US4746041A — All purpose convertible rack

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of separate hollow tubular members including a base portion and a separate upstanding portion supported on said base portion, said members being connected together to form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships with the upstanding portions being spaced apart so as to define an article holding region between said upstanding portions; and an elongate, endless, elastic loop member extending along a path within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said upstanding and base portions interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for expanding and contracting said article holding region of said rack and converting said rack to any one of a plurality of different operative configurations adapting said rack to hold articles having diverse shapes.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of separate hollow tubular members including a base portion and a separate upstanding portion supported on said base portion, said members being connected together to form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships with the upstanding portions being spaced apart so as to define an article holding region between said upstanding portions; and an elongate, endless, elastic loop member extending along a path within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said upstanding and base portions interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for expanding and contracting said article holding region of said rack and converting said rack to any one of a plurality of different operative configurations adapting said rack to hold articles having diverse shapes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said different operative configurations of said rack is an upright nonskewed retracted configuration wherein said upstanding portions extend from the same side of said base portions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said different operative configurations of said rack is an upright nonskewed expanded configuration wherein said upstanding portions extend from the same side of said base portions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said different operative configurations of said rack is an upright skewed retracted configuration wherein said upstanding portions extend from the same side of said base portions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said different operative configurations of said rack is an inverted nonskewed retracted configuration wherein said upstanding portions extend from opposite sides of said base portions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongate elastic member is endless and extends along an endless path defined by the hollow interior of said mated tubular members.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein said elastic member and said slidable and pivotable joints allow said rack to be converted to a folded inoperative position for storing said rack when not in use.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of joints formed by said mated tubular member portions and held together by said endless elastic member are telescopic slip joint means which allow both relative sliding and pivoting movement between said members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

The rack as recited in claim 1, wherein said base portions of each end part include a pair of tubular base members and said upstanding portion comprises a U-shaped tubular upright member supported on the said base members intermediate their respective opposite ends so as to dispose said base members in generally parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The rack as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said base members has a generally linear shape, whereas said upright member is generally inverted U-shaped.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The rack as recited in claim 9, wherein said upright member is composed of a tubular end portion and a pair of tubular side portions integrally connected to, and extending generally parallel to one another in a common direction from, respective opposite ends of said end portion.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 208 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of a pair of hollow tubular base members and a hollow tubular upright member supported on said base members so as to space said base members apart and extend in generally orthogonal relationship thereto, said base and upright members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationship, said upright members being spaced apart so as to define an article holding region between said upright members; and an elongate, endless elastic loop member extending along a path defined by the hollow interior of said mated tubular base and upright members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said upstanding and base members interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for placing said rack in an upright operative configuration in which said end parts thereof are disposed in a side-by-side tandem arrangement with their respective base members extending in a common plane and their respective upright members extending in the same direction relative to their respective base members.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 208 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of a pair of hollow tubular base members and a hollow tubular upright member supported on said base members so as to space said base members apart and extend in generally orthogonal relationship thereto, said base and upright members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationship, said upright members being spaced apart so as to define an article holding region between said upright members; and an elongate, endless elastic loop member extending along a path defined by the hollow interior of said mated tubular base and upright members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said upstanding and base members interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for placing said rack in an upright operative configuration in which said end parts thereof are disposed in a side-by-side tandem arrangement with their respective base members extending in a common plane and their respective upright members extending in the same direction relative to their respective base members.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 219 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of a pair of hollow tubular base members and a hollow tubular upright member supported on said base members so as to space said base members apart and extend in generally orthogonal relationship thereto, said members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships so as to define an article holding region between said base and one of said upright members; and an endless elongate elastic loop member extending along an endless path defined within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said base and upstanding members interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for placing said rack in an inverted operative configuration in which said end parts thereof are disposed in a side-by-side tandem arrangement with their respective base members extending a common plane and their respective upright members extending in the opposite directions relative to their respective base members such that articles being disposed in said article holding region are held in a generally upright inclined position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 219 words

