Storage device for flat recording media

Abstract

A storage device for flat recording media, e.g. compact discs, is disclosed. The device comprises a housing and a slider member having a base portion and front wall that covers the open front face of the housing when the slider member is inserted. A lifting element, which is transported out of the housing by means of the slider member, is provided for supporting the recording media in a position for easy insertion and removal.

I claim: .[. 
     
       1.  A storage device for flat recording media comprising: (a) a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, two elongate side walls, a rear wall, and an open front side;   (b) a slider member for receiving at least one recording medium, the slider member being movably mounted in the housing and having a base portion and a front wall;   (c) means for biasing the slider member to an open position out of the housing;   (d) means for locking the slider member to a closed position within the housing against the bias of the biasing means; and   (e) lifting means for supporting and engaging underneath the recording medium, said lifting means when the device is in the open position raising the recording medium to a lifted position away from the base portion of the slider member and above the front wall of the slider member so that the recording medium is accessible for removal and insertion..]. .[.2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means supports a plurality of recording media..]. .[.3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means comprises at least one spring to bias the recording medium towards the lifted position..]. .[.4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the spring is a leaf spring..]. .[.5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the spring is a wire spring..]. .[.6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the spring is a torsion coil spring having two wire ends, one wire end being supported by the base portion of the slider member and the other wire end being supported by the recording medium..]. .[.7. A device according to claim 3 wherein the lifting means further comprises a platter-like component located between the spring of the lifting means and   
     
     
        the recording medium..]. .[.8.  A device according to claim 7 wherein stop means is provided on the platter-like component for supporting the recording medium lying on the platter-like component in the lifted position..]. .[.9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means comprises at least one platter element that is hingedly attached the slider member by a parallelogram means..]. .[.10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing can accommodate a plurality of compact discs packed closely together in a stack one above the other, each of the compact discs having its own lifting means..]. .[.11. A device according to claim 10 wherein each disc is supported by a platter-like holder..]. .[.12. A device according to claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises a pressure spring element attached at one end to the slider member at a point remote from the front wall of the slider member and at the other end to the rear wall of the housing..]. .[.13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the pressure spring elements are supported against buckling..]. .[.14. A device according to claim 12 wherein the pressure spring elements also actuate the lifting means when the device is in the open position..]. .[.15. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of recording media can be accommodated therein, the principal planes of the recording media lying parallel to the largest surfaces of the housing when the device is in the closed position..]. .[.16. A device according to claim 11 wherein each platter-like holder is pivotably connected to the slider member and is pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the front wall of the slider member..]. .[.17. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lifting means engages the recording medium at a point that lies between the edge of the recording medium and the center of gravity of the recording medium..]. .[.18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the lifting means extends from the end of the slider member inside the housing to a point just behind the front wall of the slider member..]. .Iadd.19. A container for one or more magnetic tape cassettes comprising: a cassette housing,   a drawer associated with said housing and movable between a first inserted position in said housing and a second exposed position,   said drawer having a front plate,   an ejector spring operatively connected to said drawer for moving said drawer from said first position to said second position,   a locking means connected to said housing for locking said drawer in said first position,   a cassette carrier adapted to support a cassette and attached to said drawer, and   a spring means associated with said cassette carrier and said drawer for biasing said cassette carrier relative to said drawer such that said cassette carrier lifts a cassette supported thereon above said front plate when said drawer is in said second position permitting the manual removal of the cassette from said drawer over said front plate. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     The container of claim 19 including, said cassette carrier and said drawer having interengaging stop means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The container of claim 20 including,   said housing including a housing wall, and   said stop means comprising upstanding side walls adapted to engage said housing wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The container of claim 21 including,   said upstanding side walls and said cassette carrier being integrally injection-molded. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The container of claim 19 including,   said drawer having bottom wall portions provided with a positioning means for positioning said spring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The container of claim 19 including,   said drawer having bottom wall portions carrying posts adapted to engage into tape reel hubs of cassettes supported by said cassette carrier, and   said cassette carrier having cassette carrier perforations in alignment with said posts such that with said drawer in said first position, said posts protrude through said perforations. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The container of claim 24 including,   said posts having post free ends, and   said cassette carrier with said drawer in said second position, being substantially flush with said post free ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The container of claim 19 including,   said spring means including a leaf spring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The container of claim 19 including,   said drawer having a rear plate opposite said front plate, and said cassette carrier having projections adapted to engage said rear plate to pivotally attach said cassette carrier to said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The container of claim 19 including,   said spring means comprising a coil spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The container of claim 19 including,   said housing including housing slots, and   said drawer having projecting stop members engaging into said housing slots   
     
