Media storage system and method

Abstract

A multimedia storage device for supporting packages is disclosed. The device includes at least two spaced-apart rails, each rail having at least one series of package supporting portions. A front retainer and a rear retainer is adapted to confine a plurality of packages therebetween. A cross-bar may be provided to secure the rails in a spaced-apart configuration. One of the retainers may be adapted to glide along the rails. The gliding retainer may include a glide portion having a central portion and a pair of wings. Each wing may be adapted to secure the glide to a rail and to enable the glide to be movable along the rail.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multimedia storage device, comprising: 
 at least two spaced-apart rails, each rail having at least one series of package supporting portions for supporting packages from below;    at least one cross member interconnecting the rails to form a generally open frame configuration; and    at least one upstanding retainer adapted to help support a plurality of packages between the rails resting on the supporting portions.    
     
     
         2 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said package supporting portions include curved portions being generally semi-circular in cross-section and intersecting each other to define a series of equally spaced-apart notches.  
     
     
         3 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 2 , wherein each rail includes a series of inner curved portions and a series of outer curved portions, said inner curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of small width, and said outer curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of large width.  
     
     
         4 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein said cross member is: 
 a rear cross-bar adapted to secure the rails in a spaced-apart configuration.    
     
     
         5 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a wire retainer positioned near one end of the rails.  
     
     
         6 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 5 , wherein the wire retainer is adapted to be selectively pivoted between an upright position and a folded-down position.  
     
     
         7 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 1  wherein the retainer is adapted to glide along said rails.  
     
     
         8 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 7 , wherein the retainer adapted to glide includes a glide portion having central portions and a pair of wings, each wing being adapted to secure the glide portion to a rail and to enable the glide portion to slidably move along the rail.  
     
     
         9 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein the retainer adapted to glide includes an idler adapted to be secured to said glide portion, said idler being adapted to pivot between an upright position for retaining packages and a flat position.  
     
     
         10 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 9 , wherein said central portion includes a pair of peg-receiving slots, and the idler includes a pair of pegs adapted to be inserted into said slots for securing said idler to said glide portion.  
     
     
         11 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 10 , wherein said central portion includes a back stop for limiting backward pivoting of said idler in said upright position.  
     
     
         12 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein said central portion includes an overhang above a slot formed at each wing for securing the glide portion to a rail.  
     
     
         13 . A method for storing multimedia packages, comprising: 
 positioning at least two rails in a spaced-apart configuration, each rail having at least one series of package receiving portions for supporting packages from below;    providing at least one cross member to provide a generally open frame configuration;    supporting packages on said package receiving portions from below; and    helping support said packages with at least one retainer.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said package receiving portions are curved portions are generally semi-circular in cross-section and intersect each other to define a series of equally spaced-apart notches.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein each rail includes a series of inner curved portions and a series of outer curved portions, said inner curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of small width, and said outer curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of large width.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said package receiving portions include on each rail a series of inner curved portions and a series of outer curved portions, said inner curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of small width, and said outer curved portions on two rails being adapted to support a package of large width.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 securing said rails in a spaced-apart configuration with the cross member in the form of a rear cross-bar positioned in a rear section of the rails.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the retainer is a rodlike retainer positioned near one end of the rails.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the rodlike retainer is adapted to be selectively pivot between an upright position and a folded-down position.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the retainer is adapted to glide along said rails.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the retainer adapted to glide includes a glide portion having central portions and a pair of wings, the method further comprising: 
 securing the glide portion to a rail with a wing, thereby enabling the glide portion to slidably move along the rail.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 securing an idler to said glide portion, said idler being adapted to pivot between an upright position for retaining packages and a flat position.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said central portion includes a pair of peg-receiving slots, and the idler includes a pair of pegs adapted to be inserted into said slots for securing said idler to said glide portion.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said central portion includes a back stop for limiting backward pivoting of said idler in said upright position.  
     
     
         25 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 21 , wherein said central portion includes an overhang above a slot formed at each wing for securing the glide portion to a rail.  
     
     
         26 . A glide for a multimedia storage device for storing multimedia packages, comprising: 
 a central portion; and    a pair of wings connected to the central portion, each wing being adapted to engage a rail and to slidably move along the rail.    
     
     
         27 . The glide according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 an idler adapted to be secured to said central portion, said idler being adapted to pivot between an upright position for retaining the packages in a flat position.    
     
     
         28 . The glide according to  claim 27 , wherein said central portion includes a pair of peg-receiving slots, and the idler includes a pair of pegs adapted to be inserted into said slots for securing said idler to said glide portion.  
     
     
         29 . The glide according to  claim 28 , wherein said central portion includes a back stop for limiting backward pivoting of said idler in said upright position.  
     
     
         30 . The glide according to  claim 26 , wherein said central portion includes an overhang above a slot formed at each wing for securing the glide-portion to a rail.  
     
     
         31 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 1 , further including a second cross member interconnecting the rails, the first-mentioned and said second cross members being disposed at the front and rear portions of the rails to define a generally rectangular open space.  
     
     
         32 . The multimedia storage device, comprising: 
 a tray having side edges and having at least one series of package supporting portions for supporting packages from below;    a front retainer and a rear retainer adapted to confine a plurality of packages therebetween;    each one of the side edges includes an elongated pin-receiving track on its outside surface.    
     
     
         33 . The multimedia storage device according to  claim 32 , further including a base for supporting the rails from below.  
     
     
         34 . A method of mounting a multimedia storage device, comprising: 
 using a pair of spaced-apart rails having a cross member at one end of the rails and a retainer slidably mounted relative to the rails;    sliding the retainer to an opposite end portion of the rails to maintain the rails in substantial parallelism;    fastening the rails to a support structure; and    moving the retainer toward the cross member.    
     
     
         35 . A method of attaching a rodlike retainer to a media storage system, comprising: 
 using a U-shaped rodlike retainer having a pair of leg portions, each having a pair of foot portions each terminating at their distal ends in a depending tip portion;    flexing the leg portions inwardly;    inserting the foot portions and tip portions through slots in the media storage system; and    releasing the leg portions to permit them to spring outwardly and to move past a pair of flex retaining ribs to their unstressed positions to capture the foot portions within said slots.    
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 34 , further including providing a pair of stops on the media system to limit movement of the tip portions of the retainer to position it in a generally upright use position.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 32 , further including pivoting the retainer from its use position at substantially right angles to its upright use position.  
     
     
         38 . A multimedia storage device, comprising: 
 at least two spaced-apart rails, each rail having at least one series of package supporting portions for supporting packages from below; and    a front retainer and a rear retainer adapted to confine a plurality of packages therebetween.    
     
     
         39 . A multimedia storage device according to  claim 38 , wherein said front and said rear retainers are the only portions of the device joining them together.  
     
     
         40 . A multimedia storage device according to  claim 38 , wherein one of said retainers includes a glide, said glide having a pair of upstanding side retainers, said rails include glide surfaces for cooperating with said upstanding side retainers to limit later movement of said glide, said glide surfaces having outwardly flared portions at one end portion of said rails to help position the rails with respect to one another when said retainer is positioned temporarily at said flared portions to facilitate mounting said device to a support surface.  
     
     
         41 . A multimedia storage device according to  claim 32 , wherein each one of said side edges including the pin-receiving tracks are adapted to be mounted to a flat surface.  
     
     
         42 . A multimedia storage device according to  claim 38  wherein one of said retainers is a glideless idler.