EP1702538A1

EP1702538A1 - Clothing rack

Info

Publication number: EP1702538A1
Application number: EP06075626A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franciscus Leopold Desiré Zantman
Original assignee: Oxide BV
Current assignee: Oxide BV
Priority date: 2005-03-15
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-09-20
Also published as: NL1028542C2

Abstract

Clothing rack comprising a mobile frame from which there extends at least one arm with at least one rod for suspending clothing therefrom by means of a clothes-hanger, characterized in that, in a ready-to-use state, the clothing rack is nestable with a nesting side in an at least practically identical clothing rack. The clothing rack is preferably provided with a base plate, wherein the base plate is arranged hingedly relative to the frame on a side remote from the nesting side for the purpose of enabling the base plate and a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack to slide over each other during nesting of clothing racks.

Description

The invention relates to a clothing rack comprising a mobile frame from which there extends at least one arm with at least one rod for suspending clothing therefrom by means of a clothes-hanger.
A clothing rack of the type stated in the preamble is known from the Netherlands patent 1020574 . The known clothing rack has three rods arranged one above the other, wherein each rod is enclosed between outer ends of a respective pair of arms. A bottom pair of arms is herein connected hingedly to the frame, and each subsequent pair of arms extends by means of a hinge connection from the outer ends of a preceding pair of arms. In order to fix the arms in an upright position a set of support legs is provided for the bottom pair of arms and struts are provided between successive arms.
The known clothing rack is collapsible so that the clothing rack can be returned in compact and space-saving form after delivery of clothing suspended therefrom to for instance a shop or distribution centre. To enable collapsing of the known clothing rack the support legs are mounted hingedly on one side on the outer ends of the bottom pair of arms. On the opposite side the support legs are attached releasably to the frame. Each strut is connected hingedly on one side to a one arm, while an opposite side of the strut is connected releasably to another, subsequent arm. In the collapsed state a plurality of known clothing racks can be stacked onto each other.
A drawback of the known clothing rack is that, for collapsing purposes, each support leg and each strut must be released on the releasable side thereof and then collapsed together with the arms. Collapsing the known clothing rack is therefore time-consuming. In the collapsed state the known clothing rack further has a low height, so that it is necessary to bend down deeply to pick up the collapsed clothing rack for stacking purposes. This latter is unfavourable from an ergonomic viewpoint.
It is an object of the invention to provide a clothing rack of the type stated in the preamble which does not have these drawbacks.
In order to achieve the stated object a clothing rack of the type stated in the preamble has the feature according to the invention that, in a ready-to-use state, the clothing rack is nestable with a nesting side in an at least practically identical clothing rack. A plurality of clothing racks according to the invention can be stored or transported in a compact state by being nested in each other in ready-to-use state. It is no longer necessary to collapse the clothing racks and then stack them on each other. Increased efficiency is hereby achieved and the clothing rack can be handled in an ergonomically favourable manner. Nesting of the clothing racks is an operation which can be performed rapidly and easily.
A preferred embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that the clothing rack is provided with a base plate, wherein the base plate is arranged hingedly relative to the frame on a side remote from the nesting side for the purpose of enabling the base plate and a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack to slide over each other during nesting of clothing racks. Should clothing accidentally fall when clothes-hangers with clothing are hooked onto or unhooked from the at least one rod, this clothing then comes to lie on the base plate. Clothing is thus prevented from falling onto the ground, whereby soiling and damage of the clothing is prevented. Conversely, the base plate forms a support for stacking thereon of other objects, for instance boxes. By thus arranging the base plate hingedly relative to the frame the base plate does not obstruct nesting of the clothing rack.
A further particular embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that the clothing rack is provided with guide means for guiding the base plate along a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack during nesting of clothing racks. The nesting of clothing racks can hereby take place in smooth manner by sliding the base plates thereof smoothly over each other. The clothing rack is more particularly characterized here in that the guide means comprise an obliquely standing edge portion of the base plate, wherein the obliquely standing edge portion is provided on the nesting side of the base plate. When the clothing rack is nested in another, adjacent clothing rack, the obliquely standing edge portion of the base plate will come to lie against the base plate of the adjacent clothing rack. The base plate is hereby moved upward at the position of the obliquely standing edge portion so as to enable both base plates to slide smoothly over each other.
A further preferred embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that the frame is open on a side remote from the nesting side, and that the frame has a narrowing progression in a direction toward the nesting side of the frame so as to enable frames of adjacent clothing racks to slide into each other during nesting. The open side of the frame herein provides an access for nesting therealong of a frame of an adjacent clothing rack.
A preferred embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that a pair of arms extends from the frame, wherein the arms enclose the at least one rod, and wherein the arms are curved in a plane transversely of the at least one rod. Not only does this provide an attractive appearance but, when a plurality of rods are applied, the rods will hereby also lie in offset manner above each other. Clothes suspended from the rods will then hang over each other as little as possible.
A further particular embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that a set of arms extends from the frame, wherein the arms enclose the at least one rod, and wherein a set of strengthening arms extends from the frame which are connected with their upper ends to respective arms. The construction of the clothing rack, in particular the construction of the arms, is strengthened by applying the strengthening arms, so that the clothing rack is better able to withstand rough usage.
A further particular embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that the clothing rack is provided on a side opposite the nesting side with a push bar for moving the clothing rack.
A preferred embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that locking means for the clothes-hanger are provided in order to prevent release of the clothes-hanger from the clothing rack. Clothing is thus prevented from falling out of the clothing rack, even in the case of heavy impacts against the clothing rack. The locking means are more particularly adapted to lock the clothes-hanger onto the at least one rod so that the construction of the clothing rack and the locking means can be kept relatively simple.
A further preferred embodiment of the clothing rack has the feature according to the invention that the locking means comprise a concavely curved locking element extending in longitudinal direction of the at least one rod, so that a hook of a clothes-hanger hooked onto the at least one rod is enclosed between the at least one rod and the concavely curved locking element. In one aspect of the invention the locking means are embodied in strip form.
The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of two exemplary embodiments and a drawing. In the drawing:

