Patent Application
20230184035
The present invention relates to devices which allow the user to retrieve items from the shelf of a storage rack. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device which can be easily secured to a storage rack post to provide a convenient standing platform and allow the user to retrieve items from higher shelves.
Storage racks are commonly used in warehouses to store pallets, containers, and individual products. As such, it is often desirable for a worker to be able to climb a portion of the storage rack to access or remove products or containers stored thereon.
A storage rack is typically constructed of two or more vertical support elements and one or more horizontal support elements which form shelves. The shelves support pallets, containers, and products. The vertical support elements typically are constructed of metal and generally include a plurality of regularly spaced holes which can be used to mount the horizontal supports with bolts or other fasteners. Examples of such storage racks can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,303,937; 4,113,110; 4,549,665; 5,463,966: and 5,713,476. The plurality of regularly spaced holes allow adjustment of the shelves and fasteners.
Currently, when an item is located on a shelf out of reach, a worker must stand on a ladder, container, or the lower most shelf to reach up and attempt to grab the intended item. This can result in damage to the item or injury to the worker if the worker accidentally topples the item or the container onto themselves or if the worker slips from the ladder, container, or shelf they are standing on.
Accordingly, a need exists for a step device which can easily attach to the storage rack and allow a worker to safely climb a portion of the rack to access items stored thereon.
In one form thereof, the present invention is directed to a step which can be attached to a storage rack post and provides a convenient means for climbing a portion of the storage rack post. The storage rack post comprises a body having a plurality of regularly spaced storage rack post holes extending clear through the body. The step includes a body having a step surface, a support surface configured to abut the storage rack post, and one or more locating bosses extending from the support surface and configured for insertion into one or more of the plurality of storage rack post holes. The cylindrical cavity formed by the locating boss defines a bore which extends clear through the support surface. One or more fasteners are configured to extend through one or more of the storage rack post holes and the bores to clampingly secure the step to the storage rack post.
Preferably, the locating boss can be inserted into one of the storage rack post holes, a fastener extended through the storage rack post hole and the locating boss, and the step can be clampingly secured to the storage rack post by the fastener such that the locating boss supports a portion of the shear stress experienced by the fastener during loading.
The step may optionally include one or more gussets which are configured to support the step surface in a position. Preferably, the step surface is supported in a horizontal position to form a stable platform for the worker to stand on.
Yet more preferably, two gussets are used wherein the gussets have a triangular shape and are disposed at the edges of the support surface and the step surface to form a box-like structure. The gussets may also be other shapes and in other arrangements relative to the support surface and the step surface.
Preferably, the fastener includes T-nuts disposed within the locating bosses and bolts having a threaded shank and a head, wherein the T-nuts are configured to threadingly engage the bolts. The T-nuts have an internally threaded barrel and a flange disposed at one end of the internally threaded barrel which is configured to apply a clamping force to the body when the bolt engages the T-nut. The T-nut may optionally include prongs or teeth protruding from the flange which embed in the body to prevent rotation of the T-nut within the locating boss.
Preferably, the locating bosses further comprise an annular lip disposed at the terminal end of the locating bosses and extending radially into the bores wherein the terminal ends of the internally threaded barrels opposite the flanges are configured to abut a surface of the annular lips. The annular lips are configured such that a threaded shank of the bolt extends radially to an inner cylindrical surface of the annular lips.
Preferably, when a bolt is extended through a storage rack post hole, a locking washer is disposed between the head of the bolt and the storage rack post to provide a greater contact area between the fastener and the storage rack post for clampingly securing the step to the storage rack post.
Preferably, the step surface is a tread and is textured to increase the worker’s grip while standing on the step. The pattern of texturing can be selected from a variety of options including, but not limited to, diamond plating, knurling, bar grating, cross-hatching, ribbing, granulating, and checkering.
The step can be manufactured from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, plastic, high density polyethylene (HDPE), and various types of metal. The step can also be manufactured by a variety of processes including, but not limited to, injection molding, machining, and additive manufacturing. The T-nuts can be embedded in the bores by either pressing the T-nuts into the holes after the step body is manufactured, or by manufacturing the step body around the T-nuts such as by injection molding the body around the T-nuts.
The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, the embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed.
The storage rack post step assembly 10 shown in
The storage rack post step 12 can include a support wall 28 defined between a support surface 24 and a rear surface 60 and a platform 26 defined between a step surface 22 and a bottom surface 62. The support wall 28 and the platform 26 extend generally perpendicular to one another and are joined along a respective edge thereof for thereby forming an L-shape as best seen in
Locating bosses 36a36b are integrally formed with or are otherwise secured to the support wall 28 and extend out and generally perpendicular from the support surface 24 to locating boss terminal ends 74a74b. As best seen in
Preferably, platform 26 is a step tread wherein step surface 22 can have a texture configured to increase friction along step surface 22. The type of tread of platform 22 can include, but is not limited to, diamond plate tread, knurled tread, bar grated tread, cross-hatched tread, ribbed tread, and granulated tread.
The storage rack post step 12 is preferably made by injection molding or otherwise molding, forming or shaping from unitary material whereby the support wall 28, platform 26, left and right gusset walls 32, 30 and locating bosses 36a36b are all integrally formed. Most preferably, the storage rack post step 12 is made by injection molding materials such plastic and high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Preferably, t-nuts 18 can be inserted or press fit into storage rack post step 12 such that threaded barrels 56 are inserted into bores 34a34b, flanges 52 abut rear surface 60 and teeth 54 penetrate rear surface 60 and embed in support wall 28. Alternatively, storage rack post step 12 can be manufactured around t-nuts 18, for example, by injection molding storage rack post step 12 around t-nuts 18 such that bores 34a34b are formed around threaded barrels 56, flanges 52 abut rear surface 60, and teeth 54 are embedded in support wall 28.
The storage rack post 14 can be a vertical post having a flat storage rack post front surface 76 and a flat storage rack post back surface 82 defining a storage rack post body 40 therebetween. A plurality of regularly spaced storage rack post holes 42 are provided through storage rack post body 40 and extend from storage rack post front surface 76 to storage rack post back surface 82.
The storage rack post step assembly 10 is used by holding storage rack post step 12 at a desired height and placing storage rack post step 12 against storage rack post 14 such that support surface 24 is against/abutting storage rack post front surface 76 and locating bosses 36a36b are snugly fit within two storage rack post holes 42. Bolts 16 are extended through locking washers 50 until locking washers 50 abut hexagonal heads 44. Bolts 16 are then extended through storage rack post holes 42, beginning from storage rack post back surface 82, and through bores 34a34b until threaded shanks 46 threadingly engage internally threaded barrels 56. Threaded shanks 46 are then rotatably threaded into internally threaded barrels 56 until locking washers 50 contact storage rack post back surface 82. Bolts 16 are then rotatably tightened until fasteners 16 clampingly secure storage rack post step 12 to storage rack post 14.
While the invention has been described as having an exemplary design, it can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.
