Patent Publication Number: US-RE39638-E

Title: Hanging shoe rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is generally directed to a hanging shoe rack. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a hanging shoe rack which supports the shoes in an inclined manner, such that each shoe is sloped downwardly toward the vertical surface upon which the shoe rack is attached. Additionally, the hanging shoe rack of the present invention contains attachment structure allowing multiple such racks to be suspended from one another. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Numerous types of shoe racks have been developed for storing shoes in a convenient manner. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,682,955 (Moore) illustrates a reversible shoe rack having a shoe support pivotally mounted to a side frame. The shoe support includes front and rear support bars which retain the shoe in an inclined manner, such that the toe of the shoe is angled downwardly and abuts against the wall supporting the shoe rack. U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,681 (Bergeron) discloses a foot apparel storage assembly which includes shelves supported at a base upon a back plate. The shelves are inclined downwardly toward a supporting wall such that shoes positioned on the shelf are inclined downwardly toward the wall. U.S. Pat. No. 1,769,344 (Hoffmire) discloses a portable shoe rack wherein paddles extend outwardly from a back brace in a manner to support shoes in an inclined manner such that the toe of a shoe is angled downwardly and abuts against the back brace. U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,884 (Hoffman) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,090,108 (Cicero) illustrate shoe racks for hanging on a vertical surface, such as a wall or the back of a door. 
     One known prior art shoe rack has a pair of elongate, spaced-apart base members for abutting with a door or wall upon which the shoe rack hangs. Each base member has a plurality of outwardly extending side bars, wherein corresponding side bars of the base members have a pair of spaced-apart rod members extending therebetween for supporting shoes. The side bar members are inclined upwardly as they extend from the base members. Thus, shoes positioned on the rod members incline downwardly towards the supporting surface of the rack. Additionally, this known prior art shoe rack is modular in nature, thereby permitting additional such racks to be attached to it in a suspended manner. 
     A primary problem with conventional shoe racks, including the known modular shoe rack previously described, is their inability to prevent shoes from sliding sideways off the rack without an additional side support member for blocking the shoes. Thus, those prior art shoe racks which do not provide such a side support member have difficulty in retaining shoes on the rack, particularly where the rack is positioned on a closet door. It will be appreciated that, as the door is swung open and closed, the shoes on the rack are forced toward the side of the rack and, in the absence of a side supporting member, may fall from the rack. Alternatively, those racks which provide a side support member are more structurally complex and costly to manufacture due to the addition of the side support members. 
     Additionally, a known problem with the heretofore described prior art modular shoe rack is the inability to retain suspended members in a rigid position relative to the shoe racks with which it is connected, particularly when the racks are positioned on a swinging door, as described above. In this regard, the known prior art modular hanging shoe rack previously described utilizes a pair of posts extending rearwardly from an upper portion of the base members. A lower portion of the base members have a pair of apertures such that the posts at the upper portion of a first shoe rack are inserted into the apertures at a lower portion of a second shoe rack. However, when such a modular shoe rack is placed on a door, these lower shoe rack portions have a tendency to swing from side-to-side as the doors open and close. This increases the likelihood of shoes falling from the racks, particularly where no side support structure is provided. Additionally, the suspended racks bow outwardly from the door, causing them to flop when the door is opened and closed and creating a space through which shoes slip. 
     Accordingly, the need exists for an inexpensive hanging shoe rack having side supporting members and a minimum number of parts. The need also exists for a modular hanging shoe rack which allows multiple racks to be suspended from one another and which engage one another in a manner to resist lateral displacement therebetween. The present invention fills these and other needs, and overcomes the drawbacks associated with prior art shoe racks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to support shoes in an inclined manner sloped downwardly toward a surface upon which the shoe rack is supported. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to prevent the shoes from sliding laterally off of a shoe rack made in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive hanging shoe rack, for supporting shoes in an inclined manner sloped downwardly toward the door, with side support members for abutting against the shoes to prevent the shoes from sliding off the rack, all with a minimal number of parts. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to suspend multiple shoe racks from one another in a manner to prevent lateral displacement therebetween. 
