U.S. patent application number 11/755794 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for stackable storage apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to BUSINESS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. Invention is credited to Maxwell Kelsey, Roger Peters, David Wheeler.
Application Number | 20080135506 11/755794 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38834028 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080135506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peters; Roger ; et
al. |
June 12, 2008 |
Stackable Storage Apparatus
Abstract
Shelf support apparatus can be moved and stacked with a tined
lift such as a forklift. The apparatus has based feet disposed
lower than a front base cross member, and support uprights extend
upward therefrom to a generally horizontal top structure. The front
base cross member has two tine openings with lift tubes for
receiving lift tines of a fork lift, and a bottom surface for
receiving lift tines of a floor pallet jack. The top structure
includes feet-receiving openings corresponding in location to the
base feet, such that the apparatus can be stacked. The base feet
have targeting slopes both in a front-to-back direction and in a
side-to-side direction, to guide the second, upper shelf support
apparatus down onto the first, lower shelf support apparatus with
the base feet received in a nesting relationship. The targeting
slopes in the front-to-back direction acts over a targeting area
which is greater than the targeting area in the side-to-side
direction. The top structure also provides a top support perimeter
which makes substantially perimetrical contact with the base of the
apparatus stacked thereon.
Inventors: |
Peters; Roger; (Bloomington,
MN) ; Kelsey; Maxwell; (Bemidji, MN) ;
Wheeler; David; (St. Paul, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHEWCHUK IP SERVICES
3356 SHERMAN CT. STE. 102
EAGAN
MN
55121
US
|
Assignee: |
BUSINESS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL,
INC.
Bloomington
MN
|
Family ID: |
38834028 |
Appl. No.: |
11/755794 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60814413 |
Jun 19, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/49.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00164
20130101; B65D 2519/00621 20130101; B65D 2519/00059 20130101; B65D
2519/00562 20130101; B65D 2519/00716 20130101; B65D 2519/0096
20130101; B65D 2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00666 20130101; B65D
2519/00965 20130101; B65D 19/10 20130101; B65D 2519/00024 20130101;
B65D 2519/00298 20130101; B65D 2519/00199 20130101; B65D 2519/00512
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/49.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. A shelf support apparatus for movement with a lift, comprising:
at least three support uprights extending upward, two of the
support uprights defining a front of the apparatus and being front
support uprights; at least three base feet supporting the support
uprights, the at least three base feet being designed to rest on a
generally flat floor; a front base cross member extending between
the front support uprights, the front base cross member defining
one or more tine openings for receiving lift tines extending above
the floor; a generally horizontal top structure adjoining support
uprights, the generally horizontal top structure defining a top
support plane of the apparatus, with feet-receiving openings
defined in the top support plane corresponding in location to the
base feet, for receiving the base feet of an
identically-constructed shelf support apparatus, such that a first,
lower shelf support apparatus can support a second, upper shelf
support apparatus thereabove, with the front base cross member of
the second, upper shelf support apparatus being in contact with the
top support plane of the first, lower shelf support apparatus;
wherein the base feet have targeting slopes both in a front-to-back
direction and in a side-to-side direction, the targeting slopes
mating relative to the feet-receiving openings to guide the second,
upper shelf support apparatus down onto the first, lower shelf
support apparatus with the base feet received in a nesting
relationship.
2. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a
rearward cross member extending between support uprights behind the
front base cross member, with the rearward cross member disposed to
receive lift tines jointly with the base cross member.
3. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front base
cross member defines a first tine opening located underneath the
front base cross member for receiving lift tines of a pallet jack,
and one or more second tine openings for receiving lift tines of a
fork lift, with the second tine openings being located at higher
elevation than the first tine opening.
4. The shelf support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second tine
openings are provided by tubes running front-to-back on the shelf
support apparatus and sized to receive tines of a lift
therewithin.
5. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base feet
comprise angled Vs, with front and rear extents of the angled Vs
having a different slope than side-to-side extents of the angled
Vs.
6. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base feet
comprise angled Vs with line contact areas for floor contact.
7. The shelf support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the line contact
areas extend generally parallel to the front base cross member.
8. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top
structure defines a flat planar top of the shelf support apparatus
with unimpeded access from above to the flat planar top.
9. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feet raise
the base cross member to an elevation within the range of 2 to 12
inches above the floor.
10. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the targeting
slopes provide a front-to-back targeting area of at least one inch,
wherein the targeting slopes provide a side-to-side targeting area
of at least one inch.
11. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the targeting
slopes extend at an angle of at least 30.degree. relative to
horizontal and no more than 88.degree. relative to horizontal.
12. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support
uprights are sufficiently spaced to receive a standardly sized
pallet above and substantially behind the front base cross member
and between the front support uprights.
13. The shelf support apparatus of claim 12, wherein the support
uprights extend for a height within the range of 3 to 20 feet.
14. The shelf support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one
or more pairs of shelf receiving tracks extending rearwardly from
each of the front support uprights; and a shelf removeably received
by each pair of shelf receiving tracks.
15. A stackable apparatus for movement with a lift, comprising: at
least three support uprights extending upward, two of the support
uprights defining a front of the apparatus and being front support
uprights; at least three base feet supporting the support uprights,
the at least three base feet being designed to rest on a generally
flat floor, with a front two of the base feet being V-shaped bars
running between the two front support uprights; a front base cross
member extending between the front support uprights, the front base
cross member defining one or more tine openings for receiving lift
tines extending above the floor; a functional unit supported above
the front base cross member; a generally horizontal top bar
adjoining the front support uprights, the top bar defining a top
support plane; and feet-receiving openings defined in a top of the
stackable apparatus immediately behind the top bar and
corresponding in location to the base feet, for receiving the base
feet of an identically-constructed stackable apparatus, such that a
first, lower stackable apparatus can support a second, upper
stackable apparatus thereabove, with the feet of the second, upper
stackable apparatus extending lower than the top support plane of
the first, lower stackable apparatus, with front edges of the
V-shaped bars received immediately behind the top bar.
16. A stackable apparatus for movement with a lift, comprising: at
least three base feet, the at least three base feet being designed
to rest on a generally flat floor; a base support perimeter
suspended by the base feet to a height within a range of two to
twelve inches above the floor, the base support perimeter having a
bottom surface for receiving a pallet jack thereunder; one or more
tine openings for receiving lift tines of a fork lift, the one or
more tine openings being defined above the base support perimeter,
the one or more tine openings having a depth of at least one half
of a depth of the stackable apparatus; a functional unit supported
above the base support perimeter; a top support perimeter provided
above the functional unit and connected to the functional unit, the
top support perimeter providing a support surface corresponding in
plan location to the base support perimeter for substantially
perimetrical support of the base support perimeter of an
identically constructed stackable apparatus, the stackable
apparatus having feet-receiving recesses defined within the top
support perimeter corresponding in plan location to the base feet,
for receiving the base feet of an identically-constructed stackable
apparatus, such that a first, lower stackable apparatus can support
a second, upper stackable apparatus thereabove, with the top
support perimeter of the first, lower stackable apparatus being in
substantially perimetrical contact with the base support perimeter
of the second, upper stackable apparatus, and with the base feet of
the second, upper stackable apparatus extending lower than the top
support perimeter of the first, lower stackable apparatus; wherein
the base feet have targeting slopes both in a front-to-back
direction and in a side-to-side direction, the targeting slopes
mating relative to the feet-receiving recesses to guide the second,
upper stackable apparatus down onto the first, lower stackable
apparatus with the base feet received in a nesting
relationship.
17. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base support
perimeter comprises a front base cross member, wherein the front
base cross member defines a first tine opening located underneath
the front base cross member for receiving lift tines of a pallet
jack, and wherein the front base cross member further defines one
or more second tine openings for receiving lift tines of a fork
lift, with the second tine openings being located at higher
elevation than the first tine opening.
18. The stackable apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second tine
openings are provided by tubes running front-to-back on the
stackable apparatus and sized to receive tines of a lift
therewithin.
19. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base feet
comprise angled Vs, with front and rear extents of the angled Vs
having a different slope than side-to-side extents of the angled
Vs.
20. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base feet
comprise angled Vs with line contact areas for floor contact.
