Demountable firewood storage rack

A demountable firewood storage rack formed of two length-defining timbers, four upright height-defining timbers and two metal brackets. Each of the brackets has a horizontal elongated connecting member having a first and second end, the first end having a first short-length inner tubular channel member and, welded to it on a side thereof opposite the connecting member, an outer short-length tubular member. The inner tubular members of each bracket are aligned in a common horizontal plane and the outer tubular members in a common vertical plane. The storage rack is assembled by inserting each end of each of the length-defining timbers into a horizontally oriented tubular member of a bracket so that the length-defining members and the brackets form a rectangle with four upwardly extending tubular members. The four upright timbers are removably inserted in the tubular members to form a rack on which firewood can be stored.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
This application is not related to any pending patent applications. 
CROSS-REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
This application is not related to any microfiche appendix. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many homes and offices in the United States have wood burning fireplaces. 
Wood for fireplaces is cut in short-lengths of approximately 18-24 inches 
and stored usually outdoors, in a rack. Accordingly, many homes and 
offices have the problem of providing a rack for use in storing firewood. 
Many firewood racks are formed of metal length-defining members, such as 
pipe, with welded cross members connecting the length-defining members 
together to form a rectangle and with upstanding height-defining members 
that are welded to the metal length and width defining members. While a 
wood rack of this type functions successfully, it is expensive to produce, 
is heavy, is not demountable and is expensive to ship from a point of 
manufacture to a point of purchase. 
To obviate these problems associated with a typical integral metal firewood 
storage rack, the concept of using timbers for construction of wood racks 
has been suggested. For specific reference to demountable wood racks that 
can be formed employing timbers, such as standard two-by-four lumber as 
used in the building trade, reference can be had to U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,616,757 and 4,685,576. These patents show brackets for receiving timbers 
to form wood racks or similar storage racks. Another reference that shows 
the use of brackets for receiving timbers is U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,842 
entitled "Sleeve Bracket". The bracket covered by this patent is similar 
to the three-axis corner bracket shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,616,757 and 
4,685,576 referenced above. 
The present invention provides an improved demountable firewood storage 
rack. The disclosure herein provides a system for demountably erecting a 
firewood storage rack utilizing two integral brackets and six timbers in 
an arrangement that makes assembly of the firewood storage rack simpler. 
Further, the assembled firewood storage rack is more stable than some 
other known demountable storage racks. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention disclosed herein provides a demountable firewood storage rack 
formed of eight components. These include two length-defining timbers 
which may, as an example, be in the form of two two-by-four timbers as 
commonly employed in the residential construction business in the United 
States, and four upright timbers. In addition to these six lengths of 
timbers, which are readily available from any typical lumber yard selling 
building materials, two specially designed brackets are employed. The 
brackets are identical and preferably formed of metal and, still more 
preferably, formed of readily available structural components that are 
welded together. 
Each of the brackets includes a horizontal connecting member having opposed 
ends. The connecting member can be formed of a length of tubular steel. 
Affixed to the first end of the tubular connecting member is a first 
short-length inner tubular member having a tubular axis. Affixed to the 
second end of the tubular connecting member is a second, identical, 
short-length inner tubular member having a tubular axis. 
Affixed, such as by welding, to the first tubular member is a third 
short-length outer tubular member having a tubular axis. The third tubular 
member is secured to the first tubular member on a side thereof opposite 
to the connecting member. A fourth short-length outer tubular member 
having a tubular axis is secured to the second inner tubular member on the 
side thereof opposite to the connecting member. The short-length outer 
tubular members are secured in such a way that the inner tubular members 
are in a common plane with the connecting member, and the tubular axis of 
the outer tubular members are in a common plane that is oriented 
90.degree. to the common plane of the axis of the inner tubular members. 
Two of the integral brackets, as have been described, are used with six 
timbers to readily assemble a wood storage rack. One bracket is affixed to 
the first end portion of each of two length-defining timbers, and a second 
bracket is affixed to the opposite end portion of each of the 
length-defining timbers. The brackets are affixed by merely sliding the 
tubular portions onto the ends of the length-defining timbers. The 
length-defining timbers may be received in either the inner or outer 
tubular members of each bracket. When two brackets are assembled with the 
two length-defining timbers, a rectangle is formed in a generally common 
plane that is positioned horizontally on a support surface, such as on the 
earth. 
The four upright timbers, or height-defining timbers, are then inserted 
into the upright tubular members at each end of the brackets. The upright 
members serve to provide spaced apart end posts for each end of the 
assembled storage rack. 
Since the timber members are slid into position on the tubular members 
forming a part of each bracket, the entire assembly can be quickly 
assembled, and the demountable firewood rack can be just as easily 
disassembled. 
Since two-by-four timbers are readily available, the manufactured 
components necessary for forming a demountable wood rack consists of two 
integral brackets. These brackets can be economically packaged and 
shipped. They occupy a relatively small volume of space compared to that 
of an integral wood storage rack. 
