Abstract:
The general purpose of the new vertical adaptable bracket assembly is to provide a pallet rack load stop system wherein a novel bracket combines with existing beams to easily create a load stop for use on all storage levels of pallet racks, including at top-level near fire sprinkler system components where specified clearance is required by law.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 62/022,212, filed on Jul. 9, 2014, entitled “VERTICAL ADAPTABLE BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR PALLET RACKS,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]    The general purpose of the new vertical adaptable bracket assembly is to provide a pallet rack load stop system wherein a novel bracket combines with existing beams to easily create a load stop for use on all storage levels of pallet racks, including at top-level near fire sprinkler system components. The primary benefit of the new vertical bracket is that it prevents goods stored on pallets from interfering with government-required sprinkler systems and other regulations related to large-scale storage of product, such as in warehouses. The current invention improves on previous products in that it imposes space restrictions on both lateral and longitudinal flue space for upper levels of storage pallets to facilitate compliance with fire codes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    The general purpose of the new bracket assembly is to provide a simple, yet versatile and adaptable mechanism for restricting the distance between loaded pallets and between a top-rack pallet and the ceiling. In general, the bracket assembly secures to a horizontal beam in a similar fashion as a vertical pallet rack beam is connected to a horizontal pallet rack beam. The vertical bracket assembly can be attached to a horizontal beam such that the bracket is angled either perpendicular to the top of the horizontal beam or perpendicular to the side of the horizontal beam. By attaching perpendicular to the top, the new vertical bracket serves to prevent pallets, including goods stored thereon, from interfering with the storage house&#39;s fire sprinkler system. 
         [0006]    By attaching perpendicular to the side, the new vertical bracket serves to prevent overhanging pallets, including goods stored thereon, from being positioned too close to each other. Many government fire codes require a minimum of six (6) inches of clearance between pallets of product and the nearest storage house wall for fire sprinkler effectiveness. The same is true for pallets of product on racks that are situated back-to-back. Likewise, there must be six inches of clearance between pallets of product on horizontally adjacent rows. One vertical load stop bracket, for example, can be used to protect and maintain flue space on both sides of pallet racks that are set back to back by preventing overhanging pallets and product from being positioned closer than six inches from one another. 
         [0007]    The sum of these advantages unify with the novel device for ensuring adequate spacing between pallets and between pallets and the walls and ceiling of a storage house, resulting in an invention that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art support, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0008]    These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty characterizing the invention, are described with particularity in the claims herewith. A more comprehensive understanding of the features, operation and uses of the invention may be gleaned from reference to the enclosed drawings and descriptive matter further illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0009]    The embodiments described herein are illustrative of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description and drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It should be further understood that the phraseology and terminology applied herein merely serve the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly as attached to a single horizontal beam and two, back-to-back vertical beams. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment, a clip-on embodiment, of the new bracket assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates the top view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly in use. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A-5D  collectively illustrate the various views of the “clip-on” embodiment of the new bracket assembly. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6A-6E  collectively illustrate the various views of the “bolt-on” embodiment of the new bracket assembly. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an exploded perspective view and a perspective view, respectively, of another embodiment of the new adaptable bracket assembly being comprised of two end pieces that are bolted together to form a single bracket. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly as in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly  1  as attached to a single horizontal beam  4  and two, back-to-back vertical beams  6 . The new bracket assembly as used on a pallet rack up against a wall to protect items and maintain space required between pallets and a wall for government heath, food safety and fire code requirements. The new bracket assembly  1  attaches via an interlocking end  2  to a horizontal load stop beam  4 . The new adaptable bracket assembly  1  further attaches via a securing end  3   a,    3   b  to two vertical pallet rack beams  6  via standard bolts  7 . Said bracket assembly can be further secured to the upper horizontal beam by bolting the two sides of the interlocking end  2  using one or more standard bolts  5 . In the depicted embodiment, the sides of the interlocking end  2  extend below the depth of the horizontal beam  4 , and the securing bolt is positioned below the horizontal beam. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment, a clip-on embodiment, of the new bracket assembly  13  showing the rubber padding  9  attached and aligned parallel to the opposing interior sides of the interlocking end  2 . The rubber helps prevent slippage or sliding of the bracket. Also depicted are the bolt holes  10  in the respective sides of the securing end  3   a,    3   b.    
