Abstract: A novel connector for connecting a beam to a column in a storage rack is disclosed. A flanged member is fitted against the column, with a side flange disposed against a side wall of the column and with a front flange disposed against a front wall of the column. Hooks on the front flange are hooked into apertures of the front wall. An elongate, strip-like spring clip is clipped onto the side flange, which has a recess receiving a bent portion of the spring clip. Another portion is accommodated by a trough extending from the recess. A dimple formed on the spring clip extends into a slot of the side flange. A locking pin affixed to the spring clip extends through an aperture of the side flange and through one of an array of apertures of the side wall.

Abstract: For a roller track for a storage rack arranged for gravitational flow of load-bearing pallets, an elongate stop having a hooked end and being made from a polycaprolactum (nylon 6) of a suitable grade having a tensile strength of at least about 11,800 psi, a modulus of at least about 400,000 in flexure, and an inpact strength of at least about 1 foot-pound per inch of notch in the Izod test. A roller track for such a rack comprises two parallel walls, a longitudinal array of freely rotatable rollers journalled therebetween so as to extend upwardly from a space therebetween, and such a stop mounted therebetween, at a lower end of the roller track, so that the hooked end points upwardly.

Abstract: A structural rack comprising a column and a beam, each made from a standard channel with a web and two tapered flanges, and a bolted connection between the column and the beam. The tapered flanges of the beam are notched so as to form an internal corner, into which an external corner of the column is fittable. The bolted connection uses a conventional bolt and a special nut, which has a flange-engaging surface conforming to a curved surface where one of the tapered flanges of the column meets the web of the column. Upon relative movement of the column and the beam as the bolt and the nut are tightened, the flange-engaging surface cams the last-mentioned flange against adjacent edges of the notched flanges, thereby to assemble the beam and the column with the external corner fitted tightly into the internal corner.

Abstract: In a shelving system, a columnar post, an outer plate, and a fastening device for fastening the outer plate removably to the columnar post. The fastening device includes a bolt having a threaded shank and a transverse head, which is integral with the threaded shank, and which includes a longer portion and a shorter portion, and fastener, which is threadable onto the threaded shank. The bolt is adapted to be sucessively inserted through an aperture in the outer plate, inserted through an aperture in a front wall of the columnar post, rotated about the threaded shank in a clockwise sense, and drawn outwardly until the longer portion of the transverse head bears against a curved corner where the front wall merges with a lateral flange of the columnar post, so as to prevent further rotation of the bolt in a clockwise sense. The longer portion of the transverse head is conformed to the curved corner so as to bear in surface-to-surface contact against the curved corner.

Abstract: A wedge connector for securing the horizontal cross beam of a storage rack to the hollow upright posts of the system. Two ear-supporting members extend laterally from an elongated shank, each of which members carries an upwardly extending wedging ear. The wedge connector has a shape and carefully controlled dimensions that make it possible to insert the elongated shank and lower wedging ear into the upper slot of a pair of elongated slots in the upright post of the storage rack. The elongated shank is then swung down within the interior of the hollow post into a position where the lower wedging ear can be moved back out of the lower elongated slot of the pair of slots, so that the wedge connector can then drop directly down into its operative position. In this position portions of the wall of the upright post are embraced by a downwardly opening rectangular notch at the bottom edge of each laterally extending ear-supporting member.

Abstract: A wedge connector for securing the horizontal cross beams of a storage rack to the hollow upright posts of the system. Two ear-supporting members extend laterally from an elongated shank, each of which members carries an upwardly extending welding ear. The wedge connector has a shape and carefully controlled dimensions that make it possible to insert the elongated shank and upper wedging ear into the lower slot of a pair of elongated slots in the upright post of the storage rack. The elongated shank is then pivoted up within the interior of the hollow post into a position where the upper wedging ear can be moved back out of the upper elongated slot of the pair of slots, to place the wedge connector in its operative position. The dimensions of the lower wedging ear of the wedge connector are controlled so that the lower ear can not be inserted in the lower elongated slot in the upright post.

Abstract: A novel end bracket for the ends of each of several wood cross bars that support the shelf decking in a storage rack, and a storage rack incorporating the same. The end bracket has a rigid main rectangular plate with a thin, flat, rigid supporting tongue extending rigidly outward from one side of the plate for a substantial distance beyond the cross bar end. A rigid flange extends downward from each end of the main rectangular plate for embracing the cross bar end. A rigid finger extends inward at the bottom of each of the flanges, at a slight obtuse angle to the flange, for confining the cross bar end. At least one rigid hook member extends inward at the bottom of each flange, with a rigid tapered tip oriented at an acute angle to the shank of the hook member, for fixedly securing the end bracket to the cross bar by driving the hook into the cross bar.

Abstract: A storage rack having specially configured wedging connector assemblies secured to the ends of horizontal load-carrying beams that fit onto upright posts to detachably connect and wedgingly secure the beams to the posts. In the preferred form, each post has a recessed front wall that defines a plurality of finger-receiving openings. Each of the openings has at least one inclined wedging surface that provides tighter engagement of the connector assembly at the end of each load-carrying beam with its associated upright post in response to the downward force exerted by the beam and its load. In order to minimize longitudinal and lateral shifting of the beams under load or upon accidental forklift impact, each of the wedging connector assemblies has a plurality of hook-shaped fingers with inclined camming portions that cammingly engage and securely wedge against the wedging surfaces of the posts.

Abstract: A reinforced storage rack for substantially resisting forklift impact, bending and deflection. The reinforced rack has a plurality of composite post assemblies each including a metal post and an impact-resistant wooden core. Desirably, the reinforced rack also has a plurality of generally horizontal composite beam assemblies each of which include a metal beam and a deflection-resistant wooden core.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting adjacent horizontal beams of a storage rack to an imperforate post substantially without permanently deforming and damaging the imperforate post. The connector assembly includes a pair of connectors that have support plates which are welded or otherwise secured to the beams and interlockingly engageable fingers that substantially prevent the connector assembly from being pulled apart when the beams are under load. A supplementary fastener connects the support plates and firmly clamps the connector assembly to the post.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a rack system for use in a warehouse to store pallets loaded with goods. The system includes a plurality of racks which are separated by aisles. Each rack includes a plurality of vertical frames which are spaced apart so as to define storage rows. Each frame includes a plurality of vertical posts and horizontal pallet-rails. The pallet-rails are mounted to the posts so as to extend forwardly beyond the front posts. Thus when the rack is loaded, the front post is "buried" between rows of loaded pallets for protection against fork truck collision. Furthermore, with this positioning of the front post, the entrance or opening to the row is greater than with prior art constructions. The greater opening permits a forklift operator to more easily maneuver loads into the row or permits a reduction in the width of the aisle between racks.