     
        so as to define said second position of said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The container of claim 19 including, said locking means comprising a first locking means formed integrally with said housing and a second locking means formed integrally with said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The container of claim 1 including,   said cassette carrier being pivotally attached to said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The container of claim 19 including,   said cassette carrier defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A container for one or more magnetic tape cassettes comprising:   a housing,   a drawer associated with said housing and movable between a first inserted position in said housing and a second exposed position,   said drawer having a front plate,   an ejector spring operatively connected to said drawer for moving said drawer from said first position to said second position,   a locking means connected to said housing for locking said drawer in said first position,   a cassette carrier having a free end and another end opposite to said free end and attached to said drawer, such that said free end is movable relative to said drawer,   a spring means associated with said cassette carrier and said drawer for biasing said cassette carrier relative to said drawer such that said cassette carrier lifts a cassette supported thereon above said front plate when said drawer is in said second position, and   said cassette carrier being positioned to contact said spring means and positioned between the forward portion of a cassette being inserted into said drawer and said spring means so that the forward portion of the cassette inserted into said drawer impacts said cassette carrier. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The container of claim 33 including,   said drawer having bottom wall portions, and   said cassette carrier extending over substantially the entire depth of said bottom wall portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. The container of claim 34 including,   said drawer bottom wall portions being provided with positioning means adapted to engage at least a portion of said spring means. .Iadd.36. The container of claim 33 including,   said front plate having an upper edge, and   said cassette carrier having a front edge adjacent said drawer front plate and spaced therefrom and, with said drawer in said second position, substantially flush with said upper edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The container of claim 36 including,   said spring means contacting said cassette carrier adjacent said front edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The container of claim 33 including,   said cassette carrier defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A container for one or more magnetic tape cassettes comprising:   a housing,   a drawer associated with said housing and movable between a first inserted position in said housing and a second exposed position,   said drawer having a front plate,   an ejector spring operatively connected to said drawer for moving said drawer from said first position to said second position,   a locking means connected to said housing for locking said drawer in said first position, and   an elongated leaf spring extending longitudinally relative to said drawer, attached to said drawer and having an end generally adjacent the front of said drawer and adapted to exert a bias on the front end of a cassette supported by said drawer to lift the cassette forward end so that the forward end is positioned above said front plate, when said drawer is in said second position, permitting the removal of the cassette over said   
     
     
        front plate and from said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40.  The container of claim 39 including, said leaf spring extending over substantially the entire depth of said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The container of claim 39 including,   said drawer having an inner end, and   said leaf spring being attached to said drawer adjacent said inner end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The container of claim 39 including,   said leaf spring having a substantially rectangular contour. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The container of claim 39 including,   said drawer including a leaf spring locating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The container of claim 43 including,   said drawer including drawer bottom wall portions, and   said leaf spring locating means being disposed on said drawer on said drawer bottom wall portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The container of claim 39 including,   a cassette carrier pivotably connected to said drawer and disposed substantially coextensive with and above said leaf spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. The container of claim 39 including,   a second leaf spring extending longitudinally relative to and attached to said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. The container of claim 45 including,   said cassette carrier defining a plurality of apertures therethrough.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.48.  A storage device for flat recording media comprising: a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a rear wall, and an open front side,   a slider member for receiving at least one recording medium, said slider member being movably mounted in said housing and having a base portion and a front wall,   a biasing means for biasing said slider member to an open position out of said housing,   a locking means for locking said slider member to a closed position within said housing against the bias of said biasing means,   a lifting means for supporting and engaging underneath the recording medium, said lifting means when the device is in the open position raising the recording medium to a lifted position away from said base portion of said slider member so that the recording medium is accessible for removal and insertion, and   said lifting means comprising at least one spring to bias the recording medium towards the lifted position, and a platter member located between   
     
