Field of the Invention

[0001] A new, sturdy, durable, and easy-to-assemble (and disassemble) garment rack of any desired configuration is provided. Such a device utilizes various dimensionally stable pipes of different lengths and with multiple slide-on or push-on connections for facilitating construction or take-down thereof as well as the capability to erect various different sizes and/or lengths of pipe components to allow for myriad configurations of the overall rack on demand by the user. The connectors individually include a central component of a 2-, 3-, or 4- way joint to which either all male or female connector pieces have been included to conform with complementary male or female connector pieces that have been included and attached to the pipes themselves. In such a manner, the subject pipes may be configured in any array to permit the user a manner of erecting any desired clothes rack therefrom through the utilization of such quick connector components (as opposed to requiring taxing and difficult-to-align screw-type mechanisms alone for each connection between a pipe and a joint). With such connectors and various pipe lengths, any desired number of garments may then be hung thereon, as well as any garment of any height, shape and/or length garments may be hung or displayed therefrom. Also, such connectors facilitate assembly and takedown of the subject rack if the user desires to move the rack from one location to another. A kit including various pipe lengths and a plurality of connectors, as well as base support components, is also encompassed within the invention. Background of the Invention

[0002] Garment racks typically take the form of one of two formats in the current industrial world. One is of very strong, for the most part, permanent construction to withstand significant stresses and weights. Such racks are generally formed from thick metal pipes (such as, galvanized steel, for instance) and are attached through metal joints in a configuration that allows for a free-standing device that is not taken down easily, if at all. The connections utilized in such typical racks are screw-type in nature and may also include welded joints to effectuate a permanent construction that is not easily dismantled, at least in terms of time needed for proper detachment to occur. Such structures are also rather difficult to assemble on demand and, being welded as a general rule, are nearly impossible to disassemble as well. As a result, although such prior racks provide very reliable and sturdy performance with large amounts of garments placed thereon, the use of such racks are limited to the shapes and configurations as provided by the manufacturer upon construction or through the specific end unit that is available to the user from the base supplies themselves. Once in place, the user is limited to the overall structure as constructed and such a device is not easily transported or otherwise moved to another location without great difficulty.

[0003] Typical temporary and/or collapsible garment racks are of much lighter weight and density such as plastic (polyvinyl chloride, as one example) pipe constructions with push- in connections are unreliable without permanent adhesives in place and/or joints that easily crack after limited uses. Other metal types include high-strength steel pipes but with pivotally mounted supports or knuckle joints to permit collapsibility. Such devices, unfortunately, lack the durability to be suitable for sustained hard usage, even though they may be relatively easy to construct and, as such, are rather quick to assemble and disassemble as a result. Unfortunately, such low-strength, low-durability constructions are typically limited in terms of the overall weight and thus numbers of garments that may be hung thereon during utilization because of the weaker construction accorded the user through such materials. The trade-off for the user is the potential versatility of transport and

reconfiguration of the overall device to accommodate different storage areas and different types of garments (such as in terms of height), but with a limit as to the reliability of such a structure to withstand large amounts of garments as well as a reduction in the number of assembly/disassembly steps undertaken as the plastic or light metal structures may exhibit an undesirable propensity to bend, warp, strain, or otherwise fail after repeated use in that manner. Furthermore, the knuckle, etc., joints that are present on collapsible racks, as alluded to above, are generally not suitable for repeated use in that manner as the inner workings of such joints exhibit hysteresis factors that render the joints ineffective, thereby reducing the useful life of the overall device itself.

[0004] As well, such prior art garment racks are limited in versatility to specific configurations that are pre-fabricated and eventually erected either at a manufacturing location or by the user. The ability to configure garment racks in any arrangement, particularly with a sturdy dimensionally stable base structure and within a collapsible form has not been made available to the garment rack industry to date.

[0005] A garment rack that permits reliable and repetitive quick assembly and disassembly on demand without any appreciable loss in overall strength or garment weight capacity from those noted as typical high strength racks above is thus a highly desirable aim within the garment rack industry, particularly to provide great versatility and reconfiguration possibilities for a garment rack user, not to mention the ability to dismantle (by disassembling the rack and moving the parts to a different location and reassembling the same in any configuration permitted) and/or transport such a device on demand (such as on wheel casters over various surfaces without losing dimensional stability of the connections and thus the overall strength and garment hanging capability overall). To date, the lack of provision of such a specific garment rack device is a glaring omission within the industry. This inventive device remedies such a shortcoming.

Advantages and Brief Description of the Invention

[0006] It is therefore a distinct advantage of this invention to permit a user the capability to erect any configuration garment rack on demand and through the facilitation of slide-on connectors. Another advantage of such an invention is the resiliency of the connections between pipe components during transport (by way of wheels, for instance) of the erected garment rack over various surfaces. Yet another advantage of the inventive garment rack is the capability of the user to disassemble such a structure easily through the detachment of the slide-on connectors at any number of connection sites as well as the facilitation of transport the disassembled component parts for assembly at a different location and in a different configuration, if desired, from any previous structure. Still another advantage of the present invention is the capability of the user to form any desired configuration of a clothes rack on demand to accord proper space for hanging garments of various and different sizes and lengths.

[0007] In accordance thereof, the present invention encompasses an easily assembled and disassembled garment rack comprising components sufficient to provide a reliable base for placement on a substantially flat surface, including a) at least three cylindrical pipes, each having two ends, and each end of said at least three pipes including an extension thereto, and b) at least four joints configured as connections between said base and said pipes, as well as a connection between said pipes to one another, wherein said joints include extensions thereto that are complementary in shape to easily connect with the extensions present on said at least three pipes; wherein, wherein said extensions present on said ends of said at least pipes and on said at least four joints permit connections between said pipe extensions and said joint extensions through a sliding or pressure mechanism that applies sufficient force for a reliable connection between said connectors such that a user may erect and disassemble said garment rack on demand through disconnection of said pipe and joint extensions, and wherein said at least three cylindrical pipes may be of any length that allows for proper connections to be achieved between said pipes to accord the user any desired configuration of garment hanging capability that complements the base structure on which said garment rack structure is erected. A method of erecting and/or disassembling such a garment rack utilizing such a device is encompassed within this invention as well as a kit including a sufficient amount of connectors and pipes of varying lengths to supply a user the capability of erecting a garment rack with a myriad number of variations in terms of areas for potential garment placement and hanging.

