U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,588

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Regarding bothFIG. 1, which is a three-quarter upper perspective view of the present invention, illustrating the principal components, shown for the purposes of example only, andFIG. 2, which is a three-quarter perspective view of the bottom of the present invention, illustrating the principal components, including the rotating assembly, shown for the purposes of example only.

In the preferred mode, the rotating VCR tape, DVD video, and DVD game holder (10) is round in shape and comprises a flat top surface (12), flat bottom surface (14), rotating assembly (16) located upon the bottom surface (14), multiple VCR tape compartments (18) on a first side, which each hold a VCR tape (20), multiple DVD movie compartments (22) on a second side, which each hold a DVD movie (24), as well as multiple DVD game compartments (26) which each hold a DVD game (28), and multiple spaces between compartments (30), which function to allow the user to place his or her fingers between the tapes or games to grab the same and pull them out of the compartments with ease.

In general, the holder may be manufactured in any of a variety of durable materials that accomplish the purposes of the invention. Each of the compartments (18,22,26) are of a width specially designed to securely hold VCR tapes or DVD's, and each is vertically oriented and adapted to receive VCR tapes, DVD's, and games such that the user can easily read the title of each VCR tape, DVD, and game on the spines thereof.

Specifically, the first compartments (18) are of a width of approximately 1¼ inches, and of a sufficient depth to allow portions of the VCR tapes inserted therein to extend beyond the periphery of the housing. The second compartments (22,26) are of a width of approximately ¾ inches, and of a sufficient depth to allow portions of the DVD's and video games inserted therein to extend beyond the periphery of the housing.

Because the bottom (14) of the VCR tape, DVD video, and DVD game holder (10) is equipped with a rotating assembly (16), the entire housing may be easily rotated by the user to display all contents of the holder. Such rotating assembly (16) comprises multiple annular members which function to both engage the flat surface upon which the holder sits, and to allow the user to spin the holder freely either manually or automatically.

Furthermore, the compartments (18,22,26) are of a sufficient depth to allow portions of the VCR tapes, DVD's, and games inserted therein to extend beyond the housing. In addition, the compartments (18,22,26) are sufficiently spaced apart from one another to create spaces therebetween (30). Such spaces (30) allow the user to easily place the user's fingers around the VCR tape, DVD, or game to pull the VCR tape, DVD, or game from the holder.

It should be noted that the rotating VCR tape, DVD video, and DVD game holder (10) may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to hold varying quantities of VCR tapes (20), DVD movies or other videos (24), and DVD games (28).

In one embodiment, the holder (10) is small in nature and comprises compartments to hold 11 DVD's and 11 VCR tapes. For the purposes of example, this small embodiment may be of a diameter of approximately 16 inches and may be of a height of approximately 8½ inches.

In the next embodiment, the holder (10) is large in nature and comprises compartments to hold 16 DVD's and 16 VCR tapes. For the purposes of example, this large embodiment may be of a diameter of approximately 20 inches, but may still be of a height of approximately 8½ inches.

In a third embodiment, the holder may be small in nature and designed to contain only VCR tapes, and in a fourth embodiment, the holder may be large in nature and designed to contain only VCR tapes, such as a quantity of 30 total VCR movies.

Likewise, in a fifth embodiment, the holder may be small in nature and designed to contain only DVD's, and in a sixth embodiment, the holder may be large in nature and designed to contain only DVD's.

Importantly, in each of the six above examples, the holders may be designed to be stackable atop one another and rotate. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, two or more identical holders may be stacked atop one another such that users with large collections in the form of a single media can conveniently store their entire collection within such holders.

Similarly, users with collections that include a mix of VCR tapes, DVD movies, and DVD games may stack different embodiments of the present invention atop one another, such that the user can store and display their entire multi-media collection through usage of the holders.

Moreover, unlike the holders of the prior art, the rotatable holder of the present invention can hold a mix of VCR tapes and DVD's or games, saving a great deal of space for the user. In fact, the rotatable holder can be placed in a cabinet with shelves for VCR's or DVD players, as well as in a wall unit or entertainment center. Such cabinets may be specially manufactured for usage in conjunction with the holders of the present invention, such as by including sufficient width and height for several such holders to be placed therein.

Regarding further versatility of the present invention, the rotating display holder for VCR tapes, DVD's, and video games may be motorized, as illustrated in FIG.4. In such an instance, the holder may be remotely controlled, allowing the user to cause the holder to automatically rotate to a previously determined degree, to allow the user to easily locate a particular item contained within.

In addition, in an enhanced alternate version, the rotating display holder may be customized by a user and able to be adapted to a user's particular needs. Such may be accomplished by the user inserting panels in slots to create compartments of a desired size.

For the purposes of example, a user may have 20 VCR tapes and 6 DVDs, and can set their storage system accordingly. Later, the user may replace several of his or her VCR tapes with DVDs, and then be able to reconfigure the rotating display holder accordingly. As such, the device may comprise many slots, and may come with a supply of appropriate panels.

Therefore, in total, the present invention provides a unique means to conveniently store collections of a variety of movies and games in a compact and aesthetically-pleasing manner.

With regards to all descriptions and graphics, while the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.