Supports: racks – Adjustable – Vertically
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-06
2004-07-13
Novosad, Jennifer E. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Adjustable
Vertically
C211S204000, C403S109100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761274
ABSTRACT:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a rack, and more particularly to a structure by which each of the expandable units of the rack is located securely.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The adjustable racks of the prior art comprise a plurality of expandable units, each being formed of an outer tube and an inner tube slidably fitted into the outer tube. The racks can be thus adjusted in height by locating the inner tube inside the outer tube. The locating of the inner tube is done by a locating knob, which is turned to press against the outer wall of the inner tube. Such a locating means as described above is rather primitive and ineffective at best. The locating knob is apt to become loosened upon being impacted. In addition, the locating knob undermines the aesthetic effect of the racks. Moreover, the outer wall of the inner tube is susceptible to damage that is resulted from the mechanical friction between the locating knob and the inner tube.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide the expandable units of a rack with a locating structure which is free of the drawbacks of the locating means of the prior art racks described above.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a locating structure comprising a cylindrical seat, a sleeve, and a lock ring. The cylindrical seat is fitted over the top end of an outer tube of an expandable unit and is provided in the top end thereof with a tapered receptacle. The sleeve is rotatably fastened with the seat for retaining the lock ring which has a tightening portion of a tapered construction. The bottom end of an inner tube of the expandable unit is fitted into the top end of the outer tube via the lock ring and the sleeve. As the sleeve is turned clockwise in relation to the seat, the lock ring is carried along to move downward such that the tightening portion of the lock ring is forcibly contained in the receptacle of the top end of the seat. As a result, the bottom end of the inner tube is securely embraced by the tightening portion of the lock ring. When the sleeve is turned counterclockwise, the lock ring is carried along to move upward such that the tightening portion of the lock ring is no longer forcibly contained in the receptacle of the seat. As a result, the bottom end of the inner tube is no longer intimately embraced by the tightening portion of the lock ring and can be therefore moved up and down inside the outer tube.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5433551 (1995-07-01), Gordon
patent: 5492430 (1996-02-01), Jones
patent: 5727898 (1998-03-01), Lu
patent: 5823699 (1998-10-01), Austin et al.
patent: 5876011 (1999-03-01), Blasing
patent: 6003696 (1999-12-01), Hsiu-Chen
patent: 6488160 (2002-12-01), Wang
patent: 6520192 (2003-02-01), Lo
patent: 004020434 (1991-01-01), None
Baxley Charles E.
Novosad Jennifer E.
LandOfFree
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