Patent Publication Number: US-2009223913-A1

Title: Knockdown magazine and book rack kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to magazine and book racks and more particularly to knockdown magazine and book rack kits. 
     2. Background Art 
     Free standing magazine and book racks having shelves for supporting magazines and books on one or two sides have been known. These free standing magazine and book racks are typically shipped fully assembled or in complete knockdown form, i.e., having many separate parts that are shipped in a carton and that must be assembled at a destination point. The full assembled free standing magazine and book racks are typically fully assembled at a manufacturing plant or point of origin and shipped fully assembly to a destination point. Knockdown magazine and book racks typically require substantial assembly, and are often difficult or too time consuming for average or unskilled buyers to assemble, especially in light of the numerous parts packaged in a knockdown magazine and book rack shipping carton and the complexity of assembly of all these parts. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a knockdown magazine and book rack kit having at least one portion thereof prefabricated, in order to simplify and save assembly time. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit should also minimize packaging size and shipping costs. 
     The knockdown magazine and book rack kit should be capable of being manufactured, shipped and assembled in a quick, convenient, and efficient manner, and require a minimum of tools to assemble. Magazines and books should be capable of being displayed and distinguished one from the other and being accessed, removed, and stored quickly, and easily. 
     The knockdown magazine and book rack kit should be durable, light weight, inexpensive, safe to use, attractive, sturdy, and of simple construction, and should be capable of being manufactured, shipped, and assembled as a two sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit, having two prefabricated magazine and book racks, or as a single sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit, having one prefabricated magazine and book rack. Optional rear shelving should also be included for at least one embodiment of a single sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit, having the one prefabricated magazine and book rack. 
     The knockdown magazine and book rack kit should be capable of being shipped as a two sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit having two prefabricated rack sections that nest and interleave one with the other for quick, easy, and efficient packaging and shipment, which ensures that a shipping container containing parts for a two-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit, having two prefabricated magazine and book racks, is approximately the same size as a shipping container for a single-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit, having one prefabricated magazine and book rack. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a knockdown magazine and book rack kit having at least one portion thereof prefabricated, in order to simplify and save assembly time. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit minimizes packaging size and shipping costs. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit may be manufactured, shipped and assembled in a quick, convenient, and efficient manner, and requires a minimum of tools to assemble. Magazines and books are capable of being displayed and distinguished one from the other and being accessed, removed, and stored quickly, and easily. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit is durable, light weight, inexpensive, safe to use, attractive, sturdy, and of simple construction. 
     A two-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit has a pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks, and nesting and interleaving the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks for packaging and shipping within a shipping container reduces shipping volume and size, and decreases shipping costs. 
     The knockdown magazine and book rack kit of present invention comprises but a few parts, wherein prefabricated rack sections are completely factory preassembled. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit is manufactured of wood or wood based products. 
     The two-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit is shown as a preferred embodiment, whereas an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit is shown as a one-sided embodiment. 
     The two-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit comprises two pre-drilled and formed substantially flat side panels, prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks, and a laterally directed substantially E shaped or C shaped channel member for receiving and holding uppermost portions of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks in place, the laterally directed substantially C shaped channel member removably fastened to each of the side panels at opposing ends thereof. 
     Protruding pegs attached to the side edges of each of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks quickly locate each rack in each side panel. Supplied screws then releasably lock the side panels and prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks together, while capturing the laterally directed substantially C shaped channel member. 
     Assembly of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit is a simple procedure, requiring a minimum number of steps, and results in a strong freestanding knockdown magazine and book rack. 
     In one of the alternate embodiments of the present invention, a single-sided magazine rack of similar construction comprises a single prefabricated wooden magazine and book rack section, two pre-drilled sides, an E shaped or C shaped channel member, and a rear panel. 
     It is should be noted that the two prefabricated rack sections nest and interleave one with the other for quick, easy, and efficient packaging and shipment, which ensures that a shipping container containing parts for a two-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit of the present invention is approximately the same size as a shipping container for a single-sided knockdown magazine and book rack kit. 
     The interleaving of the nested shelving parts enables the parts to minimize space loss in shipping the three dimensional shelving parts of the rack. As a result the shelving components can be shipped swiftly within the standard 165 linear inch requirements of courier shipping, without the necessity of being shipped in bulk parcel post packaging at a longer delivery time. 
     In yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention, a single-sided magazine rack of similar construction comprises a single prefabricated wooden magazine and book rack section, two pre-drilled sides, a top panel, an intermediate panel, and at least one shelf. 
     A knockdown magazine and book rack kit having features of the present invention comprises: a pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks, each of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks constructed of a plurality of substantially upright panels, a plurality of laterally directed shelves, a lower substantially upright front panel, and an upper substantially upright rear panel, forming a plurality of substantially J shaped channels for holding books and magazines therein, each of the plurality of substantially upright panels forming the rear portion of one of the substantially J shaped channels and the front portion of an adjacent one of the substantially J shaped channels, each of the plurality of substantially upright panels having one of the plurality of shelves substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion thereof and an adjacent one of the plurality of shelves substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at an intermediate portion thereof, the upper substantially upright rear panel having an uppermost one of the plurality of shelves substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion thereof, the lower substantially upright front panel having a lowermost one of the plurality of shelves substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion thereof; a pair of wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels substantially perpendicularly removably fastened to the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks one to the other, each of the wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels having a top portion and a base portion substantially parallel one to the other, the base portion wider than the top portion, substantially parallel lower opposing side portions substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a pair of angularly disposed upper side portions; a laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member receiving uppermost portions of each of the upper substantially upright rear panels of the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks therein, the laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member having opposing ends removably fastened to the wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels and holding the upper substantially upright rear panels of the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks in place. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1  partially assembled, shown during a step of assembly of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 5 , partially assembled shown during another step of assembly of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 5 , partially assembled shown during another step of assembly of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 5 , shown during another step of assembly of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a pair of prefabricated magazine and book racks of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1  nested and interleaved for shipment; 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the pair of prefabricated magazine and book racks of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1  showing the nested and interleaved prefabricated magazine and book racks of  FIG. 9  and other parts of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit being packaged in a shipping container for shipment; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a pair of prefabricated magazine and book racks of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1  showing the nested and interleaved prefabricated magazine and book racks of  FIG. 9  of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit being packaged in an alternative shipping container for shipment; 
         FIG. 12  is a breakaway perspective view of the pair of prefabricated magazine and book racks of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 1  showing the nested and interleaved prefabricated magazine and book racks packaged within the alternative shipping container of  FIG. 11  for shipment; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross section view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a rear perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross section view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 15 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a rear view of the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-19  of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers. 
