TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a foldable luggage shelf assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] People tend to bring luggage when they travel and stay in hotel rooms or similar accommodation establishments. It is common for a hotel to provide a portable luggage rack where the traveller can place their luggage (such as a bag or a suitcase) on top of the rack.

[0003] The luggage rack provides a place for the luggage to be stored safely and off the floor. This enables the traveller to access their luggage easily at a convenient height without bending their body.

[0004] Typically, hotels prefer their customers to use a luggage rack so that the luggage is not placed on top of beds, tables or chairs. This reduces the risk of the furniture getting scratched or soiled by the luggage. The use of a luggage rack also minimises the risk of transferring any bed bugs or pests that may be on the furniture to the traveller’s luggage.

[0005] A conventional luggage rack is generally in the form of two inverted U-shaped structures joined together at the midsection by a hinge pin. When the rack is in an open position, the two inverted U-shaped structures form a cross together. An upper cross member such as a plurality of fabric bands is attached to the top of each inverted U-shaped structure to create a support for placing a luggage. This prior art device is exemplified in French Patent No. 2833145.

[0006] One of the disadvantages of the conventional luggage rack is it occupies space in the hotel room. As the population grows, modern hotel rooms are becoming smaller in size, which means, space efficiency is important. The conventional luggage rack is often bulky and unsightly when it is in use.

[0007] When the conventional luggage rack is in the open position, it also makes it difficult for cleaners to properly vacuum and clean the room.

[0008] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is directed to a foldable luggage shelf assembly, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

[0010] Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided, a foldable luggage shelf assembly comprising:

a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, each shelf hinged at one edge relative to a support enabling each shelf to rotate between a closed position substantially parallel to the support, and an open position substantially perpendicular to the support; at least one member pivotally secured to each of the plurality of shelves, the at least one member having a first end in contact with a surface of the ground or a floor when the plurality of shelves is in the open position, wherein the plurality of shelves is linked together by the at least one member such that the plurality of shelves move together between the closed position and the open position.

[001 1] In a preferred embodiment, the support is a wall. However, the support may also be a door or any other structure that can withstand the weight of the luggage and the foldable luggage shelf assembly.

[0012] The foldable luggage shelf assembly may have a plurality of shelves. The number of shelves in the assembly may vary depending on the need of the user or the size of the support. Therefore, if a hotel room is adapted to accommodate three people, the assembly may have at least three shelves. In a preferred form, the assembly should have at least two shelves. Ideally, each shelf should be identical in size and dimension to each other. However, the invention is adapted to include different sizes of shelves so that each shelf may differ in size and dimension relative to each other. The shelves may be made of metal but are not limited to other suitable materials such as wood, plastic, glass or any combination thereof.

[0013] The shelves may comprise flat solid structures, such as metal sheets or wooden sheets or wooden planks. In other embodiments, the shelves may have openings in them or the shelves may comprise a frame having a covering extending over the frame. Indeed, the shelves may also be similar to the support portions of known luggage holders that have a frame with a number of spaced straps or bands extending between frame members. Throughout this specification, the terms“shelf” and“shelves” will be used to refer to any type of structure that can hold a suitcase or other luggage off the ground or off the floor when the assembly is in the open position.

[0014] There is at least one member that is pivotally secured to each of the plurality of shelves. In a preferred form, the invention has two members, one at each end of the shelf. However, the invention is also well adapted for any number of members to be pivotally secured to each of the plurality of shelves. For example, the assembly may comprise of one or two or three or more members.

[0015] When the shelves are in an open position, a first end of the member is in contact with the floor. The second end of the member may be in contact with the uppermost shelf of the assembly. In this manner, when a heavy load is placed on top of a shelf, the entire weight is not transferred to the hinge. Instead, some of the weight of the heavy load is supported by the member. The member may be made of metal or wood. However, a person skilled in the art would recognise that other suitable materials such as plastic or any combination of the aforementioned may be used.

[0016] In a closed position, each of the members lies flat and parallel to the support.

[0017] Each shelf is hinged at one edge relative to the support. The hinge may be attached to a bracket which is mounted onto the support. The hinge may comprise a pin to enable the shelf to rotate between a closed position substantially parallel to the support and an open position substantially perpendicular to the support.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a mounting bracket and a hinge pin. The hinge pin is in contact with one edge of the shelf and the hinge pin is also secured onto the mounting bracket to allow movement of the shelf between a closed position and an open position. The invention is not limited to any type of hinges or brackets and each shelf may have more than one hinge and corresponding bracket. Other attaching mechanisms may be used to secure the shelves onto the wall. In another embodiment, the invention includes a piano hinge.

[0019] The assembly may include at least one lock or latch to secure the assembly against the support when it is in the closed position. This will prevent the shelves from folding into the open position inadvertently.

