Stackable modular storage tower

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an expandable, compact structural assembly for holding modular mass storage devices.
Another object is to provide such an assembly that permits removal or replacement of the modular storage devices without disassembly of the structure.
A further object is to provide such an assembly that facilitates the use of modular storage devices of different sizes.
Still another object of the invention is to provide such an assembly in which the storage devices held by the structural assembly do not provide physical support for one another.
The present invention is a storage column structure that includes multiple storage column elements that interlock together in a vertical stack to form a compact, unitary tower assembly.
A power supply module is positioned as a base unit to provide stability for the tower assembly.
Each storage column element is adapted to receive and hold a removable modular storage device, such as a disk drive mechanism.
Storage column elements are electrically interconnected in the stack to provide for the storage modules held by the storage column elements electrical power and connection to preferably a SCSI bus.
The storage column elements are secured together by manually turnable fasteners provided in each storage column element.
The manually adjustable fasteners are preferably of elongated tubular design having a handle at one end and a slotted receptacle at the other end.
The slotted receptacle is sized to receive the handle of another storage column element when the handle is turned to a locked position.
To securely interlock next adjacent upper and lower storage column elements in a stack, the receptacle of the upper storage column element set in the unlocked position receives the handle of the lower storage column element set in the locked position.
Turning the handle of the upper storage column element to the locked position locks the handle of the lower storage column element within the receptacle of the upper storage column element and thereby secures the two storage column elements together