FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of laundry stands. More specifically the invention relates to laundry stands that are collapsible for storage when not in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Collapsible laundry stands have mainstream items and have been the subject of other prior patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,415 shows a plurality of cross bars attached to folding frames on either side of the cross bars. The cross bars are maintained within the folding frames by stamped metals sleeves having a slit therein. The sleeves also comprise an inwardly pressed knob that cooperates with a groove in the cross bar to maintain the cross bar 9 within the sleeve. The sleeve further comprises flanged ends which maintain the sleeve 12 within bores of the folding frames. The sleeve is inserted into each bore by compressing the sleeve to the point where one of the flanged ends can pass through the folding frames. However, at least one of the flanged ends must be formed after the sleeve has been inserted into the frames.
U.S. Reissued Pat. No. Re. 16,324 discloses a drying rack in which slats are attached to one another by sleeves. Each sleeve comprises a spring and is maintained within aligned bores of the slats by flanges. The spring prevents removal of a rod that has been inserted within the sleeve by cooperating with a groove of the rod. The sleeves are inserted into the bores of the slats by inserting the sleeve having only one flanged formed thereon and forming the second flange after the sleeve has been inserted through the bore. As with the '415 patent, at least one of the flanged ends must be formed after the sleeve has been inserted into the slats.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,292 discloses three basic arrangements for attaching cross rods to end frames of a laundry stand. An arrangement is shown utilizing a connector and fastener to attach elongated members (forming an end frame) wherein the connector comprises an end a locking protrusion that cooperates with a recess of the cross rods. A similar arrangement is also shown wherein the cross rod comprises the protuberance and the connector comprises a bore with a recess.
Even with the prior part patents and prior designs, improvements are warranted and required to provide for different designs and elements not shown, used, described, or implied in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a laundry stand that includes, a plurality of pairs of elongated rail member, connectors, cross-bars, and end caps.
The plurality of pairs of elongated rail members have top and bottom sides and aligned bores that transverse to the top and bottom sides. The bores receive the connectors to pivotally connect the pair of elongated rail members to form a plurality of scissor linkages. At least one end of each of the elongated rail members define corresponding bores through which the connectors are inserted to join two scissor linkages to form a first end frame, and at least two scissor linkages being joinable to form a second end frame.
Each of the connectors have a base portion with a hollow sleeve extending therefrom and sized to fit within the bores of the elongated members. The base portions has a pair of edge flanges extending outwardly from the base portion along sides of the hollow sleeve to engage the top and bottom sides of the elongated rail members when the connector is inserted into the bores of the elongated rail members. In addition, the connectors further include an key aperture diametrically opposing the hollow sleeve.
The plurality of cross-rods include end caps. The end caps having a head portion sized to fit within the key aperture of the connectors, such that the cross-rods are captured between connectors defined by the first and second end frames. One of the cross-rods having attached thereon a pair of connectors, from the plurality of connectors, that further includes a centered stem separating the base portion into top and bottom base sections.
The elongated members further define a pair of top rail members, each having one end secured by a connector to one of the elongated rail members. And having another end secured to an end hook. The end hook having a notch defined thereon for hooking the end hook onto the centered stem defined on the pair of connectors, wherein the one cross-rod connected to the pair of connectors with the centered stem being positioned opposite the end of the top rail member that is secured to the elongated rail member.
In addition, the laundry stand may include a plurality of outer caps having a shaft extending from a head portion. The plurality of outer caps being positioned such that the shafts extend through the aligned bores on the elongated rail members and fit within the hollow sleeve of the connectors. In addition, one aspect of the laundry stand is that the plurality of cross-rods all have the same length. Another aspect includes having the connectors inserted through bores defined on the top rail members defined to have a smaller width base portion than the base portion on connectors used with the elongated rail members.
Another aspect includes the first and second end frames having elongated rail members defined as foot rail members that include a slanted portion for resting on a surface when the laundry stand is in an opened extended configuration.