figure 1: shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a mobile clothing rack according to the invention.
figures 2A-2C: show the steps of hooking a clothes-hanger onto a rod of the clothing rack of figure 1.
figure 3: shows a plurality of clothing racks according to figure 1 in a nested situation.
figure 4: shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a mobile clothing rack according to the invention.
figures 5A-5B: show the clothing rack of figure 4 in a collapsed state, and stacking-up of a number of collapsed clothing racks.

The figures are drawn schematically and not always to scale. Some dimensions in particular are shown (greatly) exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated as far as possible in the figures with the same reference numeral.
Clothing rack 40 of figure 1 has a frame 2 with an open side 41 and a nesting side 42 located opposite. Frame 2 herein has a narrowing progression in a direction toward nesting side 42 to enable frames of adjacent clothing racks to slide into each other during nesting. Swivel wheels 3 are provided to enable travel of clothing rack 40. At the position of open side 41 a grid-like base plate 4 is arranged hingedly relative to frame 2 by means of hinge connections 30. For the sake of clarity the base plate 4 is here drawn detached from frame 2. It should be understood that base plate 4 normally rests on frame 2 in the non-nested situation of clothing rack 40. On nesting side 42 base plate 4 has obliquely standing edge portions 33 for guiding a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack during nesting.
A pair of curved arms 6 extends from frame 2, wherein arms 6 enclose respective rods 14,24 for hanging clothing therefrom by means of clothes-hangers 15. The length of rods 14,24 is about 1080 mm. Rod 24 is arranged at a height of about 1900 mm, while rod 14 is arranged at a height of about 1550 mm. Further extending from frame 2 is a pair of strengthening arms 31, which are connected to arms 6 by means of welded connections 43. Strengthening arms 31 herein serve to strengthen the construction of clothing rack 40, in particular to strengthen the arms 6. On the side located opposite nesting side 42 clothing rack 40 is provided with a push bar 32 for moving clothing rack 40.
Curved covers 16,26 are arranged round the respective rods 14,24 to prevent clothes-hangers 15 unhooking from rods 14,24. Using control arms (not further shown) covers 16,26 are rotatable relative to the respective rods 14,24 between a position in which they prevent unhooking of clothes-hangers 15 and a position in which unobstructed unhooking and hooking on of clothes-hangers 15 is possible.
Figure 2A shows rod 14 in a cross-section transversely of a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein cover 16 is situated in a position in which a hook 19 of a clothes-hanger can be hooked on or unhooked without the hooking or unhooking movement therein being impeded by cover 16. By then rotating the cover 16 into the position shown in figure 2C, cover 16 is rotated over hook 19 so that hook 19 is enclosed between rod 14 and cover 16. Unintentional release of clothes-hanger 15 from rod 14 is thus prevented to a large extent. When it is then desired to take the clothes-hanger 15 off rod 14, this operation is carried out in reverse sequence.
When empty, a plurality of clothing racks 40 can be nested in each other as shown in figure 3. During the nesting the obliquely standing edge portion 33 of base plate 4 ensures that, when a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack comes up against it, base plate 4 moves upward at that position. The obliquely standing edge portion 33 thus forms a guide for a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack. In the situation shown in figure 3 the clothing racks 40 take up little space, which is advantageous during storage or transport of clothing racks 40. Nesting of clothing racks 40 can be carried out quickly and easily.
Clothing rack 40 with two rods 14,24 is particularly suitable for transporting clothing because rotation of covers 16,26 over hooks 19 of clothes-hangers 15 prevents clothes-hangers 15 with clothing from falling off clothing rack 40 during transport. An unimpeded hooking on and unhooking from rods 14,24 of clothes-hangers 15 becomes possible by rotating the covers 16,26 away from the position where they are arranged over hooks 19. When clothing or a clothes-hanger 15 unintentionally falls during hooking on and unhooking of clothes-hangers 15, it then comes to lie on base plate 4. On the other hand, base plate 4 provides the possibility of transporting other goods, for instance boxes.
The second exemplary embodiment of a mobile clothing rack 1 according to the invention shown in figure 4 has a frame 2 with swivel wheels 3 and upright edge profiles 5. A pair of first arms 6 manufactured from U-profile is hingedly connected to frame 2 by means of hinge connections 7. At the position of their upper ends the first arms 6 are hingedly connected by means of hinge connections 8 (not visible in fig. 4) to a pair of second arms 9, likewise manufactured from U-profile. The first and second arms 6,9 are herein held mutually in line by means of sleeves 10 which are pushed over both outer ends of first and second arms 6,9 at the position of hinge connections 8. Sleeves 10 are connected fixedly to each other by means of a slide rod 11. The first and second arms 6,9 are fixed in the shown position using a pair of supports 12 of tubular form which extend with their bottom ends into receiving elements 18. The bottom ends of supports 12 have laterally extending edges for gripping under protruding edges of receiving elements 18 so as to prevent unintentional release of supports 12 from receiving elements 18. Supports 12 are connected to first arms 6 by means of hinges 13.
The second arms 9 are connected at their upper ends by means of hinge connections 20 to a pair of third arms 21 of tubular form, which in the shown position support on these upper ends. On their top sides the second and third arms 9,21 enclose respective rods 14,24 for the purpose of hanging clothing therefrom by means of clothes-hangers 15. Curved covers 16,26 are herein arranged round the respective rods 14,24 and are fixedly connected thereto in order to prevent clothes-hangers 15 unhooking from rods 14,24. Using control arms 17,27 the respective covers 16,26 can be rotated from a position in which they prevent unhooking of clothes-hangers 15 to a position in which unimpeded unhooking and hooking on of clothes-hangers 15 is possible, and vice versa. Locking of a clothes-hanger 15 onto a rod 14,24 takes place in the same manner as shown in figures 2A-2C.
Clothing rack 1 is collapsible into the collapsed situation of fig. 5A. Supports 12 are herein pivoted inside first arms 6, and third arms 21 are pivoted inside second arms 9. In order to unfold clothing rack 1 from the situation shown in fig. 5A the first, second and third arms 6,9,21 and supports 12 are pivoted upward together by pivoting the first arms 6 on hinge connections 7. Supports 12 are then pivoted out of first arms 6 and fixed in the receiving elements 18 therefor. Second arms 9 are then pivoted upward into a position in line with first arms 6, whereafter sleeves 10 are slid over the upper ends of first arms 6. Finally, third arms 21 are pivoted out of second arms 9 and over second arms 9. Clothing rack 1 is then unfolded as shown in fig. 4. In the collapsed situation of clothing rack 1, clothing racks 1 can be stacked onto each other to form a stable stack as shown in fig. 5B.
The first, second and third arms 6,9,21, edge profiles 5, supports 12, slide rod 11 and rods 14,24 are preferably manufactured from aluminium. In the position of use the height of rod 24 above a floor surface is about 1900 mm and the height of rod 14 about 1550 mm. The length of rods 14,24 amounts to about 1080 mm.
Clothing rack 1 can be brought into a position of use quickly and easily from the collapsed situation. In collapsed situation a plurality of clothing racks 1 can be stacked onto each other in a stable stack so that clothing racks 1 then take up little space.

