US20080231155A1

US20080231155A1 - Framework Retaining Structure

Info

Publication number: US20080231155A1
Application number: US11/744,376
Authority: US
Inventors: Min-Dy Shen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-19
Filing date: 2007-05-04
Publication date: 2008-09-25
Also published as: TWM318676U

Abstract

A framework retaining structure includes two sliding units, four end pieces and two rail units. A positioning groove is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of each sliding unit. An end piece is connected to the right end and the left end of each sliding unit. A substantially “L” shaped indentation portion is provided on each end piece. Therefore, an item rack, a clothes rack or other types of framework may be engaged with the positioning grooves. Also, the rack or framework may be disengaged from the positioning grooves easily. The rear surface of each sliding unit is connected with a rail unit, and the two rail units are fixed inside a closet, a cabinet or other type of furniture so that the rack may be extended out of the closet or cabinet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an improved framework retaining structure. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved framework retaining structure that allows easy connection and disconnection of various types of racks or frameworks and so as to allow a user to use the improved framework retaining structure to hold a rack or a framework of his choice.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A closet, a cabinet or other type of furniture is used in homes and offices for the storage of clothes and other items. Such closet or cabinet may be custom-built or pre-fabricated. However, if a user wants to change the interior design of such closet or cabinet, he probably has to get it rebuilt or buy another one. Also, a rack or a framework is usually provided inside a closet or cabinet for the storage of clothes, socks and underwear. Such rack or framework inside a closet is usually fixed inside the closet and can not be changed or replaced. Therefore, there is a need for improvements.
From the above, we can see that the prior art has many disadvantages and needs to be improved.
To eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art, the inventor has put in a lot of effort in the subject and has successfully come up with the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide an improved framework retaining structure in which a positioning groove is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of each sliding unit so as to facilitate the connection and disconnection of a rack or a framework.
The present invention is to provide an improved framework retaining structure that is structurally simple, easy to assemble and highly useful.
The improved framework retaining structure of the present invention comprises two sliding units, two rail units and four end pieces. Each sliding unit is provided with a hollow passage extending through the full length of the sliding unit. A positioning groove is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the hollow passage. A retaining groove is provided on the rear surface of each sliding unit. Each end piece has an end cap and a sliding portion, which is perpendicular to the cap. A retaining groove is provided on the rear surface of the sliding portion. The width of the retaining groove of the sliding portion is smaller than the width of the retaining groove of the sliding unit. A flexible affixing piece is provided on the front surface of the sliding portion, and a substantially “L” shaped indentation portion is provided near where the sliding portion meets the end cap. In assembly, each sliding portion is engaged with the retaining groove and the flexible affixing piece is inserted into the hollow passage of the sliding unit so as to affix the end piece to the sliding unit and seal the hollow passage and so that the indentation portion is in parallel with the positioning groove to form a “
” shaped positioning groove. Each rail unit is engaged with the retaining groove of the end piece, and each rail piece is fixed inside a closet or a cabinet so that the two sliding units may be slid forewords and backwards. The peripheral parts a rack may be easily engaged with the positioning grooves of the sliding units. Therefore, the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is easy to assemble, and a rack may be put on it and be taken off it easily.
These features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the accompanying Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are two perspective views illustrating how the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is used.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two perspective views illustrating another way that the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please see FIGS. 1 and 2. The improved framework retaining structure of the present invention comprises two rail units 1, two sliding units 2 and four end pieces 3.
Each rail unit 1 has several rail pieces 11 so that the rail unit 1 may be extended. Each innermost rail piece is provided with holes 111, and each outmost rail piece is also provided with holes 112.
Each sliding unit 2 is provided with a hollow passage 21 extending through the full length of the sliding unit. A positioning groove 22 is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the hollow passage 21. A retaining groove 23 is provided on the rear surface of each sliding unit 2. Several equally spaced holes 231 are provided on the retaining groove 23.
Each end piece 3 has an end cap 31 and a sliding portion 32, which is perpendicular to the cap 31. A retaining groove 321 is provided on the rear surface of each sliding portion 32. The width of the retaining groove 321 is smaller than the width of the retaining groove 23. A hole 322 is provided on the retaining groove 321. A flexible affixing piece 33 is provided on the front surface of each sliding portion 32, and a substantially “L” shaped indentation portion 34 is provided near where the sliding portion 32 meets the end cap 31. In assembly, each sliding portion 32 is engaged with the retaining groove 23 so that the hole 322 is aligned with the corresponding hole 231 of the retaining groove 23 and each flexible affixing piece 33 is inserted into the corresponding hollow passage 21 of the sliding unit 2 so as to affix the end piece 3 to the sliding unit 2 and seal the hollow passage 21 and so that the indentation portion 34 is in parallel with the positioning groove 22 to form a “
” shaped positioning groove 22.
Then, the holes 231 of the retaining groove 23 are aligned with the holes 111 of innermost rail piece, and the hole 322 of each end piece 3 is aligned with the corresponding hole 111. Next, screws are used to hold the rail unit 1, the sliding unit 2 and the end piece 3 together.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is used. The outermost rail piece 11 is fixed inside any type of closet or cabinet 5. Therefore, the two sliding units 2 may be slid forewords and backwards and may be slid out of the closet or cabinet 5. The peripheral parts 61 and 71 of various types of item racks 6 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and tray 7 (as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) such as velvet wood tray, shoe rack, textile and rattan basket, laundry hamper and pant rack etc. may be easily engaged with the positioning grooves 22 of the sliding units 2 or the indentation portions 34 of the end pieces 3. Also, each of these racks may be disengaged from the positioning grooves 22 or the indentation portions 34 easily. Therefore, the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is easy to assemble, and a rack may be put on it and be taken off it easily.
In comparison to other similar structures of prior art, the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention has the following two advantages:
1. A positioning groove is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of each sliding unit and can facilitate the connection and disconnection of a rack or a framework.
2. The improved framework retaining structure of the present invention is structurally simple, easy to assemble and highly useful.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that the preferred embodiment is to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive manner, and all variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught still fall within the scope of the present invention.
From the above, we can see that the improved framework retaining structure of the present invention meets the relevant patent requirements. It is hoped that the patent application will be approved.
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A framework retaining structure, comprising:

