U.S. patent application number 13/184408 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-17 for cross bar support for use with storage racks.
The applicant listed for this patent is William Trover. Invention is credited to William Trover.
Application Number | 20130015156 13/184408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47518332 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130015156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trover; William |
January 17, 2013 |
Cross Bar Support For Use With Storage Racks
Abstract
A cross bar for bearing a load across horizontal supports in a
storage system, the cross bar having generally flat members with a
plurality of openings and a transition section between the first
and second generally flat members, with optional engagement means
at a first and second end of the cross bar.
Inventors: |
Trover; William; (Huntington
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Trover; William |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47518332 |
Appl. No.: |
13/184408 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/183 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00 |
Claims
1. A cross bar for bearing a load across a span of distance between
at least two horizontal supports in a storage system, the cross bar
comprising first and second generally flat members each comprising
a first surface configured to accept the placement of items for
storage thereon, the cross bar further comprising a transition
section between the first and second generally flat members, the
flat members each comprising a plurality of openings to reduced the
weight of the material used to manufacture the cross bar, wherein
the transition section is defined by a generally flat second
surface positioned generally within a plane that is generally
parallel to and spaced from the first surface of each of said
generally flat members.
2. The cross bar of claim 1 further comprising means for engaging
the cross bar to a storage rack system.
3. The cross bar of claim 2 wherein the engaging means comprises
pilot holes positioned on opposing ends of the transition
section;
4. The cross bar of claim 2 wherein the engaging means comprises
tabs at a first and second end of said cross bar, wherein the tabs
are configured to engage corresponding holes in horizontal supports
in the storage system.
5. The cross bar of claim 4, wherein the tabs are positioned at the
transition section.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The embodiments herein relate generally to a system for
providing an economic and effective support for large volume
stackable items, such as boxes of hard copy files.
[0002] For many years, boxes have been stored on steel shelving
designed to accommodate loads particular to boxes of files, as well
as other items having similar space and/or weight constraints.
Numerous types of shelving supports have been used in the past and
are used presently, from corrugated sheets to discrete cross bars
that span across support beams. The beams may be placed spaced
apart or adjacent. Several configurations of discrete cross bars
are exemplified by those shown in FIG. 1 herein. They consist
generally of U-shaped and C-shaped bars of varying thicknesses and
varying web and flange dimensions (depending upon the specified
load).
[0003] Often, a storage rack system consists of posts and support
beams, where the support beams span the posts to support the
shelving. In some cases, the support beams include slots or holes
to permit secure engagement of the shelving supports to the support
beams, as shown in certain embodiments of FIG. 1. Such engagement
minimizes movement of the shelving support as items such as boxes
are placed, moved or removed from the shelving support. To
accommodate engagement, the shelving may include tabs at their ends
to fit into the slots or holes in the support beams, as reflected
in some of the prior art embodiments of FIG. 1.
[0004] While the available cross bars of today work generally
effectively, they are lacking in certain respects, whether it be
weight-related or cost-related. Many present cross bars are not
economic to manufacture because they require a relatively large
amount of material to withstand the load intended. With the cost of
metal material continuing to rise, a more economic cross bar design
is needed. Embodiments of the present invention solve at least this
problem.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, a cross bar is
provided for bearing a load across a span of distance between at
least two horizontal supports in a storage system. The cross bar
comprises first and second generally flat members each comprising a
first surface configured to accept the placement of items for
storage thereon. A transition section is provided between the first
and second generally flat members, where the transition section is
defined by a generally flat second surface positioned generally
within a plane that is generally parallel to and spaced from the
first surface of each of said generally flat members. The first and
second flat members each comprise a plurality of slotted openings
that may be defined by ridges depressed downwardly from the first
surfaces surrounding each of said openings.
[0006] In one embodiment, tabs are provided at a first and second
end of the cross bar, where the tabs are configured to mate with
corresponding openings in supports within the storage rack system.
The tabs may be positioned within or adjacent to the transition
section. In another embodiment, pilot holes are provided at the
first and second ends of the cross bar, preferably in the second
surface of the transition section, where a mechanical connection
may be utilized to secure the cross bar to the supports beams of
the storage rack system.
[0007] The cross bars of the present invention may be utilized
individually, or in combination with one or more other of such
cross bars, to span the beam supports within the storage rack
system so that the single cross bar or combined cross bars serve to
provide a generally surface upon which archival items may be stored
for later retrieval. The configuration of the embodiments
contemplated herein provide a more economic approach to bearing
loads placed upon them over the prior art cross bars.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] The detailed description of some embodiments of the
invention will be is made below with reference to the accompanying
figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the
figures.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows various prior art embodiment of cross bars for
spanning support beams in a shelving system;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic view of one embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows schematic end and side views of the embodiment
of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows placement of the embodiment on a generic
storage rack system;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the
present invention supported on opposing beam supports of a storage
rack system;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG.