     These and other objects are achieved by a shoe rack having side frame members which securely retain a plurality of shoe-retaining bars therebetween. The side frame members include a main body section and a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly therefrom. The support arms are angled downwardly from their respective main body section. 
     The side frame members are secured to, or hang from, a vertical surface, such as a wall or a door, such that a corresponding pair of support arms upon opposed side frame members securely retain opposite ends of a first retaining bar, positioning proximate an outer end of each support arm. This first, outer retaining bar is adapted to receive a first portion of the sole of a shoe. The main body portions of the side frames receive opposite ends of the second retaining bar adapted to support a second portion of the shoe. The pairs of shoe-retaining bars are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support the shoes in an inclined manner with the shoes directed downwardly toward the door or wall. Additionally, and in accordance with a key aspect of the present invention, the support arms upon opposite side frames traverse the side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes, thereby preventing the shoes from falling off the rack as the doors open and close. 
     The present shoe rack also includes unique attachment structure upon the upper and lower ends of the side frames for suspending shoe racks from one another. Particularly, an upper portion of each side frame member of the shoe rack includes upper attachment structure, while a lower portion of each side frame member includes lower attachment structure. The upper attachment structure of a first shoe rack of the present invention is adapted to mate with the lower attachment structure of a second shoe rack of the present invention, to thereby suspend the two shoe racks together. The upper attachment structure includes a pair of spaced-apart slots, while the lower attachment structure includes a pair of spaced-apart male members. The male members are adapted to be slidingly introduced, in a sidewise fashion, into position within the female channels, to thereby interconnect two shoe racks of the present invention together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a left, frontal perspective view of a shoe rack according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view illustrating the modular hanging shoe rack of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are enlarged fragmentary views, illustrating the attachment structure of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference initially to  FIG. 1 , a modular hanging shoe rack of the present invention is denoted generally by reference numeral  10 . Shoe rack  10  has first and second side frame members  12 ,  14 . Each side frame member  12 ,  14  includes a main, elongate body section  16  and a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly from a front face  11  thereof. As shown, each support arm  18  angles downwardly, at approximately a 45° angle, from its corresponding main body section  16 . Side frame sections  12 ,  14  are preferably integrally molded from plastic. 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 2 , each side frame member  12 ,  14  is preferably generally constructed in the form of an I-beam (see  FIG. 5 ) and has, at front face  11  thereof, a plurality of reinforcing ribs  15  extending between the support arms  18 . Each side frame member  12 ,  14  also includes an upper leg  22  extending rearwardly from a rear face of its corresponding main, elongate body section  16 . Upper legs  22  terminate in depending foot portions  24  for engaging with a vertical surface upon which the shoe rack  10  hangs. Each side frame member  12 ,  14  also includes a lower leg  26  extending rearwardly from a lowermost portion of a corresponding elongate body section  16 , and terminating in a downwardly depending lower foot portion  28 . Lower foot portion  28  is also adapted to engage with the vertical surface upon which the shoe rack  10  hangs. As shown, gussets  17  are provided for strengthening the relationship between main body section  16  and the legs  22 ,  26 . As described in greater detail below, each upper leg  22  has, at an upper portion thereof, upper attachment structure  38  and each lower leg  26  has, at a lower portion thereof, lower attachment structure  40 . The attachment structure  38  of a first shoe rack  10  and the attachment structure  40  of a second shoe rack  10  permit two shoe racks  10  to be combined in suspended fashion. 
