Patent ID: 8267263

Claim:
A warehouse storage system for storing unitized loads, the system comprising: a warehouse storage rack having a plurality of vertical frame members and at least two parallel horizontal load beams connected thereto, said load beams being sufficiently laterally spaced from one another to support a pallet having a package thereon; an adapter configured to modify said rack to enable storage of a package with or without the requirement of a pallet, wherein said adapter comprises: a plurality of transverse support risers including at least first and second generally parallel transverse support risers having generally planar upper and lower surfaces and having front and rear segments terminating in ends that are proximal and distal with respect to a front portion of the rack, said transverse support risers being spaced from each other and secured in a fixed position relative to each other by first and second horizontal support risers extending between said transverse support members at their front and rear segments respectively, the first and second risers spaced horizontally from each other to form at least one fork blade valley between the first and second risers; said horizontal support members being generally secured to said horizontal load beams and said transverse support risers extending across said horizontal load beams to form a generally horizontal planar surface defined by the upper surfaces of said transverse risers; said planar surface being generally vertically spaced from said horizontal load beams in order to allow sufficient space for horizontal insertion and withdrawal of first and second fork lift blades of a forklift machine; and said planar surface being sufficiently large to provide relatively secure support of a unitized load.