5 secured to the beam supports via mechanical connectors.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0015] By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one
embodiment of an improved support system 110 comprises a cross bar
112 comprising a first generally flat section 114 and a second
generally flat section 116, each comprising a surface 118 upon
which items to be stored may be set. In this embodiment, integral
with each surface 118 are flanges 120 that support the surfaces 118
of each generally flat section 114, 116 in a manner that permits
significant weight bearing capacity. The generally flat sections
114, 116 need not be of any particular dimension, but may be
tailored to suit the particular capacity desired. Likewise, the
flanges 120 may be of any desired height corresponding to the load
the cross bar 112 is intended to bear.
[0016] In one embodiment, the first and second generally flat
sections 114, 116 are separated by a transition section 124 that
links one flange 120 of the first generally flat section 114 with
one flange 120 of the second generally flat section 116. In this
embodiment, the transition 124 is configured to present a valley
between the first and second generally flat sections 114, 116;
i.e., the transition is configured so as to be positioned generally
within a plane that is generally parallel to and spaced from the
first surface of each of said generally flat members.
[0017] Preferably, the first and second generally flat sections
114, 116 comprises slotted openings 128 that serve to reduce the
amount of material presented by the first and second generally flat
sections 114, 116, while maintaining suitable stability and
weight-bearing capacity. The slots 128 may be cut out of the
surfaces 118 or punched through the surfaces. The specific size and
shape of the slots 128 may be determined by the load the cross bar
112 is designed to carry when balanced against the amount of
material necessary to sustain the load. Indeed, it may be desired
to employ a plurality of more circular openings rather than slotted
openings. Reducing weight while maintaining strength, however, is
important to ensure suitable load-bearing effectiveness.
[0018] In one embodiment, cross bar 112 further comprises means for
engaging a storage rack system, which in this embodiment comprises
tabs 130 positioned in a manner that permits the cross bar 112 to
be positioned on shelving support and minimize migration of the
shelf. Referring to FIG. 4, one application of the embodiment 110
of FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a storage rack system 210 comprising a
first set of horizontal support beams 212 and a second set of
horizontal support beams 214, each supported by posts 216. As can
be appreciated, the combination of first and second set of
horizontal support beams 212, 214, when affixed to posts 216,
presents a frame upon which embodiments 110 of cross bars may be
applied. In some cases, first horizontal support beam set 212
comprises a plurality of holes (not shown) into which the tabs 130
of cross bar embodiment 110 may be placed to preclude relative
movement of the cross bar to the shelving support 210. In other
cases, the user can elect to create holes in the horizontal support
beams at locations unique to the layout of cross bars desired. In
the support system embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two tabs 130
are positioned at either end of the transition 124. However, it
should be appreciated that more or less tabs may be used, and may
be positioned at other places on the cross bar 112 as may be
desired to engage a shelving system appropriately.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the
inventive storage system comprises a cross bar 312 comprising a
first generally flat section 314 and a second generally flat
section 316, each comprising a surface 318 upon which items to be
stored may be set. In this embodiment, integral with each surface
318 are flanges 320 that support the surfaces 318 of each generally
flat section 314, 316 in a manner that permits significant weight
bearing capacity. As with the first embodiment, the first and
second generally flat sections 314, 316 are separated by a
transition section 324 that links one flange 320 of the first
generally flat section 314 with one flange 320 of the second
generally flat section 316. Moreover, the first and second
generally flat sections 314, 316 of this embodiment comprise a
plurality of openings 328 that span across the first and second
generally flat sections 314, 316. Again, the number, shape and size
of the openings is not critical, as long as the cross bar 312
effectively supports the load it is intended to bear.
[0020] Spaced at opposing ends of the transition is a different
means for engaging the cross bar 312 to a generic storage rack
system. In FIGS. 5 and 6, a portion of a storage rack system
comprises horizontal support beams 412 having an L-shaped
cross-section with a shoulder upon which each end of the cross bar
312 may rest. In one embodiment, the means for engaging the cross
bar 312 to the storage rack system comprises a pilot hole 330
positioned within the surface of the transition section 324. By
employing a mechanical fastener, as shown in FIG. 6, the cross bar
312 may be effectively engaged with the horizontal support beam so
as to minimize and hopefully eliminate movement of the cross bar
312 while any boxes (e.g., 500) are placed, moved or removed from
the rack system.
[0021] The material that may be used for the cross bars of the
present invention are not limited to any particular type of
material, and may comprises one of various metals that have
sufficient tensile and compressive load-bearing capabilities,
including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. The cross
bars may be manufactured by one of any number of available
techniques that permit the formation of the configurations that
present generally flat surfaces with openings as described
herein.
[0022] A person of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that
the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed herein, but may reflect variations that embody the
improved invention. For example, another embodiment may comprise
three or more generally flat sections each separated by a
transition section. Other variations are contemplated as well, such
that the invention should be construed according to the claims as
presented below.
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