U.S. patent application number 10/612210 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for offset pallet-rack safety net system.
Invention is credited to Calleja, Michael J..
Application Number | 20050000928 10/612210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33552470 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050000928 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Calleja, Michael J. |
January 6, 2005 |
Offset pallet-rack safety net system
Abstract
A material-rack system comprises an offset safety netting, a
perimeter cable suspension system for the netting, offset brackets
to anchor the perimeter cable suspension system away by adjustable
amounts, and vertical extension posts that bolt to the face of the
upper frame parts of a pallet rack. The curtain netting is
supported around its edges by attachments to taut wire ropes that
are supported by the offset brackets. Such offset brackets slip
over the vertical frame parts of the pallet rack. The brackets are
always flush ended with the netting, and include several mounting
points for the frame attachment.
Inventors: |
Calleja, Michael J.;
(Brisbane, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert Charles Hill
235 Montgomery Street #821
San Francisco
CA
94104
US
|
Family ID: |
33552470 |
Appl. No.: |
10/612210 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/183 ;
211/180; 211/190 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 2207/40 20130101;
F16P 1/02 20130101; B65G 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/183 ;
211/180; 211/190 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00 |
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. In a warehouse safety device for preventing objects from falling
out of a pallet rack having a frame with a number of shelves for
palleted material, a safety netting attached to a front face of the
pallet rack and strung around its perimeter by suspension cables,
the improvement comprising: an offset bracket for attachment to the
pallet rack and providing anchoring points for said suspension
cables; and a U-channel section disposed in the offset bracket that
provides for a two sided attachment to a vertical frame part of
said pallet rack; and a plurality of attachment points disposed in
the offset bracket that provides for at least two different offsets
of said netting from a front face of said pallet rack.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein: the offset bracket further
comprises a box end section, a first set of anchor holes on both
vertical sides of said box section that provide for horizontal ones
of said netting suspension cables, and a second set of anchor holes
on both horizontal sides of said box section that provide for
vertical ones of said netting suspension cables.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein: said box end section is such
that said first set of anchor holes are placed from the end
differently from said second set of anchor holes and provides for
criss-crossing of said suspension cables within.
4. An offset bracket for a pallet rack safety netting, comprising:
a box end section; a first set of anchor holes on both vertical
sides of the box section that provide for horizontal ones of
netting suspension cables; a second set of anchor holes on both
horizontal sides of the box section that provide for vertical
netting suspension cables; a pair of arms extending to form a
U-channel from the box section; and a plurality of attachment
points disposed in the pair of arms that provide for a selection of
distances with which a safety netting secured by the suspension
cables is offset from a front face of said pallet rack.
5. An offset bracket, comprising: an end section; a first set of
holes on both vertical sides of the end section; a second set of
holes on both horizontal sides of the end section; a pair of arms
extending to form a U-channel-from the box section; and a plurality
of attachment points disposed in the pair of arms that provide for
a selection of distances with which said offset bracket is secured
to a support member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to material-handling systems,
and more particularly to safety netting systems that protect
workers and customers in the aisles below pallet shelves.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Shelves and racks are a convenient way to store items, and
can maximize floor space when palleted material is stored many
levels high. A typical warehouse retail store, e.g., The Home
Depot, has material racks that are two, three, and four levels
high. Heavy items, like backup store inventory on a pallet, are
placed and fetched from high above by a forklift. These heavy items
can weigh anywhere from ten to two hundred pounds.
[0005] Heavy items placed 10-20 feet high above aisles in material
racks and on shelves can present a significant and not-so-rare
personal injury risk. Shaking, bumping, and poorly stacked items
can come tumbling down and hurt people below, or at a minimum
damage the product.
[0006] Not surprisingly, a number of different devices and methods
have evolved to address these problems. The law too has entered the
picture with OSHA regulations, and personal injury lawsuits. New
company procedures, union work rules, and plain common sense now
dictate that an effective restraint, barrier, or guard system be
installed on the higher shelves and rack to prevent falling
debris.
[0007] As could be expected, some methods and devices are better
than others. Conventional safety products can be expensive to buy,
and difficult to work with or install. A simple netting secured all
around the shelf opening can be effective if the netting is strong
enough and secured well. But the way the netting is secured and
constructed can mean opening the net to access the shelf is made
very difficult, in some cases requiring a technician to climb high
above and use hand tools to open and/or close the net.
[0008] A universal safety net system for pallet racks is described
by Barry Cole in U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,225, issued Jan. 1, 1991 (Cole
'225). A framework intended to support pallets of heavy material is
faced with a heavy duty netting that prevents accidental falls to
the floor of loose material. Such netting is tied at its edges to a
perimeter of taut suspension cables. In FIG. 4 of Cole '225, an
offset configuration is shown where the netting is stood out a few
inches away from the front of the pallet shelving framework. Such
offset is implemented by lower and upper universal offset members
60 and 70.
[0009] Such prior art offset brackets are not adjustable in how far
they offset the netting from the face of the pallet rack because
they U-bolt to the front faces of the framing. The way these are
attached to the framing further does not provide maximum rigidity
to keep the netting cables taut.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Briefly, a material-rack safety-netting embodiment of the
present invention comprises a safety netting, a perimeter cable
suspension system for the netting, offset brackets to anchor the
perimeter cable suspension system away by adjustable amounts, and
vertical extension posts that bolt to the face of the upper frame
parts of a pallet rack. The curtain netting is supported around its
edges by attachments to taut wire ropes that are supported by the
offset brackets. Such offset brackets slip over the vertical frame
parts of the pallet rack. The brackets are always flush ended with
the netting, and include several mounting points for the frame
attachment.
[0011] In one embodiment, a choice of offsets of 3", 6", 9", and
12" is provided for the netting by different attachment points on
the offset brackets.
