Patent Abstract:
The suspended rotary rack may be configured as a rotary clothes hanger with folding arms, multiple arm or hook rotary hanger racks, and single or multiple level rotary article holders, rotary platforms, or multiple arm article holders. The rotary rack is suspended from an overhead support by a bearing assembly having two tandem bearings. The bearing assembly has an anchor block, an anchor bearing having an inner race attached to the upper end of the anchor block, and an outer race fixed within an upper end of a column. The outer race of a guide bearing is fixed within the lower end of the anchor block. The inner race of the guide bearing is fixed to a guide block, the guide block being fixed within the upper end of the column below the anchor bearing. The tandem bearing assembly precludes any radial or axial play of the column.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/778,106, filed Mar. 2, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to devices for holding and supporting various articles. More specifically, the present invention is a suspended rotary rack, with various embodiments including a specific bearing structure for supporting the underlying rack portion and also for allowing the rack to rotate as desired. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Innumerable racks and article holders have been developed in the past, ranging from simple shelves and platforms to more sophisticated devices with adjustable or movable shelves or other components. A subset of such devices comprises rotary racks and the like supported from the floor or other underlying surface. The well-known rotary clothes drying hanger for indoor use is among these devices. 
         [0006]    One of the problems with such floor-supported devices is their relative lack of stability, particularly in the case of taller and narrower devices supported by a relatively narrow tripod or similar support structure. Such devices are easily knocked over, allowing breakable articles thereon to crash to the floor and incur damage, or at least be soiled by contact with the floor or underlying surface. Another problem with such devices is the amount of floor space they require. The requirement of a relatively small “footprint” area for the device and the need for stability are mutually exclusive, with relatively tall and narrow devices failing to provide the required stability and wider devices requiring too much floor space. 
         [0007]    As a result, a number of suspended racks have been developed in the past. Such overhead supported devices solve the problems of the requirement of too much floor space and lack of stability. A few such devices have been developed which allow the rack to rotate or spin about a central suspended column, or to allow the column to rotate about a relatively stationary attachment. An example of such is found in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-024,496 published on Jan. 30, 1996. According to the drawings and English abstract, this device is a motorized rotary clothes dryer, with a stationary overhead motor rotating a hanger shaft from which a series of hanger arms extend radially. The rotary hanger shaft has an eye at its upper end, through which a hook from the motor shaft is loosely installed. The assembly may be installed in the ceiling of an existing room, or within a floor supported rack or frame. 
         [0008]    None of the above-mentioned patents or publications shows the present invention as claimed. Thus, a suspended rotary rack solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The suspended rotary rack includes a pair of bearings in tandem within a rotating shaft, with a stationary fastener passing through the center of the upper or anchor bearing to engage the overlying structure. The inner race of the anchor bearing is relatively stationary, with the outer race rotating and being captured within and rotationally fixed relative to the rotary column or tube depending therefrom. An anchor block is affixed to the inner race of the anchor bearing, and thereby to the overlying support structure from which the device is suspended. The anchor block is somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the depending tube, with the tube rotating around the stationary anchor block. The end of the anchor block opposite the anchor bearing contains a guide bearing of smaller diameter than the anchor bearing, with the outer race of the guide bearing being rotationally fixed within the stationary anchor block. The inner race of the guide bearing is secured to a guide block, with the guide block extending from the guide bearing to affix to the inner wall of the rotary tube or column and rotate therewith. 
