Abstract:
An improved locking device for adjustable garment racks including an inner tube slidable in and out from an outer tube. The improved locking device includes a sleeve having a simplified locking tab for engaging and locking the inner tube in a position relative to the outer tube and a touch tab by which an operator may easily and safely manipulate the sleeve to an unlocked position for adjustment of the inner tube relative to the outer tube and again lock the inner/outer tube combination.

Description:
This application is based on U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/055,500 filed on Aug. 12, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to improvements in garment racks. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in locking devices for extendable elements of garment racks such that the locking device can be easily, quickly, and safely manually operated in order to change the position of one element relative to another element of the garment rack. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Items such as garments are organized, stored, displayed, and offered for sale typically by supporting them on hangers and placing those hangers on racks. A wide variety of garment racks are available for this purpose. Garment racks may include members having elements that may extend relative to another so that the rack may be adjusted to accommodate garments of different sizes and lengths or simply to organize, store, or display the garments in alternative patterns. 
     Certain of such adjustable garment racks include an inner tube sized and shaped to slide within a hollow outer tube and such that the total length provided by the combination of the inner and outer tube may be adjusted as needed and a sleeve by which the relative positions of the inner tube and outer tube may be releasably locked. A locking sleeve of this type is taught in Patent No. EP 610707 assigned to Umdasch Shop-Systems GmbH. This known locking sleeve is shown as being used with a system that includes an inner tube and outer tube each of which is sized and shaped such that the outer surface of the inner tube is in slidable generally contiguous contact with the inner surface of the outer tube. The known sleeve includes a wall that is sized and shaped to extend completely around a portion of the inner tube. The sleeve is positioned adjacent to an upper end of the outer tube. The sleeve wall is taught as having a thickness such that the outer surface of the sleeve is not even with but projects above the outer surface of the wall of the outer tube. The known locking sleeve includes a raised area on an inner side of the front portion of the locking sleeve wall that is shaped in the form of a wedge or a cup. The shaped raised area includes a support surface that can catch the top portion of the wall that forms each of the holes that open along one face of the inner tube—such as when the inner tube is released after being drawn outward from the outer tube. The shaped raised area includes also a tapered wall that extends from the support surface to the outer face of the locking sleeve wall such that when the inner tube is raised the bottom portion of the wall that forms the inner tube wall holes engages the tapered surface and biases the locking sleeve upward so that it pivots—such as at a pivot point—thereby freeing the inner tube so that it can be raised. 
     In order that the position of the inner tube relative to the outer tube releasably fixed by this known sleeve can be raised, one operator must grasp the inner tube with one hand. By raising the inner tube, the engagement of the inner tube hole wall with the locking sleeve causes a portion of the locking sleeve to pivot upward and from the locking position. Releasing the inner tube causes the locking sleeve to pivot in the opposite direction and the wall forming one of the inner tube holes to come to catch and rest on the support surface of the shaped raised area. 
     However, in order that the position of the inner tube relative to the outer tube releasably fixed by this known sleeve can be lowered, one operator must grasp the inner tube with one hand and the same or another operator must grasp the outer surface of the locking sleeve and raise it a sufficient distance so that the shaped raised area and particularly the support surface of the sleeve is spaced away from the outer surface of the inner tube and no longer locking the portions of the two tubes. The inner tube may then be lowered to the desired height and the known sleeve released to releasably fix. the positions of the tubes again. 
     Such embodiments of known locking devices that do not include a feature to allow an operator to easily and safely manipulate the position of the locking device with a minimum contact of the operator&#39;s hand with the locking device. Such embodiments can present a danger to the operator. An operator can grasp the outer surface of the known locking device to move it in an non-engaging position without thinking what will occur when the inner tube is released. When released, the inner tube can catch the raised surface of the locking sleeve thereby causing it to pivot downward. If the operator happens to have a finger or fingers or other part of the operator&#39;s hand adjacent to and along the lower portion of the locking sleeve, the pivoting action can cause the operator&#39;s finger or fingers or other portion of the operator&#39;s hand to be pinched between the locking device and the outer tube. The pinching effect can be particularly harmful to the operator if the inner tube was supporting a considerable weight when released by the operator. 
