U.S. patent application number 11/656181 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for adjustable brace.
Invention is credited to Dany Dion.
Application Number | 20080173603 11/656181 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39640213 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080173603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dion; Dany |
July 24, 2008 |
Adjustable brace
Abstract
An improved reconstructed pallet rack structure wherein one of
the diagonal braces is replaced, the diagonal brace having first
and second members which are telescopically arranged and secured to
the other in a desired position, a first bracket mounted on either
a first upright post or a horizontal beam and a second bracket
mounted on the second post, the arrangement being such that a
longitudinal center line of the brace passes through, at each end,
a point of joinder between a post and a beam.
Inventors: |
Dion; Dany; (La Plaine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric Fincham
316 Knowlton Road
Lac Brome
QC
J0E 1V0
omitted
|
Family ID: |
39640213 |
Appl. No.: |
11/656181 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 47/028 20130101;
A47F 5/00 20130101; A47B 96/1441 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/182 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. In a pallet rack structure comprising: four corner posts; a
plurality of beams extending between said corner posts; a plurality
of diagonal braces extending between said corner posts; the
improvement comprising: at least one of said diagonal braces
extending between first and second corner posts, said diagonal
brace having first and second members, said first and second
members being telescopically arranged, means for securing said
first and second members together in a fixed position, a first
bracket mounted on said first post, and a second bracket mounted on
said second post, the arrangement being such that an extended
longitudinal center line of said brace passes through, at each end,
a point of joinder of a post and a beam.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second
brackets comprises a bracket back wall, first and second bracket
side walls extending outwardly therefrom, an aperture formed in
each of said bracket side walls, and a locking member extending
through said apertures in said side walls and an end of one of said
members forming said diagonal brace.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said locking member comprises
a nut and bolt.
4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said means for securing said
first and second members comprises a nut and bolt extending through
said first and second members.
5. In a pallet rack structure comprising: four corner posts; a
plurality of beams extending between said corner posts; a plurality
of diagonal braces extending between said corner posts; the
improvement comprising: at least one of said diagonal braces
extending between first and second corner posts, said diagonal
brace having first and second members, said first and second
members being telescopically arranged, means for securing said
first and second members together in a fixed position, a first
bracket mounted on a beam, and a second bracket mounted on a post,
the arrangement being such that an extended longitudinal center
line of said brace passes through, at each end, at a point of
joinder between post and a beam.
6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each said first and second
brackets comprises a bracket back wall, first and second bracket
side walls extending outwardly therefrom, an aperture formed in
each of said bracket side walls, and a locking member extending
through said apertures in said side walls and an end of one of said
members forming said diagonal brace.
7. In a method of repairing a pallet rack structure wherein a
reinforced base portion is installed on said pallet rack structure,
the improvement comprising the step of replacing a diagonal brace
above said reinforced base portion, including the steps of
attaching a first bracket to one of a horizontal beam or a vertical
post, attaching a second bracket to a vertical post, securing a
telescopic brace to said first and second brackets, the arrangement
being such that an extended longitudinal center line of said brace
passes through, at each end, a point of joinder between a post and
a beam.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet rack structure and
more particularly, relates to an adjustable brace suitable for use
in repairing a pallet rack structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Pallet racks are well known and are widely used in
warehouses wherein typically they extend in a plurality of rows for
substantially the height of the building with space being provided
between the rows for fork lift trucks to operate. The fork lift
trucks will remove pallets from the shelves as required for the
shipping of the product thereon and/or for further processing.
[0003] More recently, the trend has been to open large warehouse or
"big box" stores to the public. In such stores, pallet racks are
used to display the merchandise.
[0004] Inherently, there are dangers in such a system and
safeguards against collapse must be provided. Numerous accidents
have occurred over the years and injuries and death have occurred
as a result of the collapse of the pallet racks.
[0005] To date, most of the safety concerns have centered around
the various design criteria to ensure that the pallet racks are
capable of accepting the loads to which they are subjected. The
conventional pallet rack is of a knock down design wherein the
vertical posts are provided with horizontal beams which are secured
to the posts. Diagonal bracing extending between posts may then be
provided to further ensure a rigid structure.
[0006] While the engineering of the pallet racks provides
sufficient safety for normal use, the racks are very susceptible to
damage. Inherently, the loaded pallets must be lifted onto the
racks by fork lift trucks. Due to the often limited spaces, an
accident wherein the fork lift truck will collide with one of the
vertical posts occurs sufficiently frequently. With the very high
loads which the pallet racks carry, this is a dangerous situation
and any post even slightly damaged has to be replaced.
[0007] In order to replace a damaged post, the load of pallets must
be removed from the structure and the rack disassembled. After new
rack components are installed, the pallets must be reloaded on the
structure. As will readily be understood, this is both an extensive
and time consuming process.
[0008] It has been suggested in the art that pallet rack repair
systems can be provided and which systems overcome the above
disadvantages. An example of such a system is shown in Canadian
Patents 2,232,178 and 2,280,645.
[0009] While the above mentioned pallet repair systems function
very well, frequently there is a need to replace a diagonal brace
which extends between two levels of the pallet. However, to merely
provide a conventional diagonal brace which is secured to the
vertical posts does not necessarily add sufficient rigidity to the
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a diagonal brace for use in the repair of pallet rack
structures.
