WO2007149356A2 - Appareil de stockage empilable - Google Patents

Appareil de stockage empilable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007149356A2
WO2007149356A2 PCT/US2007/014136 US2007014136W WO2007149356A2 WO 2007149356 A2 WO2007149356 A2 WO 2007149356A2 US 2007014136 W US2007014136 W US 2007014136W WO 2007149356 A2 WO2007149356 A2 WO 2007149356A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support
base
feet
stackable
targeting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2007/014136
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2007149356A3 (fr
Inventor
Roger Peters
Maxwell Kelsey
David Wheeeler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Business Systems International Inc
Original Assignee
Business Systems International Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Business Systems International Inc filed Critical Business Systems International Inc
Publication of WO2007149356A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007149356A2/fr
Publication of WO2007149356A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007149356A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/02—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets
    • B65D19/06—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
    • B65D19/08—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components made wholly or mainly of metal
    • B65D19/10—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components made wholly or mainly of metal of skeleton construction, e.g. made of wire
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00024—Metal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
    • B65D2519/00059—Metal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00154—Materials for the side walls
    • B65D2519/00164—Metal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00189—Materials for the lid or cover
    • B65D2519/00199—Metal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00298—Overall construction of the load supporting surface skeleton type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
    • B65D2519/00338—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00492—Overall construction of the side walls
    • B65D2519/00512—Overall construction of the side walls skeleton type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
    • B65D2519/00557—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements
    • B65D2519/00562—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00577—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other
    • B65D2519/00616—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures not intended to be disassembled
    • B65D2519/00621—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures not intended to be disassembled sidewalls directly connected to each other
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00636—Connections structures connecting side walls to the pallet
    • B65D2519/00666—Structures not intended to be disassembled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00706—Connections structures connecting the lid or cover to the side walls or corner posts
    • B65D2519/00716—Connections structures connecting the lid or cover to the side walls or corner posts non-removable lid or covers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00935—Details with special means for nesting or stacking
    • B65D2519/00955—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable
    • B65D2519/0096—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when empty
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00935—Details with special means for nesting or stacking
    • B65D2519/00955—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable
    • B65D2519/00965—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when loaded

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of warehousing, and particularly 5 to the design and manufacture of apparatus, for storing material, which can be stacked one on top of another and moved with a tined lift such as a forklift or pallet lift.
  • the warehouse is a large, roofed structure having a horizontal floor upon i o which a tined lift such as a forklift or pallet lift is driven.
  • a tined lift such as a forklift or pallet lift is driven.
  • vertical supports are attached to the floor or assembled in a grid layout spanning a significant area of the warehouse, with a number of horizontal shelves arranged between the vertical supports. Pallets are then used underneath the items being stored. The pallets provide tine openings for the
  • the present invention is an apparatus providing a functional unit, which could be a shelf unit for holding items, intended for movement and stackability with other identical apparatus (or at least identical as to the interfacing structures of the apparatus) using a tined lift such as a forklift.
  • the apparatus has based feet disposed lower than a front base cross member, with support uprights extending upward therefrom to a generally horizontal top structure.
  • the front base cross member defines one or more tine openings for receiving lift tines, which could include a bottom surface of the base cross member.
  • the top structure includes feet-receiving openings corresponding in location to the base feet, such that the apparatuses can be stacked.
  • the base feet have targeting slopes both in a front-to-back direction and in a side-to-side direction, to guide the second, upper shelf support apparatus down onto the first, lower shelf support apparatus with the base feet received in a nesting relationship.
  • the targeting slopes may act over different targeting areas.
  • the top structure provides a top support perimeter which makes substantially perimetrical contact with the base of the apparatus stacked thereon.
  • FlG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shelf storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the shelf storage apparatus of FIG. 1 , shown supporting two optional shelves.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the of the shelf storage apparatus of FIGS. 1-2.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base of the shelf storage apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 with uprights in cross-section taken along lines 4-4.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fork lift placing an upper shelf storage apparatus in a stacking relationship onto a lower shelf storage apparatus.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view showing positioning of three apparatuses in a stacking relationship.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view showing the apparatuses of FIG. 6 as stacked.
