US20040074858A1

US20040074858A1 - Collapsible clothes drying rack

Info

Publication number: US20040074858A1
Application number: US10/272,700
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Thuma; Carla DeYoung; Larry Hauser; Thomas Welsh
Original assignee: Home Products International Inc
Current assignee: Home Products International Inc
Priority date: 2002-10-17
Filing date: 2002-10-17
Publication date: 2004-04-22

Abstract

A collapsible clothes drying rack, including X-shaped collapsible frames and a plurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames. A clip has a head with annularly spaced fingers extending through aligned holes in pivotally connected frame arms. The fingers of each clip define an annular inner space and a generally annular outer surface area. The fingers have a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced from the head a distance equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. Rod ends extend into the space between the clip fingers. Locking arms are similarly pivotally secured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of the rods. Clamps slide over the other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot, with hooks extending from the clamps. A removable drying support surface is provided with connectors on the corners. Each of the connectors include a pair of cords secured on one end to the corner and on the other end to a locking member, with the cords being wrapable around one of the support rods with the cord other ends extending between the pair of cords.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a clothes rack, and more particularly toward a collapsible rack for drying damp or wet clothes.

Collapsible clothes racks have long been well known, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,738,516 and 2,388,637.

Further, such clothes racks with support frames having interconnected scissor or X-shaped configuration pivoting side frames and support rods extending therebetween for supporting clothing which is damp or wet and requires drying have also long been well known. Such a configuration allows the rack to be expanded up to a relatively large area in order to allow supported clothes to be spaced apart to maximize drying efficiency, and at the same time allows the rack to be collapsed into a minimal size which can be readily stored out of the way when not in use. A clothing rack of this type is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,123.

It is important that such racks be easily and reliably assembled. It hardly needs saying, for example, that the rack should not fall apart. By the same token, it is desirable to minimize cost of the rack by minimizing component cost and assembly difficulty. Further, it is often desirable to allow much of the assembly of the device to be accomplished by the purchaser, inasmuch as the unassembled rack may be packaged in a smaller space than the assembled rack, thereby saving on shipping costs and point of purchase shelf space. In such a case, it is important that proper assembly be as simple as possible for the purchaser.

It is also important that such racks be easily and reliably secured in their uncollapsed (i.e., extended) position when desired to be used. Further, such a secure position needs to be provided under different conditions, varying from conditions in which virtually no clothes are supported to conditions in which a large number of wet (and therefore heavy) clothes are being supported. If the rack is not reliably maintained in the desired position when being used, it may inadvertently collapse. If it were to collapse as a person is placing clothing on it, it could injure the person. If it were to collapse without a person present but while drying clothes, it could damage the clothes (e.g., if parts of the clothes were to be pinched in the frame) and at a minimum would result in the clothes not drying properly and most probably being wrinkled. Even if it were to collapse without anything on it or anyone near it, it could fall into something in the vicinity and break that. Moreover, while such a secure configuration is important, it is advantageous to allow the user to easily arrange the rack in that configuration. A complicated securing structure is not secure at all if it is so complicated that the user will not be able to use it properly.

It is also advantageous to provide the maximum support possible for clothes, including particularly different types of support for different types of clothes. Racks which provide the ability to support only certain types of clothing for drying are therefore of dubious value, in that the owner of such a rack must either own multiple different racks to allow drying of different types of clothing (at a significant cost increase as well as significant increase in use and storage space required), or may not be able to air dry some of his/her clothes on a rack even if that is the desired drying method. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,123 discloses a mesh support for drying clothes which is supported by cloth straps which must be tied to arms of the rack. If even one of the straps is not properly tied, or becomes loosened, the support could fall so as to drop the drying clothes onto the floor.