         [0010]    The above-described assembly not only provides free rotation of the rotary column or tube, but also assures that the tube will remain axially rigid due to the two tandem bearings of the assembly. The rotary bearing and column assembly is particularly well suited for the overhead support of a rotary clothes rack or the like, with the axial rigidity of the system assuring that the rack will not tip, tilt, or sway to any significant degree, regardless of any imbalance of the load placed thereon. Such a rotary clothes hanger may incorporate a folding arm mechanism to fold the arms parallel to the central rotary column when the device is not in use, thereby freeing up usable space around the central column. Other embodiments comprising other devices may be installed upon the above described rotary assembly, e.g., multiple arm or hook rotary hanger racks, single or multiple level rotary article holders, single or multiple level rotary platforms, i.e., “lazy Susans,” single or multiple level, multiple arm article holders, etc., as desired. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of a suspended rotary rack according to the present invention, showing various features thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the central hub assembly and arms of the suspended rotary rack of  FIG. 1 , showing further details thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partially broken away elevation view in section of the hub assembly of the rack of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing further details thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the upper bearing assembly used in the various rack embodiments of the present invention, showing various details thereof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view in section of the upper bearing assembly of the suspended rotary rack of the present invention, showing further details thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a suspended rotary rack of the present invention configured as a multiple arm hanger. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a suspended rotary rack of the present invention configured as a multiple level article holder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a suspended rotary rack of the present invention configured as a multiple level rotary tray. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a suspended rotary rack of the present invention configured as a multiple arm article holder. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The present invention comprises various embodiments of a suspended rotary rack, in which the rack is anchored to an overhead structure (e.g., ceiling, etc.) and is free of contact with the underlying surface. The rack may have any of a large number of different configurations, including a rotary clothesline assembly with folding arms, article holding receptacles, hooks for holding clothing or other articles, etc., as desired. All of the various rotary rack embodiments utilize the same bearing assembly configuration, which allows the suspended rack support column and article holding elements extending therefrom to rotate freely while holding the assembly in an axially rigid relationship to the mounting structure in order to prevent swinging and swaying of the device. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  of the drawings provides a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present suspended rotary rack, comprising a rotary clothes-drying hanger  10 . The hanger  10  includes a rigid, hollow rotary rack support column  12  having an upper end  14  in which an axially rigid bearing assembly (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and discussed further below) is installed, an opposite lower end  16 , and a medial portion  18 . An article support comprising a plurality of elongate folding arms  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , and  20   d  extend radially from a hub  22 , with a series of flexible lines  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and  24   d  extending between each of the arms  20   a - 20   d  and generally surrounding the hub  22 . While four arms and four flexible lines are shown in the example of  FIG. 1 , it will be understood that more or fewer arms and lines may be provided, as desired. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the detailed structure of the hub  22  and its operation. The hub  22  is fixed within the lower end  16  of the rotating support column  12  (i.e., the hub  22  cannot rotate relative to the support column  12  but rotates in unison therewith) and includes a series of radially disposed arm attachment flange pairs  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c , and  26   d  extending therefrom. Each arm  20   a  through  20   d  includes a proximal end, respectively  28   a  through  28   d , inserted between corresponding flange pairs  26   a  through  26   d . A lateral pin  30  is installed through each flange attachment pair  26   a  through  26   d  and corresponding arm proximal end  28   a  through  28   d , pivotally securing the arms to the hub  22  and defining a pivot axis for each arm. Each arm proximal end  28   a  through  28   d  further includes an arm extension locking flat, respectively  32   a  through  32   d , disposed substantially parallel to the length of its corresponding arm, and a folding arm locking flat, respectively  34   a  through  34   d , substantially normal to the plane of the corresponding extension locking flats and elongate axes of the arms  20   a - 20   d . While a series of four arms and corresponding attachment and pivot components is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described above, it will be understood that any practicable number of three or more arms may be provided, as desired. 
         [0025]    An arm position lock rod  36  passes concentrically through a passage in the hub  22 , with the rod  36  having a spring retainer end  38  (e.g., mating threaded nut  40  engaging the threaded end of the rod or bolt  36 ) disposed within the lower end  16  of the support column  12 , and an opposite external end  42  with a relatively large diameter, flat plate arm position lock  44  immovably affixed to the external end  42  of the rod  36  and disposed concentrically therewith. The arm position lock  44  preferably includes a handle  46  protruding therefrom to facilitate operating the device. An arm position lock spring  48  is compressively installed concentrically about the arm position lock rod  36  between the spring retainer end  38  thereof and the internal end of the hub  22 . 
         [0026]    Operation of the above described folding arm mechanism is most clearly shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The arm position lock spring  48  is in compression and normally holds the lock rod  36  (and accordingly, the arm position lock  44 ) up against the lower end of the hub  22  and lower end  16  of the support column  12  in which the hub  22  is immovably affixed. When the lock  44  is in this position, the flat upper surface thereof bears against either the arm extension locking flats  32   a  through  32   d  or the folding arm locking flats  34   a  through  34   d , depending upon whether the arms  20   a  through  20   d  are extended or folded, respectively. To fold the arms upwardly adjacent to the support column  12 , or to extend the folded arms to radiate from the hub  22  when they are folded, the arm position lock  44  is pulled away from the hub  22  and lower end  16  of the support column  12 . This provides a sufficient span between the lock  44  and hub  22  (and support column lower end  16 ) to provide clearance for the corners of the arms  20   a  through  20   d , i.e., the intersections of the arm extension lock flats  32   a  through  32   d  and respective arm folding lock flats  34   a  through  34   b , to pivot below the lower surface of the hub  22  (and support column lower end  16 ), thereby allowing the arms  20   a  through  20   d  to pivot from their extended position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 3 ) to their folded position (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 3 ), or vice-versa. 
