Patent ID: 6761274
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: A47B,Y10T

Abstract:
A rack comprising:a base; a plurality of expandable units, each unit being fastened uprightly on said base and comprised of an outer tube, an inner tube, and a locating structure, said outer tube being fastened at a bottom end to said base, said inner tube being slidably fitted at a bottom end into a top end of said outer tube in conjunction with said locating structure; and one or more horizontal bars, each bar being adjustably supported by a top end of said inner tube of said expandable units; wherein said locating structure comprises: a cylindrical seat provided in an interior with a longitudinal slot, in a top end with a tapered receptacle in communication with and in alignment with said longitudinal slot, and in an outer wall with an outer threaded portion whereby said longitudinal slot is dimensioned to receive the top end of said outer tube, a sleeve comprised of an inner threaded portion, and in an inner wall of a top end, an annular retaining projection whereby said sleeve is rotatably fastened to said cylindrical seat such that said inner threaded portion of said sleeve is engaged with said outer threaded portion of said cylindrical seat; and a lock ring comprised of an elastic material and comprised of a flange, a tightening portion of a tapered construction and extending from said flange, an annular retaining groove located between said flange and said tightening portion, and a center through hole extending from said flange through said tightening portion, said lock ring being retained in the top end of said sleeve such that said retaining projection of said sleeve is retained in said retaining groove of said lock ring, and such that said tightening portion of said lock ring is extended into said receptacle of the top end of said cylindrical seat, and such that said tightening portion of said lock ring embraces the bottom end of said inner tube whereby said tightening portion is pressed thereagainst by said receptacle to become compact so as to embrace the bottom end of said inner tube when said sleeve is turned clockwise in relation to said cylindrical seat, said tightening portion of said lock ring being capable of relaxing when said sleeve is turned counterclockwise in relation to said cylindrical seat, thereby enabling the bottom end of said inner tube to be moved up and down inside the top end of said outer tube.