The present invention relates to a hanging clothes rack and, more particularly, to a tripod base collapsible clothes rack.
Clothes racks are well known and used extensively for drying or hanging laundry and other type of items. One main issue is when the user has a lot of clothes that need to be hung on hangers the ability to lay a lot of clothes out for drying, ironing, or hanging purposes is difficult. It is desirable to provide such a rack that is capable of collapsing for storage purposes but which can expand to provide for a plurality of hanging options to the user.
The present invention is directed to a clothes rack used for hanging clothes. The clothes rack includes a tripod leg base and two different tripod arm sections to provide a plurality of hanging options to the user.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the several views of the drawings, the present invention is a clothes rack 100, which includes three subassembly sections that are configured to be separated from each other into a lower subassembly 200, a center subassembly 300, and an upper subassembly 400.
The lower subassembly 200 includes a lower vertical shaft 205, which has an bottom end 206 that is connected to a base cap 208. The lower subassembly 200 further includes a tripod base 210 formed by three legs 215 pivotally connected on the upper edges to a hub 220, which is slidably received by the lower vertical shaft 205. Three rods 225 are separately and pivotally secured at one end to the base cap 208 and pivotally secured at the other end to a mid-point 230 on each of the three legs 215. The lower subassembly 200 may further include an aperture 235 on the lower vertical shaft 205 defined to receive a latch 240 defined on the hub 220 to secure the tripod base 210 in an expanded position. Retracting the latch 240 releases the hub 220, such that the hub 220 can slide along the lower vertical shaft to collapse the tripod 210. The tripod base 210 on the lower subassembly 200 is therefore respectively expanded for use or collapsed for storage.
The center subassembly 300 includes a center vertical shaft 305, which has a lower end 307 and an upper end 309. The lower end 307 of the center vertical shaft 305 secures to an upper end 209 of the lower vertical shaft 205 via a center coupling 500 (further defined below).
The center subassembly 300 includes a plurality of center arms 315 that are pivotally secured at one end to an upper center hub 320. The upper center hub 320 is secured in position to the center vertical shaft 305. Each center arm 315 further has a center rod 325 that is pivotally secured at one end to a position 327 along the center arm 325 and the center rod 325 has another end 329 pivotally secured to a lower center hub 322 that is slidably received by the center vertical shaft 305 and which is vertically movable in relation to the upper center hub 320. The upper center hub 320 further includes an tab 330 configured to receive a latch 340 defined on the lower center hub 322. When the center arms 315 are expanded outwardly the lower center hub 322 slides towards the upper center hub 320 and when fully expanded, the latch 340 locks onto the tab 330 locking the center arms 315 in position. Retracting the latch 340 releases the tab 330, such that the lower center hub 322 can slide along the center vertical shaft 305 to collapse the center arms inwardly. When the center arms 315 are fully expanded the center rods 325 provide support especially when clothes are placed on the expanded center arms 315. The center arms 315 are collapsible for storage purposes.
Each of the center arms 315 further include a plurality of apertures 350 spaced along the length of the arms and configured to receive the ends of hanger rods. In addition, each center arm 315 may include an upper edge 355 that includes spaced curved indents 360 configured to hold hangers. Further defined, each center arm 315 may further include an end hook 365 also configured to hold a hanger or article of clothing. In addition, the lower center hub 322 may further include channels 370 lined along the edge to accommodate the center rods 325 when in center arms are in the collapsed position.
The upper subassembly 400 includes an upper vertical shaft 405, which has a lower end 407 and an upper end 409. The lower end 407 of the upper vertical shaft 405 secures to the upper end 309 of the center vertical shaft 305 via an upper coupling 550 (further defined below). The upper end 409 of the upper vertical shaft 405 is secured to an upper end hub 410.
The upper subassembly 400 includes a plurality of upper arms 415 that are pivotally secured at one end to an upper end hub 410. The upper end hub 410 is secured in position to the upper vertical shaft 405. Each upper arm 415 further has an upper rod 425 that is pivotally secured at one end to a position 427 along the upper arm 415 and the upper rod 425 has another end 429 pivotally secured to a lower upper hub 422 that is slidably received by the upper vertical shaft 405 and which is vertically movable in relation to the upper end hub 410. The upper end hub 410 further includes an tab 430 configured to receive a latch 440 defined on the lower upper hub 422. When the upper arms 415 are expanded outwardly the lower upper hub 422 slides towards the upper end hub 410 and when fully expanded, the latch 440 locks onto the tab 430 locking the upper arms 415 in position. Retracting the latch 440 releases the tab 430, such that the lower upper hub 422 can slide along the upper vertical shaft 405 to collapse the upper arms inwardly. When the center arms 415 are fully expanded the center rods 425 provide support especially when clothes are placed on the expanded upper arms 415. The upper arms 415 are collapsible for storage purposes.
Each of the upper arms 415 further include a plurality of apertures 450 spaced along the length of the arms and configured to receive the ends of hanger rods. In addition, each upper arm 415 may include an upper edge 455 that includes spaced curved indents 460 configured to hold hangers. Further defined, each upper arm 415 includes an end hook 465 also configured to hold a hanger or article of clothing. In addition, the lower upper hub 422 may further include channels 470 lined along the edge to accommodate the upper rods 425 and a portion of the upper arms 415 when in the collapsed position.
As further defined by
As further defined by
While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the Instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 29589087 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 15435411 | US |