Foldable storage and display rack

A foldable storage and display rack includes a flexible member. The flexible member has a plurality of rhombus receiving sections which arrange in turn adjacent to each other. When not in use, the flexible member may be compressed or folded by the user along a sewing line, in this manner, each of the rhombus receiving sections is flattened and forms a type of multi-layer superposition. Therefore, the flattened flexible member may be stored in a compact volume. When in use, a article is placed in the rhombus receiving sections, due to the effect of the gravity, each of the rhombus receiving sections will hold the article tightly on all sides so as to insure the article to locate stably.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing bottles and in particular to a rack for holding large and small bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional display rack, such as wine and seasoning sauce, are generally formed by wood, wire and plastic material. However, the conventional display rack has an equivalent volume and is unfoldable so that it occupies much space that is adverse for storing and for transportation purposes. In addition, although manufacturers of display racks usually provide sufficient instructions for assembling their racks at the place of use, it is sometimes difficult for the person who assembles the rack components to fit the parts together, and sometimes the rack components are lost such that the user cannot finish the work. Recently, a cabinet has been developed. The cabinet is made of cloth and hung from a cabinet rod by way of a cord. The cabinet has a number of spaces for receiving articles and the tendency of the cabinet organization to become cluttered and disorganized. It is to be noted that the cabinet do not use, the user can fold the cabinet to reduce its volume. However, the surface of the cabinet has many folding lines when spreading the cabinet again, thereby destroying the appearance of the cabinet.

[0003] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional display rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable storage and display rack which has a simple construction and is easy to manufacture than the known foldable storage and display racks.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable storage and display rack which includes a flexible member that may be easily assembled by the users and that may be stored in a compact volume.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable storage and display rack, in practical use, due to the effect of the gravity, each of the rhombus receiving sections will hold the article tightly on all sides, so as to insure the article to locate stably.

[0007] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show a flexible member of the foldable storage and display rack of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the device of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the second embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show that the flexible member of the present invention is compressed.

[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the third embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show the third embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view to show that the connecting links of the present invention are joining together.

[0015] FIG. 8 is an elevational view to show that the connecting links of the present invention are compressed.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view to show the fourth embodiment of the device of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view to show the fifth embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view to show the sixth embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 11A is a partially exploded view to show FIG. 11 embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view to show the seventh embodiment of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the foldable storage and display rack of the present invention comprises a flexible member 1 which is made by flexible plastic net cloth material. The flexible member 1 includes a plurality of rhombus receiving sections 11 which arrange in turn adjacent to each other. The rhombus receiving sections 11 each includes at least one obtuse-angled positioning section 12 and a pair of opposite holding sections 13. When not in use, the flexible member 1 may be compressed or folded by the user along a sewing line 111, in this manner, each of the rhombus receiving sections 11 is flattened and forms a type of multi-layer superposition. Therefore, the flattened flexible member 1 may be stored in a compact volume. On the contrary, when in use, there are articles 2, such as wine bottle and seasoning sauce bottle and the like, in the rhombus receiving sections 11, the obtuse-angled positioning section 12 will concentrate to support each article 2, due to the effect of the gravity, each of the rhombus receiving sections 11 will hold the article 2 tightly on all sides, so as to insure the article 2 to locate stably.

[0022] In order to locate the flexible member 1 on the furniture, such as locating on the edge of the table 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the periphery of the rhombus receiving sections 11 of the flexible member 1 is defined a plurality of hanging ears 112 for engaging with U-shaped positioning members 4. The U-shaped positioning member 4 can use a first end 41 to extend through the hanging ear 112 and then holds the flexible member 1 to the edge of the table 3. Therefore, the flexible member 1 may be hanged effectively.

[0023] In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a frame 5 is mounted under a cabinet, it is to be noted that the frame 5 is formed a plurality of gaps 51 in correspondence with the hanging ear 112 of rhombus receiving sections 11, in this manner, the user may use the U-shaped positioning members 4 to hang on the flexible member 1 in each of the gaps 51, so as to make the flexible member 1 to be hanged effectively.

[0024] Due to the sewing line 111 of the flexible member 1, the flexible member 1 may be compressed or folded by the user along the sewing line 111, in this manner, not only easy to compress or fold, but also easy to maintain beauty. The flexible member 1 may be easily compressed or folded by the users and that may be stored in a compact volume.

[0025] Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the foldable storage and display rack of the present invention can cooperate with a frame body 6. The frame body 6 comprises left and right linkages 61,62, upper and lower connecting links 63,64 and positioning rods 65.

[0026] The left and right linkages 61,62 each includes a pair of linkage. The left linkage 61 has a pair of linkage, and the right linkage 62 also has a pair of linkage. A pair of linkage each includes four connecting rods 611,621 in series each other. The connecting rods 611,621 may be rotated about a shaft 6111,6211 each other in order to achieve to fold the left and right linkages 61,62. It is convenient to move, the connecting rods 611,621 of the left and right linkage 61,62 is preferably N-shaped. In addition, each of three shaft rods 612,622 is engaged between the left and right linkage 61,62 for securing the left and right linkage 61,62 together. Each of the linkage 61,62 each includes a plurality of gaps 6112,6212 formed thereon for engaging with the positioning rods 65.

