Abstract:
An expandable and customizable cabinet apparatus for supporting clothes when hanging them to dry includes a housing that forms an enclosure with an opening on one side. A door connected to the housing is able to open to substantially 180 degrees. A frame is connected in a hinging arrangement to the housing allowing it to swing relative to the housing between the housing and the door. The frame includes an anchoring grid. A series of articulating hanging racks are affixed to the anchoring grid and held in a horizontal position with support members. The hanging racks may be articulated downward to a position flush with the anchoring grid, and the enclosed with the frame inside the housing and door when closed.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application No. 61/795,660, filed on Oct. 22, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Clothes drying mechanisms are known in the art and typically comprise machines for agitating wet apparel along with the application of heated air. Although these types of apparatus are useful for drying clothes in bulk, they may not be useful for drying small amounts of clothing, drying clothing that cannot tolerate high temperatures, and fabrics prone to shrinkage. Electrical clothes dryers also consume power and are subject to power loss conditions. 
         [0003]    Hanging after washing has been the universal method for drying clothes, both before the advent of electrical clothes drying apparatus and remains a popular means of drying apparel. Typical methods for hang-drying clothes involve draping items of apparel over a taught line or cable. Although typical clothes lines comprise long single or parallel lines, apparatus known in the art include matrices of lines strung around a frame, etc. These clothes drying apparatus, while avoiding the drawbacks of electrical clothes dryers, present other problems due to the large areas they encompass. Even apparatus comprising lines strung on a frame are frequently too large to fit indoors and consequently may not be used during inclement weather. 
         [0004]    Apparatus for hang-drying clothes indoors are also known in the art. These apparatus typically present a dowel or multiple dowels installed between articulating sides that scissor open and closed. In this manner, such an apparatus may be “opened” to space apart the dowels, allowing a user to hang apparel thereon. These apparatus suffer from the drawback that they lack sufficient space for hanging multiple items of clothing, and are typically flimsy and prone to breakage and collapse. 
         [0005]    There is therefore a need for a laundry hanging apparatus that uses no electricity, that provides ample space for hanging items of clothing, and which is strong and sturdy enough to hold heavy, wet items. There is also a need for a laundry apparatus that is customizable according to the number of clothes needing to be dried, which presents both means for hanging clothes on hangers and for placing clothes on shelves for items of apparel which may not be dried in a hanging configuration, also, an apparatus that may be employed indoors, and which may be easily unfolded and refolded for convenient storage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An expandable and customizable cabinet apparatus is adapted for supporting a variety of clothes when hanging them to dry. The cabinet includes a housing that forms an enclosure. The enclosure may be approximately 3.5 inches in depth, and preferably includes a divider that forms a storage pocket inside the enclosure. The enclosure is open on at least one side. A door is connected to the housing by a hinge so that the door covers the opening when closed. In order to cause the door to cover the face of the opening, one or more hinges may connect the door and the housing on an outside portion of the housing. 
         [0007]    A first frame is connected to the housing in a hinged manner that allows the frame to move into and out of the housing. By hinging the frame inside the housing, the frame can travel entirely out of, or into the housing, which allows the door to completely obscure the opening, thereby sealing the cabinet and first frame therein. An anchoring member is disposed in the frame. Preferably, the anchoring member is a planar grid of metal wire, or a material having similar characteristics. In one embodiment, the anchoring member is affixed to the frame using connectors. 
         [0008]    A rack member is attached to the anchoring member in a manner allowing it to articulate relative to the anchoring member. In various embodiments, multiple rack members may be affixed to the anchoring member in a variety of places. Preferably each rack member includes horizontal rungs connected to two side members. Each side member terminates on a common end in a hook for engaging the anchoring member. In order to preserve a rack member in a horizontal position, support members also connect the rack members to the anchoring member. 
