Foldable rack

Abstract

A foldable rack includes first and second frame-halves each including at least two horizontal plates, and two upright rods connected pivotally and respectively to front and rear sides of each horizontal plate. Two guide rods are disposed respectively between the upright rods of the frame-halves. Two slide pieces are sleeved slidably and respectively on the guide rods between top and bottom sections thereof, and respectively have a protrusion. Two locking units are disposed respectively on the guide rods between the top and bottom sections thereof. Each locking unit includes a locking element to engage or disengage the protrusion of a respective slide piece so as to prevent or unlock relative sliding movement between one of the slide pieces and a respective guide rod, so that the upright rods of the first and second frame-halves are moved to an unfolded or folded state.

1 . A foldable rack, comprising:
 a first frame-half including at least two horizontal plates, and two spaced-apart upright rods each having a top section and a bottom section, each of said horizontal plates having inner and outer sides, and front and rear sides connected between said inner and outer sides, said upright rods being connected pivotally and respectively to said front and rear sides of each of said horizontal plates proximate to said outer side thereof;   a second frame-half opposite to said first frame-half, and including at least two horizontal plates, and two spaced-apart upright rods each having a top section and a bottom section, each of said horizontal plates of said second frame-half having inner and outer sides, and front and rear sides connected between said inner and outer sides of a corresponding one of said horizontal plates of said second frame-half, said upright rods of said second frame-half being connected pivotally and respectively to said front and rear sides of each of said horizontal plates of said second frame-half proximate to said outer side thereof;   two guide rods each disposed between one of said upright rods of said first frame-half and a respective said upright rod of said second frame-half, each of said guide rods having a bottom section and a top section;   said front side of each of said horizontal plates of said first frame-half and said front side of each of said horizontal plates of said second frame-half being connected pivotally to one of said guide rods proximate to said inner sides thereof;   said rear side of each of said horizontal plates of said first frame-half and said rear side of each of said horizontal plates of said second frame-half being connected pivotally to the other one of said guide rods proximate to said inner sides thereof;   two slide pieces each sleeved slidably on a respective one of said guide rods between said top and bottom sections thereof, each of said slide pieces having a protrusion projecting therefrom;   two first link rods each connected pivotally to and disposed between one of said slide pieces and said bottom section of one of said upright rods of said first frame-half;   two second link rods each connected pivotally to and disposed between one of said slide pieces and said bottom section of one of said upright rods of said second frame-half; and   two locking units disposed respectively on said guide rods between said top and bottom sections thereof, each of said locking units including a locking element to engage said protrusion of a respective said slide piece so as to prevent relative sliding movement between one of said slide pieces and a respective said guide rod, so that said upright rods of said first and second frame-halves are moved to an unfolded state, said locking element of each of said locking units being disengaged from said protrusion of the respective said slide piece so as to unlock relative sliding movement between one of said slide pieces and the respective said guide rod, so that said upright rods of said first and second frame-halves are moved to a folded state.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable rack of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning element fixed around each of said guide rods between said top and bottom sections thereof, each of said locking units further including a locking plate connected pivotally to said positioning element, and a biasing element, said locking plate having said locking element provided on one end thereof, and a trigger portion opposite to said locking element, said biasing element being disposed between said positioning element and said trigger portion to bias said trigger portion away from said positioning element.