US20080156759A1

US20080156759A1 - Adjustable rack device

Info

Publication number: US20080156759A1
Application number: US11/649,550
Authority: US
Inventors: Jung-Tai Lai
Original assignee: Yih Shyh Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yih Shyh Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-03
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2008-07-03

Abstract

An adjustable rack device includes four base leg members, a base frame engaged onto the base leg members for coupling the base leg members together, four tubular members engaged onto the base leg members and engaged onto the base frame for forming a two-layer structure, a shelf device includes a peripheral frame member and four corner barrels for engaging onto the tubular members, and a table plate may be engaged in the peripheral frame member of the first shelf device. One or more further shelf devices may further be attached onto the barrels for supporting the other table plates.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rack device, and more particularly to an adjustable rack device including a structure adjustable to different heights or selectively assembled to different heights according to the users' need and including a solid or stable structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical adjustable rack devices or shelf frames comprise four leg devices, and a number of rectangular plates or shelves detachably attached or supported on the leg devices, and one or more connecting members and transverse rods coupled between the leg devices for stably supporting the rectangular plates or shelves on the leg devices.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,873 to Tseng discloses one of the typical shelf frames comprising four leg devices clamped together by a number of clamping members and spaced apart from one another in parallel relationship, and a number of connecting members and transverse rods coupled between the leg devices for stably supporting the rectangular plates or shelves on the leg devices.
However, the leg devices include a longitudinal structure having a great length that may not be stored or folded to a compact folding structure and that is adverse for storing and transportation purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,342 to Taylor discloses another typical adjustable shelving comprising a number of rectangular shelves to be detachably attached or supported on the shelf posts with a number of shelf supports and tapered and tubular collars and snap latches.
However, similarly, the shelf posts include a longitudinal structure having a great length that may not be stored or folded to a compact folding structure and that is adverse for storing and transportation purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,547 to Goldberg discloses a further typical collapsible storage rack comprising a number of frame members or leg portions foldably coupled together with intersecting cros-braces, and number of shelf portions to be detachably attached or supported on the leg portions or the frame members.
However, similarly, the leg portions or the frame members also include a longitudinal structure having a great length that may not be stored or folded to a compact folding structure and that is adverse for storing and transportation purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,156 to Wang discloses a still further typical rack device comprising a number of reversible or invertible shelves to be detachably attached or supported on the supporting posts with a number of sleeves, and tapered and tubular collars.
However, similarly, the supporting posts also include a longitudinal structure having a great length that may not be stored or folded to a compact folding structure and that is adverse for storing and transportation purposes.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable rack devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable rack device including a structure adjustable to different heights or selectively assembled to different heights according to the users' need.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable rack device including a solid or stable structure for allowing the rack device to be solidly or stably supported on the erected working position and for preventing the rack device from failing down.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable rack device comprising four base leg members, a base frame engaged onto the base leg members for coupling the base leg members together, four tubular members engaged onto the base leg members respectively and engaged onto the base frame for forming a two-layer structure, a first shelf device including a peripheral frame member and four barrels provided at four corner areas of the peripheral frame member for engaging onto the tubular members, and a table plate engaged in the peripheral frame member of the first shelf device.
The first shelf device includes four pegs attached to the barrels for engaging with and for supporting the table plate. The first shelf device includes at least one cushioning ring attached to each of the pegs for engaging with the table plate.
The first shelf device includes a stop extended into each of the barrels for engaging with the tubular members and for allowing the tubular members to be partially engaged into the barrels. The first shelf device includes a head member attached to each of the base leg members and partially engaged into the barrels.
The base leg members each include a stud provided thereon and having an outer diameter greater than that of the base leg members for forming a peripheral shoulder in each of the base leg members and for engaging with the barrels. Four foot stands may further be provided and detachably attached to the studs of the base leg members. Four wheel devices may further be provided and selectively and detachably attached to the studs of the base leg members.
Four posts may further be provided and detachably attached to the base leg members respectively, and four spacers engaged onto the posts respectively and engaged with the barrels of the first shelf device, and a second shelf device engaged on the posts and the spacers.
The spacers are partially engaged into the barrels of the first shelf device. The second shelf device includes a peripheral frame member and four barrels provided at four corner areas of the peripheral frame member for engaging onto the spacers, and the spacers may thus be partially engaged into the barrels of the second shelf device.
The second shelf device includes four pegs attached to the barrels of the second shelf device for engaging with and for supporting a second table plate. The second shelf device includes at least one cushioning ring attached to each of the pegs for engaging with the second table plate.
The second shelf device includes a stop extended into each of the barrels for engaging with the spacers and for allowing the spacers to be partially engaged into the barrels of the second shelf device. The second shelf device includes a head member attached to each of the posts and partially engaged into the barrels of the second shelf device. The second shelf device includes at least one handle for handling the adjustable rack device.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable rack device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the adjustable rack device;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the adjustable rack device;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 are the other partial exploded views illustrating the assembling operation of the adjustable rack device;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the adjustable rack device; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the other arrangement of the adjustable rack device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-6, an adjustable rack device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises four base leg supports or members 10 each including an enlarged stud 11 formed or provided on the lower portion thereof and having an outer diameter greater than that of the base leg members 10 for forming a peripheral shoulder 12 in each of the base leg members 10, best shown in FIG. 4, the base leg members 10 each further include a screw hole or inner thread 13 formed or provided in the lower portion of the stud 11 and another screw hole or inner thread 14 formed or provided in the upper portion of the base leg member 10.
