Patent Application
20240407547
The presently-disclosed subject matter generally relates to the field of storage and/or display devices. In particular, the presently-disclosed subject matter relates to a rack having shelves adapted for expansion to accommodate differing size articles.
It is known in the art, particularly in fields such as retail clothing sales or home closet organization, to display or store articles such as apparel, shoes, and the like using racks comprising vertically stacked shelves. This allows storage of greater numbers of articles while minimizing the device footprint in, for example, a closet or retail display space. Conventional racks including vertically stacked shelves typically include shelves having a fixed length, a fixed height, and a fixed depth. While mostly effective for their intended purpose, such conventional racks are limited in the size range of articles that can be placed thereon. If larger articles are to be stored or displayed, a rack of different dimensions must be provided.
The present disclosure solves this problem by providing a rack adapted for expanding at least a height and depth of the shelves thereof, thus increasing versatility by allowing display or storage of a range of differently sized articles on a same rack.
The presently-disclosed subject matter meets some or all of the above-identified needs, as will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of information provided in this document.
This Summary describes several embodiments of the presently-disclosed subject matter, and in many cases lists variations and permutations of these embodiments. This Summary is merely exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments. Mention of one or more representative features of a given embodiment is likewise exemplary. Such an embodiment can typically exist with or without the feature(s) mentioned; likewise, those features can be applied to other embodiments of the presently-disclosed subject matter, whether listed in this Summary or not. To avoid excessive repetition, this Summary does not list or suggest all possible combinations of such features.
In one aspect, the present disclosure describes an expandable rack assembly, comprising a body defined by at least two vertical members each carrying at least one expandable shelf support member and at least one shelf unit supported at opposed ends thereof by the at least one expandable shelf support member. The number of shelf units included in the expandable rack assembly may vary. In particular embodiments, the number of shelf units is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The at least one expandable shelf support member comprises a pair of shelf support arms carried by a central portion. At least one of the pair of shelf support arms is adapted for lateral displacement relative to the central portion. In embodiments, the shelf units may be defined by a plurality of bars carried in substantially parallel orientation to one another. In one particular embodiment the shelf units may be defined by three bars carried in substantially parallel orientation to one another.
In embodiments, a portion of each of the pair of shelf support arms is configured to be received telescopingly within a central portion arm. A support arm catch for selectively allowing or preventing lateral displacement of each of the pair of shelf support arms may be provided.
In other embodiments, the central portion may be adapted to be vertically displaced along a portion of a length dimension of a one of the at least two vertical members. In one particular embodiment, the central portion defines a through-bore for receiving a one of the at least two vertical members therethrough. The central portion may further include a shelf support member catch for selectively allowing or preventing the vertical displacement of the central portion.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are used, and the accompanying drawings of which:
The details of one or more embodiments of the presently-disclosed subject matter are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided in this document. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiments, is provided primarily for clarity of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals are repeated among the various figures to indicate corresponding, identical, or analogous features. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Still more, different features of different embodiments may be combined, and such combinations are expressly contemplated as part of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
In one embodiment, with reference to
The rack assembly 10 further includes a plurality of shelf elements 20a-n, in the depicted embodiment each comprising a plurality of bars 22 supported at each end thereof by a cooperating shelf support member 16a-n. In the depicted embodiment, five shelf elements 20a-e are provided each supported at opposed ends thereof by a pair of shelf support members. A bottom shelf element 24 comprised of bars 22 is supported at opposed ends thereof by bottom support members 18a, b. Of course, it will be appreciated that more or fewer shelf members and cooperating expandable and displaceable or fixed shelf support members may be provided as discussed above.
An embodiment of the expandable and displaceable shelf support members 16a-n is shown in greater detail in
The through-bore of substantially vertical member 28 is configured to receive a portion of vertical member 12 therethrough to allow vertical sliding translation of the shelf support member along a portion of a length dimension of vertical member 12. Substantially vertical member 28 further includes a slot or aperture 32 and an adjacent spring-loaded catch 34. Each vertical member 12 includes a plurality of cooperating recesses 36 adapted to receive a portion of spring-loaded catch 34 therein, to selectively allow or prevent sliding translation of substantially vertical member 28 along the portion of vertical member 12. As will be appreciated, this allows a distance or height between vertically adjacent shelf elements 20a-n to be adjusted as desired or necessary according to dimensions of an article (not shown) to be displayed or stored thereon. Substantially vertical member 28 further includes a receiver 38, in the depicted embodiment being a cylindrical tube receiver, dimensioned to receive an end of a bar 22 therein. Bar 22 may be retained within receiver 38 by any suitable means, including without intending any limitation friction or interference fit, a catch, an adhesive, a threaded connection, or any combination thereof.
Each shelf support member 16a-n further comprises a pair (only one visible in the depicted views) of laterally translatable end members 40. Each laterally translatable end member 40 includes a receiver 38 dimensioned to receive an end of a bar 22 therein as described above. A portion 42 of each laterally translatable end member 40 is dimensioned to be telescopically and slidingly received within an interior of a laterally-oriented hollow member 30a,b, and includes a spring-loaded catch nub 44 and a fixed catch nub 46, each dimensioned for a snug fit and sliding translation along guide slot 31. A terminal portion 48 of each laterally translatable end member 40 is dimensioned to be wider than a cross-sectional dimension of each laterally-oriented hollow member 30a,b. An end cap 50 may be provided.
With reference to
For outward lateral translation, the process is reversed. That is, spring-loaded catch nub 44 may be depressed to allow outward lateral translation. Alternatively, spring-loaded catch nub 44 may include a beveled surface which is automatically depressed by contact with an outward end of guide slot 31 by simply pulling on terminal portion 48. When fixed catch nub contacts an outward end of guide slot 31, outward translation ceases and spring-loaded catch nub 44 returns to its original orientation to contact an end of a laterally-oriented hollow member 30a,b, securing the laterally translatable end member 40 in place.
Thus, a convenient, effective rack 10 is provided for storing and/or displaying articles such as shoes. Advantageously, the disclosed mechanisms for expanding or contracting a depth/width dimension of the shelves of the disclosed rack 10 as well as a height or distance between vertically adjoining shelves provides a simple mechanism for accommodating articles having a range of differing sizes, without necessitating providing multiple differently dimensioned racks as is currently required.
Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently-disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are described herein.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. As used herein, “optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance does or does not occur and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Any publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. It will be understood that various details of the presently disclosed subject matter can be changed without departing from the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, in a possible embodiment (not shown) only one of the pair of laterally-oriented members 30a,b may be adapted for lateral displacement relative to central portion 26, with the other of the pair of laterally-oriented members being of a fixed length. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/472,412 filed on Jun. 12, 2023, the entirety of the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63472412 | Jun 2023 | US |
