US3197035A - Collapsible garment rack - Google Patents

Description

July 27, 1965 'J. F. WOLF 3,197,035

COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT RACK Filed March 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JUSEPH FAY WOLF July 27, 1965 Filed March 3, 1964 J. F. WOLF COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 11a 2N6 Y United States Patent 3,17,t35 QGLLAPEIBLE GARMENT RACK Ioseph Fay Wolf, Em dwin, NIZL, assignor to Combined Industries Inc, Far Rockaway, BLT-1., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 3, H6 5, Ser. N 349,693 3 Claims. (Cl. 211--17$) This invention relates generally to racks, and is especially concerned with a unique construction adapted for use as a clothes rack or the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a rack construction of the type described, which may be stored and shipped in a knocked down condition occupying a minimum of space, and which can be quickly and easily set up or erected without the exercise of more than average skill.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rack of the type described wherein various parts thereof are sectional, with sections of difierent parts swingably connected to each other to facilitate the setting-up or erecting procedure and insure the durability and staunchness of the erected rack.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a unique sectional-shelf construction which permits of rapid assembly without the use of tools, and is rugged and reliable in its erected condition.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a rack construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is capable of economic mass production for distribution and sale at a reasonable price, and. which is adapted for utilization in many various designs and styles of neat and attractive appearance.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and re ferring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view showing an erected rack constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the erected rack of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the rack of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial side View showing a standard or post of the instant rack in assembly with supporting legs which are in collapsed condition, the legs being shown in dot-and-dash outline in intermediate and erected positions.

FIGURE 6 is a partial view showing a pair of frame sections swingably connected together and illustrating in full lines the collapsed condition.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7--] of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 83 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a partial top plan View of one shelf section constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of the shelf section of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a partial perspective view illustrating assembly of shelf sections in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 13 is a partial perspective view showing a later step in the shelf assembly.

FIGURE 14 is a partial perspective view illustrating still a later step in the assembly of the shelf sections.

FIGURE 15 is a partial perspective view illustrating the fully assembly shelf sections.

FIGURE 16 is a partial perspective view of the erected rack, and indicating directions of collapsing movement.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, the assembled rack of the instant invention is therein generally designated 16. The rack 16 includes a pair of laterally spaced upstanding sides or standards 11, each having at its lower region a pair of support members or legs 12 engageable with a supporting surface or floor. Extending laterally between lower regions of the standards 11 is abottom rail 13, and a top rail 14 extends laterally between upper regions of the standards. In addition, one or more generally horizontal shelves may extend between the standards 11, such as a lower shelf 15 extending between lower regions of the standards, an upper shelf 16 extending between upper regions of the standards, and an intermediate shelf 17 extending between upper regions of the standards and spaced below the upper shelf 16.

The standards 11 and crossrails 13 and 14 are advantageously of sectional construction, as are the shelves 115, 16 and 17. By this sectional construction the rack 19 may be quickly and easily disassembled so as to occupy a minimum of space for convenience and economy in storage and transit, and may be readily assembled with equal facility to assume its operative condition of use.

More specifically, the standards 11 may each be fabricated of a lower tubular member or section 29, intermediate tubular member or section 21 and an upper tu bular member or section 22, which sections in assembly are inserted endwise one within the other, as best seen in FIG. 4. That is, one section, say section 21 may have a reduced end portion 23 defining an annular, outwardly facing shoulder 24, with the end portion insertaole in the contiguous end of the adjacent section 20 to a limiting position with the shoulder 24- engaging the end edge of section 20. While it is not essential that fasteners be employed to secure together the members or sections of standards 11, gravity and friction suitably serving this purpose, fasteners may be utilized, if desired.

The pair of legs 12 at the lower region of each standard 11 may be defined by angulate tubular members each having an outstanding portion 26,.and a depending portion 27 connected by a bend 28 to the outstanding portion. The outstanding leg portion 26 of each leg 12 has its inner end 29 remote from the bend 28 connected to the lower standard section 26 by a strap generally designated 30.

Each strap 30 may be fabricated of sheet material and doubled, folded or bent about the respective leg end portion 29 and fixedly secured thereto, by welding or other suitable means. The doubled or bent portion of each strap 30 is designated 31 and includes an abutment edge 32 extending beyond the adjacent end of leg portion 29. The strap 30 is thus wrapped substantially halfway about the leg portion 29 and extends laterally therefrom on opposite sides thereof, as by connecting portions 33. The connecting portions 33 are defined by opposite ends of the strap 31) and provide parallel spaced projections or ears extending both laterally beyond the leg portion 26 and longitudinally beyond the end portion 29 onto opposite sides of the adjacent section 20. Also, the legs 12 of each pair associated with one standard 11 are 10- Patented July 27, 1965 cated on the opposite sides of the standard with the connection portions or ears 33 of one strap 3% overlying the connection portions 33 of the other strap. In this condition, a pivot or pin 35 passes through each section 20 and the adjacent overlying connection portions 33.

