Storage rack

Abstract

 A storage rack comprising uprights and supports, the uprights each comprising at least one flange in which at least one series of vertically spaced openings are provided, each support, adjacent at least one free end thereof, comprising a mounting plate fixedly connected with the support, which mounting plate extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the support, each mounting plate comprising at least one opening, and the storage rack comprising loose hooking elements, while in a mounted condition of the storage rack, of each support at least one mounting plate is disposed against a flange of an upright, such that the at least one opening in the mounting plate in question is disposed against a corresponding opening in the upright, with a loose hooking element extending through the two openings and forming the connection between the upright in question and the support in question.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a storage rack comprising uprights extending substantially in vertical direction and supports extending substantially in horizontal direction, the uprights each comprising at least one flange in which at least one series of vertically spaced openings are provided, the openings being intended for connecting a support with an upright by means of at least one hook.

[0002] Such a device is known, for instance, from European patent application EP-A-0 361 291 and EP-A-0 519 316. Originally, the connection between a support and an upright was effected by means of a hook which was fixedly connected to the end of the support and which could be hooked into an opening in a flange of the upright. The height of the opening was so small that the support had to be introduced by the hook thereof into the opening from an upwardly inclined position, whereafter the support was fixedly hooked in the opening in a horizontal position by swiveling it downwards. The drawback of such a manner of mounting a support on an upright was that a sufficient distance between the vertically spaced supports had to be maintained to enable the supports to be hooked in. By virtue of the proposals known from the patent applications mentioned, it became possible to accomplish a safe connection between the support and the upright by means of a retaining element which was clamped between the hook and the flange on the side of the flange of the upright remote from the support. When the support is to be detached from the upright, only the retaining element needs to be removed, whereafter the support can be pulled loose from the upright in horizontal direction. A drawback of the proposals described in the publications mentioned is that the supports are relatively costly because of the hooks joined thereto by welding. Moreover, there is a risk that the retaining elements shift upwards, for instance when a support is accidentally lifted to some extent by a fork-lift truck, and that the hooks of the support thereby slip from the openings in the upright, so that the support falls down. Another drawback of the storage racks known from the publications is that the top surface of a support does not continue without interruption as far as the flange of the upright to which the support is connected. When, for instance, shelves are placed on the supports, these shelves will be located at some distance from the flanges of the support, which reduces the storage surface area of the shelves at a given length of the supports.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a storage rack of the type described hereinabove without the disadvantages mentioned. To that effect, according to the invention, the storage rack of the type described in the opening paragraph hereof is characterized in that each support, adjacent at least one free end thereof, comprises a mounting plate fixedly connected with the support, which mounting plate extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the support, at least one opening being provided in each mounting plate, and the storage rack comprising loose hooking elements, while in a mounted condition of the storage rack, of each support at least one mounting plate is disposed against a flange of an upright, such that the at least one opening in the mounting plate is disposed against a corresponding opening in the upright, a loose hooking element extending through the two openings and forming the connection between the upright in question and the support in question. Although the invention is intended specifically for making storage racks whose supports have only one end connected with an upright, it is also possible, in the storage rack according to the invention, for a support to have both ends connected with an upright, provided that the support comprises a mounting plate at both ends. This is not possible in the storage racks known from the above-mentioned publications, since a support cannot be introduced between two uprights in view of the hooks fixedly connected with the supports.

[0004] A further advantage of the storage rack according to the invention is that no loose retaining elements need to be utilized to accomplish a secure connection between the support and the upright. In the storage rack according to the invention, there are only two possibilities:

• no connection between a support and an upright, viz. when the loose hooking elements have not been fitted yet, or
• a secure connection between the support and the upright, viz. when the loose hooking elements have been fitted.

[0005] In the storage racks known from the publications referred to, it is possible to connect a support with an upright such that the support assumes approximately a horizontal position, while this connection is not secure in that the retaining element has not been fitted yet. Accordingly, in the known racks, there is a third connecting possibility, viz. an insecure connection not locked by a retaining element. This entails a certain risk which cannot arise in the storage rack according to the invention.

