Patent Publication Number: US-6698603-B2

Title: Extendable rack

Description:
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to storage racks for hanging a plurality of cantilever supports and, more particularly, to an extendable rack. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Racks particularly designed to fit inside wardrobes and/or wardrobe cabinets, or for wall mounting are well known. The consumer satisfaction depends upon several factors including reliability, easy access and minimal space required. Attempts have been made in the past to develop an improved rack. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,312, dated Nov. 28, 2000 and granted to Nava et al. for a “SUSPENDING SYSTEM FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF HANGING SUPPORTS, IN PARTICULAR DESIGNED TO FIT WARDROBES ” describes a System structurally formed by three components, i.e., a section bar, a fastener and a bracket. The section bar comprises a front portion suitable for receiving various kinds of cantilever supports and a rear portion suitable for being assembled on the fastener. The latter is mounted and fastened to a carrier bracket. This suspending system is considered to have several disadvantages. First, the suspending system is cumbersome due to the overall width of the fastener and the carrier bracket. Second, Nava et al. suspending system requires special molds for manufacturing the fastener and the carrier bracket. As a result the total cost of the hanging system appears to be relatively high. U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,450, dated Feb. 11 th  1986 and granted to Dillingham for a “NECKTIE STORAGE WITH FOLDING HANGER MEMBERS” describes an apparel support device particularly adapted for hanging a plurality of neckties. The apparel support device comprises an elongated base member having a longitudinal channel defined by opposed side walls and elongated parallel opposed grooves formed in the side walls. A plurality of hanger members is used. Each hanger member has a shank portion and an integral crank end portion connected to a link at spaced apart intervals on the link. The device comprises as well an elongated channel shaped hanger support having a web portion and spaced apart parallel flanges connected to the web portion and supported at their distal end in the grooves. Crank supports are provided on the parallel side flanges for supporting and retaining the hanger members. Dillingham&#39;s device has shortcomings. It is complicated. It uses numerous components and does not provide a structural rigidity, required by this type of devices. 
     II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above considerations based on the identified prior art, there is a need to address rack design concerns and, consequently, to develop a rack that eliminates or, at least, alleviates the foregoing disadvantages and shortcomings. 
     Thus, a first objective of the present invention is to provide an extendable rack which is reliable, simple and allows the material and labor costs to be reduced. Such savings may be passed to the users, which constitute an undeniable advantage. A second objective of this invention is to provide a well-engineered extendable rack characterized by compactness and including a well-tested, mass produced slide. 
     Broadly stating, the present invention provides an extendable rack adapted for retaining one or more cantilever support(s) and also adapted for attaching to a panel via a slide. The extendable rack comprises an elongated body including, at one side, means for retaining one or more cantilever support(s); and, at another side, a longitudinal passage adapted for locating almost entirely and for attaching permanently the slide that is also firmly secured to the panel. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the means for retaining one or more cantilever support(s) includes an elongated horizontal body provided with a longitudinal channel, C-shaped in cross section, with a perimeter defined by a standing segment extending, at the top, into a downwardly curved segment and, at the bottom, into an upwardly curved segment, so that opposing niches are formed. Each opposing niche is adapted to capture at least a flange of at least one of several cantilever supports. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the means for retaining one or more cantilever support(s) includes an elongated horizontal body provided with a central longitudinal wall, extending, close to the top, outwardly and upwardly and forming a longitudinal top recess. Close to the bottom, the central longitudinal wall extends outwardly and downwardly forming a longitudinal bottom recess. The longitudinal top and bottom recesses are adapted to capture at least one flange of at least one of several cantilever supports. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the means for retaining one or more cantilever support(s) is provided with a central longitudinal wall extending from midway of its height, outwardly, then upwardly and downwardly, thus forming longitudinal top and bottom recesses adapted to capture at least one flange of at least one of several cantilever supports. 
     In a last aspect of the present invention, the elongated horizontal body, having longitudinal cavities, is provided, at a front extremity, with a finger-pull having upper and lower projections for press fitting into the longitudinal cavities. A cap attached to a back extremity of the elongated horizontal body also comprises upper and lower projections for press fitting into the longitudinal cavities. 
    
    
     III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates in an exploded, perspective view the extendable rack, according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a transversal cross section of the elongated horizontal body according to a first embodiment; 
     FIG.  2 ′ illustrates the cross section of FIG. 2 together with a cantilever support and a slide, the former and the latter shown in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates transversal cross section of the elongated horizontal body according to a second embodiment; and 
     FIG. 4 illustrates transversal cross section of the elongated horizontal body according to a third embodiment. 
    
