US3163297A

US3163297A - Collapsible clothes dryer

Info

Publication number: US3163297A
Application number: US219398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Raynor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-27
Filing date: 1962-08-27
Publication date: 1964-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-29

Description

R. D. RAYNOR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER Dec. 29, 1964 Filed Aug. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ROBERT D. RAYNOR FIG. 2

54 BY MZQ/ ATTORNEY FIG. 5

Dec. 29, 1964 R. D. RAYNOR COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1962 FIG.7.

INVENTOR. ROBERT D. RAYNOR "M ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 27, 1962 R. D. RAYNOR 3,163,297

COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG; I l

INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. RAYNOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,153,297 Patented Dec. 29,1964

COLLAPSlBLE CLOTHES DRYER Robert D. Raynor, 7816'Corhin, Rese'da, Caiifi' 7 Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,398' 7 Claims. (Cl; 211-178) Generally speaking, the 'present invention comprises a controllably expandable and collapsible rack and, more particularly, in one specific preferred form of the invention, comprises a controllably expandable and collapsible clothes hanging rack from which'a plurality of freshly washed clothes may be supported or'hung to allow ambient atmosphereto havefree access thereto for the purpose of drying the clothes. Of course, this may also apply to clothes which have-been cleaned by a cleaning of the present invention lies in the fact that it includes two separate and individually operable slidable collars or rings, each one of which is independently slidable and adapted to erect or collapse one-half of all of the expandable elements of the rack; This makes it possible to erect or collapse the expandable elements of the rack in two distinct steps, thus greatly reducing the force which must be applied to each of said slidable collars or rings during the rack-expanding or rack-collapsing operation This effective splitting of the opening operation and the closing operation into two parts is an extremely'impontant feature of the present invention which may, as a result of this operative feature, be termeda double action expandable and collapsible rack.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the novel controllably expandable and collapsible clothes hanging-rack of the present invention is adapted for outdoor or indoor use by being provided with appropriate supporting. base means, or the like, for effective engagementtwith respect to anunderlying supporting surfacesuchas a horizontal ground surface (which'is intended to mean an outdoor ground surface whether of earth, turf, concrete, asphalt, or the like, and which is also intended to mean an indoor ground surface such as a floor of any suitable composition Within a house, apartment, building, or any other structure). The invention itself lies primarily in the novel collapsible and expandable structure of the rack irrespeu tive of thetype of ground sur-face-engageable supporting base-means. Y

It' is anobject of the present invention to provide a novel controllably expandable. and collapsible rack (primarily intended for clothes hanging use, although not specifically limited thereto) which comprises a longitudinal, normally upright support member or standard provided with a lower portion (usually the bottom end) adapted tobe rigidly supported relative to an auxiliary supporting means (usually a ground surface whether of an outdoor type or an indoor type comprising a floor or the like) in a firm, stable relationship with respect to said auxiliary supporting means.

The normally upright supporting member or standard is pivotally provided with a plurality (usually a first and second set of two each) of longitudinal rigid fulcrum members each having a pivotal fulcrum connection means spaced from the pivotal connection of the fulcrum member with respect to the upright support member or standard by a given distance'equ'al in the case of each of said fulcrum members.

The preferred embodiment of the invention may also include fifstand second setsof lever members (usually with two levermembers to each set) having inner pivotal connection ends, outer linkageends, and intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions, and 'may also be provided with first andsecond slidable 'collaror ring means pivotally connected to the inner pivotal con: nection ends of the corresponding members of the'corresponding set ofsaid lever'members. In other words, said first slidable collar or ring means is connectedto the inner pivotal-connection ends ofsaid first'set-of lever members and saidsecond slidable collar or ring means is connected to said inner pivotal connection ends of said second set of lever members, with said first and second slidablecollaror ring means being slidably m'ountedon an intermediate portion of said vertically upright' support member or standard for -reciprocation between the maximum limits of the longitudinally spaced-apart relationship of said slidable collars or ring .means when the rack is in fully collapsed relationship and the closely vertically adjacent central positions of said slidable collars or ring means on said vertical upright support member or standard when said .rack is' in fully expandedreflationship.

