US2087359A - Foldable rack - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. c. W. sADENwAT-ER 2,087,359

FOLDABLE RACK Filed July 17, les@ CHAR/:5 w tSfnDfA/WA TER Patented July 20, 1937 earsar ori-ig FOLDABLE RACK Charles W. Sadenwater, Saginaw,

Mich., assigner to Saginaw Manufacturing Co., Saginaw, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 17, 1936, Serial No. 9l,ll9

2 Claims. This invention relates to foldable table-like structures, and with regard to certain more specie features, to an adjustable device of this type.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a grille-like top member having spaced parallel rods upon which articles may be hung, that is capable of adjustment to different heights while maintaining its substantially horizontal position, and is also capable of being adjustably` projected more or less beyond the supporting legs, such adjustments being attained by appropriate angular positioning of the legs relative to each other; the provision of a device for securing the structure in such adjusted positions; also, the provision of a device of the class described which shall be simple in arrangement and compact when folded. Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structure hereinafter described, the scope of the application of which Will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the apparatus in its erected position.

Fig. 2 is a side View.

Fig. 3 is an end view, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of one of the pin joints.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the apparatus, folded.

Fig. 6 is a side View, showing the grille in overhung position or cantilever position, various other adjusted positions being indicated by dotted lines.`

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing the means for holding the apparatus in such adjusted positions.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a flat grille comprising a number of parallel rods l, spaced apart. The rods are of equal length and are secured together at their ends by headers 2, 3, to which they are nailed or otherwise fastened.

Four legs provide two X-standards 4, 5 by which the grille is supported. A spacer bar i connects the two X-standards at their crossing as seen from the left in (Cl. 2li- 178) point and serves as their common axis when the structure is being folded or extended.

Header 2 ofthe grille connects the upper ends of two legs l and la, being pivoted for rotation about its own axis, and thus hinging an end of the grille l to the said legs.

A cross member :i is mounted between the inner pair of legs 8, 8a, and, like the header 2, is rotatable about its own axis. Member S is formed with holes 9a in which the rods i of the rack are received and through which they slide lengthwise when the appartus is being folded or extended. y

The header 2, the spacer bar 6, and the cross member 9 are pivoted to legs l, la and 8, and 8a, respectively, by means of end pins It that pass through holes in the legs and into the ends of the bars as shown in Fig. fl. Washers iila are provided on the pins. Referring to Fig. 6, it is to be noted that the inner legs 8, 8a of each X-standard are shorter` than the outer legs l, la with respect to the disf tance from the axis of spacer bar E to the top ends of the legs and also from the axis to their bottom ends.

Such arrangement and proportioning of the parts is novel and advantageous in that it enables the grille l to be kept horizontal or substantially so, not only when the structure is fully extended for use as shown in Fig. 2, but also at intermediate stages of folding.

An example of the application of the device is shown in Fig. 6, where the grille is indicated by dotted lines as being adjusted to various heights from the floor and by such adjustment is made to overhang at I! in cantilever fashion.

In Fig. 5 the apparatus is shown folded so as to present a package substantially no thicker than the individual legs, say, about three-fourths of an inch.

Considering first its fully open or erected aspect, Fig. 2, the grille rods I may be hung with articles, such as hosiery, to be dried; or fiat goods, such as table linen may be spread out on the grille bars. Header 3, by taking against bar 9 keeps the legs from spreading beyond the normal full open position.

It will be noted that in use the operation of the structure is extremely simple.

To raise the grille to a higher position while maintaining it in a substantially horizontal plane, the operator grasps the header 2 and the cross bar 9, bringing them toward each other. Bar 9 slides along the rods l and the X-standards partially close. Thus the grille may be brought to sfr any height `within its adjustment range, as for example to the position indicated by dotted lines,

Y Fig. 6. The amount of overhang of grille l With ing .movement causes Vportion/3 ofthe grille toswing downwardly until f it lies flatagainst the axis bar 1'0 5, Thebar 6 is located slightly off from the pivrespect to the legs increases as bar 9 approaches header 2 until the shorter legs 8, 8a are substan- Beyond `that point further clos-V tially vertical.

the free or left-hand end (i,Y as shown in Fig.

otal center ofthe legs asindicated by the bro-V ken line in Fig. 2 to permit the grillerods I to lie! within the planes of the legs 1, 8 in the manner`v described. Y Y Y When the grille is in its cantilever or overhung position, Fig. 6, articles can be hung from the rods to dry, or they can be spread out Yon the Y Vk grille surface. The apparatus can then be placed over a heater, H, wall W to prevent overturning, Fig. 6.4 Y

ed positions a keeper is provided, preferably in the form of a ring l2, Fig. 7, slidable on one of 25, arranged to clarnpingly engage therrunder siderof the rods I and having a projecting Vvringer I2a cross bars at any desired place along the length VofV the rods.

lFrom the above itvwilibe seen that the invention provides a device which has a considerable range of Vpositioning as regards height and extent of overhang. These desirable results are attained with a simple formof device which is readily adjustable and is capable of being produced in quantities at relatively small cost.

VHaving thus described my invention, what IY claim and desire to 'secure by Letters'Patent is:

'1. iIn aV foldable apparatus of the class de-V scribed, in combination, a grille comprising a. plurality of parallel rods spaced apart and havingV headersV secured to their ends, legs pivoted l,

its header V3 resting against a Y as is'lndicated in 'Y To hold the apparatus in any of its partly fold-Y VVtive grille rods being slidnglyV received andV slidable endwise therein, thefk together to provide X-standards, one of said headers being pivoted to the upper ends of two parallel legs for rotational movement about its axis, a cross member Which the respective grille rods arereceived for similarly rotatably connect` Ved to the other legs and formed With holes in endwise sliding movement, the inner legs of each X-standardV being shorter than the. outer legs with respect to the distancefrorn the pivotal axis to their top ends and lfrom saidaxis totheir bottom ends,Y said lengths being so proportioned as to maintain the grille substantially horizontal at various Vadjusted heights and waa `various s 2.. In a faisable apparatus of the class` de" 2o` scribed, in combination, a` grille comprising a plurality of parallel rods spaced apart with head.-

Y ers'secured to their` ends, legspivoted together. to Y provide Xstandardsyone of said headers being pivoted at its `ends to the upper ends of two parallel-legs so as to be capable of rotational moverotatably connected at its ends Vto the Vother legs releasablyL ment about'ivtsV axis, and across member similarly and formed with holes spaced apart, the respec-s in lsaid spaced holes inner legs of each standard being Vshorter than the outer legs with respect tothe distance from the pivotal axis to their top ends and from said axis to their ybottom ends, said lengths being so proportioned as to maintain the grille substan-k tially horizontal at various adjusted heights and with various amourlts'ofA overhang from thelegs corresponding to various angular adjustments n of the legs. n

' CHARLES W. SADENWATER.

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