21. The stackable apparatus of claim 20, wherein the base support
perimeter comprises a front base cross member, and wherein the line
contact areas extend generally parallel to the front base cross
member.
22. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the top structure
support perimeter defines a flat planar top of the stackable
apparatus with unimpeded access from above to the flat planar
top.
23. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base support
perimeter comprises a front base cross member, and wherein the feet
raise the front base cross member to an elevation within the range
of 2 to 12 inches above the floor.
24. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the targeting
slopes provide a front-to-back targeting area of at least one inch,
wherein the targeting slopes provide a side-to-side targeting area
of at least one inch.
25. The stackable apparatus of claim 16, wherein the targeting
slopes extend at an angle of at least 30.degree. relative to
horizontal and no more than 88.degree. relative to horizontal.
26. The stackable apparatus of claim above, wherein the top support
perimeter is at a height within the range of 3 to 20 feet above the
floor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/814,413, filed Jun. 19, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of warehousing,
and particularly to the design and manufacture of apparatus, for
storing material, which can be stacked one on top of another and
moved with a tined lift such as a forklift or pallet lift. It is
common in a wide array of industries to store items in warehouses.
In general, the warehouse is a large, roofed structure having a
horizontal floor upon which a tined lift such as a forklift or
pallet lift is driven. In the most common warehouse layout,
vertical supports are attached to the floor or assembled in a grid
layout spanning a significant area of the warehouse, with a number
of horizontal shelves arranged between the vertical supports.
Pallets are then used underneath the items being stored. The
pallets provide tine openings for the tines of the lift so the
items being stored can be lifted and moved off the shelf when
desired. The vertical supports, and usually the horizontal shelves
as well, are thus a relatively permanent part of the warehouse.
[0003] To outfit a building as a warehouse, usually the vertical
supports and horizontal shelves must be assembled and set in place
before storing any items. The cost of purchasing and assembling the
vertical supports and horizontal shelves is considerable. In many
instances, it is not known how many items need be stored in the
warehouse, and the uncertainty in how much storage space is needed
in turn leads to uncertainty in how much to spend on the vertical
supports and horizontal shelves while constructing and laying out
the warehouse. Better storage mechanisms are desired to reduce the
initial start-up cost of laying out and constructing the vertical
supports and horizontal shelves in the warehouse.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one embodiment the present invention is an apparatus
providing a functional unit, which could be a shelf unit for
holding items, intended for movement and stackability with other
identical apparatus (or at least identical as to the interfacing
structures of the apparatus) using a tined lift such as a forklift.
The apparatus has based feet disposed lower than a front base cross
member, with support uprights extending upward therefrom to a
generally horizontal top structure. The front base cross member
defines one or more tine openings for receiving lift tines, which
could include a bottom surface of the base cross member. The top
structure includes feet-receiving openings corresponding in
location to the base feet, such that the apparatuses can be
stacked. In one aspect, the base feet have targeting slopes both in
a front-to-back direction and in a side-to-side direction, to guide
the second, upper shelf support apparatus down onto the first,
lower shelf support apparatus with the base feet received in a
nesting relationship. The targeting slopes may act over different
targeting areas. In another aspect, the top structure provides a
top support perimeter which makes substantially perimetrical
contact with the base of the apparatus stacked thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shelf
storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of the shelf storage apparatus of
FIG. 1, shown supporting two optional shelves.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side view of the of the shelf storage apparatus
of FIGS. 1-2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base of the shelf storage
apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 with uprights in cross-section taken along
lines 4-4.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fork lift placing an
upper shelf storage apparatus in a stacking relationship onto a
lower shelf storage apparatus.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a side view showing positioning of three
apparatuses in a stacking relationship.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the apparatuses of FIG. 6 as
stacked.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a side view showing lowering of a corner of an
upper shelf storage apparatus in a stacking relationship onto a
corner of a lower shelf storage apparatus.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a front view with the lift tine in cross-section
showing lowering of the corner of the upper shelf storage apparatus
in a stacking relationship onto the corner of the lower shelf
storage apparatus, taken along lines 9-9 in FIG. 8.
