AU749083B2 - An adjustable & collapsible rack - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT AN ADJUSTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE RACK This invention is described in the following statement: This invention relates to a rack for holding one or more objects. In particular, the invention relates to an adjustable and collapsible rack for holding objects such as high fidelity speakers, sound amplifiers and like equipment.

Although the invention has been developed primarily for holding speakers, amplifiers and like equipment, it should be appreciated that the rack may have other uses.

In certain situations it is desirable to hold high fidelity speakers, sound amplifiers and like equipment up off the ground and/or at an angle above the horizontal. Sometimes it is necessary to hold an array of speakers or amplifiers up off the ground and/or to tilt them at a particular angle. For instance, in certain environments the sound emanating from a speaker may be enhanced by holding the speaker above ground height and tilting the speaker such that the sound can travel upwards. Furthermore, a sound amplifier may need to be tilted so that a performer, using a microphone or instrument linked to the amplifier, can monitor his or her own performance.

S Speakers, sound amplifiers and like equipment are commercially available in a diverse o:oeo range of shapes and sizes. Although shelf supports, racks and like products for holding speakers and amplifiers are commercially available, a problem with some of these products is that they are not readily adjustable or configurable to hold more than one piece of equipment. Another problem with some of these products is that they cannot be readily adjusted to hold equipment of different sizes. Yet a further problem with some of •oo• these products is that they are not readily collapsible for easy storage or for transportation.

2 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a rack that overcomes at least one of the problems referred to above.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable and collapsible rack for holding at least one object, said rack having: upright members that are spaced apart from one another, each member having an arrangement of apertures; and .a plurality of crosspieces that extend substantially parallel to one another through se said apertures of each of the members such that the members are held 35 suo ntially upright and such that the members may be moved towards or away from -3one another relative to the crosspieces, wherein the crosspieces cradle the object and the cradling may be adjusted by extending the crosspieces through alternate said apertures 6f the members, and the rack may be collapsed by removing the crosspieces from the apertures altogether.

The cradling can be adjusted to hold objects of different sizes. The upright members can be moved towards or apart from one another to hold as many objects as required.

Preferably, at least some of the apertures of each upright member are in a first L-shape arrangement.

The first L-shape arrangement of apertures can be orientated such that the object is tilted relative to the horizontal when cradled by the crosspieces. This may be important, for instance, for directing the sound of a speaker, amplifier or like object, upwardly.

.:i:1s Some of the apertures of each upright member can be arranged in an at least second Lshape arrangement. The second L-shape arrangement of apertures can be offset from the first L-shape arrangement such that the object may be cradled at different angles relative to the horizontal. Alternately, the second L-shape arrangement of apertures may be situated above the first arrangement such that an object may be held above 00 00 another. With the rack of the present invention, a plurality of objects may be held next to and/or above one another.

*o°°o 0 o oooo S Each crosspiece preferably extends linearly. The crosspieces may extend other than .0e0.: S linearly provided that the upright members may be moved relative to the crosspieces.

2 Each crosspiece when viewed in transverse cross-section may be circular, rectangular or of any other suitable shape. Preferably, the crosspieces are of tubular construction. The crosspieces may be made of metal, wood, plastics material or of any other suitable material. Preferably, the crosspieces comprise lengths of aluminium, chrome or stainless steel piping.

Removable caps may be fitted to the ends of the crosspieces such that the crosspieces cannot be removed from the apertures through which they extend. If desired, each crosspiece may further be fitted with one or more detachable retaining members that I vent each upright member from moving relative to the crosspieces.

-4- Each upright member may be shaped as required. For instance, each upright member may be in the shape of a shark fin or in the shape of a rectangle. Preferably, each upright member has an enlarged aperture that serves as a handle.

The upright members may consist of metal, wood, plastics material or of any other suitable material. Preferably, each upright member consists of a shaped sheet of plywood or craftwood. The rack may comprise identical upright members and identical crosspieces so that the rack can be easily assembled, adjusted, collapsed, stored and transported.

Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of an upright member of the rack of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rack of Figure 1 holding a speaker; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an upright member of a rack according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rack of Figure 1, except having a third upright 20 member; and Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an upright member of a rack according to another embodiment of the invention.

