Supports: racks – Specially mounted – Suspended type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-13
2001-09-11
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Specially mounted
Suspended type
C211S113000, C211S090030, C211S181100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286691
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous types of racks are available in the prior art, for use for storing goods of various types. Most of these types of racks are generally supported upon the floor, may dispose a plurality of integral shelving, for use for storing almost anything, including tools, hardware, lumber, and the like. In addition, there are numerous publications and embodiments for shelving that may be appended directly to the wall, wherein a support means adheres directly to the wall, by means of some type of fastening, and then hooks a series of cantilevered shelves off of the support means, to readily dispose a plurality of shelving for storage and suspension of any variety of goods.
As is also well known in the art, and particularly when storage is designed for location within a garage, or an attic, frequently platforms are provided upon the roof rafters, whether it be sheets of plywood, or the like, also for storage of goods and other items thereon. And, in certain instances, it is possible that wooden supports may be suspended from the rafters, with cross-bracing provided at their lower end, in order to form a cradle-like member for disposition and storage of lumber, or other items.
It is, therefore, the improvement of the current invention to provide a uniquely designed prefabricated rack, generally constructed of metallic materials, and which disposes one or more integral shelves therein, for suspension and storage of various items thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to storage racks and shelving, and more particularly to one or more shelves integrated into a suspension rack that may be suspended and hanged dependedly downwardly from the rafters of a building, garage, attic, or the like.
This invention contemplates the formation of a suspension type of rack, that includes one or more shelving, usually fabricated from metal wire, and which is integrated together by means of fasteners, or welded into a unified structure, wherein the series of shelves connect integrally with four vertically extending rods at the corners, and which four rods are spacedly arrange at a dimension that provides for their ready attachment to a series of rafters, or at least a pair of rafters, which generally are spaced apart, on center, approximately 16 inches in dimension. The storage rack of this invention, in the preferred embodiment, may include approximately five integrated shelving, which connect to the four vertically extending rods, and are located at a sufficient distance downwardly from the upper end of the rods, to provide for ready storage of various items, at a convenient reach to the user, when the storage rack is suspended from various rafters, and provides for ready access to its shelving, during usage and application.
The upper end of the vertical rods may include various types of fastener means, to conveniently allow for the attachment of the storage rack to the rafters, and in the preferred embodiment, these fasteners undertake the structural shape of hooks, that may conveniently cooperate with eyelets, that will have been previously fastened into the rafters, either along their sides, or their under surface, thereby allowing the storage rack of this invention to be readily suspended, for prompt usage, after its installation. Other types of fastener means may also work just as conveniently, such as threaded or welded sleeves, having one or more apertures provided therein, arranged at the upper ends of the vertical rods, and through which fasteners, such as nails, may be inserted, for attachment to rafters of the storage rack of this invention thereto, during its installation.
The various shelving integrated into the storage rack of this invention may have both lengthwise and widthwise integrated wires, in order to provide for convenient storage of items thereon, and which wires are arranged in sufficient numbers, generally parallel arranged, form platforms, in order to not only support any items stored thereon, but also to furnish structural strength to the shelving, and the assembled storage rack, when installed. Obviously, since in the preferred embodiment approximately five shelves may be included, or even more if desired, the weight of all of the items stored thereon can be substantial, when accumulated, and thus, the shelving needs to be reinforced, through the use of well-designed wires, to afford the structural support necessary to accommodate the storage of multiple items, of accumulated heavier weight, thereon, during usage.
A further embodiment of this invention is to utilize a pair of ladder-like structured end frames, which at the upper ends may include securement means for fastening to the rafters of a building, garage, or the like, with the suspended end frames having a series of rigidly secured lateral braces, and upon which shelving may be inserted and suspended, to provide for singular or multiple shelving supported by this development, and for use for storage purposes. The shelving itself will provide a length of shelving having a dimension either approximately 16″, 32″, 48″, etc., along 16″ inch increments, or slightly longer thereof, so that when the shelving is inserted and rested upon the lateral braces, of each end frame, the shelving will be fully supported at each end by said frames. In addition, the shelving may include at their outer ends an additional support rod, or any other form or protrusion, so as to assure that once a shelf has been located in place, suspended by the end frames, the shelf will not slide out of the end frame, since its protrusion or support rod will embrace the outer edge of the end frame, to prevent the shelf from sliding free. In addition, each shelf is fabricated having down turned front and back edges, which in the preferred embodiment, may be bent slightly in excess of 90°, so that the upper edges of the shelf, where the downturned portion integrally form with the rods forming the shelf surface, it is that juncture which biases tightly within the end frames, to provide for a snug and secure locating of each shelf when emplaced within its pair of end frames, when assembled into the fabricated shelving of this invention.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide shelving, supported by end frames, and which may be suspended from rafters, or other precisely spaced apart beams, to furnish instant storage for items within a garage, building, or other structure.
Another object of this invention is to provide the fabrication of a supporting shelf that may be suspended from beams, and which may be integrally or rigidly formed.
Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting shelf which may be suspended from rafters, or the like, and which may be fabricated from components, and assembled at the sight of installation, simply through the suspension of a pair of end frames from said beams, and then snugly locating one or more shelves within the end frames for their suspension into a storage position.
Another object of this invention is to provide portable type shelving that may be instantly and faciley installed within any space where exposed rafters or beams are readily available to accept fasteners such as eyelets, bolts, or the like.
A further object of this invention is to provide supporting shelving that may be assembled and installed at the site of storage, and which may be made to incremental lengths, usually on 16″ centers, to any length desired by the user.
Other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the description of the preferred embodiment herein.
Other various components may be used in the structure of this storage rack, within the scope of the invention as defined herein, upon review of this summary of the invention, when further considered with the description of its preferred embodiment, in light of the drawing accompanying this application.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 270977 (1983-10-01), Kneale, III
patent: 2070334 (1937-02-01), Garber
patent: 2850172 (1958-09-01), Beckner
pat
Gusdorf Michael L.
Oberhaus Fred D.
Denk Paul M.
Industrial Wire Products, Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
Tran Khoa
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