         [0009]    In order to connect a support member to a rack member, the ends of each support member include a double curve. A linear segment between the double curves defines the length of each support member. The double curves serve to allow a support member to pull a rack member relative to the anchoring member or to push a rack member relative to the anchoring member. In this manner, support members may hold a rack member horizontally at the top of the anchoring member by pushing up on it, while others hold a rack member horizontally at the bottom of the anchoring member by pulling up on it. 
         [0010]    The cabinet is modular, allowing a several rack members to be affixed to the anchoring member according to user preference. Furthermore, since the anchoring member articulates relative to the housing. The anchoring member may be swung out to be perpendicular to the housing, and rack members hung from both sides of the anchoring member. Since this fully extended configuration may not always be necessary depending on the amount of laundry to be dried, a releasable lock holds the first frame in position relative to the housing, allowing rack members to swing outward from the cabinet in a smaller configuration. Releasing the lock allows the first frame and anchoring member to swing freely. 
         [0011]    In one preferred embodiment, a second frame is affixed to the inside of the door, the second frame also including an anchoring member. In this manner, rack members may be affixed to the anchoring member in the second frame as well, thereby increasing the amount of laundry that may be hung from the cabinet. 
         [0012]    In addition to the rack members, a mesh rack is preferably included with the cabinet. The mesh rack includes a mesh of wire or cloth mesh strung on a frame preferably substantially the same size as the rack member. Feet on the mesh rack are concave to help align the mesh rack with the rack member. Preferably, the mesh includes a hook and latch or similar anchoring material to affix it to the rack member, thereby holding the mesh rack in place on the rack member as the rack member is articulated down from a horizontal position. This also allows the mesh rack to remain affixed to a rack member as it and the anchoring member are swung into the housing and the cabinet closed after use. 
         [0013]    To form a sturdy and resilient cabinet, the housing may be made of ⅛ inch steel plate, and the frame may be constructed from ¾ inch steel tubing. The anchoring member may comprise a metal grid of ¼ inch steel wire, while the rack members are also constructed of a similar gauge steel wire. 
         [0014]    To use the cabinet, a user first opens the cabinet door. If only a small number of clothes need to be dried, the user may leave the first frame in a locked position and place a rack member on the anchoring member by affixing the hooks in the rack member to a portion of the grid of the anchoring member. One contemplated configuration is a rack member disposed at the top of the anchoring member and a rack member disposed at the bottom of the anchoring member. The rack members are held in a horizontal position relative to the anchoring member using support members. 
         [0015]    If drying a greater quantity of laundry is needed, a user may engage the spring-loaded pin on the exterior of the housing which allows the first frame to articulate out away from the housing along a vertical axis. Once the first frame is substantially ninety degrees away from the housing, and the door substantially 180 degrees open, hanging racks may be affixed to both sides of the anchoring member, and, optionally, may be affixed to a second anchoring member housed in the second frame on the inside of the door. 
         [0016]    For drying specialty items, such as items that crease if hung from a hanger or hanging rack, or are too small to hang, a mesh rack may be affixed to one of the hanging racks. A user aligns the feet of the mesh rack to engage a hanging rack, and optionally connects the mesh rack to the hanging rack using a hook and latch or similar fastener. Clothes and clothes hangers may then be suspended from the hanging racks, with smaller items stowed on the mesh rack, and all laundry allowed to air dry. 
