Connector for laundry rack

Abstract

A collapsible laundry rack is provided wherein a plurality of cross members for hanging clothes may be attached to first and second scissor structures via a plurality of tab connectors and socket connectors. In particular, the distal ends of the cross members may be attached to the socket connector which is selectively removable from tab connectors attached to corresponding points of the first and second scissor structures. A socket portion of the socket connector may be aligned to a tab portion of the tab connector. Release levers formed on the tab portion may be inserted into the socket until retention members of the tab portion engage cam edges of the socket portion. To remove the tabs from the socket, the release levers may be inwardly deflected to deflect the retention members inwardly to release the retention members from the cam edges. Alternatively, the tab connectors may be attached to distal ends of the cross members. Also, the socket connectors may be attached to corresponding points of the first and second scissor structures.

1 . A laundry drying rack for air drying clothes, the rack comprising: 
 a) a first structure;    b) a second structure;    c) a socket connector attached to the first and second structures, at least one of the socket connectors defining a socket portion, the socket portion having a through hole defining cam edges;    d) a cross member sized and configured to fit between the first and second structures;    e) a tab connector attached to the cross member, at least one of the tab connector defining a tab portion sized and configured to slide into the through hole of the socket connector, the tab portion having retention members sized and configured to engage the cam edges to connect the tab connector to the socket connector.    
   
   
       2 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the first and second structures have a scissor configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the tab portions have release levers and the retention members are integrally formed with the release levers.  
   
   
       4 . The rack of  claim 3  wherein the release levers further comprise finger platforms for inwardly deflecting the retention members and disengaging the retention members and cam edges.  
   
   
       5 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the socket connector has a detent formed thereon which is received into a detent depression formed on the first and second scissor structures.  
   
   
       6 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein a distance between the retention members when relaxed is wider compared to a distance between the cam edges.  
   
   
       7 . The rack of  claim 5  wherein a distance between inner surfaces of the through hole is narrower compared to the distance between the retention members when relaxed.  
   
   
       8 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein a post of the socket connector extends through two legs of the first scissor structure so the two legs can rotate relative to each other about the post.  
   
   
       9 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the first and second scissor structures define an upper rack portion, the upper rack portion being removeably secureable to the cross member via a clasp.  
   
   
       10 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the first and second scissor structures define an upper rack portion, the upper rack portion being removeably secureable to the cross member via an interference fit between an undercut groove of a leg of the upper rack portion and the cross member.  
   
   
       11 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the socket connector defines a U shaped cutout for receiving a post of the tab connector when the tab connector is connected to the socket connector.  
   
   
       12 . The rack of  claim 1  further comprising a threaded locking member threadably engagable a post portion of the socket connector to connect the socket connector to the first and scissor structure.  
   
   
       13 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the threaded locking member is a screw.  
   
   
       14 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein a post of the tab connector has a post with a detent and the cross member has a central aperture for receiving the post and a detent aperture for receiving the detent of the post, the post being insertable into the central aperture and the detent receivable into the detent aperture for connecting the tab connector to the cross member.  
   
   
       15 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein the retention members have a hook configuration or a J shaped configuration.  
   
   
       16 . A laundry drying rack for air drying clothes, the rack comprising: 
 a) a first scissor structure;    b) a second scissor structure;    c) a tab connector attached to the first and second scissor structures, at least one of the tab connectors defining a tab portion with retention members;    d) a cross member sized and configured to fit between the first and second scissor structures;    e) a socket connector attached to the cross member, at least one of the socket connector having a socket portion defining a through hole, the through hole sized and configured to receive the tab portion and having cam edges sized and configured to receive the retention members to connect the tab connector to the socket connector.    
   
   
       17 . The rack of  claim 16  wherein the tab connector has a tab portion and a post portion interposed by a spacer and a collar.  
   
   
       18 . The rack of  claim 17  wherein the socket connector has a U shaped cutout which is received between the collar and the tab portion.  
   
   
       19 . The rack of  claim 18  wherein the spacer is received within the U shaped cutout of the socket connector.  
   
   
       20 . An attachment device for connecting a first member to a second member, the connector comprising: 
 a. a tab connector attachable to the first member, the tab connector formed with retention members;    b. a socket connector attachable to the second member, the socket connector having a socket portion defining a through hole, the through hole sized and configured to receive the tab portion and having cam edges sized and configured to receive the retention members to connect the first member to the second member.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the retention members have a hook configuration and the cam edges of the socket connector are sized and configured to catch the retention members when a tab portion of the tab connector is fully inserted into the through hole of the socket connector.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising a screw attachable to a post portion of the tab connector for attaching the tab connector to the first member.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising a screw attachable to a post portion of the socket connector for attaching the socket connector to the second member.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the socket connector has a socket portion, the socket portion having a U shaped cutout for receiving a post portion of the tab connector.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 20  wherein the retention members are integrally formed with release levers.  
   
   
       26 . The rack of  claim 25  wherein the release levers further comprise finger platforms for inwardly deflecting the retention members and disengaging the retention members and cam edges.