FOLDING GARMENT RACK
A foldable garment rack having a collapsible frame that may be mounted on a plurality of wheel assemblies or other support feet. The present foldable garment rack comprises a rigid top frame member pivotally coupled to both a first side frame member and a second side frame member, and a rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to both side frame members. Each side member may include a top section and bottom section operably connected by an elbow joint. Each side member may include a locking tube slidingly disposed on the side frame member wherein the sliding lock may have a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint. The foldable garment has an erected position and a folded position.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/841,985, filed Jul. 2, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis present invention relates to consumer storage products and, more particularly, to portable garment racks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable garment racks are used in many situations to hang clothing. Portable garment racks are used for fashion shows, weddings, clothing stores, residential and commercial clothes storage, coat check stands, additional clothing storage in apartments and condominiums, and many other uses. For many applications, the garment racks need to be transported to a location. In such applications, the garment racks must be transported in their fully upright and assembled position, or the garment racks need to be disassembled, transported, and reassembled on-site. The extra time it takes to disassemble and reassemble the garment racks can be substantial for events that require a large number of garment racks. Moreover, existing garment racks must be stored in a fully assembled or a substantially disassembled state when not in use. Storage of garment racks in the fully assembled condition can take up a substantial volume of space, with void and open air spaces comprising the majority of the required storage volume. Further, it takes extra time to disassemble and reassemble the garment rack.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a garment rack that can be folded into a position that can be easily transported by conventional vehicles to locations, and/or provide a compact folded position that takes a minimal amount of space without having to disassemble the garment rack. The ability for a garment rack to be folded is also advantageous for shipping and the display of the products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed toward a foldable garment rack that can be selectively configured in an erected position and a folded position. The foldable garment rack may include a collapsible frame having a rigid top frame member pivotally coupled to both a first side frame member and a second side frame member, and a rigid bottom frame member that is also pivotally coupled to both the first side frame member and the second side frame member. The side frame members may include a top section and a bottom section operably connected by a first elbow joint. The first and second side frame members may have substantially equal lengths.
The side frame members may be pivotally coupled to a connection tab coupled to the top frame member. A first connection tab may be coupled to a back side of the top frame member proximate a first end of the top frame member and the first side frame member may be pivotally connected to the first connection tab. A second connection tab may be coupled to a front side of the top frame member proximate a second end of the top frame member and the second side frame member may be pivotally coupled to the second connection tab.
The foldable garment rack may include a first locking tube that is slidingly disposed on the first side frame member wherein the first locking tube may have a length sufficient to cover the first elbow joint and a portion of each of the top section and the bottom section of the first side frame member that are adjacent to the first elbow joint. Similarly, the foldable garment rack may include a second locking tube slidingly disposed on the second side frame member. The second locking tube may similarly have a length sufficient to cover the second elbow joint and a portion of each of the top section and the bottom section of the second side frame member that are adjacent to the second elbow joint. The side frame members of the present foldable garment rack may include the top section and the bottom sections having lengths that are substantially equal.
When the present foldable garment rack is configured in the erected position, the first locking tubes may cover the respective elbow joint and a portion of each of the top section and the bottom section of the side frame member adjacent to the respective elbow joint. When in the erected position, the locking tube substantially prevents any relative pivotal displacement between the top and bottom sections of the side frame members. In addition, the locking tubes may rest on a transition step in the outer dimension of the bottom section of the side members so that gravity holds the locking tubes in the desired position to substantially prevents any relative pivotal displacement between the top and bottom sections of the side frame members.
The present garment rack may be folded by moving the locking members to expose the elbow joints so that the elbow joints are free to be displaced inwardly so that the top and bottom sections of the side frame members also rotate inwardly from the top and bottom frame members respectively. The top and bottom side frame members will fold in half thereby bringing the top frame member in close proximity to the bottom frame member.
When the present foldable garment rack is configured in the folded position, the first side frame member and the second side frame member may be laterally adjacent or “side-by-side” due in part to the location of the connection tabs. In the folded position, the rigid top frame member may be substantially above the rigid bottom frame member.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views.
The following detailed description of the present invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and, therefore, the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
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An embodiment of the present garment rack 10 is shown in
Bottom member 32 comprises a vertical member 44 having a first end 46 and a second end 48. First end 46 may have a reduced perimeter portion 50 and a transition step 52 transitioning from the reduced perimeter to a larger perimeter of the outer extents of vertical member 44. Transition step 52 may alternatively be a stop member coupled to the outer extents of bottom member 32 proximate first end 46. Bottom member 32 may also include a wheel receiver tube 54 proximate second end 48. Wheel receiver tube 54 may be substantially orthogonal to both vertical member 44 of side member 18 and bottom frame member 22 of frame 12. Wheel receiver tube 54 may include a bottom side 56. A first bottom connection tab 58 and a second bottom connection tab 60 may be coupled to bottom side 56. First bottom connection tab 58 and second bottom connection tab 60 may be orientated, or may “lie,” parallel to bottom frame member 22. First bottom connection tab 58 and second bottom connection tab 60 may be spaced apart a clear distance which is identical to or slightly greater than an outer dimension of bottom frame member 22.
First side frame member 18 also includes a locking tube 62 that slides along at least a portion of the length of first side frame member 18. Accordingly, locking tube 62 has an inner clear dimension that is greater than the extents of at least a portion of first side frame member 18. In one embodiment, locking tube 62 has an inner clear dimension that is greater than a portion of top member 34 proximate second end 40 and a portion of bottom member 32 proximate first end 46. In one embodiment locking tube 62 has a length that allows it to simultaneously cover elbow joint 36a, a portion of bottom member 32 proximate first end 46, and a portion of top member 34 proximate second end 40, which allows locking tube 62 to prevent the relative angular displacement or “folding” of the top member 34 and the bottom member 36 of the first side frame member 18 at elbow joint 36a.