The present invention addresses one or more of the issues set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible clothes drying rack is provided, including first and second pairs of frame members and a plurality of rods extending between the pairs of frame members to maintain the first pair of frame members in an aligned spaced orientation relative to the second pair of frame members. Each of the frame members has two arms pivotally connected together at a point between the arm ends. Distal ends of the arms of one of the frame members of each pair of frame members are pivotally connected to proximate ends of the other of the frame members of the each pair. The pivotal connections of the arms include a clip extending through aligned holes having a first diameter in pivotally connected arms. The clip has a head larger than the first diameter with annularly spaced fingers extending from the head. The fingers of each clip define a generally annular inner space of a second diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the order of the first diameter. At least one of the fingers has a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced from the head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. Each pivotal connection also includes the end of one of the rods extending into the generally annular inner space between the clip fingers, with the rod end having an outer diameter on the order of the second diameter.

In one form of this aspect of the invention, at least one of the fingers is flexibly bendable into the annular inner space when an end of one of the rods is not in the annular inner space whereby the fingers may be completely in a cylindrical area having a diameter less than the first diameter.

In another form of this aspect of the invention, rods also extend between the distal ends of the arms of the second pair of frame members and locking arms adjacent each pair of frame members are adapted to releasably secure those rods in a selected spacing with the frame members in an X-shaped configuration. These support clips are similar to the previously described clips, except that two extend only through frame member arm ends and two extend through frame member arm ends and locking arms, with the radially extending shoulder surface of the support clip finger of the former two clips being spaced from the support clip head only a distance about the thickness of the frame member arm. Rods ends also extend into the generally annular inner space between the support clip fingers. In a further form, the locking arms are pivotally secured to one of the first and second ones of the rods, and the locking arms each include an open slot therein for releasably receiving the other of the first and second ones of the rods, with a clamp adapted to slide over the end of one of the locking arms so that the clamp covers the open slot when on the locking arm end.

In another aspect of the invention, a pivotal connection is provided between arms of a collapsible clothes drying rack having arms on opposite sides of the rack spaced apart by rods. A clip extends through aligned holes in the pivotally connected arms, and has a head larger than arm holes, annularly spaced fingers extending from the head through the aligned holes, and a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of the fingers. The shoulder surface is spaced from the head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. An end of one of the rods extending into the space between the fingers, with the rod end having an outer surface supporting the spaced fingers in a position wherein the generally annular outer surface area substantially matches the aligned holes and the radially extending shoulder surface faces a surface of one of the arms.

In one form of this aspect of the invention, the rod end is a reduced diameter portion on the rod, and a rod shoulder adjacent the rod end is substantially adjacent the ends of the fingers.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a collapsible clothes drying rack is provided, including two collapsible frames and a plurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames to maintain the frames in an aligned spaced orientation. Each of the frames have connected frame members each having two arms pivotally connected in a scissors configuration. First and second locking arms are each pivotally secured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of the rods to lock two of the arms in an X-shaped configuration. Clamps are adapted to slide over the other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot.

In one form of this aspect of the present invention, a hook extends outwardly from at least one of the clamps, with the hook adapted to securely hang an article of clothing requiring drying.

In another form, the locking arms are substantially rectangular in cross-section and the rods are substantially cylindrical. Each of the clamps include a substantially rectangular housing portion with an open side for receiving the locking arm end, a slot receiving the one of the rods when the locking arm end is received in the housing portion, a first clothing hook extending outwardly from the housing beyond the locking arm end, and a second clothing hook beneath and spaced from the locking arm where the second clothing hook extending from the housing in a direction opposite the first clothing hook.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a removable shelf for a collapsible clothes drying rack having a pair of horizontally spaced support rods is provided, including a generally rectangular drying support surface with connectors on the corners. Each of the connectors comprise a pair of cords secured on one end to one of the support surface corners and secured on the other end to a locking member. The cords are wrapable around one of the support rods with the cord other ends extending between the pair of cords.

In one form of this aspect of the invention, the drying support surface is mesh.