[0014] While the above-identified drawing figures set forth
preferred embodiments, other embodiments of the present invention
are also contemplated, some of which are noted in the discussion.
In all cases, this disclosure presents the illustrated embodiments
of the present invention by way of representation and not
limitation. Numerous other minor modifications and embodiments can
be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope
and spirit of the principles of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus that
is stackable. Each of the apparatus has base with targeting slopes
and structures that are adapted to receive the tines of a forklift.
The apparatus also includes a structure that forms the top of the
apparatus, and this top structure mates with the base of an
overlying structure during stacking, includes structures for
receiving the targeting slopes When stacking two or more of the
apparatuses, targeting slopes facilitate guiding the base of the
upper apparatus onto the top structure of the lower apparatus.
Furthermore, to provide support, when two apparatuses are stacked,
the base of the overlying apparatus is in contact with the top
structure of the underlying apparatus. Furthermore, in one
embodiment, the base is configured with feet of a height that would
enable a pallet jack to be placed under the base.
[0016] A first embodiment of a shelf storage apparatus 10 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted
in FIGS. 1-7. The shelf storage apparatus 10 generally includes a
base section 12 which is intended to allow lifting of the apparatus
10 with a lift 14 (shown in FIG. 5), and a functional unit 16 above
the base section 12. The functional unit 16 includes a number of
uprights 18 (or alternatively vertically extending walls (not
shown)) which support a top section 20. Angled braces 22 may be
fixed along the back of the apparatus 10 (as shown) and/or along
the sides of the apparatus 10 (not shown) to provide stability to
the uprights 18.
[0017] In one embodiment, each functional unit 16 is intended to
receive and store items (not shown) such as in a warehouse setting.
In that context, the functional unit 16 may be formed to further
facilitate its use for storing items. In particular, the base 12
may be dimensioned to receive a standard wooden pallet (not shown).
The preferred apparatus 10 has the front uprights 18 spaced about
48 inches apart, for an overall width of the apparatus 10 of about
50 inches. In one embodiment, the overall depth of the preferred
apparatus 10 is about 47 inches. With the upright supports 18 and
strengthening angled braces 22 along the back, this provides a
working depth within the apparatus 10 of about 46 inches. With the
48.times.46 inch working floor area, the apparatus 10 can readily
receive a standard wooden pallet, which typically has dimensions of
about 40-44.times.44-50 inches. With the open front 24 of the
apparatus 10, the standard pallet need not be pushed all the way to
the back of the apparatus 10, but rather may extend slightly (a few
inches) beyond the front 24 of the apparatus 10.
[0018] Similarly, the uprights 18 of the functional unit 16 permit
the side walls to be open and not enclosed so items stored in the
functional unit 16 can be viewed from the side. The front 24 of the
functional unit 16 has a large area of unimpeded access and thus
provides at least one shelf (which may be the top of the base 12)
upon which items may be placed from the side of the apparatus 10,
rather than through the top of the apparatus 10. The term "shelf"
as used herein particularly refers to this property of having
horizontal access, as opposed to an enclosure with solid peripheral
upstanding walls which would only permit items to be picked or
placed through the top. To further assist in the shelf usage
function of the preferred functional unit 16, the preferred shelf
storage apparatus 10 has a number of shelf slots or tracks 26. In
one embodiment, these shelf slots 26 allow up to five shelves (two
shelves 28 shown in FIG. 2) to be slid into the shelf storage
apparatus 10 to breakup the height of the shelf storage apparatus
10, thereby providing more horizontal shelf surfaces for storing of
items. With each of these shelves 28 being readily insertable and
removable relative to the shelf slots 26, the shelf storage
apparatus 10 provides significant flexibility in the height of
items which can be stored.
[0019] While in one embodiment, shelf storage apparatus 10 is
accessible from the front 24 (i.e., the primary side accessed by a
fork lift 14), the shelf storage apparatus 10 may alternatively or
also be assessable through the right, left and/or rear sides (or
the lift tubes 30 may be oriented in the side-to-side direction).
