Screwless metal hinge and rack

Abstract

A rack which has a central portion first and second uprights interconnected by at least one cross member with a hinge pivotally connecting at least one of the first and second uprights to at least one wing portion having a third upright. A fixture is disposed on one of the uprights. The fixture has a longitudinally extending male end and a female end opposite thereto with a first shaft dimensioned to fit within the female end of the fixture, and a second shaft with a sleeve extending therefrom dimensioned to slidably engage the longitudinally extending male end forming with the first shaft one of the uprights pivotally connected to another one of the uprights.

1 . A hinge pivotally connecting two uprights, comprising
 a first upright having a fixture disposed thereon,   said fixture having a longitudinally extending male end and a female end opposite thereto,   a first shaft dimensioned to fit within the female end of said fixture, and   a second shaft having a sleeve extending therefrom dimensioned to slidably engage said longitudinally extending male end forming with said first shaft a second upright parallel to said first upright and pivotally connected thereto.   
   
   
       2 . The hinge of  claim 1 , wherein said fixture is fixedly mounted to said first upright. 
   
   
       3 . The hinge of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second uprights are circular in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       4 . The hinge of  claim 3 , wherein said female end has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said second upright. 
   
   
       5 . A hinge pivotally connecting two uprights, comprising
 a first upright having a fixture disposed thereon,   said fixture having a longitudinally extending male end and a female end opposite thereto,   a first shaft dimensioned to fit within the female end of said fixture, and a second shaft having a sleeve slidably positioned thereon and movable to extend over said longitudinally extending male end forming with said first shaft a second upright parallel to said first upright and pivotally connected thereto, and   a deformable member intermediate the distal ends of said longitudinally extending male end and said second shaft frictionally to engage said sleeve.   
   
   
       6 . The hinge of  claim 5 , wherein said fixture is fixedly mounted to said first upright. 
   
   
       7 . The hinge of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second uprights are circular in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       8 . The hinge of  claim 7 , wherein said female end has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said second upright. 
   
   
       9 . The hinge of  claim 5 , wherein said deformable member is a synthetic organic resin. 
   
   
       10 . The hinge of  claim 9 , wherein said deformable member is generally cylindrical and has an outwardly extending portion thereof in contact with the interior of said sleeve. 
   
   
       11 . The hinge of  claim 10 , wherein said outwardly extending portion is a skirt or a plurality of strips. 
   
   
       12 . The hinge of  claim 5 , wherein said sleeve is generally circular in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       13 . A rack, comprising a central portion first and second uprights interconnected by at least one cross member,
 a hinge pivotally connecting at least one of said first and second uprights to at least one wing portion having a third upright,   a fixture disposed on one of said uprights,   said fixture having a longitudinally extending male end and a female end opposite thereto,   a first shaft dimensioned to fit within said female end of said fixture, and   a second shaft having a sleeve extending therefrom dimensioned to slidably engage said longitudinally extending male end forming with said first shaft one of said uprights pivotally connected to another one of said uprights.   
   
   
       14 . The rack of  claim 13 , and further including a deformable member intermediate the distal ends of said longitudinally extending male end and said second shaft frictionally to engage said sleeve. 
   
   
       15 . The rack of  claim 14 , wherein said uprights are circular in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       16 . The rack of  claim 15 , wherein said female end has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said second upright. 
   
   
       17 . The rack of  claim 13 , wherein said deformable member is a synthetic organic resin. 
   
   
       18 . The rack of  claim 17 , wherein said deformable member is generally cylindrical and has an outwardly extending portion thereof in contact with the interior of said sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . The rack of  claim 18 , wherein said outwardly extending portion is a skirt or a plurality of strips. 
   
   
       20 . The rack of  claim 15 , wherein said sleeve is generally circular in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       21 . The rack of  claim 20 , wherein there are two wing portions. 
   
   
       22 . The rack of  claim 13 , and further including at least one shelf supported by said rack.