Expandable modular rack design

Abstract

An expandable rack for supporting and/or storing articles and/or article housing structured and arranged to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position is disclosed. The rack is suitable for use in a confined space such as the interior of a vehicle. The rack comprises a plurality of substantially vertical support posts and a plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members that are pivotally connected between adjacent substantially vertical support posts. The horizontal frame members are moveable from a collapsed folded position, that is adjacent to and substantially vertical along a vertical support post, to an extended unfolded position, that is substantially perpendicular to the support post. The expandable rack can comprise integral fasteners. A pallet mounted expandable rack system and a method for deploying an expandable rack within a vehicle are also disclosed.

1 . An expandable rack structured and arranged to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position, comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially vertical support posts; and    a plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent substantially vertical support posts, wherein at least one of the foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from a collapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with the vertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantially perpendicular to the vertical support posts.    
   
   
       2 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the foldable substantially horizontal frame members comprises a hinge at a located between ends of the horizontal frame member.  
   
   
       3 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially vertical support posts comprises a left front post, a right front post, a left rear post and a right rear post, and wherein at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left from post and the right front post, at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left front post and the left back post, at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the right front post and the right back post, and at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left back post and the right back post.  
   
   
       4 . The expandable rack of  claim 3 , wherein the rack can be transitioned from a collapsed position in which the front vertical posts and the rear vertical posts are adjacent to each other and the left vertical posts and the right vertical posts are adjacent to each other, and an extended position in which the front vertical posts and the rear vertical posts are spaced apart from each other and the left vertical posts and the right vertical posts are spaced apart from each other.  
   
   
       5 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members are upper horizontal frame members and are pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at upper ends of the vertical support posts.  
   
   
       6 . The expandable rack of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members are middle horizontal frame members and are pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at a location along the vertical support posts between the upper horizontal frame members and the lower horizontal frame members.  
   
   
       7 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members are lower horizontal frame members and are pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at lower ends of the vertical support posts.  
   
   
       8 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members comprises: 
 a plurality of upper horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at upper ends of the vertical support posts; and    a plurality of lower horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at lower ends of the vertical support posts.    
   
   
       9 . The expandable rack of  claim 8 , wherein the upper horizontal frame members pivot in a downward direction in the collapsed folded position and the lower horizontal frame members pivot in an upward direction in the collapsed folded position.  
   
   
       10 . The expandable rack of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of middle horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at locations along the vertical support posts between the upper horizontal frame members and the lower horizontal frame members.  
   
   
       11 . The expandable rack of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vertical support posts comprises a left front post, a right front post, a left rear post, and a right rear post, and wherein at least one of the middle horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left front post and the left back post, at least one of the middle horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the right front post and the right back post, and at least one of the middle horizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left back post and the right back post.  
   
   
       12 . The expandable rack of  claim 10 , wherein the middle horizontal frame members pivot in a downward direction in the collapsed folded position.  
   
   
       13 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of vertical support posts is telescopes from a vertically collapsed position to a vertically extended position.  
   
   
       14 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially vertical support posts are pivotally connected to the plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members by locking fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the substantially vertical support posts has a lower end that is engageable with a floor fastener.  
   
   
       16 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shelf removeably engageable with the plurality of vertical support posts and/or horizontal frame members.  
   
   
       17 . The expandable rack of  claim 16 , wherein the shelf is adjustable vertically along the plurality of vertical support posts.  
   
   
       18 . The expandable rack of  claim 16 , wherein the shelf is horizontally slideable from a retracted position within the rack to an extended position at least partially positioned outside the rack.  
   
   
       19 . The expandable rack of  claim 16 , wherein the shelf is structured and arranged to support an article and/or an article housing.  
   
   
       20 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is portable.  
   
   
       21 . The expandable rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is attached to a vehicle.  
   
   
       22 . A transportable pallet mounted expandable rack system for deployment in a vehicle comprising: 
 a pallet; and    an expandable rack removeably mounted on the pallet, the rack comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially vertical support posts; and  
 a plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent substantially vertical support posts, wherein at least one of the foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from a collapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with the vertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantially perpendicular to the vertical support posts.  
   
   
   
       23 . A method of deploying an expandable rack within a vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an expandable rack in a collapsed position within a vehicle interior, the expandable rack comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially vertical support posts; and  
 a plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacent substantially vertical support posts, wherein at least one of the foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from a collapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with the vertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantially perpendicular to the vertical support posts;  
   transitioning the expandable rack from the collapsed folded position to an extended unfolded position; and    securing the rack to the interior of the vehicle.