US3039617A - Collapsible rack - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1962 A. SINGER COLLAPSIBLE RACK Filed Dec. 21, 1959 FIG! JNVENTOR. ARNOLD Si NGER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,039,617 Patented June 19, 1962 3,039,617 COLLAPSIBLE RACK Arnold Singer, 7242 Amherst, University City, Mo. Filed Dec. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 861,057 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-86) This invention relates in general to display fixtures and, more particularly, to a collapsible rack adapted for Wall support.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide .a novel, collapsible rack which is adapted for readily detachable engagement upon a Wall surface so that the same may be used to quickly, and temporarily, if desired, convert an erstwhile open space into a garment display or storage area.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible rack which is adapted, when in disuse, to be knocked down into a compact, light weight, easily handled and carried unit for facile transportation and storage in minimum space.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a collapsible rack which incorporates easily operated means for engagement within, and disengagement from, a wall bracket, and which, thus, entails only a single integrally provided support member, thereby having a relatively reduced number of parts.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible rack of the type stated which isof simple construction, and is most durable and reliable in usage; and which is adapted for economical, high-volume production.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein- FIGURE 1 is an end view of a collapsible rack constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, showing the rack in inoperative position.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the rack showing the same in collapsed position in full lines and in extended or operative position in phantom lines.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view, partially in vertical section, of the bar and associated parts.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial plan view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a collapsible rack, as used for displaying or supporting garments, and the like, which comprises a bar 1, being of two-part construction having a relatively long main section 2, preferably formed of tubular stock, and a short base section 3, as may be constructed of flat stock, which are hingedly engaged, as at 4, whereby said sections 2, 3 will be axially aligned for operative disposition (see phantom lines FIGURE 2) when said hinge is closed, or will be in axially normal relation when said hinge is opened and said rack is collapsed for disuse (see full lines FIGURE 2).

Carried on the free end of section 3, as by welding, is a mounting plate 5, dimensioned for insertion within a wall bracket 6 which latter may be secured in any suitable manner, such as by screws, or the like, upon a con venient Wall surface, as indicated at w. Said bracket 6 incorporates a base plate 7 which tapers downwardly and inwardly at its sides with its lateral portions being turned or bent inwardly in substantially parallel relationship to said base plate 7 to form a pair of converging side channels, as indicated at 8, for reception therein of the edge portions 40 of mounting plate 5, and with the upper end 41 of bracket 6 being of greater width than said mounting plate 5 for facile reception of the same within channels 8, and the lower end 42 being of less width (see FIGURE 4) so that said mounting plate is wedgingly received to effect a snug interfit. Thereby, through such interengagement, rack A may be supported at its normally inner end from wall surface w.

Provided for supporting the normally outer end of bar 1 or the end portion remote from mounting plate 5, is .a post or upright 9, as formed of any suitable stock although desirably tubular, which at its lower end may carry a foot structure 10, and at its upper end mounts a sleeve 11 freely, slidably disposed on bar 1, and thus being of relatively slightly greater diameter whereby said post may be selectively positioned along bar 1, although disposition of the same adjacent the outer end of the latter constitutes normal supporting position. The outer end of bar 1 mounts an end cap or finial 12 for stop-wise abutment thereagainst of sleeve 11 when post 9 is in bar-supporting position. Provided in bar il, adjacent end cap 12 is a spring biased locking pin 13 which is urged upwardly through an opening 14 in bar 1. Sleeve 11 is punched or drilled to present an aperture 15 in its upper surface for registration with opening 14 for extension therethrough of pin 13 to enhance the stability of post 9 in operative position.

Hinge 4 may be of any reliable construction, but it has been found that the following described structure is productive of a reliable hinged joint. Short section 3 defines an axial tongue which at its outer end is downwardly and outwardly inclined as at 16 and its received within an axially extending, open bottomed slot 18 formed in the adjacent end of section 2, being engaged therein by a pivot pin 19. Slot 18 is formed by axial slitting of the bottom wall of section 2 in its inner end portion, and then turning inwardly the now formed edges to provide slot 18 with opposed flanges, as at 20, which bear snugly against the sides of short section 3 for maintaining, through their inherent resiliency, tight engagement therewith. "It will be noted that the upper inner wall surface of section 2, as at 21, will abut against the upper surface of tongue-forming section 3 so that when engagement is effected therebetween section 2 will be locked rigidly against any inadvertent upward swinging movement relative to section 3, and with post 9 in operative position, any accidental downward swinging of section 2 will be inhibited so that bar 1 will present a sturdy member for bearing any imposed load.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it Will be noted that with rack A in collapsed condition, with mounting plate 5 disposed within bracket 6, said post 9 will be presented inwardly of section 2 with sleeve 11 being surroundingly of section 3 to permit full opening of hinge 4, thereby allowing section 2 to swing into substantially parallel relationship to said post 9. In this condition and upon Withdrawal of mounting plate 5 from bracket 6, rack A forms a most compact unit, adapted for facile transportability and for storage within a minimum area. When it is desired to utilize rack A, the user will merely insert mounting plate 5 within a conveniently located wall bracket 6 and then lift or swing section 2 upwardly into axially aligned relationship with section 3, and thereupon shift post 9 outwardly along bar 1 until the same is presented adjacent cap 10 with sleeve 11 engaged by locking pin 13. Thus, the assembly of the parts of rack A require but a few moments and, hence, may be achieved most rapidly by unskilled users. In this position rack A is available for usage, and it will be noted that as weight is suspended from bar 1, as by articles of clothing, mounting plate 5 will be forced downwardly within the channels 8 of bracket 6 to become more firmly wedged therein. Consequently, with a load applied on rack A, its stability is enhanced.

