US2309465A - Clothing rack - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1943. R. A. MAGNUSON 2,309,465

CLOTHING RACK Filed May 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1943. R. A. MAGNUSON 2,309,455

- CLOTHING RACK Filed May 29, 1959 I 4 Sheis-Sheet 41 frw z 3 filgendA 145022 Jam. 26, 1943. R. A. MAGNUSON 2,309,465 I CLOTHING max Filed May 29, '1939 4 Sheets-SheetA Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES QEFECE mesne assignments, to R. Magnuson and Evelyn Peterson, copartners, doing business of Vogel-Peterson Co.

Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,363

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clothing racks and more particularly concerns a clothing rack unit of the type having twin supporting posts or uprights carrying laterally projecting shelving therebetween.

A general object of the invention is to provide a strong, large capacity twin-post clothing rack unit of simplified, inexpensive and efficient construction, all parts of which lend themselves readily to standardization and low-cost mass production methods and can be compactly packed and shipped in knock-down condition to be easily and quickly assembled by use of ordinary tools and without special skill.

Another object is to provide a twin-post clothing rack which will avoid the. need for special shelf-supporting structure such as cross arms or bars upon the supporting posts, and more particularly a rack in which the shelf structure is secured directly to the supporting posts in a new and improved manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a multiunit clothing rack embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a permanent check-room arrangement of clothing racks.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a preferred form of foot-plate for use in a rack arrangement as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view on a larger scale of the rack shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the rack of Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken in substantially the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4 but on a slightly larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental front elevational view of a modified form of the rack.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectional plan view taken substantially in the plane of line 9-9' of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken in substantially the plane of line lB-Jll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental end elevational view of another slightly modified form of the rack, with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line |2-I2 of Fig. 11.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I

A. Magnuson, A. Chicago, 111.,

under the firm name have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail certain preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Generally speaking, each clothing rack unit of the present invention embodies a combined hat shelf and coat hanger structure it; and supporting means therefor including a pair of spaced parallel twin uprights or posts [6 which, in the preferred form, are metallic and of square tubular cross section to assure minimum weight without sacrificing strength. The racks may be singleor double-sided, stationary or portable and used singly or in combinations of units.

Any preferred base structure may be utilized for supporting the posts It in rigid upright position. By way-of example, the base structure is shown (Figs. 1 and 5) as comprising spaced parallel base bars [1, one for every post, and bracing means such as diagonal brace bars l8 connected between the posts and the outer end portions of the base bars I! to hold the posts against tilting relative to the base bars. This arrangement is suitable for a portable or stationary rack, and the base bars I? are adapted to be equipped with casters or to be fastened down upon the floor.

The shelf and coat hanger structure iii of each rack unit may comprise any suitable number of vertically spaced, parallel shelves which are connected between the upper portions of the supporting posts I6 in a manner to project laterally toward one or both sides of a common vertical plane through the posts and in overhanging relation to the base bars I1. The shelves are preferably of a generally standardized construction, each comprising a plurality of longitudinal metallic body bars I!) of inverted channel shape which are connected together in spaced parallel relation by transverse metallic end frame bar members 29 of inverted L-shape to form a rigid structure. Each of the end frame bar members 20 has a vertical body flange 20 and an inwardly projecting upper horizontal flange 2| to the inner face of which, except in certain instances as will be later described, the upper faces of the end portions of the body bars I!) are secured as by welding. Each shelf may be divided into a plurality of hat sections by angularly shaped, parallel division bars 22 secured transversely across the upper faces of the body bars I 9' at suitably spaced intervals longtiudinally of the shelves. The outermost of the body bars l9 mav carry card-holding strips 23.