[0008] The basic concept of the invention is the ability to form any number of different configurations of a clothes rack on demand through an easy-to-erect (and, as a result, easy-to-takedown) device. Such an invention includes a collection of various lengths of pipes and multi-directional joints, with both the pipes and joints including extensions that are complementary to one another (such as male and female ends for internal introduction and attachment; the joints would have extensions from each opening thereof, with each extension being the same basic configuration of male or female structure with the pipes including complementary extensions of either all male or female types, with the joints including all of one type and the pipes have all of the other type. With such easy-to-use fastening connection devices (and thus, the avoidance of potentially cumbersome screw-in structures that are not easy to align properly with others in such a situation), the pipe components may be easily aligned and connected to one another through the joints to form any desired clothes rack configuration to allow for number and type of subject garment in terms of height and width to be hung and/or displayed thereupon on demand and in any location the user chooses to erect such an apparatus.

[0009] As noted above, prior art clothes rack devices are limited in terms of single configurations that are designed specifically in terms of height and width availability. To the contrary, the instant invention of a quick construction and versatile clothes rack system is available through the utilization of slide or pressure-type connectors that reliably hold the component parts together and are simple to operate for such a purpose.

[0010] Thus, to that end, the inventive clothes racks are based upon collections (or more specifically, kits) of multiple pipes of varying size and multiple multi-directional (at least 2- and up to 4 channels therein) joints for proper pipe connections at 90 or 180 degree angles to be allowed. Within the joint channels, specifically sized, shaped, and otherwise configured connection components are introduced for attachment with complementarily shaped connections components attached to the subject pipes at both ends thereof.

Additionally, then, the kits at issue must also include a standard base of four footed structures (with or without casters or other movement permitting components) to provide a level from which the other pipes can then be connected, either on the floor or above on the footed or wheeled base structures. Although any number of different length pipes may be employed within such kits, for simplicity (as well as overall weight purposes, the inventive kit should have from 4 to ten different lengths of pipe (of sufficient strength to withstand typical pressures and weights associated with garments), counting at most about 30 to 40 total pipes for provision of all necessary components to erect at least one secure, sturdy, and reliable clothes rack therefrom. With so many pipe components, however, as well as large numbers of joints and properly introduced and secured connection extensions, the user may actually have the capability to erect more than one such clothes racks on demand.

[001 1] ]The pipes themselves may be stored and transported within any number of enclosures, included a woven or knit bag or hard plastic case from which the user may remove the necessary number of joints and pipes (all with the necessary quick connection exntensions present thereon) to erect any desired clothes rack design.

[0012] The pipes themselves made from metal or hard plastic (and preferably, though not necessarily, hollow in structure; solid metal or hard plastic may be utilized, however, such pipes would increase the weight of the overall kit to be transported). As one example, seven different lengths of pipe would allow for myriad potential configurations of the inventive clothes rack, as well, including multiple pipes of differing lengths of 5 feet (3 pipes), 4.5 feet (5 pipes), 4 feet (7 pipes), 3.5 feet (9 pipes), 2.5 feet (1 1 pipes), 2 feet (11 pipes), and 10 inches (18 pipes), with 5 different quick connectors included, providing 90 degree connections (4 for connection with wheels or as bases for placement on a floor surface, and 12 for pipe connections), 12 3-way (T-shaped) connectors for two 90 degree connections between pipes and one 180 degree connection between pipes, and 3 4-way connectors (roughly X-shaped) with all 90 degree connections between pipes. Such a kit should also include, as alluded to above, four base feet (or posts including casters, wheels, and the like, to permit transport of the erected clothes rack, if desired), to be connected with a suitable pipe or multiple pipe configuration on which the remaining pipes are to be extended from. In such a collection of materials, then, the user may quickly and reliably construct any desired configuration to comport with any array of different articles of clothing (or other types of goods that may be hung on a horizontal plane for display, storage, or other purpose, including, without limitation, goods such as handbags, paper sheets, artist canvases, carpet samples, head gear, and the like).

[0013] Such an inventive system, kit, and device, thus allows for a user to modify a clothes rack on demand to meet any necessary requirements for storage, display, or other purpose, of any variety of goods. The accessibility of the slide and/or pressure connectors allows, additionally, the capability of the user to erect and/or take-down such a clothes rack quickly and safely for storage or modification into a different configuration. For example, if the user is in a clothing store that one day has a large supply of long dresses for display for sale, the user may erect, quickly and easily, a clothes rack that is solely configured for such a large supply with two vertical pipes of 5 or more feet in length parallel to one another and spaced apart through two horizontal pipes (of, for example, 5 feet in length) also parallel to one another but connected to the vertical pipes at their ends to accord the user 5 feet of display space to hang such long dresses, and 5 feet of height to allow for full display off the ground of such clothing articles. If the user would like to add another segment to the rack for the purpose of displaying multiple handbags, or perhaps blouses, as merely examples, the user may do one of two things (at least), such as taking down the erected clothes rack and adding suitable connectors to include further pipes adjacent to the 5 feet vertical and horizontal ones already in place, such that the user may split one of the vertical pipes into two separate 2.5 feet pipes with a suitable three-way connector at the mid-point allowing for a horizontal pipe to be included perpendicularly to the connected vertical pipes. As well, the user could then include a three-way connector at the intersection of the top horizontal and the top vertical pipe to allow for another horizontal pipe to extend in parallel relation to the midpoint one described above. Then, the user could then add a two-way connector to the top horizontal extension pipe connect that to a vertical pipe of 2.5 feet, parallel to the same length vertical pipe noted previously, and then utilize another 3-way connector to snap the mid-point horizontal pipe into place parallel to the top horizontal pipe, and to connect a last 2.5 foot long vertical pipe to complete the connections (but, with one last extension at the bottom to permit the proper extension of the base to mirror that of the vertical and horizontal additions). In that manner, through a simple quick connection device, the user may erect a strong, reliable and properly configured clothes rack in very little time that permit display of all desired dresses, blouses, and handbags without undesirable draping to the floor or in overlap with a lower display. Such versatility is not limited to such a modification, as the description below will attest, but is a proper explanation as to the capability and previously unavailable benefits of the present inventive clothes rack system.