  • FIG. 8 is a side view showing lowering of a corner of an upper shelf storage apparatus in a stacking relationship onto a corner of a lower shelf storage apparatus.
  • FIG. 9 is a front view with the lift tine in cross-section showing lowering of the corner of the upper shelf storage apparatus in a stacking relationship onto the corner of the lower shelf storage apparatus, taken along lines 9-9 in FIG. 8.
  • the present invention generally relates to an apparatus that is stackable.
  • Each of the apparatus has a base with targeting slopes and structures that are adapted to receive the tines of a forklift.
  • the apparatus also includes a structure that forms the top of the apparatus, and this top structure mates with the base of an overlying structure during stacking.
  • targeting slopes facilitate guiding the base of the upper apparatus onto the top structure of the lower apparatus.
  • the base of the overlying apparatus is in contact with the top structure of the underlying apparatus.
  • the base is configured with feet of a height that would enable a pallet jack to be placed under the base.
  • FIGS. 1-7 A first embodiment of a shelf storage apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-7.
  • the shelf storage apparatus 10 generally includes a base section 12 which is intended to allow lifting of the apparatus 10 with a lift 14 (shown in FIG. 5), and a functional unit 16 above the base section 12.
  • the functional unit 16 includes a number of uprights 18 (or alternatively vertically extending walls (not shown)) which support a top section 20.
  • Angled braces 22 may be fixed along the back of the apparatus 10 (as shown) and/or along the sides of the apparatus 10 (not shown) to provide stability to the uprights 18.
  • each functional unit 16 is intended to receive and store items (not shown) such as in a warehouse setting.
  • the functional unit 16 may be formed to further facilitate its use for storing items.
  • the base 12 may be dimensioned to receive a standard wooden pallet (not shown).
  • the preferred apparatus 10 has the front uprights 18 spaced about 48 inches apart, for an overall width of the apparatus 10 of about 50 inches. In one embodiment, the overall depth of the preferred apparatus 10 is about 47 inches. With the upright supports 18 and strengthening angled braces 22 along the back, this provides a working depth within the apparatus 10 of about 46 inches. With the 48 x 46 inch working floor area, the apparatus 10 can readily receive a standard wooden pallet, which typically has dimensions of about 40-44 x 44-50 inches.
  • the standard pallet need not be pushed all the way to the back of the apparatus 10, but rather may extend slightly (a few inches) beyond the front 24 of the apparatus 10.
  • the uprights 18 of the functional unit 16 permit the side walls to be open and not enclosed so items stored in the functional unit 16 can be viewed from the side.
  • the front 24 of the functional unit 16 has a large area of unimpeded access and thus provides at least one shelf (which may be the top of the base 12) upon which items may be placed from the side of the apparatus 10, rather than through the top of the apparatus 10.
  • shelf as used herein particularly refers to this property of having horizontal access, as opposed to an enclosure with solid peripheral upstanding walls which would only permit items to be picked or placed through the top.
  • the preferred shelf storage apparatus 10 has a number of shelf slots or tracks 26.
  • these shelf slots 26 allow up to five shelves (two shelves 28 shown in FIG. 2) to be slid into the shelf storage apparatus 10 to break up the height of the shelf storage apparatus 10, thereby providing more horizontal shelf surfaces for storing of items.
  • the shelf storage apparatus 10 provides significant flexibility in the height of items which can be stored.
  • shelf storage apparatus 10 is accessible from the front 24 (i.e., the primary side accessed by a fork lift 14), the shelf storage apparatus 10 may alternatively or also be assessable through the right, left and/or rear sides (or the lift tubes 30 may be oriented in the side-to-side direction). Access through the right, left and/or rear sides is particularly beneficial if items are to be picked or placed while the apparatus 10 is on the forklift 14.
  • the shelf storage apparatus could alternatively have only four or even only three support uprights, two of the support uprights defining the front of the apparatus, with the other support upright(s) defining the area of the apparatus extending rearward from the front, such as a middle support upright along the back of the apparatus.
  • the height of the apparatus 10 may be selected as desired for the items being stored and the desired stacking height and stacking stability of multiple apparatuses 10.
  • the apparatuses 10 are intended to be moved with a lift 14 and generally have a height which corresponds to a significant weight of a loaded apparatus 10, i.e., too heavy to be lifted or moved by hand, particularly when loaded.