Access through the right, left and/or rear sides is particularly
beneficial if items are to be picked or placed while the apparatus
10 is on the forklift 14. As one example, the shelf storage
apparatus could alternatively have only four or even only three
support uprights, two of the support uprights defining the front of
the apparatus, with the other support upright(s) defining the area
of the apparatus extending rearward from the front, such as a
middle support upright along the back of the apparatus.
[0020] The height of the apparatus 10 may be selected as desired
for the items being stored and the desired stacking height and
stacking stability of multiple apparatuses 10. The apparatuses 10
are intended to be moved with a lift 14 and generally have a height
which corresponds to a significant weight of a loaded apparatus 10,
i.e., too heavy to be lifted or moved by hand, particularly when
loaded. A preferred height is one to three times the width of the
apparatus 10, for a height of about three to twenty feet. In the
preferred arrangement, the overall height is about 100 inches,
providing an interior working height of about 91 inches.
[0021] The materials used to form the uprights 18, the shelf slots
26 and the angled braces 22 may be selected based upon the expected
loads and environment of use of the apparatus 10.
[0022] In the preferred embodiment for interior warehouse use and
the preferred working height of the apparatus 10, the uprights 18
and angled braces 22 may be formed of 1''.times.2''.times.14 gauge
or 11 gauge ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing.
Alternatively, prefabricated uprights such as those provided for
shelving and rack units may be used, such as those available from
Steel King Industries, Inc. of Stevens Point, Wis. as SK2000, or
the Premium Industrial Pallet Racking Upright Frames provided by
Advanced Material Handling, LLC of Indianapolis, Ind. The depicted
embodiment can of course also be used in a wide variety of other
settings, including outdoor warehouse use or other outdoor
locations, during shipping (on a truck, boat or plane, for
instance), other indoor settings, etc.
[0023] The base 12 of the apparatus 10 should be constructed to
facilitate lifting of the apparatus 10 using a tined lift. The
preferred apparatus 10 has two different ways in which this is
done. A first structure permitting tined lifting is provided by two
lift tubes 30 providing forklift tine openings 32 accessible on the
front 24 of the apparatus 10. The preferred interior size of the
tine receiving tubes 30 is about 23/4 inches in height.times.43/4
inches in width (exterior dimensions of about 3.times.5 inches),
formed of 11 gauge or 1/8'' ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel
tubing for sufficient strength. The tine openings 32 need to extend
for at least half of the depth of the apparatus 10, so the forklift
tines 34 can gain sufficient depth for cantilevered lifting. In the
preferred arrangement, the tine openings 32 extend the full depth
of the apparatus 10. This not only allows for the tines 34 of a
forklift 14 to be fully inserted into the base 12 of the apparatus
10, but also means that the forklift 14 can operate either on the
front 24 or the rear of the apparatus 10, which ever is more
conveniently accessed. If desired, a single wider lift tube could
alternatively be used to provide a single tine opening for
receiving both lift tines of the fork lift. The lift tubes 30 are
supported and held in place by a series of cross-members 36. In the
preferred arrangement, the cross-members 36 have the same overall
height as the lift tubes 30, and thus may be formed of 1.times.3
inch 14 gauge or 11 gauge ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel
tubing. These cross-members 36 are conveniently placed to also
support the feet 38 of the apparatus 10. The base 12 also has three
interior cross members 40 to further support the lift tubes 30. In
one embodiment, the interior cross-members 40 are made up of
1''.times.1''.times.1/8'' hot rolled steel angle pieces.
[0024] A second structure permitting tined lifting is provided by
the horizontal bottom surface of the lift tubes 30 and the interior
cross-members 40 in conjunction with the feet 38. The feet 38
extend below the horizontal bottom surface of the lift tubes 30 and
the cross-members 36, 40. By raising this horizontal bottom surface
of the lift tubes 30 and the cross-members 36, 40 above the floor
plane (defined by the lowest extent of the feet 38), a pallet jack
or floorjack can be rolled underneath the lift tubes 30 and the
interior cross-members 40 and then used to lift the entire
apparatus 10. To facilitate such pallet jack or floor jack lifting,
the feet 38 should have a height in the range of 2 to 12 inches. In
one embodiment, the feet 38 have a height of about 4 inches.