     Such embodiments that require the operator to make considerable contact with the surface of the locking sleeve can also require additional clean up steps after the sleeve is released and the tubes are fixed in position. Often times when the tubes are part of a display system, the tubes, as does the locking sleeve, have a shiny surface such as a chrome surface. Such a surface easily shows up finger prints or handprints. The prints on the known sleeve typically must be cleaned off to maintain the appearance of the shiny surface. 
     Embodiments of the locking devices of known adjustable garment racks that include complex shaped components such as the wedge-shaped or cup-shaped raised area may be more costly to manufacture because of the greater amount of time required to produce the complex structures without error. 
     Embodiments of the locking devices of known adjustable garment racks that include complex shaped components that are used with a combination of inner tube and outer tube in which the outer surface of the inner tube is in generally contiguous contact with the inner surface of the outer tube may not be able to operate as expected with other combinations of inner tube and outer tube in which the tubes are not in general contiguous contact but instead largely spaced apart from each other. 
     Embodiments of the locking devices of known adjustable garment racks that include a surrounding sleeve wall that has a thickness that is greater than that of the outer tube of the rack may be overall more costly to manufacture also because of the greater amount of material that is required and may be overall heavier. 
     Further, such embodiments of known locking devices that include a sleeve wall that is thicker than the wall of the outer tube appears to have an added on, less integral appearance relative to the other components of the rack than would a locking device having an outer surface that is generally even with the surface of the outer tube. 
     A demand therefore exists for an improved locking device that is safe and simple to operate and maintain, is generally simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is sized and shaped to appear generally integral with the surface of the outer tube. The present invention satisfies this demand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an improved locking device for an adjustable garment rack including an inner tube slidable in and out from an outer tube. 
     The improved locking device includes a sleeve having an opening sized and shaped such that the inner tube of the rack may slide therethrough. In an operational position, the sleeve is placed adjacent to the upper portion of the outer tube. The sleeve includes a simplified locking tab extending from the inner surface of the front portion of the sleeve. The locking tab is sized and shaped and is formed from a material such that inner tube may be supported on an upper surface of the tab by the engagement of the upper portion of the holes opening along a front wall of the inner tube on the upper tab surface. Such engagement occurs such as when the inner tube is adjusted in height and the upper surface of a hole opening in the inner tube is allowed to rest on the upper tab surface. The locking tab is sized and shaped and positioned also to cause the locking tab to rotate out from a locking position simply when the inner tube is raised. The sleeve includes also a touch tab sized and shaped and positioned on the outer surface of the sleeve to allow an operator to manipulate the sleeve without having to grasp the sleeve and simply by using the tip of one of the operator&#39;s fingers. When an operator pushes down on the upper surface of the touch tab such as with the operator&#39;s thumb or other finger, the front portion of the sleeve rises up. Such movement frees the locking tab from engaging contact with the inner tube holes thereby allowing the inner tube to be moved such as downward. The touch tab preferably extends from the sleeve at an angle from the outer surface of the rear portion of the sleeve to allow even such contact of the operator&#39;s finger tip with the touch tab to be at a distance from the outer surface of the wall of the sleeve to lessen the likelihood that the operator&#39;s hand will be harmed during the unlocking/locking operation. The locking tab and the touch tab may be formed by punching the same material from which the sleeve is formed into the desired shape. The tabs may be formed also by adding appropriately sized and shaped material onto the surface of a sleeve such as by welding. Such simplified construction methods advantageously allow the improved locking device to be manufactured easily and inexpensively. 