Four foot stands 15 each include an outer thread 16 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof (FIG. 4) for threading or engaging with the screw hole or inner thread 13 of the stud 11 and for detachably attaching or securing the foot stands 15 to the lower portions of the studs 11 or of the base leg members 10. The foot stands 15 may be threaded or rotated relative to the lower portions of the studs 11 or the base leg members 10 for adjusting the studs 11 or the base leg members 10 relative to the foot stands 15 and thus for adjusting the studs 11 or the base leg members 10 to different height relative to the foot stands 15, as shown in dotted lines in the left portion of FIG. 1.
As also shown in FIG. 1, the adjustable rack device 1 in accordance with the present invention further includes four wheel devices 17 selectively or changeably and detachably attached or secured to the lower portions of the studs 11 or of the base leg members 10 with a threading engagement 18 for selectively replacing or substituting the foot stands 15 and for allowing the adjustable rack device 1 to be selectively and easily moved to the other places or positions with the wheel devices 17, or to be selectively and stably supported on the ground or on the supporting surfaces with the foot stands 15.
A base frame 20 includes four bars 21 arranged or disposed in a rectangular or square or parallelogrammic structure, and four barrels 22 formed or secured at the corner areas of the bars 21 or the base frame 20 for engaging onto the respective base leg members 10 and for coupling the base leg members 10 together, and one or more stops 23 (FIG. 4) extended radially into each of the barrels 22 for engaging with the studs 11 or the peripheral shoulders 12 of the base leg members 10. It is preferable that the stops 23 are extended radially into the middle portion of the respective barrels 22 for allowing the barrels 22 to be partially engaged onto the studs 11 or for allowing the studs 11 to be partially engaged into the barrels 22 and thus for allowing the barrels 22 and the base frame 20 to be stably supported on the base leg members 10 without being tilted or inclined relative to the base leg members 10.
The stops 23 include an inner diameter greater than that of the studs 11 for engaging with the studs 11 or the peripheral shoulders 12 of the base leg members 10 and thus for stably supporting the barrels 22 and the base frame 20 on the base leg members 10, and the stops 23 include an inner diameter smaller than that of the base leg members 10 for allowing the base leg members 10 to be engaged through the stops 23, and thus for allowing the barrels 22 and the base frame 20 and the base leg members 10 to be stably coupled together.
Four fasteners or pegs 25 are threaded or attached or secured to the inner portion of the respective barrels 22 and extended or located within the base frame 20 for supporting a base plate 30 in the base frame 20 or on the studs 11 of the base leg members 10 (FIGS. 1, 8). It is preferable that the pegs 25 each include one or more sealing rings or resilient or cushioning rings 26 (FIG. 7) disposed or engaged thereon for resiliently engaging with the base plate 30 and for stably and safely supporting the base plate 30 on the studs 11 of the base leg members 10 or in the base frame 20, and thus for forming a stable base structure for the base frame 20 and the adjustable rack device 1.
Four tubular members 27 may further be provided and engaged onto the outer peripheral portions of the base leg members 10 respectively and each include a lower portion 28 for partially engaging into the respective barrels 22 and thus for allowing the tubular members 27 to be stably supported on or engaged with the barrels 22 and the base frame 20 without being tilted or inclined relative to the barrels 22 and the base frame 20. The base leg members 10 and the tubular members 27 may be used or provided for selectively and adjustably supporting one or more further shelf devices 40 thereon.
The further shelf devices 40 each include a peripheral frame member 41, and four barrels 42 formed or secured at the corner areas of the peripheral frame member 41, and one or more stops 43 (FIGS. 3, 6) extended radially into each of the barrels 42 for engaging with the tubular members 27 and for allowing the tubular members 27 to be partially engaged into the respective barrels 42 and thus for allowing the tubular members 27 and the barrels 42 of the shelf devices 40 to be stably coupled together without being tilted or inclined relative to each other.
Four fasteners or pegs 45 are further threaded or attached or secured to the inner portion of the respective barrels 42 and extended or located within the peripheral frame member 41 for engaging with and for supporting a table plate 44 in the peripheral frame member 41 or on the barrels 42. It is preferable that the pegs 45 each include one or more sealing rings or resilient or cushioning rings 46 (FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 8) disposed or engaged thereon for resiliently engaging with the table plate 44 and for stably and safely supporting the table plate 44 on the barrels 42 or in the peripheral frame member 41, and thus for forming a stable middle and/or upper structure for the adjustable rack device 1.
Four posts 50 may further be provided and each include an outer thread 51 formed or provided on the lower portion thereof (FIGS. 3, 6) for threading or engaging with the screw hole or inner thread 14 of the base leg members 10 and for detachably attaching or securing the posts 50 to the upper portions of the base leg members 10. The posts 50 each include a screw hole or inner thread 52 formed or provided in the upper portion thereof (FIG. 6) or an outer thread 53 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof (FIG. 3) for threading or engaging with or attaching a decorative head member 54. The decorative head members 54 may also be selectively attached or threaded or secured to the upper portion of the base leg members 10.
Four further tubular members or spacers 55 may further be provided and engaged onto the outer peripheral portions of the posts 50 respectively and each include a lower portion 56 for partially engaging into the respective barrels 42 of the middle shelf device 40 and thus for allowing the spacers 55 to be stably supported on or engaged with the barrels 42 of the middle shelf device 40 without being tilted or inclined relative to the barrels 42 and the middle shelf device 40. The posts 50 and the spacers 55 may further be used or provided for selectively and adjustably supporting one or more further or upper shelf devices 40 thereon, i.e., the further or upper shelf devices 40 may further be provided and engaged onto the upper portion 57 of the spacers 55. The decorative head members 54 may also be partially engaged into the barrels 42 of the middle or the upper shelf devices 40. One or more handles 58 may be selectively attached to the upper shelf device 40 for handling or moving the adjustable rack device 1.
As shown in FIG. 8, the adjustable rack device 1 in accordance with the present invention may further include four or more spacers 55 disposed or engaged between the tubular members 27 and the shelf device 40 for increasing the heights or the layers of the adjustable rack device 1 and for allowing the adjustable rack device 1 to be selectively and easily adjusted to different heights or to be selectively assembled to different heights according to the users' need.
It is to be noted that the provision and the engagement of the tubular members 27 onto the outer peripheral portions of the base leg members 10 respectively and the spacers 55 onto the outer peripheral portions of the posts 50 may form a stable two-layer structure to the adjustable rack device 1. In addition, the engagement of the tubular members 27 and the spacers 55 into the barrels 22, 42 of the base frame 20 and the shelf devices 40 may form a further stable structure to the adjustable rack device 1 without being tilted or inclined relative to each other.
Accordingly, the adjustable rack device in accordance with the present invention includes a structure adjustable to different heights or selectively assembled to different heights according to the users' need, and including a solid or stable structure for allowing the rack device to be solidly or stably supported on the erected working position and for preventing the rack device from failing down.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An adjustable rack device comprising:

