Media Archive ( 15 ). Compartments of the unit are numbered in succession to specify location ( 17 ). And, each disc can also be assigned a number ( 18, 19 ) matching its compartment. The numbering system is to facilitate retrieving and returning discs to their specific compartments.

1 . The Compact Media Archive consists of folded cards, each of which forms a discrete compartmental subunit (also referred to as compartment or subunit) capable of housing a single laser disc.  
   
   
       2 . The actual area of each of the cards mentioned in  claim 1  is 14 centimeters by 12.5 centimeters after it is folded and measured on the front or back surface.  
   
   
       3 . Inside margins measuring 0.5 centimeter and perpendicular to the line where each card folds are glued one against the other to create the compartments introduced in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       4 . The margins that are parallel to the fold of the card specified in  claim 3  form the opening of the subunit and thus, are not glued.  
   
   
       5 . The outer (front and back) surfaces of each compartment are glued to corresponding surfaces of adjacent compartments to form the Compact Media Archive as declared in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       6 . The actual thickness of each compartment mentioned in  claim 5  is less than 0.1 centimeter, i.e. less than the thickness of a laser disc.  
   
   
       7 . The thickness of a Compact Media Archive unit made according to the specifications set in claims  2 ,  3 , and  6 , to store one hundred discs is approximately 7 centimeters without the discs, and approximately 20 centimeters when fully occupied.  
   
   
       8 . The Characteristic set forth in  claim 7  presents a major advantage to users of the Compact Media Archive, allowing them to store one hundred discs in a space that fits only twenty discs if standard storage cases are used.  
   
   
       9 . By allotting a discrete compartment for each individual disc as indicated in  claim 1 , the Compact Media Archive prevents frictional contact between the discs, thereby preventing all sorts of damage.  
   
   
       10 . Also, having a discrete compartment for each individual disc as indicated in  claim 1  makes the discs readily accessible, since each disc is inserted and retrieved independently.  
   
   
       11 . The specifications in claims  3 ,  4 , and  5  render high flexibility to the Compact Media Archive as a whole, and to its individual compartments, such that it allows a user to insert and retrieve discs easily.  
   
   
       12 . In relation to  claim 11 , all segments of the Compact Media Archive can be expanded or contracted independently or as a whole at the user's will.  
   
   
       13 . Once individual compartments are numbered, the Compact Media Archive described in  claim 1  offers high storage efficiency and easy retrieving ability to large institutions such as libraries where discs are numbered to match their location.  
   
   
       14 . The Compact Media Archive subunit is made of firm and durable paper, or thin and flexible carton or plastic, or a combination of these materials according to specifications set in  claim 2.