Hanging shoe rack
A hanging shoe rack for supporting shoes in an angular manner. A pair of side frame members having an elongate body section. A plurality of support arms project outwardly and downwardly from each main body section. Pairs of retaining bars are positioned between said frame members and are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support thereon shoes in an angular manner, with the shoes directed downwardly toward a vertical surface upon which the shoe rack is placed. The support arms, upon opposite side frames, traverse side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes. Unique socket structure, into which the retaining bars are positioned, permit easy assembly of the shoe rack. Additionally, each side frame member includes unique attachment structure, upon upper and lower ends thereof, so that multiple shoe racks of the present invention may be vertically suspended one from another. A unique hanger is provided for hanging the rack over the top of an upright surface, such as a door.
Latest Lynk, Inc. Patents:
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to a hanging shoe rack. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a hanging shoe rack which supports the shoes in an inclined manner, such that each shoe is sloped downwardly toward the vertical surface upon which the shoe rack is attached. Additionally, the hanging shoe rack of the present invention contains attachment structure allowing multiple such racks to be suspended from one another.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous types of shoe racks have been developed for storing shoes in a convenient manner. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,682,955 (Moore) illustrates a reversible shoe rack having a shoe support pivotally mounted to a side frame. The shoe support includes front and rear support bars which retain the shoe in an inclined manner, such that the toe of the shoe is angled downwardly and abuts against the wall supporting the shoe rack. U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,681 (Bergeron) discloses a foot apparel storage assembly which includes shelves supported at a base upon a back plate. The shelves are inclined downwardly toward a supporting wall such that shoes positioned on the shelf are inclined downwardly toward the wall. U.S. Pat. No. 1,769,344 (Hoffmire) discloses a portable shoe rack wherein paddles extend outwardly from a back brace in a manner to support shoes in an inclined manner such that the toe of a shoe is angled downwardly and abuts against the back brace. U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,884 (Hoffman) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,090,108 (Cicero) illustrate shoe racks for hanging on a vertical surface, such as a wall or the back of a door.
One known prior art shoe rack has a pair of elongate, spaced-apart base members for abutting with a door or wall upon which the shoe rack hangs. Each base member has a plurality of outwardly extending side bars, wherein corresponding side bars of the base members have a pair of spaced-apart rod members extending therebetween for supporting shoes. The side bar members are inclined upwardly as they extend from the base members. Thus, shoes positioned on the rod members incline downwardly towards the supporting surface of the rack. Additionally, this known prior art shoe rack is modular in nature, thereby permitting additional such racks to be attached to it in a suspended manner.
A primary problem with conventional shoe racks, including the known modular shoe rack previously described, is their inability to prevent shoes from sliding sideways off the rack without an additional side support member for blocking the shoes. Thus, those prior art shoe racks which do not provide such a side support member have difficulty in retaining shoes on the rack, particularly where the rack is positioned on a closet door. It will be appreciated that, as the door is swung open and closed, the shoes on the rack are forced toward the side of the rack and, in the absence of a side supporting member, may fall from the rack. Alternatively, those racks which provide a side support member are more structurally complex and costly to manufacture due to the addition of the side support members.
Additionally, a known problem with the heretofore described prior art modular shoe rack is the inability to retain suspended members in a rigid position relative to the shoe racks with which it is connected, particularly when the racks are positioned on a swinging door, as described above. In this regard, the known prior art modular hanging shoe rack previously described utilizes a pair of posts extending rearwardly from an upper portion of the base members. A lower portion of the base members have a pair of apertures such that the posts at the upper portion of a first shoe rack are inserted into the apertures at a lower portion of a second shoe rack. However, when such a modular shoe rack is placed on a door, these lower shoe rack portions have a tendency to swing from side-to-side as the doors open and close. This increases the likelihood of shoes falling from the racks, particularly where no side support structure is provided. Additionally, the suspended racks bow outwardly from the door, causing them to flop when the door is opened and closed and creating a space through which shoes slip.
Accordingly, the need exists for an inexpensive hanging shoe rack having side supporting members and a minimum number of parts. The need also exists for a modular hanging shoe rack which allows multiple racks to be suspended from one another and which engage one another in a manner to resist lateral displacement therebetween. The present invention fills these and other needs, and overcomes the drawbacks associated with prior art shoe racks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to support shoes in an inclined manner sloped downwardly toward a surface upon which the shoe rack is supported.
It is a further object of the present invention to prevent the shoes from sliding laterally off of a shoe rack made in accordance with the principles of the invention.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive hanging shoe rack, for supporting shoes in an inclined manner sloped downwardly toward the door, with side support members for abutting against the shoes to prevent the shoes from sliding off the rack, all with a minimal number of parts.
