Folding garment rack

Abstract

A foldable garment rack having a collapsible frame that may be mounted on a plurality of wheel assemblies or other support feet. The present foldable garment rack comprises a rigid top frame member pivotally coupled to both a first side frame member and a second side frame member, and a rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to both side frame members. Each side member may include a top section and bottom section operably connected by an elbow joint. Each side member may include a locking tube slidingly disposed on the side frame member wherein the sliding lock may have a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint. The foldable garment has an erected position and a folded position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A foldable garment rack comprising:
 a collapsible frame comprising a rigid top frame member pivotally coupled to both a first side frame member and a second side frame member, and a rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to both said first side frame member and said second side frame member, wherein said first side frame member and said second side frame member have substantially the same length;   said first side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a first elbow joint;   said second side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a second elbow joint;   a first locking tube slidingly disposed on said first side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint; and   a second locking tube slidingly disposed on said second side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 1  wherein said top section and said bottom sections of said first side section having a length that is substantially equal; and wherein said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member having a length that is substantially equal. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 1  wherein said first side frame member is pivotally coupled to said top frame member by a first connection tab, said first connection tab being coupled to a back side of said top frame member proximate a first end of said top frame member, and said second side frame member is pivotally coupled to said top frame member by a second connection tab, said second connection tab being coupled to a front side of said top frame member proximate a second end of said top frame member. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 1 , said foldable garment rack having an erected position and a folded position. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 4  wherein in said erected position, said first locking tube covering said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint and said second locking tube covering said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 5  wherein in said erected position, said first locking tube rests on a first transition step in the outer dimension of said bottom section of said first side frame member and said second locking tube rests on a second transition step in the outer dimension of said bottom section of said second side frame member. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 4 , wherein in said folded position said first side frame member and said second side frame member are laterally adjacent. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid top frame member being disposed substantially above the rigid bottom frame member. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . A foldable garment rack comprising:
 a collapsible frame comprising:
 a first side frame member having of a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a first elbow joint, said bottom section including a first wheel receiver tube disposed substantially perpendicular to said first side frame member; 
 a second side frame member having a top section and a bottom section pivotally connected by a second elbow joint, said bottom section including a second wheel receiver tube disposed substantially perpendicular to said first side frame member; 
 a rigid top frame member having a first connection tab coupled to a back side of said top frame member proximate a first end of said top frame member and a second connection tab coupled to a front side of said top frame member proximate a second end of said top frame member, and wherein said first side frame member is pivotally coupled to said first connection tab and said second side frame member is pivotally coupled to said second connection tab; 
 a rigid bottom frame member having a front side and a back side, said rigid bottom frame member pivotally coupled to said first wheel receiver tube, said first side frame member being disposed over said back side of said rigid bottom frame, and said rigid bottom frame member being pivotally coupled to said second wheel receiver tube, said second side frame member being disposed over said front side of said rigid bottom frame; 
   a first locking tube slidingly disposed on said first side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said first elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said first side frame member adjacent to said first elbow joint; and   a second locking tube slidingly disposed on said second side frame member and having a length sufficient to cover said second elbow joint and a portion of each of said top section and said bottom section of said second side frame member adjacent to said second elbow joint.   
     
     
         11 . The foldable garment rack of  claim 10  wherein said collapsible frame having an erected position and a folded position.