Patent ID: 7055704

Claim:
Lightweight, structurally integral, and strong composite rack shelving, comprising: a) shelf; b) a border; and c) inserts; wherein said shelf comprises a honeycomb core; wherein said shelf comprises an upper skin; wherein said shelf comprises a lower skin; wherein said honeycomb core of said shelf is sandwiched between said upper skin of said shelf and said lower skin of said shelf so as to form a composite structure; wherein said composite structure of said shelf is lightweight; wherein said composite structure of said shelf is strong; wherein said shelf has a plurality of through bores; wherein said plurality of through bores pass vertically through said shelf; wherein said plurality of through bores through said shelf allow flames under said shelf to pass upwardly therethrough instead of sidewardly therealong whereby an extinguishant thereabove can pass downwardly therethrough for extinguishing flames thereunder; wherein said shelf has a periphery; wherein said border closes off said periphery of said shelf; wherein said honeycomb core of said shelf comprises walls; wherein said walls of said honeycomb core of said shelf define cells; wherein said border is a tape; wherein said tape of said border is affixed to any wall of said honeycomb core of said shelf that it comes in contact with, and any wall defining an open cell of said honeycomb core of said shelf located at said periphery of said shelf so as to maintain structural integrity of said shelf by closing off any open cell of said honeycomb core of said shelf located at said periphery of said shelf and form a structurally integral unit with said shelf, and which folds over to be affixed to said upper skin of said shelf and said lower skin of said shelf; wherein said inserts line said plurality of through bores through said shelf, respectively; wherein said inserts are tapes; wherein said tapes of said inserts are affixed to any wall of said honeycomb core of said shelf that they come in contact with, and any wall defining an open cell of said honeycomb core of said shelf caused by a through bore through said shelf so as to maintain structural integrity of said shelf by closing off any open cell of said honeycomb core of said shelf caused by a through bore through said shelf and form a structurally integral unit with said shelf, and which fold over to be affixed to said upper skin of said shelf and said lower skin of said shelf.