[0020] Each shelf of the assembly may include a piece of visual art. In a preferred form, the visual art is located at the bottom surface of each shelf so that when each shelf is in the closed position, the visual art will be visible to the user. However, a piece of visual art may also be located on any surface of each shelf. The visual art may be a picture, photograph, painting, drawing, design or any form that provides aesthetic appeal to the user. [0021] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of operating a foldable luggage shelf assembly including the steps of: folding all shelves from a closed position to an open position; and placing luggage on said shelves.

[0022] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable luggage shelf assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the shelves in an open position.

[0025] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a foldable luggage shelf assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the shelves in a closed position.

[0026] Figure 3 is a close up view of figure 1 .

[0027] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a foldable luggage shelf assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a foldable luggage shelf assembly 100 as shown in figure 1. The assembly 100 includes two shelves 101 a, 101 b. The shelves 101 a, 101 b shown in the drawings comprise flat solid structures, such as metal sheets or wooden sheets or wooden planks.

[0029] The assembly further includes two members 102. The members 102 are in the form of elongate rods. The elongate rods may have a circular cross-section, or a square or rectangular cross-section. Each member 102 has a first end 103 which is in contact with the surface of the floor 104 when the assembly is in the open position (as shown in figure 1 ) and a second end 105 which is in contact with the uppermost shelf 101 a of the assembly.

[0030] As shown in figure 3, each member 102 is pivotally connected to each shelf 101 b. In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the members 102 are pivotally connected to each shelf at the outer corners of each shelf. However, the members may also be pivotally connected to the side edges of the shelves at locations closer to the wall. Each shelf is hinged at an inner edge of the shelf 106 relative to a support 107. Each shelf 101 a, 101 b will have an engagement means at one edge of the shelf 106 where a pin 108 is inserted into each shelf. The pin 108 is secured onto the bracket 109 which is mounted onto the support 107. The support 107 is a wall of a hotel room in the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3.

[0031] Referring to figure 2, figure 2 shows a foldable luggage shelf assembly 100 in a closed position. Each of the plurality of shelves 101 a, 101 b is in a closed position parallel to the support 107. The members 102 are folded up against the support adjacent to each side of the shelves 101 a, 101 b.

[0032] Advantageously, the foldable luggage shelf assembly is stylish, practical and space efficient. Whilst conventional luggage racks are bulky and increase obstruction for the user to freely move inside the hotel room, embodiments of the present invention provide flexibility and functionality.

[0033] In simple steps, a user can operate the assembly by folding the assembly from a closed position to an open position. Once the assembly is in the open position, the user can place their luggage on the shelves. Compared to the conventional luggage rack where only one piece of luggage can be placed on top of the rack, the present invention is adapted to have at least two shelves which can receive at least two pieces of luggage (as illustrated in figure 1 ). As a further advantage, since the assembly is mounted onto a support, such as a wall, cleaners can easily vacuum and clean the space around the assembly even when the shelves are in the open position.

[0034] Once a user vacates the hotel room or simply does not require storing the luggage on the shelves, the user can fold the assembly from the open position to the closed position. In the closed position, the assembly occupies minimal space in the hotel room.

[0035] In use, the weight of the luggage stored on the shelf or shelves is borne by both the support (wall) and the member(s), with a lower end of the member(s) contacting the ground or the floor when the assembly is in the open position. This reduces the load on the support/wall and on the hinge connecting the shelves to the support/wall.

[0036] Another foldable luggage shelf assembly 100’ is shown in Figure 4, where like reference numerals refer to like features previously described.

[0037] Each shelf 101 a, 101 b includes at least one extender 400 for extending to provide an increased luggage support area. Preferably, luggage extenders 400 are provided on either side of the shelf 101 as shown. The extender 400 linearly extends or slides out parallel to the wall support 107. The extender includes an abutment 402 for abutting the shelf 101 , and a pair of extensible arms 404a, 404b extending from the abutment toward the shelf 101.

[0038] The abutment 402 includes an upward lip protrusion 406 to impede slipping of stored luggage from the shelf 101 . The abutment 402 is received in the hollow shelf 101 . The extender 400 includes a handle 408. Further, the shelf 101 defines an edge recess 410 to facilitate actuation of the extender 400.

[0039] The support 107 includes a rectangular frame 412, and the shelf assembly 100’ folds flat with the frame 412 in the closed position forming a snug fit. Each member102 includes a bent integrally-formed handle 414, which protrudes from the shelf assembly 100’ in the closed position.

[0040] In some embodiments, the assembly is also adapted to suit the decor of any room since a piece of visual art can be included on the surface of each shelf. This provides aesthetic appeal to the user and the visual art can be changed to adapt to different styles of hotels and decor themes.

[0041]

[0042] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word‘comprising’ and its derivatives including‘comprises’ and‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0043] Reference throughout this specification to‘one embodiment’ or‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases‘in one embodiment’ or‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0044] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.