Numerous advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry stand according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in an opened configuration;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the laundry stand in FIG. 1, illustrated in a collapsible configuration;
FIG. 3 is a sectional exploded view of the laundry stand in FIG. 1, the opposing side of the exploded view showing the same components;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an end cap used to fit over ends of cross-bars and fit into connector heads;
FIG. 4B is a top view of the head of the end cap of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4C is a side view of the end cap of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a third connector used to connect the end cap of FIG. 4A to an end of the top rail members in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 5B is side view of the third connector of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5C is a end view of the third connector of FIG. 5A, illustrating the side of the third connector used to receive the head of the end cap;
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a second connector used to connect the end cap of FIG. 4A to inner rail members in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 6B is side view of the second connector of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6C is a end view of the first connector of FIG. 6A, illustrating the side of the second connector used to receive the head of the end cap;
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a first connector used to connect the end cap of FIG. 4A to a top rail member in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 7B is side view of the first connector of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 7C is a end view of the first connector of FIG. 7A, illustrating the side of the first connector used to receive the head of the end cap;
FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an end hook used to removably attach the top rail to a rod in the extending opened configuration;
FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a larger cap used to help secure the connectors to the rail members; and
FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a smaller cap used to secure the connectors to the rail members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the claims by the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a laundry stand 100 according to the present invention. The laundry stand 100 comprises first and second end frames 102, 104 and a plurality of cross-rods 106. The end frames 102, 104 each comprise a side rail members 108 that are attached to one another and to the cross-rods 106 by connectors (described below).
Side rail members 108 include three outer rails 110 and three inner rails 112. In addition, one of the outer rails 110 may define bottom rail feet 114 used to support the laundry stand 100 when in its extended opened configuration. The bottom rail feet 114 can include angled bottom surface sections 116 that position into a substantially flat surface with the laundry stand 100 is in its extended opened configuration such that the bottom rail feet 114 stand firm on the ground or floor.
As further provided for in the present embodiment, the uppermost outer and inner rail members include ends 110a and 112a, respectively, that attached to a pair of top rail member 120. While ends 112a (on the upper inner rail member) are directly secured to a first end 122 of the top rail member 120, the other end 110a (on the upper outer rail member) is removably hooked about the opposing end 124 of the top rail member 120. As shown and described below, the removably hooked aspect of connecting the top rail member 120 about the end of the upper outer rail member is accomplished by securing an end hook 126 on the opposing end 124 of the top rail member 120 (shown in FIG. 1). When detached from about the top rail members 120, the laundry stand 100 can easily fold into a collapsible configuration (shown in FIG. 2).
The laundry stand 100 preferably comprises eleven identically lengthened cross-rods 106. The cross-rods 106 include ends that fit into end caps 130 (FIGS. 4A through 4C). The end caps 130 comprising a hollow cylindrical portion 132 and a head portion 134 that includes a pair of extending flanges 136, such that the end caps 130 appear T-shaped. The hollow cylindrical portion 132 fits over the ends of the cross-rods 106, while the head portions 134 of the end caps 130 press fit into corresponding openings on connectors. The connection between the ends of the cross-rods 106 and the end caps 130 is a rotational fit, such that the cross-rods 106 can rotate while positioned within the end caps 130.
While some prior art laundry stands use cross-rods with different lengths, the present invention uses identical cross-rods, but to accommodate different lengths between end frames the present invention uses different configured connectors. Looking closely at FIG. 1, it is illustrated that the top rail members 120 are the closest spaced members to each other and those will use a smaller or first connector 140. However, the top rail member 120 includes end 124 that includes the end hook 126 that hooks over a larger or third connector 180 in order for the connector 160 to directly secure the ends of the cross-rod 106 to the end 110a of the outer rail member 110. Lastly, a middle or second connector 160 is used to secure the ends of the cross-rod 106 to a pair of rail members (shown as overlapping and aligned rail member openings).
The first connectors 140 (FIGS. 7A through 7C) include a hollow sleeve 142 extending from a base 144. The sleeve 142 extends through apertures or bores 128 in the rail members 108. The base 144 includes a first face 146 aligned with the sleeve 142, which extends therefrom. The first face 146 further includes a pair of opposing edge flanges 148, which when the sleeve 142 is extending through an aperture 128 in a rail member, the opposing edge flanges 148 frictionally engage opposing sides 108a and 108b of the rail members. The base 144 includes a second face 150 diametrically opposed to the first face 146 that is positioned to extend towards the head portion 134 of the end caps 130. The second face 150 includes an opening 152 shaped to accommodate the head portion and the pair of extending flanges 136, such that the end cap 130 is press fit into the second face 150. If necessary the end cap 130 may be secured to the first connectors 140 with an adhesive, glue, or epoxy.