In another form of this aspect of the invention, the locking member may be selectively positioned to retain the cords wrapped around the one of the support rods with the cord other ends between the pair of cords. In yet another form, the locking member and cords may be manipulated to pass the locking member between the cords to release the cords from the one of the support rods.

It is an object of the invention to provide an easily assembled collapsible clothes rack which may be reliably secured in its usable position and which may support a wide variety of clothes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes rack embodying the present invention; [0020]
FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial perspective views illustrating the connection of the rods to the frame arms; [0021]
FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial perspective views illustrating the clamp for securing locking arms; [0022]
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the clamp and connection of rod to frame arms; and [0023]
FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial perspective views illustrating connection of a support surface to a rack rod.[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A collapsible [0025] clothes drying rack 10 embodying the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The rack 10 includes two frames 12, 14 on opposite sides spaced apart by a plurality of rods 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the frames 12, 14 each comprise three interconnected frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c, where each frame member 12 a-c, 14 a-c consists of a pair of arms 20, 22 pivotally connected at a midpoint in a scissor or X-shaped configuration. The upper (distal) and lower (proximate) ends of the arms 20, 22 of the frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c of each frame 12, 14 are also pivotally connected.
The upper (distal) ends of the [0026] arms 20, 22 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a of each frame 12, 14 also have locking arms 30, 32 which are pivotally connected at one end to one arm 20 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a, and are releasably connected to a rod 18 d connected to the other arm 22 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a. The locking arms 30, 32 are also connected to one another by rods 18 b, 18 c. Removable clamps 34 secure the locking arms 30, 32 to the rod 18 d.
A [0027] removable mesh member 36 which may be used as a drying support surface for selected clothes such as is generally known is also provided on the rack 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The mesh member 36 may be substantially rigid, or may be a flexible mesh material.
It will be appreciated that when the locking [0028] arms 30, 32 are connected to the rod 18 d as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rack 10 will be maintained in its illustrated upright working position, and that when the locking arms 30, 32 are released from the rod 18 d (and the mesh member 36 removed), the rack 10 may be easily collapsed to a compact storage position with the arms 20, 22 abutting the arms of adjacent frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c and nearly all parallel to one another.
FIGS. [0029] 2-3 illustrate the connection of the rods 18 b, 18 c to the locking arms 30, 32 (the connection between rod 18 b and locking arm 30 being illustrated in FIGS. 2-3). Specifically, the locking arm 30 has an opening with a clip 40 extending therethrough. The clip 40 includes a head 42 (see FIG. 1) which is bigger than the arm opening and a plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of fingers 44 which are annularly spaced and extend from the head 42. The fingers 44 are enlarged on the end to define a radially extending shoulder surface 46 facing the head 42, and are tapered down on the end remote from the head 42. Though all of the fingers 44 are shown with the enlarged end, it should be appreciated that this aspect of the present invention could be used with only one of the fingers 44 having the shoulder surface 46.
