US3358847A

US3358847A - Garment rack

Info

Publication number: US3358847A
Application number: US504531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond A Magnuson
Original assignee: VOGEL PETERSON CO
Current assignee: VOGEL PETERSON CO
Priority date: 1965-10-24
Filing date: 1965-10-24
Publication date: 1967-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-19

Description

R. A. MAGNUSON Dec. 19, 1967 GARMENT RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 .M; Wm rww Z5 2 m /A 4% M 6 E Dec. 19, 1967 R. A. MAGNUSON 3,358,847

GARMENT RACK Filed Oct. 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1967 R. A. MAGNUSON 3,358,347

GARMENT RACK Filed Oct. 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F //VI//V 70?. 4/ Kali/0111A May/ mm,

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Dec. 19, 1967 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 R. A. MAGNUSON GARMENT BACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 -7 F; I gay/1011004. May/ wag ATIWFAM'VS.

Dec. 19, 1967 R. A, MAGNUSQN 3,358,847

' GARMENT RACK Filed Oct. 24, I965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/VA'NI'OE.

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United States Patent 3,358,847 GARMENT RACK Raymond A. Magnuson, Hinsdale, lll., assignor to Vogel- Peterson Co., Elmhurst, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,531 16 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A free standing garment rack having a stack of laterally flexible shelves which snap into pairs of supporting brackets extending from a pair of uprights, with the lowest pair of brackets also supporting between their ends a hanger rail which holds a plurality of hanger receptacles slidably mounted in the rail. Each upright also supports an umbrella stand and a footwear shelf extends between the bottom portions of the umbrella stands.

The present invention relates generally to garment racks and more particularly, to such racks of the freestanding type intended primarily to receive and hold hats and coats and other apparel, and to structural components therefor.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement for a garment rack of the wardrobe type which is readily adaptable to accommodate many and varied use requirements, which incorporates interchangeable structural components and which not only permits shipment in knocked-down condition but assembly by even an unskilled person into a sturdy structure.

It is a further object to provide a versatile rack structure permitting of adaptability for numerous desired uses simply by the selective utilization of standard pro-formed parts. A related object of the invention lies in the provi sion of a rack structure incorporating a minimum number of components of relatively simple form and which themselves permit of independent use.

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

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete wardrobe rack embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a shelf, bracket and hanger rail assembly, of the rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a shelf pan.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view of a shelf pan.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 55 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are stop-motion views showing a shelf bracket in side elevation and a shelf pan in cross-section and in position assumed by it upon its installation on the bracket.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially in the plane of line 99 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 10-40 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken in offset planes as indicated by the line 1111 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section through a hanger rail and a pair of hooks mounted thereon.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a hanger receptacle mounted in a hanger rail.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section through a hanger rail mounting both a hook and a garment hanger receptacle.

FIG. 15 is a fragment vertical section taken substantially along the line 1515 in FIG. 1.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the 3,358,847 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 drawings and will herein be described in detail, a pre-' ferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed. On the contrary it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions fall ing within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a wardrobe rack 19 which includes a pair of spaced upright end frames 20. The end frames include vertically elongated posts 21 which are secured upon forwardly extending base bars 23 and are braced with respect thereto by corner inserts 25. The lower ends of the frames 20 are maintained in predetermined spaced relation in the illustrative rack by a shelf 29. As shown, the shelf is fastened to and extends between the corner inserts 25. Thus the shelf is conveniently located for receiving and supporting footwear, briefcases, and the like.

To maintain the upper portions of the end frames in predetermined spaced relation corresponding to that of their lower portions a connecting bar 31 is provided which is secured at its outer ends to the posts 21 and diagonal struts 33 are interconnected between the posts and the connecting bar 31. At the top of the illustrative rack a series of vertically spaced shelves 35 are provided. Each of the shelves includes a shelf pan 36 which are supported on and between a pair of forwardly projecting shelf brackets 37. The brackets 37 are respectively mounted at their rear ends on the front surfaces of the posts 21 of the end frames 20. Additionally a hanger rail 39 is interposed between the forward ends of the lowermost pair of brackets 37 which is fashioned for the reception of garment hangers.

It will be apparent that in addition to its garment hanger supporting function the hanger rail also contributes to the rigidity of the assembly rack and particularly against skewing because of its disposition between the outer ends of the supporting brackets 37 to which it is secured and its forwardly spaced relation to the connecting bar 31.