two rail units, able to be extended;

two sliding units, with a hollow passage extending through full length of each sliding unit and with a positioning groove provided on an upper surface or/and a lower surface of the hollow passage; and

four end pieces, each of which having an end cap and a sliding portion, with a flexible affixing piece provided on the front surface of the sliding portion and with an indentation portion provided near where the sliding portion meets the end cap,

wherein the flexible affixing piece is inserted into the hollow passage of the sliding unit so as to affix the end piece to the sliding unit and seal the hollow passage and so that the indentation portion is in parallel with the positioning groove, and after each sliding unit is connected with the corresponding rail unit, the two outermost rail piece is fixed inside a closet or a cabinet so that the peripheral parts of an item rack or a clothes rack is easily engaged with the positioning grooves of the sliding units or the indentation portions of the end pieces.

2. The framework retaining structure as in claim 1, wherein each rail unit has several rail pieces so that the rail units is extended.

3. The framework retaining structure as in claim 1, wherein each sliding unit is connected with the corresponding rail unit and two end pieces by screws.

4. The framework retaining structure as in claim 1, wherein a retaining groove is provided on the rear surface of each sliding unit and the rear surface of each sliding portion and a width of the retaining groove of the sliding portion is smaller than a width of the retaining groove of the sliding unit so that the sliding portion and the end pieces are connected with the rail unit.

5. The framework retaining structure as in claim 1, wherein the indentation portion of each end piece is substantially “L” shaped.

6. The improved framework retaining structure as in claim 1, wherein the cross section of the positioning groove is substantially “

” shaped after a sliding unit is joined with two end pieces.