Folding shoe rack

1. A folding shoe rack comprising:

first and second vertical side rails, each of said side rails having first and second ends and medial and lateral sides;

first and second aims, each of said arms having a first and a second end and wherein said first end of said first arm is pivotably connected with said first side rail and said first end of said second arm is pivotally connected with said second side rail;

a first crossbar having first and second ends, said first end of said first crossbar connected with said second end of said first arm and said second end of said first crossbar connected with said second end of said second arm;

wherein said first and second aims and said first crossbar are pivotable between a first position in which said first and second arms and said first crossbar lie generally flush against said first and second side rails and a second position in which said first and second arms are extended away from said first and second side rails, with said first crossbar positioned at a distance from said first and second side rails, to support an article;

a second crossbar having first and second ends, said first end of said second crossbar connected with said first side rail and said second end of said second crossbar connected with said second side rail;

at least one connection projection formed in said medial side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails;

a lateral surface on said lateral side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails, said lateral surface preventing access to said connection projection from said lateral side of said first and second side rails;

at least one connection recess complementary to said connection projection formed in said lateral side of said second end of each of said first and second side rails; and

further comprising at least third and fourth side rails, each having a construction essentially identical to said first and second side rails, respectively, and wherein said third side rail is connectable with said first side rail by mating said connection projection and connection recess of said first and third side rails and said fourth side rail is connectable with said second side rail by mating said connection projection and connection recess of said second and fourth side rails.

2. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first end of said second crossbar is connected with said first side rail at said pivotal connection of said first arm and said first side rail and said second end of said second crossbar is connected with said second side rail at said pivotal connection of said second arm and said second side rail.

3. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said medial side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails further comprises at least one hooked tab; and

wherein said second side of said second end of each of said first and second side rails comprises at least one slot complementary to said hooked tab.

4. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a hanging clip, said hanging clip defining a slot therein, said slot being complementary to each of said first and second side rails.

5. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a hanging clip and wherein one end of said side rails defines a slot formed therein for engagement with said hanging clip.

6. The folding rack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first end of each of said first and second arms comprises an expansion plug integral thereto, said expansion plug defining at least a first slot therein transverse to a long axis of said expansion plug;

wherein each of said first and second side rails defines at least one hole therethrough; and

wherein said first and second arms are pivotably connected with said first and second side rails, respectively, by insertion of said expansion plug into said hole; and

wherein said slot permits said expansion plug to be compressed during insertion of said expansion plug into said hole, said expansion plug expanding once fully inserted into said hole to secure said expansion plug within said hole.

7. The folding rack as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising inserts within said first and second ends of said second crossbar, said inserts being oriented with their axes aligned with the axis of the second crossbar and adapted for engagement with said expansion plugs of said first and second arms.

8. The folding rack as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said expansion plug defines intersecting slots therein and said inserts having a cross-sectional shape complementary to said intersecting slots.

9. A folding shoe rack, comprising:

first and second side rails comprising a vertical, straight portion having a curved upper end and a curved lower end, said side rails having a medial side and a lateral side;

at least one pair of folding arms having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal ends of said folding arms are pivotably attached to said straight portion of said side rails; and

at least one pair of crossbars, comprising an inner crossbar and an outer crossbar, wherein said outer crossbar is attached to said distal ends of said at least one pair of folding arms and said inner crossbar is attached to said medial sides of said side rails such that said folding arms pivot about said inner crossbar;

wherein said folding arms and said outer crossbar are pivotable between a first position in which said folding arms and said outer crossbar lie generally flush against said side rails and a second position in which said folding arms are pivoted away from said side rails, with said outer crossbar positioned at a distance from said first and second side rails, to support an article;

said first and second side rails each having first and second ends;

a male connection formed in said medial side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails;

a lateral surface on said lateral side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails, said lateral surface preventing access to said male connection from said lateral side of said first and second side rails; and

a female connection complementary to said male connection formed in said lateral side of said second end of each of said first and second side rails.

10. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said male connection comprises at least one connection projection and said female connection comprises at least one connection recess complementary to said connection projection.

11. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said male connection further comprises at least one hooked tab and said female connection comprises at least one slot complementary to said hooked tab.

12. The folding shoe rack as set forth claim 9 , wherein said male connection comprises a first dado slot and said female connection comprises a second dado slot complementary to said first dado slot.

13. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said first dado slot has a pair of hooked tabs adjacent thereto for engagement of said side rail with a complementary dado slot.

14. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 9 , wherein one end of said side rails comprises an extension and further comprising a hanging clip, said hanging clip defining a slot therein, said slot being complementary to said extension.

15. The folding shoe rack as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising a hanging clip and wherein one end of said side rails defines a slot formed therein for engagement with said hanging clip.

16. A folding shoe rack comprising:

first and second vertical side rails, each of said side rails having first and second ends and medial and lateral sides;

first and second arms, each of said arms having a first and a second end and wherein said first end of said first arm is pivotably connected with said first side rail and said first end of said second arm is pivotally connected with said second side rail;

a first crossbar having first and second ends, said first end of said first crossbar connected with said second end of said first arm and said second end of said first crossbar connected with said second end of said second arm;

wherein said first and second arms and said first crossbar are pivotable between a first position in which said first and second arms and said first crossbar lie generally flush against said first and second side rails and a second position in which said first and second arms are extended away from said first and second side rails, with said first crossbar positioned at a distance from said first and second side rails, to support an article;

a second crossbar having first and second ends, said first end of said second crossbar connected with said first side rail and said second end of said second crossbar connected with said second side rail

at least one connection projection formed in said lateral side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails;

at least one connection recess complementary to said connection projection formed in said medial side of said second end of each of said first and second side rails;

a lateral surface on said lateral side of said first end of each of said first and second side rails, said lateral surface preventing access to said connection recess from said lateral side of said first and second side rails; and

further comprising at least third and fourth side rails, each having a construction essentially identical to said first and second side rails, respectively, and wherein said third side rail is connectable with said first side rail by mating said connection projection and connection recess of said first and third side rails and said fourth side rail is connectable with said second side rail by mating said connection projection and connection recess of said second and fourth side rails.