Storage system for supports such as containers for audio and video cassettes and discs

An assembly for storing at least two recording supports selected from containers for magnetic tape cassettes and laser discs, comprising, at least two recording supports in combination with at least two housing modules, each said housing module being a single part of molded plastic material and comprising:

• a top substantially rectangular panel of larger area;
• first and second opposite side walls and a back wall depending from said top panel;
• releasable vertical snap connection means for permitting releasable vertical connection between said modules with one of said modules mounted above the other of said modules in a configuration in which said top panel of said other module serves as a bottom panel for said one module to define a recording support cavity having an insertion opening opposite said back wall of said one module and determining an insertion direction toward said back wall;
• pivot means for said support within the housing module and opposite said insertion opening;
• said recording support cavity having a means for containing a said support in each of the following positions:
• a) a fully inserted position;
• b) a pivoted position which is turned through an angle determined by said pivot means in a first rotational direction with respect to said fully inserted position;
• and
• c) an ejection position which is turned from said pivoted position through substantially the same said angle in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction and displaced in a direction opposite to said insertion direction, relative to said fully inserted position;
• and elastic bias means in said housing module on said first side wall for performing the following functions in the following sequence:
• a) exerting on a said support which is in said fully inserted position a force which is substantially transverse to said insertion direction and is directed toward said second side wall of said housing;
• b) yielding in response to movement of a said support from said fully inserted position to said pivoted position;
• c) exerting on a said support which is in said pivoted position, a force having a component in an ejection direction which is opposite to said insertion direction;
• and
• d) rotating a said support which is in said pivoted position in said second rotational direction to bring said support to said ejection position.

A system for storing supports selected from containers for audio and video cassettes and laser discs, comprising

• a support;
• a housing having an opening for the insertion and ejection of said support and defining an insertion direction, said housing having a cavity having a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall;
• pivot means for said support within the housing and opposite said opening;
• said housing having a means for containing a said support in each of the following positions:
• a) a fully inserted position;
• b) a pivoted position which is turned through an angle determined by said pivot means in a first direction with respect to said fully inserted position;
• and
• c) an ejection position which is turned from said pivoted position through substantially the same said angle in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction and displaced in a direction opposite to said insertion direction, relative to said fully inserted position;
• elastic bias means in said cavity substantially parallel to the insertion direction and having a protrusion which protrudes from said elastic bias means toward said second side wall to catch a corner of said support and prevent its movement toward the rear wall when the support is at its pivoted position, said elastic bias means being operable for performing the following functions:
• (a) biasing the support against said second side wall when the support is in its fully inserted position;
• and
• (b) rotating the support in said second rotational direction when the support is in said pivoted position.