[0014] As noted previously, the prior art clothes rack devices are all limited to single configurations and rely specifically on geometric patterns or unique connection devices to provide reliability to a user. The present invention, to the contrary, has taken into consideration the potential need for a user to require different configurations for clothes display and/or storage (or for any other reason, as alluded to above, concerning display or storage through hanging from a horizontal bar structure), the need to do so quickly and conveniently, the need to provide a reliable and strong device once erected, and the possible need to allow for transportation of the erected device easily with the necessarily displayed and/or stored goods hanging therefrom. Furthermore, in addition to such beneficial reasons for the quick change design and capability of the invention, all of this is supplied through a kit collection of all the necessary pipes, base feet, and connectors at the user's disposal, and with a structure that will not appreciable bend or deteriorate in terms of dimensional stability and integrity during use, construction, or take-down, thus allowing the user a long-term capability of providing such a reliable clothes rack on demand for many years and for repeated modifications, as needed.

[0015] The individual pipes are preferably stainless steel in construction (for reduced propensity of rusting), although aluminum, brass, and any other suitable, and cost-effective, metal and/or alloy would work. In terms of hard plastic possibilities, polyvinyl chloride pipes, polyacrylic pipes, and other thermoset types may be utilized, in addition to linear low density polyethylene and certain polypropylene materials that may provide the needed strong pipes and dimensional stability during use. Preferably, the diameter of such pipes is conducive to standard sizes of hangers, such as from 1.5 to 3 inches. The pipes may also be threaded on both ends in order to allow for connection with a connector of one pipe, at most, through a screw-type component. In that manner, the pipes may be already connected to such connectors prior to further introduction through slide and/or pressure means of the remaining pipe or pipes, and, additionally, permits the user to keep the connectors on pipe structures when not in use through a reliable screw-type connection. The slide and/or pressure connections are necessarily present for at least one pipe per connector to permit the quick construction and take-down benefits of the invention, as a result. Thus, the possible screw-in connection is not outside the scope of the invention to any extent as long as at least one pipe per connection is constructed through the quick connection means described herein. In effect, the "permanent" screw-in connection facilitates even faster construction and take- down speeds since the quick ("temporary") connections are not necessary for each and every pipe connection site.

[0016] The joints themselves are preferably metal in nature as well, and the extensions from the pipes as well as the joints, too, in order to withstand repetitive movements and device modifications, as well as to best ensure the connections between the pipes and joints are strong and reliable and will not easily come apart during use or transport. Such a metal material is, as above, preferably, though not necessarily, stainless steel; any of the other types of materials noted above for the pipes, however, may also be utilized for the connectors, with metal, again, preferable to hard plastic. Importantly, the ultimate construction of the overall clothes rack device, of any configuration, aids in the capability of the device to remain rigid and in place, and, additionally, to ensure the quick connections do not come apart during use or transport, as the pressures applied at each connection will be sufficient to retain the structural integrity of the overall device once in place. Also, of benefit through the utilization of a slide-on/pressure type connector is the unexpectedly quick manner of simply placing a pipe within the female portion of a connector and then introducing the male portion therein. Since the two connection components have already been screwed or soldered (or any other like manner of attachment) onto the ends of the pipes as well as into the openings of the 2-, 3-, or 4-way joints at issue, the user need not worry about properly aligning the pipes subsequent or during any screw-in step, thus avoiding the potential problems of misalignment and the time needed to correct for any such problems during device assembly. In other words, if the entire device were to be built through the utilization of threaded pipes and open, complementarily threaded joints alone, the user would necessarily start by screwing one end of a threaded joint onto a pipe and then connect the other end of the same pipe to a different joint, all while trying to align both joints properly to permit further pipes to be introduced and connected properly for properly alignment overall to take place. With multiple pipes requiring such handling and alignment, the user would face a daunting task to make sure all the connections are not just properly aligned, but that the connections themselves are securely in place to prevent loosening and possible detachment during use and/or transport. Again, the inventive quick connection devices overcome such potential deficiencies as the initial connections of the pipes to connections devices have already occurred prior to ultimate connection between female and male portions thereof.

[0017] Additionally, the development of a quick connection component for all pipe- joint attachments allows the user the capability of assembling the overall garment (clothes) rack into any desired configuration (with the only real limitation being the availability of sufficient amounts of proper pipe lengths and joint alignments in conjunction with the length and shape of the base portion) to accommodate the user's needs for hanging and/or displaying desired clothing or other types of items thereon. Contrary to the all of the prior art devices in the garment rack art, this versatility has not been available such users as the prior art devices did not permit more than one configuration. As such, the inclusion of sufficient numbers of different pipe lengths and joints, with the provision that the user need not utilize all of such components to erect a desired garment rack on demand at any one time (with suitably supplied extensions for connection with complementary extensions present on all of the joints simultaneously supplied in kit form) is unique and heretofore unavailable to the industry.

