AU2011202300B2 - A Demountable Shelving or Racking System - Google Patents

Abstract

An element of a demountable racking system includes a beam 10 comprising an elongate member 12 and having attachment portions in the form of end brackets 14, 16 for attaching the beam to upright supports 30, 40. Each of the end brackets 14, 16 includes a locking device in the form of a pin 18, 20, which is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The beam 10 and the pins 18, 20 are configured such that positioning of the beam 10 in preparation for releasable attachment to the upright support members positions the centre of gravity of each pin 18, 20 out of vertical alignment with the pivot so as to gravitationally bias an end of each pin towards engagement with an aperture in an upright member 30 or 40 (i.e. the pins are gravitationally biased towards the locked position). This advantageously allows embodiments of the invention to resist being inadvertently pushed upwards and out of engagement with the upright supports. i 10 Detail B Fig 2A Detail B Fig 2B

Description

AUSTRALIAN COMPLETE PATENT APPLICATION Title: A DEMOUNTABLE SHELVING OR RACKING SYSTEM Applicant: BACHMANN INNOVATIONS PTY LIMITED Inventor: Walter Bachmann 2 A DEMOUNTABLE SHELVING OR RACKING SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a demountable construction and a preferred 5 embodiment of the invention particularly relates to a demountable shelving or racking system for use in industrial environments. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In industrial warehousing or storage facilities, it is known to use demountable 10 shelving or racking systems. Such systems typically utilise a number of upright supports provided with a series of apertures provided at a range of heights, and usually closely spaced, in the upright member. Horizontal members in the form of beams or shelves are provided with formations such as lugs which engage with the apertures in the upright members. By selecting a particular aperture in the upright member to 15 engage to, the horizontal member may be installed at any one of a range of desired heights. Shelves or beams may thus be assembled to suit any particular requirements, and can be demounted and re-configured according to changing requirements over time. To install the shelves or beams, they are typically offered up to the apertures of the upright members and then allowed to drop down so that the lugs engage with the 20 apertures. However, with such systems it has been appreciated by the inventor that when using a fork-lift truck or other lifting device, it is possible to unintentionally push upwards on one of the beams or shelves in the racking system, which may cause the shelf or beam to become disengaged with the upright supports. This can result in collapse of the shelf or items on the shelf falling which can result in damage or injury to 25 people and/or property. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect the present invention provides an element for use in association with upright support members in a demountable shelving or racking system, the 30 element including: 3 an elongate member including attachment portions for releasably attaching the elongate member to upright support members; and a locking device pivotally mounted on at least one of the attachment portions such that, in use, the locking device co-operates with the upright members so as to 5 inhibit raising of the element relative to at least one upright support member, wherein the locking device is pivotally moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and wherein the element is configured such that positioning of the element for releasable attachment to upright support members positions a centre of gravity of the locking device out of vertical alignment with the pivot so as to 10 gravitationally bias the locking device towards the locked position in which an end of the locking device is gravitationally biased towards engagement with an aperture in an upright member such that the locking device is adapted to automatically lock the element in attachment with at least one upright support member upon releasable attachment of the elongate member to upright support members. 15 In one embodiment the attachment portions include projections which engage with apertures in the upright members and the projections include recesses which engage with lower edges of the apertures in the upright members. Preferably the locking device includes a visual indicator to indicate that the device is correctly seated in the locked position. In one embodiment the visual 20 indicator is a formation disposed on the locking device such that the formation is positioned flush with a face of an upright support member when the device is correctly seated in the locked position. In accordance with another aspect the present invention provides a demountable shelving or racking system including at least one element as described 25 above and at least two upright support members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a beam element; 30 Figure 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the portion marked 'Detail A' in 4 Figure 1A; Figure 2A is a perspective view of the beam element of figure 1 shown assembled with two upright support members; Figure 2B is an enlarged perspective view of the portion marked 'Detail B' in 5 Figure 2A; Figure 3A is a front view of the assembly of figure 2; Figure 3B is a sectional view taken through line A-A on Figure 3A; Figure 3C is a sectional view taken through line B-B on Figure 3A; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a locking device of the beam element, which 10 is in the form of a pin of figure 1; and Figure 5 is a side view of the pin of figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to figures 1A and IB, an element of a demountable racking system is 15 shown in the form of beam 10 which is comprised of a generally elongate member 12 having attachment portions in the form of end brackets 14, 16 for attaching the beam to upright supports. Each of the end brackets 14, 16 includes a locking device in the form of a pin 18, 20 which is pivotally mounted to the end bracket. Brackets 14, 16 each include projections in the form of an arrangement of four 20 equally spaced apart lugs 22 which engage with apertures in upright supports as will be later described. Lugs 22 further include recesses 24 for engaging with the lower edges of the apertures in the upright members (see Detail A). Each of pins 18, 20 is rotatable between a locked position (as shown in Detail B of figures 2A and 2B and Section B-B of figure 3C) and an unlocked position (as 25 shown in Detail A of figures 1A and lB and Section AA of figure 3B). Referring to figures 4 and 5, pin 18 includes a shank portion 56 with a mounting hole 50 provided at one end. A head portion 52 is provided at the other end of the shank portion. Head portion 52 includes a visual indicator, which is a formation in the form of rib 54. Pin 20 is essentially a mirror image of pin 18 and is of otherwise identical construction. Pins 30 18, 20 are freely rotatable and are therefore influenced by the action of gravity if the centre of gravity of the pin 18, 20 is out of vertical alignment with the pivot.

