Abstract:
A freestanding clothes rail assembly including a plurality of parts that can be releasably fitted together to form the assembly, wherein the parts are arranged such that they can be flat packed. The freestanding clothes rail comprises a first upper rail ( 1 ), two side members ( 2 ) and one lower rail ( 9 ). The plurality of parts are arranged such that they occupy a substantially planar space. The freestanding clothes rail additionally includes a support means, and optionally a second upper rail, a centre rail adjustable in height along the entire length of the side members and one or more extension parts releasably connected to the side members.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority of British Patent Application No. 0415278.1 filed on Jul. 7, 2004.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention concerns a freestanding clothes rail of the type used in clothes shops and showrooms. In particular, the present invention relates to a freestanding clothes rail which may be dismantled for, for example, transportation.  
         [0003]     A conventional type of clothes rail is one which can be assembled from component parts to give a freestanding, mobile, rail having a generally rectangular structure. Generally, this type of clothes rail has four component parts: two side members each having a set of two castors at its lower end, an upper rail from which clothes hangers can be hung and a lower rail providing stability to the clothes rail. The component parts are assembled such that the upper end of each side member is connected at 90° to either end of the upper rail. The lower end of each side member is bent through an arc so as to be 90° to the remainder of the respective side member. The lower rail is connected via its ends to the free ends of each bended section of the side member. Thus the upper rail, the two side members and generally the lower rail form sides of a generally rectangular frame. Additionally, each side member has a set of castors at its lower end, attached to a tube that forms a continuous extension of the straight part of each side member. There is no releasable joint between each set of castors and each side member. The castors project out of the plane of the respective side member to which they are attached. Thus, in addition to providing a means of moving the assembled clothes rail, they also provide a stable base.  
         [0004]     The conventional clothes rail is transported from the manufacturer in a dismantled form as a collection of its component parts. The dismantled clothes rail occupies less volume than the assembled clothes rail. Thus, dismantling the clothes rail allows more clothes rails to be transported per unit cost. However, even though wasted volume is reduced when the component parts of the conventional clothes rail are dismantled and packed as efficiently as possible, some wasted volume still exists.  
         [0005]     An object of this invention is to address the problem.  
         [0006]     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a free standing clothes rail assembly including a plurality of parts that can be releasably fitted together to form the assembly, wherein the parts are arranged such that they can be flat-packed.  
         [0007]     By “flat-packed”, it is meant to include that each part occupies substantially planar space. Thus, each part can be packed into a container or a space that is relatively flat in comparison to one or both of its other two dimensions. Accordingly, it is preferable that the parts are arranged such that they occupy a substantially planar space.  
         [0008]     A freestanding mobile clothes rail that can be flat packed is advantageous in, for example, minimizing wasted volume during transportation, thus allowing more clothes rails to be transported per unit volume and thus saving on transportation costs.  
         [0009]     The plurality of parts may be made from hollow tubular sections. “Tubular” should be understood to include, for example, tubular sections which have a round or oval cross-section or a square, rectangular or triangular cross-section.  
         [0010]     The diameter of the tubular members may vary from one clothes rail to another, and each component part within a given clothes rail may have differing diameters. Preferably the diameter of the tubular parts is between 20 and 50 mm.  
         [0011]     The plurality of parts may be manufactured from lightweight but sturdy materials such as lightweight metals or plastics. Preferably, metals such as aluminium or steel may be used to manufacture the plurality of parts.  
         [0012]     The plurality of parts may include at least: one upper rail, two side members and one lower rail. One or all of the side members or lower rail may comprise two or more sections that fit together to form a respective side member or lower rail. A first end of a section may have a smaller diameter than the remainder of the section. Two or more sections may be connectable by the smaller diameter end of a first section being accommodated by the larger diameter end of a second section by a slide fit.  
         [0013]     A support means may be provided which is continuous with each respective side member. A support means may be provided which is releasably attachable to a lower end of each support member by a releasably connecting means.  
         [0014]     The upper rail may, for example, be 0.9 m, 1.2 m, 1.5 m or 1.8 m (3, 4, 5 or 6 feet respectively) in length. The upper rail may be constructed from oval tube. For 1.5 m and 1.8 m (5 or 6 feet) length rails the upper rail may be constructed from heavy gauge tube. The heavy gauge tube may be made from 16 gauge material. The 0.9 m and 1.2 m (3 or 4 feet) length rails may be made from 16 or 18 gauge material. Each side member and the lower rail may be made from 3.2 cm (1¼ inch) diameter round tubing. Each side member may be, for example, from 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 feet respectively) in length, more preferably 1.6 m (5 feet three inches) in length.  
