Album holder

Abstract

A storage device for holding record albums.

Claims

1. An album holder comprising: first and second base legs; each of said first and second base legs includes a front end section, a back end section and a mid section positioned between said front end section and a back end section; a top surface of said mid section including a plurality of ribs; a front face of said front end section of said first and second base legs includes a rearwardly sloped surface; a front face of said back end section of said first and second base legs includes a rearwardly sloped surface; front and back panels; and a connection arrangement fixably securing with a fastener arrangement said front panel to said front face of said front end section of said first and second base legs and said back panels to said front face of said back end section of said first and second base legs such that said front and back panels cannot move along a longitudinal length of said first and second base legs and said first and second panels are secured in a fixed position relative to the front and back ends sections of said first and second base legs; and wherein a front face of said front panel angling away from a front face of said back panel when said front and back panels are fixably secured to said first and second base legs; and wherein at least a portion of a back face of said front panel contacting at least a portion of a front face of said front end section of each of said first and second base legs; and wherein at least a portion of a back face of said back panel contacting at least a portion of a front face of said back end section of each of said first and second base legs.

2. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second base legs includes one or more reinforcement structures.

3. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said mid section includes one or more reinforcement structures.

4. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein a front face of said back panel angling away from a front face of said front panel when said front and back panels are connected to said first and second base legs.

5. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second base legs includes preformed base openings in a front face of each of said front end sections and said back end section of each of said first and second base legs.

6. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second base legs are spaced from one another when said front and back panels are connected to said first and second base legs.

7. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second base legs each include a front panel mount slot and a back panel mount slot; said front panel mount slot and said back panel mount slot each configured to receive a portion of a bottom region of said front and back panels when said front and back panels are being connected to said first and second base legs.

8. The album holder as defined in claim 7, wherein a side profile of said front panel mount slot and said back panel mount slot is generally U-shaped.

9. The album holder as defined in claim 7, wherein a thickness of each of said front panel mount slot and said back panel mount slot is the same or slightly greater than a thickness of a bottom region of said front and back panels that is positioned in said front panel mount slot and said back panel mount slot.

10. The album holder as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said front panel mount slot and said back panel mount slot extends below a top surface of said mid section.

11. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of said mid section of each of said first and second base legs is greater than a longitudinal length of each of said front end sections and said back end sections.

12. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein maximum height of said mid sections of each of said first and second base legs is less than a maximum height of each of said front end sections and said back end sections.

13. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein a front face of each of said front end sections and said back end sections angle rearwardly from said mid sections.

14. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said front and back panels include a plurality of preformed connector openings; each of said preformed connector openings are spaced from a bottom edge of said front and back panels.

15. The album holder as defined in claim 1, wherein a bottom surface each of said first and second base legs includes a pad; said pad used to a) inhibit or prevent said bottom surface of said first and second base legs from scratching a surface that said first and second base legs are placed upon, and/or b) inhibiting or preventing said bottom surface of said first and second base legs from moving or sliding on a surface that said first and second base legs are were placed upon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate various embodiments that the disclosure may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangements of parts wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the album holder in accordance with the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side plan view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 a left side plan view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom elevation view of the album holder of FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the album holder of FIG. 1; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the album holder of FIG. 1 that includes a plurality of albums on the album holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENT

(12) A more complete understanding of the articles/devices, processes, and components disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

(13) Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

(14) The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(15) As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

(16) Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.

(17) All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).

(18) The terms “about” and “approximately” can be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g. “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.

(19) Percentages of elements should be assumed to be percent by weight of the stated element, unless expressly stated otherwise.

(20) The figures illustrated an exemplary album holder 100 in accordance with the present disclosure.

(21) Referring now to FIGS. 1-10, there is illustrated a non-limiting embodiment of an the album holder 100 that includes first and second base legs 200, 300, front and back panels 400, 500, optional connectors 600, and optional pads 700. As best illustrated in FIG. 9, the shape, size, and configuration of first and second base legs 200, 300 are generally the same. Likewise, the shape, size, and configuration of front and back panels 400, 500 are generally the same. The material used to form first and second base legs 200, 300 is generally the same, and can optionally be a plastic material (e.g., PVC, etc.). The material used to form front and back panels 400, 500 is generally the same (e.g., plastic material [e.g. acrylic, etc.], etc.). Front and back panels 400, 500 can optionally be semi-opaque or clear; however, this is not required.

(22) As best illustrated in FIG. 9, first and second base legs 200, 300 include a bottom surface 202, 302, a top surface 204, 304, preformed base openings 210, 310, front end sections 220, 320, back end sections 230, 330, midsections 240, 340, front panel mount slots 250, 350, back panel mount slots 260, 360, reinforcement ribs 270, 370, and album ribs 280, 380. First and second base legs 200, 300 are illustrated as being formed of a single piece of material; however, this is not required.