four base leg members,

a base frame engaged onto said base leg members for coupling said base leg members together,

four tubular members engaged onto said base leg members respectively and engaged onto said base frame for forming a two-layer structure,

a first shelf device including a peripheral frame member and four barrels provided at four corner areas of said peripheral frame member for engaging onto said tubular members, and

a table plate engaged in said peripheral frame member of said first shelf device.

2. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shelf device includes four pegs attached to said barrels for engaging with and for supporting said table plate.

3. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first shelf device includes at least one cushioning ring attached to each of said pegs for engaging with said table plate.

4. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shelf device includes a stop extended into each of said barrels for engaging with said tubular members and for allowing said tubular members to be partially engaged into said barrels.

5. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shelf device includes a head member attached to each of said base leg members and partially engaged into said barrels.

6. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base leg members each include a stud provided thereon and having an outer diameter greater than that of said base leg members for forming a peripheral shoulder in each of said base leg members and for engaging with said barrels.

7. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising four foot stands detachably attached to said studs of said base leg members.

8. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising four wheel devices detachably attached to said studs of said base leg members.

9. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising four posts detachably attached to said base leg members respectively, and four spacers engaged onto said posts respectively and engaged with said barrels of said first shelf device, and a second shelf device engaged on said posts and said spacers.

10. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said spacers are partially engaged into said barrels of said first shelf device.

11. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second shelf device includes a peripheral frame member and four barrels provided at four corner areas of said peripheral frame member for engaging onto said spacers.

12. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said spacers are partially engaged into said barrels of said second shelf device.

13. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second shelf device includes four pegs attached to said barrels of said second shelf device for engaging with and for supporting a second table plate.

14. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second shelf device includes at least one cushioning ring attached to each of said pegs for engaging with said second table plate.

15. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second shelf device includes a stop extended into each of said barrels for engaging with said spacers and for allowing said spacers to be partially engaged into said barrels of said second shelf device.

16. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second shelf device includes a head member attached to each of said posts and partially engaged into said barrels of said second shelf device.

17. The adjustable rack device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second shelf device includes at least one handle for handling said adjustable rack device.