U.S. patent application number 12/804857 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-02 for modular utility rack.
Invention is credited to Edwin Ho.
Application Number | 20100300993 12/804857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43219057 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100300993 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ho; Edwin |
December 2, 2010 |
Modular utility rack
Abstract
A rack has a frame and at least one shelf. The frame has a rear
support that has a left side and a right side. The frame further
includes a left support that is pivotably connected to the left
side of the rear support and a right support that is pivotably
connected to the right side of the rear support, the left and right
supports having a plurality of horizontal bars. The shelf has a
left side and a right side, with a first hooked connector provided
on the left side of the shelf and a second hooked connector
provided on the right side of the shelf. The first hooked connector
removably connects the left side of the shelf to a horizontal bar
on the left support, and the second hooked connector removably
connects the right side of the shelf to a horizontal bar on the
right support.
Inventors: |
Ho; Edwin; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Sun;Law Offices of Raymond Sun
Suite 155, 20 Corporate Park
Irvine
CA
92606
US
|
Family ID: |
43219057 |
Appl. No.: |
12/804857 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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29315014 |
May 18, 2009 |
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12804857 |
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29312973 |
Nov 26, 2008 |
D602712 |
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29315014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/13.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/02 20130101;
A47B 47/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/13.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/02 20060101
A47B096/02 |
Claims
1. A rack for holding articles, comprising: a frame having a rear
support that has a left side and a right side, the frame further
including a left support that is pivotably connected to the left
side of the rear support and a right support that is pivotably
connected to the right side of the rear support, the left and right
supports having a plurality of horizontal bars; and at least one
shelf having a left side and a right side, with a first hooked
connector provided on the left side of the shelf and a second
hooked connector provided on the right side of the shelf, with the
first hooked connector removably connecting the left side of the
shelf to a horizontal bar on the left support, and the second
hooked connector removably connecting the right side of the shelf
to a horizontal bar on the right support.
2. The rack of claim 1, wherein the shelf has an enclosing frame
member that has two opposing first sides connected by two opposing
second sides to define an interior space, and having a mesh
provided in the interior space.
3. The rack of claim 1, wherein the shelf has an enclosing frame
member that has two opposing first sides connected by two opposing
second sides, at least one connecting bar that connects the first
sides, and a plurality of slats, each slat having opposing ends
that are connected to the second sides, and wherein each slat is
connected to the at least one connecting bar.
4. The rack of claim 1, wherein: the rear support has two vertical
bars and a plurality of horizontal bars extending between the
vertical bars; the left support has a plurality of left support
horizontal bars extending between two left support vertical bars;
and the right support has a plurality of right support horizontal
bars extending between two right support vertical bars.
5. The rack of claim 1, wherein the hooked connector has an
inverted U-shape which defines two side walls and a top wall that
define a receiving space, with a portion of a horizontal bar
received in the receiving space.
6. The rack of claim 5, wherein the hooked connector further
includes a lining fitted into the receiving space.
7. The rack of claim 4, wherein one vertical bar of the left
support is pivotably connected to one of the vertical bars of the
rear support and one vertical bar of the right support is pivotably
connected to the other vertical bar of the rear support.
8. The rack of claim 7, further including a first hinged collar
that receives the vertical bars of the left support and the rear
support, and a second hinged collar that receives the vertical bars
of the right support and the rear support.
9. The rack of claim 1, wherein the first sides are longer than the
second sides.
Description
RELATED CASES
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No.
29/315,014, filed May 18, 2009, which is a divisional of Ser. No.
29/312,973, filed Nov. 26, 2008, now US D602,712, whose disclosures
are incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a modular utility rack for
placing common household articles, and in particular, to a rack for
holding articles.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Article-holding racks are used by people in their daily
lives to hold common household articles such as towels, clothes,
shoes, etc. Many of these racks can be folded or dis-assembled to
reduce that overall size and profile for storage and
transportation. Unfortunately, many of these conventional racks are
still difficult to fold, or assemble and disassemble, so that
storage and transport can be inconvenient. In this regard, the
construction of many of these racks is rather complex, leading to
increased costs of production or inconvenience to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a rack that has a frame and
at least one shelf. The frame has a rear support that has a left
side and a right side. The frame further includes a left support
that is pivotably connected to the left side of the rear support
and a right support that is pivotably connected to the right side
of the rear support, the left and right supports having a plurality
of horizontal bars. The shelf has a left side and a right side,
with a first hooked connector provided on the left side of the
shelf and a second hooked connector provided on the right side of
the shelf. The first hooked connector removably connects the left
side of the shelf to a horizontal bar on the left support, and the
second hooked connector removably connects the right side of the
shelf to a horizontal bar on the right support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a left plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a right plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a rear plan view of the rack of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rack according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a left plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a right plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a rear plan view of the rack of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims.