A generally annular [0030] inner space 48 is defined between the fingers 44 an a generally annular outer surface is defined by the outer surface of the fingers 44 between the head 42 and the shoulder surface 46. While such an annular configuration assists in easing assembly, it will be appreciated that such a configuration need not be used in either case where no pivoting is required. Further, even where pivoting of the connection is desired, only the outer surface generally needs to be annular. In the case of the connection of the rods 18 b, 18 c to the locking arms 30, 32, it will be appreciated that the spacing between the head 42 and the shoulder surface is at least, and preferably on the order of the thickness of the locking arms 30, 32.
With the above described configuration, assembly may be easily and simply accomplished by pressing the [0031] fingers 44 of each clip 40 into appropriate openings in the locking arms 30, 32.
Due to the spacing between the [0032] fingers 44, the fingers 44 will flexibly bend together to allow the enlarged ends to pass through the locking arm opening. Once the clip 40 is pushed fully into the opening so that the head 42 engages the side of the locking arm 30, 32, the enlarged ends will be clear of the opening and therefore the fingers 44 will spring back out to a position in which the shoulder surface 46 thereon will abut the opposite side of the locking arm 30, 32 to prevent its removal therefrom.
The [0033] rod 18 b, 18 c may then be pushed into the annular inner space 48 between the fingers 44. As illustrated, the end 50 of the rod 18 b may have a reduced diameter along a selected length which will provide a visual indication on whether or not the rod 18 b, 18 c has been pushed sufficiently far into the clip 40. That is, when the rod 18 b, 18 c is pushed in far enough, the shoulder at the beginning of the rod end 50 will be substantially adjacent the ends of the clip fingers 44. In such a configuration, the rod end 50 extends into the annular inner space 48 substantially the entire distance inside the locking arm opening to the head 42 from which the fingers 44 extend. In one advantageous form, the outer surfaced of the fingers 44 is maintained by the rod end 50 inside the fingers 44 to define an annular surface with a diameter generally on the order of the diameter of the locking arm opening in which the surface is located, thereby providing a secure, wobble-free connection. In that form, the rod end 50 similarly maintains the enlarged ends of the fingers 44 in an expanded position so that the shoulder surface 46 will necessarily abut the side of the locking arm 30, 32 to prevent its removal therefrom.
It should be appreciated that the pivotal connections between the [0034] frame member arms 20, 22, both at their midpoint scissors connection and at their end connection between frame members 12 a-c, 14 a-c, and between the arms 20 of the upper frame members 12 a, 14 a and the locking arms 30, 32, may be formed in essentially the identical manner, except that the fingers 44 are longer with the spacing between the head 40 and the shoulder surface 46 being generally the combined thickness of the arms 20, 22, 30, 32 being pivotally connected (and with the rod ends 50 being correspondingly longer as well).
FIGS. [0035] 4-5 the removable clamps 34 advantageously usable to secure the locking arms 30, 32 to the rod 18 d to secure the rack 10 in its upright working position. Specifically, the locking arms 30, 32 (locking arm 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-5) each include an open slot 60 which, when the frames 12, 14 are extended to the working position shown in FIG. 1, is aligned with and receives rod 18 d. The clamp 34 includes a housing portion 62 adapted to received the locking arm end therein (in the illustrated embodiment, the locking arms 30, 32 are rectangular in cross section, so the housing portion is rectangular) by sliding the open end of the housing portion 62 over the locking arm 30, 32. The sides of the housing portion 62 include aligned slots 64 which will fit over the rod 18 d in the slot 60. As can be appreciated from FIG. 5 in which the clamp 34 is partially slid over the locking arm 30, the bottom surface of the housing portion 62 will block the open slot 60 when the clamp 34 is fully slid onto the locking arm 30 and will thereby secure the locking arm 30 onto the rod 18 d. Thus, the rack 10 will be releasably and reliably secured in the working position shown in FIG. 1, with the rack 10 also easily released to fold down into a storage position by simply sliding the clamps 34 off of the locking arms 30, 32 and then pivoting the locking arms 30, 32 so that the rod 18 d is clear of the slot 60 therein.