This preferred form of the invention may also include contr ollably releasably retaining means for retaining said first andsecond slidable collar orring means in said vertically adjacent centrally positioned relationship until controllably released to allow collapsing of the entire rack. In the preferred vform ofthe invention, one-half of the plurality of fulcrum members (usually the two fulcrum members of either said first orsecond set thereof) have their pivotal fulcrum connection means at the outer ends thereof pivotally connected to the intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portion of the corresponding levertmemb'er-s (usuallythecorresponding two lever members of the corresponding one of said "first and second sets thereof). Also, in said preferred form of the invention the other half of said plurality of fulcrum members (usually the two fulcrum members of the other set of said fulcrum members). have the pivotalconnection fulcrum means at'theouter'ends thereof connected to the intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions ofthe corresponding ones of the remaining lever members (usually the two lever members of the remaining set of said lever members) on-the opposite side of said upright vertical support member or standard from the connections of said first-mentioned pivotal-connectionfulcrum means and said first-mentioned intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions of said J first-mentioned set ofv fulcrum means and. said first-mena t-ioned set of said lever members Whereby'forcible slidable reciprocation of one of said tWo' slidable collar or ring means in an upward. direction alongsaid upright vertical support member or standard away from the other one of said collar or fring means will cause pivotal and in.- ward swinging and effective collapsing movement of the corresponding. set of said lever- -members (one of a said two sets thereof) in a similar rotative angular sense, and whereby oppositely directed downward slidable move.- ment of the other one of said two slidable collaror ring means along said upright supp'ortmember or standard and away from said first-mentioned collar or ringmeans will cause pivotal upward and inward swinging and-effective collapsing .movement of the other corresponding-set of said pivotal lever members in a similar rotative angular.

sense opposite to said first-mentioned 'rotative angular sense of said first-mentioned set of pivotal lever members.

Of course, it should be understood that opposite reciprocation of said collars .or rings toward each other will reverse the above describedlever-swinging ments and will effectively expand the rack. Also,in the preferred form of the invention, the rack may include first and second tensilemem'ber support bars adapted to be provided with a plurality of tensile members movenected to the corresponding outer linkage ends'of a pair of lever members comprising corresponding similar members of dilferent ones of said two sets of lever members whereby similar ends of each of said tensile member support bars will be connected to corresponding outer linkage ends of different onesio-f the same set of said lever members and whereby opposite ends of said tensile member support bars will be connected to different but corresponding ones of the two different sets of said lever members positioned on opposite sides of said upright support member or standard to position said tensile member support bars in downwardly directed relationship when the rack is in collapsed relationship and to lift, space,and substantially horizontally position said first and second tensile member support bars when said rack is in fully expanded relationship. 1 j

It is a further object of the present inventionto'provide a novel controllably expandable and collapsible rack (primarily intended for. clothes airing or drying use,

although not specifically so limited) wherein the upright vertical support member or standard is of substantially cylindrical, hollow, tubular configuration and wherein the slidable collars or ringsar'e correspondingly shaped andsized.

It is a further object of the present invention to pr o vvide a novel controllably expandable and collapsible rack of the character referred to above wherein the lever members fulcrum, andtensile'mem'ber support bars are of hollow configuration for providing ahigh strength to-weight ratio for the entire rack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel auxiliary supporting means or supporting base means for rigidly mounting the entire device with respect to an underlying substantially horizontal ground surface (which shall also mean floor surface) I It is a further object of the presentinvention to pro- 'vide a novel rack of the character set forth'in the preceding object, wherein said supporting base means includes a telescopic engagingrneans adapted to be rigidly positioned ina stable manner with respectlto thejunderlying substantially horizontal ground surface (which shall also mean floor surface). 7 g 7 It is a further object to provide a novel rack of the character set forth in the preceding object, wherein the telescopic engaging means is rigidly embedded within the horizontal ground surface and telescopically engages the lower end of the upright vertical support member or standard of the rack for effectively mounting same.

