Patent Publication Number: US-2023157446-A1

Title: Storage Rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an article-holding rack for placing common household articles, and in particular, to a rack for holding articles. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Article-holding racks are used by people in their daily lives to hold common household articles such as towels, clothes, shoes, etc. Many of these racks can be folded or dis-assembled to reduce that overall size and profile for storage and transportation. Unfortunately, many of these conventional racks are still difficult to fold, or assemble and disassemble, so that storage and transport can be inconvenient. In this regard, the construction of many of these racks is rather complex, leading to increased costs of production or inconvenience to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack for holding articles. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack that is easy to deploy and to store. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rack that has a simple construction and which is easy to manufacture. 
     The present invention provides a rack that has a frame and a plurality of shelves. Each shelf has an enclosing frame member that has two opposing first sides connected by two opposing second sides, a connecting bar that connects the first sides at about the center of the first sides, a plurality of slots provided on the inner surfaces of the second sides, and a plurality of slats, each slat having opposing ends that are fitted into opposing slots at the second sides, and with each slat being connected to the connecting bar. At least one connector is provided for removably connecting each shelf to a portion of the frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a rack according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of the rack of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of a shelf of the rack of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a top plan view illustrating how a shelf can be secured to the frame of the rack of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the frame of the rack of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a rack according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates modifications that can be made to the shelf of  FIG.  3    and the rack of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded perspective view of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a modification that can be made to the shelf of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIGS.  10 - 12    illustrate different configurations for the basic rack shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
       FIGS.  1 - 5    illustrate a rack according to one embodiment of the present invention. The rack has a foldable frame  20  and a plurality of removable shelves  22 . 
     The frame  20  and the shelves  22  can be made from one of a variety of materials, including a plastic, a type of resin, wood or bamboo. 
     The frame  20  has a rear support  24 , a left support  26  and a right support  28 . The rear support  24  has two vertical bars  30  and a plurality of horizontal bars  32  extending between the vertical bars  30 . Similarly, the left and right supports  26  and  28  have a plurality of horizontal bars  34  extending between two vertical bars  36 . The horizontal bars  32  and  34  are aligned at the same level because the horizontal bars  32 ,  34  at the same level function to attach a shelf  22 . As best shown in  FIG.  1   , collars  38  are provided to pivotably connect the vertical bars  30  of the rear support  24  to a corresponding vertical bar  36  of the left support  26  or the right support  28 . The vertical bars  30 ,  36  are received inside the collar  38  so that the supports  24 + 26  or  24 + 28  can pivot thereabout. As a result, the left support  26  and the right support  28  can be pivoted or folded towards each other to rest against the rear support  24  when the rack is disassembled and packaged for storage or transportation. 
     Detachable feet  40  can be provided at the bottom of the vertical bars  30 ,  36 . 
     Each shelf  22  can have the same construction, and be coupled to the supports  26 ,  28  in the same manner. Referring in greater detail to  FIG.  3   , the shelf  22  has an enclosing frame member  42  that is generally rectangular in configuration, having two long sides  44  connected by two short sides  46 . These sides  44  and  46  can be provided in the form of metal bars or metal sheets. The long sides  44  represent the front and rear sides, while the short sides  44  represent the left and right sides. A connecting bar  48  extends below the long sides  44  and connects the long sides  44  at about the center of the long sides  44 . The inner-facing surfaces of the short sides  46  are provided with slots  49  that are aligned with opposing slots on the opposing short sides  46 . These slots  49  are adapted to receive the opposing ends of a plurality of slats  50 . Each slat  50  can be configured as an elongated strip of material. To assemble the shelf  22 , each slat  50  is slightly bent to fit its opposite ends into the opposing slots  49  at the short sides  46 . A screw  52  (or rivets, glue, tape or other similar connecting mechanisms) can then be inserted through corresponding holes  54  in the bar  48  to secure the slat  50  to the bar  48  at about the center of the slat  50 . This construction relies on fitting opposite ends of the slat  50  (without a connection) into opposing slots  49 , and then securing the center of the slat  50  to the bar  48 , thereby providing a construction that is simpler than trying to secure (via an active connection) the ends of each slat  50  to the short sides  46  of the frame  42 . Since the slats  50  are preferably made of a material that has some flex or resilience to it (e.g., plastic or a resin-like material), the slats  50  can be slightly bent for insertion of its ends into the slots  49 . As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , the slats  50  extend from one short side  46  to another short side  46  (i.e., from a left side to a right side) in a manner parallel to the long sides  44  (i.e., the front and rear sides). 