  • a preferred height is one to three times the width of the apparatus 10, for a height of about three to twenty feet.
  • the overall height is about 100 inches, providing an interior working height of about 91 inches.
  • the materials used to form the uprights 18, the shelf slots 26 and the angled braces 22 may be selected based upon the expected loads and environment of use of the apparatus 10.
  • the uprights 18 and angled braces 22 may be formed of 1 "x2"x14 gauge or 11 gauge ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing.
  • prefabricated uprights such as those provided for shelving and rack units may be used, such as those available from Steel King Industries, Inc. of Stevens Point, Wisconsin as SK2000, or the Premium Industrial Pallet Racking Upright Frames provided by Advanced Material Handling, LLC of Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • the depicted embodiment can of course also be used in a wide variety of other settings, including outdoor warehouse use or other outdoor locations, during shipping (on a truck, boat or plane, for instance), other indoor settings, etc.
  • the base 12 of the apparatus 10 should be constructed to facilitate lifting of the apparatus 10 using a tined lift.
  • the preferred apparatus 10 has two different ways in which this is done.
  • a first structure permitting tined lifting is provided by two lift tubes 30 providing forklift tine openings 32 accessible on the front 24 of the apparatus 10.
  • the preferred interior size of the tine receiving tubes 30 is about 2 3/4 inches in height x 4 % inches in width (exterior dimensions of about 3 x 5 inches), formed of 11 gauge or 1/8" ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing for sufficient strength.
  • the tine openings 32 need to extend for at least half of the depth of the apparatus 10, so the forklift tines 34 can gain sufficient depth for cantilevered lifting. In the preferred arrangement, the tine openings 32 extend the full depth of the apparatus 10.
  • the lift tubes 30 are supported and held in place by a series of cross- members 36.
  • the cross-members 36 have the same overall height as the lift tubes 30, and thus may be formed of 1 x 3 inch 14 gauge or 11 gauge ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing. These cross- members 36 are conveniently placed to also support the feet 38 of the apparatus 10.
  • the base 12 also has three interior cross members 40 to further support the lift tubes 30.
  • the interior cross-members 40 are made up of 1" x 1" x 1/8" hot rolled steel angle pieces.
  • a second structure permitting tined lifting is provided by the horizontal bottom surface of the lift tubes 30 and the interior cross-members 40 in conjunction with the feet 38.
  • the feet 38 extend below the horizontal bottom surface of the lift tubes 30 and the cross-members 36, 40.
  • a pallet jack or floor jack can be rolled underneath the lift tubes 30 and the interior cross- members 40 and then used to lift the entire apparatus 10.
  • the feet 38 should have a height in the range of 2 to 12 inches. In one embodiment, the feet 38 have a height of about 4 inches.
  • the feet 38 of the apparatus 10 contact the floor of the warehouse and thereby must be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the apparatus 10 when loaded, and for stacking must be sufficiently strong to support the weight of two or more stacked, loaded apparatuses 10.
  • the feet 38 are provided by angled Vs, each formed of two sides of 3/8" x 6" x 6" hot rolled steel. Using angled Vs for feet 38 causes the feet 38 to have line contact areas with the floor which define the bottom support plane or floor plane of the apparatus. The line contact areas extend generally parallel to the base cross members 36, and facilitate the nesting or tessellating relationship between stacked apparatuses as further explained below.
  • the top section 20 of the apparatus 10 includes openings 42 which are areally located in a position in plan view corresponding to the position of the feet 38. In the preferred apparatus 10, these openings 42 are provided between two front cross-members 44, 46 and between two rear cross-members 48, 50, and to the inside of two fore-aft top edge members 52. In one embodiment, the top section 20 is provided by 1"x2"x14 gauge or 11 gauge ASTM A513 or ASTM A500 grade steel tubing. Two additional fore-aft stubs or cripples 54 may be provided to further strengthen the cross-members 44, 46, 48, 50.
  • the top section 20 of the apparatus 10 defines a flat planar top with unimpeded access from above. Thus, the top section 20 can be used as a planar top shelf to receive items of virtually any size, including sizes which overhang the support uprights 18.