         [0027]    When the arms have been positioned as desired, the tension on the arm position lock  44  is released, and the spring  48  pulls the lock  44  up against the appropriate lock flats of the proximal ends  28   a  through  28   d  of the arms  20   a  through  20   d  to hold the arms in the selected extended or folded position. While it is anticipated that the arms will be folded or extended in unison with one another, it will be seen that the arms pivot independently of one another, and need not be folded or extended collectively. One or more of the arms may be extended while the others remain folded, or one or more may be folded while the others remain extended, if so desired. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the structure of the axially rigid bearing assembly  50 , which is enclosed within the upper end  14  of the rotary rack support column  12  and which secures the support column  12  to the overlying structure (e.g., ceiling, etc.). A rotationally stationary anchor block  52  has a relatively small diameter upper or structure attachment end  54 , and an opposite relatively large diameter guide bearing housing end  56  with a guide bearing housing or receptacle  58  formed therein (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The anchor block  52  has a concentric passage formed therethrough, through which a structure attachment fastener (e.g., a machine screw or bolt  60 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , or a lag bolt or screw  62 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , etc.) passes to attach column  12  to the overlying structure (e.g., ceiling plate P, as shown in  FIG. 4 , or ceiling joist J, as shown in  FIG. 5 , etc.). The assembly is spaced away from the overlying structure, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in order to provide clearance to allow the outer rotary rack support column  12  to rotate, but the anchor block  52  and structure attachment fastener  60  or  62  are immovably affixed to the overlying structure and do not rotate or move relative thereto. 
         [0029]    The structure attachment end  54  of the anchor block  52  has an anchor bearing  64  (e.g., ball bearing, as shown, or other type of bearing, such as a plain or tapered roller bearing, needle bearing, etc.) installed thereon, with the inner race  66  being immovably installed concentrically upon the anchor bearing installation and structure attachment end  54  of the anchor block  52 . The inner race  66  of the anchor bearing  64  is preferably a press fit over the bearing installation and structure attachment end  54  of the anchor block  52  to assure that the inner race  66  is axially rigid and rotationally stationary relative to the anchor block  52 . The outer race  68  is press fit or otherwise rotationally affixed and immovably secured in an axially rigid installation within the upper end  14  of the support column  12 . A set screw (not shown) or other additional locking means may be provided to secure the outer race  68  of the anchor bearing  64  within the upper end  14  of the support column  12 , as desired. While the inner race  66  of the anchor bearing  64  is immovably locked relative to the overlying structure, the outer race  68 , and therefore support column  12 , are free to rotate about the inner race  66 . 
         [0030]    A relatively smaller diameter guide bearing  70  (e.g., ball bearing, as shown, or other type of bearing as desired) is installed concentrically within the guide bearing housing or receptacle  58  of the anchor block  52 , with the outer race  72  of the guide bearing  70  being immovably affixed in an axially rigid relationship with the anchor block  52 . The guide bearing  70  may be press fit within the anchor block  52 , and/or a conventional set screw (not shown) or other means may be used to provide further security for the guide bearing  70 . It will be seen that as the anchor block  52  does not rotate relative to the overlying structure, neither will the outer race  72  of the guide bearing  70 . 
         [0031]    However, the inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70  is free to rotate relative to its outer race  72 , and is installed upon the relatively small diameter guide bearing end  76  of a guide block  78 . The inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70  is preferably a press fit onto the guide bearing end  76  of the guide block  78 , with the inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70  and the guide block  78  being rotationally locked to one another in an axially rigid relationship. The opposite rotary column engagement end  80  of the guide block  78  has a relatively larger diameter which fits tightly and immovably in an axially rigid concentric relationship within the inner diameter of the rotary rack support column  12 . 
         [0032]    Further security for the guide bearing  70  installation to the guide block  78  is provided by a guide bearing and guide block assembly fastener  82 , which passes concentrically through the guide block  78  and inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70 . A relatively large diameter washer  84   a  is installed beneath the head of the fastener  82 , in order to overlap and positively retain the inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70  on the guide bearing end  76  of the guide block  78 . A similar but somewhat larger diameter washer  84   b  may be installed between the structure attachment end  54  of the anchor block  52  to overlap the inner race  66  of the anchor bearing  64 , and further to space the rotating outer race  68  and upper end  14  of the rotary rack support column  12  from the overlying structure. 