[0018] Furthermore, the base of the overall clothes rack device should include at least four base feet that may or may not include wheels, casters, or other maneuvering means to allow for transport of the rack after construction (if no such movable means are included, the feet should include a cap that will not appreciably scratch or otherwise mar a floor surface when the entire rack is placed thereon). The four feet should be placed at the corners of the entire base to allow for proper balancing as needed, and will contact the floor. Such a base may be provided as an already-constructed component within the kit or may be separated for the user to put together as needed. The connectors for the pipes of the base may be of the quick-type variety as described above, or they may be solely of the screw-type with proper joint connectors in place. The only limitation of such a configuration is based upon the demands of the user and whether an extended base would be required for greater display space for the overall clothes rack during use. In any event, the same materials as listed above for the pipes and connectors may be utilized for the base component(s) as well. As well, in order to allow for the erection of more than one garment rack at any one time, the kit of the invention may include a second base set for such a purpose.

[0019] Importantly, then, the overall inventive system (kit, device, method) includes proper connecting extensions from the component pipe ends and the component joint openings to permit the necessary quick connection and disconnection on demand to facilitate overall assembly and disassembly of the subject garment rack to and from any desired configuration. Such extensions include male and female ends to effectuate proper connections to such a degree. In practice, then, to assure that the user is permitted free utilization of such connections for assembly of any configuration garment rack on demand, all of the extensions from the pipe components should be the same in design (i.e., either all male or all female in alignment) and, to allow for proper connections, as well, the extensions from the joint components should also be the same in design, but the opposite of those present as extensions from the pipe components. Thus, if all the pipe components include male extensions, then all of the joint components include female extensions; conversely, if the pipe components are all female extensions, then all of the joint components include male extensions. The extensions themselves may be attached to the subject pipe ends or joint openings through any number of ways, including, without limitation, utilizing threaded pipe ends to screw into receptacles within male or female extension portions, thus allowing for the male or female extension to protrude from the pipe end at issue without any requirement for alignment for proper connection to exist with the complementary extension from a joint component. As well, the joints at issue are hollow to allow for introduction of threaded portions of the male or female extensions for screw-in attachment, thus allowing for the availability of the joint extensions for connection with the pipe end extension. As with the pipe component extensions, due to the lack of any need for alignment for such a proper connection to occur (i.e., upon complete attachment to the joint opening, there are no requirements, such as snaps, lips, rims, or other connection means, to achieve the connection between the male and female extensions themselves), the presence of the extension from the joint component is sufficient for pipe connection once contact and either sliding of an external sleeve over both the male and female extension ends is made or proper insertion of the male extension end into the female extension end and a bushing or like pressure means is activated. Additionally, the sliding mechanism may include a rotating portion to provide a tighter pressure over the male/female connection for more reliable attachment between the two components. In any event, the capability for suitable and sufficient connection between a pipe extension and a joint extension is clear from such a description and the user, again, does not need to provide any alignment of the pipe and joint components except for insertion of the male extension within the female extension and activating the closure mechanism (through sliding a sleeve, activating a pressure bushing, and any other like means) thereover to achieve the desired reliable connection. As opposed to prior art screw-type devices for such a purpose, which require the user to align the joint properly of not only the specific connection point for one pipe and one joint, but to a disposition that permits further introduction of at least one other pipe at a proper alignment for yet another connection to occur at a proper alignment. Again, this inventive garment rack, development avoids all such possible difficulties through the removal of any guessing and further alignment needs through the utilization of the connection extensions as described herein. The extensions may be, as noted above, screw into place within and over threaded sleeves and portions to allow for proper attachment to pipe ends and joint openings, or, as well, such extensions may be attached through soldering, snap-in mechanisms, or any other reliable connections means for such a purpose. The reliability of the attachment of such extensions to such pipes and joints is the main issue as well as the presentment of the suitable all-male extensions for one set of such components and all-female for the other, in total. With such a set-up in place, the user then has, at his or her disposal, the full breadth of possible configurations from multiple pipes and joints for myriad designs with the ease of assembly and disassembly to achieve such ends on demand. Heretofore, no such systems for garment rack configurations on demand have been accorded the industry. [0020] All the features of this invention and its preferred embodiments will be described in full detail in connection with the following illustrative, but not limiting, drawings, wherein:

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of each component part of an entire kit that may be used to produce all of the garment racks in FIGs. 14 through 42.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of one potentially preferred base structure for one potentially preferred embodiment of the entire clothes rack of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the same base structure of FIG. 2.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a close-up cross-section side view of a 2-way 180 degree slide connector component and a pipe prior to connection.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a close-up cross-section side view of a 2-way 180 degree slide connector component subsequent to connection to a pipe.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a close-up cross-section side view of a 90 degree slide connector component and a pipe prior to connection.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a close-up cross-section side view of a 90 degree slide connector component and a pipe subsequent to connection.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a close-up cross-section side view of a three-way slide connector component and a pipe prior to connection.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a close-up cross-section side view of a three-way slide connector component and a pipe subsequent to connection.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a close-up cross-section side view of a single-plane four-way slide connector component and a pipe prior to connection.

[0031] FIG. 11 is a close-up cross-section side view of a single-plane four-way slide connector component and a pipe subsequent to connection.

[0032] FIG. 12 is a close-up cross-section side view of a vertical and horizontal four- way slide connector component and a pipe prior to connection.

[0033] FIG. 13 is a close-up cross-section side view of a vertical and horizontal four- way slide connector component and a pipe subsequent to connection.

[0034] FIG. 14 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 15 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 14.

[0036] FIG. 16 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 17 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 16.

[0038] FIG. 18 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 19 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 18.

[0040] FIG. 20 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 21 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 20.

[0042] FIG. 22 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 23 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 22.

[0044] FIG. 24 is an aerial perspective of the configuration of FIG. 22.

[0045] FIG. 25 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 26 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 25.

[0047] FIG. 27 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 28 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 27.

[0049] FIG. 29 is an aerial perspective of the configuration of FIG. 27.

[0050] FIG. 30 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0051] FIG. 31 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 30.

[0052] FIG. 32 is an aerial perspective of the configuration of FIG. 30.

[0053] FIG. 33 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 34 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 33.

[0055] FIG. 35 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 36 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 35.