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Bottom member 86 comprises a vertical member 98 having a first end 100 and a second end 102. First end 100 may have a reduced perimeter portion 104 and a transition step 106 in the outer extents of vertical member 98 wherein the outer dimension increases. Transition step 106 may alternatively be a stop member coupled to the outer extents of bottom member 86 proximate first end 100. Bottom member 86 may also include a wheel receiver tube 108 proximate second end 102. Wheel receiver tube 108 may be substantially orthogonal to both vertical member 98 of second side frame member 20 and bottom frame member 22 of frame 16. Wheel receiver tube 108 has a bottom side 110 and a first bottom connection tab 112. A second bottom connection tab 114 may be coupled to bottom side 110. First bottom connection tab 112 and second bottom connection tab 114 may be oriented or “lie” parallel to bottom frame member 22. First bottom connection tab 112 and second bottom connection tab 114 may be spaced apart a clear distance which is identical to or slightly greater than an outer dimension of bottom frame member 22.
Second side frame member 20 also includes a locking tube 116 that slides along at lest a portion of the length of side member 20. Accordingly, locking tube 116 has an inner clear dimension that is greater than the extents of at least a portion of second side frame member 20. In one embodiment, locking tube 116 has an inner clear dimension that is greater than a portion of top member 88 proximate second end 94 and a portion of bottom member 86 proximate first end 100. In one embodiment locking tube 116 has a length that allows it to simultaneously cover the entire elbow joint 36b, a portion of bottom member 86 and a portion of top member 88, which allows locking tube to prevent the relative angular displacement or “folding” of the top member 34 and the bottom member 36 of the second side frame member 20 at elbow joint 36b.
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Top frame member 16 is also the garment rod and may be in a substantially horizontal orientation. Top frame-member 16 may be rigid and one piece. Now turning to
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Side members 18 and 20 may have a length that is about twice the length of bottom frame member 20. Side members 18 and 20 may also have a length that is less than or greater than about twice the length of bottom frame member 20. Bottom members 32 and 86 of side members 18 and 20 may be about equal in length to their respective top members 34 and 88.
Garment rack 10 can fold to be transported or stored out of sight and in a location such as under a bed, or in a closet. The folded configuration occupies very little space.
As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular details of the examples illustrated herein. It is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications using other similar or related features or techniques will occur to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly intended that all such modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are deemed to be covered by the present invention.
Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosures, and the appended claims.
Claims
1. A foldable garment rack comprising:
- a collapsible frame comprising a rigid top frame member pivotally coupled to both a first side frame member and a second side frame member, and a rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to both said first side frame member and said second side frame member, wherein said first side frame member and said second side frame member have substantially the same length;
- said first side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a first elbow joint;
- said second side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a second elbow joint;
- a first locking tube slidingly disposed on said first side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint; and
- a second locking tube slidingly disposed on said second side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint.
2. The foldable garment rack of claim 1 wherein said top section and said bottom sections of said first side section having a length that is substantially equal; and wherein said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member having a length that is substantially equal.
3. The foldable garment rack of claim 1 wherein said first side frame member is pivotally coupled to said top frame member by a first connection tab, said first connection tab being coupled to a back side of said top frame member proximate a first end of said top frame member, and said second side frame member is pivotally coupled to said top frame member by a second connection tab, said second connection tab being coupled to a front side of said top frame member proximate a second end of said top frame member.
4. The foldable garment rack of claim 1, said foldable garment rack having an erected position and a folded position.
5. The foldable garment rack of claim 4 wherein in said erected position, said first locking tube covering said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint and said second locking tube covering said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint.
6. The foldable garment rack of claim 5 wherein in said erected position, said first locking tube rests on a first transition step in the outer dimension of said bottom section of said first side frame member and said second locking tube rests on a second transition step in the outer dimension of said bottom section of said second side frame member.
7. The foldable garment rack of claim 4, wherein in said folded position said first side frame member and said second side frame member are laterally adjacent.
8. The foldable garment rack of claim 7, wherein the rigid top frame member being disposed substantially above the rigid bottom frame member.
9. The foldable garment rack of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies.
10. A foldable garment rack comprising:
- a collapsible frame comprising: a first side frame member having of a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a first elbow joint, said bottom section including a first wheel receiver tube disposed substantially perpendicular to said first side frame member; a second side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a second elbow joint, said bottom section including a second wheel receiver tube disposed substantially perpendicular to said first side frame member; a rigid top frame member having a first connection tab coupled to a back side of said top frame member proximate a first end of said top frame member and a second connection tab coupled to a front side of said top frame member proximate a second end of said top frame member, and wherein said first side frame member is pivotally coupled to said first connection tab and said second side frame member is pivotally coupled to said second connection tab; a rigid bottom frame member having a front side and a back side, said rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to said first wheel receiver tube, said first side frame member being disposed over said back side of said rigid bottom frame, and said rigid bottom frame member being pivotally coupled to said second wheel receiver tube, said second side frame member being disposed over said front side of said rigid bottom frame;
- a first locking tube slidingly disposed on said first side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint; and
- a second locking tube slidingly disposed on said second side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint.
11. The foldable garment rack of claim 10 wherein said collapsible frame having an erected position and a folded position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015
Inventors: Lu Zhi Qiang (ShenZhen), Sandy Felsenthal (Memphis, TN)
Application Number: 14/322,664
International Classification: A47G 25/06 (20060101); D06F 57/08 (20060101); A47F 7/24 (20060101); A47F 5/10 (20060101);