Patent ID: 7182211

Claim:
A universal rack comprising: a plurality of hollow tubular upright posts ( 1 ) having side walls; a plurality of hollow tubular cross bars ( 2 ) having opposite ends; a plurality of connecting pieces ( 3 , 4 , 5 ) for interconnecting the upright posts ( 1 ) to the cross bars ( 2 ); a plurality of first holes ( 10 ) provided on a side wall of each of the upright posts ( 1 ); each of said cross bars ( 2 ) having an inverted U-shaped section at each opposite end thereof, with each inverted U-shaped section having an upper horizontal wall and two parallel side walls aligned vertical to the upper horizontal wall, said inverted U-shaped section further comprising: at least one retainer ( 21 ) protruding downwardly from said upper horizontal wall; and at least one first protrusion ( 23 ) extending from each of the side walls; with each of said connecting pieces ( 3 , 4 , 5 ) comprising: a frame ( 31 ) having a top wall and two side walls perpendicular to the top wall; a push rod ( 34 ) positioned between the two side walls of the frame ( 31 ); two retaining pieces ( 32 ) each between the push rod ( 34 ) and said two side walls of the frame ( 31 ); and a spring piece ( 33 ), wherein a connecting panel ( 30 , 40 , 50 ) is securely joined to one end of said frame ( 31 ) at one side and has a plurality of second protrusions ( 301 , 401 , 501 ) on an opposed side adapted to be snapped into the first holes ( 10 ) on said upright post ( 1 ), said frame ( 31 ) further comprising: at least one recess ( 310 ) provided on the top wail of said frame ( 31 ) so as to engage at least one protruding retainer ( 21 ) on said cross bar ( 2 ) when said frame ( 31 ) engages the cross bar ( 2 ): second holes ( 311 ) each provided on the side walls of said frame ( 31 ) so as to engage the first protrusions ( 23 ) on said cross bars ( 2 ) when said frame ( 31 ) engages the cross bar ( 2 ); bosses ( 312 ) inwardly provided on the two side walls of said frame ( 31 ) for engaging the retaining piece ( 32 ); and wherein said retaining piece ( 32 ) further comprises: third protrusions ( 321 ) protrude in an opposite direction with the bosses ( 312 ) of said frame ( 31 ) so to be snapped into the second holes ( 311 ) on said frame ( 31 ) when the retaining plate ( 32 ) engages with the frame ( 31 ); a fourth protrusion ( 320 ) protruded inwardly at the middle of said retaining plate ( 32 ) for holding said push rod ( 34 ) by means of the action of the side wall of said frame ( 31 ) with the fourth protrusion ( 320 ) when each said retaining plate ( 32 ) positioned on the side wall of said frame ( 31 ) interconnect to each other at the top via the spring piece ( 33 ).