An all-purpose rack for holding articles, comprising: a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of a pair of hollow tubular base members and a hollow tubular upright member supported on said base members so as to space said base members apart and extend in generally orthogonal relationship thereto, said members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships so as to define an article holding region between said base and one of said upright members; and an endless elongate elastic loop member extending along an endless path defined within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective rack end parts so as to resiliently retain said base and upstanding members interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for placing said rack in an inverted operative configuration in which said end parts thereof are disposed in a side-by-side tandem arrangement with their respective base members extending a common plane and their respective upright members extending in the opposite directions relative to their respective base members such that articles being disposed in said article holding region are held in a generally upright inclined position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

The rack as recited in claim 13, further comprising: a pair of brackets attached on said end parts and extending within said article holding region for disposing articles being held in said region in a generally vertical orientation.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright to inverted operative configuration, comprising the steps of: moving a pair of end parts of said rack, being interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane; and moving said mated end parts from said flattened coplanar to a nonskewed inverted condition.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright to inverted operative configuration, comprising the steps of: moving a pair of end parts of said rack, being interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane; and moving said mated end parts from said flattened coplanar to a nonskewed inverted condition.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright operative to folded inoperative configuration, comprising the steps of: pivotally moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and a tensioned endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; and pivotally moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane and assume said folded inoperative configuration.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright operative to folded inoperative configuration, comprising the steps of: pivotally moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and a tensioned endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; and pivotally moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane and assume said folded inoperative configuration.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an inverted operative to folded inoperative configuration, comprising the steps of: pivotally moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and an endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an inverted nonskewed to an inverted skewed condition; and pivotally moving said mated end parts from said inverted skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane and assume said folded inoperative configuration.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an inverted operative to folded inoperative configuration, comprising the steps of: pivotally moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and an endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an inverted nonskewed to an inverted skewed condition; and pivotally moving said mated end parts from said inverted skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane and assume said folded inoperative configuration.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright to inverted operative configuration, comprising the steps of: (a) moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and an endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; (b) moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane; and (c) moving said mated end parts from said flattened coplanar to a nonskewed inverted condition.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of converting an article-holding rack from an upright to inverted operative configuration, comprising the steps of: (a) moving a pair of mated end parts of said rack, being composed of separate hollow tubular members interconnected together in mated relationship by pivotable joints and an endless elongated elastic member extending along an endless path through the hollow interior of said mated members, from an upright nonskewed to upright skewed condition; (b) moving said mated end parts from said upright skewed to a flattened condition wherein said mated end parts both lie in a common plane; and (c) moving said mated end parts from said flattened coplanar to a nonskewed inverted condition.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said respective members of each end part pivotally move relative to one another through an arcuate path of approximately ninety degrees in each of steps (a), (b) and (c) of the converting method.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said flattened coplanar condition of said end parts represents a folded inoperative configuration of said rack.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 197 words

An all-purpose rack assembly for holding different articles, comprising: a first rack; and a second rack; each of said racks including a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of separate hollow tubular members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships so as to define an article holding region between the end parts in each rack, and a separte endless elongated elastic member associated with each rack extending along an endless path defined within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective end parts of said each rack so as to resiliently retain said parts interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for expanding and contracting said article holding region of said respective rack and converting said rack to any one of a plurality of different operative configurations adapting said rack to hold articles having diverse structures and shapes; said racks being secured together in a side-by-side tandem relationship at an end of one end part of each respective rack.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 197 words

An all-purpose rack assembly for holding different articles, comprising: a first rack; and a second rack; each of said racks including a pair of mated opposite end parts each being composed of separate hollow tubular members having portions which form a plurality of slidable and pivotable joints coupling said respective end parts and said members of each said end part together in mated relationships so as to define an article holding region between the end parts in each rack, and a separte endless elongated elastic member associated with each rack extending along an endless path defined within the hollow interior of said mated tubular members of said respective end parts of said each rack so as to resiliently retain said parts interconnected together while allowing said members to slide and pivot relative to one another at their mated joints for expanding and contracting said article holding region of said respective rack and converting said rack to any one of a plurality of different operative configurations adapting said rack to hold articles having diverse structures and shapes; said racks being secured together in a side-by-side tandem relationship at an end of one end part of each respective rack.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-05-24	1991-11-23	1992-05-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-05-24	1995-11-23	1996-05-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-05-24	1999-11-23	2000-05-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

All purpose convertible rack

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