[0057] FIG. 37 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0058] FIG. 38 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 37. [0059] FIG. 39 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 40 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 39.

[0061] FIG. 41 is a side perspective of one potential configuration available from the kit of FIG. 1.

[0062] FIG. 42 is a full width perspective of the configuration of FIG. 40.

Detailed Description of the Drawings and Preferred Embodiments

[0063] provides an exploded view of one potentially preferred collection (kit) of components that may be used to form any number of different garment rack configurations. To that end, there are five different joints 1 11, 1 12, 113, 114, 1 15 each having a female connection extension 1 16 attached thereto at each opening. One type is a 2- way perpendicular joint 1 1 1 with openings for extensions 1 16 disposed in like manner, another is a 2-way 180 degree joint 1 12, another is a three-way joint 1 13 with two 90 degree openings, another is a 4-way joint 1 14 with openings in the same plane spaced 90 degrees from another, and the last is a 4-way joint 1 15 with three openings in the same plane, with all three spaced 90 degrees from one of the other openings, but two of them spaced 180 degrees from each other, and the fourth opening disposed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the other three and 90 degrees from each of the other as well. To permit versatility to a user in constructing garment racks (110 in FIGs. 14 through 42) of myriad different

configurations, different numbers of such joints 111, 1 12, 1 13, 114, 115 are provided within the kit; twelve each for the 2-way 11 1, 112 and 3-way joints 1 13, same-plane four 4-way joints 1 14, and four two-plane 4-way joints 1 15 are included for such a purpose in this kit embodiment. Additionally, there are provided eight wheel joints 1 17 that may or may not include extensions 1 16 for connections with suitable base pipes to allow for a proper pedestal on which the entire rack (1 10 in FIGs. 14 through 42) is to stand after construction and during use. Only four of such wheel joints 117 are needed for any single rack (1 10 of FIGs. 14 through 42), but the extra four allows for a second rack to be constructed if desired from the kit. Furthermore, four tunnel sleeves 118 are provided that allow for the introduction of a pipe without connection thereto in order to allow for rotation of a set of pipes, if desired, around a pipe axis (as in FIGs. 34 and 35) to increase to surface area available for garment display. Such tunnel sleeves may or may not include extensions 1 16 for pipe connections at locations 90 degrees from the tunnel therein. Such pipe connections may be may through screwing into threaded portions of the tunnel sleeves 1 18, if desired, although extension connections are also available for such a purpose. The pipes themselves 1 19, 120, 121 , 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 number eight different lengths (for this potentially preferred embodiment, these are 5 feet, or 152.4 cm, 4.5 feet, or 137.2 cm, 4 feet, or 122 cm, 3.5 feet, 106.7 cm, 3 feet 91.4 cm, 2.5 feet, or 76.2 cm, 2 feet, or 61 cm, and 1 foot, 30.5 cm, respectively; any number of different length pipes may be employed for this purpose with the only requirement that the user have access to the extensions 116, 127 for the quick assembly and disassembly, with the understanding that greater length distributions permit greater possible numbers of available configurations for construction by the user) and each includes a male extension 127 attached to the ends thereof. The base (1 10A of FIGs. 14-42) is made from one 5 foot (152.4 cm) pipe 1 19 with two two-plane 4-way joints 115 attached to the ends thereof through the female and male extensions 1 16, 127 with four 4.5 inch (1 1 cm) pipes 125 attached to each joint 1 13 through the extensions 1 16, 127, with four wheel joints 1 18 attached to the four 1 foot pipes 126 through extensions 116, 127, with the wheels all present in the same plane to provide a balanced and level surface to permit construction of the remaining portions of the inventive clothes rack (provided in greater detail in FIGs. 2 and 3 with the connection between the pipe and joint 208 shown as indicative of all such connections for all 4 wheel joints 117). To allow for such further construction, the two-plane joints 1 15 are connected to the base components in such a manner as to allow for pipes to connect to extensions 127 leading from the joints openings that are disposed vertically in relation to the base pipe 1 19 (and thus are not in the same plane as the other joint openings). Such a specific base is not required of all embodiments that meet the clothes rack configurations encompassed within the invention as the cross pipe is not a necessity, nor is the utilization of one single cross pipe a limitation (a rectangular base, for example, may be employed to provide greater stability overall if desired. In any event, from the base described above for the potentially preferred embodiments of FIGs. 14-42, discussed supra, the other pipes and connecting joints (all with extensions as discussed above) are attached thereto as shown as some examples of the versatility of the inventive kit with quick connection devices in terms of the myriad configurations available the user on demand.

[0064] FIGs. 2 and 3 show partial views of one possible base configuration 1 10A for all of the non-limiting embodiments presented in FIGs. 14-42. A 4-way joint 1 15 is connected simultaneously to two perpendicular 5 foot pipes 119, 1 19A (1 19A is the cross pipe to the other base end shown in FIGs. 14 through 40 and 1 19 is the pipe that creates a vertical plane from the base with another pipe or pipes opposite to this pipe extending vertically from the other base end as shown in FIGs. 14 through 42). As well, the 4-way joint

1 15 is connected to two opposing 1 foot pipes 127 that are connected themselves to two 2- way wheel joints 1 17, with all the connections between the individual pipes and joints created by female and male connection extensions as depicted in FIGs. 4-13 with 4-way joint connections 205 and 2-way wheel joint connections 208 for such a purpose. Again, the opposing base end is erected in the same manner to provide a sturdy platform to which further pipe components and joints may be attached to provide any desired clothes rack configuration. To that end, both the horizontal cross pipe 119A and the vertical 5 foot pipe 1 19 may be any length pipe desired and do not have to be of the 5 foot type. Some examples of structures that are then constructed from such a base 1 10A are provided in FIGs. 14-42, without any limitation as to the configurations available through such a kit and clothes rack construction system as described herein. Unless indicated below in FIGs. 14 through 42, the length of the crosspipe 119 of the base 11 OA is 5 feet.