     Each bar of a first plurality of shoe-retaining bars, each bar designated by the reference numeral  20 , is fixedly retained between side frame members  12 ,  14 . Particularly, a corresponding pair of support arms  18  upon opposed side frame members  12 ,  14  have sockets which securely retain opposite outer ends of a retaining bar  20  proximate an outer end  23  of the respective support arms  18 . Retaining bars  20  support a first portion of the sole of a shoe, such as shoes  34 ,  36 . The elongate body portions  16  of side frame members  12 ,  14  also have sockets, each socket preferably located at a position proximate an upper end of a support bar  18 , which sockets receive opposite ends of each of a plurality of second retaining bars  21 , each of which bars  21  is adapted to support a second sole portion of a shoe. As shown, pairs of shoe-retaining bars  20 ,  21  are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support the shoes  34 ,  36  in an inclined manner with the shoes directed toward the vertical surface  30  upon which shoe rack  10  is supported. 
     Each side frame member  12 ,  14  is preferably fabricated as one integral piece of plastic and has openings  32  therethrough. Specifically, each side frame member  12 ,  14  is preferably formed of thermal plastic molding compound. Retaining bars  20 ,  21  are preferably formed of lightweight, sturdy material, such as aluminum or steel. It will be appreciated that side frame members  12 ,  14  and retaining bars  20  can be constructed of any suitable material, such as plastic or wood, or any combination thereof. 
     Shoe rack  10  is adapted to be supported on a vertical surface, such as a wall or door. For hanging shoe rack  10  over a door, such as door  30  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a pair of hangers  25  are placed over the top of door  30 , and engage with shoe rack  10 , to support shoe rack  10  in suspended fashion in engagement with the vertical surface of the door. Each hanger  25  is preferably in the form of a metallic bracket having a horizontal upper portion  50  and downwardly depending front and rear portions  51 ,  52 , respectively, depending downwardly from respective front and rear edges of the upper horizontal surface. Preferably, the downwardly depending front portion  51  includes a portion, designated by the reference numeral  53 , angled into a V-shape including angled portions  54 ,  55  which meet at an outwardly protruding apex  56 . Each angled portion  54 ,  55  includes an opening  57  adapted to receive an upper foot  24  of the corresponding side frame member  12 ,  14  of shoe rack  10 . The inverted “U” formed by each hanger  25  is adapted to hang over the top of door  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , thus rigidly supporting shoe rack  10  in suspended fashion on door  30 . 
     In addition to hanger  25 , or alternatively, fasteners, such as fastener  60  shown in  FIG. 3 , may be inserted through fastener sockets  48  and into the vertical support surface to retain shoe rack  10  in place on the surface  30 . Preferably, fastener sockets  48  are positioned along each outer side edge of the outwardly-most extending portion of foot members  24 ,  26 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , shoe rack  10  is shown from the side in a position hanging suspended from a vertical surface, such as door  30 . Shoes  34 ,  36 , shown in broken lines, are positioned on retaining bars  20  in a preferred manner. Particularly, a first sole portion of each shoe rests on an outer retaining bar  20 , while a second sole portion of each shoe rests on a corresponding inner retaining bar  21 . In this manner, shoes  34 ,  36  are positioned in an incline, angular manner, with one end of each shoe  34 ,  36  abutting the vertical surface  30  upon which shoe rack  10  is hung. It has been found that, with most shoes, it is preferred that the toe of the shoe be inclined downwardly into abutment with the vertical surface. However, some shoes, such as women&#39;s flats (as shown by shoe  36 ) may be just as conveniently positioned on shoe rack  10  in an opposite manner. 
     In accordance with a key principle of the present invention,  FIG. 2  illustrates the manner in which shoe rack  10  securely retains shoes  30 ,  36  between side frame members  12 ,  14  of shoe rack  10 . Particularly, a support arm  18  provides a side frame member which traverses a side section of a respective shoe, to thereby perform a barrier against lateral movement of the shoe beyond the side edge of the shoe rack  10 . Respective support arms  18  thus prevent corresponding shoes  34 ,  36  from falling off the shoe rack  10 , particularly when shoe rack  10  is positioned on a door that is opened and closed in a swinging manner. 