It is a further object to provide a novelflrack of the character referred to in the third preceding object where-f in said supporting means comprisesa controllably collapsible basemeans adapted to be connected to said upright vertical support member or standard adjacent the bottom thereof and having lateral extension portions adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal plane .for qstable engagement with said substantially horizontal underlying ground or floor surface to support the entire rack in a stable manner anywhere, although this arrange,- ment is particularly advantageous indoors where the For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, one basic form of the invention and several exemplarymo'difications of the supporting base means are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying three sheets of drawings and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIGURE 1 is a reduced-size perspective view showing one exemplary form of the invention in fully expanded position and supported by one particular type of supporting base means or ground surface coupling means above a ground surface comprising a fragmentan'ly shown surface of grass or turf.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a modification of the supporting base means shown .in FIGURE 1.

This form is intended primarily for, outdoor use, although not specifically so limited. 7

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another modification of the supporting base means I intended primarily for indoor use, although not specifically so limited.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the two oppositely positioned connection ends of each of the first andrsecondj tensile member support bars, taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIGURE 1 and illus trates .the connection thereto of the corresponding outer linkage end of thecorresponding one ofthe two sets of lever members; 'It should "be clearly understood that each of the other three similar structures comprising the outer three connection ends of the first and second tensile member support bars, and the connection thereof .to the corresponding three outer linkage ends of the other three lever members is substantially identical in construction and, therefore, this single view is exemplaryof all.

i 'Itshould be noted that certain portions of the structure device may be completely stored away when not in use;

if desired.

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a novel rack of the character set forthin the preceding object, wherein said lateral extension portions of the collapsible base means are controllably collapsible or foldable into av compactv configuration for convenient storage and portability.

Further objects are'implicit inthe detailed description which follows and which is tobe considered as exemplary and not limiting, and said objects will be apparent to persubstantially behind the plane of the view are not shown for reasons of drawing simplificationand clarity.

FIGURE Sis an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in sect-ion and partly in elevation, of the pivotal connection of the fulcrum member to the lower member on line 55 of FIGURE 1 with certain structural portions substantially behind the planeof the view being removed for. reasons of drawing simplification and clarity.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, partly broken:

away perspective view illustrating the detail of one: exemplary structure for. 'pivotally connecting the four longitudinal rigid. fulcrum members .(comprising first and second sets of two fulcrum members each) with respect. to thenormally upright Vertical support member or.' standard. .This view also illustrates the slidable con-- nection of the inner pivotal connection ends of the two lever members of each of the two different sets thereof? to the corresponding first or secondring orcollar meanIs= I: should be understood that the center portion of the+ vertical upright support member .or standard (which is: shown in phantom) is broken away and removed from for rack-opening and rack-closing reciprocation.

this view for space conservationreas'ons.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, partly broken-away ele'- vation view further illustrating the means for immobilizing the attachment bracket shown in part at the top of I FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the two slidable collars or rings when in the vertically adjacent centrally positioned locked relationship shown in FIGURE 1 which maintains the rack in fully expanded relationship. 'I'hisview illustrates one specific exemplaryform of the retainingmeansfor holding the slidable collars or rings in said relationship.

FIGURE 9 is apreduced-sized elevational view of the entire rack when in fully collapsed relationship with the collopsed tensile member support bars lying slightly outwardly angularly spaced relativeto the upper end of'the vertical support member or standard as allowed by the linkages connecting the connection ends thereof to the linkage ends of the corresponding lever members. Ac-

tually, said upwardly projecting angularly spaced connection ends of the tensile member support bars may be collapsed even further inwardly if desired for storage in an extremely-small space volume configuration.

FIGURE is a larger scale top plan View of FIGURE 9. It should be realized, as pointed out in connection with FIGURE 9, that the tensile member support bars can be easily collapsed even further inwardly from the at rest position shown in FIGURE 10 if desired. I

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view, generally similar to FIGURE 1, but shows the rack in 'a'partially collapsed relationship between the. fully expanded relationship shown in FIGURE 1 and the fully collapsed, at rest,

relationship shown in FIGURES 9 and '10.