According to the present invention, the shelves are secured directly to the supporting posts It in a novel manner which avoids the use of special shelf-supporting bars or arms upon the posts as has been customary in prior racks of this type. In a double-sided rack as best seen in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, the vertical flange of each of the end frame bars 20 is preferably centrally formed with an inwardly offset vertical engagement channel 24 which will receive the adjacent portion of the associated supporting post [6 in a half embrace. Through this arrangement the frame bar flanges 20 of two shelves can be secured in abutment as by bolts (Fig. 10) with one of the posts I 6 fully embraced within the opposed channels 24. Thus a multi-unit rack (Fig. 1) can be produced wherein one of the posts l6 serves double duty as a common center support for two endto-end single rack units.

To complete the embracement of the supporting posts it at the opposite ends of either a multiunit rack or a single unit rack where the posts are embraced but half way around by the channels 24 of the end frame bars, suitable sheets metal brackets or clamps 2'! may be used which are channeled to form the counterpart of the channels 24 and have the end portions thereof in abutment with and secured to the flanges 2t] on opposite sides of the posts as by means of the bolts 25 (Fig. 9). In the region of the engagement channel 24, the upper flange 2! of the end frame bar may be notched as best seen at 28 in Figs. 9 and 10 to afford necessary clearance for the associated post l6. Although the end frame bars 20 may be constructed of relatively thin sheet metal, freedom from lateral sagging or tilting of the shelves is assured by having the end frame bar flanges 20*- of substantial width particularly at the engagement channels 24 where the greatest load resistance is required. From the channels 24 the flanges 2!) may taper toward their outer ends where the load demands upon the end frame bars is less. Through this arrangement, the structural elements necessary for connecting the shelves and posts together are reduced in number, and the weight of the completed rack is minimized without sacrificing strength or rigidity.

Means serving to insure proper location of the shleves upon the top portions of the posts It may be in the form of suitable spaced stops 29 (Figs. 4 and '7) herein comprising appropriately dimensioned metal pieces secured to the outer faces of the posts as by welding. The stops 29 are adapted to be engaged by the lower edges of the channels 24 or of the clamps 21, as the case may be, and will thus hold the adjacent ends of the shelves from possible downward displacement along the posts I6 should the grip of the respective opposed engagement channels 24 in a multiunit rack, or the cooperating end clamps 21 and channels 24 in a multior single-unit rack, upon the posts be for any reason insuiiicientto withstand load requirements.

In constructing a one-sided rack embodying the invention (Figs. 11 and 12), generally the same shelf construction is employed as in a double-sided rack except that the shelves consist of only about one longitudinal half of the full size shelves. Accordingly, the half-unit shelves include half the length end frame bars 20' having at their inner ends offset vertical U-shaped channels or half jaws 24' for embracing the respective posts l6 half way around. Just as in the doublesided form of rack, so also does the half embracing relationship of the channels 24 upon the supporting posts [6 enable the half shelves of two one-sided rack units to be mounted end to end to form a multi-unit rack wherein one of the posts I6 provides a common center support engaged between the adjoining end frame bars of the alined shelves. At the ends of the rack where no other rack unit is attached a jaw bracket or clamp 21', having substantially the U-shaped counterpart of the half jaw channel 24, is re- .movably secured by bolts 25 to the frame bar 20 of each shelf to complete the embracement of the adjacent post l6 for connecting the shelf to the latter. Although the length of the channel 24' and the width of the clamps 21 assures a good cantilever attachment of the half shelves to the posts 16, additional connecting means may be provided such as a bolt 3| secured through each of the clamps 21', the body of the post I6 and the associated channel 24'. The bolts 3| also hold the shelves against sliding down on the posts. Since a one-sided rack unit of this type is adapted to be backed against a wall it has base bars I? to the rear ends of which the posts It are attached and the weight of the overhanging shelf structure is prevented by brace bars l8 from tilting the posts forwardly relative to the base bars. If desired, a one-sided rack unit substantially as described, may be used as a wall rack by eliminating the base bars I1 and the braces l8 and shortening the posts I6.

