Storage and display rack for DVDs

Abstract

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of DVD boxes or containers in holders flexibly inter-connectable with each other to form a rotatable continuous loop. The loop is rotatably retained within a vertical rack housing and is driven by a motor, disposed within the housing, under user control such that the loop is rotated until a desired DVD is moved to the top fan-out region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two DVD boxes in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of DVD selection. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rack adapted to retain an object, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said base, said first finger and said second finger being sufficiently adapted to admit at least one object while exposing at least part of the retained object for user selection and removal from said holder; one of said first and second fingers having an end located distally from said base; said one of said first and second fingers having a retention member extending from the distal end-thereof and adapted to frictionally retaining at least a portion of the object;  
 (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
 (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base,  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop.    
     
     
         2 . The rack as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    a second rotation shaft having a second sprocket with teeth disposed parallel to and spaced-apart from said first rotation shaft;    wherein said loop engages said first and second sprockets so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft and said second rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on the first and second sprockets as each said holder engages the first sprocket and as each holder engages the second sprocket;    said base of said holder having a slot extending therethrough, said slot located adjacent to said male holder engaging mechanism; and    wherein a distal end of each female holder-engaging mechanism can pass through said slot located adjacent to said male holder-engaging mechanism to which each female holder-engaging mechanism is inserted as the loop engages the teeth of the first sprocket causing adjacent holders to spread apart in relation to each other.    
     
     
         3 . The rack as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first rotation shaft is a distance, approximately half a length of said loop, from the second rotation shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base of each said holder further includes at least one rib for preventing the object from contacting said female holder-engaging mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said retention member includes a first tab and a second tab, each of said first tab and said second tab adapted to retain an object of a different size.  
     
     
         6 . The rack as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second tab is shorter than said first tab.  
     
     
         7 . A rack adapted to retain an object, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said base, said first finger and said second finger being sufficiently adapted to admit at least one object while exposing at least part of the retained object for user selection and removal from said holder, one of said first and second fingers having a track;  
 (b) an object retention member that slidably engages and travels on said track of said one of said first and second fingers;  
 (c) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
 (d) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop.    
     
     
         8 . The rack as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a rotation shaft having a sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said sprocket as each said holder engages said sprockets.    
     
     
         9 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, one of said first and second fingers including a flexible retention member extending therefrom, said retention member having a first tab and a second tab extend therefrom;  
 (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
 (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base;  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         10 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said first finger being shorter than, and substantially parallel to, said second finger, said second finger including a retention member extending therefrom, said retention member being more flexible than said base and having a first tab and a second tab extend therefrom;  
 (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
 (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base;  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         11 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base;  
 (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
 (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base;  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop;    a retention member slidably engaged with said one of said first and second fingers of said holder, said retention member having a first tab and a second tab extend therefrom;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    a second rotation shaft, having a second sprocket with teeth, disposed parallel to and spaced-apart from said first rotation shaft; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         12 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) a first finger and a second finger spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, and a centerfinger, two of said fingers including a flexible retention member extending therefrom, said retention member having a first tab and a second tab extend therefrom;  
 (b) a male holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base with a slot extending through said base, said slot located adjacent to said male holder-engaging mechanism; and  
 (c) a female holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base;  
   wherein a male holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a female holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, and a female holder-engaging mechanism on said first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a male holder-engaging mechanism on a third said holder in forming said loop;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth;    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said female holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth in said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket; and    wherein a distal end of each female holder-engaging mechanism can pass through said slot located adjacent to said male holder-engaging mechanism as the loop engages the teeth of the first sprocket causing adjacent holders to spread apart in relation to each other.    
     
     
         13 . The rack as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a retention member is more flexible than said one of said first and second fingers.  
     
     
         14 . The rack as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a retention member has a first tab extending therefrom and adapted for retaining an object.  
     
     
         15 . The rack as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a retention member is selectably movable from a first position to a second position.  
     
     
         16 . The loop of  claim 12  wherein each a second tab is capable of engaging an object.  
     
     
         17 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said second finger including a flexible retention member extending therefrom, said retention member having a first tab and  
   a second tab extending therefrom; 
 (b) a holder-engaging mechanism extending outward from said base; and  
   wherein a holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a holder-engaging mechanism on a second holder;    a first rotation shaft having first sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft and further such that said holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         18 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, said first finger being shorter than, and substantially parallel to, said second finger, said second finger including a retention member extending therefrom, said retention member being more flexible than said base and having a first tab and a second tab extending therefrom;  
 (b) a holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
   wherein a holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder,    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft and further such that said holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth of said first sprocket as each holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         19 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) first and second fingers retained a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base;  
 (b) a holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base; and  
   wherein a holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder,    a retention member slidably engaged with one of said first and second fingers of said holder, said retention member having a first tab and a second tab extending therefrom;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth; and    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth on said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket.    
     
     
         20 . A rack adapted to retain and rotate objects, the rack comprising: 
 a loop formed from a plurality of inter-connected holders, each holder comprises: 
 (a) a first finger and a second finger that are a spaced-apart distance from each other by a base, and a center finger, two of said fingers including a flexible retention member extending therefrom, said retention member having a first tab and a second tab extending therefrom;  
 (b) a holder-engaging mechanism extending from said base with a slot extending through said base, said slot located adjacent to said holder-engaging mechanism; and  
   wherein a holder-engaging mechanism on a first said holder is disposed to matingly interlock with a holder-engaging mechanism on a second said holder, in forming said loop;    a first rotation shaft having a first sprocket with teeth;    wherein said loop engages said first sprocket so that the loop is rotatable about said first rotation shaft, and further such that said holder-engaging mechanism of each said holder is seated in a groove between adjacent teeth of said first sprocket as each said holder engages the first sprocket; and    wherein a distal end of each holder-engaging mechanism can pass through said slot located adjacent to another said holder-engaging mechanism to which each holder-engaging mechanism is inserted as the loop engages the teeth of the first sprocket causing adjacent holders to spread apart in relation to each other.    
     
     
         21 . The rack of  claim 20  wherein the object has an exposed end and a retention member is adapted to engage the exposed end of the object.