Turning now to the shelf pan 35 which constitutes an important aspect of the present invention, each pan, as best seen in FIGS. 2-5 inclusive, is formed of sheet metal which is perforated and ribbed soas to be slightly flexible laterally, or in other words about a longitudinal axis but to be relatively rigid longitudinally so as to strongly resist flexure or bending about a lateral axis. Rigidity about a lateral axis of the shelf pan 35 is accomplished by the provision of laterally spaced longitudinal ribs 43. Between the ribs 43 the intervening Web portions of the shelf pans 35 are provided with a longitudinal spaced series of openings 41. Resistance to bending along the length of the shelf is also enhanced by the provision of channels 47 along both the front and rear sides of the shelf. As shown, each channel 47 is formed by a depending flange 49 having its free end turned inwardly, defining its bottom 51 and then terminating in an upwardly curled lip 53. The provision of the lip 53 serves not only to strengthen the channel 47 but, in addition, is a safety feature in that a possibly sharp edge on the metal from which the shelf pan 35 is fashioned, is thus turned so as to be unlikely of being contacted by the hands of users. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, to retain the rearwar-dly disposed edges of the shelf pan 35 in place with respect to the brackets 37 channels 47 are provided with slots or notches 55 which are cut into the opposite ends of the flanges 49, and small openings 56 are provided in the web portions of the shelf pans 35 adjacent the lateral shelf edges,

As hereinbefore noted, each shelf pan is supported at its opposite ends by a bracket 37 which is secured to the corresponding upright posts 21 of one or the other of the end frames 20. Each of the brackets 37 has a laterally extending arm 57 which at its root is integral with an upright channeled flange 59. The flange 59 is adapted to receive and be secured to the juxtaposed portion of the forward face of the post 21. The bracket arm 57 includes an upright wall 61 running the length of the arm. On each side of the upright wall 61 and extending laterally therefrom is a pair of ledges 63 which also run the length of the arm 57. The ledges 63 provide vertical support for the ends of the shelf pan 35. To receive and hold the forward edges of the shelf pans 35 in installed position upon the brackets 37 against forward and upward movement, the supporting ledges 63 are turned upwardly and rearwardly at their tips, as indicated at 64, about the forward extremity of the upright wall 61 thereby defining a socket-like abutment for the reception of the outer ends of the forward channel 47 of the shelf pans 35.

To assist in holding the shelf pan in place a lug 65 is provided which extends laterally from the upright wall 61 in superimposed relation above each of the ledges 63 and terminates in an upturned tip 66 for hooking engagement into one of the shelf pan openings 56 formed adjacent the ends of the shelf pans 35 (FIGS. 2 and Additionally, a boss 67 is extended laterally from the bracket flange 59 forwardly over the rear ends of the ledges 63 for locking the rear edges of the shelf pans 35 into place (FIGS. 2 and 9).

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 have been included in the drawings to illustrate the assembly of a shelf pan 35 in installed relation upon a bracket 37. Thus, to install a shelf pan 35 in the bracket, the forward edge of the shelf as defined by the edge channel 47 is inserted within the socketed end 64 of the bracket 37 (FIG. 6) and the rear edge channel 47 is lowered adjacent the channeled flange 59 of the bracket until the bottom 51 of the channel engages the boss 67. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the shelf pan 35 is laterally flexed so as to be bowed about a longitudinal axis thereby drawing the bottom 51 of the rear edge channel forwardly so that it can pass over the boss 67 that projects from the bracket flange. When the rear edge flange 45 of the shelf pan 35 has been moved downwardly a sufficient distance the flange slot 55 is brought into juxtaposition with the boss 67. When this position is attained the shelf pan 35 is released and its resiliency causes it to snap into its normal flat condition (FIG. 8) wherein the slot 55 receives the boss 67 and the flange 49 of the rear channel 47 engages the juxtaposed portion of the forward face of the bracket flange 59. So, too, the forward edge channel 47 of the shelf pan 35 is snugly received in the socketed forward end 64 of the bracket 37 and the lug 65 is engaged within the registering shelf opening 56. It is thus apparent that the shelf end is thereby secured against forward and rearward movement by respective engagement of the channel flanges 49 with the juxtaposed portions of the bracket and against longitudinal movement by engagement between the ends of the shelf pan 35 and the upstanding Wall 61 and by the reception of the lug 65 within the registering shelf opening 56.

