David George Caplan

US Patent:

6464088, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

Nov 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/721001

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ
Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G 2900

US Classification:

211 40, 211121, 2063081

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container.

US Patent:

6520347, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/873807

Inventors:

David Caplan - Las Vegas NV
Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G 2900

US Classification:

211 40, 211163, 211121, D6629

Abstract:

A motorized rack for holding the jewel cases or containers of CDs (or the CDs themselves) in a very compact manner includes a continuous loop formed of holders for the CD cases or other retainers which is driven by a pair of sprockets on which the holders are mounted for rotation. High density storage is provided by spacing the holders and their associated CD containers contiguously to one another and then removal is facilitated by allowing the holders and containers to fan out at the top the vertical tower for manual removal.

US Patent:

6786338, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Jul 24, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/625228

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ
Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G 2900

US Classification:

211 40, 211121

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container.

US Patent:

6863186, Mar 8, 2005

Filed:

Aug 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215696

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ, US
Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA, US

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G029/00

US Classification:

211 40, 2063081

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container.

US Patent:

6915911, Jul 12, 2005

Filed:

Sep 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/657525

Inventors:

Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA, US
Tristan M. Christianson - San Francisco CA, US
Andrew J. Parker - Novato CA, US
David Caplan - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G029/00

US Classification:

211 40, 211121

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container.

US Patent:

6959822, Nov 1, 2005

Filed:

Aug 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215744

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ, US
Charles E. Taylor - Sebastopol CA, US
Andrew J. Parker - Novato CA, US

Assignee:

Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47G029/00

US Classification:

211 40, 211121

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container.

US Patent:

6974038, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

Jun 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/867363

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ, US
Charles E. Taylor - Punta Gorda FL, US

Assignee:

The Sharper Image Corporation - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

A47F005/00

US Classification:

211 40, 211 157, 211121

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of inter-connected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.

US Patent:

20020190013, Dec 19, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/215745

Inventors:

David Caplan - Phoenix AZ, US
Charles Taylor - Sebastopol CA, US

International Classification:

A47F005/02

US Classification:

211/040000, 211/121000, 211/001570

Abstract:

A high capacity motorized rack holds a plurality of jewel case enclosed CDs 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 CD is moved to the top region of the belt. A rack may hold two or more such loops of interconnected holders. In one embodiment a holder retains a single jewel case, and comprises two independent loops that are rotated with a single motor. A preferred embodiment employs inter-connectable holders that each retain two jewel cases in a side-by-side configuration. A lamp and/or barcode scanner may be disposed on the housing for ease of CD selection. The housing base preferably is detached during shipping to permit transporting the rack in a smaller volume container. User control can include voice commands to direct loop rotation and speed.