Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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_chnical Fiel_
The invention relates to storage systems, and
equipment for assembly into a storage system.
Background Art
Patent Specification ~B 997,753 (Reilly) describes a
pallet rac]~ comprising uprights supporting
horizontal rails, etc~ The posts are of partially
closed channel cross-section with an inwardly disposed
medial channel h~ving a number of slots. A
connecting element is welded to the end of the
rail and provided with teeth for entering the slots.
The connecting element embraces the whole of one
face and almost half of another face of the post.
Thus the rails can only project laterally to either
side of the post, and the space between post and the
post to the rear is filled with cross-members of
different construction, as is essential with heavy
duty pallet racking~
Patent Specification GB 1239136 (~inspa~ is similar.
Patent Specifications GB 1333520 (SOFADI), GB
1373714 (BAG) and GB 1~76263 (Searby) describe
lighter weight systems for use as furniture.
The uprights are generally of square cross-section
with longitudinal rows of slots but without any
medial channel. The transverse members have
hooks which engage in the slots~ but the
connecting members do not embrace the uprights,
and so the structures do not have the necessary
strength for general use.
The Invention
Equipment according to the :invention comprises a
tubular upright having four similar faces, a groove
along each face, a row of slots along the groove,
and an end connector for a transverse member having
upright flanges for embracing less than half of
each of two adjacent faces and at least two hooks
for engaging in the slots. The four similar
faces with longitudinal grooves form a closed bbx
section of great torsional strength. The end
connector embracing less than half of each face
makes it possible for two connectors to project
at the same level from a sin~le face, or for
connectors to project from as many as four faces
of the upright at the same level. Horizontal
stability is provided by the parts of the
flanges which embraces the upright together with
the hooks; these parts ensuring that there is
a resistance to movement about a vertical axis.
Transverse members may be integral with or
welded or otherwise connected to the end
connectors, and include tie beams, shelf
support beams, and open channel beams. ~he
tie beams enable a number oE tubular uprights
to be linked together into a rigid structure.
The shelf support beams enable shelves to be
supported on the structure and to provide an
uninterrupted surface. The open channel beams
may be used in pairs, one above the other, with
their open channels facing one another~ to mount
louvre panels used in turn for mounting storage bins.
A number of half-depth beams having only an end
connector with a single hook at each end may be
included.
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Spring clips cqn be fitted to the connecting
members and slots to resist dislodgement.
Versatile storage systems may be assembled
from the parts described. The preferred
uprights together with the preferred end
connectors are capable of mounting transverse
members extending directly out from any or all
of the four faces of the uprights. Shelves
can ~e mounted at various levels and bins for
small components c~n be supported on louvre panels.
A standard bay width of perhaps one metre may be
adopted~ and a complex system of numerous
different kinds of accessories can be built up
with units of standard w~dth or a multiple
thereof. Such accessories include pallet
racking~ cantilever, she].ving, cupboards~ and
drawers in addition to the others mentioned
elsewhere. The system itself may be mounted
on a free-standing trolley for conveying parts
about a factory, for example.
The parts described are preferably rolled
from mi~d steel~ suitably from o.9 mm to 3mm
thick depending on size and intended use,
most suitably 2mm thick. ~he hooks of the
end connectors may be punched from the flanges
53~
- before rolling.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 is an isometric view of parts
of equipment according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a section through a part of
a storage system incorporating equipment as
in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a section on B-B in
Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows a number of plan views
of alternative storage systems according to
the invention; and
Figure 5 shows a number of isometric views
of other such systems.
Best Mode
~ith particular reference to Figure 1, a
tubular upright 10 has four similar faces~ only
two of which appear clearly. A grooye 12
along each face has a row of slots 14 therein.
Two alternative end connectors 20, 20l are
shown off-set from the upright 10~ The
end connector 20 has an integral upright flange 22
for embracing the upright 10, while the
connector 20l has a welded-on flange 22' for
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heavy duty. Both the flanges 22,22' have two
hooks 2~ for engaging in the slots 14 of the
upright 10. The connectors 20,20' also comprise
transverse beams 26 extending to the right.
Turning now to Figure 2, the uprigh~ 10 has four
end connectors 20 extending one to left and one
to right and two up the paper. Each end connector
20 embraces a different corner of the periphery of
the upright 10, and has its hooks 24 in slots 14
thereof. The connector flanges can be seen to
embrace less than half a face of the upright 10,
and the adjacent ends of the connectors 20
to embrace less than half of an adjacent face
of the upright 10. This leaves a horizontal gap
between connectors at the same level which has
vari~us constructional uses. ~etween the end
connectors 20 extending up the paper (ana the
beams integral therewith) there is a sheet of
cladding 30.
To the right of the upright 10 is a shelf 32 which
is hooked over one of the end connectors 20
extending up the paper, and rests on a lug 3~
projecting from the end connector 20 extending to
the right as shown in Figure 3. At the front
7~i3
edge in Figure 2, the shelf 32 is bent over as shown
in section C-C, and stops short of the right front
end connector 20 leaving a gap 36 which might be
used for -the insertion of steel or welded mesh
cladding.
T'he general plan views of Figure 4 show how
uprights 10 can be arranged in relation to each
other so as to fill the space available for
storage or display in an economical and visually
pleasing manner.
The isometrics oE Figure 5 illustrate the
development of walk ways between one or more
tiers, the use of mezzanine platforms with stairs,
and a door way and counter.
