Abstract: A pallet rack system has a safety lock on end connectors of horizontal beam members to prevent accidental removal of the horizontal beams from the vertical frame supports. The safety lock includes a cross-shaped member rigidly secured to the beam connectors and a U-shaped member associated with the cross-shaped member to operatively couple the U-shaped member with the end connector. The U-shaped member includes a hook which cooperates with an aperture in the frame supports to lock the safety lock device to the frame support which, in turn, locks the horizontal beams with the vertical frame supports.

Abstract: A hollow, tubular, elongated beam is made by roll-forming an elongated strip of sheet metal into a generally rectangular cross-section shape with its opposite edge portions overlapped to form a double ply beam wall along one side of the beam. The plies are adhesively secured together by an adhesive material inserted between them. The sheet metal is initially rolled into a U-shaped channel having a base and opposite walls. An integral, interior ledge is formed in, and extends along the length of, one of the channel walls. Then, the edge portion of the opposite channel wall is bent to form an inner ply that overlaps and closes the open channel, to form the tubular shape, with its free edge abutted against the ledge. Next, the free edge of said one channel wall is bent to form an outer ply around and overlapping the inner ply, with the abutted inner ply free edge and ledge serving as a support for the bending of the outer ply. The adhesive is inserted between the plies when the outer ply is bent.

Abstract: A frame type, heavy duty storage rack corner post is formed of sheet metal which is bent into a rear wall, integral side walls and front wall sections that are spaced apart to form a central slot extending the height of the post. The free edges of the front wall sections are bent outwardly to form a pair of parallel base walls which terminate in oppositely extending flanges, so that the front wall sections, base walls and flanges form oppositely opening, aligned vertically extending channels along the height of the post. The channel base walls are provided with a series of holes, with the holes in one aligned horizontally with the holes in the other. The channels are of a width to snugly receive a nut so that a screw may be inserted through a pair of aligned holes and threadedly engaged with the nut for turning the screw while the nut is held stationary by the channel walls.

Abstract: In a frame type rack having horizontal beams whose ends are adjustably fastened to vertical posts by headed pins that extend into holes formed in the posts, a latch is provided that prevents inadvertent release of the beam pins from the holes in the post. The post holes are widened at their tops for insertion of the pins and narrowed at their bottoms to engage and prevent removal of the pins therefrom. The latch includes a plate, which is fastened to the end of the beam, and upon which three vertically aligned pins are secured for extending into corresponding holes in the post. A cover strip overlaps the plate and the upper pin which, also, rigidly secures the cover strip to the plate. A slidable spring member is held between the inner portion of the cover strip and the plate and extends beneath it. Vertical openings in the spring member receive outer end portions of the middle and lower pins.

Abstract: A hollow, tubular beam is formed of an outer and an inner, U-shaped, elongated, roll-formed, sheet metal channel which are telescopically interfitted. The overlapping adjacent leg portions of each channel are provided with an inwardly bent rib and groove mechanical connection, but the curvature of the adjacent rib and groove surfaces are slightly different to provide a number of longitudinally extending, separated spaces therebetween. The free edge of one of the legs of the outer channel is bent normally to cover a corresponding corner-like shoulder bent in the adjacent inner channel leg. The radii of the flange and shoulder bends are slightly different to provide a slight, longitudinally extending space between them. Also, overlapping leg portions are spaced apart by integral embossments formed on the legs. The adjacent channel legs are adhesively bonded together by an adhesive material applied within the spaces.