     
        said spring and the recording medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49.  The device according to claim 48 wherein said spring is a leaf spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. The device according to claim 48 wherein said spring is a wire spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. The device according to claim 50 wherein said wire spring is a torsion coil spring having two wire ends, one wire end being supported by said base portion of said slider member and the other wire end being supported by said platter member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. The device according to claim 48 wherein a stop means is provided on said platter member for supporting the recording medium lying on said platter 
     
     
        member in the lifted position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53.  The device according to claim 48 wherein said lifting means is adapted to support a plurality of recording media. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. The device according to claim 48 wherein said biasing means comprises a pressure spring element engaging at one end thereof said slider member at a location remote from said front wall of said slider member and at the other end engaging said rear wall of said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. The device according to claim 54 wherein said pressure spring element actuates said lifting means when the device is in the open position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. The device according to claim 48 wherein said housing has a substantially rectangular shape and is configured so that a plurality of recording media can be accommodated therein, the principal planes of the recording media lying parallel to the largest surfaces of said housing when the device is in the closed position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. The device according to claim 48 wherein said lifting means lifts the front end of the recording medium above said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A storage device for flat recording media comprising: a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a rear wall, and an open front side,   a slider member for receiving at least one recording medium, said slider member being movably mounted in said housing and having a base portion and a front wall,   a biasing means for biasing said slider member to an open position out of said housing,   a locking means for locking said slider member to a closed position within said housing against the bias of said biasing means,   a lifting means for supporting and engaging underneath the recording medium, said lifting means when the device is in the open position raising the recording medium to a lifted position away from said base portion of said slider member so that the recording medium is accessible for removal and insertion, and   said lifting means comprising at least one platter element and an attaching means for hingedly attaching said at least one platter element to said   
     
     
        slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59.  The device according to claim 58 wherein said lifting means engages the recording medium at a location that lies between the edge of the recording medium and the center of gravity of the recording medium, and extends from the end of said slider member inside said housing to a location just behind said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60. The device according to claim 58 wherein said lifting means is adapted to support a plurality of recording media. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61. The device according to claim 58 wherein said lifting means comprises at least one spring for biasing the recording 
     
     
        medium towards said lifted position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62.  The device according to claim 61 wherein said spring is a leaf spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.63. The device according to claim 61 wherein said spring is a wire spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64. The device according to claim 63 wherein said wire spring is a torsion coil spring having two wire ends, one wire end being supported by the base portion of said slider member and the other wire end being supported by the recording medium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.65. The device according to claim 58 wherein said housing is configured to accommodate a plurality of compact discs packed closely together in a stack one above the other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.66. The device according to claim 58 wherein said biasing means comprises a pressure spring element engaging at one end thereof said slider member at a location remote from said front wall of said slider member and at the other end engaging said rear wall of said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.67. The device according to claim 66 wherein said pressure spring element actuates said lifting means when the device is in the open position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.68. The device according to claim 58 wherein said housing has a substantially rectangular shape and is configured so that a plurality of recording media can be accommodated therein, the principal planes of the recording media lying parallel to the largest surfaces of the housing when the device is in the closed position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.69. The device according to claim 58 wherein said attaching means comprises a parallelogram-shaped attaching means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.70. The device according to claim 58 wherein said lifting means lifts the front end of the recording medium above said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.71. A storage device for compact discs comprising: a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a rear wall, and an open front side,   a slider member for receiving at least one compact disc, said slider member being movably mounted in said housing and having a base portion and a front wall,   a biasing means for biasing said slider member to an open position out of said housing,   a locking means for locking said slider member to a closed position within said housing against the bias of said biasing means,   a lifting means for supporting and engaging underneath the compact disc, said lifting means when the device is in the open position raising the compact disc to a lifted position away from said base portion of said slider member so that the compact disc is accessible for removal and insertion,   said housing being adapted to accommodate a plurality of compact discs packed closely together in a stack one above the other, each of the compact discs having its own said lifting means,   a holder platter for supporting each of the compact discs, and   each said holder platter being pivotably connected to said slider member and pivotable about an axis extending parallel to said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.72. The device according to claim 71 wherein said lifting means lifts the front end of the compact disc above said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.73. A storage device for flat recording media comprising:   a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, two side walls, a rear wall, and an open front side,   a slider member for receiving at least one recording medium, said slider member being movably mounted in said housing and having a base portion, a pair of opposed side walls and a front wall,   a biasing means for biasing said slider member to an open position out of said housing,   said biasing means comprising a pressure spring element attached at one end to said slider member at a location remote from said front wall of said slider member and at the other end to said rear wall of said housing,   a locking means for locking said slider member to a closed position within said housing against the bias of said biasing means,   a lifting means for supporting and engaging underneath the recording medium, said lifting means when the device is biased into said open position by said pressure spring element raising the recording medium to a lifted position away from said base portion of said slider member so that the recording medium is accessible for removal and insertion over said front wall, and   said lifting means engaging the recording media at a location that lies between the edge of the recording medium and the center of gravity of the recording medium, and extends from the end of said slider member inside said housing to a location just behind said front wall of said slider   
     
