US577399A - Portable folding rack - Google Patents

Description

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L "U A R G S m L A0 MP B an A T R 0 P a d 0 M 0 M Patented Feb.- 16, 1897.

9m t e e h s s t e e h 2 E m d O M 0 W PORTABLE FOLDING RACK.

No. 577,399. Patented Feb; 16, 1897.

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' Jfzarwya EMANUEL MARKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE FOLDlNG RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,399, dated February 16, 1897.

Application filed July 9, 1896.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMANUEL MARKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Folding Racks, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a portable folding rack especially adapted for the purpose of displaying goods, the object thereof being to provide a rack wherein the qualities of sufficient strength and rigidity are combined with the minimum of weight and space which the device will occupy when folded.

The device of the present application will be found particularly useful and convenient by traveling salesmen and merchants requiring racks which must frequently be moved for showing such articles as clothing, cloaks, and dry goods, and hotels having a commercial patronage will find said device equally useful in the rooms where their patrons display samples.

By employing my device in a hotel any room maybe readily converted into a sample-room, and when not thus needed the room may be used for other purposes, the display-racks being folded into small compass and placed where most convenient. If desirable, a traveling salesman could carry his display-racks with him, which occupy only a small space in his trunks, and he would thus be enabled to show his goods wherever desired.

My device consists of a rack or stand, preferably constructed of steel, the top and supports being separable and both constructed so that they will fold into small compass.

I will describe my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of my device in elevation provided with a canvas cover and showing the display-top tilted at an angle. Fig. 2 is atop view of my device with the said cover removed. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the adjustment of the display-top. Fig. 4- is a view showing the display top partially folded. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section, showing the clamp for securing the display-top in its ad- Serial No. 598,522. (No model.)

justed positions. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the supporting-arm and bracket. Figs. 7 and 8 respectively illustrate the displaytop and one of the standards folded ready for packing.

The same referenceletters designate like parts throughout the several figures.

The standards a a, formed of iron or steel tubing a, carry at their lower ends collars b b, in which are pivotally mounted the legs 0 c, &c., forming a tripod support therefor. Loosely-fitting collars d d are provided upon the standards,which are adapted to be secured at any height upon said standards by the thumb-screws cl d. To each leg of the tripod is pivoted a brace or arm 0 c, &c., the upper ends of said braces being pivotally mounted in the collars d d.

Secured to the upper ends of the standards a a are the grooved heads 6 e, which may be rotated thereon in a vertical plane, and are adapted to be secured at an angle therewith by the clamps ff and thumb-screws f f. The heads 0 e are adapted to hold the displaytop g, which 'is formed in three sections g g g which fold together, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The said sections are preferably constructed of strips of sheet-steel of sufficient thickness to withstand the weight the rack is designed to support, the strips being pivotally secured together at their ends to form the display-top. The outer longitudinal strips 71 of the said secintegrally therewith, by means of which the display-top may be folded to one-third its length.

It will be observed that the lateral strips 71 are but half the width of the display-top and are pivotally secured to the central strips 7L3. WVhen the display-top is folded fiat, the sections maybe again folded or collapsed, so that the top occupies but a few inches in width, as shown in Fig. 7 the strips b being rotated approximately through a quarter-circle and strips h being brought against the central strips 7L When the display-top is completely extended, the interior strips h are inserted in the heads c e, as shown in Fig. 2, the said strips preferably tapering slightly, with their wider ends secured to the strips it that the display-top may be more readily and securely tions are provided with hinged ends hflformedinserted in the supporting-heads and thus held in position upon the standards.

Brackets Z; are secured to the strips 76, (see Fig. 6,) with which shoulders upon the ends of the supporting-arms Z Z are adapted to engage and sustain the outer ends of the display top. The arms Z Z are pivotally mounted in the loose collars Z Z, sliding upon the standards a a, the said collars being provided with thumb-screws Z Z by which the same may be secured in position at any desired height upon the said standards.

The display-top, as shown in Fig. 2, would not be adapted forsome purposes, and I therefore provide a cover of canvas m, which is adapted to be secured thereon by means of the leather corner-pockets m and the hooks m which engage the corners, ends, and sides of the said top and secure the cover thereon, thus permitting the display of small articles upon my rack.

\Vhen it is desired to pack the above device in small compass, the display-top is removed from the standards and folded together, as above described, the thumb-screws Z and p, provided in the collars upon the standards, are loosened, and the said collars are pushed upward upon the said standards, thus folding the legs 0 of the tripod and supporting-arm Z against the tubular portion a, as shown in Fig. 8. \Vhen thus folded, a rack provided with a display-top six feet in length may be packed in a space measuring thirty-one inches in length by three inches in width and depth. The said rack weighs but eight pounds and is capable of sustaining a weight of over one hundred and fifty pounds.

It is apparent that such a rack may be readily carried in a trunk of moderate size or stored in a drawer or other receptacle most convenient in a hotel sample-room. Furthermore, but a few moments are required either to set up or pack my improved rack, as it is separable into but three parts, which accurately fit together.

Some classes of goods, such as clothing, are more advantageously displayed upon an inclined rack or table, and accordingly my i|nproved rack is provided with means for inclining and securing the top at any desired angle, as well as for holding the same in a horizontal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a display-rack, the combination with folding supports or standards, of a displaytop constructed in sections adapted to be folded upon one another, and then collapsed or again folded substantially in parallel planes, and means for securing the displaytop upon the standards, substantially as described.

2. In a display-rack, the combination with the folding supports or standards Ct, of the display-top g formed in sections adapted to be folded upon one another, the said sections being constructed of strips pivotally secured together, whereby the top is adapted to be again folded or collapsed, and means for removably securing the display-top upon the standards, substantially as described.

In a display-rack, the combination with folding supports or standards a, of the folding and collapsible display-top g sectionally constructed and adapted to be secured thereto, arms Z adapted to support the outer sections of the display-top, and means for laterally inclining and seeming the said top in position, substantially as described.

4-. Ina display-rack, the combination with folding supports or standards a, of the collapsible display-top g constructed in sections g, 9 which are hinged and adapted to be folded upon one another, supportingarmsZ adapted to sustain the sections g and retatable clamps f whereby the said top may be inclined and secured at the angle desired, substantially as described.

5. In a display-rack, the combination with the folding supports or standards a, of the collapsible display-top {1 section all y constructed and adapted to be mounted upon said standards, supporting-arms Z secured to the standards a and adapted to sustain the outer sections of the display-top, clamps f whereby the said top is adapted to be inclined and secured in the position desired, and a flexible cover on adapted to be fastened upon the said display-top, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a display-rack, the combination with the foldin supports or standards a, of the collapsible display-top g adapted to be secured thereto, the said top being constructed in hinged sections g, g of metallic strips pivotally secured together, clamps f adapted to secure the said display-top upon the standards at the desired angle therewith, and supportingarms Z, and brackets 7t adapted to sustain the outer ends of sections g substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3d day of July, A. D. 1806.

EMANUEL MARKS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, A. L. LAwRENcE.

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