         [0017]    Once clothing is dry and removed from the hanging racks and mesh rack, the supporting members may be disengaged and stored in the housing pocket. Then the hanging racks may be articulated or folded against the anchoring member in the first rack, and the first rack folded into the housing. The door may then be closed until the cabinet is needed for further use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible clothes hanging and drying cabinet in an open configuration. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the housing thereof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a grid and frame thereof. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a collapsible clothes hanging and drying cabinet in a partially open configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of grid and frame with hanging racks disposed thereon. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a connector. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a support member. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a hanging rack. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a top view and a perspective view, respectively, of a mesh rack. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the collapsible clothes hanging and drying cabinet in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0028]      10 . Cabinet 
         [0029]      12 . Housing 
         [0030]      14 . Door 
         [0031]      16 . Divider 
         [0032]      18 . Pocket 
         [0033]      20 . Locking Pin 
         [0034]      22 . First Frame 
         [0035]      24 . First Grid 
         [0036]      26 . Support Member 
         [0037]      28 . Hanging Rack 
         [0038]      30 . Mesh Rack 
         [0039]      32 . Second Grid 
         [0040]      34 . Second Frame 
         [0041]      36 . Connector 
         [0042]      38 . Inner Hinge 
         [0043]      40 . Outer Hinge 
         [0044]      42 . Mounting Screw 
         [0045]      44 . Anchoring Screw 
         [0046]      46 . Retaining Loop 
         [0047]      48 . First Turn 
         [0048]      50 . Second Turn 
         [0049]      52 . Blunt Ends 
         [0050]      54 . Hook 
         [0051]      56 . Feet 
         [0052]      58 . Hook and Latch Material 
         [0053]      59 . Mesh 
         [0054]      60 . Handle 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the collapsible clothes hanging and drying cabinet (“cabinet”)  10  is shown in a fully opened configuration. The cabinet includes a housing  12  and a door  14  connected to the housing  12  using a first hinge (not shown, see  FIG. 2 ). The housing also includes a divider  16  which forms a pocket  18  in the housing  12 , and preferably includes a locking pin  20 , which may be a spring loaded locking pin  20 . Operation of the locking pin  20  will be discussed in reference to  FIG. 4  below. 
         [0056]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a first frame  22  is disposed between the housing  12  and the door  14  in an articulating manner using a second hinge (not shown, see  FIG. 2 ). The first frame  22  may be constructed so that it rotates into the housing  12  when the door  14  closes in order to completely seal the cabinet  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the first frame holds a first grid  24 , which may be a wire grid  24 . The grid allows the attachment of support members  26 , which hold a series of hanging racks  28  hingedly attached to the first frame  22 . In this manner, the hanging racks  28  may be articulated to fold against the grid  24 , and allow the first frame  22  and hanging racks  28  to fit inside the housing  12 . 
         [0057]    To add additional functionality, a mesh rack  30  may be included, anchored to the first frame  22 , and may articulate relative to the first frame  22  similar to the hanging racks  28 . The mesh rack  30  may be included for holding a variety of items, including clothes made of impressionable material that may undesirably retain the wire pattern of the hanging racks  28 . The mesh rack  30  is also useful for holding bottles and product containers that would fall through the hanging racks  28 . 
         [0058]    To maximize the hanging functionality of the cabinet  10 , the mesh rack  30  preferably sits atop a hanging rack  28 , such that clothes may be suspended from the hanging rack  28  underside of the mesh rack  30  when the cabinet  10  is open. The door  14  preferably also includes a second grid  32 , similar to the first grid  24 , to provide additional space for hanging items such as small articles of clothing, etc. For stability, the second grid  32  is held within a second frame  34 . The first grid  24  and second grid  32  are held to the first frame  22  and second frame  34 , respectively using connectors  36 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the housing  12  is shown separate from the cabinet  10  (not shown). The housing may be constructed of ⅛″ steel plate for stability and is preferably approximately 3.5 inches deep. The divider at the bottom of the housing  12  is also preferably ⅗ inches wide, and recessed into the housing  12  sufficiently to allow the first frame  22  (not shown) and related hardware to rest in the housing  12  when the cabinet  10  is closed. 
