US1237945A - Shoe-rack. - Google Patents

Description

E. F. O'BRIEN.

SHOE RACK.

APPLICATION FlLED FEB. 6, 1914.

1,237 945, Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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E. F. O'BRIEN.

SHOE RACK. APPLICATION FILED FEBpb, I914.

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SHOE RACK. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 6. I914.

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I b Edward F OBrien, I

EDWARD F. OBRIEN, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS,

SHOE-BACK.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

Application filed February 6, 1914. Serial No. 817,036.

To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that I, EDWARD F. OBnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoe-Racks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to shoe racks and has for its objects to provide a novel metal shoe rack which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is light but strong and rigid, and also to provide a novel rack having a knock-down construction so that when the rack is not in use it can be knocked down and folded up and thus stored in a compact space.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I will first describe some embodiments thereof which have been selected as illustrative of the invention and will then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe rack embodying my invention;

Fi 2 is an end view on a reduced scale;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through one end of the rack;

Fig. 1- is a perspective detail view of one of the posts of the end uprights showing the shelf support;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line g y, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view showing one corner of the bed of the rack with one of the posts of the end upright;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the posts of an end upright;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the anchor ing block shown in the construction illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the connection between the end upright and the base;

Figs. 10 and 11 are details of a diflerent embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional perspective View of the top cross piece of the end upright;

Fig. 13 is an end view of a pin rack embodying my invention;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line aa, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line bb, Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective vlew showing the manner in which the pinsupporting bars are secured in place;

Fig. 17 is a section on substantially the line cc, Fig. 18;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line (Z-(Z, Fig. 17

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing one way of looking the shelves to the shelf sup ports.

My improved rack comprises a base 1 of novel construction, end uprights 2 also of novel construction secured to the base, and shoe-supporting members which may be either in the form of shelves if the rack is a shelf rack, or in the form of pins if the rack is a pin rack, which shoe-supporting members are sustained by the end-uprights 2.

The base 1 will preferably be provided with casters 3 so that the rack may be readily moved about, as usual in similar constructions.

The base 1 is herein shown as made of angle-iron, it having the two angle-iron side pieces a connected at their ends by the angleiron end pieces 5. The side pieces a may be further connected together at any number of places by cross bars 6, and I have shown braces 7 at the corners for stiffening the structure.

The end uprights 2 are also preferably, although not necessarily, made of angle-iron. lVhere the rack is a shelf rack, as herein illustrated, I propose to make each end upright with two posts, one at each corner of the rack, which posts are suitably connected together. If the rack is a pin rack, then each end upright will comprise one or more posts to which the pin-sustaining cross-bars are connected. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention where the shoe rack is in the form of a shelf rack, each end upright comprises the two posts 8 herein shown as of angle-iron construction, said posts 8 being connected together at suitable intervals by cross pieces 9, and if desired, being braced by braces 10. At the upper end the posts areconnected together by a cross-bar which constitutes a handle. This crossbar is formed from an iron strip 100 which isincased in a wooden member 11 that serves to give a circular crosssectional shape to" the part, thus constituting it a sort of handle.

The shelves 12 may be of any suitable or usual construction and they are herein shown as removably'sustained by shelf supports 13 secured to the posts 8.- These shelf supports are in the nature of flanges extending laterally from the posts on which the shelves rest, and each shelf is provided with a pin 1a in each corner thereof, which pin extends through an aperture 15 in the shelf support. The shelf supports can conveniently be formed of pieces of angle-iron secured to one leg of the posts 8, as shown best in Fig; 1. When the shelves are in place the end of each shelf is received between the two parallel legs of the posts of the upright, while the end edge of the shelf abuts against the other legs of the posts that are in alinement with each other, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. The locking pins 14 extending through the apertures 15 of the shelf supports tie each shelf to the end upright, and by this construction the shelves constitute a means for tying the uprights together and preventing them from spreading.