    
     III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS 
     An extendable rack  100 , as shown in FIG. 1, comprises essentially an elongated horizontal body  200 . 
     It is to be agreed, that terms such as “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “outwardly”, “upwardly” and “downwardly” are conventionally used in the present description with reference to the normal position in which extendable rack  100  would be used. 
     In general, (see FIGS.  2  and  2 ′) extendable rack  100  has its elongated horizontal body  200  provided, in a first side  202 , with a longitudinal channel  204 . The latter is adapted for retaining one or more cantilever supports  300 . Elongated horizontal body  200  is provided in a second side  208 , usually opposed to first side  202 , with a longitudinal passage  210 . 
     The latter is adapted for locating almost entirely a slide  400  and for attaching permanently one side of the latter; other sides of slide  400  being firmly secured to a fixed panel (not shown). Thus, elongated horizontal body  200  is suitable for being glidingly assembled on slide  400 . 
     Referring now in detail to FIGS.  2  and  2 ′, in a first embodiment, elongated horizontal body  200  has longitudinal channel  204 , C-shaped in cross section, with a perimeter defined by a standing segment  212  extending, at the top, into a downwardly curved segment  214  and, at the bottom, into an upwardly curved segment  216 . Opposing niches  218  are formed. Each opposing niche  218  is adapted to capture a flange  302  of cantilever support  300 . 
     Longitudinal channel  204  extends along elongated horizontal body  200 . 
     Elongated horizontal body  200  has longitudinal passage  210  with U-shaped in cross section, and a length also commensurate with elongated horizontal body  200 . Longitudinal passage  210  has one upright segment  220  extending at the top and at the bottom into horizontal segments  222  and  224 . Joints formed between upright segment  220  and horizontal segments  222  and  224  are rounded. A first horizontal dimension L 1  of longitudinal passage  210  is lesser than a second horizontal dimension L 2  of a mounted slide  400 . Thus, slide  400  extends laterally beyond horizontal passage  210 . A movement of elongated horizontal body  200 , with respect to a part of slide  400 , which is attached to a fixed panel, is therefore possible. 
     Each horizontal segment  222  and  224  continues, at each outside extremity, with vertical segments  226  and  228 , respectively opposed, which further continues with a curved segment  230  and  232 , to finally merge with downwardly and upwardly projecting segments  214  and  216 . 
     As a result, longitudinal cavities  234  and  236  having lengths commensurate with the lengths of longitudinal channel  204  and longitudinal passage  210  are formed. 
     Conveniently, a finger-pull  240  is attached to a front extremity  238  of elongated horizontal body  200 , while a cap  242  is attached to a back extremity  244  of the same. Finger-pull  240  and cap  242  comprise upper and lower projections  246  and  248  press fitted into longitudinal cavities  234  and  236 . Front and back extremities  238  and  244  are closed by finger-pull  240  and by cap  242 . Finger-pull  240  is used to drive elongated horizontal body  200  outwardly and inwardly. 
     A wall  254 , formed between standing segment  212  and upright segment  220 , contains, at each extremity, holes  256  located midway between the horizontal segments  222  and  224 . Fasteners  258  disposed in holes  256  are used to attach slide  400  to elongated horizontal body  200 . 
     In a second embodiment, (see FIG.  3 ), an elongated horizontal body  260  has a central longitudinal wall  262 . Central longitudinal wall  262 , close to its top, extends outwardly and upwardly and forms a longitudinal top recess  264 . At the bottom, central longitudinal wall  262 , close to its bottom, extends outwardly and downwardly forming a longitudinal bottom recess  266 . The purpose of longitudinal top and bottom recesses  264  and  266  is to retain opposite flanges  304 . 
     The remaining features of elongated horizontal body  260  are essentially similar with those described in elongated horizontal body  200 . 
     In a third embodiment, (see FIG.  4 ), an elongated horizontal body  268  has a central longitudinal wall  270 . The latter extends, from midway of its height, outwardly, then upwardly and downwardly forming longitudinal top and bottom recesses  272  and  274 , respectively. The purpose of longitudinal top and bottom recesses  272  and  274  is to retain opposite flanges  306 . 
     The remaining features of elongated horizontal body  268  are essentially similar with those described in elongated horizontal body  200 . 
     Elongated horizontal bodies  200 ,  260  and  268  are advantageously formed by an extrusion process. Aluminum, plastic and wood composite are usually used. Since slider  400  is of a conventional and known design, mass-produced in different sizes, a further explanation of the same appears to be unnecessary. For example, precision ball bearing drawer slides are sold under the trademark Accuride™ by Accuride, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 
     Cantilever supports  300  are designed in various shapes to accommodate different items, such as neckties, belts, trays etc. 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed therein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.