[0065] Thus, FIGs. 4 through 13 show closer views of the quick connections of the potentially preferred embodiment with a sliding attachment mechanism and male and female extensions from pipe ends and joint openings. FIGs. 4 and 5 depict the unattached and attached positions, respectively, of the first 2-way joint 1 1 1 with a pipe end 210. In this illustration, the pipe end 210 (which may be in relation to any length pipe utilized in the kit) has a male connection extension 212 attached thereto through a screw-type means allowing for a threaded pipe end 214 to screw into a properly aligned cavity 216. To facilitate such attachment, a bolt neck 218 is provided. The female connection extension 232 thus also includes a connection cavity 220 that is loosely attached to a base post 222. Additionally, the connection cavity 220 may also, if desired, twist around the base post 222 with a threaded internal surface (not illustrated). The 2-way joint 11 1 includes two openings 224, 226 that are disposed 180 degree from one another and include properly threaded inner surfaces 228, 230 for attachment with female connection extensions 232, 234 which, themselves, includes their own bolt necks 236, 238 for facilitation of such attachment. The male connection extension 212 thus includes a male post 240 situated on a pedestal 244 that is narrower that the male post 240, which, in turn, is placed on a further pedestal 248 that is wider than the narrow pedestal 244 and allows for attachment within the cavity 220 female connection extension 232. Thus, in FIG. 5, one of the joint openings 224 is aligned through its female connection extension 232 with the male connection extension 212 of the subject pipe end 210 and the female connection cavity 220 is properly situated over the male post 240 creating a reliable connection 252 between the pipe 210 and the joint 1 11. The user may then also connect a pipe to the free female connection extension 234 through the same type of arrangement.

[0066] Likewise, then FIGs. 6 and 7 show a 2-way joint 1 12 having a 90 degree disposition between joint openings 254, 256 with a proper female connection extensions 232, 234 attached thereto as described for the 180 degree 2-way joint 1 11 of FIGs. 4 and 5. As such, the subject pipe end 210 includes the same type of male connection extension 212 and attaches to the female joint extension 232 in the same manner to create a proper and reliable connection 258 between the pipe 210 and the joint 1 12. The free extension 234 may then be attached to a free pipe, as above, as well.

[0067] Thus, FIGs. 8 and 9 show a 3-way joint 113 including the same types of female connection extensions 232, 234 as for FIGs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. An additional female connection extension 260 is included, naturally, for this joint 1 13, as well, and such is provided to perform and be utilized in the same fashion as the extensions noted above (a male connection extension 212 is introduced within the cavity 220 of a female connection extension 212 for proper alignment and reliable connection 262, in FIG. 7, between such components). As above, the user may then connect pipes to the remaining male connection extensions 234, 260 as desired and as needed for further construction of a desired clothes rack configuration.

[0068] The 4-way joint 1 14 of FIGs. 10 and 11 thus show the same type of connection 266 as between pipes and joints, above. A similar type would be available with the vertical/horizontal plane 4-way joint 1 15, described above, too. The vertical and horizontal 4-way joint 1 15 of FIGs. 12 and 13 thus show, as well, the same type of connection 268, as well, but with the availability of three horizontal openings 270, 272, 274 and one vertical opening 276.

[0069] Thus, utilizing the base as described supra, and the connections of FIGs. 5, 7,

9, and 1 1, with the base (1 10A of FIGs. 14-42) utilizing the connections of FIG. 13, at least, the user may then determine any appropriate configuration of a clothes rack made from the components of FIG. 1, quickly and reliably. FIGs. 14 through 42 thus show some of the different possible designs and configurations such an inventive kit and quick connection system may provide.

[0070] In each of the following configurations in FIGs. 14 through 42, the user may erect such different rack as he or she decides is suitable. In practice, however, the initial erection of the base 1 10A followed by the introduction of the vertical pipes to form the vertical plane thereof is preferred in order to avoid having to build a separate portion and attempting to connect an entire separate device to the base at issue. Again, as noted throughout, the availability of the quick connection devices for such a purpose greatly facilitates such construction and, if necessary, take down, of the inventive versatile racks themselves.

[0071] FIGs. 14 and 15 show a simple square-shaped configuration utilizing three 5 foot pipes 1 19, 1 19A, 1 19B connected to two 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 1 12A through the connection shown in FIG. 7 set on the base described above (with a fourth 5 foot pipe 1 19 completing the square)(and, as noted previously, for these potentially preferred

configurations, the same base is utilized for the remaining illustrations).

[0072] FIGs. 16 and 17 provide a divided rectangular configuration with two horizontal 5 foot pipes 119, 1 19A parallel to one another and two sets of vertical 2.5 foot pipes 122, 122A, 122B, 122C parallel to one another disposed at 90 degree angles from the 5 foot pipes 1 19, 119A through two 90 degree 2-way joints 113, 113A and two 3-way joints 1 14, 114A.

[0073] FIGs. 18 and 19 provide an elongated rectangular configuration, with FIGS.

20 and 21 providing a reverse positioning of the vertical pipes of FIGs. 16 and 17 to provide a similar structure. Two 2 foot pipes 123, 123 A are parallel to one another and vertically aligned at 90 degree angles from two 4 foot pipes 121, 121A while two more 4.5 foot pipes 120, 120A are present vertically and either above (FIGs. 18 and 19) or below (FIGs. 20 and 21) the two 2 foot pipes 123, 123A. The top pipes (being 4 foot pipes) 121 , 121A are attached to either of the two 2 foot pipes 123, 123A or 2 4.5 foot pipes 120, 120A through two 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 1 12A (with, again, proper connection extensions as in FIGs. 6 and 7). A cross pipe of 4.5 feet 121B is present in the base 1 10A to accommodate the length of the entire rack, as well for FIGs. 18, 19, 20, and 21.

