Rack and tray assembly for foot apparel

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of my prior application U.S. Ser. No. 10/802,423, filed Mar. 17, 2004, entitled “Rack and Tray Assembly for Foot Apparel,” the disclosures of which, including all attached documents, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a rack and tray assembly for storing foot apparel in a residential or commercial setting. More specifically, the present invention comprises means for storing foot apparel and the like while simultaneously allowing for the collection and retention of water, snow and debris temporally released therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage of shoes remains a problem especially in the modern home. Today's home equally serves the purpose of providing shelter and creating a physical manifestation of an individual's personality, interests and wealth. To that end modern homes often have grand entrances and/or fine interior treatments such as hardwood floors, expensive carpeting, natural stone tiles, or exotic antique rugs. To protect these interior treatments, homeowners often require occupants and guests to remove their shoes upon entering the home.

In addition to protecting interior treatments, shoes are often removed to prevent water, snow and debris from entering the home, thus keeping interior surfaces cleaner longer. Children, because of their immaturity and size will often walk in water, snow and debris unwittingly or for fun. Their small size often causes their shoes to contact the surfaces of furniture, as they often need to climb into the normal seating position assumed by an adult.

Many cultures require the removal of shoes before entering the home for a variety of reasons. In some cultures it is feared that debris carried into the home on shoes will cause sickness in small children who on occasion crawl around the floor surface. Shoes are also removed to maintain clean floors for purposes of religion. For example, having clean floors is vital for some religious observances that require individuals to occupy the floor several times daily.

Shoes with mild to moderate traction enhancing soles are capable of carrying significant quantities of water, snow and debris into a home. The average shoe can carry upwards of 5-10 mL of rain water and as much as 15-25 mL of water from melting snow. In regions that experience moderate amounts of snowfall annually, it is a constant battle to prevent water, snow and debris from entering the home. This problem is so significant that architects have sought to address this problem through a home's design by including mudrooms or other designated areas to remove wet-, snow- or mud-covered shoes and garments.

Today, individuals tend to own multiple pairs of shoes and on occasion invite several guests to their home at once. This situation will cause numerous pairs of shoes to accumulate near the door covering a substantial area of the floor. This situation can create a variety of safety hazards. Shoe clutter can prevent the free-swinging movement of doors baring entry and exit from a dwelling. As few as one pair of shoes saturated with rainwater or melting snow can create a wet slippery condition inviting injury from a fall. Unorganized shoes also create a tripping hazard by their mere presence near the door or otherwise in a home's traffic pattern.

Typically an inexpensive washable rug is often selected to serve as a collection point for shoes. Rugs such as these can quickly become saturated with water and debris thus necessitating frequent cleaning and have a limited shoe capacity as defined by their size. Further inexpensive rugs often do not necessarily complement the interior of today's finely furnished home. Also rugs of this type when saturated with water and debris do little to protect the floor beneath it. Rugs only offer minimal protection to floors because water can soak through most and they do very little to contain the lateral dispersion of debris. With most rugs of this type, shoes can remain in contact with both water and debris for a sustainable period of time. Also, multiple pairs of shoes may end up being inadvertently stacked atop of one another causing water and debris to contact other shoes risking damage not only to the floor but also to other shoes nearby.

The prior art contains numerous devices for organizing and storing shoes. The typical prior art device consists of a solid frame constructed of wood or plastic with a number of shelves being designated to hold shoes in a predetermined fashion. Still others rely upon another supporting structure such as a door to suspend a series of plastic, fabric or cardboard shelves. These shelves are often constructed in close proximity to one another to maximize the number of shoes stored in the smallest area possible. Such shelves can become damaged by water, snow or mud remaining on shoes placed in them. Since the shelves are placed in close proximity to maximize space this also minimizes air circulation and prolongs drying times for shoes and shelving materials. The shelving materials can quickly become damaged and dirty with no ready or anticipated way to disassemble or clean them.

Other prior art shoe racks possess the capability to store numerous pairs of shoes, but do so in an open design that hangs shoes from hooks, loops or pegs attached to and extending outwardly from the rack. This rack is still not aesthetically pleasing and does not offer sufficient means to collect water or debris from shoes. Another disadvantage of this type of rack, especially in a vertical configuration, is that water and debris from one shoe can impermissibly contact other shoes. These racks can also become damaged and dirty with no ready or anticipated way to disassemble or clean them as hereinbefore mentioned. Also, this type of rack, like many other prior art devices, is incapable or does not allow the user to comfortably sit on the rack to remove shoes prior to placement therewithin.