  • the apparatuses 10 are particularly intended to permit stacking of identical apparatuses 10, for use in a warehouse space without requiring permanent uprights or support columns extending from the floor of the warehouse and without requiring separate floor to ceiling supports for shelving to be installed. That is, the preferred apparatuses 10 facilitate stacking in an open warehouse space, without requiring any particular permanent shelving or supporting structure be constructed in the warehouse space prior to use. By enabling this stacking feature, the apparatuses 10 significant reduce the build-out cost for warehouse space prior to use in a shelving arrangement.
  • apparatuses 10 permit stacking in a tessellating relationship, i.e., any apparatus 10 can be placed on the warehouse floor as a bottom apparatus, and any other identical apparatus 10 can then be stacked thereon. Each apparatus 10 can be used either on the bottom, middle or top as the apparatuses 10 are stacked.
  • the feet 38 separately have side surfaces that provide targeting areas 56, 58 during stacking placement of a top 5 apparatus 10a down onto a bottom apparatus 10b.
  • the nature of these targeting areas 56, 58 is quite important, because the operator of the fork lift 14 is likely to have some difficulty in seeing and targeting of the upper apparatus 10a into exact alignment onto the lower apparatus 10b.
  • the feet 38 have a front targeting area 56 and a o rear targeting area 58.
  • Each of these targeting areas 56, 58 interacts with the cross-members 44, 46, 48, 50 of the lower apparatus 10b to assist in alignment of the apparatuses 10 during stacking.
  • the front targeting area 56 has a targeting slope 60 sufficient to, during forklift stacking, cause rearward sliding of the top apparatus 10a into alignment down on the bottom apparatus 5 10b.
  • the front targeting slope 60 should be at least 30° relative to horizontal. In the preferred embodiment, the front targeting slope 60 is about 45° to horizontal.
  • This front targeting slope 60 must extend over a sufficient depth of the apparatus 10 that the forklift operator can readily hit the fore-aft target area. To o facilitate such depth placement of the upper apparatus 10a down onto the lower apparatus 10b, the front targeting slope 60 should provide a targeting area 56 of at least one inch. In the preferred embodiment, the front targeting area 56 is about 4 inches. The front targeting slope 60 thus has a significant area for the forklift operator to hit so the targeting slope 60 rides on the corner of the front 5 cross-member 44, sliding the top apparatus 10a rearward down onto alignment with the bottom apparatus 10b.
  • the rear targeting area 58 has a targeting slope 62 sufficient to, during forklift stacking, cause sfiding of the top apparatus 10a forward into alignment down on the bottom apparatus 10b.
  • the rear targeting slopes 62 have the same slope and size as the front targeting slopes 60, with preferred values of about 45° to horizontal, extending over a rear targeting area 58 of about 4 inches.
  • the preferred embodiment has front targeting slopes 60 and rear targeting slopes 62 on each of the feet 38, this is not necessarily required.
  • the front feet could have front targeting slopes with no rear targeting slopes
  • the rear feet could have rear targeting slopes with no front targeting slopes.
  • the feet of the apparatus 10 could alternatively 0 be provided by two fore-aft runners, with each fore-aft runner providing only one front targeting slope and only one rear targeting slope. If one or more runners are provided, at least one of the runners must be sufficiently long to provide two spaced feet areas, so the apparatus still essentially has at least three feet to stand on. 5
  • the feet 38 also have a right targeting area 64 and a left targeting area
  • Each of these targeting areas 64, 66 interacts with the edge members 52 of the lower apparatus 10b to assist in right to left alignment of the apparatuses 10 during stacking.
  • the right and left targeting areas 64, 66 should have targeting slopes 68, 70 which are at least 30° 0 relative to horizontal to enable side-to-side sliding of an upper apparatus 10a down into nesting alignment onto a lower apparatus 10b during forklift lowering.
  • the right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 must extend over a sufficient width of the apparatus 10 that the forklift operator can readily hit the side-to-side target area.
  • the right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 should each provide a targeting area of at least 1/2 inch. To provide a sufficient side-to- side targeting area, the right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 should be 88° or less relative to horizontal. Note that the right and left targeting areas 64, 66 can be smaller than the front and rear targeting areas 56, 58, because side-to-side o accuracy of the lift operator is generally better than fore-aft accuracy.
