Storage rack

• US 9,004,299 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William R. Hardin
• Original Assignee: William R. Hardin
• Inventors: Hardin, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAWN, PATRICK D
• Application Number:
  US13/052,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 211/144, 211/163, 211/129.1, 211/131.1, 211/115, 211/95, 211/77, 211/78, 211/37, 211/1.53, 211/58, 312/125, 312/135, 312/305, 108/139, 108/103, 108/22
• US Class Current: 211/144
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 49/004 Cabinets with compartments provided with trays revolving on a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 61/04 for shoes, hats, umbrellas, or the like shoe racks as an implement for the manufacture of shoes A43D117/00

Abstract

A rotating storage rack including a base and a plurality of vertically stacked shelves allows high storage density for shoes, boots, and other footwear, as well as miscellaneous wardrobe accessories, including purses.

Claims

1. A rotating storage rack having a rotational axis and a maximum rotational radius, the rotating storage rack comprising:

a base configured to support shelves, wherein the shelves have edges at or near the periphery of the rotating storage rack; and

a plurality of vertically stacked shelves supported by the base, wherein at least one shelf includes vertical partitions, wherein the at least one shelf has a center, wherein the rotational axis of the rotating storage rack intersects the at least one shelf in the center, wherein adjacent vertical partitions form storage compartments, wherein the vertical partitions form a shared shelf area around the rotational axis, wherein individual ones of the vertical partitions include distal ends and proximal ends, wherein the distal ends form distal openings at or near one or more edges of the at least one shelf, wherein the proximal ends form proximal openings facing the rotational axis, wherein the vertical partitions extend radially such that the proximal ends of the vertical partitions do not extend to the rotational axis, thereby creating, on the at least one shelf, the shared shelf area around the rotational axis so as to provide an uninterrupted surface of the at least one shelf, wherein the uninterrupted surface extends between the proximal ends of the vertical partitions, wherein the rotational axis intersects the uninterrupted surface, wherein the shared shelf area is manually accessible by a user through at least two of the storage compartments,

wherein at least two vertical partitions form a storage compartment between a lower shelf and a higher shelf from the plurality of vertically stacked shelves, wherein the lower shelf is positioned below the higher shelf, wherein the at least two vertical partitions include a support feature supporting an additional shelf between the lower shelf and the higher shelf, thereby dividing the storage compartment into two storage compartments.

2. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a vertical side disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein the vertical side is configured to receive a hanger rail.

3. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, wherein the shared shelf area is manually accessible by the user through all storage compartments formed by vertical partitions supported by a particular shelf from the plurality of vertically stacked shelves, wherein the particular shelf is the same shelf that includes the shared shelf area.

4. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, wherein at least one shelf includes a support feature configured to support an additional vertical partition.

5. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, wherein two vertically stacked shelves from the plurality of vertically stacked shelves include a lower shelf and a higher shelf, wherein the lower shelf is positioned below the higher shelf, and wherein lower shelf and the higher shelf are independently rotatable.

6. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vertically stacked shelves is arranged to create shelves of different heights.

7. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, further comprising two vertical sides disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein the two vertical sides connect at a right angle.

8. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, further comprising two vertical sides disposed beyond the maximum rotational radius, wherein the two vertical sides are disposed at diametrically opposing sides of the rotating storage rack.

9. The rotating storage rack of claim 1, wherein the vertical partitions form the shared shelf area by leaving clear a predetermined distance of the at least one shelf that immediately surrounds the rotational axis, wherein the predetermined distance is at least two inches.

10. A rotating storage rack having a rotational axis, the rotating storage rack comprising:

a base configured to support shelves;

a plurality of vertically stacked shelves supported by the base, wherein the plurality of vertically stacked shelves includes a first shelf and a second shelf, wherein the first shelf is positioned below the second shelf, wherein the first shelf has a first center, wherein the second shelf has a second center, wherein the rotational axis of the rotating storage rack intersects the first shelf in the first center and further intersects the second shelf in the second center; and

a plurality of vertical partitions arranged between the first shelf and the second shelf, wherein the plurality of vertical partitions extend radially outward from the rotational axis, wherein the plurality of vertical partitions are arranged at least a predetermined distance from the rotational axis such that the first shelf includes a shared shelf area around the rotational axis that provides a shelf surface spanning at least the predetermined distance from the rotational axis, wherein the shelf surface at the rotational axis is available for storage, wherein the rotational axis intersects the shelf surface, wherein adjacent vertical partitions form storage compartments between the first shelf and the second shelf, and wherein the shared shelf area is manually accessible by a user through all of the formed storage compartments,

wherein a storage compartment formed by two adjacent vertical partitions includes user-configurable support features supporting an interlocking shelf element and an interlocking vertical element, wherein the interlocking shelf element interlocks with the interlocking vertical element to provide an additional shelf within the storage compartment and an additional vertical partition within the storage compartment.

11. The rotating storage rack of claim 10, wherein the first shelf is positioned between three and six inches below the second shelf.

12. The rotating storage rack of claim 10, wherein the vertically stacked shelves have a diameter between 20 and 36 inches.