The [0036] clamps 34 additionally have a pair of oppositely extending clothing hooks 66, 68 from which suitable clothes may be hung. For example, clothing articles having straps which could not readily be secured to the rods 18 (which are closed at the end preventing a strap from being placed thereon) can be hung from one or more of the hooks 66, 68. It should also be appreciated that the hooks 66 which are spaced below the locking arms 30, 32 may not only be used as hooks from which to hang an article, but an article of clothing may also be more securely hung through a clamping of a portion of its upper end between the locking arm 30, 32 and the hook 66. Further, the outwardly extending hook 68 may be used to hang long articles, as it extends out beyond the below structure of the rack 10 (i.e., the rods 18 and frame member arms 20, 22 below) and enables such articles to hang straight down without rubbing against other portions of the rack 10.
FIG. 6 illustrates the upper left portion of FIG. 1 in cross-section, with the [0037] rack 10 in its working position. FIG. 6 particularly illustrates how the rod end 50 is positioned to ensure that the clip fingers 40 are maintained outward so that the shoulder surface 46 is maintained in a position in which it will prevent the clip 40 from sliding out of the opening in the arm 22.
FIGS. [0038] 7-8 illustrate the mesh member 36, and more particularly the advantageous structure for connecting the mesh member 36 to the rack 10. That is, a pair of cords 70, 72 are suitably secured at one end to a corner of the mesh member 36, and are suitably secured at their opposite end to a locking member 74.
As used herein, it should be understood that “cord” is meant to broadly refer to any suitable elongated flexible member including, for example, straps, wires, ropes, etc. It should also be understood that while a pair of cords are referenced herein, the “pair of cords” would also encompass a single cord with its two ends secured to either the [0039] mesh member 36 or the locking member 74 with an intermediate portion secured to the other of the mesh member 36 and locking member 74. “Pair of cords” would also encompass an endless cord looped through openings in both the mesh member 36 and locking member 74, where “secured ends” would be simply opposite portions of the endless cord, such “ends” potentially being at any portions of the endless cord depending on its looped position relative to the mesh member 36 and locking member 74. Consistent with this, it will be seen in FIGS. 7-8 that the pair of cords 70, 72 comprises two different portions of a looped cord, with the ends of the looped cord being suitably secured to the corner of the mesh member 36, with the locking member 74 having an opening 76 through which the looped cord passes, the portion of the looped cord disposed in the opening being the cord opposite “ends” which are “secured” to the locking member 74.
The [0040] mesh member 36 may be simply and easily supported on the rack 10 as shown in FIG. 1 by connecting portions of the mesh member 36, preferably at the corners thereof particularly where the mesh member 36 is flexible, to rods 18 on the rack 10. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, the cords 70, 72 may be looped entirely around a suitable location on the rod 18 (e.g., near the rod end when the mesh member 36 is substantially as long as the rods 18), with the locking member 74 forced between the cords 70, 72 adjacent their connection to the mesh member 36, and the locking member then turned to prevent it (and the secured opposite cord ends) from being pulled back between the cords 70, 72. In this manner, the cords 70, 72 are retained in a secure position looped about the rod 18 to support the mesh member 36 at that location. When it is desired to take the mesh member 36 off of the rack 10, the locking member 74 may be manually twisted so that it can pass between the cords 70, 72 to release the loop from around the rod 18.
It should thus be appreciated that a collapsible clothes rack embodying the various aspects of the invention as described above may be easily assembled, may be reliably secured in its working position, and may readily support a wide variety of clothes. [0041]
Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the specification, the drawings, and the appended claims. It should be understood, however, that the present invention could be used in alternate forms where less than all of the objects and advantages of the present invention and preferred embodiment as described above would be obtained. [0042]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising:

