Supports: racks – Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-07-17
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Knockdown
C211S191000, C211S193000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260719
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods for converting a pre-existing racking system into an improved racking system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pallets serve as an efficient means for storing and transporting goods, and are commonly used in many industries. For example, food products at a harvest site are typically packed into cartons which are loaded onto pallets and transported to a storage facility. Because the items packed onto a pallet must remain stable in transition, the height of the materials placed on such pallets is limited. If pallets are stored by simply placing them on the floor of the storage facility, the space above the pallet is wasted.
Accordingly, a variety of racking systems have been developed which provide vertical multi-level shelving of pallets in order to store large numbers of pallets in a space-efficient manner. Steady improvements in this field have produced new racking systems offering improved space management, customization for vehicle loading and/or loading of multiple pallets simultaneously, and structural support sufficient to meet the highest earthquake safety standards. Replacing an older pallet storage system with a new pallet racking system allows a business to reap these benefits.
However, many businesses have a substantial investment placed in their existing racking systems. Purchasing new materials to supplant an existing racking system may not be cost effective despite the benefits of an improved system. Further, environmental concerns dictate that simply discarding existing racking materials is wasteful.
Consequently, a need exists for a method by which businesses may take advantage of improvements to the art of racking systems without going to the expense of replacing their existing systems and without waste.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention fulfills this need by providing a method for converting a pre-existing racking system into a double pallet, vehicle-loadable racking system, essentially comprising the following steps. A plurality of primary upright posts are isolated from the pre-existing racking system. Each primary upright post is bound to a secondary upright post to form a plurality of bound upright posts. These bound upright posts are formed into a grid having at least one row and at least two columns. Each two successive bound upright posts of each row are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the entrance of the body of a lift truck and placement of a pair of palletized cartons therebetween. The grid defines at least one interior side edge for each said column.
A cantilevered support means having an upper surface and an outer edge is attached to each interior side edge of each column, such that the outer edges of any two opposing cantilevered support means are laterally separated from each other sufficiently to accommodate the entrance of the extendable mast of the lift truck therebetween, sufficient space is left below each cantilevered support means to allow passage of the body of the lift truck and placement of one of the palletized cartons thereunder, and the upper surfaces of any two opposing cantilevered support means are coplanar.
A primary object of the current invention is to allow users to construct a double pallet vehicle-loadable racking system at a low cost.
Another object of the current invention is to allow users to convert to the use of a more efficient pallet racking system without wasting existing racking materials.
A further object of the current invention is to provide a method for converting a pre-existing racking system into a double pallet vehicle-loadable racking system in an uncomplicated and time-efficient manner.
Other objects and advantages of the current invention will become apparent when the method of the present invention is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, specification, and claims.
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Azzopardi Michael J.
Gnesa James E.
Skelton John W.
Terry John N.
Zook Gordon G.
Finley & Berg, L.L.P.
Stodola Daniel P.
Tran Khoa
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