Each rack unit preferably has improved coat rail means associated with the lowermost shelf thereof. As shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6, in a rack particularly adapted for check-room service, the outermost longitudinal body bars 19 of the lowermost shelf may be of a special inverted channel-shape construction and have the inner depending flanges thereof of increased width to provide coat hanger rails 32, each of which has a longitudinal series of downwardly pointing triangular hanger-hook apertures 33 therein. Through this arrangement, the hook of a coat hanger 34 can easily be inserted into one of the apertures 33 and will take a centered, non-shifting position therein. In the preferred form, the number of coat hanger apertures 33 in the hanger rail 32 at each side of the rack corresponds to the number of hat sections provided by the several hat shelves on that side of the rack. For each of the coat hanger apertures 33 a hook 35 may be provided to receive a corresponding, numbered check 31. Herein these hooks 35 may b secured to the face of the outer flange of the hanger rail bar opposite to the apertures 33. The resulting arrangement provides a strong, inexpensive and very convenient hanger rail construction which serves also as part of the hat supporting surface of the lowermost shelf of the rack.

In order to assure direct, positive support of the hanger rail bars by the respective end frame bars 20 of the lower shelf of the rack, the end portions of the hanger rail bars are preferably carried by and secured to the upper faces of the horizontal attachment flanges 2! instead of to the underfaces of such flanges as is the case with the remaining body bars l9 of the shelf. The proper position of each end of the hanger rail bar upon the end portion of each respective flange 2| is defined by an inwardly extending slot 38 (Fig. 9) within which the adjacent end of the hanger rail flange 32 is received. Through this construction, heavy loads can safely be carried by the hanger rail bar without danger of dislodging the bar from its supports.

In a slightly modified form of hanger rail construction, as shown in Figs. 2, '7 and 8, particularly adapted for a self-service type of rack, the outer longitudinal body bars of the lower shelf may be provided with outer coat rail flanges 39 of increased width to which are attached a uniformly spaced series of coat hooks 4B. The inner flanges of these coat rail bars, which may be not substantially different from the flanges of .the remaining longitudinal body bars I9 of the shelf, are received within the locating slots 38 in the upper supporting flange 2! of the end frame bars 29.

Means for reenforcing the racks to avoid end sway, may comprise diagonal brace bars 4| connected between the supporting posts It and the lower hat shelf substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. In this arrangement the upper ends of the brace bars 44 are centrally bolted to the outer face of the web of preferably channel-shaped transverse anchoring bars 42 only one of which is shown although each shelf unit has two. The latter bears against the inner longitudinal body bars 55 of the shelf and has right angular connecting flanges M at the opposite ends secured as by welding to the inner faces of the hanger rail flanges 32 of the outermost body bars of the shelf between the adjacent ones of the hanger apertures 33. This arrangement provides a firm, balanced anchorage for the upper ends of the brace bars M Another form of bracing means for the racks may comprise a novel coat rail 43 (Figs. 7 and 8) which is of inverted U shape and has the end portions of the web thereof struck up to provide flanges 64! for engaging the inner faces of the supporting posts It to which such flanges are removably connected as by means of bolts 45. The ends of the vertical flanges of the rail 43 will thus extend beyond the connecting flange 44 to receive the respective supporting posts It therebetween and may be connected to the posts by bolts 4?. As a result, the hanger rail 43 will serve to hold the rack substantially against end sway. However, to further insure rigidity in the rack and avoid any possible tendency of the supporting posts to spread, diagonal brace bars 58 may be detachably secured to the posts and to the inside face of the web of the hanger rail.

A series of the coat hooks 46 may be carried on each side of the hanger rail 43. However, the hanger rail 43 may be constructed of relatively light weight sheet metal and a series of spaced U-shaped bracing members 49 are therefore preferably secured between the lower margins of the side flanges of the rail as reenforcement to avoid any tendency of such flanges to bend inwardly under the weight of coats supported by the coat hooks til.