The second connector 160 (FIGS. 6A through 6C) include similar structure shown in the first connector, having a hollow sleeve 162, a base 164, which includes a first face 166 and a second opposing face 170. The first face includes a pair of opposing edge flanges 168, while the second face 170 includes an opening 172 shaped to accommodate the head portion 134 and extending flanges 136 defined on the end caps 130. During connection, the opposing edge flanges 168 frictionally engage the opposing sides 108a and 108b of the rail members. The main difference between the first and second connector is the second connector includes a base width that is larger than a width of the base from the first connector. Therefore, the second connector 160 can be used to connect the end caps 130 (and thus the cross-rods 106) to the inner rails 112 (including the rail feet 114).
The third connector 180 (FIGS. 5A through 5C) include similar structure shown in the first and second connectors, but includes additional structure that extends the length of the third connector 180 to permit it to connect the end cap 130 to the end 110a of the top rail member 120 and to permit the end hook 126 to removably attach thereon. The third connector 180 includes a hollow sleeve 182 extending from a first face 186 extending from a upper base section 184. The upper base section 184 includes sides depending from the first face 186 and which terminate at a lower face 188. The first face 186 also includes a pair of opposing edge flanges 190 that engage opposing sides 120a and 120b. Extending away from the lower face 188 of the upper base section 184 is a centered segment 192, which extends to connect to a lower base section 194. The lower base section 194 has a width such that there is defined a second face 196 which opposes the first face 186 on the upper base section 184. The second face 196 includes an opening 198 shaped to accommodate the head portion 134 and extending flanges 136 defined on the end caps 130. The centered segment 192 spaces the upper base section 184 from the lower base section 194 such that the end hook 126 attaches to the centered segment 192 between the upper and lower base sections 184, 194.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 9, and 10 the laundry stand 100 further includes caps, a first cap 200 and a second cap 210. The caps 200/210 includes a stem 202/212 extending from a decorative head 204/214. The caps 200/210 are inserted through apertures 128 in the rail members and positioned such that the stems 202/212 are directed toward and fit into the hollow sleeves (142, 162, 182) of the connectors (140, 160, 180), wherein the decorative heads 204/214 are positioned on the outside edge of the rail members 108. When inserted through the apertures 128, the caps 200/210 help secure the connectors to the rail members. The difference between the first and second caps are the second caps 210 include a middle peg 216 positioned between the stem 212 and the decorative head 214. The middle peg 216 extends the length of the stem 212 such that the second caps can accommodate regions where two rails are overlapping with aligned apertures. Therefore, the smaller first caps 200 are used along the top rail member 120 where an aperture defined in the top rail member 120 is not overlapping another rail 108; and the larger second caps 210 are used anywhere two rails overlap.
Referring now also to FIG. 9, there is illustrated the end hook 126. The end hook 126 includes an base structure 220 with an aperture 222 sized to receive the end 124 of the top rail member 120. Depending from the base structure 220 is a centered extension member 224 that includes a notch 226 on one side of the extension member. The notch 226 is illustrated in a form of a c-shaped opening, however, the shape may change. The notch 226 is, nonetheless, sized to hook over the centered segment 192 that spaces the upper base section 184 from the lower base section 194 on the third connector 180. The extension member 224 further includes a handle head 228 that permits a user to grab when the user is hooking and unhooking the end hook 126 on/off the third connector 180.
Operating the laundry stand 100 simply requires the user to extend the laundry stand from a folded configuration (FIG. 2) to the opened extended configuration (FIG. 1) and hook the two end hooks 126 onto the pair of third connectors 180 which are attaching the cross-rod 106 to the two first and second end frames 102 and 104. To fold the laundry stand 100 the user can unhook the end hooks 126 by grabbing the handle heads 228 and moving the end hooks 126 such that the notches 226 defined thereon release the centered segments 192 on the third connectors 180.
By utilizing the above configuration, a collapsible drying rack can be economically provided to end users by providing it to them in a partially assembled configuration. In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained. From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
Patent Application
20100307995
