Lawn/garden tool rack

Abstract

The lawn/garden tool rack is a storage unit that is especially adapted for the storage of long-handled lawn and/or garden tools, such as rakes, shovels, hoes, brooms, etc. The unit is fabricated from tubular members, including open-end vertical tubular members. The vertical tubular members receive the tools' handles. The vertical tubular members are arranged in a grid-like pattern so that the tools can be stored in an orderly array.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/670,245, filed Apr. 12, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to storage apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a storage rack for long-handled tools such as lawn and garden tools.

2. Description of the Related Art

The problem of finding and retrieving the proper tool for lawn and/or garden work can be one huge headache if the tools are scattered among the tool shed, garage, basement or otherwise in such a tangled mess that securing the desired tool is akin to unraveling a ball of twine. The art would certainly welcome a storage device that would allow the tools to be stored in one place and would retain the tools in position for easy retrieval.

The related art is rife with storage devices for long-handled lawn and garden tools. Pertinent samples of such storage devices are cited and identified in the accompanying IDS. However, none of the related art discloses a storage rack for long-handled tools as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tool rack which provides a storage unit that is especially adapted for the storage of long-handled lawn and/or garden tools, such as rakes, shovels, hoes, brooms, etc. The unit is fabricated from tubular members that receive the tools' handles. The tubular members are arranged in a grid-like pattern so that the tools can be stored in an orderly array. The lightweight, tubular construction permits the unit to be easily portable, thus allowing location in almost any desired site.

Accordingly, the tool rack presents a storage unit that is efficiently designed and easy to use. The tool rack provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing the intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a lawn/garden tool rack according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lawn/garden tool rack according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a lawn/garden tool rack according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1, wherein the tool rack or storage unit of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. Storage unit 10 is adapted to house long-handled tools 12, or tools with a pole handle, in an orderly array. The handles of tools 12 are supported in the storage unit 10 in a manner that positions the tools 12 in a substantially vertical orientation.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, unit 10 comprises a plurality of vertical tubular members 14 supported on a base 16, which is also formed from tubular members. The vertical members 14 are elongate and extend the entire vertical height of the unit 10 in order to provide adequate support for a significant length of the tools' handles. The vertical tubular members 14 and base 16 are fabricated entirely from any suitable, lightweight plastic tubular stock material, e.g., PVC. The upper ends 14a of vertical tubular members 14 are open in order to receive the tool handles. As contemplated, the unit 10 is designed with thirteen vertical tubular members 14. However, it is obvious that the unit 10 could be formed with more or less vertical members 14 if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the base 16 is rectangular or square in shape with a plurality of parallel beams extending across the interior of the base 16 for supporting the vertical tubular members 14. Although the base 16 may be constructed in a variety of ways consistent with the teachings of the present invention, in the example shown, the corners of the base 16 are formed from two Tees stacked vertically, with the crossbars aligned vertically and the stems of the Tees normal to each other. Two opposing sides of the base 16 are formed from elongate tubular members, and the other two opposing sides are formed from a plurality of Tees with the crossbars connected together end-to-end and the stems arising vertically. The intermediate beams are supported by elbows joined to the stems, and are formed by a plurality of Tees with the crossbars connected end-to-end and the stems arising vertically to support the vertical tubular members 14 in a 3×3 matrix of rows and columns. The four corners of the base 16 also support vertical tubular members 14.

Although the tubular members are preferably made from lightweight plastic, it will be understood that the tubular members may be made of any lightweight structural material. While the drawings show the tubular members being formed of cylindrical members, it will be understood that the scope of the invention as claimed extends to a storage unit 10 in which the tubular members may have any cross-sectional shape, or mixture of cross-sectional shapes. It will further be understood that, although the base 16 is shown formed with a plurality of Tees and elbows, the base 16 may be formed from unitary tubular members molded, blown, extruded, or otherwise formed for the purpose, which provide a grid of parallel beams for supporting the vertical tubular members 14.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tool rack, comprising:

a base member defining a width and a length;

a plurality of vertically-oriented tubular members extending upward from said base member, each said vertically-oriented tubular member having a lower end and an open upper end, the lower end being attached to said base member, each said vertically-oriented tubular member extending to a uniform height.

2. The tool rack according to claim 1, wherein said base member is fabricated from tubular material.

3. The tool rack according to claim 1, wherein said vertically oriented members are fabricated from plastic tubular material.

4. The tool rack according to claim 1, wherein said base and said vertically oriented members are fabricated from plastic tubular material.

5. The tool rack according to claim 4, wherein said plastic material is PVC material.

6. A tool rack, comprising:

a base member defining a width and a length and having four corners, said base member forming a grid being fabricated from tubular members;

a plurality of vertically-oriented tubular members extending upward from said base member, each said vertically-oriented tubular member having a lower end and an open upper end, the lower end being attached to said base member, each said vertically-oriented tubular member extending to a uniform height.

7. The tool rack according to claim 6, wherein a respective one of said plurality of vertically-oriented tubular members extends upward from each of the respective four corners.

8. The tool rack according to claim 6, wherein said base and said vertically oriented members are fabricated from plastic tubular material.

9. The tool rack according to claim 8, wherein said plastic material is PVC material.