[0025] The feet 38 of the apparatus 10 contact the floor of the
warehouse and thereby must be sufficiently strong to support the
weight of the apparatus 10 when loaded, and for stacking must be
sufficiently strong to support the weight of two or more stacked,
loaded apparatuses 10. In one embodiment, the feet 38 are provided
by angled Vs, each formed of two sides of 3/8''.times.6''.times.6''
hot rolled steel. Using angled Vs for feet 38 causes the feet 38 to
have line contact areas with the floor which define the bottom
support plane or floor plane of the apparatus. The line contact
areas extend generally parallel to the base cross members 36, and
facilitate the nesting or tessellating relationship between stacked
apparatuses as further explained below.
[0026] The top section 20 of the apparatus 10 includes openings 42
which are areally located in a position in plan view corresponding
to the position of the feet 38. In the preferred apparatus 10,
these openings 42 are provided between two front cross-members 44,
46 and between two rear cross-members 48, 50, and to the inside of
two fore-aft top edge members 52. In one embodiment, the top
section 20 is provided by 1''.times.2''.times.14 gauge or 11 gauge
ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing. Two additional fore-aft
stubs or cripples 54 may be provided to further strengthen the
cross-members 44, 46, 48, 50. The top section 20 of the apparatus
10 defines a flat planar top with unimpeded access from above.
Thus, the top section 20 can be used as a planar top shelf to
receive items of virtually any size, including sizes which overhang
the support uprights 18.
[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 5-9, the apparatuses 10 are
particularly intended to permit stacking of identical apparatuses
10, for use in a warehouse space without requiring permanent
uprights or support columns extending from the floor of the
warehouse and without requiring separate floor to ceiling supports
for shelving to be installed. That is, the preferred apparatuses 10
facilitate stacking in an open warehouse space, without requiring
any particular permanent shelving or supporting structure be
constructed in the warehouse space prior to use. By enabling this
stacking feature, the apparatuses 10 significant reduce the
build-out cost for warehouse space prior to use in a shelving
arrangement. Further, the apparatuses 10 permit stacking in a
tessellating relationship, i.e., any apparatus 10 can be placed on
the warehouse floor as a bottom apparatus, and any other identical
apparatus 10 can then be stacked thereon. Each apparatus 10 can be
used either on the bottom, middle or top as the apparatuses 10 are
stacked.
[0028] As particularly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the feet 38
separately have side surfaces that provide targeting areas 56, 58
during stacking placement of a top apparatus 10a down onto a bottom
apparatus 10b. The nature of these targeting areas 56, 58 is quite
important, because the operator of the fork lift 14 is likely to
have some difficulty in seeing and targeting of the upper apparatus
10a into exact alignment onto the lower apparatus 10b.
[0029] As best shown in FIG. 8, the feet 38 have a front targeting
area 56 and a rear targeting area 58. Each of these targeting areas
56, 58 interacts with the cross-members 44, 46, 48, 50 of the lower
apparatus 10b to assist in alignment of the apparatuses 10 during
stacking. In particular, the front targeting area 56 has a
targeting slope 60 sufficient to, during forklift stacking, cause
rearward sliding of the top apparatus 10a into alignment down on
the bottom apparatus 10b. To enable such sliding during forklift
lowering, the front targeting slope 60 should be at least
30.degree. relative to horizontal. In the preferred embodiment, the
front targeting slope 60 is about 45.degree. to horizontal.
[0030] This front targeting slope 60 must extend over a sufficient
depth of the apparatus 10 that the forklift operator can readily
hit the fore-aft target area. To facilitate such depth placement of
the upper apparatus 10a down onto the lower apparatus 10b, the
front targeting slope 60 should provide a targeting area 56 of at
least one inch. In the preferred embodiment, the front targeting
area 56 is about 4 inches. The front targeting slope 60 thus has a
significant area for the forklift operator to hit so the targeting
slope 60 rides on the corner of the front cross-member 44, sliding
the top apparatus 10a rearward down onto alignment with the bottom
apparatus 10b.