The pairs of legs 12 are thus connected to respective lower standard sections 29 for swingingmovement ,between the collapsed solid-line position of FIGURE extending generally longitudinally of the standard and the positions shown in phantom, the upper position illustrating the use condition extending generally normal to the standard. FIGURE 16 also shows the erected position of legs12.

The distal ends of leg portions 27 may be provided with feet 37, such as rubber or plastic caps for protective engagement with a supporting floor. may advantageously have its ,arcuate surfaces depressed or squeezed inward toward each other, as at 39 in FIG- URE 7 for increased rigidity.

In the operative or use condition with the legs 12.,outstanding from and generally normal to the standard ll,

the strap edges 32 provideabutment portions in engagereduced for insertion into the other section 40; and, the

receiving portion of the latter section may be formed with an upset portion 43 for receivinga transverse setscrew 44. 'The setscrew may be'tightened for holding engagement with the received section end portion 42.

The distal ends of sections 49 and 41 are swingably connected to respective lower standard sections 20, as seen in FIGURE 6.

More particularly, a strap 45, similar to the strap 39 connects the end of each section 40 and 41 to the lower "region of the respective adjacent standard section 28.

Each strap 45 is bent or wrapped substantially halfway about the end region 46 of section 40, being welded or otherwise fixed thereto, and having an edge 47 extending beyond the end of the section 49. Opposite ends of the strap 45 extend laterally and longitudinally beyond the end edge of end portion 46 to define a pair of parallel spaced facing connection portions or ears 48 extending across and on opposite sides of the frame section 20. A pivot or pin 49 passes through the frame section 29 and overlying connection portions 43 to pivotally connect together the sectionsand 40.. 7

It will be observed in FIGURE 16 that the pivotal connection 49 of strap 45 with frame section 26) is closely adjacent to the end 5% of the latter section. This proximity of strap 45 to the end 59 permits the strap and section 40 to swing about the axis of pivot 49 substantially 270 from its solid-line collapsed position on one side of and generally parallel to the section 20 to its phantom position on the other side of and generally normal to the section 20. The latter position is that of use wherein the abutment portion or edge 47 engages with the section 20 to limit further swinging movement of the section 40. The erected position of section 40 is shown FIG. 16.

Here again, the strap 45 between its pivotal connec tion 49 and edge 47 takes the major part of bending moment to substantially reduce the stress applied to the securernent of strap 45 and section 40.

The upper rail 14 is composed of tubular sections 52 and 53 detachably secured together in end-to-end relation and having their distal ends swingably connected by straps 54 to the upper standard sections 22. The

structural connection by straps 54 of sections 52 and 53 to respective frame members or sections 22 may be essen- The bend 2S 7 ing planes.

tially similar to that described in connection with FIG- URE 6, except that the straps are not located adjacent to the ends of sections Hence, the sections 52 and 5'5 are limited to substantially 90 of swinging movement relative to their connected sections 22, rather than the 279 of the lower rail sections 4% and d3.

The shelves l5, l5 and 17 may be substantially identical, so that only the upper shelf 16 need be described in detail. Shelf it? includes a pair of shelf sections 56 and 57 each fabricated of open wirework construction and detachably secured together in end-to-end, generally coplanar relation. At distal ends of shelf sections 56 and 57 may he clamps 5S and 59, or other suitable securing means for detachable connection to the upper ends of sections 22. p 7

The shelf section 56 includes a pair of side pieces 65 each fabricated ofwire bent to an elongate generally U- shaped configuration and disposed in parallel spaced, fac- The sidepieces 6i? are fixedly secured together by'crosspieces 61 having their opposite ends fixedly secured, as by welding or the like, to respective sidepieces. As best seen in FEGURES 12-15, each U-shaped side- 'piece 15 includes generally parallel spaced upper and lower wires 62 and 53 connected to each other at their The crosspieces 61 the sidepieces'ii; and, an additional longitudinal memher or wire 65 may be secured to medial regions of the crosswires 61. Thus, it will now be appreciated that the spaces 55 between the upper and lower wires 62 and 63 of side members 59 define facing slots having their inner ends closed by bends e4.

Further, the upper wires as of the sidepieces 65 may each be formed with a laterally outwardly oifset portion 67 located adjacent to and spaced from the respective bend 64.

The shelf section 5'? may include longitudinal or side- 'pieces 6) extending in parallel spaced relation and spaced apart slightly less than thesidepieces for engagement therebetw en. If desired, each sidepiece 69 may include upper and lower wires and 71, and a plurality of crosspieces '72 may extend between and be fixedly secured to the sidepieces. Certain of the crosspieces 72 may have their ends or terminal portions 73 projecting beyond the sidepieces 69, for a purpose appearing presently.

The assembly procedure of'shelf 16 is shown in FIG- URES 1245, the shelf section 57 having its sidepieces '69 engaged between the sidepieces 50 of shelf section 56.

