Electronic Media Storage Apparatus

Abstract

An electronic media storage apparatus includes a lower housing having a floor, opposed side walls and a rear wall. A front wall is movable between open and closed configurations. The apparatus includes a cover having a top portion and opposed first and second sides extending downwardly therefrom. The lower housing side walls, lower housing rear wall, and the front wall collectively define a continuous lip at an upper end of the lower housing and an upper end of the front wall when the front wall is at the closed configuration. The cover is removably coupled to the lower housing and the front wall. When the front wall is at the closed configuration and the cover is coupled to the lower housing and front wall, a hermetic cavity is formed between the lower housing, the front wall, and the cover; the cavity being sized to receive an electronic media item.

1 . An electronic media storage apparatus for use in storing a plurality of media items, comprising:
 a lower housing having a floor, first and second opposed side walls extending upwardly from said floor, and a rear wall extending upwardly from said floor and connecting said lower housing opposed side walls; said lower housing opposed side walls each having an outer face, an inner face, and a front face; said rear wall having an outer face; said floor having a front face and an upper surface;   a front wall movable between open and closed configurations; said front wall having first and second opposed ends, outer and inner faces, and a lower face; said front wall having a continuous ledge extending from said front wall inner face; said ledge having a first portion spaced apart from said front wall first end, a second portion spaced apart from said front wall second end, and a third portion spaced apart from said front wall lower face;   a cover having a top portion, opposed first and second sides extending downwardly from said top portion, and opposed front and rear ends extending downwardly from said top portion and connecting said cover sides; said cover sides and said cover ends each having an outer face and a lower face;   wherein:
 said lower housing opposed side walls, said lower housing rear wall, and said front wall collectively define a continuous lip at an upper end of said lower housing and an upper end of said front wall when said front wall is at said closed configuration; 
 said cover is removably coupled to said lower housing and said front wall; said lower faces of said cover sides and ends resting upon said continuous lip when said front wall is at said closed configuration and said cover is coupled to said lower housing and said front wall; 
   wherein, when said front wall is at said closed configuration:
 said front wall inner face abuts said front face of said floor, said front face of said lower housing first side wall, and said front face of said lower housing second side wall; 
 said ledge first portion abuts and extends parallel to said lower housing first wall inner face; 
 said ledge second portion abuts and extends parallel to said lower housing second wall inner face; 
 said ledge third portion abuts and extends parallel to said floor upper surface; 
   wherein when said front wall is at said closed configuration and said cover is coupled to said lower housing and said front wall:
 said outer face of said cover first side is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing first side wall; 
 said outer face of said cover second side is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing second side wall; 
 said outer face of said cover rear end is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing rear wall; 
 said outer face of said cover front end is generally coplanar with said outer face of said front wall; 
 a hermetic cavity is formed between said lower housing, said front wall, and said cover; said cavity being sized to receive at least one electronic media item; 
   said cavity is sized to receive the plurality of electronic media items;   a side stop coupled to an inner face of said first side wall and said an inner face of said second side wall, respectively, and extending inwardly; and   a left guide and a right guide coupled to said front wall that each defines a recessed channel having closed ends configured to receive and capture respective side stops such that said front wall is movable only a predetermined distance relative to said lower housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front wall includes a handle extending outwardly from said front wall outer face. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said floor upper surface is planar. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said lower housing floor has a lower surface; and   said cover top portion is parallel to said lower surface of said lower housing floor.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib extending from said upper surface of said floor, at least one rib extending from said inner face of said lower housing first side wall, and at least one rib extending upwardly from said inner face of said lower housing second side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic media storage apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a floor stop coupled to said lower housing floor and extending upwardly; and   a slide coupled to said front wall that defines a slot having closed ends configured to receive and capture said floor stop such that said front wall is movable only a predetermined distance relative to said lower housing;   wherein said front wall slides generally linearly relative to said lower housing when moving between said open and closed configurations.   
     
     
         7 . An electronic media storage apparatus for use in storing a plurality of media items, comprising:
 a lower housing having a floor, first and second opposed side walls extending upwardly from said floor, and a rear wall extending upwardly from said floor and connecting said lower housing opposed side walls; said lower housing opposed side walls each having an outer face, an inner face, and a front face; said rear wall having an outer face; said floor having a front face and an upper surface;   a front wall movable between open and closed configurations; said front wall having first and second opposed ends, outer and inner faces, and a lower face; said front wall having a continuous ledge extending from said front wall inner face; said ledge having a first portion spaced apart from said front wall first end, a second portion spaced apart from said front wall second end, and a third portion spaced apart from said front wall lower face;   a cover having a top portion, opposed first and second sides extending downwardly from said top portion, and opposed front and rear ends extending downwardly from said top portion and connecting said cover sides; said cover sides and said cover ends each having an outer face and a lower face;   wherein said lower housing opposed side walls, said lower housing rear wall, and said front wall collectively define a continuous lip at an upper end of said lower housing and an upper end of said front wall when said front wall is at said closed configuration;   wherein said cover is removably coupled to said lower housing and said front wall;
 said lower faces of said cover sides and ends resting upon said continuous lip when said front wall is at said closed configuration and said cover is coupled to said lower housing and said front wall; 
   wherein, when said front wall is at said closed configuration:
 said front wall inner face abuts said front face of said floor, said front face of said lower housing first side wall, and said front face of said lower housing second side wall; 
 said ledge first portion abuts and extends parallel to said lower housing first wall inner face; 
 said ledge second portion abuts and extends parallel to said lower housing second wall inner face; 
 said ledge third portion abuts and extends parallel to said floor upper surface; 
   wherein, when said front wall is at said closed configuration and said cover is coupled to said lower housing and said front wall:
 said outer face of said cover first side is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing first side wall; 
 said outer face of said cover second side is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing second side wall; 
 said outer face of said cover rear end is generally coplanar with said outer face of said lower housing rear wall; 
 said outer face of said cover front end is generally coplanar with said outer face of said front wall; 
 a hermetic cavity is formed between said lower housing, said front wall, and said cover; said cavity being sized to receive at least one electronic media item; 
   a floor stop coupled to said lower housing floor and extending upwardly;   a slide coupled to said front wall that defines a slot having closed ends configured to receive and capture said floor stop such that said front wall is movable only a predetermined distance relative to said lower housing;   wherein:
 said front wall slides generally linearly relative to said lower housing when moving between said open and closed configurations; 
 said cavity is sized to receive the plurality of electronic media items; 
   a side stop coupled to an inner face of said first side wall and said an inner face of said second side wall, respectively, and extending inwardly; and   a left guide and a right guide coupled to said front wall that each defines a recessed channel having closed ends configured to receive and capture respective side stops such that said front wall is movable only a predetermined distance relative to said lower housing.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic media storage apparatus as in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one rib extending from said upper surface of said floor, at least one rib extending from said inner face of said lower housing first side wall, and at least one rib extending upwardly from said inner face of said lower housing second side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said front wall includes a handle extending outwardly from said front wall outer face. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said floor upper surface is planar. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic media storage apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said lower housing floor has a lower surface; and   said cover top portion is parallel to said lower surface of said lower housing floor.