[0006] According to a further elaboration of the invention, it is particularly favorable when the loose hooking elements are designed such that the connection between a support and an upright can be broken without the support needing to be swiveled upwards in the vertical plane through a considerable angle. Furthermore, it is preferred when the loose hooking elements are manually placeable and removable, so that the storage rack can be assembled entirely without using tools. It is then particularly favorable when the loose hooking elements are self-locking.

[0007] According to a further elaboration of the invention, it is preferred when the openings in an upright and a mounting plate, as well as the design of the loose hooking elements, are tailored to each other such that the support in question has a possibility of some movement relative to the upright. This prevents the connection between the upright and the support being broken in that, for instance, a fork-lift truck momentarily touches a support or lifts it unintentionally.

[0008] Preferably, the loose hooking elements are designed such that in a mounted condition of a support no parts of the hooking elements extend above the support on the side of the flange of the upright proximal to the support, so that elements to be placed on the support, such as, for instance, shelves, can be moved all the way against the upright.

[0009] The invention further relates to a loose hooking element intended for use in a storage rack according to the invention, which hooking element is characterized by a body portion which connects a first anchor portion with a second anchor portion, both the first anchor portion and the second anchor portion extending above and below the body portion, the second anchor portion being provided with roundings and/or bevels which render the second anchor portion movable through an opening of a height less than the height of the second anchor portion, while the height of the first anchor portion is such that the first anchor portion cannot pass the openings. Thus designed loose hooking elements can be placed in the openings associated with the hooking elements only in a very special manner, in that the opening has a height less than the height of the anchor portions. In particular the manner in which the hooking elements are to be inserted, with rotation, through two opposite openings 4, 7 and 4', 7', respectively, is special.

[0010] Further elaborations of the invention are described in the subclaims and will hereinafter be further clarified on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an upright and a support connected therewith;

Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the connection between an upright and a support;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken on line III-III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a right-hand side elevation of the connection between the upright and the support represented in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of a loose hooking element; and

Fig. 6 shows a top plan view of the loose hooking element represented in Fig. 5.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a clear perspective view of an upright 1 and a support 2 attached thereto. In this case, the upright 1 is designed as an I-section with flanges 3. In the exemplary embodiment represented in Fig. 1, the support 2 too is designed as an I-section 2. It will be clear that other sections, such as, for instance, T-sections, C-sections and the like are options from which a storage rack according to the invention can be built up. In general, the storage rack will consist of a number of spaced-apart uprights 1, which uprights 1 each carry a number of vertically spaced supports 2. Typically, the supports 2 will have only one end connected with an upright 1. However, the invention is not limited thereto, that is, storage racks in which the supports 2 have two ends connected with an upright 1 also fall within the scope of the present invention. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the flanges 3 of the uprights 1 are provided with at least one series of vertically spaced openings 4, 4'. In the present exemplary embodiment, each flange 3 of the upright 1 is provided with two of such series of openings 4, 4', located next to each other. In the present exemplary embodiment, the support 2, at a free end thereof, is provided with a mounting plate 6 fixedly connected with the support 2, which mounting plate extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the support 2. In each mounting plate 6, at least one opening 7, 7' is provided. In the present exemplary embodiment, there are two openings 7, 7'. To connect a support 2 with an upright 1, the storage rack is provided with loose hooking elements 5. In a mounted condition of the storage rack, of each support 2 at least one mounting plate 6 is disposed against a flange 3 of an upright 1, such that the openings 7, 7' in the corresponding mounting plate 6 are disposed against the corresponding openings 4, 4' in the upright 1. Further, a loose hooking element 5, 5' extends through each pair of openings 4, 7, and 4', 7', respectively. These loose hooking elements 5, 5' form the connection between the upright 1 and the support 2. Figs. 2-4 clearly represent the various parts of a connection between a support 2 and an upright 1 from different viewpoints. The loose hooking elements 5, 5' are designed such that the connection between a support 2 and an upright 1 can be broken without the support 2 needing to be swiveled upwards in the vertical plane through a considerable angle. Moreover, the loose hooking elements 5, 5' are manually placeable and removable and are self-locking. Furthermore, the openings 4, 4', 7, 7' in the upright 1 and the mounting plate 6, as well as the design of the loose hooking elements 5, 5' are tailored to each other such that the support 2 has a possibility of moving to some extent relative to the upright 1. This movement possibility is present without involving the risk of the connection between the support 2 and the upright 1 slipping unintentionally. Further, it clearly appears from Fig. 3 that the loose hooking elements 5 are so designed that in a mounted condition of the support no parts of the hooking elements 5 extend above the support 2 on the side of the flange 3 of the upright 1 proximal to the support 2. Accordingly, elements to be placed on the support 2, such as, for instance, shelves, can be moved as far as the upright 1.