It is a further object of the present invention to suspend multiple shoe racks from one another in a manner to prevent lateral displacement therebetween.
These and other objects are achieved by a shoe rack having side frame members which securely retain a plurality of shoe-retaining bars therebetween. The side frame members include a main body section and a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly therefrom. The support arms are angled downwardly from their respective main body section.
The side frame members are secured to, or hang from, a vertical surface, such as a wall or a door, such that a corresponding pair of support arms upon opposed side frame members securely retain opposite ends of a first retaining bar, positioning proximate an outer end of each support arm. This first, outer retaining bar is adapted to receive a first portion of the sole of a shoe. The main body portions of the side frames receive opposite ends of the second retaining bar adapted to support a second portion of the shoe. The pairs of shoe-retaining bars are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support the shoes in an inclined manner with the shoes directed downwardly toward the door or wall. Additionally, and in accordance with a key aspect of the present invention, the support arms upon opposite side frames traverse the side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes, thereby preventing the shoes from falling off the rack as the doors open and close.
The present shoe rack also includes unique attachment structure upon the upper and lower ends of the side frames for suspending shoe racks from one another. Particularly, an upper portion of each side frame member of the shoe rack includes upper attachment structure, while a lower portion of each side frame member includes lower attachment structure. The upper attachment structure of a first shoe rack of the present invention is adapted to mate with the lower attachment structure of a second shoe rack of the present invention, to thereby suspend the two shoe racks together. The upper attachment structure includes a pair of spaced-apart slots, while the lower attachment structure includes a pair of spaced-apart male members. The male members are adapted to be slidingly introduced, in a sidewise fashion, into position within the female channels, to thereby interconnect two shoe racks of the present invention together.
The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
With reference initially to
With additional reference to
Each bar of a first plurality of shoe-retaining bars, each bar designated by the reference numeral 20, is fixedly retained between side frame members 12, 14. Particularly, a corresponding pair of support arms 18 upon opposed side frame members 12, 14 have sockets which securely retain opposite outer ends of a retaining bar 20 proximate an outer end 23 of the respective support arms 18. Retaining bars 20 support a first portion of the sole of a shoe, such as shoes 34, 36. The elongate body portions 16 of side frame members 12, 14 also have sockets, each socket preferably located at a position proximate an upper end of a support bar 18, which sockets receive opposite ends of each of a plurality of second retaining bars 21, each of which bars 21 is adapted to support a second sole portion of a shoe. As shown, pairs of shoe-retaining bars 20, 21 are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support the shoes 34, 36 in an inclined manner with the shoes directed toward the vertical surface 30 upon which shoe rack 10 is supported.
Each side frame member 12, 14 is preferably fabricated as one integral piece of plastic and has openings 32 therethrough. Specifically, each side frame member 12, 14 is preferably formed of thermal plastic molding compound. Retaining bars 20, 21 are preferably formed of lightweight, sturdy material, such as aluminum or steel. It will be appreciated that side frame members 12, 14 and retaining bars 20 can be constructed of any suitable material, such as plastic or wood, or any combination thereof.
Shoe rack 10 is adapted to be supported on a vertical surface, such as a wall or door. For hanging shoe rack 10 over a door, such as door 30 illustrated in
In addition to hanger 25, or alternatively, fasteners, such as fastener 60 shown in
In
In accordance with a key principle of the present invention,
With additional reference now to
As shown in
As also shown in
As illustrated in
With reference now to
Specifically, during assembly, a first side frame member, such as side frame member 12, may be laid on a flat surface, and the various retaining bars 20, 21 loosely positioned within the second, outer portion 72 of corresponding receiving sockets 70. Side frame member 14 may then be positioned downwardly onto the retaining bars, wherein the retaining bars are similarly loosely positioned within the outermost large diameter portion 72 of the receiving sockets. It will be appreciated that, with the retaining bars 20, 21 only loosely positioned within the sockets within the larger diameter areas 72, the bars are less rigid than when snugly secured within the innermost, smaller diameter area 71 of the receiving sockets 70. As such, the bars 20, 21 may be manipulated to align with the receiving sockets on the opposing side frame member 14, so that the bars may be placed within the larger diameter area of corresponding receiving sockets in the side frame member 14. Once all the bars are properly aligned, and loosely positioned within the outer, larger diameter area 72 of corresponding receiving sockets 70, the side frame members 12, 14 may be depressed together, thus forcing the bars 20, 21 into the innermost, smaller diameter areas of the receiving sockets 70, thereby figidly attaching the retaining bars to the side frame members 12, 14. The receiving socket structure of the present invention, having the first and second peripheral dimensions of different sizes, facilitates insertion and alignment of retaining bars 20, 21 and the overall easy assembly of shoe rack 10.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
Sine many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A shoe rack, for hanging on an upright surface, said shoe rack comprising:
- first and second opposed side frame members, each said side frame member having a main body section and a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly, and angled downwardly, from said main body section;
- a plurality of shoe-retaining bars, extending between said side frame members, for retaining shoes, wherein said shoe-retaining bars are oriented in pairs, each said pair of shoe-retaining bars aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support shoes in an angular manner, with the shoes directed downwardly toward the upright surface, and wherein said support arms upon opposite said side frames traverse the side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes.
