IP Library Granted Patent US 10,557,227
Granted Patent B2
US 10,557,227 · App. 15/488,040 · Granted Feb 11, 2020

Drying rack

Inventor: Sandy Felsenthal (Memphis, TN)
Assignee: Whitmor, Inc.
D06F57/08F16C11/10
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,557,227
App. No.
15/488,040
Granted
Feb 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A collapsible drying rack for drying wet garments is provided. The drying rack preferably includes a right and a left frame, with each frame including a top and a bottom leg. Crossbars on which garments may be hung connect the left and right frames to one another. The top and bottom legs of each frame are engaged to one another at a joint that that allows the legs to be placed at a variety of angles relative to one another. Each joint also may include a locking member that keeps the legs at a particular angle relative to one another, including a 0° angle so that the rack can be collapsed and compactly stored when not in use.

Claims (44)

1. A drying rack for drying wet garments, the drying rack comprising:

a left frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg;

a right frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame top leg to the right frame top leg;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame bottom leg to the right frame bottom leg;

a joint member at a proximal portion of each of the top legs and the bottom legs;

wherein the top and bottom legs have projections and the crossbars have an aperture to receive a left frame projection and an aperture to receive a right frame projection, allowing the crossbars to be releasably attached to the legs; and

wherein each joint member is used to attach the top leg of the left frame to the bottom leg of the left frame and the top leg of the right frame to the bottom leg of the right frame; a first lock member coupled to one of the joint members of the top leg or the bottom leg in the left frame; and

a second lock member coupled to one of the joint members of the top leg or the bottom leg in the right frame.

2. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the joint members each include teeth members located around a circumference of the joint members to engage the joint members of the top legs to the joint members of the bottom legs.

3. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein a spring is provided between the joint members of the top legs and the joint members of the bottom legs.

4. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame includes a thread member.

5. The drying rack of claim 4 , wherein the first lock member and the second lock member each include a thread member.

6. The drying rack of claim 5 , wherein the thread member of the at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame and the thread member of the first lock member and the second lock member, respectively, are engageable with one another.

7. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the bottom leg and the top leg of each of the left and right frames have an angle of rotation that is between 0° and 180°.

8. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame includes at least one stopper member, and the first lock member and the second lock member each include at least one stopper member.

9. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the crossbars are telescoping crossbars.

10. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the bottom legs each include feet located at a distal portion of the bottom legs.

11. A drying rack for drying wet garments, the drying rack comprising:

a left frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg, each of the top leg and the bottom leg further including a joint member for attaching the top leg to the bottom leg;

a right frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg, each of the top leg and the bottom leg further including a joint member for attaching the top leg to the bottom leg;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame top leg to the right frame top leg;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame bottom leg to the right frame bottom leg;

wherein the top and bottom legs have projections and the crossbars have an aperture to receive a left frame projection and an aperture to receive a right frame projection, allowing the crossbars to be releasably attached to the legs; and

a first lock member coupled to the joint member of the top or bottom leg in the left frame; and

a second lock member coupled to the joint member of the other of the top or bottom leg in the right frame.

12. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the joint members each include teeth members located around a circumference to engage the joint members of the top legs to the joint members of the bottom legs.

13. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein a spring is provided between the joint members of the top legs and the joint members of the bottom legs.

14. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame includes a thread member.

15. The drying rack of claim 14 , wherein the first lock member and the second lock member each include a thread member.

16. The drying rack of claim 15 , wherein the thread member of the at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame and the thread member of the first lock member and the second lock member, respectively, are engageable with one another.

17. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the bottom leg and the top leg of each of the left and right frames have an angle of rotation that is between 0° and 180°.

18. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the joint members of each of the left frame and the right frame includes at least one stopper member, and the first lock member and the second lock member each include at least one stopper member.

19. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the crossbars are telescoping crossbars.

20. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the bottom legs each include feet located at a distal portion of the bottom legs.

21. A drying rack for drying wet garments, the drying rack comprising:

a left frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg, the legs comprising a plurality of projections;

a right frame comprising a top leg and a bottom leg, the legs comprising a plurality of projections;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame top leg to the right frame top leg, the crossbars having an aperture to receive a projection of the left frame and an aperture to receive a projection of the right frame, allowing the crossbars to be releasably attached to the legs;

a plurality of crossbars that attach the left frame bottom leg to the right frame bottom leg, the crossbars having an aperture to receive a projection of the left frame and an aperture to receive a projection of the right frame, allowing the crossbars to be releasably attached to the legs;

a joint member at a proximal portion of each of the top legs and the bottom legs;

wherein each joint member is used to attach the top leg of the left frame to the bottom leg of the left frame and the top leg of the right frame to the bottom leg of the right frame; a first lock member coupled to one of the joint members of the top leg or the bottom leg in the left frame; and

a second lock member coupled to one of the joint members of the top leg or the bottom leg in the right frame;

wherein the joint members each include teeth members located around a circumference of the joint members to engage the joint members of the top legs to the joint members of the bottom legs; and wherein a spring is provided between the joint members of the top legs and the joint members of the bottom legs.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: GIBRALTAR BUSINESS CAPITAL, LLC
To: WHITMOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 072234/0716 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2023
From: WHITMOR, INC.
To: TRUIST BANK
Reel/Frame 065236/0373 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: WHITMOR, INC.
To: GIBRALTAR BUSINESS CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 065197/0561 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: WHITMOR, INC.
To: TRUIST BANK
Reel/Frame 054152/0604 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2017
From: FELSENTHAL, SANDY
To: WHITMOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 042687/0498 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180298547A1 · Oct 18, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,270,193 US 12,655,686