In accordance with the present invention, applicant has appreciably devised a shoe rack and tray assembly that is aesthetically pleasing for the modern home, can store and organize one or more pairs of shoes, can protect the interior space of a home and prevent damage to the rack itself or other shoes, can contain ample amounts of water, snow or debris, and is easily removed from its location for emptying and thorough cleaning.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the numerous drawbacks apparent in the prior art, a rack and tray assembly has been devised for organizing and storing foot apparel in a residential and commercial setting.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a rack and tray assembly to shelve shoes in an aesthetically pleasing manner for the modern home.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a rack and tray assembly capable of containing ample amounts of water, snow and debris originating from foot apparel and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack and tray assembly that allows adequate air circulation for drying shoes while simultaneously allowing water, snow and debris to separate from soles or bottom surfaces of foot apparel and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack and tray assembly capable of being easily removed from its location for emptying collected water, snow and debris released from foot apparel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack and tray assembly that is modularly constructed to facilitate assembly and disassembly from time to time and increase and decrease the capacity to accommodate added or reduced numbers of foot apparel, respectively.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rack and tray assembly which accomplishes the foregoing and other objects and advantages and which is economical, durable, and fully effective in performing its intended functions without unduly compromising the entryway of residential and commercial buildings.

In accordance with the present invention, a rack and tray assembly has been devised for storing foot apparel and collecting debris and liquids released therefrom, the assembly comprising at least one tray situated within and supported by a grated rack having a frame fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members for support of foot apparel; the tray comprising inclined sides extending upwardly from a base, along the periphery thereof, and terminating an upper rim collectively forming a reservoir for holding and retaining water, snow, and debris released from foot apparel; the upper rim comprising a ledge extending outwardly from the inclined sides and the base for fitment within guide rails integrally attached to an underside portion of the grated rack; at least four support mounts attached to the corners of the frame to support the grated rack above a floor's surface to prevent inadvertent spillage while in use to support foot apparel bearing water, snow, and debris; and a pair of handles attached to and positioned midway along an equal number of side members of the frame to facilitate handling during assembly and disassembly and transport from time to time of the rack and tray assembly.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals depict the same parts in the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of shoes resting atop a grated rack fitted with and positioned above a tray;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a tray fitted with a pair of integrally formed pockets positioned within and along first and second inclined sides;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a tray fitted with an integrally formed pocket and a ledge extending outwardly from an inclined side;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a tray fitted with a pair of stops integrally formed into a ledge extending outwardly from an inclined side;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a frame of a grated rack fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a frame of a grated rack fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members, a pair of guide rails, a pair of intermediate structural supports, and four support mounts;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5 illustrating a grated rack equipped with a pair of guide members and a pair of upward handles;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a grated rack fitted with support mounts and upward handles;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a grated rack fitted with support mounts and an upward handle;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of grated racks fitted with an equal number of trays and connected by an end bracket;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating an end bracket comprising a pair of elongate legs connected to an upper horizontal member;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating an end bracket comprising an elongate leg having primary and secondary members connected together by a horizontal shoulder; and

