US2967622A - Storage rack - Google Patents

Description

P. POGLElN ETAL 2,967,622

Jan. 10, 1961 STORAGE RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 11, 1956 Z H ,m

INVENTORS. PA uz. 1.. P061. E/Nand 1.582 /E L]. R964 EIN 716% 11% fl/EIRATTORNEYS.

Jan. 10, 1961 P. L. POGLElN ETAL 2,967,622

STORAGE RACK Filed May 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. PAUL L. POGLE/N an L554 /E POGLE/N THE/R A rraRuEKS.

United States Patent STORAGE RACK Paul L. Poglein, 1111 Green St., and Leslie J. Poglein, RD. 1, both of Jeannette, Pa.

Filed May 11, 1956, Ser. No. 584,303

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-41) This invention relates to a frame or rack for supporting articles, such as a table setting of plates, cups, saucers, etc., and particularly, to a portable stand type of unit.

One object of our invention is to provide a simple and practical form of unit or rack that may be employed for compactly positioning and storing dishes, plates, etc;

Another object is to devise a storage unit which will support the dishes, etc., in a balanced and stabilized relationship, and that is freely accessible for removing and adding dishes, etc., thereto;

A further object of our invention is to devise a new and improved form of storage unit for articles used in table settings that will be pleasing in appearance, that will be stable in its supporting relationship as to the articles, and that will serve as a portable display unit for retaining the articles in a space-saving and localized relationship with each other;

These and other objects of our invention will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the illustrated embodiment elevation taken along the line IVIV of Figure 2; and

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view in elevation of the unit of our invention showing how it may be employed for supporting articles, such as a table setting of plates,

cups and saucers.

In carrying out our invention, we provide an upright stand type of unit which is so constructed that it may be positioned at a convenient location on a table, stove or shelf, sink, etc., and may be safely carried with its, load in position from place to place, as desired. This will be apparent from a study of Figure 5 which discloses that cups" are carried by their handles and plates and saucers are carried by their bottom flanges or rims. .It is also of a type that may be readily assembled and .disassembled for shipping, packing and storing the unit.

As shown in the drawings, the unit 10 has a base plate or stand part 11, a finish collar or sleeve 12 that extends vertically-upwardly from the stand 11 and about a screw stem, pin or spindle 13. As shown particularly in Figure 4, the stem 13 which is threaded at its upper and lower ends to receive positioning nuts 13a and 13b, cooperates withthe sleeve 12 and upper and lower end caps 12a to provide an upright stern, spacer or leg assembly. The leg assembly centrally carries, supports, and ties-in lower 'f end portions of a vertical rack frame part 15. e

Since the stem 13 projects through axially-aligned or complementary holes in flattened lower end portions of the frame 15, it will be apparent that the frame 15 may be securely tightened-down and held in a balanced relationship on the stand 11 by tighteningup the top finish nut 13a and the bottom nut 13b with respect to each other. This applies a compression force upon the ends of the sleeve or collar 12 to hold it, the stand 11, and the frame 15 in a secure relationship with one another.

The frame 15 which may be termed an integral bracket frame or inverted, double U-shape, as supported by the stem 13, defines a continuous vertical shape having a series of substantially horizontal support levels or areas for the articles, such as dishes and plates. An extreme top portion 15a of the frame 15 is of sufiicient longitudinal extent and of a shape suitable to provide a handle for carrying the rack. In this respect, the portion 1511 may cooperate with the sleeve 12 when the rack 10 is to be carried by both hands, or may provide an alternate hand grip with respect to the sleeve. In any event, the portion 15a provides an easily balanced suspension type of carrying grip for the rack 10 when it is loaded with articles.

The portion 15a lies substantially on a horizontal plane and at its ends is bent downwardly to provide opposed, vertical side spacer portions 15b. The portions 15b are, in turn, bent or turned into a pair of opposed, substantially horizontal or step portions 150. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is apparent that the upper portions 15a, 15b and 15c define a substantially enclosed, rectangular, upper bounding compartment or area for the articles to be carried or supported. A centrally-positioned frame or supporting ring member 19 is secured, as by weld metal w, to end connecting pieces or members 20 which project from the portions 15c.

Thus, members 19 and 20 provide a support structure or retaining support shelf for the articles which lies substantially on the horizontal plane of 'the portions and essentially, within outer bounds of the closed figure or frame defined by the upper portion of the frame 15. The diameter, shape and size of the support ring or member 19 which constitutes a centrally-disposed retaining support shelf for articles to be carried, will depend upon the nature of such articles. For example, if it is to carry saucers, as indicated in Figure 5, then 19 will have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom rim or flange of the saucers, so as to retain them in position on the unit.

A second and larger lower support and display compartment or area is defined by the portions 15c and members 19 and 20 as a roof or top portion for opposed, downwardly-projecting, side spacer portions 15d. A larger support ring, loop or frame member 16 is positioned, as by substantial horizontal connecting pieces or members 13, to thus provide a centrally-disposed retaining support shelf for articles such as plates. The members 18 are secured, as by weld metal w, to project from the opposite side portions 15d. It will be apparent that the connecting members 19 and 20, the portions 15,15d,

.and the connecting members 16 and 18 all provide a com tinuous enclosure or frame structure for the secondary or lower support compartment.

As in the case of the ring member 19, the member 16 has a shape and diameter suitable for positioning the type of articles to be carried. If, as shown in Figure 5, it is to carry and support dinner plates, it will then have a diameter slightly larger than the bottom rim or flange of such plates. As to both the members 16 and 19, it is apparent that dishes may be stacked in a supported relationship and be safely carried from place to place without danger of sliding out of position. This is true since 'the dishes are stacked in a complementary or fitted. relationship with each other, and the bottom articleIis supported in position with respect to the member 16 or 19 by its bottom rim or flange.

