Rack and tray assembly for foot apparel

Abstract

A rack and tray assembly for supporting foot apparel and collecting and retaining water, snow, and debris temporally released therefrom. The rack and tray assembly comprising a grated rack having a frame fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members for support of foot apparel, a tray having inclined sides extending upwardly from a base and terminating an upper rim that includes a ledge extending outwardly from the inclined sides and the base for fitment within guide rails integrally attached to an underside portion of the grated rack, a pair of upward handles attached to and positioned midway along side members of the frame to facilitate handling during assembly and disassembly and transport from time to time of the rack and tray assembly, and at least four support mounts attached to the corners of the frame to support the grated rack above a floor's surface to prevent inadvertent spillage while in use to support foot apparel bearing water, snow, and debris.

1 . A rack and tray assembly for supporting foot apparel and containing debris and liquids released therefrom, said assembly comprising, in combination: 
 at least one tray having a base integrally connected to first, second, third, and forth inclined sides extending upwardly therefrom, along the periphery thereof, and terminating at an upper rim, said rim comprising a ledge extending outwardly from said inclined sides and said base;    at least one grated rack having a frame fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members to form and define a plurality of elongate openings for permitting the passage of debris and liquids released from the foot apparel; and    a pair of guide rails mounted to an underside portion of said support members, alongside said frame, for slidably receiving said ledge to permit positioning of said tray substantially within and below said frame.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises lengthened front and back members positioned parallel to one another and left and right side members positioned parallel to one another and perpendicular to said front and back members, each member being joined end-to-end to substantially form said frame as a rectangle.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each of said side members comprises an upward handle extending upwardly therefrom and having a horizontal member substantiality extending parallel to said side member and connected to a pair of vertical posts, each post having an end connected to said side member.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a pair of intermediate supports mounted to a midsection portion of said support members to supplement the strength and rigidity of said grated rack.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of said guide rails comprises an inner-extending slot substantially being formed by top and bottom planar elements joined together along each of their respective leading edges by a vertical wall.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said top planar element comprises a larger surface area than that of said bottom planar element.  
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said grated rack comprises at least four support mounts each being attached to a corner of said frame to support said grated rack above a floor's surface.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein each of said support mounts comprises horizontal and vertical cylindrical receptacles each being relatively orientated in a perpendicular manner to one another.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said horizontal cylindrical receptacle is mounted alongside said frame while said vertical cylindrical receptacle is positioned perpendicular to said frame at its corner.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein an end of said vertical cylindrical receptacle is fitted with a cap to guard against damage to a floor's surface as said end engages therewith.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second inclined sides each comprises an integrally formed pocket extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance toward said base, said integrally formed pocket having a top surface substantially coinciding with said ledge.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each of said integrally formed pockets comprises an elongate indent extending downwardly therewithin to collectively function as a handle for said tray.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said ledges of third and forth inclined sides each comprises a pair of stops extending downwardly from an underside surface of said ledge a predetermined distance to engage and encompass each end of said guide rail to lock said tray therewithin.  
   
   
       14 . A rack and tray assembly for supporting foot apparel and containing debris and liquids released therefrom, said assembly comprising, in combination: 
 at least two trays each having a base integrally connected to first, second, third, and forth inclined sides extending upwardly therefrom, along the periphery thereof, and terminating at an upper rim, said rim comprising a ledge extending outwardly from said inclined sides and said base;    at least two grated racks each having a frame fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members to form and define a plurality of elongate openings for permitting the passage of debris and liquids released from the foot apparel, said grated rack having a pair of guide rails mounted to an underside portion of said support members, alongside said frame, for slidably receiving said ledge to permit positioning of said tray substantially within and below said frame; and    at least a pair of end brackets for connecting together said grated racks in a storied configuration.    
   
   
       15 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein each of said grated racks comprises at least four support mounts each being attached to a corner of said frame and having horizontal and vertical cylindrical receptacles each being relatively orientated in a perpendicular manner to one another.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein each of said end brackets comprises first and second elongate legs each being positioned in a parallel relation and having first and second ends terminating at an upper horizontal support and an offsetting element, respectively.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each of said elongate legs comprises primary and secondary members with ends thereof connected to ends of a horizontal shoulder, said offsetting element being positioned outward from and perpendicular to said primary member and horizontal shoulder and connected to an outwardly extending stem that fits interiorly within said horizontal cylindrical receptacle.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each of said guide rails comprises an inner-extending slot substantially being formed by top and bottom planar elements joined together along each of their respective leading edges by a vertical wall for accepting and holding therewithin said upper horizontal support.  
   
   
       19 . A rack and tray assembly for supporting foot apparel and containing debris and liquids released therefrom, said assembly comprising, in combination: 
 at least two trays each having a base integrally connected to first, second, third, and forth inclined sides extending upwardly therefrom, along the periphery thereof, and terminating at an upper rim, said upper rim comprising a ledge extending outwardly from said inclined sides and said base, said first and second inclined sides each having an integrally formed pocket extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance toward said base, said integrally formed pocket having a top surface substantially coinciding with said ledge and an elongate indent extending downwardly therewithin to collectively function as a handle for said tray;    at least two grated racks each having a frame fitted interiorly with a plurality of support members to form and define a plurality of elongate openings for permitting the passage of debris and liquids released from the foot apparel, said frame having a pair of intermediate supports mounted to a midsection portion of said support members to supplement the strength and rigidity of said grated rack, said grated rack having a pair of guide rails mounted to an underside portion of said support members, alongside said frame, for slidably receiving said ledge to permit positioning of said tray substantially within and below said frame and at least four support mounts each being attached to a corner of said frame and having horizontal and vertical cylindrical receptacles each being relatively orientated in a perpendicular manner to one another, said frame having lengthened front and back members positioned parallel to one another and left and right side members positioned parallel to one another and perpendicular to said front and back members, each member being joined end-to-end to substantially form said frame as a rectangle, said side members each having an upward handle extending upwardly therefrom and having a horizontal member substantiality extending parallel to said side member and connected to a pair of vertical posts, each post having an end connected to said side member; and    at least a pair of end brackets each having first and second elongate legs each being positioned in a parallel relation and having first and second ends terminating at an upper horizontal support and an offsetting element, respectively, said first and second elongate legs each having primary and secondary members with ends thereof connected to ends of a horizontal shoulder, said offsetting element being positioned outward from and perpendicular to said primary member and said horizontal shoulder and connected to an outwardly extending stem that fits interiorly within said horizontal cylindrical receptacle.    
   
   
       20 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each of said guide rails comprises an inner-extending slot substantially being formed by top and bottom planar elements joined together along each of their respective leading edges by a vertical wall for accepting and holding therewithin said upper horizontal support.