In addition to locking the shelf ends and supporting brackets in place against relative longitudinal movement therebetween the lugs 65 provide vertical support for the central portion of the shelf pans 35 so as to minimize downward bowing thereof that might be caused by the weight of articles placed upon the shelves. This same feature also serves to prevent disengagement if such downward bowing were permitted of the forward and rear shelf edge channels from the socketed bracket. tip 64 and the boss 67.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the ribs 43 perform useful functions in addition to providing stiffness to resist longitudinal flexure of the shelves 35. Among these additional functions is that the ends of the ribs provide for multiple points of engagement between the adjacent upstanding bracket walls 61 and thereby contribute to the strengthening of the rack against a relative skewing movement between the end frames 20 and indeed further assist in preventing turning movement of the upstanding channeled bracket flanges 59 with respect to the posts 21. In addition to their bracing or strengthening functions the ribs 43 which extend upwardly above the intervening web portions of the shelf pans 35 serve to space articles placed upon the shelves 35 from resting upon the flat upwardly facing surfaces of the shelf pans Where dust might accumulate.

To enhance ease of assembly of the rack 19 each of the shelves 35 is made completely symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis. Thus one of the ribs 43 is disposed centrally between the forward and rear edges of the shelves and the remainin ribs are spaced equidistantly and outwardly therefrom. So, too, the channeled outer edges of the shelf are similiarly formed with depending flanges 49 of equal depth and having correspondingly located slots 55 formed in their opposite ends. Similiarly two openings 56 are provided, one on each side of the central rib 43 and equally spaced therefrom for the reception of the bracket lug 65. Thus, whichever side of the shelf 35 that might be placed in the socketed outer ends 64 of the brackets in the position of the front edge, the opposite edge of the shelf ordinarily becomes its rear edge and can accommodate the bossx 67 in its end slot 55. So, too, the brackets of which six are utilized in the ilustrative embodiment are identically formed. The result is that the shelves can be assembled as shown in FIG. 1 at the top of the rack 19 without necessity for selecting the parts in any particular order so long as the brackets 37 are first secured to the posts 21 and then the shelf pans 35 are installed thereon, being simply snapped into place as hereinbefore described.

As herebefore noted the illustrative rack incorporates a hanger rail 39 which extends between the forward ends of the lowermost pair of brackets 37. Advantageously the hanger rail 39 can be formed from a single sheet of high strength metal, such as steel, so as to provide along its upper edge a longitudinal top panel 71 having depending side flanges 73 formed integral therewith to define an inverted channel 75 for the reception of hanger receptacles 76 (FIG. 13). The hanger rail 39 also includes a downwardly projecting fin 77 which as shown comprises an extension of the forward one of the flanges 73. One of the functions of the fin 77 is to support garment hangers and to this end it is provided with a longitudinally spaced series of openings 79 advantageously of diamond shape. The outermost edge of the fin 77 is in the illustrative embodiment turned back upon itself and pressed into intimate engagement with the contiguous fin portion so as to provide additional strength and to provide a smooth rounded edge on the flange.

In order to further enchance facility of assembly and yet at the same time to increase strength and rigidity of the rack, the depending flange portions 73 of the hanger rail 39 are undercut, or slotted, as indicated at 80, by an amount slightly in excess of the width of the ledge 63 of the bracket 57. Thus a tab 81 is provided (FIG. 2) which comprises the projecting outer end portion of the top panel 71 of the hanger rail 39, and the adjacent ends of the flanges 73 comprises a pair of outwardly projecting shoulders 82. The adjacent fin portion is left in tact and is thus substantially coextensive with the tab 81. The slot 81 at each end of the hanger rail is appropriately dimensioned to receive the ledge 63 thereon and a single hole 85 is provided at the tab 81 for registration with a corresponding hole 87 in the ledge 63 of the bracket 37 (FIGS. 2 and 11) for the reception of an appropriate fastener such as a self-tapping screw 89.

To assemble the hanger rail 30 upon a bracket 37 the tab 81 of the hanger rail is simply pushed into engagement with the bracket arm ledge 63 adjacent the outer end of the bracket and the holes 85 and 87 brought into registration. In such relative positions the outer end of the tab 81 abuts the upstanding wall 61 of the bracket and the shoulders 82 formed by the depending flanges 73 of the hanger rail 39 also abut the ledge 63. Upon insertion of a fastener such as a screw 89 through the registering openings 85 and 87 the hanger rail and the bracket are firmly secured together against any relative movement (FIG. 11). Thus it will be seen that although only a single fastener 89 is used in effecting this connection between the hanger rail 39 and the bracket 37, any angular movement of the rail with respect to the bracket about the fastener 89 is prevented by the abutment of the three hanger rail portions against the juxtaposed surface portions of the bracket. The rigidity thus imparted is an important result, particularly in that it permits utilization,

