Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02573574 2007-01-10
I BEAM PROTECTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective device and more particularly,
relates to a
protective device for the end of an I beam.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I beams are a standard structural component and are widely used for many
different
applications. Thus, they are used as load bearing members in many types of
buildings.
Another use which I beams receive is as support members for construction
material such as
lengths of lumber, sheet material such as plywood or gyproc, etc.
I beams are utilized for such purposes as they have the necessary strength and
the
rigidity to withstand the substantial loads which are placed thereon. One
problem which has
been encountered is the damage to the end of the exposed I beam when fork lift
trucks or
other vehicles place merchandise on the I beams. Thus, often the forks on the
lift truck will
hit the I beam and damage the same. As will be appreciated, the replacement of
the I beam
becomes a substantial expense for the retailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an I beam protective
device and
which I beam protective device is suitable for use on the ends of I beams.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
protective
device for use in protecting an end of an I beam from damage, the protective
device
comprising a front element having a front, a rear, and a pair of sides, the
sides being formed
of first and second side walls, at least one of said side walls tapering
inwardly from said rear
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to form a narrow front surface, and means for securing said front element to
said end of said
I beam.
In a further aspect of the present invention, in a facility having racks
formed of a
plurality of I beams and where at least one of the I beams has an exposed end,
there is
provided the improvement comprising a protective member mounted on the exposed
end,
the protective member comprising a front element having first and second side
walls, at least
one of the side walls tapering inwardly from adjacent the exposed end to form
a narrow
front surface, and means for securing the front element to the end of the I
beam.
In greater detail, the protective device of the present invention preferably
comprises
two components, a first one forming the protective configuration with a second
component
being used to secure the front component or element to the end of the I beam.
Such an
arrangement allows for the replacement of only the front element or component
should
damage occur.
Preferably, the front element has first and second side walls which extend
from the
rear of the device inwardly to form a relatively narrow front surface. The
front surface
could, in fact, be a point; however, it is preferred that it be slightly
rounded to have a convex
configuration.
A top wall extends between the first and second side walls, the top wall
sloping
downwardly from the rear to meet the narrow front surface and to thereby form
a further
deflective surface in addition to the two side walls.
The rear element, comprising the mounting member, is attached to the I beam by
suitable means. Thus, it could either be welded directly to the I beam or more
preferably, is
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secured thereto by mechanical means such as nuts and bolts.
The front element is preferably releaseably secured to the mounting member and
while different arrangements may be employed, a preferred arrangement
comprises the
mounting member having a channel formed therein, the channel being sized and
arranged to
receive inwardly extending flanges along the rear of the front element.
Preferably, the front element and the mounting member are each formed of a
suitable
metallic material such as steel. In one preferred embodiment, the I beam is
the lower most
one proximate the floor of the warehouse or facility. To facilitate securing
of the same, the
secondary component may have a triangularly shaped portion with an aperture
therein
designed to receive a fastening member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of an I beam having the protective
device of
the instant invention secured thereto;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the I beam end;
Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the front element and mounting member;
and
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the protective device mounted on the I
beam.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 an end portion of a conventional I beam
generally designated
by reference numeral 10. I beam 10 includes an upper flange 12, a central rib
14, and a
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lower flange 16. As may be seen in Figure 2, first and second apertures 18 and
20 are
provided in central rib 14 near the end of I beam 10.
The protective device of the present invention is generally designated by
reference
numeral 22 and is best seen in Figure 3. Protective device 22 includes a front
element
generally designated by reference numera124 and a mounting member generally
designated
by reference numera125.
Front element 24 has a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 with a top
wall 30
extending therebetween. The arrangement is such that side walls 26 and 28
taper inwardly
towards the front to provide a relatively narrow convex front wa1131. Mounted
interiorly of
side walls 26 and 28 is a reinforcing element 30.
At the rear, there is provided a first rear wall flange 34 which extends
inwardly from
side wa1126 and a second rear wall flange 36 which extends inwardly from side
wal128. It
will be noted that both flanges 34 and 36 are spaced from reinforcing element
32. There is
also provided a top wall flange 38 which extends downwardly from the end of
top wall 30.
Mounting member 25 is comprised of a first L-shaped bracket generally
designated
by reference numeral 40. L-shaped bracket 40 includes a first leg 42 and a
second leg 44.
Similarly, a second L-shaped bracket generally designated by reference numeral
46 includes
a first leg 48 and a second leg 50. Second legs 44 and 50 are secured to a
spacer plate 52
typically by welding though other mechanical arrangements could be utilized.
It will be
noted that first legs 42 and 48 are spaced apart the width of rib 14 of I beam
10 and
apertures 64 are provided therein to align with apertures 18 and 20 of I beam
10.
Spacer plate 52 has a pair of side walls 54 and 56 which extend inwardly of
the end
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of legs 44 and 50 respectively.
A channel plate 58 is secured to the outer face of spacer plate 52, again
preferably by
welding. However, edges 60 and 62 of channel plate 60 extend outwardly a
distance
approximately equivalent to second legs 44 and 50 such that a channel is
defined on each
side between second leg 44 and channel plate 58 and second leg 50 and channel
plate 58.
The arrangement is such that rear wall flanges 36 and 34 will fit within the
channels.
Channel plate 58 also includes, at its lower edge, a triangularly shaped
portion 59. As may
be seen in Figure 3, triangularly shaped portion 59 has an aperture 61 formed
therein
designed to receive a bolt 63 which may be secured to the floor when secured
on the lower
most I beam.
It will also be noted that top edge 68 of spacer plate 52 is situated below
top edge 70
of channel plate 58. This permits the top edge of portion 38 to rest on the
top edge 68 of
spacer plate 52.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes 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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