Supports: racks – Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-10
2001-06-19
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247602
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an improved plastic socket for receiving a rod member. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved plastic socket of a type utilized on a hanging support rack, such as a shoe rack, towel rack, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known to utilize a socket in conjunction with a plastic storage rack for receiving rod members utilized with the racks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073, directed to a “Hanging Shoe Rack”, illustrates and describes a shoe rack having two side frame members, with a plurality of rods extending between the side frame members, for supporting shoes. Each rod is inserted into a corresponding socket in its associated side frame member. As specifically illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073, the socket is constructed so as to have a first, outer portion of the socket having a larger diameter than a second, inner portion of the socket. Such an arrangement permits the rods to be initially inserted into the sockets in a loose manner during assembly of the shoe rack, and then subsequently forced into the inner portion of the socket, where the rod fits snugly. This prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073 entitled “Hanging Shoe Rack”, and issued Dec. 9, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.
While the socket illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073 is found to be highly useful, particularly due to its dual-dimension structure, it has been found to have a number of drawbacks. In this regard, it has been found that, during assembly of the shoe rack with which the socket is utilized, when the side frame members are placed on a soft surface, such as a plush carpet or bed, and the rods are forced downwardly into the sockets, it may be possible to thrust the rod through the bottom portion of the socket, thus rendering the socket unuseful. While such an occurrence is highly unlikely and does require excessive force, it has been found that such an undesirable occurrence can take place when, particularly as stated, the shoe rack is assembled on a soft surface, such that the socket does not have sufficient support for receiving a rod member thrust therein.
Additionally, the socket as illustrated and taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073, and other more conventional sockets not having the dual-dimension design, utilize far more plastic material than is necessary, particularly in the base of the socket. Additionally, when molding a plastic socket member of the conventional type, or of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073, it often happens that peripheral areas on the outside of the socket experience sink marks when the plastic cools following molding. Such sink marks are aesthetically unpleasing, and thus undesirable.
Accordingly, the need exists for a new plastic socket which has greater structural integrity than prior plastic sockets. Additionally, the need exists for a new plastic socket which utilizes less plastic material, and is thus less expensive to manufacture, and which substantially reduces or altogether prevents undesirable sink marks from appearing on the exterior of the socket following the molding process in which the socket is formed. The present invention fills these and other needs while overcoming the drawbacks and limitations associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to utilize less material in the construction of a plastic socket member than was utilized in prior plastic sockets.
It is an additional object of the present invention to increase the structural integrity of a plastic socket member.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a plastic socket which is aesthetically pleasing and, particularly, which eliminates undesirable sink marks on the exterior of the socket.
These and other objects are achieved by a unique socket integrally formed of molded plastic. The socket can be utilized in combination with a wide variety of products, and is particularly useful for utilization in combination with racks of all kinds, such as shoe racks, towel racks, and the like. As will be appreciated, such products typically utilize first and second side frame members, with a plurality of support bars positioned between the respective side frame members. The support bars are supported in corresponding sockets on each of the side frame members.
The socket of the present invention is very similar in construction to the socket disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073 with several notable exceptions. In particular, the plastic socket of the present invention is adapted to snugly and frictionally receive a support rod. Unlike the socket of U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,073, however, the socket of the present invention utilizes a cavity at the base of the socket which is smaller in dimension than the portion of the socket which snugly and frictionally receives the rod member. This small cavity is defined by an annular wall which forms an upper ledge. The upper ledge serves as the bottom of that portion of the plastic socket which snugly and frictionally receives the rod member. The rod member, when inserted into the socket, thereby rests on the upper ledge formed by the annular wall of the cavity in the base of the socket.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a rib member is integrally molded in the cavity of the socket at a central location of the socket, and extends across the socket from one side thereof to the other. The rib member preferably extends outwardly from the bottom of the cavity to a height similar to the height of the ledge formed at the top of the annular walls of the cavity. When the rod member is inserted into the cavity, the rod member also rests on the upper surface of the rib member extending across the socket.
The unique socket design of the present invention, having a cavity formed in the base of the socket, with ledges and a reinforcement rib, provides a plastic socket member which is highly durable, and which utilizes less plastic material than conventional prior art sockets. In particular, the provision of a cavity in the base of the socket permits the socket to be made with far less material than in prior art sockets. Since less material is utilized, there is not only less material costs, but the molding process for the socket is much shorter in time duration, since there is less plastic to cycle. Therefore, the molding process associated with the manufacture of the socket of the present invention is less expensive than the molding process associated with prior art socket constructions.
Additionally, due to the decreased utilization of plastic, there is less distortion of the plastic when it cools. Thus, it has been found that the construction of the present invention prevents sink marks from forming on the exterior of the socket, as is common with prior art plastic sockets which utilize far more plastic material. Additionally, and importantly, the utilization of an annular ledge surrounding the cavity formed in the base of the socket, and the reinforcement rib member extending across the socket, makes the base of the socket much stronger than conventional prior art sockets, therefore making it much more difficult for an individual assembling a shoe rack incorporating the socket of the present invention to punch through the base of the socket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4356923 (1982-11-01), Young et al.
patent: 5035332 (1991-07-01), Stravitz
patent: 5172816 (1992-12-01), Kline et al.
patent: 5617959 (1997-04-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5695073 (1997-12-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5992647 (1999-11-01), Malik
Klein Richard B.
Scott John W.
Serslev Chris
Chin-Shue Alvin
Lynk, Inc.
Purol Sarah
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
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