5 Referring to figure 2, beam 10 is shown having been assembled with two generally vertically oriented upright supports in the form of side walls 30, 40. Each of the side walls are provided with a series of apertures in the form of slots 32, that are spaced at the same pitch as lugs 22. In order to attach beam 10 to the side walls 30, 40, 5 beam 10 is offered up to the side walls 30, 40 at a desired height. The beam 10 and the pins 18, 20 are configured such that generally horizontal positioning of the beam 10 in preparation for releasable attachment to the vertically oriented upright support members positions the centre of gravity of each pin 18, 20 out of vertical alignment with the pivot so as to gravitationally bias an end of each pin towards engagement with an aperture in 10 an upright member. In other words, the pins are gravitationally biased towards the locked position. The releasable attachment is achieved by inserting lugs 22 into engagement with the appropriate slots 32. Beam 10 is then pushed downwards so that the lower edges of the slots are received in recesses 24 (see Detail B). When beam 10 is in position, each of pins 18, 20 rotate under the force of 15 gravity to adopt their locked positions. That is, each pin is adapted to automatically lock the element in attachment with its respective upright support member upon releasable attachment of the beam 10 to the upright support members. Referring to Detail B of figure 2, it can be seen that the head portion 52 of the pin fills the space in the uppermost one of the slots 32 with which lugs 22 are engaged. 20 A formation in the form of rib 54 provides a visual indication that the head of the pin is properly seated. If rib 54 lies flush with the face of the upright, then this indicates proper seating of the pin 18, 20. With the head of pin 20 filling this space, it is not possible to raise the beam 10 to disengage it from the uprights 30, 40 because the upper edges of the head of the pins 25 18, 20 impact against the upper edges of the respective appertures in which they are disposed so as to inhibit vertical movement of the beam 10 relative to the upright support members 30, 40. In this way, the pins 18, 20 lock the beam 10 in attachment to the uprights. Therefore, should the beam 10 be unintentionally pushed from below, it will not become detached from the uprights 30, 40. 30 To remove beam 10 from the uprights, such as to de-mount or re-configure the racking system, pins 18, 20 must be manipulated to rotate them to their unlocked positions at the same time as the beam is pushed in an upwards direction. This may be 6 achieved by pushing against the shank portions 56 so as to rotate the pins 18, 20 to their unlocked positions. Referring to figure 3, it can be seen that there is a free series of slots 32 available on either side of beam 10. This allows similar beams to be mounted side by 5 side to create a continuous run of racking or shelving. The various components described above may be formed from mild steel and powder-coated for corrosion protection, although it will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may be constructed using other materials and techniques. Whilst the above described embodiment related to affixing a beam to upright 10 supports in a racking system, similarly, the invention has application to embodiments where the element is another type of component, such as a shelf in a shelving system. It can be seen that embodiments of the invention may have at least one of the following advantages: * Beams and shelves cannot be inadvertently pushed upwards and out of 15 engagement with the upright supports; * Locking pins engage automatically at the moment of assembly; * A simple visual inspection generally suffices to confirm proper engagement of the locking pin; and * Disassembly is relatively straightforward, with no tools being required. 20 Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated. Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention. 25

Claims (11)

1. An element for use in association with upright support members in a demountable shelving or racking system, the element including: an elongate member including attachment portions for releasably attaching the elongate member to upright support members; and a locking device pivotally mounted on at least one of the attachment portions such that, in use, the locking device co-operates with the upright members so as to inhibit raising of the element relative to at least one upright support member, wherein the locking device is pivotally moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and wherein the element is configured such that positioning of the element for releasable attachment to upright support members positions a centre of gravity of the locking device out of vertical alignment with the pivot so as to gravitationally bias the locking device towards the locked position in which an end of the locking device is gravitationally biased towards engagement with an aperture in an upright member such that the locking device is adapted to automatically lock the element in attachment with at least one upright support member upon releasable attachment of the elongate member to upright support members.

2. An element according to claim 1 wherein the attachment portions include projections which engage with apertures in the upright members.

3. An element according to claim 2 wherein the projections include recesses which engage with lower edges of the apertures in the upright members.

4. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the locking device includes a visual indicator to indicate that the device is correctly seated in the locked position.

5. An element according to claim 4 wherein the visual indicator is a formation disposed on the locking device such that the formation is positioned flush with a face of an upright support member when the device is correctly seated in the locked position. 8

6. An element according to claim 5 wherein the formation is a rib.

7. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a first attachment portion is disposed at a first end of the elongate member and wherein a second attachment portion is disposed at a second end of the elongate member.

8. An element according to claim 7 wherein a first locking device is disclosed on the first attachment portion and a second locking device is disclosed on the second attachment portion.

9. A demountable shelving or racking system including at least one element according to any one of the preceding claims and at least two upright support members.

10. An element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.

11. A demountable shelving or racking system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.