Patent Publication Number: US-11638480-B2

Title: Luggage rack with shelves

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to collapsible racks and more particularly to a foldable luggage rack that incorporates storage shelves or boxes. The additional storage boxes may attach to and hang from the top of the luggage rack. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Luggage racks, and folding luggage racks are known in the art. They are typically collapsible so that they use little room when not in use. The luggage racks are especially well known for their convenience in hotel rooms, bedrooms in private homes, dormitories, for example. Although they may be used in closet space, these luggage racks allow for storage and accessibility of luggage in an open space of a room. 
     They allow for easy storage of suitcases and other luggage articles, and typically allow access to such articles when resting on the luggage racks. 
     Typically, these luggage racks are lightweight, foldable or collapsible, and provide a seat for a piece of luggage. The height of the luggage rack allows for the suitcase or other piece of luggage to be stored off the floor and at a height that allows for easy accessibility. 
     Despite the advantages of the common luggage rack, the present inventors realize that a long-felt need exists to make these devises even more useful and convenient for the user. The present invention meets this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a luggage rack that includes a seat portion, upon which a piece of luggage, such a suitcase can sit, that includes storage shelves or boxes suspended therefrom. 
     In other embodiments, the storage shelves or boxes are detachable from the rack. 
     Another object is a luggage rack that includes a frame and a storage compartment, with the frame comprising two legs that have a first end, an upper portion, and a second end. Typically, the ends of the legs rest on a floor. The legs being joint at a first and second pivot point, the pivot point being between the ends and the upper portion; and at least one support band attached to the upper portions of both legs. The storage compartment comprises a top, bottom, and two outer walls; and at least one support strap releasably attached to the upper portion of the first leg and the upper portion of the second leg. 
     In another embodiment, the storage compartment hangs from the upper portions by the support straps. 
     In another embodiment, at least two support bands join the upper portions of the legs. 
     In another embodiment, the storage compartment has four support straps for attaching to the upper portions of the legs. 
     In another embodiment, the storage compartment further includes an inner wall that joins the top and bottom of the storage compartment. 
     In another embodiment, the storage compartment is fabric. In other aspects of this embodiment, the storage compartment outer walls and inner wall are at least partially a mesh fabric. 
     In another embodiment, the frame has four supports bands connecting the tops of the legs, and the storage compartment has six support straps for attaching to the legs. 
     In another embodiment, the bottom of the storage compartment has a border that has increased stiffness when compared to the remainder of the bottom. In one aspect of this embodiment, the border includes a wire support. 
     In another embodiment, the storage compartment support straps releasably attach to the legs with a hook and loop connection. 
     In another embodiment, the pivot points allow the upper portions of the legs to be folded from an open position to a folded position; wherein the storage compartment collapses into a folded position when the legs are pivoted into the folded position and expands into an open position when the legs are pivoted into the open position. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent while reviewing the preferred embodiments and examples of the present invention disclosed herein in the description of the invention below and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
         FIG.  1    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    shows front view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the luggage rack in an open position. 
         FIG.  3    shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the luggage rack in an open position. 
         FIG.  4    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the luggage rack in a folded, or closed position. 
         FIG.  5    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the additional storage component being attached to a luggage rack. 
         FIG.  6    shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the additional storage component being attached to a luggage rack. 
         FIG.  7    shows a typical luggage rack that can be used in connection with the present invention, and an embodiment of the storage component that is separated from the rack. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. 
     The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     As stated above, the present invention relates to a luggage rack that includes a seat portion, upon which a piece of luggage, such a suitcase can sit, that includes storage shelves or boxes suspended therefrom. The boxes or shelves can be used to conveniently and efficiently store additional items. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG.  1    shows a unit  10  of the present invention that includes a frame  20  and a storage unit  30 . The frame includes a pair of crossing legs  21 ,  22 . The legs are generally have the shape of a squared U, with two angled vertical sections and an upper horizontal section. They are secured together by fasteners  23  at two pivot points. The pivot point is usually near the midsection of the vertical section of the legs. The top portion of the legs are joined by support bands  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , that form the seat portion, upon which the luggage rests. 
