Collapsible cleaning and drying equipment rack

Abstract

A collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack configured to support equipment during the cleaning and drying process is provided. In particular, the collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack is configured to provide stability and maintain equipment arrangement while withstanding forces of water spray from a hose or power washer during the cleaning process. The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack generally comprises a frame support assembly operable between an open freestanding position and a collapsed position, and a pivotal equipment support assembly pivotally attached to the frame assembly along a transverse axis.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack configured to withstand high pressure external water spray forces, comprising:
 (a) a frame support assembly operable between an open freestanding position and a collapsed position, comprising:
 (i) a front pair of support legs; and 
 (ii) a rear pair of support legs pivotally connected to the front pair of support legs along a transverse axis; and 
   (b) a pivotal equipment support assembly pivotally attached to the frame support assembly along the transverse axis, comprising:
 (i) a transversely extending pivot and support member rotatable about the transverse axis; 
 (ii) an upper helmet assembly for supporting a helmet, fixedly attached to the transversely extending pivot member comprising an upwardly extending helmet member; and 
 (iii) a lower boot assembly positioned below the transversely extending pivot member comprising a pair of substantially parallel upwardly extending boot members for seating boots thereon. 
   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more clip means supported by the frame support assembly above the pivotal equipment support assembly for hanging equipment gloves. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the upwardly extending helmet member and the upwardly extending boot members having an enlarged top portion. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the front pair of support legs are connected by a first transversely extending lower member and the distal ends of the rear pair of support legs are connected by a second transversely extending lower member. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the front pair of support legs and the rear pair of support legs each extend laterally downward at an angle forming an enlarged base imprint, whereby providing lateral support to the collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotal equipment support assembly is attachably removable at the transverse axis. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 6 , wherein the pivotal equipment support assembly further comprises a rear extending wall attachment member adapted to couple with a wall support bracket, whereby the pivotal equipment support assembly can be removed from the frame support assembly and suspended from a wall. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the upper helmet assembly is rotatable about the upwardly extending helmet member axis, whereby providing the ability to rotate into a substantially planar collapsed position for storage purposes. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the upper helmet assembly further comprises a forward extending helmet member and a rearward extending helmet member in line with the forward extending helmet member, the forward extending helmet member forming an obtuse angle with the upwardly extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member forming an acute angle with the upwardly extending helmet member, whereby the combined configuration of the upwardly extending helmet member, forward extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member provide a forward tilting seat for a helmet mounted thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity of the pivotal equipment support assembly falls below the transverse axis. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 1 , wherein the frame support assembly further comprises an upper frame formed by a pair of upwardly extending members integral with the front pair of support legs and connected at distal ends by an upper transverse member, the upper transverse member having a height above the pivotal equipment support assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 11 , wherein the upper frame is hingedly attached to the front pair of support legs, whereby providing the ability to collapse and fold the upper frame forward and substantially planar with the front pair of support legs for purposes of storage and transport. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 12 , wherein the frame support assembly further comprises at least one catch bracket positioned between at least one front support leg and an adjacent rear support leg near the transverse axis in order to limit the travel distance between the front pair of support legs and the rear pair of support legs while in the open freestanding position. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 13 , wherein the upper helmet assembly is attachably removable from the pivotal equipment support assembly and attachable removable to the upper frame of the frame support assembly, whereby while in the collapsed position, the upper helmet assembly couples with the upper frame in order to condense the overall profile of the collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack for storage and transport purposes. 
     
     
         15 . A collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack configured to withstand high pressure external water spray forces, comprising:
 (a) a frame support assembly operable between an open freestanding position and a collapsed position providing a transverse axis; and   (b) a pivotal equipment support assembly pivotally attached to the frame support assembly along the transverse axis, comprising:
 (i) a transversely extending pivot and support member rotatable about the transverse axis; 
 (ii) an upper helmet assembly for supporting a helmet fixedly attached to the transversely extending pivot member comprising an upwardly extending helmet member; and 
 (iii) a lower boot assembly positioned below the transversely extending pivot member comprising a pair of generally parallel upwardly extending boot members for seating boots thereon. 
   
     
     
         16 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 15 , wherein the pivotal equipment support assembly is attachably removable with the frame support assembly at the transverse axis. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 16 , wherein the pivotal equipment support assembly further comprises a rear extending wall attachment member adapted to couple with a wall support bracket, whereby the pivotal equipment support assembly can be removed from the frame support assembly and suspended from a wall. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 15 , wherein the upper helmet assembly further comprises a forward extending helmet member and a rearward extending helmet member in line with the forward extending helmet member, the forward extending helmet member forming an obtuse angle with the upwardly extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member forming an acute angle with the upwardly extending helmet member, whereby the combined configuration of the upwardly extending helmet member, forward extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member provide a forward tilting seat for a helmet mounted thereon. 
     
     
         19 . A collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack configured to withstand high pressure external water spray forces, comprising:
 (a) a frame support assembly operable between an open freestanding position and a collapsed position, comprising;
 (i) as front pair of support legs connected by a transversely extending lower member; and 
 (ii) a rear pair of support legs connected by a transversely extending lower member, the rear pair of support legs pivotally connected to the front pair of support legs along a transverse axis; 
   (b) a pivotal equipment support assembly pivotally attached to the frame support assembly along the transverse axis, comprising:
 (i) a transversely extending pivot and support member rotatable about the transverse axis; 
 (ii) an upper helmet assembly for supporting a helmet thereon fixedly attached to the transversely extending pivot member comprising an upwardly extending helmet member having an enlarged top portion; and 
 (iii) a lower boot assembly positioned below the transversely extending pivot member comprising a pair of generally parallel upwardly extending boot members, each having an enlarged top portion for seating boots thereon; and 
   (c) one or more clip means supported by the frame support assembly above the pivotal equipment support assembly for hanging equipment gloves.   
     
     
         20 . The collapsible equipment cleaning and drying rack of  claim 19 , wherein the upper helmet assembly further comprises a forward extending helmet member and a rearward extending helmet member in line with the forward extending helmet member, the forward extending helmet member forming an obtuse angle with the upwardly extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member forming an acute angle with the upwardly extending helmet member, whereby the combined configuration of the upwardly extending helmet member, forward extending helmet member and the rearward extending helmet member provide a forward tilting; seat for a helmet mounted thereon.