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the top view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly. As depicted, two adaptable bracket assemblies  13  are positioned between pallets of product  11 . One adaptable bracket  13  can be used to protect and maintain flue space as shown on both sides of pallet racks that are set back-to-back. Pallet racks of product  11  are separated by the fire code-required 6-inch longitudinal flue space  14 . Pallet racks of product  11  are separated from the ceiling by the fire code-required 3-inch longitudinal flue space when vertical beams  6  are attached to the securing end of the adaptable bracket assembly  13 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly in use. As depicted, two adaptable bracket assemblies  13  are attached to two vertical pallet rack beams  16  via one end and to a horizontal pallet rack beam  12  via the other end. Pallets of product  11  are depicted for reference. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 5A-5D  collectively illustrate the various views of the “clip-on” embodiment of the new bracket assembly.  FIG. 5A  shows the top view of the clip-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly. As depicted, ⅜-inch holes  10  enable bolts to hold the securing end  3   a,    3   b  of the bracket assembly to standard 3-inch by 1.5-inch or 3-inch by 3-inch vertical beams (not depicted). 
         [0023]      FIG. 5B  shows the side view of the clip-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having rubber padding  9  attached and aligned parallel to the opposing interior sides of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5C  shows the bottom view of the clip-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having rubber padding  9  attached and aligned parallel to the opposing interior sides of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5D  shows the front view of the clip-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having rubber padding  9  attached and aligned parallel to the opposing interior sides of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6A-6E  collectively illustrate the various views of the “bolt-on” embodiment of the new bracket assembly.  FIG. 6A  shows the top view of the clip-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly. As depicted, ⅜-inch holes  10  enable bolts to hold the securing end  3   a,    3   b  of the bracket assembly to standard 3-inch by 1.5-inch or 3-inch by 3-inch vertical beams. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6B  shows the side view of the bolt-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having a standard bolt  5  and nut  23  secured through bolt holes  20  in opposing sides of the interlocking end  2 . In use, the bolt  5  passes beneath the horizontal beam to which the bracket assembly is attached, locking the bracket assembly in place. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6C  shows the bottom view of the bolt-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having bolt holes  20 ,  21  in each of the opposing sides of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6D  shows the front view of the bolt-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having bolt holes  20  in the inner side of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6E  shows the rear view of the bolt-on embodiment of the new bracket assembly having bolt holes  20  in the outer side of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an exploded perspective view and a perspective view, respectively, of another embodiment of the new adaptable bracket assembly being comprised of two end pieces that are bolted together to form a single bracket.  FIG. 7A  shows the interlocking end  2  of the bracket  1  having a bolt hole  24  in both sides of the interlocking end  2 . The securing end  3   a,    3   b  is fortified by a plate  8  attached perpendicularly to the two sides  3   a,    3   b  of the securing end. The plate  8  has a bolt hole (not depicted).  FIG. 7B  shows the interlocking end  2  and the securing end  3   a,    3   b  connected by a bolt  5  and nut  23  passing through the bolt holes in the plate  8  of the securing end and the two sides of the interlocking end  2 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the new bracket assembly as in use. The interlocking side  2  of the bracket assembly is depicted as positioned on a horizontal pallet rack beam  4 , being secured via a bolt  5  and nut  23  passing through the two sides of the interlocking end  2  and passing below the horizontal pallet rack beam  4 . The securing end  3   a,    3   b  of the bracket is shown as bracketing two vertical beams  6  and is secured to said vertical beams via bolts  25  and nuts  26  that each pass through complementary bolt holes in each side of the securing end  3   a,    3   b  and each of the vertical beams  6 . 
         [0033]    As to further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of this invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention, the use of which results in a new adaptable bracket assembly for pallet racks. 
         [0034]    Although the description presented heretofore contains specificities for the benefit of illustration, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but rather as illustrative examples of some of the several embodiments. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples provided.