II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

[001] The present invention relates to luggage rack extender and, more particularly, to a luggage rack extender that includes a folding assembly and an extender assembly engaged with the folding assembly that can be actuated to extend an outer frame in order to support a luggage article.

2. Description of the Related Art.

[002] Several designs for luggage platforms have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a luggage rack extender including a frame assembly, a extender assembly, and a folding assembly. The frame assembly includes a cross shaped frame with an operative top end. The extender assembly includes an outer rod mounted on the operative top end with an inner bar extending normally from opposing distal ends of the outer rod. The folding assembly includes a first outer bar and a second outer bar that are operatively engaged adjacently to the inner bars of the extender assembly. The extender assembly is slidably actuated from the folding assembly to enable an extended frame configuration.

[003] It is known that luggage often has an opened butterfly configuration with two halves. Often a user needs a platform to support both halves of the luggage. However, some platforms to not have the surface area needed to support the luggage in the opened configuration. Therefore there is a need for a luggage rack extender to provide an extended configuration to provide the surface area and support necessary to support the luggage in an opened configuration and can be discretely stored. [004] Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. patent No. 5,016,367 issued for an ironing board that includes a main board and two swingable board extensions retractable attached to the main board. Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. patent No. 10,035,447 issued for an elevating storage apparatus for storing an article or articles in an elevated position. However, the cited references differ from the present invention because they fail to disclose a luggage rack extender comprising an extender assembly and a folding assembly to enable from a platform which can be actuated to provide and extended configuration and can be foldably actuated in order to provide a stored configuration for the extender.

[005] Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

Ill SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[006] It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a luggage rack extender that provides an extended platform to support a luggage in an opened configuration with two halves being entirely supported on the platform.

[007] It is another object of this invention to provide a luggage rack extender which provides a foldable configuration that allows a user to discretely store the luggage rack extender.

[008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a luggage rack extender that can be selectively engaged in a normal and extended configuration in order to support different variations of luggage. [009] It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

[010] Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Oi l] With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents an operative front view depicting a luggage in an opened configuration being supported on the luggage rack extender 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an operative isometric view of a luggage in a partially opened configuration being supported on the luggage rack extender 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of luggage rack extender 10 depicting folding assembly 60 being exploded from the extender assembly 40 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a representation of an isometric view of luggage rack extender 10 in a normal configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of luggage rack 10 extender in an extended configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates an isometric view of luggage rack extender 10 in a partially folded configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 represents an isometric view of luggage rack extender 10 in a fully folded configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a side plan view of luggage rack 10 extender in a normal configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 illustrates another side plan view of luggage rack extender 10 in an extended configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a representation of an isometric view of extender assembly 40 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows an isometric view of the second outer bar of the folding assembly 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 illustrates an isometric view of the first outer bar of the folding assembly 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 provides an enlarged isometric view of the extender assembly 40 and the folding assembly 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[012] Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed a luggage rack extender 10 which basically includes a frame assembly 20, an extender assembly 40, and a folding assembly 60.

[013] Frame assembly 20 can be properly observed in figure 3 of the provided drawings. Frame assembly 20 includes at least two cross members 22. In the present embodiment, cross members 22 are provided as cross shaped structural members that are foldable along a center axis. Additionally, the at least two cross members 22 are positioned parallel to each other and are aligned such that each axis of the cross members are also parallel to each other. Each of the at least two cross members are then joined together with support bars 24. In the present embodiment, support bars 24 can be provided as structural rod members that extend normally therefrom lateral side ends of the cross members 22. In one implementation, support bars 24 can be disposed along various sections of the cross members 22. In one embodiment, support bars 24 are disposed along the operative bottom end of the cross shaped members 22 in order to provide a base support to support the cross members 22 on a ground surface. Furthermore, a support bar 24 may also be disposed along a center of the cross member 22 in operative engagement with the center axis of the cross members 22.

