Supports: racks – Knockdown – Vertically adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-27
2001-11-13
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Knockdown
Vertically adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315137
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a structural channel connector and, more particularly, to a connector for use with storage rack structures and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is an industrial need for storage facilities capable of holding heavy loads. Since the quantity and size of the objects which are being stored may vary from time to time, the spatial dimensions of the rack should be variable so that it can accommodate whatever size material it is called upon to receive. Also, the arms must be capable of resisting slippage or deformation. Furthermore, when several varieties of related materials are to be stored, the storage racks must be capable of being adjusted easily to the extent that supporting arms can be added to the rack or taken away to separately accommodate additional quantities of material.
It is known in this art that a vertical column in the nature of an I-beam attached to a suitable base can be provided with a readily adjustable horizontal cantilever arm to provide a storage rack of considerable strength and versatility, such rack being capable of having additional cantilever arms applied from time to time as needed. The cantilever arms are readily adjustable and are equipped with members whose vertically disposed and opposing channels frictionally engage the flanges of an I-beam type vertical column to provide a support arm of appreciable strength and stability. This type of cantilever rack is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,335,992 and 3,489,291; it is readily adjustable to various heights while at the same time allowing for the addition of a plurality of superimposed arms without having to remove the arms or slip them over the top of the column.
One area of technical design which has received attention in rack structure assemblies is the design of the clamp for connecting the cantilever arm to the column. As tapered-flange I-beam columns were replaced with parallel-flange columns, the need arose for a connector or clamp which could overcome the inherent weakness in the parallel-flange structure. Such a clamp would have to be capable of securely holding heavy loads and, at the same time, be easily maneuverable along the column to adjust the height of the arm. One exemplary clamp that addresses these and other problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,512 issued to D. Frazier et al. on May 28, 1985. The connector therein described comprises a U-shaped channel having a web portion and a pair of flange portions. A pair of trapezoidshaped cut-outs are formed in the web, where the trapezoids are used to engage the flange portions of the associated column at a medial location, reducing the weakness problem inherent in parallel-flange columns. Although this connector overcomes the problems of the prior art, the structure is rather difficult to manufacture and the trapezoid shapes must be modified when necessary to connect to columns of different dimensions. These difficulties thus reduce the design flexibility of the connector and, as a result, add significant cost when a new connector must be developed to be used with a different size rack structure.
Thus, a need remains in the art for a connector design that is relatively easy to manufacture and flexible in design, while remaining useful in the areas described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This connector need is addressed by the present invention, which relates to a structural channel connector and, more particularly, a connector that is easily formed from a conventional structural channel by either brake press or punch and dies, or rolling. Specifically, a structural channel is modified to include one or more indents or detents so as to provide means for attaching the connector to the vertical column of a rack structure at desired locations.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a conventional structural channel is modified using an appropriately designed punch and die to efficiently introduce an indent along the web of a channel. This indent and one flange of the channel are then used as connecting arms that are disposed on either side of a vertical column flange. By virtue of the punch and die design, the indent includes a tapered sidewall, suitable for engaging the vertical column flange. Accordingly, since only one flange of the channel is used, a plate may be substituted for a channel and an appropriate method used to form the necessary “indent” or “detent” and flange end termination on the plate.
In an alternative embodiment, the channel is inverted such that the punch contacts the backside of the channel web and forms a detent in the web structure. The resulting detented channel may thus be used as a step beam for pallet rack structures.
Various other combinations of indents and detents may be formed in a structural channel for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to, wheel tracks for pushback storage arrangements, guide rails, guard rails, etc.
The modified channel structure of the present invention can be formed using a variety of methods including the punch and die means described above. Alternatively, a brake press may be used as well as rolling a conventional structural channel.
Various and other modifications and uses of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3335992 (1967-08-01), Frazier
patent: 3489991 (1970-01-01), Frazier
patent: 4519512 (1985-05-01), Frazier et al.
Chin-Shue Alvin
Frazier Industrial Company
Joseph W. Molasky & Associates
Purol Sarah
LandOfFree
Structural channel connector and method of manufacture does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Structural channel connector and method of manufacture, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Structural channel connector and method of manufacture will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2589129