         [0015]     Each side member may include a support structure which, when the clothes rail is assembled from its component parts, is arranged such that the clothes rail does not fall over and is able to be freestanding. The support structure may include a structure arranged to provide two spaced apart points of contact with the floor which are positioned out of the plane of the side members, one point on either side of that plane.  
         [0016]     The support structure may include a pair of legs. Each leg may be bent such that, in operation, the part of each leg below the bend is substantially perpendicular to the floor. Each leg may be welded to the support structure or attached to the support structure by bolts. Each pair of legs may be arranged to be releasably attached to the remainder of one of the side members, and may be positioned such that an end of each pair of the legs provides a respective one of the points of contact. Each support structure may be releasably attached to the lower end of a respective one of the side members by releasable attachment means.  
         [0017]     Each support structure may also be arranged to receive one end of the lower rail. The ends of the lower rail may be received so as to be releasably attached to the support structure. This may be by releasable attachment means. Each pair of support legs may be stabilized by a reinforcing bar which connects each leg with the other. The reinforcing bar functions to prevent the legs from splaying out when the clothes rail is loaded with heavy items. The reinforcing bar may be welded to each leg in the support means or be attached with bolts at a site below the bend of each respective leg.  
         [0018]     At least one castor may be provided so as to provide a respective one of the points of contact with the floor. This allows the clothes rail to be mobile. Each castor may, for example, have a diameter of from 50 mm to 100 mm (2 to 4 inches respectively), preferably either 50 mm, 76 mm or 100 m (2, 3 or 4 inches respectively) in diameter.  
         [0019]     The lower rail may comprise one, two or more sections, which may be releasably attachable together. The lower rail of the 1.5 m or 1.8 m length rails may have two or more releasably attachable sections. The sections may be connected by a slide fit means whereby the end of one section of the lower rail may have a smaller diameter than the remainder of the section such that it is able to slide fit into the end of another section. The lower rail of the 0.9 or 1.2 m length rails may have one section. Each end of the lower rail may be bent through an arc so as to be at substantially 90° to the remainder of the lower rail. The sections may be releasably attachable to each other to form the lower rail. The side members and the lower rail may be arranged such that each end of the lower rail is connectable to the lower end of a respective one of the side members, or optionally, to a respective one of the support structures.  
         [0020]     When assembled, each end of the lower rail may be connected to a respective one of the support structures by releasable connecting means. Thus the two substantially 90° arcs are positioned such that when the upper rail, two side members and lower rail are assembled, a generally rectangular frame structure is formed.  
         [0021]     Each end of the upper rail may be releasably connected to a respective end of one of the side members. Each end of the upper rail may have a cap-like extension having hollow centre. The cap-like extension may have a diameter sufficient for a side member to fit into the cap-like extension and be held there.  
         [0022]     A releasable attachment means may be provided by a sprung, nipple-like, projection provided at the end of one or more component parts. The end of the component or each component having the sprung, nipple-like projection may have a smaller diameter than the remainder of the component such that it may fit into a receiving end of another part of the clothes rail. The receiving end of a part that is to receive and be connected to the end with the sprung, nipple-like projection may include at least one hole formed therein in which the nipple can be located. A guide slot may be provided in the end that has the hole, between the hole and the end edge. A stud may also be provided adjacent to the sprung, nipple-like projection on the side of the projection remote from the adjacent end. The stud may engage with the guide slot to provide relative location between the two parts.  
         [0023]     A realeasable attachment means may be provided by the end of one component part having a smaller diameter than the remainder of the component part such that it may slide fit into an end of another component part of the clothes rail. Fixing means may be threadedly mounted in the receiving end of the other component part and arranged to be rotatable about the end of the one component part received therein and to retain that received end in the receiving and of the other component part. The fixing means may include, for example, a thumbscrew or a hand wheel. The thumbscrew or hand wheel may be turned to tighten the connection of the two component parts.  
