Collapsible and transportable rack assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US11912239B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Collapsible and transportable rack assembly",
  "abstract": "A collapsible rack assembly for transport and storage of flat object(s) has been disclosed. The collapsible rack assembly includes a base subassembly, a rotational shaft subassembly, and a rack subassembly. The base subassembly includes an L track system connected to spacers to define the overall shape of the base subassembly. The rotational shaft subassembly includes multiple side rotational shafts, an intermediate rotational shaft, multiple clamps, and a lever clamp. The rack assembly further includes side racks and an intermediate rack. Each of the side racks is fixedly connected to the side rotational shaft. The intermediate rack is fixedly connected to the intermediate rotational shaft. Each of the side racks and intermediate rack includes elongated rods spaced from one another to receive the flat object(s) such as door panels between two consecutive elongated rods.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A collapsible rack assembly (100) for transport and storage, the collapsible rack assembly (100) comprising: a rotational shaft subassembly (130) comprising a plurality of side rotational shafts (134), at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136), a plurality of clamps (138), and at least one lever clamp (142), wherein each of the plurality of clamps (138) permits rotation of each of the plurality of side rotational shafts (134) relative to the plurality of clamps and wherein the at least one lever clamp (142) allows sliding movement and rotational movement of the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) relative to the at least one lever clamp (142); a plurality of side racks (152), wherein each of the plurality of side racks (152) is fixedly connected to the plurality of side rotational shafts (134); and at least one intermediate rack (156), wherein the intermediate rack (156) is fixedly connected to the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) and wherein each of the plurality of side racks (152) and the intermediate rack (156) comprise a plurality of elongated rods (158) spaced apart from one another to receive at least one substantially flat object (10) between two consecutive elongated rods (158).",
    "2. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially flat object (10) comprises a door panel.",
    "3. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the collapsible rack assembly (100) further comprises a base subassembly (110) which includes a plurality of L track systems (112) connected to at least one spacer (116) to define an overall shape of the base subassembly (110).",
    "4. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein the base subassembly (110) is configured to removably connect the collapsible rack assembly (100) to a working surface (20) and allow removable mounting of the plurality of clamps (138) and the at least one lever clamp (142) of the rotational shaft subassembly (130).",
    "5. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 4, wherein each L track system (112) comprises at least one attachment means (113) to connect each L track system (112) to the working surface (20).",
    "6. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clamps (138) and the at least one lever clamp (142) comprise a plurality of fastener slots (144) to removably connect the plurality of clamps (138) and the at least one lever clamp (142) to a plurality of L track systems (112).",
    "7. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of clamps (138) comprises a manually operable rotational lock (139) that selectively enables or disables rotation of the plurality of side rotational shafts (134) relative to each clamp (138).",
    "8. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one lever clamp (142) comprises a manually operable lever (143) that selectively enables or disables sliding movement and rotational movement of the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) relative to the at least one lever clamp (142).",
    "9. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) comprises an elongate slot (137) to allow sliding movement of the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) relative to the at least one lever clamp (142) by operating a manually operable lever (143).",
    "10. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated rods (158) comprises at least one contact element (159) positioned thereon.",
    "11. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of side racks (152) comprises a side support platform (153) to provide a resting surface for the at least one substantially flat object (10) between any two consecutive elongated rods (158) of each of the plurality of side racks (152).",
    "12. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate rack (156) comprises a central support platform (153) to provide a resting surface for the at least one substantially flat object (10) positioned between any two consecutive elongate rods (158) of the intermediate rack (156).",
    "13. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 12, wherein each central support platform (153) comprises a plurality of through holes (154) for enabling passage to the plurality of elongated rods (158) of each intermediate rack (156), wherein each central support platform (153) is connected to a reinforcing plate (155), and wherein the reinforcing plate (155) increases structural rigidity of the at least one intermediate rack (156) and supports weight loads exerted by at least one substantially flat object (10) and the at least one intermediate rack (156).",
    "14. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated rods (158) is selectively positioned in a deployed position, and a collapsed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the plurality of elongated rods (158) is configured to receive the at least one substantially flat object (10) between two consecutive elongated rods (158).",
    "15. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 14, wherein the plurality of elongated rods (158) is brought from the deployed position to the collapsed position by rotating the plurality of elongated rods (158) by 90 degrees in a specific direction and vice versa.",
    "16. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 14, wherein the collapsible rack assembly (100) is removably installed in a vehicle (20).",
    "17. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of side rotational shafts (134) comprises a first end (134 a) and an opposite second end (134 b), and wherein one clamp (138) is positioned on the first end (134 a) of each of the plurality of side rotational shafts (134) and another clamp (138) is positioned on the opposite second end (134 b) of each of the plurality of side rotational shafts (134).",
    "18. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) comprises a first end (136 a) and an opposite second end (136 b), wherein the at least one lever clamp (142) is positioned on the first end (136 a) of the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) and at least one clamp (138) is positioned on the opposite second end (136 b) of the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136), and wherein the at least one lever clamp (142) is positioned between the at least one intermediate rotational shaft (136) and an L track system (112) of a base subassembly (110).",
    "19. The collapsible rack assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of side racks (152) is identical in nature and comprises an equal number of elongated rods (158), wherein each elongated rod (158) of one side rack (152) lies in the same plane with a corresponding elongated rod (158) of remaining side racks (152)."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to a device and method for carrying articles and more particularly, the present invention relates to a device and method for transportation and storage of substantially flat objects such as door panels.\n\nRacks for storing flat or semi-flat objects are well known in the art. These racks are known from a variety of technical fields. These racks store a variety of flat or semi-flat objects including but not limited to door panels, pictures, tiles, wooden panels, and so on. Generally, these racks have limited mobility and a fixed shape and thus, occupy a large space which limits their use to fixed locations and large spaces.\n\nGenerally, door panels are often produced or finished in a factory or a workshop and are later transported for use where these door panels are connected to the door frame or cabinet box. Different modes of transporting such door panels are often employed so that the door panels arrive at the desired location with minimal damage to the door panel material and finish. Often, these panels are placed on non-clamping shelves of a fixed rack and later transported using vehicles. These racks have a fixed shape (geometry) such that even when the rack is not holding any door panel (i.e., not in use), it occupies a considerable space in the vehicle. Additionally, because there is no clamping feature to currently fixed racks, the panels and panel finishes are still at risk of damage during transport. Alternatively, another common mode of transport is to wrap panels individually in a protective layer of packing material and placed into a vehicle for transport.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 7/08",
    "A47F 7/0042",
    "B65G 1/02",
    "B65G 1/0442",
    "B65G 2201/022"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47F 7/00",
    "B60R 7/08",
    "B65G 1/02"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kyle Robinson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-03-29",
  "publication_date": "2024-02-27",
  "grant_date": "2024-02-27",
  "priority_date": "2022-03-29",
  "application_number": "US-202217706685-A",
  "family_id": "87162447",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}