In the one-sided form of rack of Fig. 11, diagonal brace bars 3! extending from the posts 46 may be anchored to the lower shelf through the medium of an angular bracket 42 secured to the inner face of the web of the innermost of the body bars 19 of the shelf.

A permanent check-room arrangement of the racks may be provided as seen in Fig. 2 wherein a number of racks are located in permanent, spaced parallel relation to provide access aisles therebetween. In this arrangement the bases of the supporting posts l6 may be permanently atand reenforces the lower shelf.

tached to the floor through the medium of foot plates 5i] (Fig. 3) which replace the base structure hereinbefore described and have upstanding locating bosses 5i fitting into the hollow lower ends of the posts. At their upper ends the posts I6 may project above the uppermost shelf and are connected together by one or more header bars 52 which at their opposite ends may engage the walls of the check-room to hold the tops of the racks in alinement.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved clothing rack of the twin-post type which is of unusually simple and eiflcient construction, and has the shelf and supporting structures detachably assembled so that it may be packed and shipped in knock-down condition and readily assembled with ordinary tools by unskilled persons. The improved shelf construction by afiording a novel direct connection between the supporting posts and the shelf in a well balanced, rigid manner adapts the rack for large capacity and high efficiency although utilizing a minimum of structural parts in the assembly. Moreover, the improved coat and hanger rail features of the rack combine a plurality of functions whereby to increase the efiicien-cy of the construction still further. The rack, furthermore, is readily adaptable for various requirements and may be constructed in single or multi-unit assemblies, doubleor single-sided, and either portable or stationary or in permanent check-room combinations.

I claim as my invention:

1. A garment rack comprising, in combination, a post supported in upright position, a shelf structure mounted on said post and comprising two sections disposed in end-to-end relation on opposite sides of said post, each of said shelf sections comprising an angle bar extending transversely of the post with its vertical flange in faceto-face abutment with the vertical flange of the opposite section, and an article-supporting member permanently securedvdirectly to said angle bar, the horizontal flanges on said angle bars being cut away to accommodate said post, and said vertical flanges being offset in the direction of the horizontal flanges and shaped to embrace the post snugly, and means for fastening the abutting vertical flanges together adjacent the post.

2. A garment rack comprising, in combination, a post supported in upright position, and a garment supporting structure mounted on said post comprising an angle bar extending transversely of the post and an article-supporting member permanently secured directly to said angle bar, said angle bar having a horizontal flange with a notch midway between the ends of the bar and of a width adapted snugly to receive the post, said bar further having a depending vertical flange shaped to form a channel alined with said notch and partially embracing the post, and means cooperating with said channel to clamp the angle bar to said post.

3. A garment rack comprising, in combination, two posts supported in upright position, a plurality of cross bars mounted on each of said posts in vertically spaced relation, articlesupporting members permanently secured directly to said cross bars and cooperating therewith to form shelves, said cross bars being of L-shaped crosssection and comprising vertical flanges disposed substantially in alinement with the axes of the respective posts and horizontal flanges cut away adjacent the posts to accommodate the same, the

vertical flange of each of said cross bars continuing beyond the horizontal flange and being shaped to form a channel embracing the post, and means coacting with the channels of the cross bars to clamp the same to the posts.

4. A garment rack comprising, in combination, two posts supported in upright position, a plurality of cross bars mounted on each of said posts in vertically spaced relation, a plurality of channel-shaped members permanently secured at their opposite ends to the respective cross bars and cooperating therewith to form shelves, said cross bars being of L-shaped cross-section and comprising vertical flanges disposed substantially in alinement with the axes of the respective posts, and horizontal flanges notched midway between the ends thereof to receive the respective posts, the portions of the vertical flanges within the notched portions of the horizontal flanges being shaped to form channels partially embracing the posts, and clamping members secured to said vertical flanges and shaped to form channels embracing the sides of the posts opposite the channels in the cross bars.

RAYMOND A. MAGNUSON.

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