[0074] FIGs. 22 and 23 show a different type of elongated rectangular configuration with two parallel horizontal 5 foot pipes 1 19, 1 19A and two sets of two parallel 3 foot pipes 123, 123A, 123B, 123C connected via two 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 112A and two 3-way joints 1 13, 1 13A (using, as with all the illustrations provided herein, the connection extensions as depicted in FIGs. 2 through 13).

[0075] FIGs. 24, 25, and 26 provide a unique configuration with pipes extending from the top of the overall rack 110 in both directions 90 degrees from the main vertical plane. To that end, two 4.5 foot pipes 120, 120A are provided in vertical disposition parallel to one another with two parallel 2.5 foot pipes 124, 124A present in the same lines as the two 4.5 foot pipes 120, 120A and attached via the 180 degree openings of a 3-way joint 113, 1 13A. These four pipes 120, 120A, 124, 124A provide the vertical plane, with a 3.5 foot cross pipe 122 attached to the third joint openings of the same 3-way joint 1 13 as those four pipes 120, 120 A, 124, 124A (as well, a 3.5 foot cross pipe 122B is present in the base 110A). At the top of the 4 foot pipes 120, 120A are two more 3-way joints 1 13B, 1 13C to which two sets of 1 foot pipes 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D are attached to provide extensions away from the vertical plane of the rack. At the end of each 1 foot pipe 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D are four 90 degree 2-way joints 112, 112A, 1 12B, 112C (again, as always, with the quick connection extensions as defined above) with two 3.5 foot pipes 122C, 122D attached to the other openings thereof to form a horizontal rectangular configuration at the very top of the rack 1 10.

[0076] FIGs. 27 and 28 provide a configuration with an internal square pattern within a broader square pattern. One 5 foot pipe 119 is vertically disposed from the base 1 1 OA to attach with a 90 degree 2-way joint 112 to which is attached a first 2.5 foot pipe 123 which, in turn, is attached to a 3-way joint 1 13. Two separate 2.5 foot pipes 123A, 123B are then attached to that 3-way joint 1 13 with one disposed horizontally and in line with the first 2.5 foot pipe 123 and the other vertically disposed downward 90 degrees therefrom. The top pipe 123A then attaches to another 90 degree 2-way joint 1 12A to another 2.5 foot pipe 123C that is disposed parallel to the other 123B and leading downward to another 3-way joint 1 13 A. The inner square pattern is then completed with the first downward 2.5 foot pipe 123B attached to a 90 degree 2-way joint 1 12B that is attached to another horizontally disposed 2.5 foot pipe 123D that is attached as well to the previously noted 3-way joint 1 13 A. The broader square is then completed with a last 2.5 foot pipe 123E that leads vertically downward to the 4-way joint 115 of the base 1 10A.

[0077] FIGs. 29, 30, and 31 illustrate another rack 1 10 with horizontal extensions from the vertical plane. Two 4 foot pipes 121, 121A are disposed parallel to one another horizontally and spaced by two sets of parallel, vertical 3 foot pipes 123, 123A, 123B, 123C

(with a third horizontal 4 foot cross pipe 12 IB present in the base 1 10A). The top of the rack

1 10 is actually a rectangular configuration formed by two parallel sets of two in-line 1 foot pipes 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D that are perpendicular to two 4 foot pipes 121C, 121D, separated by four properly disposed 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12A, 1 12B, 1 12C, 1 12D. The vertical 3 foot pipes 123 A, 123C are attached to the four 1 foot pipes 126A, 126B, 126C,

126D via two 3-way joints 1 13, 1 13A. Midway between the top and the base 1 10A is another double set of 3-way joints 1 3B, 1 13C that are attached to vertically disposed 3 foot pipes 123A, 123C leading downward to the 4-way joints 1 15 of the base 1 10A. As well, the 3-way joints 1 13 at the midpoint of the vertical plane of the rack 1 10 are attached to two parallel 1 foot pipes 126E (second not illustrated) spaced apart and attached to two separate

90 degree 2-way joints 1 12 that are simultaneously attached to the same 4 foot pipe 121 A to provide a midsection extension from the vertical plane of the rack 1 10, as well. [0078] Furthermore, then, FIGs. 32, 33, and 34 provide yet another configuration with extensions away from the vertical plane of the rack 1 10. In this situation, three concentric rectangular formations are present at different heights along the vertical plane. The vertical plane is erected from two parallel sets of three pipes, two bottom pipes of 2.5 feet 123, 123A, and four bottom pipes of 2 feet 124D, 124E, 124F, 124G. The bottom 2.5 foot pipes 123, 123A are attached to same-plane 4-way joints 1 14, 1 14A to provide the attachment to the middle 2 foot pipes 124F, 124G, as well as to provide extensions in both directions perpendicular from the vertical plane at the 2.5 foot level. The bottom vertical 2 foot pipes 124F, 124G are also attached to same-plane 4-way joints 1 14B, 1 14C for the same basic purpose. Thus, two sets of 2 foot pipes 124B, 124C are also present at the top of the vertical plane and are attached to 3-way joints 1 13, 1 13A to allow for such pipe extensions at that height. Twelve 1 foot pipes 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D, 126E, 126F, 126G, 126H (with four not illustrated) extend from the 2.5 foot level 4-way joints 1 14B, 114C, the 4.5 foot level 4- way joint 1 14 and the top 3-way joint 1 13, 1 13A, with each rectangular configuration at those heights completed by two 2 foot cross pipes 124, 124 A, 124B, 124H (the other two not illustrated) attached to twelve properly situated 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 112A, 1 12B, 1 12C, 1 12D, 1 12E, 1 12F, 1 12G (the other four not illustrated). The base 110A includes an appropriately provided 2 foot cross pipe 124C, as well.