Referring to the figures forexemplary purposes, one illustrativeembodiment of the invention takes a typical form wherein it comprises a longitudinal, normally upright support member orstandard, indicated generally by the reference numeral 21, which has alower portion or bottom end 22 adapted to be rigidly supported in a firm, stable relationship with respect to an underlying ground surface, indicated generally by the r'eference numeral'23,

and which in the specific example illustrated in FIGURE 1 The normally upright or vertical support member or standard 21, in the specificexampleillustrated, is of substantially cylindrical, hollow, tubular configuration and comprises the hollow cylindrical tube 25.- However, the invention is not specifically so limited. I

In the exemplary formillustrated, the normally upright vertical support member or standard 21 is effectively pivotally provided with apluralityof longitudinalrigid fulcrum members in several sets-thereof, with each fulcrum member having a pivotal fulcrum'connection means spaced from the pivotal connection ofsaid fulcrum memher with respect to=the upright support member or standard 21 by a given distance which, in the preferred form of the invention, is equal for each'of said fulcrum members. V '1 Y I,

In the exemplary form illustrated, -s'aid fulcrum members are four, in number and are designated generally by the

reference numerals

26, 27, 28 and '29, respectively.

It should be noted that, in the illustrated, the fulcrum memberszfi and 27 may be saidtocomp'rise a first 'set of said fulcrum members while the members 28' and 29may be said to comprise a second set of said fulcrum members. Furthermore, it should be note'd that file disposition of said first and second setsof ful crum members is such that the first set of

fulcrum members

26 and 27 may be saidito b e efiectively positioned'on the opposite side of said ver ticallupright support member or standard fromsaid second set er; fulcrum members 28 and 2.9.

In the specific exampleillustrated, the pivotal connection of the inner ends of thefour fulcrum members 26, f

27, 28 and 29 with respeet to the normally-upright support member or standard 21 is provided by way of novel 7 attachment bracket means, generally designated by the ,reference numeral 31, which is fixedly; attached to the tubularmember 25 coniprising'theupright support memher or standard 21- by top and bottom retainers comprising a the circumferential enlargement 32 and the retaining cotter pin 33. The circumferential enlargement 32 lies below the cylindrical sleeve portion 34 of the attachment bracket 31 and supports same, while thecotterjpin 33 lies through a hole 35 positioned immediately above the sleeve 34 and restrains it against upward movement. However, this is exemplary only, and various other means for mounting the attachment bracket means 31 on the cylindrical member 25 of the uprightjsupport standard 21 maybe employed.

- connected by effective pivot pin means 72 to thebifurcated In the specific example illustrated the attachment bracket means 31 is provided with a plurality (in the example illustrated, four) bifurcated yoke portions 36 each angularly spaced around the longitudinal vertical axis. of the upright support standard 21 and each beingrdirected ofiset from, a corresponding part of. saidtwo angularly displaced planes 37.

Each of the bifurcated yoke portions 36 has effective pivot pin means 38, as for example threaded fastener means, carried laterally therebetween and pivotally mounting a corresponding one of the four pivotal connection ends '39, 41,42 and 43 of the corresponding ones of said fulcrum members. 26, 27; 28. and 29.

The pivotal fulcrum connection means of the four fulcrum members. 26, 27, 28 and 29 are indicated generally by the

corresponding reference numerals

44, 45, 46 and 47 and are similar "to each other so that only one need be shown in detail, as illustrated inFIGURE 5.

These pivotal fulcrum connection means will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

It should also be noted that'the preferredform of the invention includes first and second separately operable sets of lever members, in the form illustrated eachset comprising two lever members, having inner pivotal connection. ends, outer linkage ends, andintermediate. fulcrumi connection means-.engageable portions.

In the specific exemplary form illustrated, the four lever members are indicated generally by the reference nu merals 48, 49, 5ljand 52. In the formlillustrated, the two lever members 48' and 49 may be said to comprise the lever members of a first set of levers, while the:two

lever members

51 and 52 may be said to comprise the lever members of a second set thereof.