The secondary, lower or larger compartment of the frame 15 is supported by downwardly-declining and converging arm or leg portions 15e. The portions .152 .cooperate with the members 16 and 18 to define a supporting and bracing structure for the frame 15 of the rack or unit 10. The portions 152 and 12 provide a Y-shaped structure whose fork is closed by the portions 16 and 18.

As shown particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the bottom support member 16 defines a horizontal support frame with the connecting pieces 18, and also defines the bottom of the second or lower compartment. It is shown as having a series of books 17 projecting downwardly therefrom and secured thereto, as by weld metal w. As shown in Figure 5, these hooks 17 serve to carry the handles of articles, such as cups, in a balanced, peripherally-extending, and spaced relationship about the bottom portion of the frame 15 of the unit.

As particularly emphasized in Figure of the drawings, the unit of our invention preferably has a unitary or one-piece frame of relatively simple form, such as of strap metal. It is reinforced by cross members, such as 19 and 20 and 16 and 18, to provide a double reinforced structure. The frame 15 is further reinforced by the bottom connection made by the leg portions 15e, and by the clamping action of an assembly which includes the stem 13, the sleeve 12 and the stand 11.

Our device or unit 10 presents a pleasing and symmetrical construction Which may be employed as a server, a display, storage or dispenser device. Although the frame members or portions are shown as of strap or flat metal construction, it will be apparent that any other suitable metal or material may be used, but that it must be employed in accordance with the principles of our invention, to provide a rigid and stable support structure for the articles. The stand 11, the same as the other parts, although preferably of metal, may also be of a plastic, wood or another suitable material.

A very pleasing appearance effect has been produced by giving the sleeve 12 and all the portions of the frame 15 a black lacquer finish, and then providing the finish nut 13a, the end clamp washers 12a, and the stand 11 with a bright finish or even a bright metal finish, such as of brass, silver, or chromium.

It is also possible to make the unit out of wire, although we have found that strap metal is not only more pleasing in appearance, but adds to the stability of the construction which is important when breakable articles are to be carried. Employing a unit of our invention, a table setting of dishes or articles may be carried and positioned as a group, so that they are conveniently available, as in the kitchen, without going to the cupboard or shelves. The unit may be stored on the kitchen table, on the corner of a stove or any other suitable and convenient location. It is primarily intended for receiving, storing and dispensing dishes and other more commonly used articles which may include silverware. For the latter purpose, the stand 11 may be shaped to provide a tray.

What we claim is:

1. A handy, portable, stably-balanced support and carrying rack of the character shown and described for articles commonly used in a table setting, such as plates and saucers having bottom flanges which comprises: a one-piece vertically-extending strap metal frame, having an upper pair of horizontally-spaced-apart and opposed vertical bounding side portions connected at their upper ends by an integral substantially horizontal top handle portion, having a lower pair of horizontally spaced-apart and opposed vertical bounding side portions in a horizontally-outwardly offset and balanced relation with respect to said upper pair of bounding side portions, and having a pair of downwardly and inwardly declining connector portions extending below and from said .lowerpair of bounding side portions; upper and lower pairs of horizontal cross-connecting portions rig.dly secured to said strap metal frame, an upper article-positioning shelf ring rigidly secured to said upper pair of cross connecting portions centrally between lower ends of said upper pair of vertically bounding side portions to receive a bottom flange of a saucer therein and to horizontally support vertcally nested saucers thereabove, a bottom article positioning shelf ring of larger diameter than said upper article-positioning shelf ring rig.dly secured to said lower pair of cross connection portions centrally between lower ends of said lower pair of vertically bounding side POP tions to receive a bottom flange of a plate therein and horizontally support vert.cally nested plates thereabove; said upper and lower shelf rings cooperating with said upper and lower pairs of vertical bounding side portions and defining an upper horizontal planar surface and a lower horizontal planar surface of greater horizontal area than the upper planar surface that are bounded by said frame for supporting the saucers and plates between said boundmg side portions; said strap metal frame, said horizontal cross-connecting portions, and said upper and bottom article-positioning shelf rings being rigidly connected together to form a rigid unitized support body a centrally-pos.tioned upright stand, an upright assembly secured at its upper end to and connecting lower ends of said connector portions together in a balanced relationship horizontally-centrally of said frame, and said upright assembly being secured at its lower end to said upright stand for supporting said frame in a stable and balanced upright position on said stand.

2. A rack as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom shelf ring has hook portions secured in a radially-projecting and peripherally spaced-apart relation about its periphery to carry articles in the nature of cups by their handles in a downwardly-suspended relation therefrom.

3. A rack as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has a substantially double-inverted U-shaped of a single strap metal piece, and said upright assembly comprises an upright sleeve, upper and lower clamp washers over opposite ends of said sleeve, a threaded stem extending along said sleeve through said clamp washers and at one end through the lower ends of said connector portions and at its other end through an upper portion of said upright stand, and nut means mounted on the ends of said threaded stem to removably secure the end portions of said connector portions together in abutment with said upper clamp washer and to removably secure the upper portion of said stand in abutment with said lower clamp washer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 73,176 Hennings Aug. 2, 1927 600,903 Winters Mar. 22, 1898 738,345 Moore Sept. 8, 1903 1,394,947 Singer Oct. 25, 1921 1,712,389 Marchant May 7, 1929 1,721,299 Harrison July 16, 1929 1,888,141 Orth Nov. 15, 1932 2,206,083 Feibelman July 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 193,332 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1923 201,007 Germany of 1908 311,919 Great Britain May 23, 1929 378,667 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1932 830,376 France of 1938 646,560 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1950

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