Abstract:
A storage apparatus is disclosed having a central post capable of rotating and having a plurality of extensions pivotably attached thereto for receiving items. The extensions may pivot between a position for displaying, selecting, or attaching items and a position for compactly storing the items. The items may be clothing, and the items may be secured by hooks, clamps, or the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to storage and, in particular, to a rack and organizer for items such as clothing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Currently, the most typical places for people to store their clothing and apparel items are in closets, drawers, and bins. Most people prefer to have as many items as possible visible on a quick glance and easily removable. A problem common for many people is having more clothing than can be accommodated by the storage space in their home or abode.  
         [0003]     A number of solutions are currently employed for dealing with clothing volume that exceeds storage space that provides for quick and simple access to items. For instance, some people use a basement closet or other remote closet for placing items that are used less often. In some cases, people will simply put their out-of-season wardrobes in a box or storage container that is put under a bed or other not-easily accessed storage space.  
         [0004]     It is usually most convenient to store items in the closet of a room adjacent to a bedroom so that items are quickly retrieved and swapping wardrobes from one closet to a bedroom closet is a minimal task. However, a spare closet is often fully utilized as well, or simply not available. In some cases, a person may devote floor space and have a free-standing closet or other furniture item, or a free standing clothing bar.  
         [0005]     Free-standing closets and clothing bars require a certain amount of floor space. Free-standing closets only provide for space for clothing on a single bar or on two bars where one is positioned above the other. Free-standing clothing bars may provide one or more bars, but they are often positioned beside each other so that one has to have access to both sides of the apparatus to reach the clothing.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there has been a need for a new and improved clothing rack and organizer that provides storage space for a large amount of clothing while minimizing the amount of space required for the clothing and itself.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for storing items is disclosed including a support, a base rigidly connected to the support, and a plurality of extensions having a pivot end and a securable end and including attachment members for receiving items, wherein the extensions may pivotably be moved between a first position where the securable end of the extension is generally disposed a first distance from the support and a second position where the securable end is generally disposed a greater distance from the support. In one form, the apparatus is a clothing rack and organizer apparatus. The support may be a central post which can receive clothing for storage in a plurality of orientations to the central post. The apparatus may include a number of extensions from the central post oriented in a plurality of positions, and clothing may be secured thereon for storage. The extensions may be positioned relative to each other in lateral directions around the post, in vertical directions along the length of the post, or a combination of both.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the extensions may actively or passively secure clothing or other items thereon. In one form, the extensions may be provided with a clamping device which can be operated to actively secure the clothing therein. In another form, the extensions may provide features on which the clothing or other items are secured.  
         [0009]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a generally stationary person may view all the clothing or other items secured on the apparatus. In one form, the central post is provided with a base permitting the apparatus to rotate around itself. The apparatus may be provided with grips for manual rotation of the apparatus. In another form, the extensions may be operable to move from a storage position to a display position such that the space required by the apparatus with clothing thereon is minimized when the extensions are in the storage position and such that the clothing or stored items may be examined and identified when the extensions are in the display position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     In the drawings,  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage apparatus including extensions in a storage configuration with storage items secured thereon and including features of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the storage apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the extensions in a display configuration;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the storage apparatus of  FIG. 1  including extensions in a storage configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the storage apparatus of  FIG. 4  including extensions in a display configuration;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial cut-away side elevation view taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partial cut-away side elevation view of the extension of  FIG. 5  an extension in a display configuration;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partial front elevation view taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial rear elevation view of a latch mechanism of the interior of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a partial rear elevation view of a pivot mechanism of the interior of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of an extension and the pivot mechanism of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a partial view of a second embodiment of a storage apparatus including features of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a partial view of a third embodiment of a storage apparatus including features of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an storage apparatus  10  is depicted with storage items  12  stored thereon. Though a number of kinds of items may be stored with the present apparatus, in the present embodiment the items  12  are clothing such as shirts, pants, and the like. The storage apparatus  10  includes a support in the form of a central post  14 , a base  16 , and a plurality of pivotable extensions  18  for receiving the items  12  and located on the post  14 . As depicted, the post  14  is octagonal with a plurality of faces located around a central axis of rotation  15 , though the post  14  may have any number of sides, one or more of which may include an extension  18 . In addition, the post  14  may be cylindrical with a circular cross-section and having a plurality of extensions thereon. Preferably, the number and location of the extensions  18  is selected so that storage items  12  thereon do not cause an imbalance or undue stresses between the post  14  and the base  16 .  