according to user demand, of the hanger rail alone exthe hooks 91 are mounted on the hanger rail by means of such bolts which are extended through the upper and lower extremities of the elongated, diamond-shaped openings 79 in the hanger rail 39. Hooks 91 can be provided both in front of and behind the hanger rail fin 77, if desired, and in that event the hooks would be mounted in pairs upon two fastening elements such as the nuts and

bolts

95 and 97 as illustrated in FIG. 12. Alternatively only a single hook can be used, in which instance it is desirably placed on the forward face of the depending fin 77 of the hanger rail 39 as shown in FIG. 14. Th s construction and arrangement, utilizing as fasteners selftapping metal screws 99, also results in leaving the downwardly facing channel 75 of the hanger rail free.

In installations Where the hanger rail is equipped with hooks it is also often desirable to make provision for increasing the garment hanging capacity of the racks and at the same time to provide for the accommodation of coat hangers. The use of coat hangers is essential when articles of apparel such as fur coats or garments of more delicate materials are to be accommodated. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the hanger rail is utilized to accommodate variously formed garment hangers.

As Will be apparent to one skilled in the art garment hangers are conventionally equipped with hook-topped supporting stems or with stems having T-shaped, Y- shaped, or ball-shaped tips, the latter being provided to minimize pilferage of the garment hangers. To accommodate any of the variously stemmed garment hangers,

hanger receptacles are utilized in conjunction With the hanger rail. One such receptacle is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. There hanger receptacles 76 are provided which are adapted for support by the hanger rail 39. Thus the hanger receptacle 76 is formed with a head 101 having inwardly sloping side walls which are s idably received in the track defined by the downwardly opening channel portion 75 of the hanger rail 39. At its lower end the hanger receptacle 76 is equipped with a garment hanger stem receiving cage 103. Thus the cage is open on three sides with one side having a slot 104 therein which is enlarged at its upper end to permit the insertion therethrough of T-topped, Y-topped, or ball-topped hanger stems. Through the open contiguous sides a conventional open hook-stemmed hanger can be inserted.

The hanger receptacles 76 can also be employed in combination with the hooks 91 (FIG. 14). By combining the use of hanger receptacles with that of the hooks the capacity of the hanger rail can be readily increased during peak load periods and when such periods pass the garment hangers can be removed and stored elsewhere 6 while the hanger receptacles are retained in the channel 75 of the hanger rail 39 hidden from view by the depending fin portion of the hanger rail.

In locations requiring increased garment hanging capacity, the instant construction and arrangement is uniquely adapted to permit of lateral extension simply by the provision of a remote end frame laterally spaced from either of the end frames of the illustrative rack and by mounting additional shelf pans and hanger rails end to end. Such an arrangement is indicated in FIG. 2 wherein one hanger rail 39 and a shelf pan 35 are shown in position for engagement with one side of the bracket 37 and another shelf pan and hanger rail are shown in phantom outline seated upon the left ledge of the bracket 37. In other words the bracket parts are duplicated on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing therethrough. Thus each pair of shelf pans and hanger rails are held in position upon the bracket 37 by the ledges 63, lugs 65, bosses 67, ledge openings 87 as hereinbefore described, which elements are symmetrically situated on opposite sides of the upstanding bracket wall 61.

An additional feature of the Wardrobe rack is the provision of means for receiving various accessories such as umbrellas, canes and the like. To this end in conjunction with each end frame 20 an umbrella stand 104 is provided. Each stand includes a drip tray 105 mounted on the corner insert 25 and a support arm 107 mounted on the post 21. The arm 107 is secured to the post 21 by means of a depending channel flange 109 at the end of the arm 107, with the arm extending outwardly from the post 21 and disposed in alignment with the tray 105 at a suitable distance above it. Laterally spaced openings 111 are provided in the arm 107 for individually receiving and maintaining upright the umbrellas placed therein.

The drip tray 105 which can advantageously be formed of a plastic material, has a series of depressions 113 along its bottom corresponding in number and regi=tering with the openings in the arm 107 above the tray. The depressions 113 serve to receive the tips of umbrellas. The tray 105 is detachably mounted on the corner insert 25. For this purpose a pair of depending flanges 117 are provided at the bottom of the drip tray so as to define a downwardly opening channel adapted to receive the top flange 25a of the corner insert 25. Due to their inherent resiliency, the plastic flanges 117 retain drip tray 105 securely upon corner insert 25. Yet, when it is desired to install or remove the tray, it can readily be slid along the flanges 25a toward or away from the post 21.