     With additional reference now to  FIGS. 3-5 , the attachment structure for permitting multiple shoe racks to be suspended one from the other is illustrated and described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , lower attachment structure, designated generally by the reference numeral  40 , includes a pair of male members  44  extending downwardly from a lower side surface of lower leg  26  of each side frame member  12 ,  14  of an upper shoe rack  10  of the present invention. Each downwardly extending male member  44  includes a relatively narrow extension member  45  terminating in an enlarged head  46 . Additionally, upper attachment structure  38  at an upper surface of upper legs  22  includes relatively narrow slots  62  opening into an enlarged channel  64 . As will be readily appreciated, downwardly depending male members  44  positioned on a lower leg  26  of a shoe rack  10  are adapted to be received by the female attachment structure  38  positioned on an upper leg  22  of a second shoe rack  10  of the present invention. It will be understood that  FIG. 3  illustrates only one side of the shoe racks, but that the other side of shoe rack  10  will operate in the same manner. Particularly, extension members  45  are adapted to be snugly received within narrow openings  62 , and enlarged heads  46  of male members  44  are adapted to be snugly received within channels  64 . In order to suspend one shoe rack  10  from the other, the male members  44  are aligned with the openings of the female attachment structure, and the two shoe racks  10  are moved sidewise relative to each other so that the male members  44  are completely received within the female attachment structure, as illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower side surface of lower legs  26  of each main body section  16  of the present invention, as well as the lower side surface of each enlarged head  46  of male members  44  have small projecting ribs, denoted generally by the reference numbers  66 , which serve as gripping nodules. The ribs  66  preferably do not extend all the way to the outer edges of the surfaces from which they extend. Such an arrangement permits the racks to be easily assembled because the racks begin sliding together, and then the ribs cause a wedging effect. Particularly, those ribs  66  on the bottom surface of the male members  44 , create a desirable frictional fit between shoe racks  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each upper foot  24  of a lower shoe rack  10  suspended from an upper shoe rack  10  engages with the lower foot  28  of the upper shoe rack  10 . Lower foot  28  of upper shoe rack  10  in turn engages with the vertical surface  30 , as previously described. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 , the general I-beam structure of the components of the present invention is illustrated. Additionally,  FIG. 5  illustrates one of the plurality of sockets utilized by the present invention for receiving an outer end of a retaining bar such as, in this instance, a retaining bar  21 . In accordance with a principal aspect of the present invention, receiving sockets  70  include a first portion  71  having an inner diameter and a second portion  72  having an outer diameter, the outer diameter being slightly greater than the inner diameter. It has been found that this arrangement permits the structure to be easily assembled. 
     Specifically, during assembly, a first side frame member, such as side frame member  12 , may be laid on a flat surface, and the various retaining bars  20 ,  21  loosely positioned within the second, outer portion  72  of corresponding receiving sockets  70 . Side frame member  14  may then be positioned downwardly onto the retaining bars, wherein the retaining bars are similarly loosely positioned within the outermost large diameter portion  72  of the receiving sockets. It will be appreciated that, with the retaining bars  20 ,  21  only loosely positioned within the sockets within the larger diameter areas  72 , the bars are less rigid than when snugly secured within the innermost, smaller diameter area  71  of the receiving sockets  70 . As such, the bars  20 ,  21  may be manipulated to align with the receiving sockets on the opposing side frame member  14 , so that the bars may be placed within the larger diameter area of corresponding receiving sockets in the side frame member  14 . Once all the bars are properly aligned, and loosely positioned within the outer, larger diameter area  72  of corresponding receiving sockets  70 , the side frame members  12 ,  14  may be depressed together, thus forcing the bars  20 ,  21  into the innermost, smaller diameter areas of the receiving sockets  70 , thereby figidly attaching the retaining bars to the side frame members  12 ,  14 . The receiving socket structure of the present invention, having the first and second peripheral dimensions of different sizes, facilitates insertion and alignment of retaining bars  20 ,  21  and the overall easy assembly of shoe rack  10 . 
     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. 
     Sine 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.