Abstract:
A laundry stand having a plurality of sleeve connectors, a plurality of elongated members, and plurality of crossrods with end connectors thereon. The sleeve connectors include an enlarged head portion, a hollow body portion defining a central bore, and a end portion having a greater diameter than the hollow body portion. The sleeve connector further defines a slot in the tail portion for allowing the end portion to resiliently deflect inwardly to fit within a bore of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hollow body portion. The sleeve connectors each also include an inwardly formed resilient tab used to maintain end connectors within the sleeve connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to the field of laundry stands. More specifically, the invention relates to laundry stands that are collapsible for storage when not in use. 
   B. Description of Related Art 
   Other attempts at collapsible laundry stands have been made in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,415 shows a plurality of cross bars 9 attached to folding frames 6, 7, 8 on either side of the cross bars 9. The cross bars 9 are maintained within the folding frames 6, 7, 8 by stamped metals sleeves 12 having a slit therein. The sleeves 12 also comprise an inwardly pressed knob 13 that cooperates with a groove 11 in the cross bar 9 to maintain the cross bar 9 within the sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 further comprises flanged ends which maintain the sleeve 12 within bores of the folding frames 6, 7, 8. The sleeve 12 is inserted into each bore by compressing the sleeve 12 to the point where one of the flanged ends can pass through the folding frames 6, 7, 8. However, at least one of the flanged ends must be formed after the sleeve has been inserted into the frames 6, 7, 8. 
   U.S. Reissued Pat. No. Re. 16,324 discloses a drying rack in which slats 3 are attached to one another by sleeves 4. Each sleeve 4 comprises a spring 12 and is maintained within aligned bores of the slats 3 by flanges 6, 7. The spring 12 prevents removal of a rod 8 that has been inserted within the sleeve 4 by cooperating with a groove 9 of the rod 8. The sleeves 4 are inserted into the bores of the slats by inserting the sleeve 4 having only one flanged formed thereon and forming the second flange after the sleeve 4 has been inserted through the bore. As with the &#39;415 patent, at least one of the flanged ends must be formed after the sleeve has been inserted into the slats. 
   More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,292 discloses three basic arrangements for attaching cross rods 16 to end frames of a laundry stand. At FIGS. 4–8, an arrangement is shown utilizing a connector 50 and fastener 74 to attach elongated members 26, 28 (forming an end frame) wherein the connector comprises an end 54 with a locking protrusion 62 that cooperates with a recess 64 of the cross rods 16. At FIGS. 9–13, a similar arrangement is shown wherein the cross rod 16 comprises the protuberance 56 and the connector 80 comprises a bore 86 with a recess 57. 
   At FIGS. 14–17 of the &#39;292 patent, a connector 110 includes a body 112 with a generally cylindrical configuration. Longitudinally extending from one end of the body 112 is a pair of legs 114 and 116 which are separated by a gap 118. The outer surfaces of the legs 114 and 116 are cylindrical and generally aligned with the outer surface of the body 112. Extending radially outwardly from each of the legs 114 and 116 are projections 120 and 122, respectively, which are sized and configured to be inserted into holes or recesses 124 and 126 in the end 58 of the rod 16. Longitudinally extending from the other end of the body 112 is a shaft 128 with a disk 130 mounted to the end of the shaft. The shaft 128 and disk 130 are configured to fit into the U-shaped cut-out section 44 and the end of cross bar 38 so that the cross bar can be attached the leg 12 or 14. FIGS. 18–21 show variation of the FIGS. 14–17. However, the connectors of the &#39;292 patent require too many separate parts to be efficiently manufactured. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a laundry stand having a plurality of sleeve connectors, a plurality of elongated members, and plurality of crossrods with end connectors thereon. Pairs of elongated members define aligned bores through which a sleeve connector is inserted to pivotally connect the pair of elongated members to form a plurality of scissor linkages. At least one end of each of the elongated members define corresponding bores through which the sleeve connectors are inserted to join two scissor linkages to form a first end frame. At least two scissor linkages are joinable to form a second end frame. Each of the sleeve connectors have an enlarged head portion, a hollow body portion defining a central bore, and a end portion having a greater diameter than the hollow body portion. Each sleeve connector further defines a slot in the end portion that allows the end portion to resiliently deflect inwardly such that the end portion has a reduced diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the hollow body portion when inwardly deflected. The sleeve connectors each comprise an inwardly formed resilient tab. The crossrods comprise two end connectors formed or attached on either end of the crossrod. Each end connector comprises an enlarged portion, an extension portion and an abutment member. The end connector further defines a groove and an engagement surface upon the abutment member. When the end connector is inserted into the central bore of the sleeve connector, the inwardly formed resilient tab contacts the engagement surface of the abutment member to prevent removal of the crossrod from the sleeve connector. