Footwear rack

A footwear rack has at least one pan configured and sized for supporting a pair of footwear. The pan has a pair of hooks extending rearwardly therefrom and which are releasably attached to slotted hooking columns. The columns have a plurality of slots configured and sized for connecting with the hooks. The columns can be fixedly attached to a wall or to a mounting stand. The mounting stand is designed to be free standing by having a base from which perpendicularly extend the columns. The pan has a sloping surface for concentrating the water away from the footwear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to shelves and racks but more particularly to a footwear rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is very inconvenient to have several pairs of wet boots or shoes laying on the floor, so that is why several types of racks have been developed over the years. Still, there is room for improvement in practicality, cost, etc. . .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for a footwear rack that is practical and cost effective.

In order to do so, the invention comprises a mounting stand including at least two hooking columns, a top connector member adapted to hold the at least two hooking columns parallel to one another, and a base member adapted to hold the at least two hooking columns in a vertical orientation to a floor surface. The base member is formed as a pan member having four sides and a bottom portion that includes two surface areas, a first surface area being flat and adapted to be parallel to the floor surface, and a second surface area that is formed at an angle to the first surface area.

At least one pan member is adapted to be removably attached to two of the at least two hooking columns at a chosen distance from the base member, the at least one pan member having four sides and a bottom portion that includes two surface areas, a first surface area being flat and adapted to be parallel to the floor surface, and a second surface area that is formed at an angle to the first surface area, such that the base member and the at least one pan member are adapted to hold footwear upon each the second surface and allow the drainage and removal of debris and liquids from the footwear into the first surface areas for easy removal.

The at least two hooking columns have a series of slots therein along a length thereon, and the at least one pan member has two hooks on a back portion thereof and spaced a distance to correlate to the space created between respective slots of adjacent hooking columns, such that the at least one pan member can be easily removably attached to two hooking columns at a chosen distance from the base member.

The rack has at least two pan members removably attached to the two hooking columns at different chosen distances from the base member.

The second surface area of the base member and the at least one pan member each include a plurality of raised elongated ridges thereon oriented in a direction facilitating the drainage and removal of debris and liquids from the second surface areas into the first surface areas for easy removal. The elongated ridges are orientated in a direction that is perpendicular to the distance between the at least two hooking columns.

There are four hooking columns; and at least one pan member connected between respective adjacent hooking columns.

The mounting stand and the at least one pan member are formed from a material chosen from a group of materials comprising aluminum, steel, plastic, fiberglass, and resins.

The rack has at least one mechanical fastener attached to a surface of at least one of the at least two hooking columns that is adapted to securely hold the mounting stand to a vertical wall surface.

The slots and the hooks are formed in a rectangular shape adapted to allow the hooks to easily and removably fit within the slots and be securely held therein.

The rack has the base member and the at least one pan member have a third surface area in between each the first surface area and each the second surface area, wherein the third surface area is formed at an angle to each the first surface area that is larger than the angle formed by each the second surface area, such that a retaining volume is formed between three of the four sides and the third surface area of each the pan member and the base member that is adapted to hold the debris and liquids therein for a more secure and easy removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A footwear rack (10) has at least one pan member (12) configured and sized for supporting a pair of footwear (not shown). The pan member (12) has a pair of hooks (16) extending rearwardly therefrom and which are releasably attached to slotted hooking columns (18).

The columns (18) have a plurality of slots (20) configured and sized for connecting with the hooks (16).

The columns (18) can be fixedly attached to a wall (not shown) using mechanical fasteners (19), or to a mounting stand (24). The mounting stand (24) is designed to be free standing by having a base member (26) from which perpendicularly extend the columns (18) which are frictionally inserted thereto, and a connecting member (11) located at the upper part of the mounting stand (24).

The pan member (12) has a first surface area (13), a second surface area (15), and a third surface area (19). The second surface area (13) of the base member (26) and at least one pan member (12) each include a plurality of raised elongated ridges (17) thereon oriented in a direction that is preferably but not necessarily perpendicular to the distance between the at least two hooking columns (18) so as to facilitate the drainage and removal of debris and liquids from the second surface area (13)s into the first surface area (15) for easy removal.

The pan member (12) can easily be removed from the columns (18) for draining water and/or cleaning them. The footwear rack (10) is highly customizable by adding pan members (12) to each pair of columns (18) or by simply adding columns (18) side by side.

Preferably, the mounting stand (24), and pan members (12) are formed from a material chosen from a group of materials comprising aluminum, steel, plastic, fiberglass, and resins.