Claims

Clothing rack comprising a mobile frame from which there extends at least one arm with at least one rod for suspending clothing therefrom by means of a clothes-hanger, characterized in that, in a ready-to-use state, the clothing rack is nestable with a nesting side in an at least practically identical clothing rack.
Clothing rack as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the clothing rack is provided with a base plate, wherein the base plate is arranged hingedly relative to the frame on a side remote from the nesting side for the purpose of enabling the base plate and a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack to slide over each other during nesting of clothing racks.
Clothing rack as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the clothing rack is provided with guide means for guiding the base plate along a base plate of an adjacent clothing rack during nesting of clothing racks.
Clothing rack as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the guide means comprise an obliquely standing edge portion of the base plate, wherein the obliquely standing edge portion is provided on the nesting side of the base plate.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the frame is open on a side remote from the nesting side, and that the frame has a narrowing progression in a direction toward the nesting side of the frame so as to enable frames of adjacent clothing racks to slide into each other during nesting.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a pair of arms extends from the frame, wherein the arms enclose the at least one rod, and wherein the arms are curved in a plane transversely of the at least one rod.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a set of arms extends from the frame, wherein the arms enclose the at least one rod, and wherein a set of strengthening arms extends from the frame which are connected with their upper ends to respective arms.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the clothing rack is provided on a side opposite the nesting side with a push bar for moving the clothing rack.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that locking means for the clothes-hanger are provided in order to prevent release of the clothes-hanger from the clothing rack.
Clothing rack as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the locking means are adapted to lock the clothes-hanger onto the at least one rod.
Clothing rack as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the locking means comprise a concavely curved locking element extending in longitudinal direction of the at least one rod.
Clothing rack as claimed in one or more of the claims 9-11, characterized in that the locking means are embodied in strip form.