The intermediate fulcrum connection means-engageable portions of the four levers, 48 and 49 of the first set of levers and' 51 and 52 of thesecond set of levers, are generally designated by the reference-numerals 53 in the case of

thelever

48, 54 in the case of the lever 4?, 55 in the case of the lever 51, 'and 56 in the case of the lever 52, and each of these intermediate fulcrum connection meansengageable portions is pivotally connected-to the corresponding pivotal fulcrum'connection means 44, 45,46

or 47, respectively, by corresponding etfective pivot pin means 57, 58,5? and 61, which, in the example illustrated, comprise threaded fastener means, although not specifically so limited. 7

Each of the four

lever members

48 and 49 of the first set and 51 and 52iof the second set has an inner pivotal connection end '62, 63, 64 or 65, respectively, which is effe ctiyely pivotally attached with respect to corresponding first and second slidable collar or ring means 66,0r67, respectively, by corresponding pairs of outwardly projecting. pivotal attachment bifurcated yoke portions designated by the reference 'numeral 68 in the case of the first slidable collar or ring means-.66, and by the referenceinume'ral 69 in the case of the second slidable collaror ringmeans 67.

- Theinner ends 62 and 63 of the pivotal'leve'rfmembers I 48 and 49 of the first set thereof are pivotally connected to thegbifurcated yoke portions 6 8 by thetwo effective pivot pin means 71, while the inner ends 64 and 65 of the lever yoke portions 69 thus pivotally mountingall four of the lever members for pivotal movement aroundthe effective pivot pin means 7l and 72 which, in the exampleillus- .and 10.

' member means 94 and 95 to a lower extreme position.

trated, are shown as comprising threaded fastener means, although not specifically so limited. 7

Each of the slidable collar or ring means 66 and 67 is slidably mounted on-the exterior of the tubular, member '25 comprising the upright support standard 21 for vertical reciprocation in opposite directions in a first sense where -they move away from each other for collapsing the entire in FIGURES 9 and 10 through an intermediate position such as that shown in FIGURE 11 into a fully expanded relationship such as shown in FIGURES 1 and 8, where 'the upper and lower slidable ring means 66 and-67 may be retained by the controllably releasable retaining means, indicated generally at 73 and 74.

In the example illustrated, each'of said retaining means 73 and 74 comprises a resilient cam-shaped, normally. 7 outwardly projecting spring member75'and '76, respectively, fastened with respect to the tubular member comprising the verticalupright support standard '21' at 21 fixed fastening location, as indicated at 77 for illustrative ,purposes in connection with the upper retaining means Conversely,-'downwardslidable movement of theother ring or collar means 67 the position shown in FIG- URE 1, through the intermediate position shown in FIG- URE .11 into the fully collapsed at rest position shown in FIGURES 9. and '10, correspondingly causes arcuate upward and inward movement of the'outer linkage ends 83 and 84 of the other two

lever members

51 and 52 of the other set of said'lever members, thus, correspondingly elevating the adjacent connection ends 92 and 93 of the first and second tensile member support bars 94 and 95.

7 These opposed pivotal movements just described are brought about'by theoppositely directed separating slidable movement-of the first and second ring or collar means 66 and 67 andthe cooperation of the corresponding first .set of pivotal connectioniulcrum means 44 and 45 and the second setsof pivotal connection fulcrum means 46 -and'47 with respect to the corresponding first, and

and 51-52, respectively.

The Y above described'action causes thetwo tensile member support bars 94 and 95t0 assume substantially 73, a similar but inverted arrangement being employed for the lower retaining means 74, so that each of the resilient cam-shaped'spring members '75 and 76 normally camming action of the corresponding slidable collar or responds :to the fully expandedrelationship of the rack shown in FIGURE 1. This position will be maintained until the retaining springs 75 and 76 are forcibly manually deflected inwardly through the corresponding

slots

78 and 79 so as to be out of the path of upward or downward travel, respectively, of'the corresponding

rings

66 and 67 as they are slidably separated from the closed relationship shown in FIGURES -1 and 8, through the intermediate partially collapsed relationship shown in FIGURE 151, into the fully collapsed relationship shown inFIGURES 9 Each of the four lever members 48,; 49, 51 and has a 7 corresponding outer linkage end, indicated at 81 and- 82 'in'the case of the -two

lever members

48, and 49 of the first set of said lever members, and indicated at 8 3 and 84 in the case of the two lever members'51 and 52 of the second set of lever members. 7 v 7 These outer linkage ends are providedwith corresponding linkage means 85, 86, 87 andj88, respectively, for connection tocorresponding connection ends 89, 91, 92, aud 93, respectively, of the first and second tensile member support bars, generally designated by the

reference numerals

94 and 95, respectively.

projects outwardly until such time as it is depressed by the erect positions-'as'shown in FIGURES 9 and10 (although they are shown'i'n: an at rest, slightly outwardly diverging relationship which-can be further collapsed), and causes the plurality of tensile members orrclotheslines 96 connected between the'first and second tensile member support bars 94 and 95 at a-pluralityof points spaced therealong, to hang downwardly in 'even, non-tangling loops such that the entire rack is adapted to be quickly and tarily in FIGURES, where eachsof the tensile members or clotheslines 96 is stretched in taut, parallel relationship between the two tensile member support bars 94 and 95.

The arrangementis 'suchfthatonly two sliding engage- -ments are. provided inthe entire, apparatus and these comprise the separately operable 'slidingengagements of the upper slidable collar .or ringsmeans 66 and the lower In the-example, illustrated, the linkage means 85,86, 87 I and 88 comprise effectively pivotally interconnected eye bolts, and nuts. However, various otherequivalent linkage means may be employed in lieutthere'of.

Th'e'arrangement is such that when the first ring or collar means 66 isslidably moved upwardly from the "slidable collar or'ring means 67 .with respect to the cylindrical tube 25 which forms the vertical upright support.

member of standard indicated generally. at 21.. ,All other connections of-the movable elements of the apparatus are efiectively pivotal connections. This contributes greatly to the ease of manual operation'of the device in either the expanding or collapsing movement since this effectively minimizes the force required to be applied to either of the collar or ring means during the rack-expanding, or rack-collapsing operation. 7 7

Furthermore, it should be clearly noted that each of "the collar or ringmeans 66 and 67 is independently slidably moved and erects or collapses-one-half of the ex-; pandable elements of the rack at a time, thus effectively :greatly reducing the required force which must be ap plied to each of said slidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 during the rack-expanding or rack-collapsing operation. a a V V a a Indeed, these'two features-that is,,the minimization of sliding friction during any particular operation, and the breaking of the expanding or collapsing operation into 'two steps eachare highly advantageous in that they reduce the-amount of force required to be applied to either of the slidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 to a low value well within the strength capabilities ofv the average position shown in FIGURE 1 through the intermediateposition shown in FIGURE 11 toward the fully collapsed position shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the outer linkage ing vertical planes, thus correspondingly moving the connection ends 89 and 91 of the first and second tensile 3 ends 81 and 82 of the first

setof lever members

48 and 49 swing arcuately downwardly and inwardly incorrespondstrength capabilities of the averagewoman.

,womanQ This is greatly superior to prior art arrangements where multiple slidingelements are involved during a single erectingflor expanding operation, which thus requires the application of a very substantial amount of force to the apparatus during the expanding operation, which is often virtually at the'limit'of, or beyond, the

a The supporting means generally designated at 24 in FIGURE 1 may be said to comprise supporting base means including telescopic engaging means, indicated generally at 97,'comprising, in this exemplary form of the invention, the recess-defining portion or member 98 at the bottom of the hollow, cylindrical, tubular support standard 21 which received therein the upper end 99 of a projection-defining member 101, which has its lower pointed end 102 firmly buried in and supported in the ground surface 23. This provides a firm support forthe support standard 21 and the entire rack and yet one which is ofa readily removable nature when desired.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a slight modification of the supporting means or supporting base means, which is designated by the reference numeral-24A" in this view In this form of the invention, said supporting basemeans 24A includes the telescopic engaging means 97A which includes the recess-defining member 98A which, in this case, is partially buried in and imbedded in the ground surface 23A which, in this exemplary form, is shown as comprising concrete, although not specifically so limited. In this modification the recess-defining member 98A is upwardly open and receives the bottomend portion 22A of the upright support standard 21A, which corresponds to the upright vertical standard 21 of FIGURE 1, to provide a firm support. Itshould also be noted that a stop collar 103 is fastened by. suitable fastening means 104; to the upright vertical support standard 21A at a position spaced above the bottom' end 22A thereof so as to come into abuttin'gcontactwith-the'open end of the recessdefining member 98A-when in the engaged relationship shownin FIGURE 2; This provides a firm, rigid mounting for the support standard 21A, and the rack adapted to be carried thereabove, and yet one which is of a readily removable nature. a

FIGURE 3-illustra-tes-a further modification of the supporting means or supporting base means which is designated, in this case, by the reference numeral 245 and which is shown as comprising a base member 104' which is firmly fastened to the bottom end 22B of the upright vertical support standard 21B and which has the four bifurcated yoke portions 105 which are pivotally attached by eifective 'pivot pin means 106, as for example threaded fasteners, to the inner ends of four lateral extension portions or members 107 and which have intermediate portions pivotally connected by effective pivot pin means 108, as for example threaded fasteners, to the four fulcrum members 109.

The four fulcrum members 109 have inner ends pivotally connected by effective pivot pin means 110, as for example threaded fastener means, to another set of four bifurcated yoke portions 111 of an attachment bracket 112 which is connected to a slidable ring 113 slidably mounted on the lower portion of the vertical upright support standard 21B.

This structure is generally similar in principle and operation to either of the previously described slidable collar or ring means 66 or 67 and operates in a manner such that upwardly slidable movement of the slidable ring 113 and the attachment bracket 112 after manual depression of the retaining spring 114 will cause each of the four lateral extension portions 107 to fold upwardly in the directions indicated by the broken line arrows 115 so as to lie very close to the upright support standard 21B in a substantially fully collapsed relationship generally similar to the collapsed relationship of the rack-members shown in FIGURES 9 and and described in detail hereinbefore. On the other hand, the ring 113 and the attachment bracket 112 may be slidably moved downwardly over the cam-shaped retaining spring 114 into a retained position such as is shown in FIGURE 3 which will have the effect of firmly and rigidly holding the four lateral extension portions 107 in the projecting horizontal planar relationship shown in FIGURE 3 for supported engagement with an underlying ground surface whereby to hold the upright support standard 21B in the upright position shown and in a very stable manner.

This form of the supporting base means is primarily intended for indoor use where the entire device is to be completely stored away between use periods, although it maybe used under other circumstances and may even be used outdoors if desired.

' Numerous modifications and variations exist within the broad scope and basic teachings of the present invention, and all of theseare intended to be included herein as fully as if they were described and illustrated in detail. The figures and the specificdescriptionv thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating only andare not to be construed as limiting the pres'entinvention to the percise and detailed structure.

shown in the figures and specifically described .herein. Rather, the real invention is intended to include any and all substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is: v

L'An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging rack, comprising: a central support standard, adapted to be mounted in a vertical position, two pairs of elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected at their inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at 'a fixed position near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever members positioned on opposite sides of said support standard and pivotally connectedat fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer'ends of said fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independently slidable vertically on said' support standard and pivotally connected to the inner ends of said lever members, and a pair of tensile member support bars positioned on opposite sides of said support standard adapted to support a plurality of flexible tensile clothes hanging members suspended therebetween and universally connected near their respective ends to the outer ends of said lever members. i v

2. An extensible and collapsible clothes'hanging rack, comprising: a central support standard, adapted to be mounted ina vertical position, two pairs of elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected at their inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at a fixed position near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever members positioned on opposite sides of said support standard and pivotally connected at fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer ends of said fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independently slidable vertically on said support standard and pivotally connected respectively to the inner ends of one adjacent pair of said lever members and .to the inner ends of the other adjacent pair of said lever members, and a pair of tensile member support bars positioned on opposite sides of said support standard adapted to support a plurality of flexibleitensile clothes hanging members suspended therebetween and universally connected near their respective ends to the outer ends of one of the said lever members connected to the said upper collar means and an adjacent one of the said lever members connected to the said lower collar means and to the outer ends of the other adjacent pair of said lever members.