[014] Frame assembly 20 further includes top bars 26 which are disposed on the operative top end of the cross members 22. In one embodiment, cross members 22 are provided as being parallel to each other and joined to the top distal ends of the cross members 22. Furthermore, as observed in the figures, top bars 26 have a length which is substantially longer that the length of support bars 24. As observed, top bars 26 comprise a length such that they extend outwardly from the sides of the cross shaped members 22. This configuration will be important in order to receive the extender assembly 40. Frame assembly further includes cloth strips 28 that are disposed on the operative top end of the cross members 22. In one embodiment, cloth strips 28 are engaged to the top bars 26 and extend in a normal configuration therefrom. The present implementation can feature a plurality of cloth strips 28 secured thereon in a parallel configuration to each other. This configuration results in a platform formed on the operative top end of the frame assembly 20 which can support an article thereon.

[015] Extender assembly 40 can be properly observed in figures 3 and 10 of the provided drawings. Extender assembly 40 includes an outer rod 42 disposed on the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. In one embodiment, outer rod 42 can be provided as a cylindrical rod member with a first end and a second end. In the present embodiment, the outer rod 42 has a length that is equal to a length of the top bars 26 of the frame assembly 20. As observed in the drawings, an outer rod 42 is provided for each of the tow top bars 26 engaged on the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. Outer rod 42 further includes an inner bar 44 that is operatively engaged to each of the first end and the second end of the outer rod 42. In the present embodiment, the inner bar 44 of the first and second end are provided to be in a parallel configuration to each other and, as such, extend in a normal configuration from the outer rod 42. In the present implementation, the outer rod 42 is disposed adjacent to the top bar 26 of the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. The outer rod 42 is positioned such that the outer rod 42 is the outer most rod on the lateral side of the operative top end of the frame assembly. The inner bars 44 are disposed such that they extend inwardly along the outer frame of the operative top end of the frame assembly 20.

[016] As observed in figure 3, each of the inner bars 44 are operatively coupled to the top bars 26 of the frame assembly 20. Each of the inner bars 44 includes a first operative end and a second operative end. An inner bar slit 46 is then formed entirely between the first operative end and the second operative end of the inner bar 44. The first operative end is coupled to the outer rod 42 and extends normally therefrom. The second outer end includes a mounting end 48 which is then engaged with the folding assembly 60. A distal most end of the top bar 26 is then operatively engaged within the inner bar slit 46 of the inner bars 44. In the present implementation, top bar 26 must be operatively secured within the inner bar slit 46 such that the distal most end of the top bar 26 is slidable entirely along the inner bar slit 46. Figure 5 depicts the embodiment of the top bar 26 slidably engaged with the inner bar slit 46 of the inner bar 44. In the present implementation the extender assembly 40 is disposed adjacent to each of the two top bars 26 of the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. As observed in figure 3, the inner bars 44 extend inwardly along the outer frame of the operative top end. However, the opposing inner bars 44 of the operative top end are not engaged with each other when secured to the top bars 26.

[017] Folding assembly 60 can be observed in figures 3, 11, and 12 of the provided figures. In the present implementation, folding assembly 60 serves to enable the frame assembly 20 to have a folded configuration and an extended configuration. Folding assembly 60 includes a first outer bar 62 and a second outer bar 65 each having a first operative end and a second operative end. In the present implementation, frame assembly 20 includes opposing lateral sides, with each lateral side having a first outer bar 62 and a second outer bar 65 operatively engage thereon to form an outer frame for the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. As observed in figure 3, the first operative end of the first outer bar 62 is securely engaged with one of the top bars 26 of the operative top end of the frame assembly 20. Furthermore, the second operative end of the first outer bar 62 is then mounted to the second outer bar 65. A first outer bar slit 63 is disposed entirely between the first operative end and the second operative end of the first outer bar 62. In the present implementation, the first outer bar slit 63 is aligned with the inner bar slit 46 of the inner bar 44. The mounting point 48 of the inner bar 44 is then slidably secured to the first outer bar slit 63 of the first outer bar. As a result, mounting point 48 can be slidably translated along the first outer bar slit 63. First outer bar 62 further includes a stopper 64 operatively disposed at the second operative end thereof. In the present embodiment, stopper 64 is a rectangular structural member that is provided integral to the operative second end. The stopper 64 extends normally from the second operative end at a bottom edge to provide support.