Thus, it is apparent that means have been provided for receiving umbrellas and the like on the wardrobe rack 19 which is readily accessible and kept away from clothing on the rack so as to prevent such clothing from being Wet or soiled. It will also be seen that, where several wardrobe racks are connected end to end, the end frames 20 define a space for ready access to umbrellas and canes deposited in the umbrella racks free from interference with wearing apparel supported on the racks.

Thus it may be seen that there has been provided a wardrobe rack which is strong. of simple construction permitting of rapid assembly with the simplest of tools, and yet which despite the relatively few parts is adaptable to various uses to which it might be put through the selective utilization of its components.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wardrobe rack comprising, in combination, a pair of end frames each including an upright post and a horizontally extending base member connected to the bottom of said post for maintaining said post in an upright position, forwardly extending brackets attached near the tops of said upright posts, means rigid with said brackets for limiting lateral and longitudinal shelf movement and transverse shelf movement, and an elongated laterally flexible shelf pan bowed and sprung about a longitudinal axis into position between said brackets and secured in place therein in engagement with said means for limiting shelf movement and bracing said brackets against movement with respect to said posts.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein an insert is secured in the corner between each of said posts and said base members, and a second elongated shelf pan fastened at each of its ends to said inserts for supporting footwear or other articles and also bracing the lower ends of said end frames against relative movement.

3. In a shelf structure the combination comprising an elongated flexible shelf pan capable of being bowed along its longitudinal axis without permanent deformation and having longitudinal side edges defined by depending flanges and having an end with a transverse stop surface therein, and a bracket for supporting said shelf pan and including a laterally extending arm, upright surfaces on said arm spaced apart to receive said shelf pan between them when bowed along its longitudinal axis, lateral projections on said upright surfaces to retain said shelf pan between said upright surfaces and an upright projection on said arm for engaging said transverse stop surface in the end of said shelf pan to retain said shelf pan against longitudinal movement away from said bracket.

4. In a shelf structure the combination comprising an elongated shelf pan of limited lateral flexibility, said pan having longitudinally extending side edges and having an opening adjacent its end, and a bracket for supporting said shelf pan, said bracket including an arm having a ledge for supporting one end of said pan, said arm terminating at its opposite ends in upright portions spaced apart corresponding to the width of said pan to snugly receive the opposite sides of said pan adjacent the ends thereof so as to prevent relative lateral movement between said bracket and pan, projections on said upright portions for engaging said shelf pan to prevent vertical movement thereof with respect to said bracket, said bracket further having an upright wall extending along said ledge and engageable with the transverse end of said pan to prevent longitudinal movement of said pan in one direction and a lug on said wall engageable in said pan opening to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in an opposite direction, said shelf pan being sprung into position against said ledge, said upright portions, said wall and said lug for securely retaining the same in place upon said bracket.

5. In a wardrobe rack the combination comprising a pair of elongated shelf pans, each said shelf pan being of limited flexibility about a longitudinal axis and having a panel portion with openings adjacent its ends, said shelf pans also having downwardly flanged sides curled under to form depending, facing channels, a bracket for supporting one end of each of said shelf pans, said bracket having a laterally extending arm, a pair of ledge surfaces running along at least a portion of said arm, an upright wall separating said ledge surfaces, upright end portions on said arm spaced to receive opposite, channeled sides of said shelf pans, inwardly facing lateral projections on said end portions for retaining the channeled shelf sides of each shelf pan against transverse movement, and lugs on opposite sides of said wall for engaging said openings in said shelf pans to retain said shelf pans against longitudinal movement.

6. A shelf assembly comprising, in combination, an elongated longitudinally rigid shelf pan having limited lateral flexibility and having openings adjacent its ends and having sides defined by depending flanges, said flanges having lateral surfaces at the opposite ends of said pan, and a pair of brackets adapted for mounting in laterally spaced relation to receive and support the opposite ends of said shelf pan, each of said brackets including a forwardly extending arm, a ledge along at least a portion of said arm providing vertical support for said pan, a wall rising from said ledge and engageable by one end of said pan to limit longitudinal movement thereof in one direction, a lug on said wall for engaging said pan opening to retain said shelf pan against longitudinal movement in the opposite direction, upright end portions on said arm spaced to receive therebetween the opposite sides of said pan for limiting pan movement along said ledge, and inwardly extending lateral projections on said end portions for engaging the lateral surfaces of said flanges for retaining said pan against vertical movement.