     
        member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.74.  The device according to claim 73 wherein said lifting means lifts the front end of the recording medium above said front wall of said slider member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.75. A container for one or more magnetic tape cassettes comprising: a cassette housing,   a drawer movable between a first position inserted in said housing and a second position extending at least partially out of said housing,   said drawer having a front plate and a rear plate opposite to said front plate,   an ejector spring means for moving said drawer from said first position to said second position,   a locking means for locking said drawer in said first position,   a cassette carrier adapted to support a cassette and movably attached to said drawer,   projections engagable with said rear plate to pivotally attach said cassette carrier to said drawer, and   a spring means for biasing said cassette carrier relative to said drawer such that said cassette carrier lifts a cassette supported thereon relative to said front plate when said drawer is in said second position permitting the manual removal of the cassette from said drawer over said   
     
     
        front plate. .Iaddend. .Iadd.76.  The container of claim 75 including, said projections being integrally injection molded with said cassette carrier. .Iaddend. .Iadd.77. The container of claim 75 including,   a stop means for defining a lifted position of said cassette carrier relative to said drawer when said drawer is in said second position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.78. The container of claim 75 including,   said cassette carrier having a first end free to move relative to said drawer and a second end opposite to said first end and attached to said drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.79. A container for one or more magnetic tape cassettes having tape reel hubs comprising:   a cassette housing,   a drawer movable between a first position inserted in said housing and a second position extending at least partially out of said housing,   said drawer having a front plate,   an ejector spring means for moving said drawer from said first position to said second position,   a locking means for locking said drawer in said first position,   a cassette carrier adapted to support a cassette and movably attached to said drawer,   a spring means for biasing said cassette carrier relative to said drawer such that said cassette carrier lifts a cassette supported thereon when said drawer is in said second position permitting the manual removal of the cassette from said drawer over said front plate, and   said drawer having bottom wall portions and posts carried by said bottom wall portions and adapted to engage into tape reel hubs of cassettes   
     
     
        supported by said cassette carrier. .Iaddend. .Iadd.80.  The container of claim 79 including, said cassette carrier having perforations aligned with said posts so that said posts protrude through said perforations when said drawer is in said first position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.81. The container of claim 79 including,   said posts having outer ends, and   said cassette carrier, when said drawer is in said second position, being substantially flush with said outer post ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.82. The container of claim 79 including,   a stop means for defining a lifted position of said cassette carrier relative to said drawer when said drawer is in said second position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.83. The container of claim 79 including,   said cassette carrier having a first end free to move relative to said drawer and a second end opposite to said first end and attached to said   
     
     
        drawer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.84.  The container of claim 79 including, said spring means biasing said cassette so that the front end of the cassette supported thereon is lifted above said front plate. .Iaddend.