         [0033]    In the above described structure, the anchor block  52 , inner race  66  of the anchor bearing  64 , and outer race  72  of the guide bearing  70  are all immovably affixed relative to the overlying structure. The outer race  68  of the anchor bearing  64 , inner race  74  of the guide bearing  70  and rotationally attached guide block  78 , and the upper end portion  14  and remainder of the rotary rack support column  12 , which is rotationally attached to the outer race  68  of the anchor bearing  64  and rotary column engagement end  80  of the guide block  78 , are free to rotate. As the anchor block  52  is relatively stationary and the overlying rotary rack support column  12  rotates therearound, the relatively larger diameter guide bearing end  56  of the anchor block  52  is made somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the support column  12 , in order to provide a clearance gap  86  therebetween to preclude contact between the two components. 
         [0034]    The above described axially rigid bearing assembly is not limited to use with the rotary clothes hanger rack  10  of  FIG. 1 . It will be seen that a great variety of different suspended rotary rack configurations may be provided using the above-described bearing assembly, with the following embodiments being exemplary of but a few such devices. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates a suspended rotary rack  10   a  in which a series of hooks  88  extend radially from the rotary support column  12 . The hooks  88  may be distributed both radially around the support column, and axially along the length of the support column, in any regular or irregular arrangement or configuration as desired. The support column  12 , along with its axially rigid bearing assembly (not shown in  FIG. 7 ), is essentially identical to the support column  12  of  FIG. 1  and bearing assembly  50  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  provides an illustration of another embodiment  10   b  of a suspended rotary rack wherein a series of receptacle racks extend from the lower end  16  of a shortened rotary rack support column  12 . A series of support rods  90  extend downwardly and outwardly from the lower end  16  of the support column  12 , and turn vertically downward essentially parallel to the rotational axis of the support column  12 . A plurality of vertically spaced multiple receptacle racks  92  are installed within the area defined by the support rods  90 , with each rack  92  providing for the holding and containment of a plurality of articles (e.g., bottles, etc.) therein. The number of receptacles in each rack tier  92  is preferably equal to the number of support rods  90 , with each rack  92  being in the general form of a regular polygon with the support rods  90  connecting to their flat sides. In this manner, the receptacles themselves may be placed at the corners of the polygonal racks  92 , to facilitate placement and removal of articles to and from the racks  92 . A lower shelf  94  with accessory hooks  96  may also be provided at the base of the support rods  90 , if so desired. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates yet another embodiment  10   c  of the present invention, wherein a plurality of circular trays  98   a  and  98   b  are installed upon the support column  12  to form a “lazy Susan” type device. At least one such tray is installed, or more than the two trays  98   a ,  98   b  shown in  FIG. 8  may be installed, as desired. In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a first or upper tray  98   a  is installed along the medial portion  18  of the support column  12 , with a second or lower tray  98   b  being installed at the lower end  16  of the column  12 . It will be seen that additional trays may be installed as desired and that the trays may have other than the circular shape shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, an arcuate section may be removed from the circular shape, etc., as desired. It will further be seen that the rotary rack support column  12  may be extended to form two or more sections that rotate independently of one another by means of the installation of additional axially rigid bearing assemblies  50  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this manner, two or more trays installed upon such an embodiment will be free to rotate independently of one another. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrates still another embodiment of the suspended rotary rack, designated as  10   d , wherein a series of radially disposed arms  100  extend from the support column  12 . As in the case of the embodiment  10   a  of  FIG. 6 , the various arms may be distributed radially and/or axially in any even or uneven pattern along the length of the support column  12 , as desired. Each of the arms  100  terminates in a distal end  102  having an article support receptacle  104  extending therefrom, e.g., a ring or the like for holding a plant pot or similar article. The suspended rotary rack  10   d  of  FIG. 9  is particularly well suited for the storage and display of potted plants, but will be recognized as being useful for other purposes with little or no modification. It will also be noted that as in the case of the lazy Susan embodiment  10   c  of  FIG. 8 , the support column  12  may comprise several sections, each separated from the next by an axially rigid bearing assembly  50  with each arm  100  extending from a joint between adjacent sections of the column  12 . Alternatively, the arms  100  may be rotationally affixed to a single column  12 , or each to a separate segment of a multiple segment column, as desired. 
         [0039]    In conclusion, the suspended rotary rack provides a rotating, suspended column that does not sway axially or transversely. The rack is particularly well suited for use as an indoor rotary clothes drying rack, with its folding arms providing further convenience when the device is not in use. However, the various other embodiments disclosed herein, as well as others falling within the scope of the present invention, are well suited for the storage and display of innumerable goods and articles in retail stores and other environments. Accordingly, the suspended rotary rack will prove to be a most desirable device to homeowners, as well as to those engaged in retail trades, and/or any other environment where such a suspended rotary rack may be useful. 
         [0040]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3