[0012] The supports 2 of the present exemplary embodiment, adjacent at least one free end comprising a mounting plate 6, are provided with at least one locking hook 8, 8' fixedly connected with the support 2. In present exemplary embodiment, at the free end of the support 2 represented, two locking hooks 8, 8' are provided. In a condition where the support 2 is mounted on an upright 1, the locking hooks 8, 8' extend through openings 4, 4' in flange 3 of the upright 1. The locking hooks 8, 8' have no bearing function but have a locking function, thereby preventing the support 2 from being readily pulled loose from the at least one loose hooking element 5, 5'. Moreover, when mounting a support 2 on an upright 1, while fitting the loose hooking elements 5, 5', the support 2 can temporarily rest in openings 4, 4' through the locking hooks 8, 8', thereby avoiding the need to lift the entire weight of a support 2 when fitting the loose hooking elements 5, 5'. Further, in that way, a correct positioning of the openings 7, 7' opposite the openings 4, 4' is readily accomplished. In the present exemplary embodiment, the locking hooks 8, 8' extend through the openings 4, 4' that are located under the openings 4, 4' through which the loose hooking elements 5, 5' have been fitted.

[0013] The mounting plates 6 have a portion 6a extending in downward direction from the free end of a support 2. Provided under the support 2 is a trestle 9 which is connected on one side with the underside of the support 2 and on the other side with the portion 6a of the mounting plate 6 extending in downward direction. The trestle 9 serves to strengthen the connection between the upright 1 and the support 2. It is then particularly favorable from a viewpoint of manufacturing technique when the locking hooks 8, 8' form an integral part of the trestle 9. Such a design requires the mounting plate 6 to comprise for each locking hook 8, 8' an opening 10, 10' through which the locking hooks 8, 8' extend.

[0014] Optionally, supporting shelves may be placed on the support 2. However, this is not requisite. The storage rack can also be used, for instance, for storing long bar stock or the like, which does not require the use of shelves.

[0015] Fig. 5 again shows, in detail, a side elevation of a loose hooking element 5. Fig. 6 shows a top plan view of the loose hooking element 5 represented in Fig. 5. The loose hooking element 5 comprises a body portion 11 which connects a first anchor portion 12 with a second anchor portion 13. Both the first anchor portion 12 and the second anchor portion 13 extend above and below the body portion 11. The height H2 of the first anchor portion 12 is such that the first anchor portion 12 cannot pass the openings 4, 4', 7, 7'. The second anchor portion 13 is provided with roundings and/or bevels 14, 15, 16 which render the second anchor portion 13 movable through an opening 4, 4', 7, 7' of a height H1 smaller than the height H3 of the second anchor portion 13.

[0016] It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described but that various alterations are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, the supports may be directed slightly upwards or downwards, for instance for storage of round tube or bar elements to prevent them from rolling away. Optionally, the mounting plate can be designed with locking hooks and trestle as a one-piece molding or in any other manner advantageous from the viewpoint of manufacturing technique.