2. The shoe rack, according to claim 1, wherein each said pair of shoe-retaining bars includes a first retaining bar, positioned proximate an outer end of a corresponding pair of said support arms on said opposed side frame members, and a second retaining bar, extending between said main body portions of said side frame members, wherein said second retaining bar is oriented vertically lower than said first retaining bar.
3. The shoe rack, according to claim 2, wherein each said side frame member includes an upper and lower leg extending outwardly for engagement with said upright surface, thereby positioning said main body sections in a location that is spatially removed from said upright surface.
4. The shoe rack, according to claim 3, wherein each of said upper and lower legs terminate in a downwardly extending upper and lower foot member, respectively.
5. The shoe rack, according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of hangers, each of said hangers for engaging with respective ones of said upper leg members and said upper foot members, and also for engaging over a top of said upright surface.
6. A shoe rack, according to claim 1, wherein each of said upper and lower leg members further comprise attachment structure for attaching a shoe rack thereto.
7. A device for placing articles thereon, said device comprising:
- at least one rod member having first and second outer ends;
- first and second frame members, each said frame member having a socket with a closed end and an open end therein to receive the outer ends, each said socket having an inner portion having a first peripheral dimension adjacent the closed end, and an outer portion having a second peripheral dimension adjacent the open end, wherein said second peripheral dimension is greater than said first peripheral dimension, wherein said first and second outer ends of said rod member are received within respective said sockets, and wherein said outer ends of said rod member are loosely received with said outer portion, and snugly received within said inner portion of said socket.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein each said frame member has a plurality of said sockets having said first and second portions, the first peripheral dimension is constant, the second peripheral dimension is constant and further comprising a plurality of rod members adapted to be received within corresponding sockets of said frame members.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein corresponding sockets of pairs of said sockets of said frame members are in alignment when said frame members are positioned in opposed relationship to each other.
10. A shoe rack comprising:
- first and second frame members, each said frame member having an elongate body section, with an upper and a lower end, an upper leg member extending outwardly from said upper end of said body section, and a lower leg member extending outwardly from said lower end of said body section;
- at least one pair of retaining bars, extending between said first and second frame members, for retaining shoes thereon; and
- attachment structure for attaching the shoe rack to an identical second shoe rack, said attachment structure comprising upper attachment structure located on each said upper leg and lower attachment structure located on each said lower leg, wherein one of said upper attachment structure and said lower attachment structure comprises a channel and the other of said upper attachment structure and said lower attachment structure comprises an extending male member, wherein said channel of said shoe rack is adapted to mate with a male member of the other shoe rack, to thereby interconnect the two shoe racks, wherein said upper attachment structure comprises a slot opening into said channel, and said lower attachment structure comprises said extending male member, said extending male member including an enlarged outer head, wherein said enlarged outer head of extending male member of said shoe rack is adapted to be received within a channel of said second shoe rack, and wherein said channel and said male member slidingly engage in sidewise fashion, and further, wherein said male member has at least one rib protecting outwardly from a head thereof.
11. The shoe rack, according to claim 10, wherein said head has outer edges and said rib does not extend to said outer edges.