[018] In the present embodiment, the second outer bar 65 includes a first operative end and a second operative end with a second outer bar slit 66 located entirely between the first operative end and the second operative end. In the present embodiment, the first operative end of the second outer bar 65 is operatively coupled to the second operative end of the first outer bar 62 in order to form a joint 68 such that the first outer bar and the second outer bar are foldable with respect to each other. In the present embodiment, the first operative end of the second outer bar 65 is supported on the stopper 64 of the first outer bar 62. The stopper 64 allows the second outer bar 65 to rest thereon in order to prevent the first and second outer bar to fold beyond a desired amount. In the present implementation, the second operative end of the second outer bar 65 is mounted to the opposing top bar 26 of the operative top end of the frame assembly. Furthermore, the second outer bar slit 66 is then aligned with the inner bar slit of the opposing top bar 26. The mounting section 48 of the opposing top bar is then slidably engaged with the second outer bar slit 66 of the second outer bar 65. The second outer bar 65 further includes a cut portion 67 formed at the first operative end thereof. In the present embodiment, the cut portion 67 is a c-shaped cut portion formed along the top edge. The cut portion 67 is provided in order to prevent the frame assembly 20 to be folded further than a desired amount. Figures 6 and 7 depict the frame assembly 20 in a folded configuration. The frame assembly 20 in figure 6 is depicted in a partially folded configuration with the first outer bar 62 and the second outer bar 65 in an actuated configuration forming a V-shape. Figure 7 depicts a fully folded configuration with the frame assembly 20 being generally flat allowing the frame assembly to be stored in a variety of spaces. As observed the first outer bar 62 and the second outer bar 65 are fully aligned with each other in an upright configuration.

[019] In the present embodiment, the assembled configuration of the extender assembly 40 and the folding assembly 60 allows for the luggage rack extender 10 to have an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The retracted configuration can be observed in figure 4 of the provided drawings. The extended configuration can be observed in figure 5 of the provide drawings. In can be observed that in the retracted configuration, the outer rod 42 remains adjacent to the top bar 26 and the mounting section 48 of the inner bar 44 remains disposed along the outer slits of the first and second outer bar. A user may then actuate the outer rods 42 in order to extend them to provide additional structural support to the operative top end of the frame assembly. Once actuated, the mounting section 48 of the inner bar 44 is translated along the outer slit of the first and second outer bar, simultaneously the inner bar 44 is translated along the distal end of the top bar 26. This actuation results in the outer frame of the operative top end of the frame assembly 20 to be extended as depicted in figure 5. In the extended configuration, the operative top end of the frame assembly 20 can support luggage of large volume that open into a butterfly configuration as observed in figure 1 of the provided drawings. The present invention provides the benefit of having a discretely storable support platform that can be utilized to support luggage.

[020] The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

VI. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A luggage rack extender has several embodiments for industrial applicability. For example, the luggage rack extender provides an extended platform to support a luggage in an opened configuration with two halves being entirely supported on the platform. In one embodiment, the luggage rack extender presents a foldable configuration that allows a user to discretely store the luggage rack extender. In another embodiment, the luggage rack extender can be selectively engaged in a normal and extended configuration in order to support different variations of luggage. Furthermore, the luggage rack extender includes a frame assembly, an extender assembly, and a folding assembly. The frame assembly includes a cross shaped frame with an operative top end. The extender assembly includes an outer rod mounted on the operative top end with an inner bar extending normally from opposing distal ends of the outer rod. The folding assembly includes a first outer bar and a second outer bar that are operatively engaged adjacently to the inner bars of the extender assembly. The extender assembly is slidably actuated from the folding assembly to enable an extended frame configuration.