Claims

1. A storage rack comprising uprights (1) extending substantially in vertical direction and supports (2) extending substantially in horizontal direction, the uprights (1) each comprising at least one flange (3) in which at least one series of vertically spaced openings (4, 4') are provided, the openings being intended for connecting a support (2) with an upright (1) by means of at least one hook (5, 5'), characterized in that each support (2), adjacent at least one free end thereof, comprises a mounting plate (6) fixedly connected with the support (2), which mounting plate (6) extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the support (2), each mounting plate (6) comprising at least one opening (7, 7'), and the storage rack comprising loose hooking elements (5), while in a mounted condition of the storage rack, of each support (2) at least one mounting plate (6) is disposed against a flange (3) of an upright (1), such that the at least one opening (7, 7') in the mounting plate (6) is disposed against a corresponding opening (4, 4') in the upright (1), with a loose hooking element (5, 5') extending through the two openings (4, 4', 7, 7') and forming the connection between the upright (1) in question and the support (2) in question.

2. A storage rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the loose hooking elements (5, 5') are so designed that the connection between a support (2) and an upright (1) can be broken without the support (2) needing to be swiveled upwards in the vertical plane through a considerable angle.

3. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loose hooking elements (5, 5') are manually placeable and removable.

4. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loose hooking elements (5, 5') are self-locking.

5. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings (4, 4', 7, 7') in a said upright (1) and a said mounting plate (6), as well as the design of the loose hooking elements (5) are tailored to each other such that the support (2) in question has a possibility of moving to some extent relative to the upright (1).

6. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loose hooking elements (5) are designed such that in a mounted condition of a support (2) no parts of the hooking elements (5) extend above the support (2) on the side of the flange (3) of the upright (1) proximal to the carrier (2), so that elements to be placed on the support (2), such as, for instance, shelves, can be moved as far as against the upright (1).

7. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the uprights (1) comprise at least one flange (3) which is provided with two series of vertically spaced openings (4, 4') located next to each other, with each mounting plate (6) comprising two openings (7, 7') located next to each other, and the connection of an end of a support (2) with an upright (1) being formed by means of two loose hooking elements (5, 5').

8. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each support (2), adjacent at least one free end comprising a mounting plate (6), is provided with at least one locking hook (8, 8') fixedly connected with the support (2), which locking hook (8, 8'), in a condition where the support (2) is mounted on an upright (1), extends through an opening (4, 4') in the flange (3) of the upright (1) in question, the locking hook (8, 8') not having a bearing function but having a locking function, thereby preventing the support (2) from being readily pulled loose from the at least one loose hooking elements (5, 5').

9. A storage rack according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that each support (2), at each free end thereof, comprises two locking hooks (8, 8') fixedly connected with the support, the locking hooks (8, 8') each being arranged at a distance below the openings (7, 7') in the mounting plate (6), such that in a mounted condition of the support (2) the locking hooks (8, 8') extend through those openings (4, 4') in the series of vertically spaced openings (4, 4') in the flange (3) of the upright (1), that are located under the openings (4, 4') through which the loose hooking elements (5, 5') have been fitted.

10. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each mounting plate (6) has a portion (6a) extending in downward direction from the free end of a support (2), while under the support (2) a trestle (9) is provided which is connected with the underside of the support (2) and the downwardly extending portion (6a) of the mounting plate (6).

11. A storage rack according to claim 8 or 9 and claim 10, characterized in that the at least one locking hook (8, 8') is an integral part of said trestle (9), while in a mounting plate (6), for each locking hook (8, 8') an opening (10, 10') is provided through which the locking hook (8, 8') extends.

12. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the uprights (1) are T-sections or I-sections.

13. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports (2) are T-sections or I-sections.

14. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that supporting shelves are placed on the supports (2).

15. A loose hooking element intended for use in a storage rack according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the hooking element (5) comprises a body portion (11) which connects a first anchor portion (12) with a second anchor portion (13), both the first anchor portion (12) and the second anchor portion (13) extending above and below the body portion (11), the second anchor portion (13) being provided with roundings and/or bevels (14, 15, 16) which render the second anchor portion (13) movable through an opening (4, 4', 7, 7') of a height (H1) smaller than the height (H3) of the second anchor portion (13), while the height (H2) of the first anchor portion (12) is such that the first anchor portion (12) cannot pass the openings (4, 4', 7, 7').

Drawing