Collapsible rack

Abstract

A collapsible rack includes a middle frame, a first lateral frame, a second lateral frame and at least one shelf. The middle frame includes a first pair of ears formed thereon and a second pair of ears formed thereon. The first lateral frame includes a pair of screws driven through the first pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the first lateral frame to the middle frame. The second lateral frame includes a pair of screws driven through the second pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the second lateral frame to the middle frame. The shelf includes a first edge pivotally connected to the middle frame and a second edge for engagement with the first and second lateral frames when the collapsible rack is in an extended position.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible rack.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

A typical collapsible rack includes inserts and sleeves for receiving the inserts. It is however troublesome and takes a lot of time to insert the inserts into the sleeves during assembly of the collapsible rack. It requires tools to assemble the collapsible rack, and the assembly is complicated. Furthermore, the result of the collapse is inadequate so that the collapsible rack takes a lot of space in a collapsed position during storage and transportation.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible rack that can easily be assembled.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible rack that occupies a little space in a collapsed position.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the collapsible rack includes a middle frame, a first lateral frame pivotally connected to the middle frame, a second lateral frame pivotally connected to the middle frame and at least one shelf pivotally connected to the middle frame. The middle frame includes a first pair of ears formed thereon and a second pair of ears formed thereon. The first lateral frame includes a pair of screws driven through the first pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the first lateral frame to the middle frame. The second lateral frame includes a pair of screws driven through the second pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the second lateral frame to the middle frame. The shelf includes a first edge pivotally connected to the middle frame and a second edge for engagement with the first and second lateral frames when the collapsible rack is in an extended position.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible rack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial, enlarged view of the collapsible rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack in another position than shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial, enlarged view of the collapsible rack of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack in another position than shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial, enlarged view of the collapsible rack of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack in another position than shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collapsible rack includes a middle frame 1, a first lateral frame 2 pivotally connected to the middle frame 1, a second lateral frame 3 pivotally connected to the middle frame 1, a lower shelf 4 pivotally connected to the middle frame 1, a middle shelf 4 pivotally connected to the middle frame 1 and an upper shelf 11 pivotally connected to the middle frame 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The middle frame 1 includes two beams 15 provided between two posts 18. Two ears 5A are formed on one of the posts 18 while two ears 5B are formed on the other post 18. Each of the ears 5A and 5B includes an aperture 6 defined therein.

The second lateral frame 3 includes two beams 24 connected to a post 26. A screw 7 is secured to each of the beams 24. Two rings 9 are secured to the post 26 while a slot 13 is defined in the post 26. The screws 7 are driven through the apertures 6 of the ears 5B and engaged with nuts 8, thus pivotally connecting the second lateral frame 3 to the middle frame 1.

The first lateral frame 2 includes two beams 20 connected to a post 22. Like each of the beams 24, each of the beams 20 includes a screw 7 secured thereto. Two rings 9 are secured to the post 22 while a slot 13 is defined in the post 22. The screws 7 are driven through the apertures 6 of the ears 5A and engaged with nuts 8, thus pivotally connecting the first lateral frame 2 to the middle frame 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the length H1 of the ears 5A is smaller than the length H2 of the ears 5B. Thus, the first lateral frame 2 is located between the middle frame 1 and the second lateral frame 3 when the collapsible rack is in a collapsed position. The beams 20 of the first lateral frame 2 are longer than the beams 24 of the second lateral frame 3. Thus, the distance between the middle frame 1 and the post 22 of the first lateral frame 2 is identical to the distance between the middle frame 1 and the post 26 of the second lateral frame 3 when the collapsible rack is in an extended position.

Each of the lower and middle shelves 4 is a grid with a sleeve 16 formed along an edge, an axle 17 extended through the sleeve 16 and two pins 10 formed at an opposite edge. The upper shelf 11 is a grid with a sleeve 16 formed along an edge, an axle 17 extended through the sleeve 16 and two hooks 12 formed at an opposite edge. Each of the axles 17 includes two ends each inserted in a recess 14 defined in a related one of the posts 18 of the middle frame 1, thus pivotally connecting the shelves 4 and 11 to the middle frame 1.

The upper shelf 11 can be pivoted between a collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 and an extended position shown in FIG. 7 through a transient position shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, the hooks 12 can be inserted through the slots 13, thus retaining the upper shelf 11 in the extended position. In the extended position, the upper shelf 11 can support stuff.

The lower and middle shelves 4 can be pivoted between a collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 and an extended position shown in FIG. 7 through a transient position shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 6, the pins 10 can be inserted through the rings 9, thus retaining the lower and middle shelves 4 in the extended position. In the extended position, the lower and middle shelves 4 can support stuff.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible rack comprising:

a middle frame comprising a first pair of ears formed thereon and a second pair of ears formed thereon;

a first lateral frame comprising a pair of screws driven through the first pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the first lateral frame to the middle frame;

a second lateral frame comprising a pair of screws driven through the second pair of ears, thus pivotally connecting the second lateral frame to the middle frame; and

at least one shelf with a first edge pivotally connected to the middle frame and a second edge for engagement with the first and second lateral frames when the collapsible rack is in an extended position.

2. The collapsible rack according to claim 1 comprising nuts each engaged with a related one of the screws.

3. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of ears extends shorter than the second pair of ears so that the first lateral frame is located between the middle frame and the second lateral frame when the collapsible rack is in a collapsed position.

4. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the lateral frames comprises at least one ring secured thereto, and the shelf comprises two pins each for insertion through the ring of a related one of the lateral frames to keep the shelf in an extended position.

5. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the lateral frames comprises at least one slot defined therein, and the shelf comprises two hooks each for insertion through the slot of a related one of the lateral frames to keep the shelf in an extended position.

6. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises a sleeve formed at the first edge and an axle inserted through the sleeve and into the middle frame.

7. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the middle frame comprises two posts and at least one beam for connecting the posts to each other.