3. An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging rack, comprising: a central support standard, adapted to be mounted in a vertical position, two pairs of' elongated rigid fulcrum members pivotally connected at their inner ends to opposite sides of said support standard at a fixed position near its upper end, two pairs of elongated lever members positioned on opposite sides of said support I standard and pivotally connected at fixed positions intermediate their ends to the outer ends of said fulcrum members, upper and lower collar means independently slidable vertically on said support standard and pivotally connected respectively to .the inner ends of one nonadjacent pair of said lever members and to the inner ends of the other non-adjacent pair of said lever members, and a pair of tensile member support bars posi- 1 1 tioned on opposite sides of said support standard adapted I to support a plurality of fiexible tensile clothes hanging members suspended therebetween and universally connected near their respective 'ends to the outer ends of one of the said lever members connected to the said-upper collar means and an adjacentone of the said lever'meml bers connected to the said lower collar means and to the outer endsof theother adjacent pair-of said leversmembers.

4. An extensible and collapsible clothes hanging'rack' as defined in claim 1, wherein said fulcrum-members are pivotally connected to said support standard at a first set of points, lying in a plane, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support standard, opposite ones of said points are displaced equidistant respectively on opposite sides of a first pairof vertical planes, coincident withsaid longitudinal axis, opposite pairs of said lever members lie respectively within said first pair of vertical planes, and opposite pairs of 'said fulcrum members are pivotally connected respectively to said lever members at a second set of points, displaced laterally of andon opposite sides of said lever members so that each of said fulcrum members lies in a vertical plane, coincident with respect to said-support standard to engage and secure said upper slidable collar meansinits lowest-position on said supportstandard, andto engage and secure said lower slidable collar means .in its highest position on said supportstandardfl p 7. In an extensible and collapsible.clothes-hanging rack having a central support standardand a pairtof tensile member support bars adapted to support a plurality of flexible tensile-clothes hanging members suspended there- 'between and in the extended position of the rack to be disposed horizontally --in a spaced apart relationshipgon opposite sides of said supportstandardand in the collapsed position of the rackto be disposed vertically closely adjacent and parallel to-said support standard;

first means connectedto said {support standard for moving one end of each of said tensile member support-bars from said collapsed position-to .saidextended position and from said extended position to said collapsed" -position,

and secondmeans corinectedto .saidsupport standard for so moving the other: end of, each of:said-tensile r'nember support bars, tsaidfirst 'andsecondmeans being operable independently of each other.

ReferencesCited in-thefil'eot this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,162 Baecker -4 M r, 31, 1903 985,485 -Wil1ard Feb. 28, 1,250,833 Flanegi'n V DEC. 18, 1917 2,233,806 Bucknell, w 'Mar.:4, 1941 2,670,855 Pierie '.r Mar. 2, 719.54 2;s0 2,579 Hagar Aug. 1.3, 1957 2,900,088 Clini Aug. ,16, 1959 2,951,595 'Pierie Sept. 6, '1960

Claims

1. AN EXTENSIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES HANGING RACK, COMPRISING: A CENTRAL SUPPORT STANDARD, ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION, TWO PAIRS OF ELONGATED RIGID FULCRUM MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THEIR INNER ENDS TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AT A FIXED POSITION NEAR ITS UPPER END, TWO PAIRS OF ELONGATED LEVER MEMBERS POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT FIXED POSITIONS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID FULCRUM MEMBERS, UPPER AND LOWER COLLAR MEANS INDEPENDENTLY SLIDABLE VERTICALLY ON SAID SUPPORT STANDARD AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE INNER ENDS OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF TENSILE MEMBER SUPPORT BARS POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT STANDARD ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE TENSILE CLOTHES HANGING MEMBERS SUSPENDED THEREBETWEEN AND UNIVERSALLY CONNECTED NEAR THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS.