Patent Publication Number: US-6216889-B1

Title: Rod rack supporting structure

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rod rack supporting structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support frame  1  of the prior art is provided in the vertical plate thereof with a through hole  2  for receiving a bolt, and in the horizontal plate thereof with with an arcuate slot  3  for locating a blind holding rod  4 . The support frame  1  is further provided in an outer side plate  31  thereof with a through hole  32  for engaging a locating bolt  5 . The blind holding rod is vulnerable to damage by the locating bolt. When the locating bolt is exerted on by an external force, the outer side plate is susceptible to deformation. As a result, the support frame is incapable of supporting securely the holding rod. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a prior art support frame  6  is provided in the vertical plate thereof with a hole  7  for receiving a bolt, and in the horizontal plate thereof with a retainer  8  for retaining a bathroom rod  9  in conjunction with a plate surface  81 . The retainer is not structurally strong to withstand an external force exerting thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a rod rack supporting structure which is free from the drawbacks of the prior art support structures described above. 
     In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a rod rack supporting structure comprising two support frames, a rod, and two locating members. The support frames are provided with a cross rod which is in turn provided with a plurality of retainers for retaining the rod. The retainers are provided in both plate surfaces of the open end thereof with a slide block. The locating members are provided in the inner side thereof with an arcuate slot and a slide slot corresponding to the slide block. The rod rack is securely located by the two slide blocks which are inserted into the two slide slots. 
     The arcuate slot and the two slide slots of the locating member have a front end which is gradually thickened toward the rear end so as to form an inclined inner surface. When the locating member is engaged with the retainer, the rod rack is urged by the inclined inner surface. The slide block is provided with a position confining block in cooperation with a recess of the slide slot, thereby preventing the locating member to move about. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a support frame of the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the prior art support frame in combination. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a support frame of another prior art. 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the prior art as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line A—A as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line B—B as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the present invention in combination. 
     FIG. 9-1 shows a sectional view taken along the direction C—C as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 9-2 shows a sectional view taken along the direction D—D as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the present invention in use for supporting a window blind rod. 
     FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of the present invention in use for supporting a bathroom rod rack. 
     FIG. 12 shows another schematic view of the present invention in use for supporting a bathroom rod rack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the present invention comprises: A rod  10 . 
     Two support frames  20  having a locating plate  21  with a plurality of holes  22 . The locating plate  21  is provided with a cross member  23  provided with retainer  24  having a plurality of openings facing upward. The width of the opening of the retainer  24  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rod  10  so as to enable the rod  10  to be retained therein. The two side plates  241  of the retainer  24  are each provided at the top thereof with a wing plate  242  which is provided with a position confining block  243  in the form of a transversely disposed ridge; 
     Two locating members  30 . The locating members  30  are provided in the middle of the inner surface with an arcuate cover  31 . The front end of the inner surface of the arcuate cover  31  is thickened toward the rear end. The arcuate cover  31  thus has an inclined plane, as shown in FIG.  6 . The arcuate cover  31  is provided in both sides thereof with a receiving groove  32  corresponding to the wing plate  242  of the support frame  20 . The receiving groove  32  is similar in construction to the arcuate cover  31 , as shown in FIG.  7 . The receiving groove  32  is provided with a recess  33  corresponding to the position confining block  243  of the retainer  24 . 
     As shown in FIGS.  8 - 9 - 2 , the rod  10  is retained in the retainer  24  of the support frame  20  such that the wing plate  242  of the retainer  24  are retained in the receiving groove  32  of the locating member  30 , and that the inclined plane of the receiving groove  32  urges the wing plate  242 , and further that the recess  33  is engaged with the position confining block  243  of the wing plate  242 . The inclined plane of the arcuate cover  31  of the locating member  30  urges the rod  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10 in conjunction with FIGS. 5-7, the present invention is used to support the window blind rod. The retainer  24  of the support frames  20  holds a rod  40  securely such that the receiving groove  32  of the locating member  30  are engaged with the wing plate  242  of the two side plates  241  of the retainer  24 . In addition, the inclined planes of the receiving groove  32  and the arcuate cover  31  urge intimately the wing plate  242  and the rod  40 . Moreover, the recess  33  of the receiving groove  32  is engaged with the position confining block  243  of the wing plate  242 . The rod  40  is thus held securely by the support frames  20  in conjunction with the locating members  30 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in conjunction with FIGS. 5-7, the support frames  20  are fastened onto the bathroom wall by a plurality of fastening bolts which are received in the through holes  22  of the locating plates  21 . A rod rack  50  is held securely by the retainers  24  of the support frames  20  in conjunction with the locating members  30 . The receiving groove  32  of the locating members  30  are engaged with the wing plate  242  of the two side plates  241  of the retainers  24 . The rod rack  50  is intimately urged by the inclined planes of the receiving groove  32  and the arcuate cover  31 .