         [0060]    In order to facilitate closure of the cabinet  10  and storage of the first frame  22 , two sets of hinges are used. A pair of inner hinges  38  is disposed on the interior of the housing  12  to bring the first frame  22  into the housing when closed. A complimentary pair of outer hinges  40  is disposed on the exterior of the housing to bring the door  14  (not shown) against the housing  12  when closed. In various embodiments, the inner hinges  38  may be placed opposite the outer hinges  40  as shown, or they may be staggered. Additionally, one or more hinges may be employed according to preference. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the interior of the door  14  is shown with the second grid  32  and second frame  34  attached. The second grid  32  is attached to the second frame  34  using connectors  36 , and the second frame  34  is attached to the door  14  using mounting screws  42  or a similar attachment mechanism. The outer hinges  40  are shown, which connect the door  14  and related assembly to the housing  12  (not shown). In one embodiment, the second frame may be approximately 32.25 inches in height, and 23.25 inches in width, to fit just within the inside dimensions of the housing  12  when the door  14  is closed. Also, due to the thickness of the second frame  34 , room is provided for inserting clothing (not shown) or support members  26  (not shown) into the second grid  32 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the cabinet  10  is shown in a partially open view. When less capacity is needed, the door  14  of the cabinet  10  may be opened, but the first frame  22  may be left in position inside the cabinet  10 . The locking pin  20  is preferably a spring loaded locking pin  20 , which engages the first frame  22  when it is in a closed position in the housing  12 . In this manner, the first frame  22  is held in position unless released by the locking pin  20 . Hanging racks  28  may be articulated to fold out from the housing  12  suspended on support members, which hold the hanging racks  28  in position. With the door  14  open, the second grid  32  may be used to hang clothes or other items as well. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the connections between the first frame  22 , first grid  24  and hanging racks  28  are shown. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the first grid  24  is anchored into the first frame  22  using connectors  36 . With the first grid  24  held in place, the hanging racks  28  may be attached to the first grid  24  and supported in a horizontal orientation by the support members  26 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each connector  36  includes an anchoring screw  44  adapted to extend through the first frame  22  (not shown) or second frame  34  (not shown). The connectors  36  also include a retaining loop  46  for looping around the outer edge of either the first grid  24  (not shown) or second grid  32  (not shown). 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , each support member  26  includes two ends  52  having a first turn  48  and a second turn  50  in an opposite direction. In this manner, each end  52  of each support member  26  may be used to retain a hanging rack  28  (not shown) in a pulling or pushing orientation. For example, a support member under gravitational pull away from a grid would need support from the first turn  48 , while a support member under gravitational pull toward a grid would need support from the second turn  50 . Preferably the ends  52  of each support member  26  are blunted to avoid scratching and facilitate ease of installation. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a hanging rack  28  is shown in perspective view. An important component of the hanging rack  28 , which allows it to be anchored to either the first grid  24  (not shown) or second grid  32  (not shown), are hooks  54 , which are partially open, allowing the hanging rack  28  to be inserted on, articulated relative to, and removed from one of the grids. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the mesh rack  30  is shown in top and perspective view. The mesh rack provides a mesh  59  surface, which may be a wire mesh or a cloth mesh according to preference. The mesh rack is sized to rest on a hanging rack  28  (not shown) using feet  56 . Ideally the feet  56  have concave surfaces for engaging the ¼ inch steel wire used to create a hanging rack  28 . In addition to the feet  56 , which anchor on a hanging rack, preferably, the mesh rack  30  includes hook and latch material  58  (e.g., VELCRO®) which can be wrapped around a hanging rack  28  for added stability. With the hook and latch material  58  installed on a hanging rack  28 , the mesh rack  30  may be articulated into a vertical position for storage without falling off the hanging rack  28 . 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the cabinet  10  is shown in a closed configuration. In this configuration, all hanging hardware is stored in the housing  12 , and the door  14  is closed flush with the housing  12 . Preferably the door includes a handle  60 , and may also comprise means for preserving the door  14  in a closed configuration, such as a magnetic or other type of latch (not shown). As shown the door  14  may be slightly larger than the housing  12  to present an attractive appearance to the cabinet  10 . The cabinet  10  is preferably mounted in a location convenient to a laundry, such as above a washer or dryer or on a wall adjacent the same. 
         [0069]    The foregoing description is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiments presented is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, inasmuch as equivalents thereof and other modification which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification.