Snap-in bracket for slidable racks and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028578-B2
Application number	US-201715458718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A snap-in mounting bracket with a generally “U” shaped cross-section. A set of mounting holes are spaced along the web of the bracket and correspond to existing holes in prefabricated cabinets or closets over a range of industry standard sizes. A guide flange extends from the web proximate the middle of a first edge. End flanges curve around the ends of the first edge. A pair of spring flanges extend from the web on a second edge opposite the middle guide flange. A universal slide assembly is removably secured to the mounting bracket between the flanges. The end flanges and the spring tension of the spring flanges hold the slide assembly in place. Different closet organizer components such as tie racks, pant racks, and belt racks can be affixed to the slide assembly for slidable deployment along the vertical partition out of the closet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pants rack for slidable deployment from a closet comprising:
a first slide assembly configured to be mounted to the closet;
a second slide assembly configured to be mounted to the closet;
a first housing rigidly attached to the first slide assembly and a second housing rigidly attached to the second slide assembly;
a brace adjustably connected to the first housing and the second housing;
a sleeve, defining a saddle, fixed with respect to the brace;
a bar slidably engaged with the sleeve and seated in the saddle;
wherein the first housing and the second housing are simultaneously movable between a stored position within the closet and a deployed position exterior to the closet,
wherein the sleeve includes:
a head connected to a body and a retainer connected to the body; and,
a tab extending from the head and engaged with the brace.

2. The pants rack of claim 1 wherein the bar is fixed with respect to the sleeve.

3. The pants rack of claim 1 wherein the bar further comprises:
a hanger section connected to a pivot section; and,
wherein the pivot section is slidably engaged with the sleeve and the hanger section extends from the brace generally parallel with the first housing and the second housing.

4. The pants rack of claim 1 further comprising:
a first spacer adjustably connected to the brace and fixed to the first housing; and,
a second spacer adjustably connected to the brace and fixed to the second housing.

5. The pants rack of claim 1 wherein the sleeve further comprises:
the saddle formed in the head.

6. The pants rack of claim 1 wherein the sleeve further comprises:
a lip extending from the retainer and adjacent the brace.

7. The pants rack of claim 1 further comprising:
a first snap-in mounting bracket configured to be rigidly affixed to the closet, wherein the first sliding assembly is removably engaged with the first snap-in mounting bracket; and,
a second snap-in mounting bracket configured to be rigidly affixed to the closet, wherein the second sliding assembly is removably engaged with the second snap-in mounting bracket.

8. The pants rack of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sleeves seated in the brace and a bar of a plurality of bars slidingly seated within each sleeve of the plurality of sleeves.

9. In a device for the slidable deployment of a pants rack from a closet comprising a first housing and a second housing adjustably connected to a brace, a set of cylindrical sleeves attached to the brace, and a set of bars extending from the set of sleeves wherein each sleeve of the set of sleeves prevents rotation of a bar of the set of bars relative to the brace, a method for assembling the device, the method comprising:
mounting the first and second housings to the closet;
fixing the set of cylindrical sleeves with respect to the brace;
slidingly engaging the set of bars with the set of sleeves;
seating each bar from the set of bars in a saddle of each sleeve from the set of sleeves; and
engaging a tab extending from a head of the sleeve connected to a body of the sleeve with the brace.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the mounting step further comprises:
mounting a first snap-in bracket and a second snap-in bracket to the closet;
engaging the first housing with the first snap-in bracket; and,
engaging the second housing with the second snap-in bracket.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the mounting step further comprises:
mounting a first snap-in bracket and a second snap-in bracket to the closet;
engaging a first slide assembly with the first snap-in bracket;
engaging a second slide assembly with the second snap-in bracket;
attaching the first housing to the first slide assembly; and,
attaching the second housing to the second slide assembly.

12. A pants rack for slidable deployment from a closet comprising: a first housing and a second housing;
a snap-in mounting bracket for mounting the first housing or the second housing that includes:
a guide flange extending from a web;
a set of spring flanges extending from the web and opposing the guide flange;
a set of end flanges extending from web proximate the guide flange;
a plurality of mounting holes in the web;

a brace adjustably connected to the first housing and the second housing;
a sleeve, defining a saddle, fixed with respect to the brace;
a bar slidably engaged with the sleeve and seated in the saddle;
wherein the sleeve includes:
a head connected to a body and a retainer connected to the body; and,
a tab extending from the head and engaged with the brace.

13. The pants rack of claim 12 wherein the snap-in mounting bracket further comprises:
a first hook extending from the guide flange;
a second hook extending from a first end flange of the set of end flanges; and,
a third hook extending from a second end flange of the set of end flanges.

14. The pants rack of claim 12 wherein each spring flange of the set of spring flanges comprises:
an abutment surface oriented at an angle from and connected to a holding surface.

15. The pants rack of claim 14 wherein the angle ranges between 30° and 60°.

16. The pants rack of claim 12 wherein the snap-in mounting bracket further comprises:
each mounting hole of the plurality of mounting holes has a first longitudinal axis;
the web has a second longitudinal axis; and,
wherein the first longitudinal axis is parallel with the second longitudinal axis.

17. The pants rack of claim 12 wherein the web further comprises:
a first ridge proximate the guide flange;
a second ridge proximate the set of spring flanges; and,
a recess positioned between the first ridge and the second ridge.

18. The pants rack of claim 17 wherein the plurality of mounting holes are positioned in the recess.

19. The pants rack of claim 12 wherein the guide flange and the set of end flanges extend from a first edge of the web and the set of spring flanges extend from a second edge of the web.

20. The pants rack of claim 1 further comprising:
the tab formed on an opposite side of the head from the saddle;
the tab being a first tab and formed on a first side of the body;
a second tab that is formed on a second side of the body that is opposite to the first side of the body;
a first cutout in the body that is on a third side of the body and is a distance away from the head;
a second cutout in the body that is on a fourth side of the body and is the distance away from the head;
the fourth side of the body opposite to the third side of the body; and,
each of the first and second sides of the body being adjacent to each of the third and fourth sides of the body.

Assignees

• Hardware Resources Inc

Inventors

• Corless Justin
• Mcgregor Dennis

Classifications

• A47B88/43

  at cabinet side · CPC title

• A47B61/02 Primary

  with extensible garment-holders · CPC title

• A47B96/067 Primary

  Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement (suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008) · CPC title