HOME APPLIANCE WITH HANGER RACK
United States Patent 3756679
A free standing appliance is provided with a removable hanger rack for towels and the like. The rack includes a plurality of flat support arms joined by a hanger bar. The arms are slidably positioned in the horizontal planular space between the upper deck and a side wall of the appliance. Means are provided to resist accidental removal of the rack from the appliance.
US Patent References:
Stop for desk-slides and the like
Rhodes - November 1921 - 1397782
Table
Langguth - April 1926 - 1579823
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Frost - September 1913 - 1073483
Kitchen cabinet
Himmelwright - February 1927 - 1618126
Sliding iron rest
Brusilowsky - November 1943 - 2333516
Stop for desk-slides and the like
Rhodes - November 1921 - 1397782
Table
Langguth - April 1926 - 1579823
/1073483.html
Frost - September 1913 - 1073483
Kitchen cabinet
Himmelwright - February 1927 - 1618126
Sliding iron rest
Brusilowsky - November 1943 - 2333516
Application Number:
05/189816
Publication Date:
09/04/1973
Filing Date:
10/18/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
211/105.100, 108/29
International Classes:
A47K10/04; A47K10/00; A47B83/00
Field of Search:
108/28,29,33,93 211/13,16,123,94.5,105.1,181 248/216 312/37,237
Primary Examiner:
Zugel, Francis K.
Assistant Examiner:
Marquette, Darrell
Claims:
I claim
1. A home appliance comprising:
2. a plurality of spaced flat arms forming said support means,
3. the outer ends of said arms being curved to form circular sockets,
4. and a hanger bar secured within said sockets,
1. A home appliance comprising:
2. a plurality of spaced flat arms forming said support means,
3. the outer ends of said arms being curved to form circular sockets,
4. and a hanger bar secured within said sockets,
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a home appliance with hanger rack.
Most homes and apartments nowadays include a kitchen, utility room or other area for the placement of stoves, washers, dryers and other home appliances. In some instances, the appliances are built into counters or the like, while in many instances, the appliances are free standing; that is, they are positioned with one or more side walls exposed. Many kitchens and similar areas are quite small and do not provide a proper built-in place for towel and pan racks and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing a free standing appliance with a removable hanger rack for towels, etc. and which is uniquely attached to the appliance. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the rack includes a plurality of flat support arms joined by a hanger bar. The arms are slidably positioned in the horizontal planular space between the upper deck and a side wall of the appliance. Means are provided to resist accidental removal of the rack from the applaince.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a home appliance constructed in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawing, the invention is embodied in a household appliance such as a kitchen stove 1 which is free standing; i.e. with one or more exposed sides. Stove 1 includes a top deck 2, a front wall 3 and supporting side walls 4.
The construction is such that deck 2 is removably supported on the base. For this purpose, the deck is provided with an edge portion 5 and an inwardly extending lower flange 6 which extends substantially continuously at least along the stove sides. The upper edge of each side wall 4 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 7 which is generally coextensive with flange 6. Flanges 6 and 7 are secured to each other in any suitable way, as by screws (not shown), so that they are in parallelism and provide a planular space 8 therebetween.
In accordance with the invention, a hanger rack 9 is removably attached to stove 1. In the present embodiment, rack 9 comprises a pair of suitably spaced elongated relatively rigid support arms 10 joined by a hanger bar 11 of any desired length. Arms 10 are flat and of a thickness approximately 1/2 the thickness of space 8. It has been found that suitable arms can be formed from stainless steel of about 1/16th inch thickness. Bar 11 may be made of any suitable material, such as an aluminum rod of about 3/8 inch diameter.
The outer ends of arms 10 are curved to form circular sockets 12 into which the ends of bar 11 are press fit.
Rack 9 is attached to stove 1 by manually sliding arms 10 into space 8, so that the arms extend beyond flanges 6 and 7.
In some instances, outward forces may tend to cause arms 10 to slide out of space 8. Tis might occur, for example, if a towel 13 is pulled from the rack; or if the rack is used with an appliance such as a washing machine, vibrations could move the rack outwardly. The invention also includes means on the rack and cooperating with flanges 6 and 7 to resist and substantially limit outward rack movement. As shown, the inner end portion 14 of at least one arm 10 is inclined at a slight angle to the arm body. Each portion 14 is normally disposed inwardly of flanges 6 and 7. Any outward forces wil cause each inclined portion 14 to engage an abutment formed by the respective flange edge 15, 16, depending upon whether the portion is upturned or downturned.
