BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article support rack according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shelf-board of the article support rack shown in FIG. 1, also showing a decorative strip fixed to the shelf-board.
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of the decorative strip and a hook according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the decorative strip and the hook of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the decorative strip to be fixed to the shelf-board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Various preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views. As indicated above, the invention is directed to an article support rack with certain decorative style to suit user's house. The article support rack has shelf-boards, a plurality of bearing legs joined to the shelf-board at spaced locations to support the shelf-boards steadily, and decorative strips fixed physically and mechanically to rims of the shelf-boards by hooks. The decorative strips can be designed to have for example certain pattern, texture, or shape according to the style of user's house, so the article support rack with the decorative strips suits user's house.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, the article support rack of the exemplary embodiment has several shelf-boards 1, four bearing legs 2 and decorative strips 4. Each shelf-board 1 forms a fence 3 at the rim thereof which may strengthen the shelf-board 1 and assist in protecting the articles supported thereon from falling off. Understandably, the shelf-board 1 is preferably a metal-net sheet, but it could be any shape and structure so long as suitable for supporting articles and still be within the scope of the present invention. Also, the decorative strip 4 is typically made of wooden material. Besides, the number of the bearing legs 2 can be more or less than the above-given and still be within the scope of the present invention.
In the invention, the hooks and the corresponding decorative strip could be soundly secured together by multiple fittings of any suitable construction or operation. Alternatively, a plurality of connectors, for example screws or bolts or the like, may be provided to fix the hooks to the decorative strip.
Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, these two views clearly illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the hook 5 has a U-shaped clamp 7 with two branches 71, 72 that define a contractible open 73 and an extension piece 51 extending sideward from one of the branches 71, 72. A screw 6 passes through the extension piece 51 to secure the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4 reliably. The U-shaped clamp 7 of the hook 5 clamps the fence 3, thus the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3 are operable to be attached together. As the contractible open 73 of each hook 5 opens downwards and the fence 3 is composed of thin metal rods, it is much easier and more effective for the hook 5 to fasten the fence 3 firmly and tightly, thus achieving a sound attachment between the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3.
Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the hook 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention has a pair of C-shaped clamps 8 at an upper side and a lower side thereof respectively. The hook 5 defines two thread holes (see FIG. 5, not labeled) between the C-shaped clamps 8. Two screws 9 pass through the thread holes of the hook 5 to attach the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4. The C-shaped clamps 8 of the hook 5 clamp the fence 3, thus the decorated strip 4 and the fence 3 are operable to be attached together. More concretely, as each C-shaped clamp 8 opens forwards, and the fence 3 is composed of thin metal rods, it is much easier and more effective for the hook 5 to fasten the fence 3. The two C-shaped clamps 8 respectively clamp an upper edge and a lower edge of the fence 3, thus achieving a sound attachment between the decorative strip 4 and the fence 3.
FIGS. 7-9 in particular illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. A slot is recessed in an inner surface of decorative strip 4, while a tenon is projected from a back surface of the hook 5 for engaging with the slot to attach the hook 5 to the decorative strip 4. Preferably, the slot is a female dovetail 12, and the tenon is a male dovetail 10. Two opposite ends of the female dovetail 12 are widened for the purpose of facilitating the male dovetail 10 being inserted into the female dovetail 12 therefrom. When the male dovetail 10 approaches the widened end 11 of the female dovetail 12, the male dovetail 10 may subsequently slide along the female dovetail 12, thus fitted into the female dovetail 12. Also, preferably, the hook 5 further has a U-shaped clamp 7 with two branches that define a contractible open which is operable to clamp the fence 3. As the structure of the U-shaped clamp 7 and the fence 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the design of this preferred embodiment could also gain advantageous effects similar to the above structures. Understandably, a plurality of hooks 5 can be fitted into the slot for firmly securing the decorative strip 4 to the shelf-board 1.
While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070251426
