Patent Publication Number: US-2013240471-A1

Title: Storage system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to storage containers and shelving. More particularly, the present application relates to a connecting structure that couples together bulk storage and pallet storage racks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Industrial shelving units include a variety of modular structures to fit the particular need of the shelving unit. Existing shelving units include upwardly extending posts that stabilize a platform extending between the posts. Objects, such as boxes or pallets, rest on top of the platform until the objects are needed from the storage facility. Shelving units can also include side braces that support the structure of the unit. 
     Common industrial shelving units include pallet storage racks and bulk storage racks located independent of one another. Pallet storage racks are adapted to store objects placed on a pallet and transported to the rack on, for example, a forklift. Bulk storage racks, however, are adapted to store objects that can be loaded onto the rack by hand, for example. Pallet storage racks are considered more “heavy duty” than bulk storage racks due to the added weight of the pallet that can be delivered via a forklift when resting on the platform. As a result, pallet storage racks and bulk storage racks include different and non-interchangeable connection mechanisms disposed between the upstanding posts and the beams extending across the platform. 
     Storage facilities typically include both pallet and bulk storage racks, and many times include both of these racks within close proximity. To conserve space, the racks are usually placed as close to one another as possible, but typically with some wasted space in between. As a result, a need exists for a structure that couples pallet and bulk storage racks together in a manner that better utilizes the space of the storage facility. Also, linking together pallet storage and bulk storage racks results in greater structural stability of the rack configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to a shelving system that couples a pallet storage rack and a bulk storage rack. Conventionally, a post disposed on the pallet storage rack includes a different receiving structure than a post disposed on the bulk storage rack. The system of the present application therefore includes a beam having first and second ends, where the first end is adapted to couple with an upstanding post for a pallet storage rack, and the second end is adapted to couple with an upstanding post for a bulk storage rack. The structure of the present application couples the bulk storage and pallet storage racks to conserve space and provide a more convenient, stable, and efficient storage system. 
     The present application discloses a connecting structure including a beam having first and second ends; a bulk connector disposed at the first end and adapted to couple to an engagement portion of a bulk post, and a pallet connector disposed at the second end and adapted to engage a keyhole of a pallet post. 
     The present application also includes a shelving system including a pallet shelf having a plurality of pallet posts having a keyhole; a platform extending between at least two of the plurality of pallet posts; a bulk shelf including a plurality of bulk posts each including an engagement portion and a beam having first and second ends, a bulk connector disposed at the first end and adapted to couple to the engagement portion; and a pallet connector disposed at the second end and adapted to engage the keyhole of a pallet post. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a rack according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views of an embodiment of a beam with a bulk storage connector and a pallet storage connector according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pallet connector according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective and side views, respectively, of a bulk connector according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a beam according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective and enlarged perspective views, respectively, of a post for a pallet storage rack according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective and enlarged perspective views, respectively, of a post for a bulk storage rack according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the coupling between the bulk connector and the bulk post. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the coupling between the pallet connector and the pallet post. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     The present application relates to a shelving system that couples together a pallet storage rack and a bulk storage rack. In general, a pallet storage rack includes an upstanding post different than a post included in a bulk storage rack. The system of the present application can include a beam having first and second ends, where the first end is adapted to couple with the pallet storage post and where the second end is adapted to couple with the bulk storage post. The structure of the present application therefore couples together the bulk storage rack and the pallet storage rack to conserve space and provide a more convenient, stable, and efficient storage system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present application includes a rack  100  having a platform  105  and a plurality of pallet posts  110  and bulk posts  115 . The platform  105  can extend between a plurality of the pallet posts  110  in a pallet storage rack, or between a plurality of bulk posts  115  in a bulk storage rack. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the platform  105  can also extend between a bulk post  115  on a first end of the platform  105 , and a pallet post  110  on the second end of the platform so as to link a bulk storage rack to a pallet storage rack. A beam  120  can be provided to support the platform  105  between the pallet post  110  and bulk post  115 , and can include a bulk connector  125  coupling the beam  120  to the bulk post  115 , and a pallet connector  130  coupling the beam  120  to the pallet post  110 . A brace  135  can extend between any of the pallet posts  110  and/or the bulk posts  115  to provide additional structural support to the rack  100 . 
