U.S. patent application number 11/282981 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for foldable rack assembly.
Invention is credited to Malcolm K. Groff, Yeu-Tien Yu.
Application Number | 20070012637 11/282981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37192776 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070012637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Yeu-Tien ; et
al. |
January 18, 2007 |
Foldable rack assembly
Abstract
A foldable rack assembly includes first and second components.
The first component includes a back plate and a first shelf plate
projecting forwardly from the back plate. The second component
includes a second shelf plate connected pivotally to the first
component. The second shelf plate is movable relative to the back
plate between an unfolded position, where the second shelf plate
projects forwardly from the back plate and is coplanar with the
first shelf plate, and a folded position, where the second shelf
plate is rotated downward and toward the back plate.
Inventors: |
Yu; Yeu-Tien; (Hsin-Tien
City, TW) ; Groff; Malcolm K.; (Schuylkill Haven,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY, & PIERCE, P.L.C
7700 BONHOMME, STE 400
ST. LOUIS
MO
63105
US
|
Family ID: |
37192776 |
Appl. No.: |
11/282981 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/96 ; 211/150;
211/90.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 46/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/096 ;
211/090.01; 211/150 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/08 20060101
A47F005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2005 |
TW |
094211894 |
Claims
1. A foldable rack assembly comprising: a first component including
a back plate and a first shelf plate projecting forwardly from said
back plate; and a second component including a second shelf plate
connected pivotally to said first component, said second shelf
plate being movable relative to said back plate between an unfolded
position, where said second shelf plate projects forwardly from
said back plate and is coplanar with said first shelf plate, and a
folded position, where said second shelf plate is rotated downward
and toward said back plate.
2. The foldable rack assembly of claim 1, wherein said back plate
is formed with a plurality of fastening holes.
3. The foldable rack assembly of claim 1, wherein said second shelf
plate includes a top wall, a rear wall extending downwardly from
said top wall and confronting said back plate, and a corner formed
by said top and rear walls.
4. The foldable rack assembly of claim 3, wherein said first
component further includes a mating part projecting forwardly from
said back plate and downwardly from said first shelf plate.
5. The foldable rack assembly of claim 4, wherein said second
component further includes a mating groove extending downwardly
from said corner to said rear wall and forwardly from said corner
to said top wall, said mating part extending into said mating
groove, said second shelf plate being connected pivotally to said
mating part.
6. The foldable rack assembly of claim 5, wherein said second shelf
plate further includes at least two ribs projecting downwardly from
said top wall and forwardly from said rear wall and defining said
mating groove, each of said ribs being formed with a slot, said
mating part having two opposite pivot members projecting laterally
from said mating part into said slots of said ribs,
respectively.
7. The foldable rack assembly of claim 6, wherein said slot of each
of said ribs has a first engaging section proximate to said top
wall, and a second engaging section distal from said top wall, each
of said pivot members engaging said second engaging section when
said second shelf plate is unfolded, and engaging said first
engaging section when said second shelf plate is folded.
8. The foldable rack assembly of claim 7, wherein said second
engaging section is more distal from said rear wall than said first
engaging section.
9. The foldable rack assembly of claim 8, wherein each of said ribs
has a bottom edge extending away from said top wall, said slot
having an open end opening at said bottom edge.
10. The foldable rack assembly of claim 9, wherein said slot
extends downwardly from said first engaging section to form a
connection section, extends forwardly to said second engaging
section from said connection section, and extends rearwardly and
then downwardly from said connection section to said open end.
11. The foldable rack assembly of claim 3, wherein said first
component further includes a plurality of spaced-apart hook members
projecting forwardly from said back plate below said first shelf
plate.
12. The foldable rack assembly of claim 11, wherein said rear wall
is formed with a plurality of notches for extension of said hook
members therethrough.
13. The foldable rack assembly of claim 3, wherein said first shelf
plate is superimposed on said second shelf plate when said second
shelf plate is unfolded.
14. The foldable rack assembly of claim 13, wherein said top wall
has an indented wall part extending forwardly from said corner,
said first shelf plate extending into said indented wall part when
said second shelf plate is unfolded so that said first shelf plate
has a top surface coplanar with a top surface of said top wall.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 094211894, filed on Jul. 13, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a rack assembly, more particularly
to a foldable rack assembly.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional rack comprises a support
frame 11 and a holding plate 12. The support frame 11 includes a
plurality of support rods 111, 112 and 113. The user first fastens
the support rods 111 on a wall surface 13 in a spaced apart and
vertical manner, after which the support rods 112 are connected
respectively to top ends of the support rods 111 in such a manner
that the support rods 112 are disposed forwardly relative to the
support rods 111. Each of the support rods 113 is then connected
inclinedly between a respective support rod 111 and the
corresponding support rod 112. Finally, the holding plate 12 is
fixedly mounted on the support rods 112. The holding plate 12 is
used to support an article.
[0006] However, since the components of the conventional rack are
not formed integrally, assembly of the conventional rack is
complicated and involves many steps as described above. Moreover,
the conventional rack provides a limited space for supporting an
article, and is not foldable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a rack assembly that is foldable, that is easy to assemble, and
that can further permit hanging of articles.