, If'the rackis, a shelf rack, as shown in Figs. land 2, I propose to make the shelves of wood, each shelf comprising wooden end and side pieces 120 that are connected at their corners by sheet metal corner pieces 16. These sheet metal corner pieces inclose the corners of the shelf and not only hold the side and end pieces together, but also serve as a pro tective casing to prevent the shelves from becoming injured while being removed from or inserted into the rack and while in use.

One feature of the present invention relates to the manner in which the end uprights are detachably connected to the base so as to permit the uprights to be folded downand removed from the base when the structure is to be knocked down. As herein shown each post of the upright is provided with an open-ended L-shaped slot in one flange thereof, and the base isprovided with an anchoring pin adapted to engage said slot, the construction being such that when the post is in its normal upright position it is firmlv locked in place by the slot, but can be folded down against the base, in which position it can be withdrawn from the anchoring pin. A simple construction is shown inFigs. 10 and 11 whereinthe legll' of each post 8 is formed with an open-ended L- shaped slot 18 and the side pieces 4: of the base are each provided with an anchoring member 20 secured to the base at each corner thereof, which anchoring member forms with the vertical leg of the angle-iron piece 4. a space or groove adapted to receive the flange 17 of the post and the anchoring pin 19 is secured in this anchoring block and in the vertical leg of the side piece 4:. The lower end of the flange 17 is beveled, as at 21, in order to assist in bringing the parts into their proper position when the rack is set up, as will be presently described. Then the rack is thus set up, the leg 23 of the post 8 comes on the inside of the vertical leg ofthe end rail 5, and the lower end of th'e'post rests on the horizontal leg of the side piece of the base, as shown in Fig. 10, and the anchoring pin 19 occupies the lower end of the L-shaped slot 18. By means of this construction the posts are firmly secured to the base, but yet they can be readily removed by folding them down into a horizontal position and moving them slightly to bring the pin 19 opposite the open end of the slot, this operation being permitted by the beveled end 21 of the flange 17. Similarly the end pieces can be placed in position by first laying them in a horizontal position and then entering the anchoring pins 19 into the open ends of the slots 18,v and then swinging the uprights up into their vertical position. During this swinging movement the beveled end 21 engagesthe bottom of the bed, and forces the uprights upwardly so as to bring the anchoring pin 19 into the lower end of the slot 18, as shown.

I In Figs. 6 to 9 I have shown another embodiment of my invention wherein the anchoring block has a slightly diflerent construction. In this embodiment the anchoring block is shown at 25 and it is provided with a groove 26 and a shoulder 27. The post 8 is provided with an additional flange 28 which is also provided with an L-shaped slot 180 corresponding in shape and position to the slot 18 in (the leg 17 of the post. The leg 17 sets between the anchoring block 25 and theupright leg of the, side sill 4, while the flange 28 occupies the groove 26 of the anchoring block. The anchoring pin 19 eX- tends through both slots 18 and 180, and when the upright is in proper position the end edge 22 of the leg 23 of the post rests on and engages the shoulder 27 of the anchoring block. With this construction the upright can be swung down into folded position and removed fro-m the rack, or can be replaced in operative position in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11. In both embodiments of the invention the end uprights are held from movement longitudinally of the bed by the engaging of the anchoring pins 19 in the slot 18 and also by the vertical walls of the end pieces 5 of the bed, and because the lower edges of the legs engage the base when the uprights are in operative position it is impossible for said uprights to become disconnected from the base except by being swung down into horizontal position.

I have provided herein detachable braces 30 for assisting in holding the uprights in their vertical position. These braces are shown as pivotally connected at 31 to the posts of the uprights and as detachably connected to the base 1. One simple construction is that shown in Fig. 6 wherein the lower end of each brace is formed with a notch 32 adapted to engage a pin 33 carried by the base, said brace being held in its interlocking engagement with the pin by means of a projection or stop 3st extending from the vertical wall of the angle-iron side piece 1. The pin 33 is shown as screwthreaded and as provided with a nut 35 which when screwed up firmly holds the brace in position. To disconnect the brace, the nut is backed olf sufliciently to allow the lower end of the brace to be moved later ally out of engagement with the stop 3% when the brace can be swung upwardly ofi from the pin 33 and thus disconnected from the base.

