# US 10,246,812 B2 · Portable and versatile drying rack

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,246,812 B2
- Document ID: US10246812B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/710,582
- Filed: 2017-09-20
- Published: 2018-03-22
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-21
- Applicants: Phillip Earl Kelly
- Inventors: Phillip Earl Kelly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246812B2

## CPC

- D06F 57/12: specially adapted for attachment to walls, ceilings, stoves, or other structures or objects
- B60P 3/36: Auxiliary arrangements; Arrangements of living accommodation (toilet or washing arrangements B60R15/00); Details
- B60R 9/02: at the sides, e.g. on running-board
- B60R 9/045: Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible {(transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38)}
- B60R 9/058: characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof
- B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)}
- B60R 11/00: Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle}
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A drying rack designed to easily mount to a vehicle or other similar structure that is portable and collapsible. The drying rack includes a U-shaped bracket, a first support arm, a second support arm, a drying rod, a first locking hinge, and a second locking hinge. The first support arm and the second support make up the frame and are positioned parallel and offset to each other. The first support arm is terminally mounted to a first leg of the U-shaped bracket through the first locking hinge. Similarly, the second support arm is terminally mounted to a second leg of the U-shaped bracket through the second locking hinge. The drying rod is perpendicularly connected in between the first support arm and the second support arm. Additionally, the drying rod and the U-shaped bracket are positioned opposite to each other, across the first support arm and the second support arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A portable and versatile drying rack comprising:
a U-shaped bracket;
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
a drying rod;
a first locking hinge;
a second locking hinge;
the U-shaped bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and an interconnecting rod;
the first support arm and the second support arm being positioned parallel and offset to each other;
the first support arm being terminally mounted to the first leg through the first locking hinge;
the second support arm being terminally to the second leg through the second locking hinge;
the drying rod and the U-shaped bracket being positioned opposite to the each other, across the first support arm and the second support arm;
the drying rod being perpendicularly connected in between the first support arm and the second support arm;
the first locking hinge comprising a cylindrical body, a body-receiving cavity, a plurality of first semi-annular ramps, a plurality of second semi-annular ramps and an elastic coupler, the cylindrical body being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg, the cylindrical body being connected adjacent and perpendicular to the first leg, the body-receiving cavity laterally traversing into the first support arm opposite the second support arm, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the cylindrical body, each of the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being terminally connected to the cylindrical body opposite the first leg, the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the body-receiving cavity, each of the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being connected to the first leg, the cylindrical body being slidably and rotatably mounted within the body-receiving cavity, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being pressed against the plurality of second semi-annular ramps by the elastic coupler; and
the second locking hinge comprising a cylindrical body, a body-receiving cavity, a plurality of first semi-annular ramps, a plurality of second semi-annular ramps and an elastic coupler, the cylindrical body being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg, the cylindrical body being connected adjacent and perpendicular to the second leg, the body-receiving cavity laterally traversing into the second support arm opposite the first support arm, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the cylindrical body, each of the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being terminally connected to the cylindrical body opposite the second leg, the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the body-receiving cavity, each of the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being connected to the second leg, the cylindrical body being slidably and rotatably mounted within the body-receiving cavity, and the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being pressed against the plurality of second semi-annular ramps by the elastic coupler.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
an at least one additional drying rod;
the additional drying rod being positioned in between the drying rod and the U-shaped bracket; and
the additional drying rod being perpendicularly connected in between the first support arm and the second support arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a mounting strap;
the mounting strap being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg; and
the mounting strap being centrally tethered to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a padded handle;
the padded handle being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg;
the padded handle being centrally positioned about the interconnecting rod; and
the padded handle being laterally connected to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a first rubber stopper;
a second rubber stopper;
the first rubber stopper being laterally connected to the first leg; and
the second rubber stopper being laterally connected to the second leg.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
wherein the U-shaped bracket, the first support arm, the second support arm, and the drying rod are configured into a retracted configuration;
the first support arm being positioned parallel and adjacent to the first leg;
the second support arm being positioned parallel and adjacent to the second leg; and
the drying rod being positioned adjacent to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
wherein the U-shaped bracket, the first support arm, the second support arm, and the drying rod are configured into an expanded configuration;
the first support arm being positioned at a first angle with the first leg;
the second support arm being positioned at a second angle with the second leg; and
the first angle being equal to the second angle.

### Claim 8

A portable and versatile drying rack comprising:
a U-shaped bracket;
a first support arm;
a second support arm;
a drying rod;
a first locking hinge;
a second locking hinge;
an at least one additional drying rod;
the U-shaped bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and an interconnecting rod;
the first support arm and the second support arm being positioned parallel and offset to each other;
the first support arm being terminally mounted to the first leg through the first locking hinge;
the second support arm being terminally to the second leg through the second locking hinge;
the drying rod and the U-shaped bracket being positioned opposite to the each other, across the first support arm and the second support arm;
the drying rod being perpendicularly connected in between the first support arm and the second support arm;
the additional drying rod being positioned in between the drying rod and the U-shaped bracket;
the additional drying rod being perpendicularly connected in between the first support arm and the second support arm;
the first locking hinge comprising a cylindrical body, a body-receiving cavity, a plurality of first semi-annular ramps, a plurality of second semi-annular ramps and an elastic coupler, the cylindrical body being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg, the cylindrical body being connected adjacent and perpendicular to the first leg, the body-receiving cavity laterally traversing into the first support arm opposite the second support arm, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the cylindrical body, each of the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being terminally connected to the cylindrical body opposite the first leg, the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the body-receiving cavity, each of the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being connected to the first leg, the cylindrical body being slidably and rotatably mounted within the body-receiving cavity, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being pressed against the plurality of second semi-annular ramps by the elastic coupler; and
the second locking hinge comprising a cylindrical body, a body-receiving cavity, a plurality of first semi-annular ramps, a plurality of second semi-annular ramps and an elastic coupler, the cylindrical body being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg, the cylindrical body being connected adjacent and perpendicular to the second leg, the body-receiving cavity laterally traversing into the second support arm opposite the first support arm, the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the cylindrical body, each of the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being terminally connected to the cylindrical body opposite the second leg, the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being radially distributed about the body-receiving cavity, each of the plurality of second semi-annular ramps being connected to the second leg, the cylindrical body being slidably and rotatably mounted within the body-receiving cavity, and the plurality of first semi-annular ramps being pressed against the plurality of second semi-annular ramps by the elastic coupler.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
a mounting strap;
the mounting strap being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg; and
the mounting strap being centrally tethered to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
a padded handle;
the padded handle being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg;
the padded handle being centrally positioned about the interconnecting rod; and
the padded handle being laterally connected to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
a first rubber stopper;
a second rubber stopper;
the first rubber stopper being laterally connected to the first leg; and
the second rubber stopper being laterally connected to the second leg.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
wherein the U-shaped bracket, the first support arm, the second support arm, and the drying rod are configured into a retracted configuration;
the first support arm being positioned parallel and adjacent to the first leg;
the second support arm being positioned parallel and adjacent to the second leg; and
the drying rod being positioned adjacent to the interconnecting rod.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The portable and versatile drying rack as claimed in claim 8 comprising:
wherein the U-shaped bracket, the first support arm, the second support arm, and the drying rod are configured into an expanded configuration;
the first support arm being positioned at a first angle with the first leg;
the second support arm being positioned at a second angle with the second leg; and
the first angle being equal to the second angle.