Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a rack for storing floats. A float rack may comprise a vertical support post, a plurality of slip-Ts and a plurality of float support arms. The vertical support post will typically have a top end and a bottom end. The slip-Ts are connected to the vertical support post to provide a rotating joint about the vertical support post. The float support arms are attached to the slip-Ts.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,273 filed on Sep. 17, 2008 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Hanging Float Rack.” The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,273 is incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates generally to storage systems, and in particular to storage of floatation devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A standard closed foam float design includes a pillow formed by a loop in the foam material. Such floats are often difficult to store and cause clutter near pools, in garages, or on boats. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a rack for storing floats. A float rack may comprise a vertical support post, a plurality of slip-Ts and a plurality of float support arms. The vertical support post will typically have a top end and a bottom end. The slip-Ts are connected to the vertical support post to provide a rotating joint about the vertical support post. The float support arms are attached to the slip-Ts. 
     Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a float rack installed to a building near a swimming pool; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of the float rack of  FIG. 1  with a float; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a float rack with a float; 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up of a float rack with two floats; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the float rack of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a float rack; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the float rack in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a float rack; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the float rack in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the float rack in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure generally provides 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a float rack  10  with floats  12  installed on a building  14  near a swimming pool  16 . Float rack  10  has three arms  18  sized to support floats  12  as shown. Float rack  10  is mounted to an outside wall of building  14  in the figure shown, but may be mounted inside, as in a garage or storage area. Floats  12  are common closed cell foam floats with a loop forming a headrest  20 . Arms  18  are sized to fit within headrest  20  of float  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a close-up view of the float rack  10  of  FIG. 1  with a float  12  hanging by headrest  20  off of arm  18 . Arm  18  is shown to have ribbing  22  in its outer surface. Ribbing  22  provides an improved aesthetic and allows for easy sliding of headrest  20  over arm  18 . Arm  18  also has an end cap  24  to seal the arm  18  and provide for a smooth end. Arms  18  are attached to slip-Ts  26  which rotate about a vertical support post  28 . Vertical support post  28  has an upper end  30  and a lower end  32 , each having an end cap  24 . 
     Near the upper end  30  of vertical support post  28  is a fixed-T  34  attached to upper support  36 . A surface mount  38  is connected to the upper support  36  opposite the fixed-T  34 . Near the lower end  32  of vertical support post  28  is another fixed-T  34  attached to a lower support  40 . Another surface mount  38  is connected to the lower support  40  opposite the fixed-T  34 . Lower support  40  is slightly longer than upper support  36  to allow arms  18  to be aligned on one side of vertical support post  28  with multiple floats  12 . 
     Screws  42  are placed adjacent to slip-Ts  26  to prevent unwanted axial movement along vertical support post  28  while allowing rotation of slip-Ts  26  about vertical support post  28 . 
       FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a float rack with a float  12  and twice as many arms  12  as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Vertical support post  28  is elongated to allow for two slip-Ts  26  between the fixed-T  34  and the upper end  30  of vertical support post  28 . A single screw  42  is still sufficient to restrain unwanted axial movement as slip-Ts  26  rotate against each other without interference. Likewise two slip-Ts  26  are positioned between the fixed-T  34  and the lower end  32  of vertical support post  28 . Similarly two slip-Ts  26  are positioned near the middle of vertical support post  28  between fixed-Ts  34 . 
     Again, lower support  40  is slightly longer than upper support  36  to allow three arms  18  to be aligned on each side of vertical support post  28  with multiple floats  12 . 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up of a float rack  10  with two floats  12  hanging by headrests  20 . In this embodiment the slip-Ts  26  are arranged along vertical support post  28  between fixed-Ts  34 . The uppermost arm  18  is similar to those discussed with regards to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . The three lower arms  18  each have an elbow  44  on arm  18  and a spacing member  46 ,  48 ,  50  between the elbows  44  and the slip-Ts  26 . The spacing element  46  is shorter than spacing element  48  which is in turn shorter than spacing element  50 . Thus spacing elements  46 ,  48 ,  50  act to stagger arms  18  and provide space for floats  12 . Thus upper support  36  and lower support  40  may be the same length. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the float rack  10  of  FIG. 4  more clearly showing the different lengths of spacing elements  46 ,  48 ,  50  and the resultant spacing of arms  18 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view of a float rack  60  having a vertical support post  28  and three fixed-Ts  34  supporting pairs of arms  18  with end caps  24 . The fixed-Ts  34  are arranged to provide an even distribution of arms  18  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Vertical support post  28  is secured in base  52 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the float rack  60  in  FIG. 6  showing the arrangement of arms  18 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view of a float rack  70  having a vertical support post  78  and a base  52 . Slip-Ts  26  support arms  18  with end caps  24 . Support post  78  may be a composite support post made of an outer support post  54  and an inner support post  56 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . In the alternative, vertical support post  78  may be a single element with a screw below the slip-Ts  26  from unwanted axially movement. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the float rack  70  in  FIG. 8  showing that arms  18  may rotate independently about vertical support post  78 . 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the float rack  70  in  FIG. 8  showing a composite version of vertical support post  78 . The composite version of vertical support post  78  has an outer support post  54  extending from base  52  to the bottom of slip-Ts  26 . Inner support post  56  extends from base  52  to the top of slip-Ts  26 . Slip-Ts  26  are sized to fit about inner post  56  but not slide over outer post  54  such that the terminus of outer post  54  forms a shoulder to support slip-Ts  26 . Inner post  56  runs the entire length of outer post  54  to provide additional rigidity to vertical support post  78 . 
     All of the above embodiments, or parts thereof, may be made with a thermoplastic polymer to prevent corrosion and rusting. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a suitable material for these embodiments and furniture grade PVC is useful where a thicker wall is desired. It is possible to obtain furniture grade PVC with a colorant treatment throughout the material to provide a more pleasant appearance and protection from fading, cracking, and brittleness. Where screws  40  are required they may be made of stainless steel to provide a non-corrosive alternative that has sufficient strength. 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
     While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.