It has been found that flanges 6 and 7 provide a slight resistance to sliding insertion of arms 10, especially in view of inclined ends 14. However, the flanges are sufficiently flexible so that they will yield to a moderate amount of pressure.
When rack 9 is in use, bar 11 may be slidably positioned at any suitable distance from side wall 4, limited only by the length of arms 10 and the position of inclined ends 14. When the rack is not in use, it may be pushed inwardly until bar 11 is closely adjacent side wall 4, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The adjustment is infinite between end limits.
It has been found that arms 10 do not interfere with any appliance mechanism disposed under deck 2.
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.
This invention relates to a home appliance with hanger rack.
Most homes and apartments nowadays include a kitchen, utility room or other area for the placement of stoves, washers, dryers and other home appliances. In some instances, the appliances are built into counters or the like, while in many instances, the appliances are free standing; that is, they are positioned with one or more side walls exposed. Many kitchens and similar areas are quite small and do not provide a proper built-in place for towel and pan racks and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing a free standing appliance with a removable hanger rack for towels, etc. and which is uniquely attached to the appliance. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the rack includes a plurality of flat support arms joined by a hanger bar. The arms are slidably positioned in the horizontal planular space between the upper deck and a side wall of the appliance. Means are provided to resist accidental removal of the rack from the applaince.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a home appliance constructed in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawing, the invention is embodied in a household appliance such as a kitchen stove 1 which is free standing; i.e. with one or more exposed sides. Stove 1 includes a top deck 2, a front wall 3 and supporting side walls 4.
The construction is such that deck 2 is removably supported on the base. For this purpose, the deck is provided with an edge portion 5 and an inwardly extending lower flange 6 which extends substantially continuously at least along the stove sides. The upper edge of each side wall 4 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 7 which is generally coextensive with flange 6. Flanges 6 and 7 are secured to each other in any suitable way, as by screws (not shown), so that they are in parallelism and provide a planular space 8 therebetween.
In accordance with the invention, a hanger rack 9 is removably attached to stove 1. In the present embodiment, rack 9 comprises a pair of suitably spaced elongated relatively rigid support arms 10 joined by a hanger bar 11 of any desired length. Arms 10 are flat and of a thickness approximately 1/2 the thickness of space 8. It has been found that suitable arms can be formed from stainless steel of about 1/16th inch thickness. Bar 11 may be made of any suitable material, such as an aluminum rod of about 3/8 inch diameter.
The outer ends of arms 10 are curved to form circular sockets 12 into which the ends of bar 11 are press fit.
Rack 9 is attached to stove 1 by manually sliding arms 10 into space 8, so that the arms extend beyond flanges 6 and 7.
In some instances, outward forces may tend to cause arms 10 to slide out of space 8. Tis might occur, for example, if a towel 13 is pulled from the rack; or if the rack is used with an appliance such as a washing machine, vibrations could move the rack outwardly. The invention also includes means on the rack and cooperating with flanges 6 and 7 to resist and substantially limit outward rack movement. As shown, the inner end portion 14 of at least one arm 10 is inclined at a slight angle to the arm body. Each portion 14 is normally disposed inwardly of flanges 6 and 7. Any outward forces wil cause each inclined portion 14 to engage an abutment formed by the respective flange edge 15, 16, depending upon whether the portion is upturned or downturned.
It has been found that flanges 6 and 7 provide a slight resistance to sliding insertion of arms 10, especially in view of inclined ends 14. However, the flanges are sufficiently flexible so that they will yield to a moderate amount of pressure.
When rack 9 is in use, bar 11 may be slidably positioned at any suitable distance from side wall 4, limited only by the length of arms 10 and the position of inclined ends 14. When the rack is not in use, it may be pushed inwardly until bar 11 is closely adjacent side wall 4, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The adjustment is infinite between end limits.
It has been found that arms 10 do not interfere with any appliance mechanism disposed under deck 2.
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.