(23) Midsections 240, 340 are positioned between the front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. The top surface of midsections 240, 340 incudes a plurality (e.g., 2-20 and all values and ranges therebetween) of album ribs 280, 380. The adjacent album ribs 280, 380 are illustrated as having a generally equal size and shape and being equally spaced from one another; however, this is not required. Generally, album ribs 280, 380 are spaced about 0.4-2 inches apart (and all values and ranges therebetween), and typically album ribs 280, 380 are spaced about 0.5-1 inches apart. The height of album ribs 280, 380 is generally about the same; however, this is not required. Generally, the height of album ribs 280, 380 is about 0.05 to 0.4 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween), and typically the height of album ribs 280, 380 is about 0.1 to 0.25 inches. One or more album ribs 280, 380 are used to a) inhibit or prevent the albums A from sliding fully along the longitudinal length of midsections 240, 340, and/or b) facilitate in the pivoting of albums A on the top surface of midsections 240, 340 when a user is searching for or reviewing albums A in album holder 100. Midsections 240, 340 generally have a longitudinal length to enable at least two (2) albums, and typically 2-100 albums (and all values and ranges therebetween) to be positioned on midsections 240, 340.

(24) The front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 each include the preformed base openings 210, 310. As discussed in more detail below, preformed base openings 210, 310 are configured to receive a portion of connectors 600. Preformed base openings 210, 310 are positioned on preformed base openings 210, 310 such that preformed base openings 210, 310 are higher than the top surface of midsections 240, 340.

(25) Positioned between front end sections 220, 320, back end sections 230, 330, and midsections 240, 340 are front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360. Front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360 are configured to receive a portion of the bottom region of front and back panels 400, 500 when front and back panels 400, 500 are being connected to first and second base legs 200, 300.

(26) The longitudinal length of midsections 240, 340 is greater than each of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. The maximum height of midsections 240, 340 is less than a maximum height of each of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. The maximum width of midsections 240, 340 is generally the same as the maximum width of each of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330.

(27) The thickness of each of front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 60, 360 is the same or slightly greater (e.g., 0.1% to 10% greater and all values and ranges therebetween) than the thickness of the bottom region of front and back panels 400, 500 that are to be positioned in front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360. Generally, the depth of front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360 measured by the distance below the top surface of midsections 240, 340 is a) at least 0.1 inches, typically 0.1 to 2 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween), and typically 0.2-1 inches, and/or b) at least 5% an average height of each of midsections 240, 340, typically 10-90% (and all values and ranges therebetween) an average height of each of midsections 240, 340.

(28) The shape, size, and configuration of front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360 are generally the same. The side profile of front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360 is generally U-shaped. The bottom surface of each front panel mount slots 250, 350 and back panel mount slots 260, 360 is generally flat; however, this is not required.

(29) As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 8-10, the front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 angle rearwardly from midsections 240, 340 such that when front and back panels 400, 500 are connected to first and second base legs 200, 300, front and back panels 400, 500 slope away from one another. In one non-limiting embodiment, the plane of the front face of one or both of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 relative to the plane of bottom surface 202 of first and second base legs 200, 300 is at least 5°, and typically about 30-75° (and all values and ranges therebetween). When the inner panel face of one or both of front and back panels 400, 500 is positioned against the front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 when connecting front and back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300, the plane of the inner panel face of front and back panels 400, 500 has an angle relative to the plane of bottom surface 202 of first and second base legs 200, 300 that is the same or similar to the plane of the front face of one or both front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 relative to the plane of bottom surface 202 of first and second base legs 200, 300. In another non-limiting embodiment, the plane of the inner panel face and outer panel face of one or both of front and back panels 400, 500 are parallel to one another. In another non-limiting embodiment, when the inner panel face of one or both of front and back panels 400, 500 is positioned against the front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 when connecting front back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300, the plane of the inner panel face of the front and back panels 400, 500 has an angle relative to the plane of bottom surface 202 of first and second base legs 200, 300 that is the same or opposite by 180° (depending on how the angles are measure relative to bottom surface 202 of first and second base legs 200, 300).

(30) The top edge of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 is illustrated as being above the top surface of the midsections 240, 340. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top edge of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 is a) about 0.5-5 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween) above the top surface of midsections 240, 340, and typically about 0.5-2 inches above the top surface of midsections 240, 340, or b) about 10-500% (and all values and ranges therebetween) greater than the height of midsections 240, 340. The height and width of the front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 provides support and stability to front and back panels 400, 500 when front and back panels 400, 500 are connected to first and second base legs 200, 300. The front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 is generally a flat surface; however, this is not required. The width of the front face of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 is generally the same as the width of mid midsections 240, 340.

(31) Front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330 are illustrated as including one or more support structures in the form of reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and reinforcement walls 272, 372. Reinforcement walls 272, 372 are illustrated as extending from the bottom to the top of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. Reinforcement ribs 270, 370 are illustrated as extending from the bottom to a side of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. As can be appreciated, reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and reinforcement walls 272, 372 can have other or additional configurations to create rigidity and/or strength to front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330. Reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and/or reinforcement walls 272, 372 are spaced from the outer side edge of front end sections 220, 320 and back end sections 230, 330; however, this is not required.