     It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus by which the relative position of an inner tube and outer tube of an adjustable garment rack may be releasably locked. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by which the positions of the inner tube and outer tube of an adjustable garment rack may be releasably fixed relative to each other with little likelihood that the operator may be harmed. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a releasable locking device that is sized and shaped to appear generally integral with the surface of the outer surface of the outer tube. 
     The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of a known locking sleeve; 
     FIG. 2A is a partially broken, perspective view of an improved garment rack locking device according to the invention showing also the front face and having a locking tab formed such as by punching out a portion of the sleeve front wall; 
     FIG. 2B is a partially broken, perspective view of the improved garment rack locking device illustrated in FIG.  2 A and showing also the rear face including a touch tab formed such as by punching out the sleeve rear wall; 
     FIG. 3A is a partially broken, perspective view of an improved garment rack locking device according to the invention showing also the front face and including a locking tab formed such as by joining an element to the sleeve front wall; 
     FIG. 3B is a partially broken, perspective view of the improved garment rack locking device illustrated in FIG.  3 A and showing the rear face including a touch tab formed such as by joining an element to the sleeve rear wall; 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the improved locking device illustrated in FIG.  2 A and FIG. 2B positioned to lock the position of an inner tube of a garment rack relative to the position of an outer tube of a garment is rack; 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the improved locking device illustrated in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 4A showing the position of the device after pressure has been applied to an upper surface of the rear wall touch tab and the device resultingly biases upward such that the locking tab of the device has moved out from a hole in the inner tube thereby allowing the inner tube to be moved; 
     FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the improved locking device illustrated in FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B positioned to lock the position of an inner tube of a garment rack relative to the position of an outer tube of a garment rack; 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the improved locking device illustrated in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5A showing the position of the device after pressure has been applied to an upper surface of the rear wall touch tab and the device resultingly biases upward such that the locking tab of the device has moved out from a hole in the inner tube thereby allowing the inner tube to be moved; 
     FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the improved locking device and inner tube/outer tube combination showing the manipulation of the inner tube to raise its position relative to the position of the outer tube; and, 
     FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the improved locking device and inner tube/outer tube combination showing how the positioning of the inner tube relative to the outer tube can be accomplished safely and quickly by the application of pressure on the touch tab of the improved locking device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain such adjustable garment racks utilize a combination of an inner tube and outer tube such that the inner tube is sized and shaped to slide within a hollow outer tube and such that the total length provided by the combination of the inner tube and outer tube may be adjusted as needed. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a broken-away, cross-sectional view of a known locking sleeve  9  taught in Patent No. EP 610707 assigned to Umdasch Shop-Systems GmbH, by which the relative positions of one such inner tube/outer tube combinations may be releasably locked. The combination  10  of inner tube  11  and outer tube  17  shown in the identified Patent is one in which the inner tube and the outer tube are of a certain proportion such that the outer surface  15  of the inner tube is in general contiguous contact with the inner surface  17 A of the outer tube  17 . This known locking sleeve  21  comprises a wall  22  that is sized and shaped to extend completely around the inner tube  11 . The known sleeve  21  is carried adjacent to an upper end  18  (shown in part in phantom in FIG. 1 of the outer tube  17 . The sleeve wall  22  is shown in the identified Patent as having a thickness—identified in FIG. 1) as “A”—such that the outer surface  23  of the sleeve  21  is not even with but projects above the outer surface  19  of the outer tube  17  when the known sleeve is in a locking position. The sleeve wall  22  includes an enlarged area  31 —having a thickness “A 1 ”—that rises above the sleeve inner face  25  of the front portion  24  of the locking sleeve wall  22 . The enlarged area  31  is taught as having a shape in the form of a wedge or a cup. The shaped enlarged area  31  includes a support surface  32  that can catch the top  14 T of the inner wall  14  that forms each of the identical holes  12 —that open through the inner tube outer front face  15 A—such as when the inner tube  11  is released after being drawn outward from the outer tube  17 . The shaped raised area  31  includes also a tapered surface  33  that extends from the support surface  32  to the outer surface  23  of the locking sleeve wall  22  such that, when the inner tube  11  is raised, the bottom  14 B of the inner wall—that forms each of the identical inner tube holes  12 —engages the tapered surface  33  and biases the locking sleeve  21  upward so that the front sleeve wall  24  rises up and the sleeve  21  pivots—such as at a pivot point “P”—thereby causing the enlarged area  31  to move from a locking position within the hole  12  and to touch only the outer front face  15 A of the inner tube  11  and freeing the inner tube  11  so that it can be raised. 
