Patent GB-818459-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to metal rack constructions
IPC: A47B47/02
Filed: 1954-05-03
Abstract: 818,459. Shelving, pallet-racks &c. NOAKES, F. R. Aug. 2, 1955 [May 3, 1954; Feb. 23, 1955], Nos. 10648/54 and 3438/55. Classes 52(1) and 52(3) A metal shelf or article supporting structure-consists of pairs of front and rear uprights 30 of hollow section joined together by members 31, 32 and provided in their lateral faces with apertures 35 at shelf or article height, bearers of hollow section having longitudinally-extending hollowsection parts fitting apertures 35 and keepers engaging the bearers to hold them in the apertures. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bearers consist of channels 36 extending from upright to upright and having flanges 38 defining the penetration of their ends into apertures 35. These ends' have slots 39 which lie inside the uprights. The keepers are transverse bearers 37 having a flange 41 taking into slot 39. The end of bearer 36 is lamped in place between end flange 42 of bearer 37 and sliding plate 43 locked in place by wing-nut 46. In a modification (Fig. 3, not shown), the longitudinal bearer is a cylindrical tube having slots cut near its ends and the apertures 35 are shaped to receive it. As shown in Fig. 4, the bearers are short channels 56 transfixing the uprights and having slots 55 just outside the upright. These slots are engaged by flanges 54 of transverse bearers 52 acting as keepers. These bearers are formed with flanges 53 so that they can support containers or trays or long rods. As shown in Fig. 7, the bearers consist of channels 57 provided with smaller inwardly-extending channels 59 in which are mounted keepers 61. To fix the bearer between adjacent uprights, keeper 61 is swung out by loosening nut 63, one end is inserted right into one upright, the other end is introduced into the other upright and the bearer is slid back until channel 59 abuts the other upright. By tightening nut 63 keeper 61 is then brought into engagement with the side of the first upright. Channels 59 may support shelves. As shown in Fig. 9, the ends of transverse bearers 83 are turned through 90 degrees to form the longitudinally extending bearers 84 and the keepers are constituted by shelves 91 resting on steps 90 on the bearers 83. The height of each bearer 83 may be such that it is supported by a like bearer mounted below it, Fig. 11. If shelves are not required the keepers may be caps 97, Fig. 11, fitting over two bearers 83 on opposite sides of an upright. As shown in Fig. 12, the bearer consists of a channel 108 transfixing the upright being retained against movement in one direction by an end flange 111 and in the other direction by the flange 107 of a pallet bearer 103, flange 107 taking into a slot formed behind end flange 110. In a modification, bearer 108 may be formed at each end with an end flange 110 defining a slot receiving keeper flange 107. Bearers 103 can support tyre-carrying bars instead of pallets and they have inclined surfaces 105 to guide the pallets or bars into proper position. The uprights may be of circular cross-section. The parts 30, 31, 32 may be connected as described in Specification 718,222, the structure may be mounted on castors or it may support flooring or another structure or the construction may be used for show-cases, cupboards or cabinets.