Storage rack beam having surface enabling indicia at low elevation to be easily read

• US 5,749,482 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unarco Material Handling Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unarco Material Handling Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US08/717,372
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 211/183, 211/191, 211/192, 211/187, 312/115, 40/642, 40/299, 169/5, 169/16, 169/64
• US Class Current: 211/191
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/1441 Horizontal struts
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/58 Pipe-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/60 wet, i.e. containing extinguishing material even when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1375 the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/94 against fire fire protection of partitions E04B2/7403, E04B2/7409; supporting constructions for ceilings having the capability of expansion in case of fire E04B9/08; fire-fighting A62C, e.g. fire prevention or containment A62C2/00; impregnation of wood or similar materials B27K; fireproof paints C09D5/18; fireproofing materials C09K21/00; flame-resistant papers D21H5/0002; coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings, in general E04F13/00; fireproof doors E06B5/16; firebreak devices for pipes or the like passing through walls F16L5/04; protection of pipes by means of non-inflammable material F16L57/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

A support beam for a storage rack has a tubular profile, which defines a ledge opening upwardly and inwardly, and which defines a generally flat, indicia-receiving surface facing outwardly and either downwardly or upwardly at an angle from about 20° to about 70° relative to a vertical plane. Alternatively, the tubular profile may define two such surfaces defining an obtuse angle relative to each other, namely an upper surface at an angle from about 20° to about 45° relative thereto and a lower surface at an angle from about 45° to about 70° relative thereto, or a generally arcuate, indicia-receiving surface having a suitable measurement. The indicia-receiving surface enables a person who is standing, or who is sitting on a lift truck, to have a generally perpendicular line of sight to such surface. The support beam may also be used in combination with a properly positioned fire extinguishing device to extinguish a fire in a supported load. When the fire extinguisher is activated, the fluid that is discharged impinges off the indicia-receiving surface, which may be inclined or curved, and onto the load.

Claims

1. A storage rack positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, the storage rack including a front portion facing an aisle and a rear portion facing away from the aisle, the storage rack comprising an upright frame including two front columns, each front column having a side wall and a front wall meeting the side wall at a vertical corner, so as to correct informalities noted in the claim, a platform defined by a wooden or steel deck or by spaced wooden or steel braces, a support beam extending horizontally between the front columns and connected to the front columns, the support beam having an uppermost edge and having a surface supporting the end portion of the platform, the supporting surface being spaced below the upper edge, the support beam having two ends and an end flange at each end, the end flange being connected to a given one of the front columns, the end flange having a side portion and a front portion meeting the side portion at a vertical corner, the side portion being welded to said end of the support beam and facing the side wall of the same one of the front columns, the front portion facing the front wall of the same one of the front columns, the support beam having an inclined wall facing upwardly and frontwardly at an angle in a range from about 10°

to about 80°

relative to a vertical plane, the inclined wall extending to the uppermost edge.

2. The storage rack of claim 1 wherein the inclined wall faces upwardly and frontwardly at an angle in a range from about 30°

to about 60°

relative to a vertical plane.

3. The storage rack of claim 1 wherein the support beam is tubular.

4. A storage rack positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, the storage rack including a front portion facing an aisle and a rear portion facing away from the aisle, the storage rack comprising an upright frame including two front columns, each front column having a side wall and a front wall meeting the side wall at a vertical corner, a support beam extending horizontally between the front columns and connected to the front columns, the support beam having an uppermost edge and having a surface for supporting one end portion of a platform, the supporting surface being spaced below the upper edge, the support beam having two ends and an end flange at each end, the end flange being connected to a given one of the front columns, the end flange having a side portion and a front portion meeting the side portion at a vertical corner, the side portion being welded to said end of the support beam and facing the side wall of the same one of the front columns, the front portion facing the front wall of the same one of the front columns, the support beam having an inclined wall facing upwardly and frontwardly at an angle in a range from about 10°

to about 80°

relative to a vertical plane, the inclined wall extending to the uppermost edge.

5. The storage rack of claim 4 wherein the inclined wall faces upwardly and frontwardly at an angle in a range from about 30°

to about 60°

relative to a vertical plane.

6. The storage rack of claim 4 wherein the support beam is tubular.