     In addition, a plurality of hooked connectors  56  can be secured to the exterior surfaces of the short sides  46 . Each connector  56  has an inverted U-shape which defines two side walls and a top wall that define a receiving space  58 . A lining  60  is snap-fitted into the space  58  of each connector  56  by causing a wedge  63  on an outer surface of the lining  60  to be fitted into a corresponding hole  57  in a side wall of the connector  56 . Each lining  60  also defines a receiving space  62 . To secure the shelf  22  to the left and right supports  26 ,  28 , the shelf  22  can be maneuvered at an angle (see  FIG.  4   ) between horizontal bars  32  of the rear support  24  and horizontal bars  34  of the left and right supports  26 ,  28 , and then all the linings  60  on one short side  46  of the shelf  22  are clipped on to a horizontal bar  34  of the left support  26 , and all the linings  60  on the opposite short side  46  of the shelf  22  are clipped on to a horizontal bar  34  of the right support  26  that is aligned at the same level as the horizontal bar  34  of the left support  26 . The horizontal bar  34  is received in the receiving space  62  of the lining  60 . The lining  60  has the same configuration as (but is slightly smaller than) the connector  56 , is made of a plastic or resin material, and functions to secure the shelf  22  to the horizontal bars  34 . The lining  60  can be omitted if desired. 
     To disassemble the rack, the user lifts up each shelf  22 , thereby disengaging the connectors  56  (and their linings  60 ) from the horizontal bars  34 , to remove each shelf  22 . The left and right supports  26 ,  28  are then folded against the rear support  24 , and the shelves  22  stacked on top of the folded frame  20 , to form a stack of frame  20  and shelves  22  that can be quickly and conveniently packed into a box or otherwise tied together via straps for storage and/or transportation. 
     By using the basic components of the frame  20  and the shelves  22 , the present invention can provide racks having many different configurations. For example,  FIG.  10    illustrates two of the racks shown in  FIG.  1    linked by another shelf  22   a.  As shown in  FIG.  10   , the same connector  56  can be used to secure the shelf  22   a  to horizontal bars  34  of the two separate racks.  FIG.  11    applies the concepts of  FIG.  10    except that the different racks have different heights and numbers of shelves. 
     As another example,  FIG.  12    shows the rack of  FIG.  1    configured to be of a greater height to carry a greater of shelves  22 . The overall rack shown in  FIG.  12    can actually be comprised of three of the racks of  FIG.  1    stacked one on top of the other. 
       FIGS.  6 - 9    illustrate modifications that can be made to the rack shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . For example,  FIG.  6    illustrates the same rack in  FIG.  1   , except that the overall rack (and its shelves) have a square configuration such that there are no long or short sides, but the rack now has four sides of equal length. 
     As another example,  FIGS.  7  and  8    illustrate a rack  100  that has two modifications to the rack in  FIG.  1   . First, the construction of the frame  20  from  FIG.  1    is has been changed. Second, the slats  150  now extend from the front side  144   a  to the rear side  144   b  of each shelf  122 . 
     The frame for the rack  100  is now composed of a plurality of support posts  102 , each having ends that can be inserted into generally circular collars  104  provided at the corners of each shelf  122 . The frame  142  of each shelf  122  is constructed by securing (e.g., by welding) the ends of the bars of the front side  144   a , the rear side  144   b,  the left side  146   a  and the right side  146   b  to collars  104  positioned at the four corners of the shelf  122 . A connecting bar  148  extends below the left and right sides  146   a,    146   b  and connects the left and right sides  146   a,    146   b  at about the center of these sides  146   a,    146   b.  The inner-facing surface of the front side  144   a  is provided with slots  149  that are aligned with opposing slots  149  on the inner-facing surface of the opposing rear sides  144   b,  These slots  149  are adapted to receive the opposing ends of a plurality of slats  150 , Each slat  150  can also be configured as an elongated strip of material. To assemble the shelf  122 . each slat  150  is slightly bent to fit its opposite ends into the opposing slots  149 , A screw (or rivet, glue tape or other connecting mechanisms) can then be inserted through corresponding holes in the bar  148  to secure the slat  150  to the bar  148  at about the center of the slat  150 . This construction relies on fitting opposite ends of the slat  150  (without a connection) into opposing slots  149 , and then securing the center of the slat  150  to the bar  148 , thereby providing a construction that is simpler than trying to secure (via an active connection) the ends of each slat  150  to the sides  144   a,    144   b . Since the slats  150  are preferably made of a material that has some flex or resilience to it (e.g., plastic or a resin-like material), the slats  150  can be slightly bent for insertion of its ends into the slots  149 . As shown in  FIGS.  7 - 8   , the slats  150  extend from the front side  144   a  to the rear side  144   b  in a manner parallel to the left and right sides  146   a,    146   b.    
       FIG.  9    illustrates a further modification that can be made to the rack  100  shown in  FIGS.  7 - 8   . The two sides (e.g., the left and right sides  146   a,    146   b ) of the shelf  122  that do not contain the slots  149  can be formed by two metal wires  160 ,  162  instead of as a solid bar or metal sheet. Such a construction allows for the shelf  122  to be formed with a less weight and less material, thereby reducing costs even further. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a rack for holding articles. The rack has a shelf design that is simple so that it can be easily and conveniently assembled at the factory. The rack of the present invention can be easily assembled or disassembled, thereby making the storage and transport of the rack very easy. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.