         [0025]     The post  14  is generally vertically aligned and secured at its bottom to the base  16 . In order to provide strength and rigidity between the post  14  and base  16 , a plurality of buttresses  20  are secured to the base  16  and post  14  and extending therebetween. The buttresses  20  are preferably located around the periphery of the post  14  so that support is provided in a plurality of directions.  
         [0026]     The base  16  permits rotation of the post  14  around its central longitudinal axis without translating across a support surface, such as with a lazy susan or turntable pedestal. Alternatively, the base  16  may include wheels located thereunder for rotating against the ground surface on which the apparatus  10  is set. Located on the post  14  may be one or more knobs  22  permitting the user to rotate the apparatus. As a user gripping the knobs  22  may inadvertently apply lateral pressure on the post  14 , which adds stresses to the junction between the buttresses  20 , post  14 , and base  16 , the base  16  may be included with a mechanism (not shown) for providing rotation to the apparatus  10 . The mechanism may be one or more foot pedals, for instance, that may be operated to the mechanism for rotating the apparatus  10 , or may be a electric motor operated by a switch (not shown). The switch may be located at a convenient place for manual operation or for operation with a foot.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 1 , the extensions  18  are each shown in a storage configuration with items  12  secured thereon. The extensions  18  can be moved from the storage configuration of  FIG. 1  to a display configuration depicted in  FIG. 2  so that the items may be selectively inspected, selected for removal from the extensions  18 , or secured to the extensions  18 .  FIG. 3  depicts the extensions  18  in a storage configuration without items  12  secured thereon, and  FIG. 4  depicts the extensions  18  in a display configuration without items  12  secured thereon. As can be seen in  FIG. 1-4 , each extension  18  is pivotable around a pivot end  30 , and each extension  18  is securable to the post  14  at an opposite, securable end  32 .  
         [0028]     The post  14  includes a securing mechanism in the form of a latch  40  for each pivotable extension  18 . When the extension  18  is moved to and secured in the storage configuration, the securable end  32 , and therefore the extension, is secured to the post  14  by the latch  40 . Preferably, a user may selectively release the extensions  18  from their respective latch  40  manually, such as by latch release  42 . When a latch  40  is released, the user may then lower a corresponding extension  18  manually while supporting the weight of the items  12  thereon. Alternatively, the pivot end  30  may include a damper mechanism (not shown), such as a small hydraulic pump, for slowly lowering the extension  18  without allowing gravity solely to act upon the extension  18  and the items thereon. As can be seen, each extension  18  includes a plurality of item attachment members  24  for securing items thereon, as will be described below.  
         [0029]     Each extension  18  includes a generally elongate attachment support  44  spanning between the securable end  32  and the pivot end  30 . The securable end  32  includes an arm  46  extending orthogonally and transversely to and from the attachment support  44 . In the display configuration of  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the attachment support  44  is positioned generally horizontally, and the arm  46  extends generally vertically from the attachment support  44 . The arm  46  includes a latch catch  48  for securing to the latch  40 , as will be discussed below, and a latch plate surface  50  for deflecting the latch  40  to permit the latch catch  48  to secure with the latch  40 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-9 , the cooperation between the latch  40  and the securable end  32  is depicted. The post  14  includes a latch opening  52  for receiving each arm  46  and providing access to the latch  40 . As the arm  46  is inserted into the latch opening  52  and into the latch  40 , the latch plate surface  50  contacts and shifts a deflectable latch bar  60  downward until the latch catch  48  is beyond the latch bar  60 , whereupon the latch bar  60  resiliently moves upward so that the latch catch  48  hooks to the latch bar  60  and is prevented from escaping the latch  40  and latch opening  52 . In order to release the latch catch  48  from the latch bar  60 , the latch release  42  is operated to direct the latch bar  60  downward, thereby permitting the latch catch  48  to pass above the latch bar  60  and out of the latch opening  52 .  
