U.S. patent application number 11/623423 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for storage rack decking.
Invention is credited to Jakie J. Shetler.
Application Number | 20080169256 11/623423 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39616961 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080169256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shetler; Jakie J. |
July 17, 2008 |
Storage Rack Decking
Abstract
The decking comprises a first support rail and a second support
rail parallel to each other. Each support rail has an upper rail
surface and a plurality of female engagement sockets. The support
rails support a plurality of deck members. Each deck member has an
upper deck surface, a first male engagement end and a second male
engagement end. Each male engagement end has a lower profile than
the upper deck surface by at least the distance between the upper
rail surface and the top of the female engagement sockets. The
first male engagement end of each deck member is inserted into a
female engagement socket of the first support rail. The second male
engagement end of each deck member is inserted into a female
engagement socket of the second support rail. The upper rail
surface is about flush with the upper deck surface in the assembled
decking.
Inventors: |
Shetler; Jakie J.;
(Cochranton, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARD W. GOEBEL, JR.;MACDONALD, ILLIG, JONES & BRITTON LLP
100 STATE STREET, SUITE 700
ERIE
PA
16507-1498
US
|
Family ID: |
39616961 |
Appl. No.: |
11/623423 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/153 ;
108/157.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/153 ;
108/157.13 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/02 20060101
A47B096/02; A47F 5/00 20060101 A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. Decking for a storage rack system, the storage rack system
comprising a plurality of vertical columns and a plurality of
horizontal step beams that define at least one storage bay, each
step beam having a lip onto which the decking is mounted to form a
storage shelf, the decking comprising: a first support rail and a
second support rail parallel to each other, said first support rail
and said second support rail each having an upper rail surface and
a plurality of female engagement sockets; a plurality of deck
members, each deck member having an upper deck surface, a first
male engagement end and a second male engagement end, said first
male engagement end and said second male engagement end having a
lower profile than said upper deck surface by at least the distance
between said upper rail surface and the top of said female
engagement sockets; said first male engagement end of each deck
member inserted into a female engagement socket of said first
support rail; said second male engagement end of each deck member
inserted into a female engagement socket of said second support
rail; and said upper rail surface is about flush with said upper
deck surface.
2. The decking of claim 1 wherein said plurality of deck members is
secured to said first and second support rails.
3. The decking of claim 1 wherein said plurality of deck members is
secured to said first and second support rails by at least one of
rivets, spot welds, glue, screws, or nails.
4. The decking of claim 1 further comprising a cap mounted on top
of the decking.
5. The decking of claim 1 further comprising a cap mounted on top
of the decking, said cap comprises one of a perforated sheet, an
expanded metal mesh, or an extruded wire mesh.
6. The decking of claim 1 in which said deck members are sized and
spaced to create an at least 50% open area rack deck.
7. The decking of claim 1 in which said first and second support
rails and said deck members are made of one of stainless steel,
steel, aluminum, or plastic.
8. The decking of claim 1 wherein said deck members are solid
beams.
9. The decking of claim 1 wherein said upper deck surface is
perforated.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Storage rack systems typically comprise a series of vertical
columns with braces installed across adjacent pairs of columns.
Horizontal step beams link braced pairs of columns to form a
storage framework. The horizontal step beams are spaced at vertical
intervals to create multi-tiered storage bays. Various types of
decking have been used to create storage shelves onto which product
may be stored or displayed on storage bays.
SUMMARY
[0002] Decking is provided for storage rack systems. Suitable
storage rack systems comprise a plurality of vertical columns and a
plurality of horizontal step beams that define at least one storage
bay. Each step beam has a lip onto which the decking is mounted to
form a storage shelf. The decking comprises a first support rail
and a second support rail parallel to each other. Each support rail
has an upper rail surface and a plurality of female engagement
sockets. The support rails support a plurality of deck members.
Each deck member has an upper deck surface, a first male engagement
end and a second male engagement end. Each male engagement end has
a lower profile than the upper deck surface by at least the
distance between the upper rail surface and the top of the female
engagement sockets. The first male engagement end of each deck
member is inserted into a female engagement socket of the first
support rail. The second male engagement end of each deck member is
inserted into a female engagement socket of the second support
rail. The upper rail surface is about flush with the upper deck
surface in the assembled decking.
[0003] The deck members may be secured to the support rails at the
engagement locations if required. The size and spacing of the deck
members may be varied as required by the particular
application.
[0004] Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is
capable of embodiments that are different from those shown and that
details of the structure of the decking can be changed in various
manners without departing from the scope of this invention.
Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as
including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the
spirit and scope of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this
invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage rack system with
two storage bays with two embodiments of the decking installed;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
decking;
[0008] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a support rail;
[0009] FIG. 3B is a different perspective view of the support rail
shown in FIG. 3A;
[0010] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the support rail shown
in FIG. 3A;
[0011] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a deck member;
[0012] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the deck member shown
in FIG. 4A;
[0013] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deck
member having rolled edges;
[0014] FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of the deck member shown
in FIG. 4C;
[0015] FIG. 4E is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deck
member in which the walls of the deck member are formed at an angle
greater than 90.degree. from the upper deck surface;
[0016] FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the deck member shown
in FIG. 4E;
[0017] FIG. 4G is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deck
member that is formed from a solid beam;
[0018] FIG. 4H is a cross-sectional view of the deck member shown
in FIG. 4G;
[0019] FIG. 4I is a perspective view of an embodiment of a deck
member having a perforated upper deck surface;
[0020] FIG. 4J is a cross-sectional view of the deck member shown
in FIG. 4I;
[0021] FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the insertion of deck
members into the first support rail;
[0022] FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the insertion of deck
members into the second support rail; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the decking
having a capped upper deck surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals
are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through
several of the embodiments and figures shown and described.