       FIGS. 1-12  show an embodiment of the present invention a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10 .  FIGS. 1-4  show perspective, front, cross section, and exploded views of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10 , respectively.  FIGS. 5-8  show steps of assembly of an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100 , which is substantially the same as the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  except that the alternate embodiment of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100  has a different embodiment of a laterally directed channel member.  FIGS. 9-12  show nesting and interleaving of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  and packaging in alternate shipping containers. 
       FIGS. 1-4  show the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10 , comprising: a pair of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12 , each of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  constructed of a plurality of substantially upright panels  14 , a plurality of laterally directed shelves  16 , a lower substantially upright front panel  18 , and an upper substantially upright rear panel  20 , forming a plurality of substantially J shaped channels  22  for holding books and magazines  24  therein, each of the plurality of substantially upright panels  14  forming the rear portion of one of the substantially J shaped channels  22  and the front portion of an adjacent one of the substantially J shaped channels  22 , each of the plurality of substantially upright panels  14  having one of the plurality of shelves  16  substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion  26  thereof and an adjacent one of the plurality of shelves substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at an intermediate portion  28  thereof, the upper substantially upright rear panel  20  having an uppermost one of the plurality of shelves  16  substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion  30  thereof, the lower substantially upright front panel  18  having a lowermost one of the plurality of shelves  16  substantially perpendicularly fastened thereto at a lower portion  32  thereof; a pair of wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels  34  substantially perpendicularly removably fastened to the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  one to the other, each of the wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels  34  having a top portion  36  and a base portion  38  substantially parallel one to the other, the base portion  38  wider than the top portion  36 , substantially parallel lower opposing side portions  40  substantially perpendicular to the base portion  38 , and a pair of angularly disposed upper side portions  42 ; a laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member  44  receiving uppermost portions  46  of each of the upper substantially upright rear panels  20  of the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks therein  12 , the laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member  44  having opposing ends  48  removably fastened to the wooden substantially symmetrical hexagonal shaped opposing side panels  34  and holding the upper substantially upright rear panels  20  of the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  in place. 
       FIGS. 5-8  show steps of assembly of an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  70 , which is substantially the same as the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10 , except that the alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  70  has a laterally directed substantially C shaped channel member  50 , which may be used as an alternate embodiment of the laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member  44  to hold the upper substantially upright rear panels  20  of the pair of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  in place. 
       FIGS. 9-12  show nesting and interleaving of prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  of the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  and packaging in alternate shipping containers  52  and  54 . The shipping container  52  has upper portion  56  and lower portion  58 , allowing the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  to be dropped into the lower portion  58  of the shipping container  52 . The upper portion  56  is then used to cover the lower portion  58  and enclose the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  within the shipping container  52 . The shipping container  54  has opening  60 , which may be closed with hinged lid  62 , to enclose the he knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  within the shipping container  54 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100 , which has one of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12 , whereas the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  10  and the knockdown magazine and book rack kit  70  each have a pair of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12  in a back-to-back configuration. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100  also has the substantially E shaped channel member  44 , although the substantially C shaped channel member  50  may alternately be used. 
     The knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100  has a pair of wooden substantially trapezoid shaped opposing side panels  102  substantially perpendicularly removably fastened to the prefabricated wooden magazine and book rack  12  one to the other, each of the wooden substantially trapezoid shaped opposing side panels  102  having a top portion  104  and a base portion  106  substantially parallel one to the other, the base portion  106  wider than the top portion  104 , a substantially upright rear side portion  108  substantially perpendicular to the base portion  106 , and an angularly disposed front side portion  110 ; a substantially upright rear panel  112 , the pair of wooden substantially trapezoid shaped opposing side panels  102  substantially perpendicularly removably fastened to the substantially upright rear panel  112  one to the other. The laterally directed substantially E shaped channel member  44  receives the uppermost portion  46  of the upper substantially upright rear panel  20  of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book rack  12  and an uppermost portion  114  of the substantially upright rear panel  112  therein. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit  100  may also have upper and lower lateral reinforcing members  116  and  118 , respectively, to reinforce and hold the substantially upright rear panel  112  between the wooden substantially trapezoid shaped opposing side panels  102 . 
       FIGS. 15-19  show an alternate embodiment of a knockdown magazine and book rack kit  120 , which also has one of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book racks  12 . The knockdown magazine and book rack kit  120  has a wooden top panel  122  having a forwardly disposed laterally directed substantially C shaped channel  124  receiving an uppermost portion  46  of the upper substantially upright rear panel  20  of the prefabricated wooden magazine and book rack  12  and an uppermost portion  126  of a substantially upright intermediate panel  128  therein. The knockdown magazine and book rack kit  120  also has at least one rear shelf, which may comprise an intermediate height rear shelf  130  and/or a lower rear shelf  132 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.