         [0024]     A centre rail may be provided in the clothes rail. The centre rail may be connected at each end to a respective one of the side members. The centre rail may be positioned between the upper and lower rail. The centre rail may be releasably connected to the side members such that the centre rail may be adjustable in height along the entire length of the side members. Each end of the centre rail may include a collar portion arranged to fit around the respective side member. Fixing means may be positioned on the collar portion. The thumbscrew or hand wheel may be turned to tighten the connection of the collar portion to the side member. The centre rail may be 0.9 m, 1.2 m, 1.5 m or 18 m (3, 4, 5 or 6 feet respectively) in length. The centre rail may be constructed from heavy gauge oval tube.  
         [0025]     The height of the clothes rail may be extended through use of one or more extension parts of the clothes rail. The extension parts may be made from hollow tubular sections. Each extension part may be arranged to be connected to the upper end of a respective one of the side members at one end of the extension part, the other end of the extension part being arranged to be connected to the upper rail, or another extension part. The extensions may be made from 3.2 cm ( 1¼ inch) diameter round tubing. Each extension may be from  152 mm to 0.9 m (6 to 36 inches) in length, preferably 152 mm, 229 mm, 0.3 m, 0.38 m, 0.46 m, 0.6 m, 0.76 m or 0.9 m (6, 7,9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30 or 36 inches respectively) in length.  
         [0026]     The freestanding clothes rail may also have a second upper rail. The second upper rail may lie parallel with the first upper rail from which more items of clothes may be hung. To incorporate a second upper rail, two cross-supports may be provided. The cross-supports may be releasably connected to the upper end of the side members. Each end of each cross-support may connect a respective end of the two parallel upper rails to the cross support via a releasable connecting means, that may include a cap like part similar to that described hereinbefore.  
         [0027]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of parts that can be releasably fitted together to form the clothes rail of the first aspect of this invention.  
         [0028]     According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a method of transporting the clothes rail of the first aspect of this invention or a kit of the other aspect of this invention comprising packing the plurality of parts into a flat-pack arrangement.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first clothes rail having a single upper rail.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an upper part of a second clothes rail having two upper rails.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third clothes rail, similar to the first clothes rail, but additionally having a centre rail.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of support legs with a reinforcing bar. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]      FIG. 1  shows a freestanding clothes rail, which, in common with known freestanding clothes rails, is comprised principally of four components. These are an upper rail  1 , two side members  2 , and a lower rail  9 .  
         [0035]     The upper rail  1  is a hollow, straight, tube from which clothes hangers can be hung. The upper rail is made from steel. In an alternative embodiment it may be made from sturdy yet lightweight plastic. Positioned at each end of the upper rail  1  is a cap-like extension  12  which provides a socket. The cap like extension  12  is made from a steel pressing. The axis of the cap like extension  12  extends perpendicular to the axis of the upper rail  1 . The socket provided by the cap like extension  12  is of a diameter sufficient to accommodate an end of one of the side members  2  in a sliding fit.  
         [0036]     Each of the side members  2  is similar to the upper rail  1  in being a hollow, straight tube of steel. The diameter of each side member  2  is sufficient so as to be a sliding fit inside each socket formed by the cap like extension  12 . Each side member  2  is made from 3.2 cm (1¼ inch) diameter round tubing. The upper end of each side member  2  is 1.6 m (5 feet 3 inches) high when the lower end of each respective side member is connected to the tube portion  6 .  
         [0037]     Support means is provided in the form of a pair of legs  4 , welded onto a tube portion  6  such that each leg projects from that portion, opposite the other leg. Each leg has a bend such that, in operation, the section of each leg below the bend is at 90° to the floor. A respective pair of legs  4  and a tube portion  6  is provided for receiving and attaching the lower end of each side member  2 .  
         [0038]     Each tube portion  6  is releasably attachable to the lower end of the respective side member by a releasable attachment means  13  and  14 . The releasable attachment means is provided by a pair of sprung, nipple-like, projections  14  at the lower end of each side member  2 . The end of each tube portion  6  that is to receive and be connected to the end of each respective side member  2  includes a pair of holes  16  formed therein in which the pair of sprung, nipple-like projections  14  can be located. A pair of guide slots  13  is formed in each tube portion  6 , between the pair of holes  16  and the adjacent edge of the tube portion  6 . A stud is provided above the sprung nipple-like projection which engages with the guide slot to securely hold the connection.  
