Abstract:
A self-standing shoe rack or other type of shoe rack such as a hanging shoe rack which can expand lengthwise due to telescoping shoe support bars. Opposite frame sides may have equal-size sockets that receive identical end tubes. The end tubes fit telescopically in center tubes to allow length adjustment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates generally to shoe racks and more particularly to a self-standing shoe rack or other type of shoe rack that can be expanded to vary its capacity for holding shoes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Efforts have been made to provide shoe racks that can be expanded and contracted in order to vary their capacity and allow them to fit in whatever area is available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,353 to Leifheit and U.S. Pat. No. D403,880 to Malik disclose shoe racks having telescoping tubes on which shoes are supported. The tubes can be adjusted telescopically in length to vary the length and capacity of the shoe rack. However, in both of these shoe racks, there are two telescoping tubes that have different diameters, and the sockets that receive the tubes on the shoe rack frame must have different sizes. This size difference leads to practical problems. 
   First, this type of unit is normally assembled by consumers who generally lack assembly skills. Inevitably, a large number of purchasers will attempt to assemble the unit by trying to drive the larger tube into one of the smaller sockets. Not only will this not work, it is likely to crack or otherwise damage the frame, especially considering that the frames are typically constructed of plastic. In addition to the damage, there can be considerable frustration involved that can harm the reputation of the product. 
   A construction that uses two telescoping tubes also limits the capacity of the shoe rack as a practical matter. The two tubes must have some overlap, so the overall length of the shoe rack must be less than twice the length of the longer of the two tubes. Retail stores limit the length of the packaging they will accept, so the practical effect is that the shoe rack must have a maximum length less than twice the length of the package. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an expansible shoe rack having a unique construction that overcomes these problems in a practical way. 
   In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an expansible shoe rack in which the sockets that receive the telescoping tubes all have the same size. This feature is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by providing tubes that are equal in size for insertion into the sockets on opposite sides of the shoe rack frame, along with a center tube that has a different size so that it can establish a telescopic fit with the end tubes, thereby accommodating expansion and contraction of the shoe rack size and capacity. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible shoe rack that has enhanced capacity without the need for lengthy tubes or lengthy packaging. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a shoe rack has a frame with opposite sides that each present a plurality of equally sized sockets. Bar assemblies that extend between the sides to provide support for shoes include end tubes that closely fit in the sockets and center tubes that fit telescopically with the end tubes. The bar assemblies are arranged in tiers, with front and rear bars in each tier for receiving and supporting the shoes. 
   By virtue of this construction, all of the sockets and all of the end bars can have the same size. Therefore, consumers can apply the end bars to the sockets without the chance of a size mismatch. Preferably, the center bars are noticeably longer than the end bars so they are readily distinguished and will not mistakenly be driven into the sockets. 
   This construction has the added advantage of providing increased capacity without lengthening the packaging. By way of example, an 8′ long (maximum) shoe rack with two tubes would have at least one tube that is at least 4½′ long, assuming a 6″ overlap between the two tubes. The package length would thus have to be more than 4½′. In contrast, an 8′ shoe rack (maximum) constructed according to the present invention could have two end tubes each 2½′ long and a center tube 4′ long, again assuming a 6″ overlap at each of the two telescopic joints. The package could be at least 6″ shorter than in the case of a two tube unit while providing the same capacity. Even greater advantage can be obtained in this respect by using other length combinations of the tubes. 
   It is preferable for each frame side to be constructed using a base, front and back posts, and a top beam that connects the upper ends of the posts. The connections between the posts and the base and top beam may be detachable so that the shoe rack can be packaged in a compact configuration. One set of sockets can be provided in each base and each top beam so that the opposite posts, base pieces and top beams are all connected by tube assemblies, while the posts, bases and top beams on each side are directly connected to each other to enhance the structural integrity and rigidity of the shoe rack construction. 
   Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an expansible shoe rack constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the shoe rack shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of parts of the shoe rack shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view similar to  FIG. 2 , with a portion broken away for illustrative purposes; and 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view similar to  FIG. 4 , with a portion broken away for illustrative purposes, and with the solid lines showing the shoe rack almost fully contracted and the broken lines showing the shoe rack in a more expanded condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings in more detail, numeral  10  generally designates an expansible shoe rack constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shoe rack  10  has a frame that includes opposite sides  12  and  14  that are mirror images of one another. Each of the frame sides  12  and  14  has a base  16  that rests on a floor or other supporting surface. Each base  16  has a front foot  18  and a rear foot  20  that contact the floor. Each frame side  12  and  14  also includes a front upright post  22  and a rear upright post  24 . The post  22  and  24  may have an I-beam-type construction and have detachable connections with the base  16  at their lower ends. As shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , each base  16  has a slot  26  near its front end and another slot  28  near its rear end. The lower end of post  22  is provided with a tongue  30  on its lower end which may be press fit into the forward slot  26 . Each of the rear posts  24  similarly has a projecting tongue  32  on its lower end that has a press fit in the rear slot  28 . The posts  22  and  24  on each side of the frame are spaced apart and parallel, with the front post  22  located forwardly from the rear post  24 . 