[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided in a pallet rack structure comprising four corner posts, a
plurality of beams extending between the corner posts, a plurality
of diagonal braces extending between the corner posts, the
improvement comprising at least one of the diagonal braces
extending between first and second corner posts, the diagonal brace
having first and second members, the first and second members being
telescopically arranged, means for securing the first and second
members together in a fixed position, a first bracket mounted on
the first post, and a second bracket mounted on the second post,
the arrangement being such that an extended longitudinal center
line of the brace passes through, at each end, a point of joinder
of a post and a beam.
[0012] According to a further aspect of the present invention, in a
pallet rack structure comprising four corner posts, a plurality of
beams extending between the corner posts, there is provided a
plurality of diagonal braces extending between the corner posts,
the improvement comprising at least one of the diagonal braces
extending between first and second corner posts, the diagonal brace
having first and second members, the first and second members being
telescopically arranged, means for securing the first and second
members together in a fixed position, a first bracket mounted on a
beam, and a second bracket mounted on a post, the arrangement being
such that an extended longitudinal center line of the brace passes
through, at each end, at a point of joinder between post and a
beam.
[0013] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided in a method of repairing a pallet rack
structure wherein a reinforced base portion is installed on the
pallet rack structure, the improvement comprising the step of
replacing a diagonal brace above the reinforced base portion,
including the steps of attaching a first bracket to one of a
horizontal beam or a vertical post, attaching a second bracket to a
vertical post, securing a telescopic brace to the first and second
brackets, the arrangement being such that an extended longitudinal
center line of the brace passes through, at each end, a point of
joinder between a post and a beam.
[0014] The improvements of the present invention are designed to be
used in the repair of pallet racks. As aforementioned, such pallet
rack repair systems are shown in Canadian Patents 2,280,645 and
2,232,178, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0015] In the prior art patents, typically a portion of a front and
optionally a rear post are replaced depending upon the damage and
the desired results. The present invention is designed to be used
to replace the diagonal brace immediately above the repaired
section. In this arrangement, there is always a horizontal beam
which is replaced.
[0016] According to the present invention, the diagonal brace is
arranged such that an extended longitudinal center line of the
brace passes through a point of joinder of a post and beam. This
occurs at both the upper and lower extremities of the brace.
[0017] The lower end of the brace may be secured either to a post
or alternatively, to a beam. In either case, the arrangement of the
bracket is such that the extended longitudinal center line of the
brace extends through the point of joinder of the beam and
post.
[0018] In the case of the upper bracket, it is always secured to
the post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will now be made to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof,
in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a replacement brace
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of a portion of a pallet
rack utilising the replacement brace of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a bracket secured to a
vertical post of a pallet rack;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through a post having a
bracket secured thereto;
[0024] FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a portion of a pallet
rack utilising the replacement brace as a horizontal beam; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of use of a replacement
brace in a pallet rack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference
characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a replacement
brace assembly which is generally designated by reference numeral
10.
[0027] Replacement brace assembly 10 includes a first bracket 12
which, in the illustrated embodiment, is shown at an upper end of
the replacement brace assembly 10. First bracket 12 has a back wall
14 with an aperture 16 formed therein. Extending outwardly from
back wall 14 are a pair of side walls 18.
[0028] Replacement brace assembly 10 includes a first brace member
20 and a second brace member 22. First brace member 20 and second
brace member 22 are sized to be in a telescopic arrangement with
first brace member 20 fitting within second brace member 22. A bolt
23 extends through both first brace member 20 and second brace
member 22 to hold the brace members in the desired position and
having the desired length.
[0029] At the lower end of second brace member 22, there is
provided a second bracket 24. Second bracket 24 is similar to first
bracket 12 and thus includes a back wall 26 having an aperture 28
formed therein and a pair of side walls 30.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, a typical pallet rack will include
vertical posts 40, and 42 along with horizontal beams 44, 46. In
the embodiment of FIG. 2, a replacement brace assembly 10 is
secured between vertical posts 40 and 42. As may be seen in FIGS. 3
and 4, a plate member 48 is placed on an exterior wall of vertical
posts 40 and a bolt 50 passes through vertical post 40 and through
aperture 16 of back wall 14 and is held in place by means of a nut
52. A similar arrangement is provided at the lower end of second
brace member 22.
[0031] First brace member 20 is secured to first bracket 12 by
means of a bracket bolt 32 which extends through the side walls 18
and through first brace member 20.
[0032] As will be seen in the Figures, a center line 56 of first
brace member 20 and second brace member 22 extends such that it
passes through the center of vertical post 40 where horizontal beam
44 meets the first vertical post 40. A similar arrangement exists
at the other end where second bracket 24 is arranged such that the
center line of the brace members also terminates proximate the
center of vertical post 42.
[0033] As seen in FIG. 5, the brace of the present invention may
also be used as a horizontal member with brackets 12 and 24 being
secured to posts 40 and 42.
[0034] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, bracket 12 is secured to a
horizontal beam B in lieu of a vertical post.
[0035] It will be understood that the above described embodiments
of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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