Modular panel and storage system for flat items such as media discs and holders therefor

Abstract

A modular panel includes a plate having a surrounding edge and opposite surfaces. A pair of side walls project form a first surface and terminate in an outer edge portion that is generally parallel to the plate. A first connecting structure, such as a male rib, is located along the outer edge portions of the side walls. A pair of second connecting structures, such as female channels, are located on the second surface to interlock with the first connecting structures so that adjacent panels may be fastened together in a snap-fit manner to form a storage system. A selected item, such as a computer disc, DVD, CD and the like, may be stored between the panels.

1 . A modular panel wherein a plurality of such modular panels may be connected to one another to create a storage module for generally flat selected items to be stored, comprising: 
 (A) a plate having a surrounding edge and opposite first and second surfaces;    (B) a pair of side walls projecting from the first surface and terminating in an outer edge portion that is generally parallel to said base plate;    (C) a first connecting structure disposed along the outer edge portion of each of said side walls; and    (D) a pair of second connecting structures disposed on the second surface of said base plate, said first and second connecting structures sized, configured and oriented such that a pair of modular panels may be joined with one another to define an assembled array with respective first and second connecting structures engaged with one another in a snap-fit manner, said side walls having sufficient height as measured between said base plate and the outer edge portion thereof so that there is sufficient distance between adjacent modular panels when in the assembled array whereby at least one of the selected items may be inserted and stored therebetween.    
   
   
       2 . A modular panel according to  claim 1  wherein one of said first and second connecting structures is a male rib and wherein another of said first and second connecting structures is a female channel element.  
   
   
       3 . A modular panel according to  claim 2  wherein said first connecting structures are female channel elements and said second connection structures are male ribs.  
   
   
       4 . A modular panel according to  claim 3  wherein each said female channel element is formed by an arcuate flange projecting from a respective side wall proximately to the outer edge portion thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A modular panel according to  claim 3  wherein each of said male ribs includes a web portion and an enlarged head portion disposed on said web portion.  
   
   
       6 . A modular panel according to  claim 5  wherein said enlarged head portion is generally cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       7 . A modular panel according to  claim 1  wherein the height of said side walls is such whereby a plurality of selected items may be inserted and stored between adjacent said base plates when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       8 . A modular panel according to  claim 7  wherein each of said side walls includes at least one ledge projecting therefrom with the ledges on said side walls in facing opposed relation to one another whereby a selected item may be supported thereby.  
   
   
       9 . A modular panel wherein a plurality of such modular panels may be connected to one another to create a storage module for storage discs and holders therefor, comprising: 
 (A) a generally rectangular base plate having spaced-apart front and back edges, a pair of spaced-apart side edges and opposite first and second surfaces;    (B) a pair of generally parallel side walls projecting from the first surface with there being one of said side walls along each of said side edges, said side walls terminating in an outer edge portion that is generally parallel to said base plate;    (C) a first connecting structure disposed along the outer edge portion of each of said side walls; and    (D) a pair of second connecting structures disposed on the second surface of said base plate with there being one of said second connecting structures proximate to each of said side edges, said first and second connecting structures operative to interconnect with one another whereby a pair of modular panels may be joined with one another to define an assembled array, said side walls having sufficient height as measured between said base plate and the outer edge portion thereof so that there is sufficient distance between adjacent modular panels when in the assembled array whereby at least one disc and holder therefor may be inserted and stored therebetween.    
   
   
       10 . A modular panel according to  claim 9  wherein one of said first and second connecting structures is a male rib and wherein another of said first and second connecting structures is a female channel element.  
   
   
       11 . A modular panel according to  claim 10  wherein said first connecting structures are female channel elements and said second connection structures are male ribs.  
   
   
       12 . A modular panel according to  claim 9  wherein the height of said side walls is such whereby a plurality of discs and holders therefor may be inserted and stored between adjacent said base plates when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       13 . A modular panel according to  claim 12  wherein each of said side walls includes at least one ledge projecting therefrom with the ledges on said side walls in facing opposed relation to one another whereby a disc and holder therefor may be supported thereby.  
   
   
       14 . A storage system for generally flat selected items, comprising a plurality of modular panels adapted to be connected to one another, each said modular panel including 
 (1) a generally rectangular base plate having spaced-apart front and back edges, a pair of spaced-apart side edges and opposite first and second surfaces,    (2) a pair of generally parallel side walls projecting from the first surface with there being one of said side walls along each of said side edges, said side walls terminating in an outer edge portion that is generally parallel to said base plate, 
 (3) a first connecting structure disposed along the outer edge portion of each of said side walls, and  
 (4) a pair of second connecting structures disposed on the second surface of said base panel with there being one of said second connecting structures proximate to each of said side edges, said first and second connecting structures operative to interconnect with one another  
 whereby said modular panels may be joined with one another to define an assembled array, said side walls having sufficient height as measured between said base plate and the outer edge portion thereof so that there is sufficient distance between adjacent modular plates when in the assembled array whereby at least one of the selected items may be inserted and stored therebetween.  
   
   
   
       15 . A storage system according to  claim 14  wherein one of said first and second connecting structures is a male rib and wherein another of said first and second connecting structures is a female channel element sized and adapted such that said male rib can be mated therewith in a snap-fit engagement.  
   
   
       16 . A storage system according to  claim 15  wherein said first connecting structures are female channel elements and said second connection structures are male ribs.  
   
   
       17 . A storage system according to  claim 16  wherein each said female channel element is formed by an arcuate flange projecting from a respective side wall proximately to the outer edge portion thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A storage system according to  claim 16  wherein each of said male ribs includes a web portion and an enlarged head portion disposed on said web portion.  
   
   
       19 . A storage system according to  claim 14  wherein the height of said side walls of at least one of said modular panels is such whereby a plurality of selected items may be inserted and stored between the base plate thereof and the base plate of an adjacent modular panel when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       20 . A storage system according to  claim 19  wherein each of said side walls of said at least one of said modular panels including at least one ledge projecting therefrom with the ledges on the side walls thereof being in opposed facing relation to one another whereby a selected item may be supported thereby.  
   
   
       21 . A storage system according to  claim 14  including at least one connector piece sized and adapted to engage the back edges of two base panels that are respectively disposed in two of said assembled arrays that are placed in side-by-side abutting relation.  
   
   
       22 . A storage system according to  claim 21  wherein said connector piece includes a connector plate and first and second pluralities of grips projecting from a surface of said connector plate.  
   
   
       23 . A storage system according to  claim 19  wherein a first pair of grips are laterally spaced apart from a second pair of grips.  
   
   
       24 . A storage system according to  claim 21  wherein said connector piece includes spaced-apart third and fourth connecting structures sized and adapted to interconnect with respective ones of said first and second connecting structures.