When the rack is set up with the shelves in place the uprights 2 are held in position not only by the braces 30, but also by the shelves 12 which serve to tie the uprights to gether and make the structure a rigid one.

I will preferably make the anchoring pins 19 in the form of screw-threaded clamping bolts to which clamping nuts 50 are applied so that after the rack is set up the nuts 50 can be tightened, thus clamping the lower ends of the posts 8 firmly into the anchoring blocks and holding the parts rigid. In the practical manufacture of racks embodying my invention the flange 17 will normally have a sufliciently loose fit in the space between the upright portion of the angle-iron 4t andthe clamping block so that the end piece can be readily placed in position or removed therefrom. By making the anchoring pins in the form of clamping bolts, any loose play is taken up and theparts can be firmly clamped in position after the rack is set up.

I have herein shown the side pieces and end pieces of the base as faced with wooden wear or buffer strips 39. These buffer strips extend out beyond the edge of the uprights and are the parts of the rack which will come into engagement with a door jamb or any other article as the rack is being moved from place to place. By using the wooden wear strips or buffer pieces the rack can be moved freely about without injury to door j ambs or other articles because the engagement of the wooden wear strips with any article will not injure the latter, as would be the case if these parts were of iron. Moreover, where the racks are placed close together the only portions of the racks which will be in engagement will be the wooden strips 89, and these will hold the racks far enough apart so that the shoes on either one or two adjacent racks cannot be injured by coming in contact with those on the other rack or with any part of the other rack as the racks are moved about. I will preferably make the strips 39 beveled somewhat at their ends, as at d0.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 11 the base 1 of the rack is provided with an end piece 5 at each end thereof, which end piece connects the side pieces 4.

In Figs. 15, 17 and 18, I have shown an embodiment of the invention wherein the end pieces of the base are omitted and the side pieces 4: are connected together by crosspieces 51 situated some distance from the ends. Where this embodiment of the invention is employed, the ends of the side pieces will be protected in a slightly different way from that shown in Fig. 6, each end piece being provided with a bumper portion 52 which is shaped to overlie the ends of the wooden wear strips or bufier pieces 39 at the sides of the base. l/Vhile these bumper members 52 may be formed in any suitable way, I will preferably construct them as part of the anchoring block 25, each of the latter being formed with an extension which constitutes the bufier member 52. The construction shown in Figs. 17 and 18 is somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 9, that is, the anchoring block 25 has the general shape shown in Figs. 8 and 9, but it is extended at its end beyond the shoulder 27 to form the bumper portion 52, and this bumper portion has the lateral extension 53 which overlies the end of the wooden bufier member 39, as seen in Fig. 18. This bumper member is the part of the rack which strikes or engages an object which stands in the way of the rack during its movement, and because of the extension 53 which overlies the end of the wooden members, any blow against the end of the rack will come on the bumper member and not directly on the end of the wooden wear strip. The latter is thus prevented from any possible injury.

I will preferably provide means for looking the shelves to the shelf supports. In Fig. 5 this is accomplished by means of nuts 5% on the pins 14. In Fig. 19, each of the pins depending from the shelf is provided with a locking lever 55 which is pivoted to the pin, as at 56, and is preferably provided with a projection 57 adapted to engage the under side of the shelf-supporting plate 13 when the locking lever is swung into its horizontal position. The aperture 15 in the shelf support '13 is somewhat larger than the pin 14 so as to permit the pin with its attached locking lever to be inserted there through when the locking lever is in its inoperative position inline with the pin 14:. After the parts have been assembled the lockingmember may be turned into the position shown in Fig. 19 with the projection 57 bearing against the underside of the shelf support 13, thus locking the shelf in position, and the locking lever may be held in such position by any suitable means, as by the retaining loop 58 secured to the underside of the shelf. I