[0012] An advantage of the present invention is that a safety
netting is provided that does not get snagged by people or
equipment in the aisle ways.
[0013] Another advantage of the present invention is that a safety
netting is provided that is easy to install.
[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is that safety
netting systems are provided that are simple to operate.
[0015] The above and still further objects, features, and
advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description of specific
embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety netting system
installed on a material rack shelving unit using offset
brackets;
[0017] FIGS. 2A-2D are, respectively, perspective, top, end, and
side view diagrams of an offset bracket like that used in the
system of FIG. 1; and
[0018] FIGS. 3A-3F represent an assembled offset bracket system in
which an offset bracket is attached to a vertical pallet rack
extension. In FIG. 3A, the offset bracket is attached at its
minimum offset position, wherein the front part where the netting
attaches is at the left. In FIG. 3B, the offset bracket is at a
next offset position. In FIG. 3C, the offset bracket is attached at
another more extreme offset position. In FIG. 3C, the offset
bracket is at its most extreme offset position. In FIG. 3E, a
perspective view diagrams the vertical pallet rack extension
slipped over a front frame part of a pallet rack and is secured
with bolts. In FIG. 3F, the vertical-pallet rack extension is shown
being secured with an alternative arrangement of bolts to a plate
bar 314.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a pallet-rack safety-netting system
embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein by the
reference numeral 100. The pallet-rack safety-netting system 100
comprises a number of extension brackets 101-109 that are bolted to
three respective pallet rack vertical frame sections 110-112. A set
of suspension cables 114-125 are strung taut between the offset
brackets 101-109 and support safety nets at their perimeters. For
example, a safety net 126 is suspended away from the pallet rack
framing by vertical cables 117 and 122, and horizontal cables 121
and 123; and a safety net 128 is suspended between vertical cables
120 and 124, and horizontal cables 123 and 125. The nets can be
attached to the cables every few inches by nylon cable ties or
metal snap-hooks.
[0020] Embodiments of the present invention permit the safety nets
to be positioned at a variety of clearances from the face of the
pallet rack framing. Such clearance is needed when the pallets
loaded on the pallet rack have oversized material on them. The
netting itself is provided to protect people in the aisleways from
heavy material that might fall off the pallets in the racks. The
offset brackets can be attached to either vertical frame sections
of the pallet rack or to extensions of the vertical frame
sections.
[0021] FIGS. 2A-2D represent an offset bracket embodiment of the
present invention, and is referred to herein by the general
reference numeral 200. The offset bracket 200 can be used for
offset brackets 101-109, FIG. 1. The preferred construction is
generally in the form of a U-channel open at one end, as can be
seen in FIG. 2B. The open end slips around the vertical frame
sections 110-112, FIG. 1, and is just wide enough to accommodate
the width of the frame section. For example, 3" inside. A pair of
bolts is used to secure each bracket on the pallet rack at
particular heights above the floor.
[0022] The offset bracket 200 comprises a first arm 202, a second
arm 204, and an end-plate 208. A typical height is 4" and a typical
length is 15-5/8". Such form a box-section at the closed end and is
very rigid and stiff so that the bracket can well-support and
anchor the set of suspension cables 114-125 strung taut between the
offset brackets 101-109, FIG. 1. The box section is suggested in
the drawings as being separate steel sheetmetal pieces that
interlock with tabs. Alternatively, the section could be
welded.
[0023] Two horizontal suspension cables can be accommodated by a
pair of right-side holes 210 and 211 and their counterparts on the
left side of bracket 200. One could anchor and run left to support
a netting on the left, and the other cable could anchor at the
bracket and run to the right.
[0024] In the bracket 200 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D, there are
four pairs of bolt holes 212-219 provided on the left and right
arms for mounting the bracket to the vertical frame parts of a
pallet rack. Only the ones on the right arm 204 are called out in
FIGS. 2A-2D. Theses bolts holes 212-219 are horizontally spaced to
provide a range of offset adjustments, e.g., 3", 6", 9", and 12".
Other spacings are possible and will be dictated by the
applications.
[0025] Two vertical suspension cables can be accommodated by a pair
of top-side holes 220 and 221 and their counterparts on the bottom
side of bracket 200. One could anchor and run up to support a
netting above, and the other cable could anchor at the bracket and
run down toward the floor.
[0026] The pairs of holes 210 and 211 for the horizontal suspension
cables are offset slightly differently from the pairs of holes 220
and 221 for the vertical suspension cables, e.g., so the cables do
not interfere at their points of criss-cross inside the box end of
bracket 200.
[0027] FIGS. 3A-3F show an assembled offset bracket system 300 in
which an offset bracket 302 is attached to a vertical pallet rack
extension 304. In FIG. 3A, a pair of bolts 306 and 307 are used to
attach the offset bracket 302 at its minimum offset position, e.g.,
3" offset. The front part where the netting attaches is at the
left. In FIG. 3B, bolts 306 and 307 attach the offset bracket 302
at a next offset position, e.g., 6" offset. In FIG. 3C, bolts 306
and 307 attach the offset bracket 302 at another more extreme
offset position, e.g., 9" offset. In FIG. 3C, bolts 306 and 307
attach the offset bracket 302 at its most extreme offset position,
e.g., 12" offset. In FIG. 3E, the vertical pallet rack extension
304 is shown slipping over a front frame part 308 of a pallet rack
and is secured with bolts 310 and 311. In FIG. 3F, the vertical
pallet rack extension 304 is shown being secured with an
alternative arrangement of bolts 312 and 313 to a plate bar
314.
[0028] Although particular embodiments of the present invention
have been described and illustrated, such is not intended to limit
the invention. Modifications and changes will no doubt become
apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the
invention only be limited by the scope of the appended claims.
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