     The leg portions  21 ,  22  of the frame are typically metal and tubular. They can be one piece or several pieces that are joined together. The leg portions can also be made of other materials, wood and plastic being examples. The fasteners  23  are not known to be critical and can vary as well. They can be a simple nut and bolt arrangement, for example. They only have to secure the legs together, and allow for them to pivot when the frame is folded/closed. 
     The support bands  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  that form the seat are typically a simple strap. They are typically fabric, but can be plastic as well. They are flexible to accommodate the folding of the frame. There should be at least two, but typically more than two are used in order to better support the luggage. Alternatively, the support bands can be substituted for a single piece of fabric that covers most or all of the seat portion. However, when a single piece of fabric is used, there must be apertures to allow for the storage compartment  30  to be attached to the frame. 
     The storage unit shown in  FIG.  1    is two boxes. The component shown has a floor  31 , a top  32 , a right outer wall  33 , and a left outer wall  34 . The length of the floor  31  and the top  32  is any distance between the vertical portions of the legs  21  and  22 . The storage component also has at least one inner wall  35 . The inner wall  35  can be oriented vertically, joining the floor  31  and the top  32 . Alternatively, the inner wall  35  can be orientated horizontally to join the outer walls. In other embodiments, multiple inner walls can be used, and they can form multiple shelves, boxes and rows of boxes. The storage unit attaches to the frame by support straps  40  that attach to the frame. Additionally, an optional back wall can be incorporated into the storage unit. The storage unit can also include a border  36 . This element can have increased stiffness when compared to the rest of the floor, allowing it to better accommodate objects. The top can also optionally include a border with increased stiffness. The border can be multiple sewn layers of the same material as the floor or top, or can be a different material. 
       FIG.  2    shows a front view of an example of an unit  10  of the present invention. Here, the frame  20  is open. The storage unit  30  is supported by the frame  20 . In this embodiments, the support straps  40  for the storage unit are spaced in-between the support bands  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , that form the seat portion of the frame. This arrangement gives the support unit better stability. Also, shown here is one vertical inner wall  35 , so the support unit forms two boxes. 
       FIG.  3    shows a side view of an example of a unit  10  of the present invention. Like in  FIG.  1   , the frame  20  is open. This view shows the storage unit  30  attached to the frame  20  by support straps  40  attached to the top of the frame  20 . The top  32  is below the support bands of the frame. 
       FIG.  4    demonstrates that the frame  20  can be folded about the pivot  23  with the storage unit  30  still attached to the frame  20 . Embodiments of the storage unit are flexible enough to accommodate this feature. This can be accomplished with flexible outer walls. 
       FIGS.  5  and  6    show an example of how the storage unit  30  may be attached to the frame  20 . In the example shown, the storage unit  30  is releasably attached. This allows it to be used with various styles and designs of luggage racks.  FIGS.  5  and  6    show an open frame with the support bands  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , extended. The back support straps  40  attach around the top of the legs. 
     As shown in these figures, the storage compartment has three support straps  40  for each leg. The support straps are attached to the top  32  of the storage compartment. The specifically nature of the straps is not known to be critical, as long as they securely support the storage unit and the items stored therein. The figures depict a strap that comprises two pieces, each connected to the top  32  of the storage compartment. In some embodiments, the straps can simply be tied around the leg. In other embodiments, there is a connection device that secures the two devices together, while around the leg. Examples include a snap or a buckle. Shown in the figures is a simple hook and loop connection  41 . This allows for the storage compartment to be releasably attached to the frame.  FIG.  5    shows the back row of straps being attached to the frame, while  FIG.  6    shows the front row of straps ready for attachment. The length of the straps can vary. Additionally, longer straps can be used if the user prefers the storage unit to hang lower from the seat of the frame. 
       FIG.  7    shows the frame  20  separate from a storage compartment  30 . In other words, in  FIG.  7   , the storage unit is completely detached. As can be seen in the drawings, the storage unit is easily packaged and shipped, separately than any luggage rack frame. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
     The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. 
     As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.” Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.