7. In a wardrobe rack the combination comprising a bracket having a forwardly extending arm having means for firmly mounting it at one end and having a ledge portion near its other end, a unitary hanger rail having a downwardly opening channel section for receiving a hanger receptacle, said channel section including a central panel with depending flanges along the opposite sides of the panel, said hanger rail additionally including a downwardly extending fin depending from one of said flanges with longitudinally spaced openings in said fin for receiving garment hangers, said hanger rail having a support tab at the outer end of said central panel channel for resting upon said bracket ledge so as to support said hanger rail upon said bracket, and means for securing said tab to said ledge to prevent longitudinal movement of said hanger rail relative to said bracket.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said flanges are longitudinally slotted adjacent said central panel by an amount corresponding to the width of said ledge so as to define said support tab and for abutting the remaining flange portions with said bracket so as to prevent relative angular movement between said bracket and said hanger rail.

9. In a wardrobe rack the combination comprising a bracket having a laterally extending arm with a ledge on said arm, a unitary sheet metal hanger rail having a downwardly opening channel section having depending flanges defining a track, means on said rail for supporting said rail upon said bracket ledge, and a fin depending from one of said flanges and having spaced openings therein, hooks mounted upon said fin at said openings, and a hanger receptacle having a head slidably mounted in said track and having an open sided cage depending from said head for receiving and supporting the stem of a garment hanger.

19. In a wardrobe rack the combination comprising a bracket having a laterally extending arm, a ledge surface on said arm, an upright wall rising from said ledge surface, a hanger rail having a downwardly opening channel section including depending flanges defining a track and having a tab extending past said flanges supporting said hanger rail upon said bracket arm ledge, and a fin depending from one of said flanges and having spaced apart openings therein, and garment supporting hooks mounted on said hanger rail at said openings.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said openings are vertically elongated and diamond shaped, and wherein said hooks are mounted on said hanger rail fin by means of bolts through opposite ends of said openings.

12. In a wardrobe rack the combination comprising a bracket having a laterally extending arm with means at one end for mounting said arm, said arm having a ledge portion spaced from said end, a hanger rail attached at one of its ends to said ledge portion and having a track with downwardly turned flanges providing a channel and a fin depending from one of said flanges and having laterally spaced openings therein, garment supporting hooks mounted upon said fin by means of fasteners extending into said openings, and a hanger receptacle having a head slidably disposed in said channel and having a cage portion depending from said head for receiving garment hangers.

13. In a wardrobe rack, the combination comprising an end frame including an upright post, a base member rigid with said post at its lower end and extending hori- Zontally outwardly with respect thereto, an insert rigid with said post and said base member in the corner formed therebetween, said insert having an upper edge substantially parallel to said base member, a drip tray mounted on said upper edge of said insert and an arm mounted on said post in spaced relation above said tray and extending substantially parallel thereto, said arm having a plurality of spaced openings therein alined with said tray for receiving umbrellas and the like.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the bottom of said tray has upwardly opening recesses therein alined with said arm openings for positioning the tips of umbrellas extending through said opening.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein said drip tray includes a downwardly facing longitudinal channel on its bottom surface for slidably engaging the upper edge of said insert.

16. As an article of manufacture an elongated laterally flexible shelf pan formed of sheet metal having laterally spaced rows of longitudinally spaced elongated openings therein, longitudinal raised ribs disposed between said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,584 12/1933 De Saussure 108-30 2,993,603 7/1961 Fohn 108-152 3,082,880 3/1963 Mapson 211-153 3,166,198 1/1965 Gingher 211-123 3,167,037 1/1965 Mapson 108-6 3,288,308 11/1966 Gingher 211-123 JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A WARDROBE RACK COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF END FRAMES EACH INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT POST AND A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BASE MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID POST FOR MAINTAINING SAID POST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, FORWARDLY EXTENDING BRACKETS ATTACHED NEAR THE TOPS OF SAID UPRIGHT POSTS, MEANS RIGID WITH SAID BRACKETS FOR LIMITING LATERAL AND LONGITUDINAL SHELF MOVEMENT AND TRANSVERSE SHELF MOVEMENT, AND AN ELONGATED LATERALLY FLEXIBLE SHELF PAN BOWED AND SPRUNG ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS INTO POSITION BETWEEN SAID BRACKETS AND SECURED IN PLACE THEREIN IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MEANS FOR LIMITING SHELF MOVEMENT AND BRACING SAID BRACKETS AGAINST MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID POSTS.