The present invention relates to storage racks according to the preamble of claims 1 and 5;
Such a storage rack is know from
Various storage boxes are known for keeping accessories and small items. These storage boxes commonly comprise a box body defining a plurality of compartments for keeping different accessories, and a cover hinged to the box body. Several storage boxes may be joined, forming a storage rack.
There is known a loose-leaf type storage rack, which comprises a pivot shaft, a plurality of trays, and a plurality of flat accessories boxes mounted in the trays. The trays each have a plurality of knuckles respectively pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft such that the trays are arranged in a stack and can be turned about the pivot shaft together or respectively relative to one another. Positioning structure (not shown) is provided between the pivot shaft and the knuckles such that the trays can be respectively positioned in the desired angular position after having been turned about the pivot shaft. This design of loose-leaf type storage rack is functional. However, because the flat accessories boxes are available in only one single size, the user cannot arrange different sizes of flat accessories boxes in the trays to provide different combinations.
Moreover with this type of storage rack, shown in
The above-mentioned problem is solved by a storage rack according to Claim 1 and also by a storage rack according to Claim 5. Further advantages of the invention are disclosed by the dependent Claims 2 to 4 and 6 to 8.
Referring to FIG. 1, a storage rack is shown comprising a pivot shaft 40, a plurality of trays 10;20;30, and a plurality of flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 mounted in the trays 10;20;30. The trays 10;20;30 each have a plurality of knuckles 11;21;31 respectively pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft 40 such that the trays 10;20;30 are arranged in a stack and can be turned about the pivot shaft 40 together or respectively relative to one another. Positioning structure (not shown) is provided between the pivot shaft 40 and the knuckles 11;21;31 such that the trays 10;20;30 can be respectively positioned in the desired angular position after having been turned about the pivot shaft 40. The flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 have different sizes, i.e., a tray 10;20;30 can carry one big-size flat accessories box 12 (see FIG. 2), two medium-size flat accessories boxes 22 (see FIG. 7), or four small-size flat accessories boxes 32 (see FIG. 8).
Referring to FGS. 2~6, each tray 10;20;30 has at least two locating blocks 50 upwardly disposed at the top and arranged at right angles; each flat accessories box 12;22;32 has a plurality of recessed bottom locating holes 51 corresponding to the locating blocks 50 at the tray 10;20;30. Because the trays 10;20;30 and the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 are molded from plastics, the locating blocks 50 are springy, and the recessed bottom locating holes 51 are slightly expansible. When put the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 in the trays 10;20;30, the respective locating blocks 50 are respectively press-fitted into the respective recessed bottom locating holes 51, thereby causing the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 to be respectively firmly secured to the trays 10;20;30. The friction force between the respective flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 and the respective trays 10;20;30 is sufficient to firmly secure the into the respective recessed bottom locating holes 51, thereby causing the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 to the trays 10;20;30, and the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 do not fall from the trays 10;20;30 when turning the trays 10;20;30 about the pivot shaft 40.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, each tray 10;20;30 has two oval through holes 13;23;33 symmetrically disposed near two opposite lateral sides. The user can insert a finger through the oval through holes 13;23;33 to push the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 upwardly away from the trays 10;20;30 in direction reversed to the bonding direction between the locating blocks 50 and the recessed bottom locating holes 51. Therefore, the recessed bottom locating holes 51 can be smoothly disengaged from the locating blocks 50 without damaging the locating blocks 50.
Referring to FIG. 7, the tray 20 carrying two medium-size flat accessories boxes 22 is seen after opening of the tray 10 carrying one big-size flat accessories box 12 from the other trays. The medium-size flat accessories boxes 22 are about one half of the size of one big-size flat accessories box 12. Every medium-size flat accessories box 22 has a plurality of bottom locating holes 51 disposed adjacent to three of the four sides thereof and connected to corresponding locating blocks 50 at the tray 20.
Referring to FIG. 8, the tray 30 carrying four small-size flat accessories boxes 32 is seen after opening of the tray 10 carrying one big-size flat accessories box 12 with the tray 20 carrying two medium-size flat accessories boxes 22. The small-size flat accessories boxes 32 are about one half of the size of one medium-size flat accessories box 22. Every small-size flat accessories box 32 has a plurality of recessed bottom locating holes 51 disposed adjacent to two of the four sides thereof and connected to corresponding locating blocks 50 at the tray 30.
Referring to FIG. 9, one medium-size flat accessories box 22 and two small-size flat accessories boxes 32 can be carried in one tray 20. By means of the recessed bottom locating holes 51 at the flat accessories boxes 12;22; 32 and the locating blocks 50 at the trays 10;20;30, the flat accessories boxes 12;22;32 can detachably and selectively set in the trays 10;20;30.
A prototype of storage rack has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 1~9. The storage rack functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.