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laundry stand according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, partial perspective view of an end frame, crossrods and bar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of crossrods according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a sleeve connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a view of the sleeve connector of  FIG. 4  rotated ninety degrees; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a shortened sleeve connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a view of the sleeve connector of  FIG. 6  rotated ninety degrees; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a stiffness rod according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are side view of end connectors according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a section view of a sleeve connector attaching two elongated members with an end connector inserted therein according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is top view of the laundry stand of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of a bar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a laundry stand  100  according to the present invention. The laundry stand  100  comprises first and second end frames  102 ,  104  and a plurality of crossrods  106 ,  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″. The end frames  102  each comprise interior elongated members  108  and exterior elongated members  109  that are attached to one another and to the crossrods  106  by connectors (described below). The elongated members  108 ,  109  are preferably made from a hollow extruded polymeric material, but may be made from any other material, such as wood, and may be hollow or solid without departing from the scope of the present invention. Attaching ends of the uppermost elongated members  108 ,  109  are a pair of bars  110 . Attaching the second lowermost two crossrods  106  are stiffness rods  112 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the laundry stand  100  preferably comprises seven long crossrods  106 , a second, shorter crossrod  106 ′, a third, shorter crossrod  106 ″, and a fourth, shortest crossrod  106 ′″. The crossrods are preferably made from a hollow extruded polymeric material and may be reinforced with reinforcing rods placed within their hollow center. For purposes of cost it may be desirable to provide reinforcing rods in only some of the crossrods. However, the crossrods may be made from any other material, such as wood, and may be hollow or solid without departing from the scope of the present invention. The crossrods  106  each include end connectors  114  ( FIGS. 9A &amp; 9B ) comprising an enlarged, hollow cylindrical portion  116 , an extension portion  118 , and an abutment member  119 . The enlarged, hollow cylindrical portion  116  defines an annular engagement surface  117 . The extension portion  118  has a tapered annular groove  120  toward its distal end and an annular engagement surface  121  forming a proximal edge surface of the abutment member  119 . The abutment member  119  has an outer annular band-like surface  119   a . Moreover the end connectors  114  are preferably molded to be a single unitary item. The crossrods  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″ each comprise end connectors  114 ′ identical to end connectors  114  except that each connector  114 ′ includes a shortened extension portion  118 ′. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4–7 , the elongated members  108 ,  109  are attached to one another by sleeve connectors  122 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a sleeve connector  122  comprises an enlarged head portion  124 , a hollow body portion  126  and a tapered, enlarged end portion  128 . The head portion  124  defines an annular head engagement surface  127 , and the tapered, enlarged end portion  128  defines base engagement surfaces  123 ,  125 . The end portion  128  and a portion of the body portion  126  define a pair of slots  130 . The slots  130  divide the end portion  128  into two tails  131 ,  133  that are capable of resilient deflection toward one another. The enlarged end portion  128  has a proximal arcuate angular engagement surface which is divided into two tail surface sections  135 ,  136  by the slots  130 . Tail surface section  135  corresponds to tail  131  while tail surface section  136  corresponds to tail  133 . The body portion  126  also comprises one or more inwardly extending resilient tabs  132 . The connector  122 ′ of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is similar in every respect to the connector  122  of  FIGS. 4 and 5  except that the hollow body portion  126 ′ of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is shorter than the hollow body portion  126  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Preferably, the connectors  122  connectors are molded to be a single unitary item. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the end frames  102 ,  104  are constructed by attaching two elongated members  108 ,  109  at their centers with a connector  122  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Specifically, a sleeve connector  122  is pushed through aligned center holes of the elongated members  108 ,  109 . As the sleeve connector  122  is pushed through the aligned center holes, the two tails  131 ,  133  are deflected inwardly to allow the connector  122  to enter the bore. After the end portion  128  exits the second elongated member  109 , the tapered tails  131 ,  133  are resiliently urged outwardly to their original state so that the tail engagement surfaces  135 ,  136  abut an outer surface  148  ( FIG. 10 ) of the member  109  and the head engagement surface  127  abuts an outer surface  148  of the member  108 . In this manner, the sleeve connector  122  holds the two elongated members  108 ,  109  together while still allowing relative rotational movement of the elongated members  108 ,  109  about the connector  122 . Next, two other pairs of elongated members  108 ,  109  are attached in like manner. 