The collapsing or knocking down of rack A is accomplished most easily. After depressing or unlocking locking pin 13, post 9 is moved inwardly along bar 1 until the same is presented between hinge 4 and mounting plate 5, whereupon section 2 is free to swing downwardly into inoperative position, and then rack A is merely lifted sufiiciently to remove plate from engagement within Wall bracket 6.

It is to be observed that the length of sleeve 11 is less than the length of short section 3 so that hinge 4 may be cleared when post 9 is disposed inwardly thereof preparatory to downward swinging of section 2.

Thus, the present invention provides a rack of extreme versatility which utilizes as an element of support, any readily accessible wall surface and thereby requires relatively few parts. The same may be readily presented for use within any convenient space, as all that is required is a wall bracket which, of course, may be secured to any wall surface, and by its unique collapsible character permits such space to be quickly restored to its previous condition for its prior or other usage. The utilization of costly, currently constructed racks and of rigid mobile fixtures, with their continued usurpation of needed warehouse space, as has heretofore been the practice in this field, is obviated. Patently, the present invention is extremely adaptable for home use, as an auxiliary hanging rod, being available for supporting laundry, or for receiving outer garments during periods of increased social activity, etc., while not providing a permanent, awkward and unsightly device.

It is apparent that the present invention may be readily and cheaply manufactured, and that through its simplicity of construction is not disposed to breakdown or damage, but has proved highly reliable and durable in use.

If desired, the rack of the present invention may be easily transformed into a permanent structure, to become thereby a fixture available for continuous use. Plate 5 may be rigidly secured to bracket 6, or directly to a suitable wall surface, in any desired manner, and post 9 may be fixed against selected positioning along bar 1.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and com bination of the several parts of the collapsible rack may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible rack comprising a female bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall, first and second sec tions with a male bracket on one section detachably connected to the female bracket, said second section being a tubular member, an axial tongue member formed at the other end of said first section, said second section having at one of its ends an axial slot for receiving said tongue of said first section, .a pivot pin inter-engaging said tongue and said slotted end of said second section for relative swingable movement of said sections between axially aligned, operative position wherein said tongue will abut on its upper surface against the inner upper surface of said second section and axially normal inoperative position, a post member having a sleeve at its upper end mounted on said sections and having a greater cross-section than said first and second sections for shiftable movement therealong, an abutment provided at the free end of said second section for stop-wise engagement of said sleeve when said post is in operative position, and a locking pin slidably mounted on said second section proximate said abutment for engaging an opening in said sleeve to maintain same against inadvertent movement when said post is in operative position spaced from said wall.

2. A collapsible rack as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said second section having resilient flange means on either side of the axial slot for engaging the confronting side faces of the tongue of said first section for biasing same against relative movement.

3. A collapsible rack comprising first and second sections with a male bracket on one section detachably connected to a female bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall, said second section being tubular and hingedly engaged to the other end of said first section for relative movement of said sections between axially aligned operative position and axially normal inoperative position, cooperating means on the hinge portions of said first and second sections for maintaining same in preselected relationship, a post member having a sleeve at its upper end slidably disposed on said bar for shiftable movement along said first and second sections, an abutment provided at the other or free end of said second section for stopwise engagement with said sleeve when said post is in operative position at the end of said second section with said sections in .axially aligned relationship, and locking means slidably provided on said second section proximate said abutment for engaging said sleeve to maintain same against inadvertent movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,986 Heizer Nov. 20, 1900 1,047,931 Gilmore Dec. 24, 1912 2,173,159 Ewan Sept. 19, 1939 2,416,464 Amen Feb. 25, 1947 2,719,688 Seifert Oct. 4, 1955 2,816,668 Marshall Dec. 17, 1957

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