COLLAPSIBLE AND STACKABLE PARTS RACK

摘要

A rack for holding articles, components, parts and other such items and further being collapsible and stackable upon other similar racks whether any of the racks are in an upright or collapsed position. The rack includes a shelf and a plurality of leg assemblies distributed about the shelf perimeter, the leg assemblies each having a leg footer, a leg member, and a slider pivot bearing joining the proximal ends of the leg footer and leg member thereby constraining relative motion between the leg footer and leg member to two degrees of freedom. Embodiments of the rack further include retaining tabs on the leg member and corresponding notches on the leg footer to lock leg members in the upright position. Pairs of leg assemblies may be connected by primary connecting frame elements forming a portion of the perimeter, with the pairs being connected by secondary connecting frame elements forming another portion of the perimeter.

主权项

1. A rack comprising:
a shelf having a top surface and a perimeter; and at least three leg assemblies distributed symmetrically about the perimeter, each leg assembly comprising:
a leg footer affixed to the perimeter and having a proximal end, a distal end and a bearing bracket at the proximal end;a leg member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the leg member is shaped to be received into the bearing bracket;a slider pivot bearing joining the leg member to the bearing bracket of the leg footer at a pivot axis and comprising a journal in contact with a linear bearing surface and a circular bearing surface, wherein the slider pivot bearing constrains the pivot axis to linear motion along the linear bearing surface and axial rotation along the circular bearing surface;a retaining tab protruding from the leg member; anda notch in the bearing bracket of the leg footer shaped to receive the retaining tab, thereby locking the slider pivot bearing against axial rotation when the leg member is in an upright position.