# US 11,304,513 B1 · Rack apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,513 B1 - Document ID: US11304513B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/332,781 - Filed: 2021-05-27 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-27 - Applicants: Jacob Leslie Moore - Inventors: Jacob Leslie Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304513B1 ## CPC - A47B 43/00: Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling folding of the cabinet or the like - A47B 61/02: with extensible garment-holders - A47F 5/10: Adjustable or foldable {or dismountable} display stands {(foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068)} - A47B 96/07: adjustable in themselves - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract A rack apparatus includes a top member and a bottom member. A first extension arm is pivotably attached to the bottom member and a second extension arm is pivotably attached to the bottom member. A first linkage arm is pivotably attached to the top member and slideably attached to the first extension arm, and a second linkage arm is pivotably attached to the top member and slideably attached to the second extension arm. The rack apparatus is displaceable between a stowed position and a use position via linear displacement of the bottom member. When in the stowed position, the first and second extension arms are positioned alongside the top and bottom members, and when in the use position, the first and second extension arms extend away from the bottom member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rack apparatus for hanging one or more articles, the rack apparatus comprising: a top member extending between a first end of the top member opposite a second end of the top member; a first top end bracket fixed to the first end of the top member; a second top end bracket fixed to the second end of the top member; a top bracket extending between a first end of the top bracket opposite a second end of the top bracket, the top bracket attachable to a vertical surface to fix the rack apparatus to the vertical surface, wherein the first top end bracket is moveably coupled to the first end of the top bracket and the second top end bracket is moveably coupled to the second end of the top bracket; a bottom member extending between a first end of the bottom member opposite a second end of the bottom member; a first bottom end bracket fixed to the first end of the bottom member; a second bottom end bracket fixed to the second end of the bottom member; a first extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the first bottom end bracket; a second extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the second bottom end bracket; a first linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the first end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the first extension arm; a second linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the second end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the second extension arm; and wherein the rack apparatus is displaceable between a stowed position and a use position via linearly displacing the bottom member, such that when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position the bottom member is linearly displaced a distance toward the top member and when the rack apparatus is displaced into the stowed position the bottom member is linearly displaced the distance away from the top member, wherein when in the stowed position, the first extension arm is positioned alongside the first end of the top member and alongside the first end of the bottom member, and the second extension arm is positioned alongside the second end of the top member and alongside the second end of the bottom member for storing the rack apparatus adjacent to the vertical surface until a time of use, and wherein when in the use position, the first extension arm extends at an angle away from the top member and the second extension arm extends at an angle away from the top member for hanging at least one article of the one or more articles at the time of use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rack apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one slide rail extending between the top member and the bottom member, wherein a first end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the top bracket and a second end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the bottom member, the at least one slide rail to linearly guide the bottom member along the distance when the rack apparatus is displaced between the stowed position and the use position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rack apparatus of claim 1, the top member having a front surface in an x-y dimensional plane, where a width of the front surface defines the x dimensional direction and a length of the front surface defines the y dimensional direction, and wherein when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position, the bottom member is linearly displaced the distance toward the top member, the top member is displaced in at least the x dimensional direction and a z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rack apparatus of claim 3, the top bracket further including: a top track and a bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket, a top track and a bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket, and wherein the first top end bracket is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket such that the first top end bracket is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket and the second top end bracket is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket such that the second top end bracket is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket to displace the top member in the at least x dimensional direction and the z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rack apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a beveled edge arranged in a top portion of the bottom member opposite a bottom portion of the bottom member for making contact with a beveled edge arranged in a bottom portion of the top member opposite a top portion of the top member, wherein the beveled edge arranged in the top portion of the bottom member makes contact with the beveled edge arranged in the bottom portion of the top member to displace the top member in the at least the x dimensional direction and the z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position. ### Claim 6 A rack apparatus for hanging one or more articles, the rack apparatus comprising: a top member extending between a first end of the top member opposite a second end of the top member, the top member having a front surface in an x-y dimensional plane, where a width of the front surface defines the x dimensional direction and a length of the front surface defines the y dimensional direction; a bottom member extending between a first end of the bottom member opposite a second end of the bottom member; a top bracket extending between a first end of the top bracket opposite a second end of the top bracket, the top bracket attachable to a vertical surface to fix the rack apparatus to the vertical surface; a first extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the first end of the bottom member; a second extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the second end of the bottom member; a first linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the first end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the first extension arm; a second linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the second end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the second extension arm; and wherein the rack apparatus is displaceable between a stowed position and a use position via linearly displacing the bottom member, wherein when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position, the bottom member is linearly displaced a distance toward the top member, the top member is displaced in at least the x dimensional direction and a z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member, the first extension arm extends at an angle away from the bottom member and the second extension arm extends at an angle away from the bottom member for hanging at least one article of the one or more articles at a time of use, and wherein when the rack apparatus is displaced into the stowed position, the bottom member is linearly displaced the distance away from the top member, the top member is displaced in at least the x dimensional direction and the z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member is coplanar to a front surface of the bottom member, the first extension arm is positioned alongside the first end of the top member and alongside the first end of the bottom member, and the second extension arm is positioned alongside the second end of the top member and alongside the second end of the bottom member for storing the rack apparatus adjacent to the vertical surface until the time of use. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The rack apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one slide rail extending between the top member and the bottom member, wherein a first end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the top bracket and a second end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the bottom member, the at least one slide rail to linearly guide the bottom member along the distance when the rack apparatus is displaced between the stowed position and the use position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The rack apparatus of claim 6, the top bracket including: a top track and a bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket, a top track and a bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket, and wherein the first end of the top member is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket such that the first end of the top member is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket and the second end of the top member is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket such that the second end of the top member is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the second end bracket, to displace the top member in the at least the x dimensional direction and the z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The rack apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a beveled edge arranged in a top portion of the bottom member opposite a bottom portion of the bottom member for making contact with a beveled edge arranged in a bottom portion of the top member opposite a top portion of the top member, wherein the beveled edge arranged in the top portion of the bottom member makes contact with the beveled edge arranged in the bottom portion of the top member to displace the top member in the at least the x dimensional direction and the z dimensional direction perpendicular to the x dimensional direction and the y dimensional direction such that the front surface of the top member covers the bottom member when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The rack apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a first top end bracket fixed to the first end of the top member; and a second top end bracket fixed to the second end of the top member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The rack apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first top end bracket is moveably coupled to the first end of the top bracket and the second top end bracket is moveably coupled to the second end of the top bracket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The rack apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a first bottom end bracket fixed to the first end of the bottom member; and a second bottom end bracket fixed to the second end of the bottom member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The rack apparatus of claim 12, wherein the end of the first extension arm is pivotably attached to the first bottom end bracket, and the end of the second extension arm is pivotably attached to the second bottom end bracket. ### Claim 14 A rack apparatus for hanging one or more articles, the rack apparatus comprising: a top member extending between a first end of the top member opposite a second end of the top member; a bottom member extending between a first end of the bottom member opposite a second end of the bottom member; a top bracket extending between a first end of the top bracket opposite a second end of the top bracket, the top bracket attachable to a vertical surface to fix the rack apparatus to the vertical surface; a first extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the first end of the bottom member; a second extension arm having an end pivotably attached to the second end of the bottom member; a first linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the first end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the first extension arm; a second linkage arm having a first end pivotably attached to the second end of the top bracket and a second end slideably attached to the second extension arm; and wherein the rack apparatus is displaceable between a stowed position and a use position via linearly displacing the bottom member, such that when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position the bottom member is linearly displaced a distance toward the top member and when the rack apparatus is displaced into the stowed position the bottom member is linearly displaced the distance away from the top member, wherein when in the stowed position, the first extension arm is positioned alongside the first end of the top member and alongside the first end of the bottom member, and the second extension arm is positioned alongside the second end of the top member and alongside the second end of the bottom member for storing the rack apparatus adjacent to the vertical surface until a time of use, and wherein when in the use position, the first extension arm extends at an angle away from the bottom member and the second extension arm extends at an angle away from the bottom member for hanging at least one article of the one or more articles at the time of use. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The rack apparatus of claim 14, further comprising at least one slide rail extending between the top member and the bottom member, wherein a first end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the top bracket and a second end of the at least one slide rail is attached to the bottom member, the at least one slide rail to linearly guide the bottom member along the distance when the rack apparatus is displaced between the stowed position and the use position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The rack apparatus of claim 14, the top bracket including: a top track and a bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket, a top track and a bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket, and wherein the first end of the top member is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket such that the first end of the top member is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the first end of the top bracket and the second end of the top member is moveably coupled to the top track and the bottom track arranged in the second end of the top bracket such that the second end of the top member is forced to curvilinearly displace along the top track and linearly displace along the bottom track arranged in the second end bracket, to displace the top member such that a front surface of the top member covers the bottom member when the rack apparatus is displaced into the use position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The rack apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a first top end bracket fixed to the first end of the top member; and a second top end bracket fixed to the second end of the top member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The rack apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first top end bracket is moveably coupled to the first end of the top bracket and the second top end bracket is moveably coupled to the second end of the top bracket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The rack apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a first bottom end bracket fixed to the first end of the bottom member; and a second bottom end bracket fixed to the second end of the bottom member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The rack apparatus of claim 19, wherein the end of the first extension arm is pivotably attached to the first bottom end bracket, and the end of the second extension arm is pivotably attached to the second bottom end bracket.