Corresponding parts are denoted in specific embodiments with the
addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in
form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It
will be understood that generally variations in the embodiments can
be interchanged without deviating from the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows two embodiments of the decking 10 and 10a
installed on a storage rack system 12. Storage racks typically
comprise a plurality of vertical columns 14 with pairs of adjacent
columns connected by braces 16. Pairs of adjacent vertical columns
14 are connected by horizontal step beams 18 to define storage
bays. The step beams 18 typically have a lip 20 onto which shelving
or decking units may be mounted to create storage shelves. Storage
rack systems 12 are often not supplied with shelves or decking,
leaving the style of shelf or decking as a customization choice for
end users. The dimensions of the columns 14, braces 16, and step
beams 18 vary by manufacturer and application.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows the decking 10 mounted on the storage rack
system 12 by simply placing decking 10 of appropriate dimensions
onto the lip 20 of the higher pair of step beams 18. The decking 10
may be fastened to the storage rack system (not shown) if required
in any appropriate fashion, for example, with spot welds, glue,
screws, bolts, clamps, etc. FIG. 1 also shows decking 10a having a
different length installed on the lower pair of step beams 18 on
the same storage rack system 12 to illustrate that the decking 10
can be made to any dimension required for the particular
configuration of storage rack system 12. The assembled decking 10,
when properly installed on a storage rack system 12, creates a
storage shelf that is free of protuberances that may snag product
during loading and unloading and has few sharp edges that may
damage product or harm users.
[0027] As can be best understood by comparing FIGS. 2 through 4B
and 5A and 5B, the decking 10 comprises a first support rail 22 and
a second support rail 24 parallel to each other. The first support
rail 22 and the second support rail 24 are formed to have upper
rail surfaces 23 and 25, respectively, and a plurality of female
engagement sockets 28 and 29, respectively. The first support rail
22 and a second support rail 24 are connected to each other by a
plurality of deck members 26. Each deck member 26 has an upper deck
surface 27, a first male engagement end 30 and a second male
engagement end 32. The first male engagement end 30 and the second
male engagement end 32 have a lower profile than the upper deck
surface 27 by at least the distance between the upper rail surface
23 and 25 and the top of the female engagement sockets 28 and 29.
The first male engagement end 30 of each deck member 26 is inserted
into a female engagement socket 28 of the first support rail 22.
The second male engagement end 32 of each deck member 26 is
inserted into a female engagement socket 29 of the second support
rail 24.
[0028] The deck members 26 may be secured (not shown) to the first
support rail 22 or the second support rail 24 by spot welds, glue,
rivets, screws, nails, or any other appropriate method. In the
assembled decking the upper rail surface 23 is about flush with the
upper deck surface 27.
[0029] The size and spacing of the deck members 26, their male
engagement ends 30 and 32, and the corresponding female engagement
sockets 28 and 29 are determined by the requirements of the
particular application. Fire safety codes in many jurisdictions
require that at least 50% of the surface of storage rack shelves or
decking must be open space in industrial and commercial settings to
allow for the passage of fire suppressants to lower level storage
areas in multi-tiered storage bays. The components of the decking
10, including the first and second support rails 22 and 24 and the
deck members 26 can be made out of any appropriate material such as
stainless steel, steel, aluminum, or plastic.
[0030] As can be best understood by comparing FIGS. 3A through 3C
and FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first support rail 22 and the second
support rail 24 are formed to create a channel that accepts the
first male engagement end 30 and the second male engagement end 32,
respectively, of each deck member inserted into a female engagement
socket 28. The portion of the first support rail 22 and the second
support rail 24 opposite the female engagement slots 28 and 29,
respectively, serve to halt the insertion of the deck members 26
and limits user access to the potentially sharp edges of each
engagement end 30 and 32.
[0031] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the preferred embodiment of the deck
member 26, but variations are possible. For example in FIGS. 4C and
4D, the edges 34b of the deck member 26b may be rolled over to
further reduce sharp edges that a user may contact. To increase the
weight bearing capacity the deck members 26c, the walls of each
deck member could be formed at an angle of slightly greater than
90.degree., or ideally around 92.5.degree. from the upper deck
surface 27c as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F. FIGS. 4G and 4H show that
the deck members 26d could be solid beams formed from a solid block
of material. To achieve the 50% open space fire code requirement,
the upper deck surface 26e can be perforated with holes 36e as
shown in FIGS. 4I and 4J. While the holes 36e shown in FIG. 4I are
circular in shape, the exact size, shape, number, and location of
each hole 36e can be varied as demanded by the particular
application. For example, the holes 36e could be oval, square,
rectangular, or a combination of different shapes. It will be
understood that the examples of embodiments of deck members 26
shown are for illustrative purposes only and that other deck member
configurations are possible.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows how the decking 10f could be further modified
to include a cap 38f mounted on top of the decking 10f. The cap 38f
can be a perforated sheet, an expanded metal mesh, an extruded wire
mesh, or any other cap required by the particular application.
These caps are useful in applications where the product to be
stored on the decking 10f is smaller than spacing between the deck
members 26f.
[0033] This invention has been described with reference to several
preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will
occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding
specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as
including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they
come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of
these claims.
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