     The invention described in the identified Patent requires that for an operator to adjust the inner tube  11  to a lower position relative to the outer tube  17  the operator must grasp the outer surface  23  of the locking sleeve wall  22  and move the front sleeve wall  24  a sufficient distance upward so that the raised area  31  and particularly the support surface  32  of the sleeve  21  is largely spaced away from the outer front face  15 A of the inner tube  11 . By holding the sleeve wall  22  in this fashion, the operator can lower the inner tube  11  to the desired height. The operator can lock the inner tube  11  by placing the sleeve wall  22  in contact with the inner tube  11  so that the support surface  32  of the raised area  31  can catch the top  14 T of the inner wall  14  of one of the identical holes  12  that open through the inner tube front face  15 A. 
     An improved locking device according to the present invention is generally illustrated and designated in FIGS. 2A,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B,  4 A,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A, and  6 B by reference number  71 . The improved locking device  71  is usable to releasably fix the position of an outer tube  51  that is movable relative to the inner tube  61  of a garment rack having adjustable elements. The outer tube  51  includes an outer tube wall  52  sized and shaped to form an opening  53  through which an appropriately sized and shaped inner tube  61  may slide in and out. The inner tube  61  includes a inner tube wall  62  having a front face  63  through which one or more generally identical holes  64 —defined by hole wall  65 —open. 
     The improved locking device  71  is a sleeve  72  having a wall  73  sized and shaped to form a sleeve wall opening  74  through which the inner tube  61  may slide and, with the lower edge  75  of sleeve  72  positioned adjacent to the upper edge  55  of the outer tube  51 , the outer surface  76  of the sleeve wall  73  generally parallels the outer surface  54  of the outer tube  51 . The sleeve wall  73  is preferably of a thickness “I” such that the outer surface  76  of the sleeve  72  does not project above and is generally even with the surface  54  of the outer tube  51 . The wall  73  includes a front face portion  77  and an opposing rear portion  79 . Advantageously, the sleeve wall  73  may be of a generally uniform thickness. Advantageously, such a uniform thickness sleeve wall  73  may be formed from a single sheet of material—such as one made from a metal alloy—by cutting, bending, and joining—such as at the rear portion  79  of the sleeve wall  73  by welding or other means—the single sheet of material. The locking device  71  may be formed also as a single unit such as by molding or other related methods. 
     The sleeve  72  includes a locking tab  81 . Locking tab  81  includes a locking tab arm  86  extending at an angle from the inner surface  78  of the front portion  77  of the sleeve wall  73 . The locking tab  81  is sized and shaped and is formed from a material such that inner tube  61  may be supported on an upper surface  82  of the tab arm  86  by the engagement of the upper portion  65 T of the hole wall  65  opening along and through the front tube face  63  of the inner tube  61  on the tab upper surface  82 . Such engagement occurs such as after the inner tube  61  is adjusted in height and is released so that the upper portion  65 T of a hole wall  65  opening in the inner tube  61  comes to rest on the tab upper surface  82  to produce a locked position. 
     FIGS. 4A and 5A show a cross-sectional view of embodiments of the improved locking device  71  in a locked position with the lower edge  75  (shown in phantom) of sleeve  72  aligned adjacent to the upper edge  55  (shown also in phantom) of the outer tube  51 , the outer surface  76  of the sleeve wall  73  generally parallel to and even with the outer surface  54  of the outer tube  51 , and the upper portion  65 T of the hole wall  65  defining one of the holes  64  that open through the front tube face  63  of the inner tube  61  resting on the tab upper surface  82 . 