[0022] FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a rack according to one embodiment of
the present invention. The rack has a foldable frame 20 and a
plurality of removable shelves 22. The frame 20 and the shelves 22
can be made from one of a variety of materials, including a
plastic, steel, a type of resin, wood or bamboo.
[0023] The frame 20 has a rear support 24, a left support 26 and a
right support 28. The rear support 24 has two vertical bars 30 and
a plurality of horizontal bars 32 extending between the vertical
bars 30. Similarly, the left and right supports 26 and 28 have a
plurality of horizontal bars 34 extending between two vertical bars
36. The horizontal bars 32 and 34 are aligned at the same level
because the horizontal bars 32, 34 at the same level function to
attach a shelf 22. Collars 38 are provided to pivotably connect the
vertical bars 30 of the rear support 24 to a corresponding vertical
bar 36 of the left support 26 or the right support 28. The vertical
bars 30, 36 are received inside the collar 38 so that the supports
24+26 or 24+28 can pivot thereabout. As a result, the left support
26 and the right support 28 can be pivoted or folded towards each
other to rest against the rear support 24 when the rack is
disassembled and packaged for storage or transportation. Feet 40
can be provided at the bottom of the vertical bars 30, 36.
[0024] Each shelf 22 can have the same construction, and be coupled
to the supports 26, 28 in the same manner. The shelf 22 has an
enclosing frame member 42 that is generally rectangular in
configuration, having two long sides 44 connected by two short
sides 46. These sides 44 and 46 can be provided in the form of
metal bars or metal sheets. The long sides 44 represent the front
and rear sides, while the short sides 44 represent the left and
right sides. A mesh 45 (e.g., metal or plastic) spans the internal
space defined by the sides 44, 46.
[0025] In addition, a plurality of hooked connectors 56 can be
secured to the exterior surfaces of the short sides 46. Each
connector 56 has an inverted U-shape which defines two side walls
and a top wall that define a receiving space. A lining 60 can be
snap-fitted into the space of each connector 56. Each lining 60
also defines a receiving space. To secure the shelf 22 to the left
and right supports 26, 28, the shelf 22 can be maneuvered at an
angle between horizontal bars 32 of the rear support 24 and
horizontal bars 34 of the left and right supports 26, 28, and then
all the linings 60 on one short side 46 of the shelf 22 are clipped
on to a horizontal bar 34 of the left support 26, and all the
linings 60 on the opposite short side 46 of the shelf 22 are
clipped on to a horizontal bar 34 of the right support 28 that is
aligned at the same level as the horizontal bar 34 of the left
support 26. The horizontal bar 34 is received in the receiving
space of the lining 60. The lining 60 has the same configuration as
(but is slightly smaller than) the connector 56, is made of a
plastic or resin material, and functions to secure the shelf 22 to
the horizontal bars 34. The lining 60 can be omitted if desired, in
which case the connector 56 can be snapped directly on to the
horizontal bar 34.
[0026] To disassemble the rack, the user lifts up each shelf 22,
thereby disengaging the connectors 56 (and their linings 60) from
the horizontal bars 34, to remove each shelf 22. The left and right
supports 26, 28 are then folded against the rear support 24, and
the shelves 22 stacked on top of the folded frame 20, to form a
stack of frame 20 and shelves 22 that can be quickly and
conveniently packed into a box or otherwise tied together via
straps for storage and/or transportation.
[0027] FIGS. 8-14 illustrate another embodiment of the present
invention. The rack in FIGS. 8-14 is the same as the rack in FIGS.
1-7, except that the mesh 45 is replaced by a pattern of bars.
Therefore, the same numeral designations are used in FIGS. 8-14 to
designate the same elements in FIGS. 1-7. In the shelves 22 of
FIGS. 8-14, a plurality of connecting bars 48 connect the long
sides 44 at about the center of the long sides 44 in spaced-apart
manner. A plurality of longitudinal slats 50 extend from the top
surfaces of the opposing short sides 46, and over the top of the
connecting bars 48. The slats 50 extend from one short side 46 to
another short side 46 (i.e., from a left side to a right side) in a
manner parallel to the long sides 44 (i.e., the front and rear
sides), and the connecting bars 48 extend in a manner parallel to
the short sides 46. The rack in FIGS. 8-14 can be folded and
deployed in the same manner as described above for the rack in
FIGS. 1-7.
[0028] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such
modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention.
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