In all of the drawings like numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 shows an adjustable and collapsible rack 1 having two spaced upright members .i 2 and three crosspieces 5. The upright members 2 are shaped as shark fins and each upright member 2 has an arrangement of apertures 3, 4. The crosspieces 5 are of tubular construction and extend parallel to another through select apertures 3 of the upright members 2. Aperture 4 is enlarged and serves as a handle.

Figure 3 shows a speaker 6 held by the rack 1 of Figure 1. The speaker 6 is cradled by the crosspieces 5. The speaker 6 has a base that rests against a crosspiece 5a and a rear that rests against two crosspieces Figure 2 shows that most of the apertures 3a-3e are in an L-shape arrangement (the Lshape is depicted in phantom). The apertures 3a-3e are orientated such that the speaker is tilted and the speaker sound can travel upwardly. The rack 1 can be adjusted to hold a speaker of smaller dimensions by extending the crosspieces 5 through apertures 3b, 3c and 3d instead of apertures 3a, 3c and 3e.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the rack 1. In this embodiment, the upright member 2 has a second L-shape arrangement of apertures 3f-3j which is offset from the first arrangement of apertures 3a-3e. In this way, the speaker may be cradled at the angle defined by apertures 3a-3e or the speaker may be cradled at the angle defined by apertures 3f-3j.

Figure 5 shows the rack 1 of Figure 1 but having a third upright member 2. If desired, the rack 1 may have further upright members. With this configuration, the rack 1 can be used to hold an array of speakers.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the rack 1 wherein speakers can be held above one another. The upright member 2 has two L-shape arrangements of apertures 3, and one arrangement is situated above the other.

t111 In order to assemble the rack, the crosspieces 5 are made to extend through the apertures 3 of the upright members 2. The upright members 2 can be moved apart or towards one another by sliding each upright member 2 relative to the crosspieces 5. The rack 1 is collapsible by removing the crosspieces 5 from the apertures 3 of the upright .eeeo) members 2 altogether.

By virtue of the fact that the crosspieces 5 are identical to one another and the upright members 2 are identical to one another, the rack 1 can be easily assembled, collapsed or adjusted to hold different numbers and sizes of speakers. In the collapsed state, the rack can be easily stored or transported.

Claims (14)

1. An adjustable and collapsible rack for holding at least one object, said rack having: upright members that are spaced apart from one another, each member having an arrangement of apertures; and a plurality of crosspieces that extend substantially parallel to one another through select said apertures of each of the members such that the members are held substantially upright and such that the members may be moved towards or away from one another relative to the crosspieces, wherein the crosspieces cradle the object and the cradling may be adjusted by extending the crosspieces through alternate said apertures of the members, and the rack may be collapsed by removing the crosspieces from the apertures altogether. ee:015

2. The rack of claim 1, wherein at least some of the apertures of each upright ooo member are in a first L-shape arrangement. S

3. The rack of claim 2, wherein the first L-shape arrangement of apertures is orientated such that the object is tilted relative to the horizontal when cradled by •20 the crosspieces.

4. The rack of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least some of the apertures of each upright member are arranged in an at least second L-shape arrangement. 2 5

5. The rack of claim 4, wherein the second L-shape arrangement of apertures is offset from the first L-shape arrangement such that the object may be cradled at different angles relative to the horizontal.

6. The rack of claim 4, wherein the second L-shape arrangement of apertures is situated above the first L-shape arrangement.

7. The rack of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each crosspiece extends linearly. -7-

8. The rack of claim 7, wherein each crosspiece is tubular, and each crosspiece is circular when viewed in transverse cross-section.

9. The rack of any one of the preceding claims further having removable caps fitted to the ends of the crosspieces such that the crosspieces cannot be removed from the apertures through which they extend.

The rack of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the apertures of each upstanding member is enlarged and serves as a handle.

11. The rack of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each upright member is in the shape of a shark fin.

12. The rack of any one of claims 1-10, wherein each upright member is in the shape of a rectangle.

13. The rack of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each upright member comprises a sheet of plywood, chipboard or craftwood. Oleo ooo* 20o

14. The rack of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each crosspiece comprises a length of aluminium, chrome or stainless steel piping. ooooo An adjustable and collapsible rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. CRAIG KEITH HARRIS *AND JOSHUA LACHLAN MCINTOSH 23 DECEMBER 2000