     The sleeve  72  includes a touch tab  91  extending at an angle from the outer surface  76  of the rear portion  79  of the sleeve wall  73 . The touch tab  91  is sized and shaped and formed from a material such that when an operator pushes down on the upper surface  92  of the touch tab  91 , such as with the operator&#39;s thumb or other finger, the front portion  77  of the sleeve  72  rises up. 
     The locking tab  81  and/or the touch tab  91  may be formed by punching the same material from which the sleeve  72  is formed into the desired shape. FIGS. 2A and 2B and  4 A and  4 B illustrate an embodiment of the present invention in which the locking tab  81  and the touch tab  91  are punched from the sleeve wall  73 . With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the locking tab  81  formed by punching out the sleeve wall  73  provides a locking arm  86  that has a thickness equal to that of the front portion  77  of the sleeve wall  73  and that extends from an aperture  87 —defined by aperture wall  87 A—that opens through the sleeve front portion  77 . In the FIGS. 4A and 4B embodiment, the touch tab  91  formed by punching out the sleeve  73  provides a touch tab arm  96  that has a thickness equal to that of the rear portion  79  of the sleeve wall  73  and that extends rearward from the rear portion  79  of the sleeve wall  73 . 
     The locking tab  81  and/or the touch tab  91  may be formed also by joining—such as by welding—appropriately sized and shaped material onto sleeve  72 . FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of the present invention in which the locking tab  81  includes a leg  85  having an inner leg face  85 A joined to the surface  76  of the front portion  77  of the sleeve  72  and a locking tab arm  86  projecting through an aperture  87  formed by an aperture wall  87 A to provide the surface  82  on which the inner tube  61  may rest for locking the inner tube  61  relative to the outer tube  51 . The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 5A and 5B include also a touch tab  91  formed by joining the touch tab joining face  94 A of the joining element  94  to the outer surface  76  of the rear portion  79  of the sleeve  72 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, to adjust the position of the inner tube  61  relative to the position of the outer tube  51 , an operator grasps with one hand the surface  66  of the inner tube  61  and, for example, with a thumb or other finger of the other hand pushes downward on the upper surface  92  of the touch tab  91 . FIGS. 4B and 5B show a cross-sectional view of the improved locking device  71  showing the position of the device after pressure has been applied to an upper surface  92  of the touch tab  91  and, as a result, the front portion  77  of the sleeve  72  biases upward such that the locking tab  81  of the device  71  has moved out from a hole  64  in the inner tube  61  and an unlocked position has been produced thereby allowing the inner tube  61  to be moved upward or downward. For more extensive adjustment of the inner tube  61  relative to the outer tube  51 , the sleeve  72  may be separated from and moved above and away from a position adjacent to the outer tube  51 . 
     Advantageously, the improved locking device  71  can lock the position of the inner tube  61  relative to the outer tube  51  even when the inner tube and outer tube are not sized and shaped to provide general contiguous contact with each other but instead provide a space  69  between the tube surfaces. 
     The device  71  may include elements that further improve the safety and use of the device  71 . The illustrated embodiments of the present invention include a rounded edge  101  which decreases the likelihood that an operator will be harmed while attempting to push down on the touch tab  91 . The illustrated embodiments of the present invention also include an outer tube rounded edge  57  that allow the sleeve to move smoothly when the touch tab  91  is depressed. 
     The improved locking device is advantageous in that the sleeve is of a simplified construction and as a result generally easier and cheaper to manufacture. The device may be operated by pushing on the touch tab of the locking sleeve thereby virtually eliminating the likelihood that the operator may catch and harm the operator&#39;s fingers or hand between the sleeve and the outer tube such as when the operator attempts to lock the inner tube in place. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.