     As discussed below, the pallet post  110  includes a different structure for receiving the beam  120 , compared to the receiving structure of the bulk post  115 . As a result, the beam  120  can include first and second ends with different structure on the first and second ends for connecting with the receiving structures of the pallet post  110  and the bulk post  115 . The beam  120  can therefore couple together a bulk storage rack to a pallet storage rack with different connecting structure on the first and second ends of the beam  120 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the beam  120  with the bulk connector  125  and the pallet connector  130  on opposite ends.  FIG. 3  illustrates the pallet connector  130  in more detail, and  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the bulk connector  125  in more detail. For example, the pallet connector  130  can include a first face  130   a  and a second face  130   b , and one or more protrusions  140  including a neck  140   a  and a head  140   b  extending from the neck  140   a . The pallet connector  130  can also include one or more openings  145  provided on a surface extending from the second face  130   b.    
     In an embodiment, the bulk connector  125  can include a main face  150  and a side face  155 , with an extending face  160  angled substantially perpendicular to the side face  155 . The bulk connector  125  can also include one or more fingers  165  having a main body  165   a  and a cam portion  165   b  extending from the main body  165   a . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the beam  120  can include a top face  120   a , a connecting face  120   b , and a bottom face  120   c . Holes  170  may also be provided on the top face  120   a , or can be provided on any combination of the three faces  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the pallet post  110  can include a plurality of keyholes  175  adapted to receive the protrusion  140  of the pallet connector  130 . The keyholes  175  can be teardrop-shaped to allow the head of the protrusion  140  to insert into a larger portion  175   a  of the keyhole, and to then slide into a smaller portion of the keyhole  175   b  where the neck  140   a  of the protrusion can rest. As shown, the keyholes  175  are aligned on the pallet post  110  in two rows, but one of ordinary skill would appreciate that any number of rows, including one row, can be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a bulk post  115  according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown, the bulk post  115  includes a row of elongated, generally trapezoidal engagement portions  180  each adapted to receive one of the fingers  165  from the bulk connector  125 . However, any shaped engagement portion  180  can be utilized as long as the engagement portion can receive and releasably engage one of the fingers  165 . In an embodiment, the engagement portion  165  can have a first dimension A larger than a second dimension B to accommodate the elongated finger  165  when inserted into the engagement portion  180 . For example, the finger  165  can be inserted into the engagement portion  180  by first inserting the cam portion  165   b  into the engagement portion  180 , and rotating the bulk connector  125  until the main face  150  is substantially flush against a side of the bulk post  115 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the pallet connector  130  and bulk connector  125  can be coupled to the pallet post  110  and bulk post  115 , respectively, such that the fingers  165  and the protrusions  140  extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the beam  120  extends. When connected, the first face  130   a  of the pallet connector  130  is substantially flush with and abuts a face of the pallet post  110  with the protrusions  140  engaged within the keyholes  175 . Similarly, when connected, the main face  150  of the bulk connector  125  is substantially flush with and abuts a face of the bulk post  115  with the fingers  165  engaged within the engagement portions  180 . In this manner, the beam  120  having the pallet connector  130  and bulk connector  125  can be selectively coupled to the pallet post  110  or the bulk post  115  from the side, i.e., from a position substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the beam  120 . 
     As discussed herein, the beam  120 , bulk connector  125  and pallet connector  130  are three separate components. However, it will be appreciated that the beam  120 , bulk connector  125  and pallet connector  130  can be integral with one another, or can be separate from one another, as needed. Other components discussed above can also be integral with or separate from one another, or can be combined together in any manner. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.