Collapsible clothes drying rack

Abstract

A collapsible clothes drying rack, including X-shaped collapsible frames and a plurality of rods extending between the collapsible frames. A clip has a head with annularly spaced fingers extending through aligned holes in pivotally connected frame arms. The fingers of each clip define an annular inner space and a generally annular outer surface area. The fingers have a radially extending shoulder surface which is spaced from the head a distance equal to the combined thickness of the pivotally connected arms. Rod ends extend into the space between the clip fingers. Locking arms are similarly pivotally secured on one end to one of the rods and include an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of the rods. Clamps slide over the other ends of the locking arms to cover the open slot, with hooks extending from the clamps. A removable drying support surface is provided with connectors on the corners. Each of the connectors include a pair of cords secured on one end to the corner and on the other end to a locking member, with the cords being wrapable around one of the support rods with the cord other ends extending between the pair of cords.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising: 
 first and second pairs of frame members, 
 each of said frame members comprising two arms pivotally connected together at a point between the ends of said arms, and  
 distal ends of said arms of one of said frame members of each pair of frame members pivotally connected to proximate ends of the other of said frame members of said pair;  
   a plurality of rods extending between said each of said first and second pairs of frame members to maintain said first pair of frame members in an aligned spaced orientation relative to said second pair of frame members;    wherein said pivotal connection of said arms each comprises 
 a clip extending through aligned holes having a first diameter in pivotally connected arms, said clip having 
 a head larger than said first diameter,  
 annularly spaced fingers extending from said head, said fingers of each clip defining a generally annular inner space of a second diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the order of said first diameter, and  
 a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said pivotally connected arms; and  
 
 an end of one of said rods extending into said generally annular inner space, said rod end having an outer diameter on the order of said second diameter.  
   
     
     
         2 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said fingers is flexibly bendable into said annular inner space when an end of one of said rods is not in said annular inner space to contain said fingers completely in a cylindrical area having a diameter less than said first diameter.  
     
     
         3 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein first and second ones of said rods extend between said distal ends of said arms of said second pair of frame members, and further comprising 
 first and second locking arms adjacent each pair of frame members and adapted to releasably secure said first and second ones of said rods in a selected spacing with said frame members in an X-shaped configuration;    four support clips extending through holes in said distal ends of said arms, said holes having a third diameter and said support clips each having 
 a support clip head larger than said third diameter,  
 annularly spaced support clip fingers extending from said support clip head, said support clip fingers defining a generally annular inner space of a fourth diameter and a generally annular outer surface area on the order of said third diameter, and  
 a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said support clip fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said support clip head a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said frame member arm on a first two of said support clips and said shoulder surface spaced from said support clip head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said frame member arm and said locking arm on a second two of said support clips; and  
   wherein opposite ends of said first and second ones of said rods extend into said generally annular inner space between said support clip fingers of aligned ones of said support clips, said ends of said ones of said rods having an outer diameter on the order of said fourth diameter.    
     
     
         4 . The rack of  claim 3 , wherein said locking arms are pivotally secured to one of said first and second ones of said rods, and said locking arms each include an open slot therein for releasably receiving the other of said first and second ones of said rods, further comprising a clamp adapted to slide over the end of one of said locking arms, said clamp covering said open slot when on said locking arm end.  
     
     
         5 . A pivotal connection between arms of a collapsible clothes drying rack, said arms on opposite sides of said rack being spaced apart by rods, comprising: 
 a clip extending through aligned holes in the pivotally connected arms, said clip having 
 a head larger than arm holes,  
 annularly spaced fingers extending from said head through said aligned holes, said fingers defining an inner space and a generally annular outer surface area, and  
 a radially extending shoulder surface on at least one of said fingers, said shoulder surface spaced from said head a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of said pivotally connected arms; and  
   an end of one of said rods extending into said inner space, said rod end having an outer surface supporting said spaced fingers in a position wherein said generally annular outer surface area substantially matches said aligned holes and said radially extending shoulder surface faces a surface of one of said arms.    
     
     
         6 . The pivotal connection of  claim 5 , wherein said rod end is a reduced diameter portion on said rod, and a rod shoulder adjacent said rod end is substantially adjacent the ends of said fingers.  
     
     
         7 . A collapsible clothes drying rack, comprising: 
 first and second collapsible frames each comprising connected frame members each having two arms pivotally connected in a scissors configuration;    a plurality of rods extending between said collapsible frames to maintain said frames in an aligned spaced orientation;    first and second locking arms each pivotally secured on one end to one of said rods and including an open slot at the other end for releasably receiving another of said rods to lock two of said arms in an X-shaped configuration; and    clamps adapted to slide over said other ends of said locking arms to cover said open slot.    
     
     
         8 . The rack of  claim 7 , further comprising a hook extending outwardly from at least one of said clamps, said hook adapted to securely hang an article of clothing requiring drying.  
     
     
         9 . The rack of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said locking arms are substantially rectangular in cross-section;    said rods are substantially cylindrical; and    each of said clamps include 
 a substantially rectangular housing portion with an open side for receiving said locking arm end,  
 a slot receiving said one of said rods when said locking arm end is received in said housing portion,  
 a first clothing hook extending outwardly from said housing beyond said locking arm end, and  
 a second clothing hook beneath and spaced from said locking arm, said second clothing hook extending from said housing in a direction opposite said first clothing hook.  
   
     
     
         10 . A removable shelf for a collapsible clothes drying rack having a pair of horizontally spaced support rods, comprising: 
 a generally rectangular drying support surface; and    a connector on the corners of said support surface, each of said connectors comprising a pair of cords secured on one end to one of said support surface corners and secured on the other end to a locking member, said cords being wrapable around one of said support rods with said cord other ends extending between said pair of cords.    
     
     
         11 . The shelf of  claim 10 , wherein said drying support surface is mesh.  
     
     
         12 . The shelf of  claim 10 , wherein said locking member may be selectively positioned to retain said cords wrapped around said one of said support rods with the cord other ends between said pair of cords.  
     
     
         13 . The shelf of  claim 10 , wherein said locking member and cords may be manipulated to pass said locking member between said cords to release said cords from said one of said support rods.