Adjustable storage assembly with pivotal bars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11974668-B2
Application number	US-202117477878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2021
Priority date	Sep 17, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A storage assembly is provided with a pair of spaced apart brackets. A pair of hubs is each pivotally connected to one of the pair of spaced apart brackets. A rotary limit is connected to one of the pair of hubs and one of the pair of spaced apart brackets to limit the pair of hubs to a range of rotation relative to the pair of spaced apart brackets. A pair of bars is each connected to the pair of hubs to rotate with the pair of hubs to support and store articles upon the pair of bars.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced apart brackets;
a pair of hubs, each pivotally connected to one of the pair of spaced apart brackets;
a rotary limit connected to one of the pair of hubs and one of the pair of spaced apart brackets to limit the pair of hubs to a range of rotation relative to the pair of spaced apart brackets; and
a pair of bars each connected to the pair of hubs to rotate with the pair of hubs to support and store articles upon the pair of bars;
a pair of posts extending from each hub parallel with an axis of rotation of the pair of hubs, wherein the pair of bars is connected to the pair of posts, the pair of bars are at least partially hollow, and the pairs of posts are each received within a terminal end of one of the pair of bars; and
a plurality of fasteners each installed into one of the pairs of posts to expand each post within the corresponding bar to fasten the pair of bars to the pairs of posts.

2. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotary limit further comprises a pin extending from the one of the pair of hubs offset from an axis of rotation of the pair of hubs that is sized to be received in an arcuate slot formed in the one of the pair of spaced apart brackets.

3. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein a plurality of slits is formed in each of the pairs of posts to permit expansion of the pairs of posts upon installation of the plurality of fasteners.

4. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the pairs of posts has a radially asymmetrical cross-section; and
wherein each of the pair of bars has a radially asymmetrical cross-section to minimize rotation of each of the pair of bars relative to the pairs of posts.

5. The storage assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one spring-loaded mechanism supported upon one of the pair of hubs; and
wherein at least one detent is formed in one of the pair of spaced apart brackets and aligned to receive the at least one spring-loaded mechanism to maintain a rotary position of the pair of hubs relative to the pair of spaced apart brackets.

6. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the pair of spaced apart brackets are further defined as a pair of spaced apart rails for translation in a length direction of the pair of spaced apart rails.

7. The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the storage assembly is packaged separately from a frame to support the pair of spaced apart brackets.

8. The storage assembly of claim 1 further comprising a frame to support the pair of spaced apart brackets.

9. A method of assembling a storage system, comprising:
providing the storage assembly of claim 1 ;
installing a plurality of spaced apart upright frame members;
installing a pair of horizontal cross members to the plurality of spaced apart upright frame members; and
installing the pair of spaced apart brackets to the pair of horizontal cross members.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
orienting the storage assembly at an offset angle relative to an installed position prior to installing the pair of spaced apart brackets;
engaging the pair of spaced apart brackets to the pair of horizontal cross members at the offset angle; and
pivoting the storage assembly to the installed position to install the pair of spaced apart brackets to the pair of horizontal cross members.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising unpacking the storage assembly from a separate retail package than a retail package for the plurality of spaced apart upright frame members and the pair of horizontal cross members.

12. A method for storing articles comprising:
providing the storage assembly of claim 1 ;
pivoting the pair of hubs to a storage orientation; and
placing articles upon the pair of bars for storage upon the pair of bars.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising placing shoes, scarves, ties, pants, jewelry, or belts upon the pair of bars for storage.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising placing a damp clothing article upon the pair of bars for drying upon the storage assembly.

15. A storage assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced apart rails for translation in a length direction of the pair of spaced apart rails;
a pair of hubs, each pivotally connected to one of the pair of spaced apart rails; and
a pair of bars each connected to the pair of hubs to rotate with the pair of hubs to support and store articles upon the pair of bars;
a pair of posts extending from each hub parallel with an axis of rotation of the pair of hubs, wherein the pair of bars is connected to the pair of posts, wherein each of the pairs of posts has a radially asymmetrical cross-section; and
wherein each of the pair of bars has a radially asymmetrical cross-section to minimize rotation of each of the pair of bars relative to the pairs of posts.

16. The storage assembly of claim 15 wherein the pair of bars is connected to the pair of posts, the pair of bars are at least partially hollow, and the pairs of posts are each received within a terminal end of one of the pair of bars.

17. The storage assembly of claim 16 further comprising:
a plurality of fasteners each installed into one of the pairs of posts to expand each post within the corresponding bar to fasten the pair of bars to the pairs of posts.

18. A method for storing articles comprising:
providing the storage assembly of claim 15 ;
translating the storage assembly to an extended position;
pivoting the pair of hubs to a desired orientation;
placing articles upon the pair of bars for storage upon the pair of bars; and
translating the storage assembly to a retracted position.

19. A storage assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced apart brackets;
two pairs of hubs, each pivotally connected to one of the pair of spaced apart brackets at a pair of spaced apart pivotal connections; and
two pairs of bars each connected to one of the two pairs of hubs to rotate with the pairs of hubs to support and store articles upon the pair of bars, wherein the pairs of bars are each equally spaced apart from the corresponding pivotal connection by a distance that is half of a distance between the pair of spaced apart pivotal connections so that the two pairs of bars are equally, sequentially spaced apart when both pairs of bars are pivoted to a coplanar orientation;
two pairs of posts each extending from one of the two pairs of hubs and parallel with an axis of rotation of each pair of hubs, wherein the two pairs of bars are connected to the two pairs of posts; and
a plurality of fasteners each installed into one of the two pairs of posts to expand each post within the corresponding bar to fasten the two pairs of bars to the two pairs of posts.

20. The storage assembly of claim 19 wherein each of the two pairs of posts has a radially asymmetrical cross-section; and
wherein each of the two pair of bars has a radially asymmetrical cross-section to minimize rotation of each of the two pairs of bars relative to the two pairs of posts.

Assignees

• Liberty Hardware Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Brown Tara
• Hegarty Robert Douglas
• Austin Iii James Allen
• Witt Michael
• Mathison Jeffrey John
• Rider Margaret
• Ford Rose
• Creasman Ethan
• Prero Gabriel
• Boehnen Patrick William

Classifications

• A47B88/9412 Primary

  with at least two sides foldable or hinged · CPC title

• A47B61/04 Primary

  for shoes, hats, umbrellas, or the like {(shoe racks as an implement for the manufacture of shoes A43D117/00)} · CPC title

• A47B88/407

  Adjustably or detachably mounted drawers (A47B88/423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B88/60

  Tiltably- or pivotally-arranged drawers · CPC title

• A47B2210/01

  Drawer chassis or frame · CPC title