초록 ▼

A collapsible rack for holding books, tapes, compact discs and the like, includes a first end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; a second end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; each socket including an aperture and a slot in communication with the aperture; at least two

A collapsible rack for holding books, tapes, compact discs and the like, includes a first end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; a second end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; each socket including an aperture and a slot in communication with the aperture; at least two cross members extending between the end panels and securing the end panels together; each of the cross members having a first end extending through an aperture of the first end panel and a second end extending through an aperture of the second end panel; each end of each cross member having a securing tab for insertion through one slot when the end is inserted through the aperture in communication with the slot, and stops for limiting the extent of travel of the securing tab through the slot; and a portion of each end panel surrounding each aperture having a predetermined thickness such that rotation of any cross member in one the aperture, once the securing tab at one end of the cross member has been inserted through the slot in communication with the aperture, results in releasably locking the end of the cross member to the end panel with a tightening fit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible rack for holding books, tapes, compact discs and the like, comprising: a first end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; a second end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; each of said first and second end panels having an inner and an outer surface; ea

1. A collapsible rack for holding books, tapes, compact discs and the like, comprising: a first end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; a second end panel having at least two sockets formed therein; each of said first and second end panels having an inner and an outer surface; each said socket including an aperture and a slot in communication with said aperture; at least two cross members extending between said end panels and engageable with said end panels for securing said end panels together; each of said cross members having a first end for insertion through one said aperture of one of said sockets of said first end panel and a second end for insertion through one said aperture of said sockets of said second end panel; each end of each said cross member having: a securing tab for insertion through one said slot and for engaging said outer surface of said respective end panel when inserted through said slot, and limiting and stabilizing surface means for engaging an inner surface of said respective end panel for thereby limiting the extent of travel of said securing tab through said slot and for preventing tilting of said cross member relative to said respective end panel; and said inner and outer surface of each end panel surrounding each aperture having a predetermined thickness such that, upon engagement of said securing tab with said outer surface and engagement of said limiting and stabilizing surface means with said inner surface, rotation of any said cross member in one said aperture results in releasably and non-tiltingly locking siad end of said cross member to said respective end panel with a tightening fit. 2. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said first end panel has three sockets and said second end panel has three sockets, and there are three said cross members. 3. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the portion of each end panel surrounding each aperture has an entrance end defined by said slot and a thickness which increases from said entrance end. 4. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said portion of each panel surrounding each aperture has an entrance end defined by said slot, a substantially constant thickness which provides said tightening fit, and a decreasing beveled section at the entrance end thereof. 5. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said portion of each panel surrounding each aperture has a substantially constant thickness and said portion is inclined with respect to a plane extending through and defined by each said end panel. 6. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein the portion of each end panel surrounding each aperture has an arcuate configuration. 7. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each said socket includes a second slot in communication with the aperture thereof. 8. A collapsible rack according to claim 7 wherein said second slot of each socket extends diametrically opposite said first-mentioned slot of said socket. 9. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each said socket includes second and third slots in communication with the aperture thereof. 10. A collapsible rack according to claim 9, wherein said first-mentioned, second and third slots of each socket are equiangularly positioned about said aperture. 11. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said slot extends radially outward from said aperture. 12. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each socket further includes a raised projection on said portion of each end panel surrounding each aperture. 13. A collapsible rack according to claim 12, wherein said raised projection is in the shape of an arrow. 14. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each said cross member includes an elongated bar formed by a plurality of radially extending legs, at least one of siad legs at each end of said bar having a radial extending slot therein for defining said securing tab and for receiving said portion of each panel surrounding each said aperture. 15. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each said cross member includes four radially extending legs arranged in a cruciform shape. 16. A collapsible rack according to claim 15, wherein first and diametrical ones of said legs have radial extending slots at opposite ends thereof, and the remaining third and fourth diametrical ones of said legs having reduced dimensions in the radial direction at opposite ends thereof. 17. A collapsible rack according to claim 16, wherein each said socket includes a second slot in communication with the aperture thereof, said second slot of each socket extending diametrically opposite said first-mentioned slot of said socket. 18. A collapsible rack according to claim 14, wherein each said cross member includes three radially extending legs arranged equiangularly with respect to each other. 19. A collapsible rack according to claim 18, wherein each leg includes radial extending slots at opposite ends thereof. 20. A collapsible rack according to claim 18, wherein each said socket includes second and third slots in communication with the aperture thereof, said first- mentioned, second and third slots of each socket being equiangularly positioned about said aperture. 21. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, further including retainer means mounted on at least one said cross member for separating books, tapes, compact discs and the like held on said rack. 22. A collapsible rack according to claim 21, wherein said retainer means includes at least one retainer bar slidably mounted between at least two said cross bars. 23. A collapsible rack according to claim 21, wherein said retainer means includes at least one retainer ring slidably mounted on at least one said cross bar. 24. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein each end panel has an asymmetric parallelogram configuration. 25. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said limiting and stabilizing surface means includes at least two spaced apart surface portions for bearing against different spaced apart inner surface portions of said respective end panel. 26. A collapsible rack according to claim 1, wherein said limiting and stabilizing surface means includes first surface means for engaging an inner surface of said respective end panel when said securing tab is inserted through one said slot, and second surface means for engaging an inner surface of said respective end panel after said cross member is rotated relative to said end panels for preventing tilting of said cross member relative to said end panel, said end panel being tightly engaged between said second surface and said securing tabs.