Storage device for optical storage media

Abstract

A storage device for optical media comprises a body defining an upper surface. A plurality of adjacent slots formed in the upper surface of the body extend in a first direction from the upper surface and define upper guiding cavities and lower engaging cavities. The upper guiding cavities guide optical media into the lower engaging cavities, which have openings to the upper cavities. The lower engaging cavities engage lower arcuate portions of the optical media. The lower engaging cavities independently support the optical media in the adjacent slots in a parallel relationship when the storage device is located on a flat supporting surface. The lower engaging cavities have a trapezoidal-shaped cross section. The upper cavities have a generally “U”-shaped cross section.

1 . A storage device for optical media, comprising: 
 a body defining an upper surface;    a plurality of adjacent slots formed in said upper surface of said body that extend in a first direction from said upper surface and that define upper guiding cavities and lower engaging cavities, wherein said upper guiding cavities guide optical media into said lower engaging cavities, which have openings to said upper cavities,    wherein said lower engaging cavities engage lower arcuate portions of said optical media.    
   
   
       2 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said lower engaging cavities independently support said optical media in said adjacent slots in a parallel relationship when said storage device is located on a flat supporting surface.  
   
   
       3 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said lower engaging cavities have a trapezoidal-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       4 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of slots are generally parallel to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein a first width of said upper guiding cavities generally decreases with a depth of said upper guiding cavities.  
   
   
       6 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein a second width of said lower engaging cavities generally decreases with a depth of said lower engaging cavities.  
   
   
       7 . The storage device of  claim 3  wherein a third width of said lower engaging cavities adjacent to said opening is greater than a fourth width adjacent to a bottom surface of said lower engaging cavities.  
   
   
       8 . The storage device of  claim 7  wherein said fourth width is between 1.25 mm and 1.5 mm.  
   
   
       9 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said slots are spaced at a fifth width that is greater than 10 mm and less than 25 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said upper cavities have a generally “U”-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       11 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said optical media includes at least one of compact discs and digital versatile discs.  
   
   
       12 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein opposite sides of said body include a generally “C”-shaped recess.  
   
   
       13 . The storage device of  claim 2  wherein opposite side walls of said trapezoidal-shaped cavities are sloped at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to a line that is perpendicular to the flat supporting surface.  
   
   
       14 . The storage device of  claim 1  wherein said lower engaging cavities have a depth that is between 10 mm and 14 mm at a center of said body and wherein said depth decreases towards opposite sides of said body.  
   
   
       15 . A storage device for optical media, comprising: 
 a body defining an upper surface, end surfaces and side surfaces; and    a plurality of adjacent slots that are formed in said upper surface of said body that include upper cavities having generally “U”-shaped cross sections and lower cavities having generally trapezoidal-shaped cross sections,    wherein a first width of said upper cavities decreases with a depth of said slots, a second width of said lower cavities decreases with a depth of said slots, and said lower cavities engage one of “C”-shaped and “D”-shaped arcuate portions of said optical media, and    wherein said lower cavities independently support said optical media when said storage device is located on a flat supporting surface.    
   
   
       16 . The storage device of  claim 15  wherein said lower cavities have a third width adjacent to an upper opening thereof that is greater than a fourth width adjacent to a bottom surface of said lower cavities.  
   
   
       17 . The storage device of  claim 15  wherein said optical media includes at least one of compact discs and digital versatile discs.  
   
   
       18 . The storage device of  claim 15  wherein opposite sides of said body include a generally “C”-shaped recess.  
   
   
       19 . The storage device of  claim 15  wherein opposite side walls of said trapezoidal-shaped cavities are sloped at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to a line that is perpendicular to the flat supporting surface.