My invention is also applicable to pin rack, as shown in Figs. 13, 14c and 16. In this embodiment of the, invention the end upright 2 of the rack has secured thereto one or more vertically-extending channcl shaped members 60 which support the pinsupporting bars 61 which carry the usual shoe-supporting pins 62. The end of each bar will preferably be provided with the rib or extension 63 adapted to fit between the sides of the channel member 60, the extension on each bar 61 being properly shaped and placed so as to give the bar the desired inclined position, The bars are held in place by having the extension 63 clamped between the sides of the channel member, and this is accomplished by employing a clamping bolt which extends through the sides of theclamping member and is adapted to I draw them together with suflicient force to clamp them against'the extension 63.

In Fig. 13 the pin-supporting bars 62 are all arranged in the same vertical plane, and

therefore may all be supported by a single channel-iron member 60 at each end of the rack. However, if these pin-si'ippo'rting bars 61 were given a staggered arrangement, as is sometimes the case, then two channel iron members 60 at each end of the rack would be required. These channel-iron members are shown as secured to the crossp'ieces 64: which tie together the posts 8 of the end piece.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a shoe rack, the combination with a base member, of end uprights, each having an open-ended L-shaped slot in its lower end, and anchoring pins carried by the base and adapted to engage said slots, said slots permitting theupright's to be removed from the base by being turned down into horizontal position and shelves removably sustained by the uprights.

2. In a shoe lack, the combination with a base member, of end uprights, each having an open-ended L-"shaped slo't'in its lowerend,

anchoring pins carried the base and adapted to engage said slots, said slots permitting the uprights to be removed from the base by being turned down into horizontal position, shelves removably sustained by the uprights, and braces 'pivotally secured to the uprights and detachably secured to the base. j

v 3. In a shoe rack, the combination with a base member formed of connected angleiron side pieces and end pieces, of an anchoring block secured to each end of the base piece, an anchoring pin carried by said block, uprights each provided with a post having a flange formed with an open-ended L-shap'ed slot through which said "anchoring pin extends, said slot permitting the upright to be removed by being turned into a horizontal position, and shelves removably sustained by the uprights.

4. In a shoe rack, the combination with a base member, of end uprights, each having an open-ended L-shaped slot in its'lower end, anchoring pins carried by the base and adapted to engage said slots, said slots permitting the uprights to be removed from'the base by being turned down into horizontal position, shelves removably sustained by the uprights, braces pivoted to the uprights and provided with notches at their lower ends, pins carried by the base and entering said notches, and stop projections engaging the braces and holding them in interlocking engagement with the pins. I

5. In a shoe rack, the combination with a' base member, of end uprights, each having an openended L-shaped' slot in its lower end, anchoring pins carried by the base and adapted to engage said slots, said slots per mitting the uprights to'be removed from the base by being turned down into horizontal position, shelves removably sustained by the uprights, braces pivoted to the uprights and previded with notches at their lower ends, pins carried by the base and entering said notches, and stop projections engaging the braces and holding them in interlocking engagement with the pins, said pins being longer than the projections whereby the braces may be disconnected by moving them longitudinally of the pins until they are free from the projections; I

6. In a shoe rack, the combination with a base member, of end uprights each presenting an angle-iron post provided at its lower end with an open-ended L-shaped slot, an anchoring pin carried by the base member and occupying said slot and about which the upright can be turned, said base member having'a stop shoulder engaged by the lower end of the post when the latter is in operative position and which prevents turning movement thereof in onedirection, braces pivot'ally connected to the uprights and detachably connected to the base memher, and shelves removably sustained by the uprights.

7. In a shoe rack, the combination With a base member, of end uprights each comprising two connected posts, each post having at its lower end a vertica11y-extending flange formed With an open-ended L-shaped slot, anchoring pins carried by the base and engaging said slots, said slots permitting the uprights to be removed from the base upon being turned down into a horizontal position and shoe-supporting members removably sustained by the uprights.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD F. OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

BERTHA F. HEUsER, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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