(32) Midsections 240, 340 are also illustrated as including one or more support structures in the form of reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and reinforcement walls 272, 372. Reinforcement walls 272, 372 are illustrated as extending from the bottom to the top of midsections 240, 340. Reinforcement ribs 270, 370 are also illustrated as extending from the bottom to a top of midsections 240, 340. As can be appreciated, the reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and reinforcement walls 272, 372 can have other or additional configurations to create rigidity and/or strength to midsections 240, 340. Reinforcement ribs 270, 370 and/or reinforcement walls 272, 372 are spaced from the outer side edge of midsections 240, 340; however, this is not required.

(33) Referring again to FIGS. 1-10, front and back panels 400, 500 have a front surface 402, 502 and a back surface 404, 504. The shape of each of front and back panels 400, 500 is generally square or rectangular. The bottom portion of each of front and back panels 400, 500 include two preformed connector openings 410, 510. Preformed connector openings 410, 510 are generally spaced from bottom edge 406, 506 of front and back panels 400, 500. Preformed connector openings 410, 510 are each generally spaced the same distance from bottom edge 406, 506 of front and back panels 400, 500; however, this is not required. The size and shape of preformed connector openings 410, 510 is non-limiting. The size and shape of preformed connector openings 410, 510 on front and back panels 400, 500 is generally the same; however, this is not required.

(34) The one or more corners and/or edges of front and back panels 400, 500 can optionally be rounded, beveled, chamfered, etc., to reduce or eliminate sharp corners and/or edges on front and back panels 400, 500. The thickness of the panels is generally less than 0.5 inches; however, this is not required. Generally, front and back panels 400, 500 have a uniform thickness; however, this is not required. Generally, front and back panels 400, 500 each have a length of about 4-15 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween) and a width of about 4-15 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween).

(35) Optional connectors 600 are illustrated as being screws; however, other types of connectors can be used. As best illustrated in FIG. 9, two screws are used to secure each of front and back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300; however, it can be appreciated, that more than two screws can be used. During the connection of front and back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300, each screw is first partially inserted through preformed connector openings 410, 510 on front and back panels 400, 500. Thereafter, the screw is further inserted through preformed connector openings 410, 510 on front and back panels 400, 500 until the screws engage and are inserted into preformed base openings 210, 310 in first and second base legs 200, 300. Once the screws are properly inserted into preformed connector openings 410, 510 and preformed base openings 210, 310, front and back panels 400, 500 are secured the first and second base legs 200, 300. The removal of the screws from front and back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300 will result in front and back panels 400, 500 being able to be disconnected from front and back panels 400, 500 to first and second base legs 200, 300. The shape of preformed connector openings 410, 510 on front and back panels 400, 500 can be shaped such that when the screw is in its final connection position, the head of the screw is flush with front surface 402, 502 of front and back panels 400, 500 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8) or slightly recessed from front surface 402, 502 of front and back panels 400, 500 so that the head of the screws do not damage the album covers of the albums A that are positioned on album holder 100.

(36) Referring now to FIG. 8, optional pads 700 are illustrated as covering only a portion of a bottom surface 202, 302 of first and second base legs 200, 300 when the pads are connected to first and second base legs 200, 300. Pads 700 can be in the form of a felt material; however, other materials can be used. Generally, the thickness of pads 700 is less than 0.25 inches. Pads 700 are illustrated has having a circular shape; however, this is not required. The pads 700 are generally secured to the bottom surface of first and second base legs 200, 300 by use of an adhesive; however, other connection arrangements can be used. Pads 700 (when used), can a) inhibit or prevent bottom surface 202, 302 of first and second base legs 200, 300 from scratching a surface upon which first and second base legs 200, 300 were placed, and/or b) inhibiting or preventing bottom surface 202, 302 of first and second base legs 200, 300 from moving or sliding on a surface upon which first and second base legs 200, 300 were placed.

(37) During use, one or more albums A are placed on album holder 100 (as illustrated in FIG. 10). When a user is reviewing albums A in album holder 100, the user can grasp the top portion of album A and then pivot album A while it remains in album holder 100 so the user can view both sides of the cover of album A without having to remove album A from album holder 100. Album ribs 280, 380 on first and second base legs 200, 300 inhibit or prevent the bottom of album A from sliding along the length of midsections 240, 340 as album A is being pivoted on album holder 100 by the user. Album holder 100 is configured to allow a user to simply lift an album A off album holder 100 when the user wants to use album A and also simply inset album A back into album holder 100 when the user wants to again store album A in album holder 100. No assembly or disassembly of album holder 100 is required when inserting and removing album A from album holder 100.

(38) To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant does not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

(39) It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The disclosure has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed discussion of the disclosure provided herein. This disclosure is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the disclosure herein described and all statements of the scope of the disclosure, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between. The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. These and other modifications of the preferred embodiments as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be obvious from the disclosure herein, whereby the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.