   The upper ends of each pair of posts  22  and  24  are connected by a top beam  34 . The beams  34  have downwardly extending legs  36  and  38  on their front and back ends, respectively. The lower end of leg  36  is provided with a slot (not shown) into which a tongue  40  ( FIG. 3 ) on the top end of post  22  is closely received in a press fit. Similarly, a tongue  42  on the top end of each post  24  has a press fit in a slot (not shown) formed in a lower end of leg  38 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 1  in particular, each of the front posts  22  is provided with a pair of cylindrical sockets  44  which are spaced apart vertically along the length of each post  22  and face toward the opposing front post on the opposite frame side. Similarly, each of the rear posts  24  is provided on its inside face with a pair of cylindrical slots  46  that are spaced apart vertically substantially the same distance as the sockets  44 . Each base  16  is provided on its inside face with a cylindrical front socket  48  and a cylindrical rear socket  50 . Each of the top beams  34  is provided with a front cylindrical socket  52  and a rear cylindrical socket  54 . The front sockets  44 ,  48  and  52  are spaced approximately equidistantly apart on the opposite frame sides. Each of the front sockets is horizontally aligned with one of the front sockets on the opposite frame side  12  or  14 . The rear sockets  46 ,  50  and  54  are similarly spaced equidistantly apart and are aligned with the rear sockets on the opposite side of the frame. Sockets  46  are preferably slightly higher than the corresponding front sockets  44 , while sockets  50  are preferably located at a slightly higher elevation that sockets  48  and sockets  54  are preferably slightly higher than sockets  52 . All of the sockets are cylindrical and have the same diameter and depth. 
   The shoe rack  10  includes a plurality of bar assemblies, each of which may take the form of a pair of hollow end bars or tubes  56  and a hollow center bar or tube  58 . The end tubes  56  are all tubular and have the same size and shape. The diameter of each end tube  56  is such that it can be inserted closely in one of the sockets  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  in the frame in a press fit. The center tubes  58  are constructed to have a telescopic fit with each of the end tubes  56  in each bar assembly. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the opposite ends of each center tube  58  receive the ends of the corresponding end tubes  56  in a telescopic manner such that the tubes  56  and  58  provide a continuous bar extending between the opposite frame sides  12  and  14 . The fit of each tube  56  in tube  58  is preferably a close fit, although the tubes  56  can telescope in and out of tube  58  for adjustment of the length and capacity of the shoe rack  10 . 
   It is preferred for the tube  58  to be considerably longer than the end tubes  56 . The tubes  56  are all preferably of the same length. By way of example, each tube  58  may be somewhat less than twice the length of each tube  56 . At the same time, it is preferred that the length of each tube  58  be minimized so that the length of the packaging needed to contain the components of the shoe rack  10  can be minimized without sacrificing capacity. 
   It is contemplated that the shoe rack will be packaged in disassembled form so that it can be contained in a compact package having a length only slightly greater than the length of each tube  58 . The consumer or other purchaser of the shoe rack can unpackage the components and assemble them. The frame sides  12  and  14  can be assembled by inserting the tongues  30  and  32  in the slots  26  and  28  of the base  16 . The upper tongues  40  and  42  can be applied into the slots (not shown) in the lower surfaces of legs  36  and  38  to connect the top beams  34  on the frame sides. Each of the frame sides  12  and  14  is thus constructed such that it presents a rigid structure which is generally rectangular with the posts  22  and  24  being vertical and connected by the bases  16  at the bottom and the top beams  34  at the top. The end bars  56  may then be inserted into the sockets  44  and  46  of the posts and also into the sockets  48  and  50  of the bases and sockets  52  and  54  of the top beams. The end tubes  52  may then be inserted into the opposite ends of the center tubes  58  to complete the assembly. 
   When the unit has been assembled, the bar assemblies provided by the telescoping tubes  56  and  58  are arranged in a plurality of tiers, with each tier including one bar assembly at the front portion of the frame and another bar assembly at a slightly higher elevation at the rear portion of the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four different tiers of bars, one defined at the bases  16 , two more defined along the posts  22  and  24 , and the final top tier defined at the top beams  34 . 
   The shoe rack  10  can be expanded or contracted as desired in order to vary its capacity or adjust its length to fit in whatever space might be available. Because the tubes  56  fit telescopically in the larger center tubes  58 , the length adjustment can be carried out quickly and easily. It is noted that the shoe rack  10  can be assembled easily because all of the sockets have the same size, and all of the end tubes  58  have the same size. The center tubes  58  are preferably considerably longer than the end tubes  58  so that they will not be mistakenly driven into one of the sockets and thus possibly damage the frame components. Additionally, the shoe rack  10  can provide the same shoe holding capacity as a two tube telescoping shoe rack while presenting a shorter and more compact package. 
   While the shoe rack  10  has been shown and described as having sockets in which the end bars  56  are received, other methods of attachment can be provided, including mechanical fasteners such as screws and other fastening systems. Also, shoe racks that hang on a door, wall or other surface can be constructed in accordance with the invention. 
   From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
   It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
   Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.