first and second pairs of frame members,

each of said frame members comprising two arms pivotally connected together at a point between the ends of said arms, and

distal ends of said arms of one of said frame members of each pair of frame members pivotally connected to proximate ends of the other of said frame members of said pair;

a plurality of rods extending between said each of said first and second pairs of frame members to maintain said first pair of frame members in an aligned spaced orientation relative to said second pair of frame members;

wherein said pivotal connection of said arms each comprises

a clip extending through aligned holes having a first diameter in pivotally connected arms, said clip having

a head larger than said first diameter,

annularly spaced fingers extending from said head, said fingers of each clip defining a generally annular inner space of a second diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the order of said first diameter, and

a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said pivotally connected arms; and

an end of one of said rods extending into said generally annular inner space, said rod end having an outer diameter on the order of said second diameter.

2. The rack of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said fingers is flexibly bendable into said annular inner space when an end of one of said rods is not in said annular inner space to contain said fingers completely in a cylindrical area having a diameter less than said first diameter.

3. The rack of claim 1, wherein first and second ones of said rods extend between said distal ends of said arms of said second pair of frame members, and further comprising

first and second locking arms adjacent each pair of frame members and adapted to releasably secure said first and second ones of said rods in a selected spacing with said frame members in an X-shaped configuration;

four support clips extending through holes in said distal ends of said arms, said holes having a third diameter and said support clips each having

a support clip head larger than said third diameter,

annularly spaced support clip fingers extending from said support clip head, said support clip fingers defining a generally annular inner space of a fourth diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the order of said third diameter, and

a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said support clip fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said support clip head a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said frame member arm on a first two of said support clips and said shoulder surface spaced from said support clip head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said frame member arm and said locking arm on a second two of said support clips; and

wherein opposite ends of said first and second ones of said rods extend into said generally annular inner space between said support clip fingers of aligned ones of said support clips, said ends of said ones of said rods having an outer diameter on the order of said fourth diameter.

4. The rack of claim 3, wherein said locking arms are pivotally secured to one of said first and second ones of said rods, and said locking arms each include an open slot therein for releasably receiving the other of said first and second ones of said rods, further comprising a clamp adapted to slide over the end of one of said locking arms, said clamp covering said open slot when on said locking arm end.

5. A pivotal connection between arms of a collapsible clothes drying rack, said arms on opposite sides of said rack being spaced apart by rods, comprising:

a clip extending through aligned holes in the pivotally connected arms, said clip having

a head larger than arm holes,

annularly spaced fingers extending from said head through said aligned holes, said fingers defining an inner space and a generally annular outer surface area, and

an end of one of said rods extending into said inner space, said rod end having an outer surface supporting said spaced fingers in a position wherein said generally annular outer surface area substantially matches said aligned holes and said radially extending shoulder surface faces a surface of one of said arms.

6. The pivotal connection of claim 5, wherein said rod end is a reduced diameter portion on said rod, and a rod shoulder adjacent said rod end is substantially adjacent the ends of said fingers.

7. A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising:

first and second collapsible frames each comprising connected frame members each having two arms pivotally connected in a scissors configuration;

a plurality of rods extending between said collapsible frames to maintain said frames in an aligned spaced orientation;

first and second locking arms each pivotally secured on one end to one of said rods and including an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of said rods to lock two of said arms in an X-shaped configuration; and

clamps adapted to slide over said other ends of said locking arms to cover said open slot.

8. The rack of claim 7, further comprising a hook extending outwardly from at least one of said clamps, said hook adapted to securely hang an article of clothing requiring drying.

9. The rack of claim 7, wherein:

said locking arms are substantially rectangular in cross-section;

said rods are substantially cylindrical; and

each of said clamps include

a substantially rectangular housing portion with an open side for receiving said locking arm end,

a slot receiving said one of said rods when said locking arm end is received in said housing portion,

a first clothing hook extending outwardly from said housing beyond said locking arm end, and

a second clothing hook beneath and spaced from said locking arm, said second clothing hook extending from said housing in a direction opposite said first clothing hook.

10. A removable shelf for a collapsible clothes drying rack having a pair of horizontally spaced support rods, comprising:

a generally rectangular drying support surface; and

a connector on the corners of said support surface, each of said connectors comprising a pair of cords secured on one end to one of said support surface corners and secured on the other end to a locking member, said cords being wrapable around one of said support rods with said cord other ends extending between said pair of cords.

11. The shelf of claim 10, wherein said drying support surface is mesh.

12. The shelf of claim 10, wherein said locking member may be selectively positioned to retain said cords wrapped around said one of said support rods with the cord other ends between said pair of cords.

13. The shelf of claim 10, wherein said locking member and cords may be manipulated to pass said locking member between said cords to release said cords from said one of said support rods.