Patent ID: 6073781
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: B25H

Abstract:
A rack for holding elongated articles, said rack having at least first and second stands, each of said stands comprising:a first member having first and second rectangular plates that are joined together along a longitudinal edge of each of said plates, said plates having respective outer surfaces and also having respective inner surfaces that define a first angle therebetween, each of said plates also defining at least one elongated slot that has a longitudinal axis, said elongated slot being oriented within said plate such that the longitudinal axis of said slot is substantially parallel to the longitudinal edge between said plates;at least one support arm secured to the outer surface of the first plate of said first member, said support arm being secured to said plate at a location adjacent to one end of said slot, said support arm extending in a generally orthogonal direction from the surface of said first plate;a second member having first and second rectangular plates that are joined together along a longitudinal edge of said plates, said plates having respective opposing surfaces that define an outside angle, where said outside angle is substantially 360.degree. minus said first angle;a first pin having first and second ends and a lateral surface between said first and second ends, said first pin extending through a slot of the first plate of said first member with the first end of said first pin being secured to the opposing surface of the first rectangular plate of said second member, said first pin cooperating with the support arm that corresponds to the same slot of the first plate through which the first pin extends, said first pin defining a gap between the first pin and the support arm at times when said first pin is in one position in said slot, and also closing the gap between the first pin and the support arm at times when said first pin is at a second position in said slot; anda second pin that has first and second ends and a lateral surface between said first and second ends, said second pin extending through the slot of said second plate of said first member, one end of said second pin being secured to the opposing surface of the second plate of said second member, said first and second pins contacting the edges of said first and second slots in response to movement of said first member in an orthogonal direction with respect to said second member such that the lateral surfaces of said first and second pins cooperate with the sides of the first and second slots respectively to maintain said first member laterally adjacent to said second member and to allow movement of said second member in a longitudinal direction with respect to said first member.