         [0031]     The latch bar  60  is slidingly received in a pair of guides  64  located at two ends  62  of the latch bar  60 . The guides  64  allow the latch bar  60  to reciprocate vertically as required by the operation of the latch  40  and latch release  42  while retaining the latch bar  60  in the proper orientation and in the proper placement for the latch plate surface  50  to contact when the arm  46  is inserted within the latch  40 . More specifically, the latch bar  60  is resiliently operated, and such resilience is provided by a pair of springs  66  which pull the latch bar  60  up to meet the arm  46  and latch catch  48  to secure the arm  46  therein. When the arm  46  is not inserted in the latch  40 , the bias of the springs  66  is restricted by the guides  64 . The guides  64  each have a track  68  for receiving an end  62  of the latch bar  60  therein. The track  68  includes a top end  76  against which the travel of the latch bar  60  is stopped. The latch release  42  is mounted to a release bracket  78  that includes a pair of throughbores  80  for receiving the latch bar  60  therein. When the latch release  42  is depressed, the release bracket  78  forces the latch bar  60  downward against the springs  66 . The springs  66  have a shifting end  88  secured to the latch bar  60  and a secure end  90  secured to a mount bar  92 . The mount bar  92  is secured in a mount bracket  94  that is, in turn, affixed to an interior surface  96  of the post  14  so that the mount bar  92 , and hence the spring secure end  90 , is prevented from moving in the vertical direction. It should be noted that the latch mechanism could be a variety of devices or embodiments, or variants of that depicted herein. It should also be noted that the parallel structure (i.e., a pair of springs  66 , a pair of guides  64 , etc.) is provided to minimize twisting of the components so that forces and motion on and by the latch  40  components is restricted to being generally linear.  
         [0032]     As noted above, the extension  18  has a pivot end  30 . Referring now to  FIGS. 10-11 , the pivot end  30  is formed by a pivot bracket  100 , a portion of which is located within the interior of the post  14  (see  FIG. 4 ). The pivot bracket  100  includes pivot support  102  and pivot step  104 . The pivot bracket  100  passes through a pivot opening  106  in the side of the post  14 . When the extension  18  is in the display configuration, the pivot support  102  is supported on a support edge  108  of the pivot opening  106  by an edge  102   a , and when in the storage configuration the top edge  108  supports an edge  104   a  of the pivot step  104 . The pivot support  102  includes a throughbore  112  for receiving a pivot pin  114  that guides the pivot motion of the extension  18  when the extension  18  is moved between the storage and display configurations. In addition, the pivot pin  114  retains the extension  18  from exiting the pivot opening  106 . The pivot pin  114  is retained in a pair of pivot guides  120  including arcuate rails  122  for receiving and defining the path of the pivot pin  114 . The pivot guides  120  are affixed to the interior of the post  14 .  
         [0033]     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the attachment members  24  are attached to the attachment support  44 . In the present embodiment, by way of example, the attachment support  44  includes bores  130  for receiving attachment members  24  depending therefrom. Preferably, the attachment members  24  are pivotally attached to the attachment support  44  so that the attachment members  24  can hang in a generally vertical alignment regardless of whether the extension  18  is in the storage configuration or the display configuration.  
         [0034]     The attachment members  24  can be in a number of forms. For instance, the attachment member  24  can be an active attachment member in the form of a clamp  140 . Alternative, and preferably, the attachment member  24  can be in the form of a hook  142 . Most preferably, the attachment member  24  can include a rotationally pivoting member  144 . It should be noted that any attachment that is capable of securing a storage item  12  may be utilized, including a recess formed directly on the extension  18  for receiving a portion of the item  12  such as a tag on a shirt. It should be noted that the number of attachment members  24  provided on each extension  18  may be selected as to be any number suitably supported by the apparatus  10 . It should also be noted that the apparatus  10  may utilized a combination of attachment members  24  that may include clamps  140 , hooks  142 , pivoting members  144 , or any other type of attachment member  24 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 12-13 , a variety of embodiments and variants are depicted. For instance, the post  14  may be equipped with a plurality of radially extending extension sets  150 , each having a latch release set  152 , as seen in  FIG. 12 . Additionally, the extensions  18  from each set  150  may be staggered, as is depicted in as seen in  FIG. 13 . It should be noted that any arrangement of extensions  18  or extension sets  150  is contemplated.  
         [0036]     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.