Patent Publication Number: US-9427081-B1

Title: Storage rack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to storage racks, in particular for shoes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, closets at home do not have enough storage space for purses, shoes, boots, and other footwear. Existing storage racks for shoes have a low storage density, as well as other practical limitations. Simultaneously, (walk-in) closets are typically underused, in terms of storage, in one or more corners. Accordingly, there is a need for improved storage capabilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure relates to a rotating storage rack having a rotational axis and a maximum rotational radius. The rotating storage rack includes a base configured to support shelves and a plurality of vertically stacked shelves supported by the base. At least one shelf includes vertical partitions radially extending outward from the rotational axis. 
     In certain embodiments, the rotating storage rack comprises one or more vertical sides disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein one or more vertical sides are configured to receive a hanger rail. In certain embodiments, the vertical partitions extend less than the maximum rotational radius, e.g. by leaving the center area of each shelf clear. At least two vertical partitions may include a support feature configured to support an additional shelf. At least one shelf may include a support feature configured to support an additional vertical partition. In certain embodiments, two or more vertically stacked shelves are independently rotatable. 
     In certain embodiments, the plurality of vertically stacked shelves is arranged to create shelves having different heights. Some embodiments including at least two vertical sides disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius comprise two vertical sides connecting at a right angle. Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, some embodiments comprises two vertical sides disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein the two vertical sides are disposed at diametrically opposing sides of the rotating storage rack. 
     These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals may designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of any limits. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an exploded view of a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partial view of a top portion of a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D  schematically illustrate the construction of a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Storage capacity at home for purses, shoes, boots, and other footwear may be improved by using embodiments disclosed in this specification. Practical limitations of existing storage or shoe racks may be reduced or eliminated. Additionally, the rotating storage racks contemplated herein also accommodate purses, wallets, rolled-up ties, rolled-up belts, scarves, and/or other wardrobe accessories. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an exploded view of a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. The shape of rotating storage rack  10 , when viewed from the top, is circular. Elliptical, polygonal, irregular, and/or other shapes are also contemplated. The maximum distance from any point along the rotational axis of a storage rack to the edge or end of any component (in the same plane as said point) included in the rotation is called the maximum rotational radius. For example, if the shape of the rotating storage rack is a square, with sides of length x, and the rotational axis goes through the center of the square, the maximum rotational radius equals ½·x·√2. If any sides are included in the storage rack, mounting them further from the rotational axis than the maximum rotational radius allows the rotating storage rack to rotate fully. Including one or more (partial) sides reduces the amount of dust and dirt the stored items gather. 
     By way of illustration,  FIGS. 4A-D  schematically illustrate the construction of a rotating storage rack with a circular shape according to certain embodiments. Rotating bearing  1  in  FIG. 4A  determines the location of the rotational axis. Rotating bearing  1  is mounted to base plate  2 , which forms the support for the shelves. As shown in  FIG. 4B , a circular base shelf  3  may be divided into five main sections (or storage compartments) through the placement of five main vertical partitions (item  4  in  FIG. 4B ), each extending across an angle of 360/5=72 degrees. A practical diameter for the shelves of rotational rack  10  may be 30 inches, between 24 and 30 inches, less than 36 inches, between 65 cm and 85 cm, extending beyond the breadth of an adjacent hanger, extending beyond the shoulder-to-shoulder width of a garment hanging on a hanger, extending between 10 cm and 25 cm beyond the depth of any adjacent shelves and/or maximum breadth of any hangers, and/or other diameters. Alternatively, a shelf may be divided into four main sections, six main sections, or more than six main sections. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , rotating storage rack  10  comprises a base  12  configured to support shelves and a plurality of vertically stacked shelves  14  supported by base  12 , wherein at least one shelf includes vertical partitions  16  radially extending outward from rotational axis  18 . The height of a shelf may be more than two inches, three inches, between three and four inches, between four and five inches, less than six inches, between 15 cm and 25 cm, less than 10 cm, tall enough to hold men&#39;s and/or women&#39;s boots and other footwear up to size 12, and/or other heights. The depth of a shelf, i.e. the distance from the rotational axis to the edge of a shelf, may be 1 foot, between 1 and 3 feet, between 40 cm and 70 cm, large enough to hold men&#39;s and/or women&#39;s boots and other footwear up to size 12, and/or other depths. By way of illustration,  FIG. 4C  illustrates how base shelf  3  and main vertical partitions (item  4  in  FIG. 4B ) support shelf  5 . Similarly, the vertical partitions on one shelf support the shelf mounted on top of said vertical partitions. Alternatively, shelves may be supported by a rail or post coinciding with or acting as the vertical axis. In certain embodiments, the shelves may be supported by suspending them from a top plate, which is in turn supported by vertical sides and/or suspended from a ceiling. The vertical partitions would then prevent two shelves from collapsing onto each other. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a partial view of a top portion of a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. Rotating storage rack  10  may comprise one or more vertical sides  30  disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein the vertical side may be configured to receive a hanger rail  22 . Typically hanger rails have a circular cross-section with a one-inch diameter, though other shapes and sizes may be supported. A bracket  20 , slot, or other mounting feature (or features) may be combined with one or more of the vertical sides  30  of rotating storage rack  10  to provide the function of receiving a hanger rail. In certain embodiments, the height of rotating storage rack  10  is less than the height of one or more mounted hanger rails, thus allowing rotating storage rack  10  to be placed under the hanger rail(s). To prevent hangers, with their respective garments, from interfering with rotating storage rack  10 , either a vertical side  30 , a restraining device mounted on the hanger rail, or both can be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , vertical partitions  16  may extend less than the maximum rational radius, e.g. by clearing a predetermined distance immediately surrounding the rotational axis. This cleared area may be shared among multiple sections or compartments for improved practical functionality and storage density. The predetermined distance may be less than one inch, between one and three inches, less than six inches, less than 10 cm, between 10 and 30 cm, and/or other distances. By clearing this distance, oversized, irregular, and/or oddly-shaped items may still be stored in rotating storage rack  10 . By way of illustration,  FIG. 4B  illustrates main vertical partitions (item  4 ) that do not extend all the way to the rotational axis, thus leaving the center area of the rotation storage rack open. Such a shared center area may provide higher storage density, storage for oversized, irregular, and/or odd-shaped items, and/or other practical improvements. Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, distances that do not immediately surround the rotational axis may be cleared by vertical partitions  16  extending less than the maximum rotational radius. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , vertical partitions  16  may include a support feature configured to support an additional shelf, such as notch  24 , a slot, a peg, and/or other support features. Shelves  14  may include a support feature configured to support an additional vertical partition, such as groove  26 , a slot, a peg, and/or other support features. Notch  24  may divide the height of its corresponding shelf in two equal parts, in unequal parts, or in more than two parts. Groove  26  may or may not be aligned with existing vertical partitions (on the same shelf and/or on a different shelf). By way of illustration,  FIG. 4D  illustrates how the construction or placement of additional shelf segment  7  between base shelf  3  (see  FIG. 4B ) and shelf  5  (see  FIG. 4C ) may be combined with the placement of additional vertical partition  6  (by matching slot  6 A with slot  7 A, and optionally additional vertical partition  6  with slot  5 A, assuming slot  5 A is disposed on both sides of shelf  5 ). Additional shelf segments and additional vertical partitions may be user-configurable, i.e. after construction of rotating storage rack  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , rotating storage rack  10  may comprise storage sections extending across an angle of 360/10=36 degrees. 
     Adjacent shelves of rotating storage rack  10  may be independently rotatable. Shelves  14  may have the same height or different heights. 
     If two of the vertical sides  30  connect at a right angle, rotating storage rack  10  may be suitable to be placed in a corner of a closet. Typically the corners of (walk-in) closets have low utility as storage space, especially if hanger rails having perpendicular angles intersect in that corner. Rotating storage rack  10  provides improved storage density. Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, rotating storage rack  10  may be placed along a side or wall of a closet rather than in a corner. By way of illustration,  FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a rotating storage rack according to certain embodiments. Vertical sides  30  may be configured to receive hanger rails along a side or wall of a closet. Vertical side  31 , if included, may also be configured to receive a hanger rail (e.g. perpendicular to the direction of the hanger rails received by vertical sides  30 ), such that the rotating storage rack in  FIG. 3  may connect up to three hanger rails. Note that the shape of the base (or the base plate) may be different depending on whether the rotating storage rack is to be placed in a corner or not. Rotating storage rack  10  may allow mounting features to receive hanger rails at multiple heights. 
     In certain embodiments, constituent components of rotating storage rack  10  are made of transparent or translucent material. Rotating storage rack  10  may include a lighting unit configured to illuminate rotating storage rack  10  and/or items stored therein. For example, a lighting unit may be disposed along or on the rotational axis of rotating storage rack  10 . 
     Although the embodiments have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to certain embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.