Modular carrier for flat items

Abstract

Carrier ( 10 ) forms part of a storage system for flat items ( 20 ) such as CD's, DVD's or Zip drives. The carrier has three engagement means, one means allowing a flat item holding sleeve with one or more cutouts ( 23 ) at one end to engage with round bars ( 11 ) of the carrier, a second means to allow carriers to be serially engaged together by end protrusions ( 14 ) of the bars ( 11 ) of one carrier snap fitting into receiving apertures ( 15 ) of another carrier, and a third means in the form of channels ( 16 ) to allow the carrier to be engaged with a suitable receiving device such as ribs ( 41 ) or rails ( 34 ) of a storage system for transportation, storage or filing.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A carrier for holding computer, video or audio data media, the carrier comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a second side panel, the first and second side panels facing one another and spaced apart;    a base disposed between and connected to the first and second side panels, the base having defined therein a channel shaped to engage a storage device, thereby permitting the carrier to be attached to and removed from the storage device; and    a structure extending between the first and second side panels and adjacent to the base, the structure being configured to engage a plurality of sleeves so as to permit the plurality of sleeves to be attached to and removed from the carrier.    
   
   
       21 . The carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the first side panel is connected to the base at substantially a right angle to the base.  
   
   
       22 . The carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second side panels are connected to the base at substantially right angles to the base.  
   
   
       23 . The carrier of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second side panels are substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       24 . The carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the structure is a first bar, the carrier further comprising a second bar that extends between the first and second panels, wherein the first and second bars are spaced apart from one another.  
   
   
       25 . The carrier of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second bars are substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       26 . The carrier of  claim 24 , wherein the second side panel has defined therein a first and a second aperture, wherein the first bar extends through the first aperture and the second bar extends through the second aperture.  
   
   
       27 . The carrier of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second bars snap fit into the respective first and second apertures.  
   
   
       28 . The carrier of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second bars are interference fit into the respective first and second apertures.  
   
   
       29 . The carrier of  claim 24 , wherein the channel is a first channel, wherein the base has formed therein a second channel, and wherein the first and second channels are spaced apart from one another.  
   
   
       30 . The carrier of  claim 24 , 
 wherein the base extends along the width of each of the first and second side panels,    wherein the bottom edge of the base forms a substantially straight edge that is interrupted by the first channel and the second channel,    wherein the edge of the first panel extends from the substantially straight edge of the base, transitions into a first portion that is convex with respect to the base, then transitions into a portion that is concave with respect to the base, and then transitions second portion that is convex with respect to the base,    wherein the edge of the second panel extends from the substantially straight edge of the base, transitions into a first portion that is convex with respect to the base, then transitions into a portion that is concave with respect to the base, and then transitions second portion that is convex with respect to the base,    wherein the first bar extends from the first convex portion of the first panel to the first convex portion of the second panel,    and wherein the second bar extends from the second convex portion of the first panel to the second convex portion of the second panel.    
   
   
       31 . A carrier for holding computer-readable media, the carrier comprising: 
 a base, the base having defined therein a first channel and a second channel;    a first side panel;    a second side panel;    a first bar and a second bar each extending between the first and second side panels, the first and second bars being spaced apart, disposed above the first and second channels, and substantially parallel to one another,    wherein:    the first and second side panels are connected to the base at a substantially right angle such that the first and second side panels are facing one another, are spaced apart, and are substantially parallel to one another;    the first and second channels extend from the first panel to the second panel, are spaced apart, and are substantially parallel to one another;    the base extends along the width of each of the first and second side panels;    the first side panel and the base form a first substantially straight edge that is broken by the cross-section of the first channel and the cross-section of the second channel;    the second side panel and the base form a second substantially straight edge that is broken by the cross-section of the first channel and the cross-section of the second channel;    the outer edge of the first panel extends from the first substantially straight edge of the base, transitions into a first portion that is convex with respect to the base, then transitions into a portion that is concave with respect to the base, and then transitions second portion that is convex with respect to the base;    the outer edge of the second panel extends from the second substantially straight edge of the base, transitions into a first portion that is convex with respect to the base, then transitions into a portion that is concave with respect to the base, and then transitions second portion that is convex with respect to the base;    the first bar extends from the first convex portion of the first panel to the first convex portion of the second panel;    and the second bar extends from the second convex portion of the first panel to the second convex portion of the second panel.    
   
   
       32 . The carrier of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second bars are cylindrical.  
   
   
       33 . The carrier of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second channels have a bulbous cross-section.  
   
   
       34 . The carrier of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second channels have a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       35 . A storage system comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially flat items, each item comprising: 
 a sleeve, and  
 an end section attached to the sleeve;  
   a carrier for holding the plurality of substantially flat items, the carrier comprising: 
 a first connecting portion, and  
 a second connecting portion disposed opposite to the first connecting portion,  
 wherein the end section of each of the plurality of substantially flat items and the first connecting portion of the carrier are configured to engage one another to temporarily attach the substantially flat item to the carrier; and  
   a container comprising: 
 a lid,  
 a base, the base being disposed opposite to the lid when the container is in a closed position, and  
 a connecting portion disposed between the lid and the base,  
 wherein the connecting portion of the container and the second connecting portion of the carrier are configured to engage one another to temporarily attach the carrier to the container.  
   
   
   
       36 . The storage system of  claim 35 , wherein the carrier is one of a plurality of carriers, each of which has a plurality of substantially flat items temporarily attached thereto, each of the plurality of carriers being temporarily attached to the container at the connecting portion.  
   
   
       37 . A system for storing substantially flat articles, the system comprising: 
 a carrier comprising a bar, and a base, wherein a channel is defined in the base;    a plurality of sleeves, each of the plurality of sleeves comprising a pocket, wherein a cutout is defined on an edge of the sleeve, wherein the geometry of the cutout corresponds to that of the bar wherein the edge of each of the sleeves engages the bar at the cutout; and    a storage device comprising a rail, wherein the geometry of the rail corresponds to that of the bar so as to allow the base of the carrier to engage the bar.    
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , 
 wherein the bar is a first bar, the carrier further comprising a second bar,    wherein the cutout is a first cutout, a second cutout also being defined on the edge of the sleeve, the second cutout having substantially the same geometry as the first cutout;    wherein the rail is a first rail, the storage device further comprising a second rail, the second rail having substantially the same geometry as the second rail.    
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the storage device comprises a wallet comprising a base, a lid, and a hinge, the base and the lid being pivotally connected to one another by the hinge, and wherein the rails are disposed within the wallet.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the storage device comprises a first adapter plate and a second adapter plate, the first and second rails being attached to, and extending between the first and second adapter plates, each adapter plate having a means for suspending the carrier.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the means for suspending the carrier comprises a hook.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the storage device further comprises a mounting plate, the first and second rails extending along a surface of the mounting plate.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the storage device further comprises a pair of feet, each of the pair being attached to respective ends of the mounting plate.