Storage rack

Claim 2

A rack for storing and shipping articles comprising: a rectangular-shaped base member having a horizontally disposed platform and vertically disposed tubular legs affixed to said platform at each of its foUr corners, the upper end of each of said legs being open; a pair of rectangular-shaped end frames each having two corner posts which are affixed together in parallel spaced relation and are proportioned to be telescopically received within the open ends of the two legs at the ends of said platform of said base member respectively to vertically support said end frames; a lock assembly affixed to each of said legs and to its associated corner post for lockingly affixing said end frames to said base members, said lock assemblies further being adapted to permit said end frames to be folded atop said platform of said base member for storage, said lock assemblies each comprising a lock member affixed to said leg defining a retaining recess which is of a predetermined length and which is closed at at least its upper end and a cooperating lock member affixed to said corner post having a locking flange slidably disposed within said retaining recess, the length of said retaining recesses being proportioned to permit said lock members to be slidably raised in said retaining recesses to permit the ends of said corner posts to be removed from the open ends of said legs and said end frames to thereafter be pivotally folded atop said platform while still being lockingly affixed to said base member, each of said retaining recesses further being open along one side thereof at its bottom to permit said locking flanges to be slidably disengaged therefrom when said end frames are raised to remove the ends of the corner posts thereof from the open ends of said legs and are pivoted outwardly away from said base member.

Claim 3

A rack for storing and shipping articles comprising a rectangular-shaped base member having a horizontally disposed platform and vertically disposed tubular legs affixed to said platform at each of its four corners, the upper end of each of said legs being open; a pair of rectangular-shaped end frames each having two corner posts which are affixed together in parallel spaced relation and are proportioned to be telescopically received within the open ends of the two legs at the ends of said platform of said base member respectively to vertically support said end frames; a lock assembly affixed to each of said legs and to its associated corner post for lockingly affixing said end frames to said base member, said lock assemblies further being adapted to permit said end frames to be folded atop said platform of said base member for storage, said lock assemblies each comprising a lock member affixed to said leg defining a retaining recess which is of a predetermined length and which is closed at at least its upper end and a cooperating lock member affixed to said corner post having a locking flange slidably disposed within said retaining recess, the length of said retaining recesses being proportioned to permit said lock members to be slidably raised in said retaining recesses to permit the ends of said corner posts to be removed from the open ends of said legs and said end frames to thereafter be pivotally folded atop said platform while still being lockingly affixed to said base member, said means defining said retaining recess each comprises a U-shaped member affixed to said leg with the arms thereof depending downwardly so as to form a retaining recess closed at its upper end, said lock members each comprising a length of flat bar stock which is bent U-shaped and has one leg thereof fixedly secured to a corner post of the end frame, the other leg thereof forming said locking flange and being proportioned to be slidably retained within said retaining recess formed by said U-shaped member.

Claim 4

A rack for storing and shipping articles comprising a rectangular-shaped base member having a horizontally disposed platform and vertically disposed tubular legs affixed to said platform at each of its four corners, the upper end of each of said legs being open; a pair of rectangular-shaped end frames each having two corner posts which are affixed together in parallel spaced relation and are proportioned to be telescopically received within the open ends of the two legs at the ends of said platform of said base member respectively to vertically support said end frames; a lock assembly affixed to each of said legs and to its associated corner post for lockingly affixing said end frames to said base member, said lock assemblies further being adapted to permit said end frames to be folded atop said platform of said base member for storage, said lock assemblies each comprising a lock member affixed to said leg defining a retaining recess which is of a predetermined length and which is closed at at least its upper end and a cooperating lock member affixed to said corner post having a locking flange slidably disposed within said retaining recess, the length of said retaining recesses being proportioned to permit said lock members to be slidably raised in said retaining recesses to permit the ends of said corner posts to be removed from the open ends of said legs and said end frames to thereafter be pivotally folded atop said platform while still being lockingly affixed to said base member, said means defining said retaining recess each comprises a U-shaped member affixed to said leg with the arms thereof depending downwardly so as to form a retaining recess closed at its upper end, said lock members each comprising a length of flat bar stock which is bent U-shaped and has one leg thereof fixedly secured to a corner post of the end frame, the other leg thereof forming said locking flange and being proportioned to be slidably retained within said retaining recess formed by said U-shaped member.

Claim 5

The rack of claim 2, wherein one leg of each of said U-shaped members is shortened to provide an opening whereby said locking flange can be disengaged from said retaining recess to permit said end frames to be removed.