Apparatus and Method for the Compact Support and Storage of Hanging Items

Abstract

Disclosed is a rack for hanging items for drying and/or storage. The apparatus includes a main support post, a plurality of slip-T joints and a plurality of support arms. The support arms attach to the main support post through the slip-T joints, which allow the support arms to rotate about the main support post axis. The main support attaches to a substantially vertical surface through an upper support and a lower support that is longer than the upper, such that the support arms are capable of lying parallel to the vertical surface with an item hanging thereon.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for the compact support and storage of hanging items, the apparatus comprising:
 an upright axial support post attached to a vertical surface such that the attachment creates an angle between the upright axial support post and the vertical surface; and   a plurality of support arms including a first support arm and a second support arm, each support arm rotatably attached to the axial support post, wherein each support arm is substantially perpendicularly oriented to the axial support post and independently rotatable with respect to the axis thereof,   wherein the angle between the upright support post and the vertical surface is chosen such that a first hanging item draped over the first support arm and a second hanging item draped over the second support arm each lay substantially parallel to one another and with the vertical surface in a compact stacked fashion and substantially without distortion of the hanging items when the first and second support arms are rotated to a position substantially parallel to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 at least one upper support and one lower support, each support joining the respective end of the upright axial support post to the vertical surface at an attachment point, wherein the lower support is longer than the upper support.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 at least one upper support and one lower support, each support joining the respective end of the upright axial support post to the vertical surface at an attachment point, wherein the upper support, the lower support, or the upper and lower supports are adjustable.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support arms are grouped along the upright axial support post such that a plurality of hanging items may be supported on opposite sides of the upright axial support. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for the compact support and storage of hanging items, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of support arms, each arm attached to an upright axial support post, the axial support post rigidly affixed to a vertical surface by at least an upper support and a lower support, wherein the lower support includes a length different than that of the upper support thereby creating an angle between the upright axial support post and the vertical surface, and   a plurality of support arms including a first support arm and a second support arm, each support arm rotatably attached to the axial support post, wherein each support arm is substantially perpendicularly oriented to the axial support post and independently rotatable with respect to the axis thereof,   wherein the angle between the upright support post and the vertical surface is chosen such that a first hanging item draped over the first support arm and a second hanging item draped over the second support arm each lay substantially parallel to one another and with the vertical surface in a compact stacked fashion and substantially without distortion of the hanging items when the first and second support arms are rotated to a position substantially parallel to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the lower support is longer than the upper support. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the upper support, the lower support, or the upper and lower supports are adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support arms are grouped such that a plurality of hanging items may be supported on opposite sides of the upright axial support such that each grouping of hanging items is capable of stacking against the vertical surface with each support arm substantially parallel with the vertical surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing for the compact support and storage of hanging items, the method steps comprising:
 providing an upright axial support post and a plurality of support arms including a first support arm and a second support arm, each support arm rotatably attached to the axial support post, wherein each support arm is substantially perpendicularly oriented to the axial support post and independently rotatable with respect to the axis thereof; and   attaching the upright axial support post to a vertical surface using at least an upper support and a lower support, each support joining the respective end of the upright axial support post to the vertical surface at an attachment point such that the upright axial support post forms an angle with the vertical surface, wherein the angle between the upright support post and the vertical surface is chosen such that a first hanging item draped over the first support arm and a second hanging item draped over the second support arm each lay substantially parallel to one another and with the vertical surface in a compact stacked fashion and substantially without distortion of the hanging items when the first and second support arms are rotated to a position substantially parallel to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the method steps further comprising:
 utilizing the plurality of support arms to support a plurality of hanging items, with each hanging item draped over a single support arm thereby forming two opposing groupings of hanging items on opposite sides of the upright axial support post such that each grouping of the plurality of hanging items on the left and right sides form a respective stack against the vertical surface with each support arm rotated to a position substantially parallel to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , the method steps further comprising:
 utilizing the plurality of support arms to support a plurality of disparate hanging items, with each hanging item draped over a single support arm thereby forming two opposing groupings of hanging items on opposite sides of the upright axial support post such that each grouping of the plurality of hanging items on the left and right sides form a respective stack against the vertical surface with each support arm rotated to a position substantially parallel to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each support arms allows for an item hanging therefrom to be slid from the respective support arm off of the end opposite that of the upright axial support post. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one support arm is fixed with respect to the axial support post axis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , the method steps further comprising:
 adjusting the upper support, the lower support, or the upper and lower supports to vary the angle according to the thickness of items hanging from the support arms.