  • the preferred right and left targeting slopes 68, 70 are about 80° relative to horizontal, providing right and left targeting areas 64, 66 of about 3 A inch each.
  • An aspect for the stackability of the apparatuses 10 is that the base 12 of the upper apparatus 10a provide a substantially complete periphery of contact with the top 20 of the lower apparatus 10b.
  • the feet 38 are received in openings 42 within the substantially complete periphery of contact.
  • a complete periphery of contact is provided between the lower faces of the cross-members 36 and fore-aft bottom edge members 72 and the top faces of the cross-members 44, 50 and edge members 52.
  • the apparatuses 10 can be lifted and moved with a fork lift 14 without using the lift tubes 30 by using only the bottom of the base 12.
  • the lift tubes 30 are particularly important for stacking, however, when the lower apparatus 10a, 10b obstructs access to the bottom of the base 12 of the upper apparatus 10b, 10c due to the substantially complete periphery of encircling contact.
  • the various steel pieces of the apparatus 10 can be welded together utilizing a CV. transformer based G.M.A.W. welder (not shown).
  • the filler metal for the welding process can be an ER70S-6 filler metal with .035 wire thickness.
  • While the preferred functional unit is a shelf unit 16, the base 12 and top
  • the 20 of the apparatus 10 can be used with a wide range of other functional units as desired to permit stacking of functional units in a warehousing situation using a lift 14, or in any other site having a generally horizontal floor where a lift 14 might be present.
  • the functional unit could be a container, a portable toilet ("porta-potty"), a safe with a locking door, a gaylord or any of a wide variety of other functional units.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil de support d'étagère (10) qui peut se déplacer et s'empiler à l'aide d'un chariot élévateur à fourche (14). Un élément transversal de base avant (36) possède deux ouvertures destinées à une dent (32), pourvues de tubes de levage (30) pour recevoir des dents de fourche (34) d'un chariot élévateur (14), et une surface inférieure destinée à recevoir les dents de fourche d'une transpalette au sol. Une structure supérieure (20) généralement horizontale comporte des ouvertures recevant des pieds (42) dont l'emplacement correspond à celui des pieds de la base (38). Les pieds de la base (38) possèdent des pentes de ciblage (58, 60, 68, 70), à la fois dans une direction avant-arrière et une direction latérale (de préférence plus petite), afin de guider le second appareil de support d'étagère supérieur (10a) de manière descendante vers le premier appareil de support d'étagère inférieur (10b) pour l'empiler avec les pieds de la base (38) reçus en étant imbriqués. La structure supérieure (20) vient aussi de manière sensiblement périmétrique au contact de la base (12) de l'appareil empilé sur celle-ci.
PCT/US2007/014136 2006-06-19 2007-06-18 Appareil de stockage empilable Ceased WO2007149356A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US81441306P 2006-06-19 2006-06-19
US60/814,413 2006-06-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007149356A2 true WO2007149356A2 (fr) 2007-12-27
WO2007149356A3 WO2007149356A3 (fr) 2008-10-16

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/014136 Ceased WO2007149356A2 (fr) 2006-06-19 2007-06-18 Appareil de stockage empilable

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20080135506A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007149356A2 (fr)

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US9027487B1 (en) * 2014-03-18 2015-05-12 Intrek Logistics Llc Pallet with lateral tine openings
US9422085B2 (en) * 2014-05-29 2016-08-23 William Spencer Kemmer, Jr. Movable modular system for stacking freight
IT201600080203A1 (it) * 2016-07-29 2018-01-29 Carlo Brambilla S R L Struttura di contenitore per merci pericolose
PL3500076T3 (pl) * 2017-12-13 2020-07-27 Ovh Sposób do pozycjonowania stojaka na konstrukcji podstawy
US10752276B1 (en) * 2018-09-26 2020-08-25 Itool Equipment Holding Llc Framed structure for material-handling purposes
US10919666B2 (en) * 2019-01-15 2021-02-16 Target Brands, Inc. Sled configured for shipping vessel
DE202020101820U1 (de) * 2020-04-03 2020-05-19 Schake Gmbh Lager- und Transportpalette
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007149356A3 (fr) 2008-10-16
US20080135506A1 (en) 2008-06-12

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