[0008] According to this invention, a foldable rack assembly
comprises first and second components. The first component includes
a back plate and a first shelf plate projecting forwardly from the
back plate. The second component includes a second shelf plate
connected pivotally to the first component. The second shelf plate
is movable relative to the back plate between an unfolded position,
where the second shelf plate projects forwardly from the back plate
and is coplanar with the first shelf plate, and a folded position,
where the second shelf plate is rotated downward and toward the
back plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional rack fixed on a wall
surface;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a first component of
the preferred embodiment of a foldable rack assembly according to
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second component of the
preferred embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an assembly of the
first and second components;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating the second component in an unfolded state relative to
the first component;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating the first and second components having top
surfaces which are coplanar;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating the second component in a folded state relative to the
first component; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment
in the folded state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of
a foldable rack assembly according to the present invention is
adapted to be mounted on a vertical wall surface 2 (see FIG. 5),
and includes a first component 3 and a second component 4.
[0019] The first component 3 includes a back plate 31, a first
shelf plate 32, and a plurality of spaced-apart first hook members
33. The back plate 31 is formed with a plurality of fastening holes
311 for attachment of fasteners (not shown) so as to fix the back
plate 31 to the vertical wall surface 2. The first shelf plate 32
projects forwardly from and forms an angle of about 90 degrees with
the back plate 31, and has a top surface 321 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
The first hook members 33 project forwardly from the back plate 31
below the first shelf plate 32. Two mating parts 34 are provided on
the back plate 31. Each of the mating parts 34 has a U-shaped cross
section, and includes two spaced-apart mating plates 341 projecting
forwardly and integrally from the back plate 31 and connected to a
bottom face of the first shelf plate 32. Each mating part 34
further has two opposite pivot members 342 projecting outwardly and
laterally from the respective mating plates 341.
[0020] The second component 4 includes a second shelf plate 42
which includes a top wall 421, a rear wall 411 extending downwardly
from the top wall 421, and a corner 422 formed by the top and rear
walls 421, 411. The top wall 421 has an indented wall part 412
extending forwardly from the corner 422. The rear wall 411 is
formed with a plurality of notches 414 for extension of the first
hook members 33 therethrough.
[0021] Two spaced-apart mating grooves 413 are provided in the
second shelf plate 42. Each mating part 34 of the first component 3
extends into one of the mating grooves 413. The second shelf plate
42 is connected pivotally to the mating parts 34 of the first
component 3 so that the second shelf plate 42 is movable relative
to the first component 3 between unfolded and folded positions. In
the unfolded position, the second shelf plate 42 projects forwardly
from the back plate 31 and is coplanar with the first shelf plate
32. In the folded position, the second shelf plate 42 is rotated
downward and toward the back plate 31. The detailed configuration
to allow for such interconnection and operation will be described
below. In this embodiment, the number of the mating grooves 413
corresponds to the number of the mating parts 34.
[0022] The second shelf plate 42 further includes two pairs of
spaced-apart ribs 43 projecting downwardly from the top wall 421
and forwardly from the rear wall 411, and a bridge member 46
interconnecting each pair of the ribs 43. Each pair of the ribs 43
and the corresponding bridge member 46 define one of the mating
grooves 413. The top and rear walls 421, 411 and the corner 422 are
notched adjacent to each mating groove 413 so that each mating
groove 413 opens at the top and rear walls 421, 411 and the corner
422. Each of the ribs 43 has a bottom edge extending away from the
top wall 421, and is formed with a slot 44 to engage pivotally the
pivot member 342 of the corresponding mating part 34. The slot 44
has an open end 441 opening at the bottom edge of the corresponding
rib 43.
[0023] As best shown in FIG. 5, the slot 44 has a first engaging
section 444 proximate to the top wall 421, and a second engaging
section 442 distal from the top wall 421. The second engaging
section 442 is more distal from the rear wall 411 than the first
engaging section 444. The slot 44 extends downwardly from the first
engaging section 444 to form a connection section 443, extends
forwardly to the second engaging section 442 from the connection
section 443, and extends rearwardly and then downwardly from the
connection section 443 to the open end 441.
[0024] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, when the second shelf
plate 42 is unfolded, the first hook members 33 pass through the
respective notches 414, and the first shelf plate 32 extends into
the indented wall part 412 so that the first shelf plate 32 is
superimposed on the second shelf plate 42. The top surface 321 of
the first shelf plate 32 is coplanar with a top surface of the top
wall 421 at this time. Further, the pivot member 342 on each mating
plate 341 engages the second engaging section 442 of the slot 44 in
the corresponding rib 43, and the rear wall 411 is proximate to and
confronts the back plate 31 at this time.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the second component 4
is pivoted to the folded position, the second engaging section 442
of the slot 44 in each rib 43 moves away from the pivot member 342
of the corresponding mating plate 341 (see FIG. 4), and the first
engaging section 444 engages the pivot member 342 of the
corresponding mating plate 341. Further, the rear wall 411 of the
second component 4 is moved upward and away from the back plate 31,
the indented wall part 412 is exposed, and the top wall 421 of the
second shelf plate 42 is substantially parallel to the vertical
wall surface 2.
[0026] Referring once again to FIG. 4, the second component 4
further includes a plurality of second hook members 45 projecting
downwardly from the top wall 421. Each of the second hook members
45 is provided with a through hole 451. It should be noted that
each of the first and second components 3, 4 is made of plastic,
and is formed by an injection molding process.
[0027] From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that the
foldable rack assembly of the present invention is easy to assemble
since each of the first and second components 3, 4 is integrally
formed, and since the first and second components 3, 4 are readily
interconnected. In the unfolded position, the top surfaces 321, 421
of the first and second components 3, 4 can support an article
thereon. In the folded position, the second component 4 can be
folded downward from the first component 3, so that it does not
occupy much space. Further, through the presence of the first and
second hook members 33, 45, and the through holes 451, additional
articles can be hung on the foldable rack assembly of the present
invention.
[0028] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *