Adjustable Tire Rack
An adjustable tire rack is provided for mounting to the wall of a structure to support, store and/or display truck, car and motorcycle tires, rims and tire/rim combinations having a wide range of diameters and widths. The adjustable tire rack generally comprises a rail member and a first and second adjustable telescoping tire support. The rail member has a raised u-shaped channel running along its length and is configured to be secured to the wall studs of a structure. The first and second adjustable telescoping tire supports each have a c-channel that is configured to fit over the raised u-shaped channel of the rail member and secured at multiple positions along the length of the rail member to accommodate various tire diameters.
The present invention is generally directed to an adjustable tire rack. More specifically, the present adjustable tire rack is configured to support and display truck, car and motorcycle tires, rims and tire/rim combinations having a wide range of diameters and widths.
BACKGROUNDIt is not uncommon for owners of trucks and cars to own multiple tire/rim combinations for changing road conditions and show. Tires are available in a number of diameter and widths, so a single tire rack is impractical. In a snowy/icy climate, owners may purchase snow tires that are stored until needed. Car and truck racers may have multiple tire and rim combinations, and may wish to display cherished tires from a significant race victory or racing event. Motorsport enthusiasts may carry multiple tire and rim combinations like matching a pair of shoes and a purse to an outfit. It may be desirable to display the tires/rims in one's garage or other area of the house. It is therefore desirable to provide an adjustable tire rack that fits a wide range of tire widths and diameters for trucks, cars and motorcycles, while also providing an aesthetically pleasing design that showcases the tire/rim combination if so desired.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn one embodiment, an adjustable tire rack is provided. Adjustable tire rack generally comprises a rail member and a first and second adjustable telescoping tire support coupled thereto. The rail member has a raised u-shaped channel running along its length and is configured to be secured to the wall studs of a structure. The first adjustable telescoping tire support has a first c-channel support member and a first adjustable support member. One end of the first adjustable support member is configured to fit within the interior of the first c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths. The first c-channel support member has a c-channel sized to fit over the raised u-shaped channel and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along the length to accommodate various tire and/or rim diameters. The second adjustable tire support has a second c-channel support member and a second adjustable support member. One end of the second adjustable support member is configured to fit within the interior of the second c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths. The second c-channel support member has a c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along the length to accommodate various tire and/or rim diameters.
In another embodiment, the first and second c-channel support members and the first and second adjustable support members are each constructed of square tube material.
In yet another embodiment, a plurality of nuts welded to the underside of the raised u-shaped channel at the location of each of the channel holes.
In still another embodiment, the first and second c-channel support members further comprise a plurality of c-channel mounting holes configured to align with one or more of the plurality of channel holes in the raised u-shaped channel of the rail member.
The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claims.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of constructing an adjustable tire rack in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a general manner in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included, if desired, in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that two or more references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternative embodiment” or “one example” or “an example” in various portions of this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as desired in one or more embodiments of the invention. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
The present adjustable tire rack is configured for supporting tire/rim combinations for changing road conditions and showcasing. Tires and rims are available in a number of diameter and widths. In the illustrated embodiment of
A second portion of the L-shape of the c-channel support members 130, 135 comprises the tube for receiving an end of the adjustable support members 120, 125. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustable telescoping tire supports 110, 115 are constructed of square tubing and sized such that the proximal end of adjustable support members 120, 125 fits within the distal end of c-channel support members 130, 135 so as to move in a telescoping manner. Adjustable support members 120, 125 are secured to c-channel support members 130, 135 using a plurality of adjustable support member fasteners 140. The telescoping movement of the adjustable support members 120, 125 with respect to c-channel support members 130, 135 allows flexibility in the y-direction so as to fit a multitude of tire widths. For example,
Second c-channel support member 135 is shown as L-shaped having a c-channel 136 and a support tube 137. Support tube 137 is typically welded to c-channel 136 at a 90 degree angle. Support tube 137 comprises a plurality of support tube mounting holes 139, which are properly spaced to line up with the second adjustable support member mounting holes 122 of the second adjustable support member 125. C-channel 136 comprises a plurality of c-channel mounting holes 138, which are properly spaced apart to line up with the plurality of u-shaped channel holes 107 on rail member 105. Second adjustable support member 125 is illustrated as square tubing with a 90 degree bend having a plurality of second adjustable support member mounting holes 122 on all four sides, which allows the second adjustable support member 125 to be mounted horizontal as shown in
Similarly, the c-channel 136 is sized to fit over the raised u-shaped portion 106 of the rail member 105 and configured to be removably coupled thereto. In operation, the c-channel 136 of the first c-channel support member 135 will slide along the raised u-shaped portion 106 of the rail member 105, and the user may secure first c-channel support member 135 to the rail member in any one of the positions available by aligning one or more of the plurality of c-channel mounting holes 137 to one or more of the plurality of channel holes 107.
While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown with reference to particular operations performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered to form equivalent methods without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations is not a limitation of the present invention.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An adjustable tire rack comprising:
- a rail member configured to be secured to the wall studs of a structure, said rail member having a raised u-shaped channel running along its length;
- a first adjustable telescoping tire support having a first c-channel support member and a first adjustable support member, one end of said first adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the first c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said first c-channel support member having a first c-channel sized to fit over the raised u-shaped channel and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along the length to accommodate various tire and/or rim diameters; and
- a second adjustable tire support having a second c-channel support member and a second adjustable support member, one end of said second adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the second c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said second c-channel support member having a second c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along said length to accommodate various tire and/or rim diameters.
2. The adjustable tire rack of claim 1, wherein the first and second c-channel support members and the first and second adjustable support members are each constructed of square tube material.
3. The adjustable tire rack of claim 1, wherein said rail member further comprises a plurality of nuts welded to the underside of the raised u-shaped channel at each of said channel holes.
4. The adjustable tire rack of claim 1, wherein said first and second c-channel support member further comprises a plurality of c-channel mounting holes configured to align with one or more of the plurality of channel holes in the raised u-shaped channel of the rail member.
5. The adjustable tire rack of claim 1, wherein each said c-channel support member is L-shaped having a support member secured to the respective c-channel, each support member further comprises a plurality of support tube mounting holes configured to align with a plurality of adjustable support member mounting holes of the respective adjustable support member, and configured for attaching the respective adjustable support member to the c-channel support member along multiple positions to accommodate multiple sized tires.
6. An adjustable tire rack comprising:
- a rail member configured to be secured to the wall studs of a structure, said rail member having a raised u-shaped channel running along its length in the x-direction and a plurality of channel holes located along the channel;
- a first adjustable telescoping tire support having a first c-channel support member and a first adjustable support member each constructed of square tube material, one end of said first adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the first c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said first c-channel support member having a first c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel of the rail member and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along said length to accommodate various tire diameters; and
- a second adjustable tire support having a second c-channel support member and a second adjustable support member each constructed of square tube material, one end of said second adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the second c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said second c-channel support member having a second c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel of the rail member and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along said length to accommodate various tire diameters.
7. The adjustable tire rack of claim 6, wherein said rail member further comprises a plurality of nuts welded to the underside of the raised u-shaped channel at each of said channel holes.
8. The adjustable tire rack of claim 6, wherein said first and second c-channel support member further comprises a plurality of c-channel mounting holes configured to align with one or more of the plurality of channel holes in the raised u-shaped channel of the rail member.
9. The adjustable tire rack of claim 6, wherein each said c-channel support member is L-shaped having a support member secured to the respective c-channel, each support member further comprises a plurality of support tube mounting holes configured to align with a plurality of adjustable support member mounting holes of the respective adjustable support member, and configured for attaching the respective adjustable support member to the c-channel support member along multiple positions to accommodate multiple sized tires.
10. A method of providing an adjustable tire rack comprising:
- providing a rail member configured to be secured to the wall studs of a structure, said rail member having a raised u-shaped channel running along its length in the x-direction and a plurality of channel holes located along the channel;
- providing a first adjustable telescoping tire support having a first c-channel support member and a first adjustable support member each constructed of square tube material, one end of said first adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the first c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said first c-channel support member having a first c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel of the rail member and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along said length to accommodate various tire diameters; and
- providing a second adjustable tire support having a second c-channel support member and a second adjustable support member each constructed of square tube material, one end of said second adjustable support member configured to fit within the interior of the second c-channel support member and move in a telescoping manner relative thereto to accommodate various tire widths, said second c-channel support member having a second c-channel sized to fit over said raised u-shaped channel of the rail member and configured to be removably coupled thereto at a plurality of positions along said length to accommodate various tire diameters.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2015
Inventor: Todd Mansor (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 14/035,948
International Classification: A47F 7/04 (20060101); A47B 47/02 (20060101); A47B 45/00 (20060101);