[0027] The upper and lower connecting link 63,64 each includes two connecting links for securing the left and right linkage 61,62 together. In other words, the upper connecting link 63 has two connecting link, and the lower connecting link 64 has two connecting link. Moreover, Each of the upper and lower connecting link 63,64 each includes a plurality of gaps 631,641 located in correspondence with each other formed thereon for engaging with the positioning rods 65.

[0028] The positioning rods 65 each extends through the hanging ears 112 of rhombus receiving sections 11 and engages between the gaps 6112,6212 of the left and right linkage 61,62 and the gaps 631,641 of the upper and lower connecting link 63,64.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7 which shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connecting links 611,621 are joining together, one of the connecting links 611,621 each forms one or two protrusion 6113 and one of the connecting links 611,621 each forms one or two notch 6114. As shown in FIG. 6 which shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper and lower connecting links 611,621 each has a notch 6114, the second connecting links 611,621 each has a protrusion 6113 and a notch 6114, and the third connecting links 611,621 each has two protrusion 6113, in this manner, in operation, the protrusion 6113 may be engaged with the notch 6114 to form a straight line.

[0030] Referring next to FIG. 8 which shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the protrusions 6113 of the connecting links 611,621 each disengages from the notches 6114 of the connecting links 611,621 so that the connecting links 611,621 may be easily folded by the users and that may be stored in a compact volume.

[0031] In addition, as shown in FIG. 9 which shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the left and right linkage 61,62 each has two connecting links 611,621. The connecting links 611,621 each includes a nose 6115 and a dent 6116 which locates responding to the nose 6115.

[0032] In operation, as shown in FIG. 10 which shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the frame body 6 is rotated 90° from FIG. 9 so that the left and right linkage 61,62 are moved to the upper and lower position. Due to the nature of the one-piece connecting links 63,64, the connecting links 63,64 can provide a strong support in longitudinal.

[0033] Referring next to FIG. 11 which shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a supporting plate 7 is engaged between the flexible member 1 and a side of the frame body 6 for supporting the article 2. The supporting plate 7 is located at the bottom of the frame body 6. As shown in FIG. 11A which shows a partially exploded view to show FIG. 11 embodiment of the present invention, wherein the supporting plate 7 includes a plurality of through holes 71 along the periphery so that the positioning rods 65 each can respectively extend through the through holes 7 to locate in the connecting links 64.

[0034] In addition, as shown in FIG. 12 which shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connecting links 63,64 each includes a plurality of notches 632,642 formed thereon for engaging with the positioning rods 65.

[0035] While we have shown and described the embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable storage and display rack, characterized in:

a flexible member made by flexible plastic net cloth material, said flexible member including a plurality of rhombus receiving sections which arrange in turn adjacent to each other, each of said rhombus receiving sections having at least one obtuse-angled positioning section and a pair of opposite holding sections, when not in use, said flexible member may be compressed or folded by the user along a sewing line, in this manner, each of said rhombus receiving sections being flattened and forming a type of multi-layer superposition, the flattened flexible member may be stored in a compact volume, on the contrary, when in use, articles located in said rhombus receiving sections, said obtuse-angled positioning section concentrating to support each article.

2. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a periphery of said rhombus receiving sections of said flexible member includes a plurality of hanging ears for engaging with U-shaped positioning members, said U-shaped positioning member includes a first end for extending through said hanging ear and holding said flexible member to a edge of a table.

3. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a frame mounted under a cabinet, said frame including a plurality of gaps in correspondence with said hanging ear of rhombus receiving sections for allowing said U-shaped positioning members to be hanged on each of said gaps.

4. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a foldable frame body, and a periphery of said rhombus receiving sections of said flexible member including a plurality of hanging ears for allowing each of positioning rods to be extended through in concert with said foldable frame body.

5. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein said foldable frame body comprises left and right linkage, upper and lower connecting links and positioning rods, the left linkage having a pair of linkages and the right linkage also having a pair of linkage, said linkages may be rotated about a shaft to achieve to fold the left and right linkage, said upper and lower connecting links each including two connecting links for securing the left and right linkage together, said positioning rods located between said left and right linkage and said upper and lower connecting links.

6. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connecting links are joining together, one of said connecting links each forms one or two protrusion and one of said connecting links each forms one or two notch, in operation, said protrusion may be engaged with said notch to form a straight line.

7. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connecting links each includes a nose and a dent which locates responding to said nose.

8. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connecting links each includes a plurality of notches formed thereon for engaging with the positioning rods.

9. The foldable storage and display rack as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a supporting plate engaged between said flexible member and a side of said frame body for supporting articles, said supporting plate located at the bottom of said frame body.

Patent History
Publication number: 20040099622
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 13, 2002
Publication Date: May 27, 2004
Inventor: David Lee (Taichung City)
Application Number: 10318117
Classifications