[0079] FIGs. 35 and 36 depict a same plane disposition of available display space, but with two elevated small square patterns over a lower rectangular pattern. To achieve this configuration, the user would attach two parallel 4 foot pipes 121, 121A to the vertical openings (with proper extensions in place for quick connections, as throughout) of the 4-way joint 1 15 of the base 1 10A. Each top end of those two 4 foot pipes 121 , 121 A would then be attached to a 3-way joint 113, 113A to allow for two other vertically disposed (in-line) 2 foot pipes 124, 124A to be attached as well as two horizontally disposed 2 foot pipes 124B, 124C to be added perpendicular to the vertical plane. The top vertical 2 foot pipes 124, 124A are then connected with separate 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 1 12A for introduction, eventually, of two other 2 foot pipes 124D, 124E parallel to the lower ones 124B, 124C. The lower 2 foot horizontal pipes 124B, 124C are then attached to separate 4-way joints 1 13B, 1 13C while the upper 2 foot horizontal pipes 124D, 124E are attached to separate 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12B, 1 12C. To close the first square pattern, then, another vertically disposed 2 foot pipe 124F is attached to the two open joints between the upper and lower 2 foot horizontal pipes 124B, 124D. The 3-way joint 1 13B attached to the lower 2 foot horizontal pipe 124B is then attached with a further in-line horizontal 2 foot pipe 124H that is attached, as well, to yet another 3-way joint 113C which then attaches to the in-line 2 foot horizontal pipe 124C of the opposite square pattern that connects, ultimately, to the 3-way joint 1 13A attached to the other vertically disposed 4 foot pipe 121A. A final 2 foot pipe 124G is then introduced as the attachment between horizontal 2 foot pipes 124C and 124E. The base 110A includes two 3 foot pipes 122, 122 A that are connected by a 180 degree 2-way connector 1 1 1, via the extensions depicted in FIGs. 4 and 5, above, and are both attached to the two-plane 4-way connectors 1 15 of the base 1 10A.

[0080] FIGs. 37 and 38 illustrate a similar configuration to those in FIGs. 32, 33, and 34, with the exception being that the concentric rectangles have been modified to allow for alternating extensions in terms of direction from the vertical plane for the three horizontal add-ons at different heights. Instead, then, of using same-plane 4-way joints (1 14, 1 14A of FIGs. 32, 33, and 34, for example), the two middle height extensions utilize 3-way joints 113, 1 13 A, 1 13B, 1 13C with the horizontal extensions alternating direction from the vertical plane. The top extension thus utilizes a set of two 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 1 12A to effectuate the proper disposition of six 1 foot pipes 126A, 126B, 126C (three others not illustrated) away from the vertical plane in a direction opposite from those at the middle extension height.

[0081] FIGs. 39, 40, 41 , and 42 provide yet another unique configuration (and even greater versatility for the overall quick connection kit of this invention) allowing for a rotating lever to be constructed for the user to display items in a totally different way from the static configurations discussed above. To that end, the user could utilize a base 1 10A that includes either a 2.5 foot cross pipe (124A of FIGs. 39 and 40) or a 3.5 foot cross pipe (122A of FIGs. 41 and 42) to start, with proper vertical openings emanating from the 4-way joints 1 15 present thereon to allow for vertical alignment of 5 foot pipes 1 19, 1 19A from both such joints 1 15. The two 5 foot vertical pipes 1 19, 119A have 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12, 1 12A attached thereto for connection with an entire swing configuration 182 (FIGs. 39 and 40) or multiple swings 184, 186 (of FIGs. 41 and 42). The swing configurations are made through the initial production of open-sided U-shaped patterns of, for instance, one 2 foot cross pipe 125 having two 90 degree 2-way joints 1 12D, 1 12E attached to the ends thereof, and having two 2 foot pipes 125B, 125C connected to such joints 1 12D, 1 12E and disposed

perpendicularly to the cross pipe 125. A second, identical U-shaped pattern is then made (from three 2 foot pipes 125A, 125D, 125E and two 90 degree 2-way joints 112B, 1 12C) and both sets of unattached 2 foot pipe ends 125B, 125C, 125D, 125E are then attached to separate sleeve tunnels 1 18, 1 18A. With two sleeve tunnels 1 18, 118A in place, the user may than provide a 2.5 foot cross pipe 124 that inserts through both sleeve tunnels 1 18, 1 18A thereby providing a swing 182 (FIGs. 39 and 40) that rotates through the openings of the sleeve tunnels 1 18, 1 18A around the 2.5 foot cross pipe 124. For FIGs. 41 and 42, two separate swings 184, 186 are constructed instead, with a 3.5 foot cross pipe 122 (as well as a 4 foot base cross pipe 122A), and the two separate swings 184, 186 having 1 foot horizontal pipes 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D within the swings 184, 186, and four sets of 2.5 foot vertical pipes 124, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 124E, 124F, 124G to complete the swings 184, 186. In this configuration, four sleeve tunnels 1 18, 1 18A, 118B, 118C, are employed with the first swing 184 attached to the first two 118, 118 A, through the vertical swing pipes 124, 124A, 124D, 124E and the second swing 186 attached to the others 1 18B, 1 18C through the appropriate vertical pipes 124B, 124C, 124F, 124G.

[0082] Thus, through the provision of a kit of certain components, as described above, and, importantly, through the provision of quick connection devices for a user to easily attach (or detach) such pipe and joint components from one another on demand, a user has the capability to construct a myriad number of clothes rack configurations, depending on the needs at that time, including, without limitation, the dimensions of the location for which display of garments is needed. Additionally, the user may easily transport the subject collection of components to any location and construct any desired configuration quickly and easily to accommodate any desired situation. Furthermore, the inventive kit and system may include sufficient component parts to allow the user to construct two clothes racks at a time, if desired. Such an on-demand, quick, versatile, and reliable construction system has never been provided within the collapsible clothes rack industry.

[0083] A complete disclosure of the details and essence of this invention has been made, and the best modes of practicing it as now contemplated have been presented. It will be apparent to all skilled in the art that modifications, substitutions and additions may be made in the elements of the invention without departing from its concepts, the scope of which is defined and limited only by the ensuing claims.