12. A shoe rack, for hanging on a vertical surface, said shoe rack comprising:
- first and second side frame members, each said side frame member being identically formed of plastic, and comprising an elongate body section, having a front face and a rear face;
- a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly, and angled downwardly at approximately a 45° angle with respect to horizontal, from said front face of said elongate body section of each of said first and second side frame members;
- an upper leg extending outwardly from said rear face of each said elongate body section proximate an upper end thereof;
- a lower leg extending from each said elongate body section proximate a lower end thereof, each of said upper and lower legs terminating in a downwardly extending foot portion for engaging with said vertical surface;
- a first plurality of sockets, positioned on each said frame member, wherein each socket of said first plurality is located proximate an outer end of a corresponding said support arm;
- a second plurality of sockets, positioned on each said frame member, wherein each socket of said second plurality is located along said elongate body section of said frame member;
- wherein each said socket of said first and second plurality of sockets has a first inner portion of a first peripheral dimension and a second outer portion of a second peripheral dimension, wherein said second peripheral dimension is greater than said first peripheral dimension;
- a first plurality of shoe-retaining rods, each said rod of said plurality extending between said frame members and snugly positioned within said first, inner areas of corresponding sockets of said first plurality of sockets;
- a second plurality of shoe-retaining rods, each said rod of said second plurality positioned between said first and second frame members and snugly positioned within said inner portion of corresponding sockets of said second plurality of sockets;
- wherein each said retaining rod of said first plurality and said second plurality of retaining rods form one of a pair of a plurality of retaining rod pairs, each said retaining rod pair comprising one retaining rod from said first plurality of retaining rods and one retaining rod from said second plurality of retaining rods, wherein said retaining rod of each said pair taken from said first plurality of retaining rods is oriented vertically higher than its corresponding paired retaining rod of said second plurality of rods, wherein said pairs of retaining rods are adapted to support thereon shoes having side sections, and wherein said shoe-retaining rods of said pairs are aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support the shoes in an angular manner with the shoes directed toward said vertical surface;
- wherein said support arms upon said side frame members traverse said side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes, thereby preventing the shoes from laterally falling off the shoe rack; and
- upper and lower attachment structure, positioned on said upper and lower legs, respectively, for permitting multiple said shoe racks to be suspended together in vertical orientation, wherein said upper attachment structure comprises at least one female channel, and said lower attachment structure comprises at least one downwardly projecting male member, said female channel of a first said shoe rack adapted to mate with said male member of a second said shoe rack to thereby vertically suspend the said shoe racks together.
13. A shoe rack, for hanging on an upright surface, said shoe rack comprising:
- first and second opposed side frame members, each said side frame member having a main body section and a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly from a front face of said main body section, wherein each said side frame member includes an upper and lower leg extending outwardly from a rear face of said body section for engagement with said upright surface, thereby positioning said main body sections in a location that is spatially removed from said upright surface;
- a plurality of shoe-retaining bars, extending between said side frame members, for retaining shoes, wherein said shoe-retaining bars are oriented in pairs, each said pair of shoe-retaining bars aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical, to thereby support shoes in an angular manner, with the shoes directed downwardly toward the upright surface, and wherein said main body sections of said side frame members traverse the side sections of the shoes to form a barrier against lateral movement of the shoes.
1674359 | June 1928 | Frey |
1769344 | July 1930 | Hoffmire |
2090108 | August 1937 | Cicero |
2238884 | April 1941 | Hoffman |
2299021 | December 1942 | Hoffman |
D139415 | November 1944 | Brown |
2469542 | May 1949 | Becker |
2620929 | December 1952 | Sportsman |
2682955 | July 1954 | Moore |
3171542 | March 1965 | Jacobs et al. |
3391793 | July 1968 | Streuli |
3918670 | November 1975 | Doherty |
3999734 | December 28, 1976 | Gibson et al. |
4199070 | April 22, 1980 | Magnussen, Jr. |
4209098 | June 24, 1980 | Adams |
4245746 | January 20, 1981 | Aylor |
4457436 | July 3, 1984 | Kelley |
4607753 | August 26, 1986 | Radek |
4657148 | April 14, 1987 | Heng |
4678151 | July 7, 1987 | Radek |
4688681 | August 25, 1987 | Bergeron |
4688687 | August 25, 1987 | Pryor |
4711419 | December 8, 1987 | Polosky |
4805783 | February 21, 1989 | Mayer |
4825601 | May 2, 1989 | Halverson |
4899971 | February 13, 1990 | Elkin |
4942498 | July 17, 1990 | Toussaint |
5035332 | July 30, 1991 | Stravitz |
5048698 | September 17, 1991 | Konrad |
5054629 | October 8, 1991 | Breen |
5078270 | January 7, 1992 | Campbell |
5082125 | January 21, 1992 | Ninni |
5097968 | March 24, 1992 | Gregory |
5101986 | April 7, 1992 | Holztrager |
5101989 | April 7, 1992 | Jones |
5152407 | October 6, 1992 | Massoudnia et al. |
5172816 | December 22, 1992 | Kline et al. |
D381225 | July 22, 1997 | Malik |
D398787 | September 29, 1998 | Malik |
D403880 | January 12, 1999 | Malik |
- Kann's Notions & Toiletries Catalog, Sep. 17, 1951.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 9, 1999
Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
Assignee: Lynk, Inc. (Lenexa, KS)
Inventors: Richard B. Klein (Overland Park, KS), Chris Serslev (Leawood, KS)
Primary Examiner: Jennifer E. Novosad
Attorney: Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
Application Number: 09/457,658
International Classification: A47F 5/00 (20060101);