This is enabled by entry of the projecting terminal portions 73 through the spaces defined by offset portions '67 for engagementof the terminal portions between the upper and lower wires 62 and 63 of sidepieces 6%). In

FIGURE 13 is shown an initial stage in the assembly wherein one of t re terminal portions '73 has been engaged between wires 62 and 53, while FIGURE 14 shows a later condition wherein another terminal portion 73 is being engaged between the wires 62 and 63. The condition shown in FIGURE 15 is that wherein the terminal portions '73 are engaged between wires 62 and 63 and the shelf sections 56 and 57 are slid to an extended position'with'one terminal portion 73 engaging each bend 64. The offset portions 67 are thus located out of registry with any of the terminal portions 73 so that disassembly of the shelf sections may not occur inadvertently. Of course, the shelf sections may be disassembled by reversal'of the above-described procedure.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a rack construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity' of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rack construction comprising a pair of spaced standards, a pair of legs connected to each standard and engageable with a supporting floor, a bottom rail extending between and connected to lower regions of said standards, and a shelf extending between and connected to upper regions of said standards, said shelf having a first section comprising a pair of U-shaped side members connected by cross-pieces, the U-shaped members each providing a slot, and a second section having parallel spaced members connected by cross-pieces with the ends thereof engageable in the slots, said shelf sections being of open wirework construction, said first section side members being parallel and having outwardly offset portions adapted to receive the ends of the cross-pieces of the second section, and said second section cross-piece ends extending beyond the sides of the section and engaged in the slot in the U-shaped members.

2. in a rack construction, a pair of elongate frame members, a strap fixed to one frame member and having an abutment portion extending beyond one end of said one frame member, connection means extending from said strap laterally beyond said one frame member across the other frame member, and pivot means extending through said connection means and said other frame member to connect said frame members together for swinging movement between a longitudinal collapsed position and a substantially normal erected position with said abutment portion engaging said other frame member, said strap being wrapped about said one frame member adjacent to and extending beyond said one' end thereof, the extending edges of said strap defining said abutment portion, and said connection means comprising a pair of connection portions extending laterally on opposite sides of said other frame member and longitudinally beyond said abutment portion for pivotal connection to said other frame member in said collapsed and erected positions, said connection portions being located adjacent to and spaced inward from one end of said other frame member, for swinging movement between said collapsed position substantially parallel to said other frame memher on one side thereof and said erected position substantially normal to said other frame member on the other side thereof.

3. A knockdown-rack construction comprising a pair of spaced sectional standards, a pair of legs pivotally connected to the lower regions of each standard for swinging movement between a collapsed position longitudinally of the associated standard and an erected position transversely of the associated standard, upper and lower sectional crossrails respectively extending between upper and lower regions of said pair of standards and each having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the adjacent standard for swinging movement between a collapsed position longitudinally of the associated standard and an erected position normal to the associated standard, and a sectional shelf extending between and removably connected to said pair of standards, said shelf comprising first and second wirework sections, said first section comprising a pair of generally U-shaped sides disposed in parallel planes, and cross members extending between and connected to said sides, and said second section comprising a pair'of generally parallel sides, and cross members extending between and having terminal portions extending beyond the sides of said second section, said terminal portions being engaged in said U-shaped sides.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,579 12/28 Miller 211178 1,830,282 11/31 Lorch 211178 2,195,263 3/40 Seibert 211-153 2,302,233 11/42 Maddox 211-123 2,748,955 5/56 Anselmo 211-478 2,793,764 5/57 Stork 211-478 2,893,767 7/59 Buchman 287-96 2,896,789 7/59 Sans 21137 3,132,609 5/64 Chesley 108-106 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,204 12/23 France. 934,745 8/63 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A RACK CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED STANDARDS, A PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTED TO EACH STANDARD AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A SUPPORTINF FLOOR, A BOTTOM RAIL EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTED TO LOWER REGIONS OF SAID STANDARDS, AND A SHELF EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CONNECTED TO UPPER REGIONS OF SAID STANDARDS, SAID SHELF HAVING A FIRST SECTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF U-SHAPED SIDE MEMBERS CONNECTED BY CROSS-PIECES, THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS EACH PROVIDING A SLOT, AND A SECOND SECTION HAVING PARALLEL SPACED MEMBERS CONNECTED BY CROSS-PIECES WITH THE ENDS THEREOF ENGAGEABLE IN THE SLOTS, SAID SHELF SECTIONS BEING OF OPEN WIREWORK CONSTRUCTION, SAID FIRST SECTION SIDE MEMBERS BEING PARALLEL AND HAVING OUTWARDLY OFFSET PORTIONS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF THE CROSS-PIECES OF THE SECTION SECTION, AND SAID SECOND SECTION CROSS-PIECE ENDS EXTENDING BEYOND THE SIDES OF THE SECTION AND ENGAGED IN THE SLOT IN THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS.

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