   The three pairs of elongated members  108 ,  109  are attached at their ends by inserting connectors  122  through aligned bores adjacent the ends of the elongated members  108 ,  109  to form an end frame  102 . End frame  104  is similarly constructed. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  11  and  12 , the bars  110  define three bores  140  and a slot  142 . For clarity in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  11  and  12 , the end of the bar  110  having the slot  142  is labeled with numeral  144  and the opposite end is labeled  146 . The bars  110  are attached at end  146  to the end frames  102 ,  104  with an end connector  122 . The end connectors  122  allow rotational movement of the bars  110  with respect to the end frames  102 ,  104 . Next, the lowermost seven cross rods  106  are attached to sleeve connectors  122  by inserting the first end connector  114  of the crossrod  106  into a sleeve connector  122  of the end frame  102  and inserting the second end connector  114  of the crossrod into a corresponding sleeve connector  122  of the end frame  104 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the end connector  114  is inserted into the sleeve connector  122 , the resilient tab  132  is initially deflected outwardly by the abutment member  119  of the end connector  114 . As the resilient tab  132  is deflected outwardly enough to allow passage of the abutment member  119 , the resilient tab  132  abuts the annular surface  119   a  of abutment member  119 . Next, after the abutment member  119  passes the resilient tab  132 , the resilient tab  132  returns to its inwardly projecting position, as shown in  FIG. 10 , and within the annular groove  120 . Additionally, when inserted as described into the sleeve connector  122 , the annular engagement surface  117  abuts the base engagement surfaces  123 ,  125 . The resilient tab  132 , when within the annular groove  120 , prevents removal of the end connector  114  by contacting the engagement surface  121  thereby locking the end connector  114  within the sleeve connector  122 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , shortened end connectors  122 ′ are installed within the center two bores  140  of the bar  110  and into the end frames  102 ,  104 . Crossrods  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″ are then installed into the connectors  122 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , so that the bars  110  can be rotated such that the slots  142  of the bars  110  will accept the crossrod  106 ′. Referring to  FIG. 11 , the crossrods  106 ″,  106 ′″ are of decreasing sizes to cause the bars  110  to not be in parallel alignment. As a result, the ends  144  of the bars  110  having the slots  142  are closer to one another than the ends  146  of the bars  110  with the bores  140 . In this manner, the slots  142  are properly positioned to accept the crossrods  106 ′ and do not interfere with the end frames  102 ,  104 . 
   Preferably, to conserve shipping cost and merchandising space, the laundry stand  100  is provided to the end consumer with the end frames  102 ,  104  fully assembled with the end connectors  122 ,  122 ′ and with the bars  110  attached to the end frames  102 ,  104 , but with the crossrods  106 ,  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″ not installed. In this manner the end frames  102 ,  104  and the crossrods can be tightly packed into a smaller package that costs less to ship and requires less shelf space. When the end user completes assembly of the laundry rack  100 , the end user need only insert the crossrods  106 ,  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″ (with the end connectors  114 ,  114 ′ pre-attached) to the sleeve connectors  122 ,  122 ′ by inserting the end connectors  114  into the hollow center of the sleeve connectors  122 ,  122 ′. 
   In some instances, it may be desirable to provide further stiffness to the laundry stand  100  depending upon the stiffness of the material selected for the elongated members  108 ,  109 . To this end, there are provided the stiffening rods  112  ( FIG. 8 ). The stiffening rods  112  are attached to two crossrods  106  to be therebetween, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each rod  112  comprises a first end  136  comprising an eye and a second end  138  comprising a hook. The first end  136  is attached over a rod before it is installed, and the second end  138  is removably attachable to the other crossrod  106 . 
   Additionally, in order to assist end users in assembling the device, the sleeve connectors  122  and end connectors  114  can be color coded. This coding aids the end user in determining the appropriate crossrod  106 ,  106 ′,  106 ″,  106 ′″ and end connector  114 ,  114 ′ to insert into the appropriate sleeve connector  122 ,  122 ′. 
   By utilizing the above configuration, a collapsible drying rack can be economically provided to end users by providing it to them in a partially assembled configuration. Moreover, the consumer assembly process is easily performed by merely inserting the end connectors  114  in to the sleeve connectors  122 . The end connectors and sleeve connectors are superior to the prior art because the end frames can be quickly assembled by the manufacturer using pre-molded sleeve connectors that comprise only a single unitary part requiring no further steps to be performed for assembly of the end frame after the connector has been inserted through the bore within each elongated member. 
   In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained.