US2980438A - Garment rack - Google Patents

Description

R. S. BAER GARMENT RACK April 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 29 Fial JIM WV Ralph SBaer ATTORNEYS April 18, 1961 R. s. BAER 2,980,438

GARMENT RACK Filed Aug. 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ralph SBaer ATTORNEYS United States Patent GARMENT RACK Ralph 'S. Baer, Silver Spring,'Md., assignor to Nelson P. Greller, Washington, D.C.

Filed Aug. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 754,241

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-793) This invention relates to wheeled garment racks of the type commonly used in the display rooms of garment manufacturers and designers and in department stores. Such garment racks should be easily maneuverable through narrow isles and around sharp corners by an attendant who either pulls or pushes-the vehicle. Because of their use in display rooms, it is desirable that the appearance of the vehicle be attractive. At the same time, because of the highly competitive nature of the garment industry, it is of the utmost importance that the contents of the rack should be concealed except when they are placed on dis play.

In order that the racks shall be light and easily maneuverable, it has been the practice to construct these racks of open work frames defining the margins of a generally right parallelepiped form. Over this frame is placed a canvas cover which, in the previously known racks, is fastened directly to the frame by means of rivets or similar fasteners. An opening is provided in one side of the cover which is normally closed by an overlying flap which is capable of being securely fastened in place.

According to the present invention, the vehicle comprises a frame having a bottom carried by four casters. The side faces of the vehicle are vertical and the top and bottom faces are horizontal. The end faces flare outward from the bottom, whereby a short wheel base is afforded and a somewhat longer garment-hanging bar is made available at the top of the vehicle. In this Way, the maneuverability of a short vehicle is realized and the carrying capacity of a longer vehicle is had. In addition to preserving the maneuverable and garment-carrying capacity, the particular shape of the frame affords a means whereby the cover which is placed over the frame can be maintained securely in place without requiring that it be riveted or otherwise fastened to the frame. This means that the covers can, when desired, be easily removed and replaced without requiring the extensive reworking which is necessary with the conventional type of garment rack.

The invention will be described having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the garment rack.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rack.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a detail of construction, the section being taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 5, showing another detail of construction.

The rack has a generally box-like bottom indicated by the reference numeral 11. This bottom 11 is supported by four casters 12. The bottom includes at each end upper and lower cross members 13 and 14, respectively. In the lower face of the bottom is an expanded metal panel 15. Curved end panels 16 extend outward from the panel and are connected with the cross members 13 and 14. The side faces of the bottom 11 are closed by panels 17. Outer end panels 18 are provided between the cross members 13 and 14 (see particularly Fig. 4).

Upright members 19 extend upward from each of the corners of the bottom 11. Viewed from the side of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 4, these uprights 19 diverge from one another along a major portion of their length. Viewed from the end as seen in Fig. 3, the uprights on opposite ends of the vehicle lie in the same vertical longitudinal plane. At their upper ends, the uprights 19 are connected by lateral cross members'21 and by a single longi tudinal member 22. Secured to the center of each cross member 21 is a bracket 23. A hanger rod 24 extends be tween the brackets 23. As shown in the drawings, the

rod 24 is located centrally of the vehicle and is beneath the lateral cross members 21. To lend additional rigidity to the structure, intermediate cross members 25 are prothe lower marginal edge of the cover to the point at which divergence between the uprights 19 is stopped. This placket 33 is provided with a conventional sliding fastener 34 whereby it may be opened or closed.

Cross member 25 carries two hooks 35, one of which appears in Fig. 4. Adjacent each of the hooks 35 in the cover is a grommeted hole 36. A flexible handle 37 may be passed through each of the holes 36 and hooked onto the hooks 35. This handle 37 affords a convenient means whereby the rack may be pulled.

An access flap 38 is afforded in the side face 32 of the cover. The margins of this flap are defined by the slidable fastener 39. The two branches of this fastener 39 extend over the top of the cover beyond the vertical center line of the rack. Secured to the inner face of the fiap 38 is a hanger retaining means 41 which, when the cover is closed, overlies the rod 24. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, this retainer comprises a channel member 42 which extends longitudinally of the rack and is secured to the cover by means of tapes 43 which pass over the exposed face of the channel and whose tab ends are stitched to the cover 29, as shown. The flanges of the channel 42 are notched so that these tapes lie flush with the lower surface of the channel 42. There are a plurality of tapes 43, four being shown in Fig. 2. The channel 42 is filled with a foam rubber or plastic material which is relatively stiff but which can be deformed slightly so completely exposed. In the ordinary use of the rack, it is not necessary to remove this cover and preferably the slidable fastener 34 is provided with a lock whereby it may be secured in its closed position. It will be readily apparent also that since the cover is fitted to the frame, this cover cannot be removed from the rack unless the fastener 34 is opened or unless the cover is cut. Thus with both slidable fasteners closed and locked, the contents are guarded against unauthorized inspection. Replacement of the cover is a simple matter, since this cover is held in place only by virtue of the fact that it is closely fitted to the frame. There are no mechanical fasteners which coact between the cover and the frame. In this way, a soiled or damaged cover can be replaced with- Patented Apr. 18, 1961.

out the racks being withdrawn from periods of time.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment rack comprising incombinationan openap r: iqx l keib t wheels; t a ed; and @J PB fl ing" said'bottom;ianppen-work' frame -defining the margins of a (storage; compartment, carriedpby said bottom em andjnprightsj i neqti st e nd ofj i horizontal members and corresponding corners" of I said. bottomJwo, of the opposed faces definedby said frame extending upward andi divergingfrom one another; a

centrahmembefextending'longitudinally' betweenthe upperlateral 'members; and a cover having only top,

side and end faces" and including a placket-extending upward from its lower edge and separable fastener' means operable to close and open said placket, said cover fitting closely; against said frame and the upper periphery of said bottom when said placket is'clos'ed, whereby withdrawal of-the cover isiprevented, said cover also having aria-access flap formed in a side face thereof, and having separable fastener means operable to open and close said access flap;

2; The combination defined in claim 1 and a high tensile strength reinforcement in the lower margin of'said cover. a V a The combination defined in claim 1 in which said central member has its upper surface beneath the upper surface of the lateral. members to which it is connected;

use for extended "memes r x W x A 7 horizontal members; and; corres ondin corners of said bottom,.two of the opposed facesadefined by said frame extending upward anddiverging from one, another; a central member extending longitudinally" between the s upper lateral members; "and ajcoverhavingj only top, side and end faces and tincluding anplacket extending upward from its lower edge' and separable fastener means operable to close and open said placket, said cover fitting closely against said frame and the upper periphery of said bottom when said placket-is closed, whereby WithandVa-i longitudinalretainer member attached to the cover drawal of the cover is prevented;v r

j 1 References Cite din the file of this patent V UNI ED "STATES PATENTS 441,264 VaniWagenen; 1 Nov; 25;. 1890 1,820,466 'Lieblein* r Aug; 25,1931 2,115,307- Kneeter. ,-.,....I V Apr. 26, 1938 2,705,180 Enrich-, u Mar. 29, 1955 2,788,888 Fisk r Apr. 16, 1957 2,841,257 Dallas,',.r e e.. c- July 1,1958

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