[0031] Like the front targeting area 56, the rear targeting area 58
has a targeting slope 62 sufficient to, during forklift stacking,
cause sliding of the top apparatus 10a forward into alignment down
on the bottom apparatus 10b. In the preferred embodiment, the rear
targeting slopes 62 have the same slope and size as the front
targeting slopes 60, with preferred values of about 45.degree. to
horizontal, extending over a rear targeting area 58 of about 4
inches. Thus, to seat the upper apparatus 10a down onto the lower
apparatus 10b, the fork lift operator must hit the depth target
plus or minus 4 inches. Provided the fork lift operator can hit
this depth target, the front and/or rear targeting slopes 60, 62
will automatically align the upper apparatus 10a as it slides into
a nesting relationship onto the lower apparatus 10b.
[0032] While the preferred embodiment has front targeting slopes 60
and rear targeting slopes 62 on each of the feet 38, this is not
necessarily required. If desired, for instance, the front feet
could have front targeting slopes with no rear targeting slopes,
and the rear feet could have rear targeting slopes with no front
targeting slopes. For instance, the feet of the apparatus 10 could
alternatively be provided by two fore-aft runners, with each
fore-aft runner providing only one front targeting slope and only
one rear targeting slope. If one or more runners are provided, at
least one of the runners must be sufficiently long to provide two
spaced feet areas, so the apparatus still essentially has at least
three feet to stand on. The feet 38 also have a right targeting
area 64 and a left targeting area 66. Each of these targeting areas
64, 66 interacts with the edge members 52 of the lower apparatus
10b to assist in right to left alignment of the apparatuses 10
during stacking. Like the front and rear targeting areas 56, 58,
the right and left targeting areas 64, 66 should have targeting
slopes 68, 70 which are at least 30.degree. relative to horizontal
to enable side-to-side sliding of an upper apparatus 10a down into
nesting alignment onto a lower apparatus 10b during forklift
lowering. The right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 must extend
over a sufficient width of the apparatus 10 that the forklift
operator can readily hit the side-to-side target area. To
facilitate such side-to-side placement of the upper apparatus 10a
down onto the lower apparatus 10b, the right and left targeting
slopes 68, 70 should each provide a targeting area of at least 1/2
inch. To provide a sufficient side-to-side targeting area, the
right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 should be 88.degree. or less
relative to horizontal. Note that the right and left targeting
areas 64, 66 can be smaller than the front and rear targeting areas
56, 58, because side-to-side accuracy of the lift operator is
generally better than fore-aft accuracy.
[0033] The preferred right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 are
about 80.degree. relative to horizontal, providing right and left
targeting areas 64, 66 of about 3/4 inch each.
[0034] An aspect for the stackability of the apparatuses 10 is that
the base 12 of the upper apparatus 10a provide a substantially
complete periphery of contact with the top 20 of the lower
apparatus 10b. The feet 38 are received in openings 42 within the
substantially complete periphery of contact. In the preferred
embodiment, a complete periphery of contact is provided between the
lower faces of the cross-members 36 and fore-aft bottom edge
members 72 and the top faces of the cross-members 44, 50 and edge
members 52. By having a substantially complete periphery of
encircling contact, the stability of the apparatuses 10 when
stacked is greatly improved.
[0035] If stacking is not involved, the apparatuses 10 can be
lifted and moved with a fork lift 14 without using the lift tubes
30 by using only the bottom of the base 12. The lift tubes 30 are
particularly important for stacking, however, when the lower
apparatus 10a, 10b obstructs access to the bottom of the base 12 of
the upper apparatus 10b, 10c due to the substantially complete
periphery of encircling contact.
[0036] The various steel pieces of the apparatus 10 can be welded
together utilizing a C.V. transformer based G.M.A.W. welder (not
shown). The filler metal for the welding process can be an ER70S-6
filler metal with 0.035 wire thickness.
[0037] While the preferred functional unit is a shelf unit 16, the
base 12 and top 20 of the apparatus 10 can be used with a wide
range of other functional units as desired to permit stacking of
functional units in a warehousing situation using a lift 14, or in
any other site having a generally horizontal floor where a lift 14
might be present. As additional examples, the functional unit could
be a container, a portable toilet ("porta-potty"), a safe with a
locking door, a gaylord or any of a wide variety of other
functional units.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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