         [0039]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , for each pair of legs  4 , a horizontal reinforcing bar  7  is provided which extends between each leg  4  in the pair. This improves the rigidity of the legs  4 . It is envisaged that this bar  7  be fixed to each leg in the pair  4  with bolts at a site below the bend of each respective leg.  
         [0040]     A castor  8  is attached to the end of each leg  4 . This allows the clothes rail to be mobile. Each castor  8  has a diameter of 50 mm (2 inches). The castors project out of the plane of the respective side member to which they are attached. Thus, in addition to providing a means of moving the assembled clothes rail, they also provide a stable base.  
         [0041]     The lower rail  9  is also a hollow tubular section. The lower rail includes two sections  9   a  and  9   b . Each section, however, it is not straight. An end of each section  9   a  and  9   b  of the lower rail  9  is bent through an arc  10  so as to be 90° to the remainder of the lower rail  9 . The other end of the first section  9   a  has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the first section  9   a , such that the smaller diameter end of the first section  9   a  slides into the end of the second section  9   b  to form a secure connection. The 90° arc  10  is positioned at each end of the lower rail  9 . The side members  2  and the lower rail  9  are arranged such that each end of the lower rail  9  is releasably attachable to the lower end of the tube portion  6  of a respective one of the pairs of legs  4 . This attachment is, again, by way of a sprung nipples and holes as described above, the nipples being provided in the ends of the tube portion  6  and the holes in the ends of each section of the lower rail  9  having the 90° arc.  
         [0042]     An alternative embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 2  which is similar to that just described with reference to  FIG. 1 , but in which a second upper rail  20  is provided. The second upper rail lies parallel with the first upper rail and may also support clothes hangers. A cross support  21  is releasably connected at its lower end  23  to each respective upper end of the side members  2 . The lower end  23  of the cross support  21  fits over the upper end of the side member  2  such that the upper end of the side member  2  slides into the lower end  23  of the cross support  21 . A thumbscrew  24  is positioned on the lower end of the cross support  21 . The thumbscrew  24  is turned to tighten the connection of the side member  2  to the cross support  21 . The cross support  21  has two ends  22  which are releasably connectable to the respective ends of the two upper rails  20 . This is by way of the same cap like extension  12  at each end of the upper rail which provides a socket. The socket provided by the cap like extension  12  is of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the upper end  22  of the cross support  21  in a sliding fit.  
         [0043]     Two further embodiments are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . These are similar to that just described with reference to  FIG. 1 , but additionally include a centre rail  17 . The centre rail  17  is releasably connected at its respective ends  18  to the side members  2 . Each end  18  of the centre rail has a collar  25  fitted around the circumference of each respective side member  2 . A thumbscrew  26  is positioned on the collar  25 . The thumbscrew  26  is turned to tighten the connection of the collar  25  to the side member  2 . The centre rail  17  is positioned between the upper rail  1  and lower rail  9 . The centre rail  17  is releasably connected to the side members  2  such that the centre rail  17  is adjustable in height along the entire length of the side members  2 . Two side member extensions  19  are provided to extend the height of the clothes rail. Each side member extension  19  is made from a hollow tubular section. One end of each side member extension  19  is releasably connected to the upper end of each respective side member  2 . One end of each side member extension  19  has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the side member extension  19 . The side member extension  19  is connected to the side member  2  by a slide fit. The end of the side member extension  19  has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the side member extension  19  such that the smaller diameter end of the side member extension  19  the upper end of each respective side member  2 . The other end of the side member extension  19  is releasably connected to the upper rail  1 . This is by way of the same cap like extension  12  at each end of the upper rail which provides a socket. The socket provided by the cap like extension  12  is of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the end of the side member extension  19  in a sliding fit. The extensions  19  are made from 3.2 cm (1¼ inch) diameter round tubing. Each extension is 75 mm (6 inches) in length.  
         [0044]     In operation, when the freestanding clothes rail is dismantled, the upper rail  1 , two side members  2 , lower rail  9  and the two pairs of legs  4  can be flat packed. This is possible because each component part of the clothes rail is comprised of a structure that lies, generally, in a single plane. In contrast, the conventional clothes rail has side members that do not lie in the same plane. Instead these conventional side members are bent into an arc at one end and include end supporting legs that project out of the plane of the arc. Thus they cannot be flat-packed.