Storage system for storing, accessing and transporting planar media

Abstract

A storage system comprises multiple units with combined features for storing, transporting and accessing planar media. The system comprises a container (library unit), modules, and a transport case. The module has expandable linked pockets for separating and protecting planar media elements. The modules allow a library of the planar media to be partitioned and stored into identifiable units. The container has particular features for guiding modules into parallel locations and retaining the modules in a substantially upright and closed position. Each container is configured to accept a plurality of the modules for storage. Removed modules may be fanned open in an accordian fashion exposing stored media for access. The modules are adapted to operate stand alone and adapted for inserting into and coupling to the covers of the transport case such that opening the transport case in-turn fans open the module allowing access for media retrieval or storage.

1 . A storage system for planar media comprising: 
 a plurality of modules each having opposing first and second cover sides with top and bottom edges and first and second side edges and a plurality of series linked pockets disposed between the first and second cover sides of each module with a planar side of a first pocket of the linked pockets coupled to the first cover side and a planar side of a last pocket of the linked pockets coupled to the second cover side, wherein each of the linked pockets is fanned open when the top edges of the first and second cover sides are rotated apart and the bottom edges of the first and second cover sides are rotated together thus exposing the top pocket openings of the linked pockets for access; and    a library unit (container) having a plurality of first features for receiving and guiding the plurality of the modules into essentially a parallel alignment and a second feature, corresponding to each first feature, for coupling to and retaining each of the plurality of modules in the parallel alignment.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a transport case having opposing first and second covers with latch coupled latch edges and laterally opposing and hingedly coupled hinge edges, the transport case adapted to receive at least one of the plurality of modules as a received module such that the first cover side of the received module couples to the first cover of the transport case and the second cover side of the module couples to the second cover of the transport case, wherein the linked pockets of the received module are fanned open when the transport case is opened by pivoting the first and second covers about the hinged edge.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each module has a first module feature for engaging a selected first feature of the library unit so the module is guided into contact with a selected second feature of the library unit corresponding to the selected first feature of the library unit.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each module has a second module feature that couples to the selected second feature of the library unit when a particular module is guided by the selected first feature into the library unit, thereby holding the particular module as a retained module in a substantially vertical and upright orientation.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein coupling the selected second feature of the library unit to the second module feature holds the retained module in a closed position with the first and second cover sides substantially parallel to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second cover sides of a first module of the plurality of modules are hingedly coupled along its bottom edges.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first module has a latch for holding the first and second cover sides together along the top edges of the first and second cover sides.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cover sides of a first module of the plurality of modules are hingedly coupled along their top edges with a first hinge/latch and hingedly coupled with a second hinge/latch along their bottom edges with a second hinge/latch.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the linked pockets of the first module comprise bilateral pockets with a first set of pocket openings at the top edge of the first and second cover sides and a laterally opposing second set of pocket openings at the bottom edge of the first and second cover sides.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein rotating the first and second cover sides of the first module about the first hinge/latch fans opens access to the second pocket openings when the first hinge/latch is latched closed and rotating the first and second cover sides about the second hinge/latch fans opens access to the first pocket openings when the second hinge/latch is latched closed.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first module feature of each of the plurality of module comprises an angled edge extension of the first cover side at the bottom edge directed toward the second cover side at the bottom edge, an angled edge extension of the second cover side directed toward the first cover side, and an extension of the angled edge extension of the first cover side orthogonal to the first cover side that hingedly couples to an extension of the angled edge extension of the second cover side orthogonal to the second cover side, thus forming a “V” shaped taper with a flat section as the first module feature.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first features are “V” shaped and configured to receive the “V” shaped taper of the first module feature.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein adjacent of the first features of the library unit terminate in a line where an arm of the “V” shape of one first feature joins the arm of the “V” of an second adjacent feature, thereby allowing inserted modules to be retained vertical and upright in the library unit with substantially no required separating space.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the library unit is enclosed with first and second side sections, a back section and a top section thereby forming an enclosed library unit with only an opening area for accessing the plurality modules placed in the library unit for storage.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the opening area is covered with a door that is hingedly coupled to the library unit, the door having an open position exposing the opening area for accessing stored modules of the plurality of modules and a closed position for securing the stored modules within the library unit.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the door is hingedly coupled the bottom section the library unit and has a latch coupled to the top section for latching the door the closed position.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a means for hingedly coupling the first and second covers of the transport case forming the hinged edge and latching the latch edges comprises a zipper having a first zipper part coupled to the first cover and a mating second zipper part coupled to the second cover.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of modules has an extraction feature for aiding in extracting each stored module from the library unit that is stored between adjacent modules.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of modules has a label feature on at least one edge for visual identification.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the library unit has a storage feature for visually identifying each first feature of the library unit.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a label feature of a first module matches a storage feature of the library unit indicating a storage location reserved for the first module.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the door of the library unit is clear allowing the label feature of a stored module to be viewed without opening the door.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linked pockets comprise pockets formed by Z folding a width of fabric thus forming overlaying fabric planes between folded edges and non-folded edges, wherein adjacent of the non-folded edges of one fabric plane are joined to non-folded edges of an adjacent fabric plane forming sides of the linked pockets.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the linked pockets are non-expanding linked pockets with laterally opposing pocket openings that primarily separate when fanned open for access.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the linked pockets have a slot extending a slot distance orthogonal to and toward an opposing non-folded edge thus forming expanding linked pockets with laterally opposing pocket openings that expand and separate when fanned open.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second cover sides of the received module each has a first attachment element of an attachment system comprising mating first and second attachment elements.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second covers of the transport case each have the second attachment element of the attachment system and the first and second cover sides of the module in turn couple to the first and second covers of the transport case, respectively, when the corresponding first attachment element engages and couples to the corresponding second attachment element.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the attachment system comprises a hook and loop system or a magnetic system.  
   
   
       29 . A storage system for planar media comprising: 
 a plurality of modules each having opposing first and second cover sides with top and bottom edges and first and second side edges and a plurality of series linked pockets disposed between the first and second cover sides of each module with a planar side of a first pocket of the linked pockets coupled to the first cover side and a planar side of a last pocket of the linked pockets coupled to the second cover side, wherein each of the linked pockets is fanned open when the top edges of the first and second cover sides are rotated apart and the bottom edges of the first and second cover sides are rotated together thus exposing the top pocket openings of the linked pockets for access; and    a transport case having opposing first and second covers with open edges and laterally opposing and hingedly coupled hinge edges, the transport case adapted to receive at least one of the plurality of modules as a received module such that one of first and second cover sides of the received module couples to the first cover of the transport case.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the transport case is a notebook folder having a sleeve for storing paper planar media that couples to one of the first and second sides of the received module.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first module has a first flap with a first end fixedly coupled to the first module and a second end which is temporarily attached to the second cover side of the first module, the first flap securing planar media stored in linked pockets of the first module.  
   
   
       32 . The storage system of  claim 29  further comprising a library unit (container) having a plurality of first features for receiving and guiding the plurality of modules into essentially a parallel alignment within the library unit.