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a pair of grated racks fitted with an equal number of trays and connected by a pair of end brackets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of being embodied in many different forms, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter with the understanding that the present disclosure suffices to exemplify the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated and presented herein. The present invention has particular utility as a device for holding and storing foot apparel and the like and collecting and retaining water, snow and debris temporally released therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a rack and tray assembly comprising at least one tray 12 situated within and supported by a grated rack 14. The tray primarily serves in this capacity as a reservoir for collecting water, snow and debris released from the foot apparel. As shown in FIG. 2, the tray preferably comprises a base 16 integrally connected to first, second, third, and forth inclined sides 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d extending upwardly therefrom, along a peripheral edge 16a thereof, and terminating at an upper rim 20. The location where the peripheral edge of the base meets and joins the inclined sides may comprise a radius 16b to inhibit the accumulation of debris thereat while permitting downward flow of liquids released from the foot apparel toward the base to ensure full usage of the tray's volumetric capacity. The upper rim 20 in general comprises a ledge 22 extending outwardly from the inclined sides and is situated parallel to the base to permit positioning within a guide rail 24 integrally attached to the grated rack 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second inclined sides each comprises an integrally formed pocket 26a, 26b to accommodate means for handling the tray during placement and removal thereof from the guide rail. The integrally formed pocket preferably extends outward from the first and second inclined side 18a, 18b toward the base and comprises a top surface 28a, 28b substantially coinciding with the ledge 22. An elongate indent 30a, 30b integrally formed into the top surface and protruding downward into the integrally formed pocket collectively forms the structure of handling means. Integrally formed into each ledge, which extend the length of the third and forth inclined sides 18c, 18d, is a pair of stops 32a, 32b that serve to retain positioning of the tray 12 within the guide rail. In particular, each stop extends downwardly a predetermined distance from an underside surface 22a of the ledge 22 with each stop of the pair being separated apart from one another to permit engagement with and encompass each end of the guide rail 24 to lock the tray in a stationary position, below the grated rack, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the grated rack comprises a frame 34 having an overall geometric configuration substantially corresponding to the geometric configuration of the tray to permit full capture of all debris and water intermittently released from the foot apparel. A plurality of support members 36 positioned within and connected to the frame collectively serve as means for supporting foot apparel while simultaneously allowing the passing of water, snow and debris into the tray 12. Accordingly, the support members are positioned parallel to and spaced equally apart from one another within the interior boundary of the frame 34 to form and define a plurality of elongate openings 38. It is noted herein that the orientation and spacing of the support members may vary in each application to accommodate a variety of shoe types yet affording passage of water, snow and debris collectively released therefrom. For instance, the support members of elongate configuration as illustrated in FIG. 6 may extend parallel to a pair of lengthened front and back members 40a, 40b of the frame and terminate at left and right side members 42a, 42b of the frame. A pair of intermediate structural supports 44 may be added to a midsection portion 46 of the arranged collection of support members to supplement the grated rack's strength and rigidity to mitigate appreciable deformation of the grated rack 14 upon its receipt of heavily weighted foot apparel. As further illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, each guide rail comprises an inner-extending slot 48 substantially being formed by top and bottom planar elements 50, 52 joined together along each of their respective leading edges 50a, 52a by a vertical wall 54. Preferably, the top planar element 50 comprises a larger surface area than the bottom planar element 52 to facilitate placement of an upper horizontal support 56 of an end bracket 58 into the inner-extending slot as the end bracket is adaptably fitted to the grated rack for storied arrangement of more than one grated rack. As can be observed in FIG. 10, the ledge of the tray and the upper horizontal support simultaneously fit and occupy the inner-extending slot 48 and rely on its presence and configuration to support and hold the tray 12 in place below the grated rack 14 and to attach the end bracket to the grated rack for the purpose set forth above, respectively. The top planar element of each guide rail 24 is preferably positioned in such manner to engage an underside portion 60 of a predetermined number of support members while the vertical wall is positioned alongside the side member 42a, 42b of the frame for attachment therewith. The grated rack is further fitted with at least four support mounts 62 each being specifically placed at the corners thereof, interiorly within the frame. The support mounts primarily serve as means for supporting the grated rack above a floor's surface, for example in a singular use application, and connecting together multiple grated racks in a storied configuration. Each support mount comprises vertical and horizontal cylindrical receptacles 64, 66 integrally connected and extending perpendicular to one another. Preferably, each support mount is fabricated from one continuous piece of tubing and selectively bent 90° at its midsection to form the perpendicular relationship of the vertical and horizontal cylindrical receptacles, as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. Attachment of the support mount to the grated rack 14 is accomplished by means of selectively orientating the horizontal cylindrical receptacle alongside the side member, below the support members 36, with the vertical cylindrical receptacle 64 being located most near the corner of the frame, and spot welding it in place. In singular use and storied applications of the grated rack, an end 64a of the vertical cylindrical receptacle 64 may be fitted with a cap 64b to guard against damage to the floor's surface as the end engages therewith. In order to facilitate handling of each grated rack, particularly during assembly and disassembly thereof, each side member comprises an upward handle 68 that extends upwardly and vertically therefrom to mitigate any interaction with the foot apparel that may be resting atop the support members. Each upward handle preferably comprises a horizontal member 70 integrally connected to and positioned in between a pair of vertical posts 72a, 72b each having ends 74a, 74b terminating at the side member for attachment therewith. The upward handle in this instance may be fabricated from a continuous piece of metallic rod and selectively bent to form the horizontal member and vertical posts.

The grated rack 14 and associated components, such as the guide rails 24, support mounts 62 and upward handles 68, are preferably fabricated from a strong lightweight metal and generally coated with vinyl or paint. Lightweight metal suitably serves in strengthening the grated rack to maintain rigidity while lessening the overall weight of the tray 12 and grated rack to enhance its handling capabilities. The vinyl coating is an attractive inexpensive material to provide corrosion protection to metal that may contact water and snow released from the foot apparel. It is anticipated that any material comprising the above-noted characteristics, such as wood, plastic, carbon fiber, or a combination thereof, may be used to construct the grated rack providing it offers resistance to premature corrosion during normal usage. In typical applications, the grated rack preferably comprises a top surface having a width of approximately 12″ and a length of approximately 24″, which appreciably forms a surface area capable of holding and supporting two large pairs of shoes. A tray of equivalent dimension and having a depth of approximately one inch sufficiently establishes a volumetric capacity to hold and retain a liquid and solid mixture released from approximately ten pairs of shoes over a 1-2 week period. More continuous usage, particularly during snowy conditions, may necessitate frequent handling of the tray for purposes of emptying and cleaning or usage of a tray having a larger volumetric capacity to what has been described for the preferred embodiment noted above.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the end bracket, as used to attach multiple grated racks, comprises first and second elongate legs 76, 78 each being positioned in a parallel relation and having first and second ends 76a, 76b, 78a, 78b terminating at the upper horizontal support and an offsetting element 80a, 80b, respectively. Each elongate leg preferably comprises primary and secondary members 76c, 76d, 78c, 78d each having an ends 76e, 78e, 76f, 78f connected to ends of a horizontal shoulder 82, 84 that serve to offset the positioning of the members in order to accommodate the position and configuration of the guide rail and support mount of the grated rack for connection therewith. As shown in FIG. 11, the primary member 76c, 78c is orientated more outward than the secondary member 76d, 78d by the length of the horizontal shoulder. The position and length of the guide rail and position of the support mount attached to the corner of the frame primarily dictate the effective length of the horizontal shoulder. The offsetting element, as further illustrated in FIG. 12, is preferably orientated outward from and positioned perpendicular to the primary member and shoulder to correct the orientation of an outwardly extending stem 86, 88 integrally attached to the offsetting element for fitment within the horizontal cylindrical receptacle. The resultant configuration of the outwardly extending stem, which substantially extends parallel to the horizontal shoulder 82, 84, permits rotation thereof within the horizontal cylindrical receptacle. This ability to rotate effects movement of the upper horizontal member inwardly toward the grated rack structure so that it may momentarily engage the top planar element 50 before it is finally positioned within the inner-extending slot of the guide rail. The length of the offsetting element, while the outwardly extending stem is contained within the horizontal cylindrical receptacle 66, will tend to limit the inward movement of the end bracket in the manner noted above. More specifically, a lower portion of the primary member will subsequently engage or touch a portion of the side member as the top portion of the end bracket is moved inwardly and reaches a location in proximity of the inner-extending slot 48 for engagement of the upper horizontal support therewith. This configuration results in outward tensioning of the end bracket when it is appreciably connected to multiple grated racks. The upper horizontal support 56 will have a tendency to move inward toward the vertical wall 54 and firmly engage within the inner-extending slot due to this tensioning whereas the outwardly extending stem 86, 88 is firmly fixed within the horizontal cylindrical receptacle, which results in a structurally sound, rigid rack assembly. In this regard, as can be observed in FIG. 13, the end bracket 58 may appreciably deform or slant inward toward the grated rack structure a predetermined amount while it is configured with a multiple grated rack arrangement.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordance with this invention a simple and easily operated device, which is particularly suitable for supporting foot apparel and collecting and retaining water, snow, and debris temporally released therefrom. The rack and tray assembly 10 is completely functional in terms of ridding water and debris from an entryway of a residential or commercial building structure while providing means for localizing the storage of foot apparel and the like. It is obvious that the components comprising the rack and tray assembly may be fabricated from a variety of materials, providing such selection or use of materials possess the capacity to withstand forces acting thereon throughout its duration of use in a residential or commercial setting. Accordingly, it is most desirable, and therefore preferred, to construct the tray 12 from plastic and grated rack 14 and end bracket 58 from steel suitably coated with vinyl or an equivalent surface material capable of preventing premature corrosion of the substrate. To lessen the cost and simplify construction of the rack and tray assembly 10, the frame of the grated rack and end bracket each may be fabricated from a continuous piece of metal rod bent accordingly to the specified shapes noted herein, while the tray may be fabricated and formed by means of an injection mold.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and alterations can be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and alterations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.