A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following 
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached claims and 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the details of a 
bracket that is used for assembling a demountable firewood storage rack is 
shown, the bracket being generally indicated by numeral 10. Bracket 10 is 
formed by a horizontal elongated connecting member 12 that has a first end 
14 and second end 16. Connecting member 12 is preferably of metal and may 
be any type of elongated structural member. One type of structural member 
that functions very successfully for connecting member 12 is a length of 
tubing. Tubing is preferred because of its readily availability, inherent 
strength, and economy. Affixed to connecting member first end 14 is a 
first short-length inner tubular member 18. Tubular member 18 is 
preferably formed of a length of tubular material cut to the desired 
length. Illustrated and preferred is the arrangement wherein tubular 
member 18 has an internal circumferential surface 20 that is rectangular. 
It can be seen that the first short-length inner tubular member 18 could 
be of other internal shape, such as cylindrical, however, the rectangular 
inner surface 20 is preferred since, as will be described subsequently, 
the timbers of which the demountable firewood storage rack is assembled 
utilizing bracket 10 are preferably commonly available two-by-four's. 
Therefore, internal surface 20 of tubular member 18 is preferably 
configured to slidably receive the standard commonly used two-by-four 
timber as employed in the home building industry in the United States. 
Secured to the second end 16 of connecting member 12 is a second 
short-length inner tubular member 22 having an internal circumferential 
surface 24, the same as internal surface 20 of first tubular member 18. 
The second tubular member 22 is welded or otherwise secured to connecting 
member 12 in the same way as previously described with reference to the 
first tubular member. First tubular member 18 has a tubular axis 26, and 
second tubular member 22 has a tubular axis 28. The tubular axii 26 and 28 
are in a common plane that substantially includes or at least is 
paralleled to the elongated connecting member 12. 
Affixed, such as by welding, to first tubular member 18 on a side thereof 
opposite to connecting member 12 is a third short-length outer tubular 
member 30 having a circumferential internal surface 32 therein that is 
preferably of the same configuration as internal surfaces 20 and 24. 
A fourth short-length outer tubular member 34 is secured to a side of 
second tubular member 22. Fourth tubular member 34 has an internal surface 
36 that preferably is the same configuration as internal surfaces 20, 24 
and 32, as previously described. 
Third tubular member 30 has a tubular axis 38 and, in like manner, fourth 
tubular member 34 has a tubular axis 40. The tubular axii 38 and 40 of 
outer tubular members 30 and 34 are in a common plane which substantially 
includes or at least is paralleled to connecting member 12. The plane of 
tubular axii 38 and 40 is perpendicular to the plane of the tubular axii 
26 and 28. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the method of using bracket 10 is illustrated. 
To form a demountable firewood storage rack, two brackets 10 are employed. 
Extending between brackets 10A and 10B are two length-defining timbers 42 
and 44. Timbers 42 and 44 can be made of wood of any cross-sectional shape 
that fits brackets 10A and 10B. When brackets 10A and 10B are constructed 
as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 wherein the internal surfaces 32 and 36 of 
tubular members 30 and 34 respectfully are of rectangular configuration, 
timbers 42 and 44 are formed of like rectangular shape. In the 
construction industry in the United States, a standard readily available 
timber that functions ideally for length-defining timbers 42 and 44 are 
referred to as "2.times.4's". The term "2.times.4's" means dimensional 
lumber having nominal cross-sectional dimensions that are slightly less 
than two-by-four inches. When two brackets 10 are secured to the opposed 
end portions of two spaced apart length-defining timbers 42 and 44, a 
horizontal rectangle is formed that can be positioned on the surface of 
the earth, on a patio or other supporting surface. 
Positioned within inner tubular members 18 and 22 are upstanding timbers, 
there thus being four upstanding timbers 46-50, one of the upstanding 
timbers not being seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The fourth, unseen, upstanding 
timber is positioned behind timber 50 in FIG. 4 and behind timber 48 in 
FIG. 5. The length of upstanding timbers 46, 48, and 50 can vary. The 
typical length of the upstanding timbers is 4 feet and the spacing between 
the length-defining timbers is 8 feet to constitute the normal firewood 
storage rack. 
With all of the short-length tubular members being configured to slidably 
receive standard two-by-four timbers, it can be seen that the firewood 
storage rack can be quickly assembled employing two of brackets 10. Thus, 
brackets 10 may be manufactured, packaged and shipped together since the 
user can readily avail himself of two-by-four timbers. 
The claims and the specification describe the invention presented and the 
terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of 
such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art 
may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever 
there is a question between the broader definition of such terms used in 
the prior art and the more specific use of the terms herein, the more 
specific meaning is meant. 
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details 
of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from 
the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the 
invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes 
of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached 
claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each 
element thereof is entitled.