| Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials -> Monitor Keywords |
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Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materialsRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Platelike, Glass TypeLockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070045204, Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to racks for packaging, storing and transporting sheet material, particularly glass, but also metal, plastic, marble plates, windows and doors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Glass panes are usually produced, cut to specific sizes required by the end user and shipped as lites in pallets which may be boxed in wooden cases. Glass lites are also moved around on factory floors using wheeled pallets known as "harp racks" which consist of steel rods covered with plastic sleeves, mounted to a frame and usually inclined at an angle of approximately 50.degree. to separate glass panes supported on a slotted base. The harp racks are available in many configurations and can have one or two levels or decks disposed one above the other, optionally with an inner string set of shorter rods to accommodate and separate glass panes having smaller dimensions and an outer string set of longer rods to accommodate and separate larger glass panes. While the harp racks may be used for transportation off-site by using plastic shrink-wrap to immobilize the glass lites on the racks, this is not a satisfactory solution and harp racks are not generally considered suitable for shipping glass lites to another location. [0003] An object of this invention is to provide means for securing sheet material in a harp style rack so that the same rack may be used for moving the sheet material at the pick-up and delivery locations without any intermediate loading and unloading for shipping between locations and without the need for plastic shrink wrap or other securing devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with this invention, there is provided a so-called "harp rack" in which the stringer assembly is modified so that the stringers are rotably mounted for simultaneous rotation relative to a supporting base and frame between a locking position and a release position, the stringers each having transversely extending locking means disposed on opposite sides and terminating in a glass engaging stopper such as rubber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, a preferred embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double level, double string locking harp rack made in accordance with the invention; [0007] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a glass pane trapped between a pair of stringers rotated into a locking position; [0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing the stringers rotated into a release position; [0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a stringer assembly and a frame for the locking harp rack; [0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the stringer assembly of FIG. 4 in an assembled configuration; and [0011] FIG. 6 (drawn to a larger scale) is a side elevation of a portion of the stringer assembly of FIG. 5. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT WITH REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS [0012] A locking harp rack made in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1. Like prior art harp racks, the harp rack 20 has a base 22 which has a series of spaced parallel grooves 24 that extend along the length of the base 22 to support sheets of glass and the like (not shown). The base 22 is conveniently made of synthetic plastic material such as high density polyethylene which can be cut to form the grooves 24. The base 22 is supported in a frame 26 on locking caster wheels 28. An upper deck 30 similar to the base 22 is vertically disposed above the base 22 to accommodate a second tier of sheets or glass panes. [0013] A plurality of stringers 32 are mounted to the frame 26 and are spaced from each other along the width of the base 22 between each of the grooves 24 to form a lower string set 34 inclined at about 50.degree. between the base and a horizontally extending mounting channel 38 forming part of the frame 26. An upper string set 36 is inclined at a similar angle between the upper deck 30 and a respective horizontally extending support 40. In the embodiment illustrated, the base 22 and the upper deck 30 each support an inner string set 42, 44 to accommodate sheets or glass panes having smaller dimensions. The inner string sets 42, 44 are conventional in nature and consist of metal rods fixed to the frame and covered with a synthetic plastic sleeve. [0014] The stringers 32 in the lower string set 34 have been modified in accordance with this invention to be rotatable relative to the horizontally extending support 38 and the base 22 between a locking position and a release position using an operator handle 46. [0015] The construction of the stringers 32 will now be described with particular reference being made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. Each stringer 32 has a pair of metal rod terminations 48 fitted and welded to a longitudinally extending central metal plate 50. The metal plates 50 have a narrow width of z-shaped cross-section (FIGS. 2, 3) that defines a pair of transversely extending locking vanes disposed on opposite sides of the stringers 32. The free edges of the metal plate 50 are covered by a rubber stopper 52 consisting of a narrow strip of rubber sheet glued to opposite sides of the metal plate so that only soft resilient material will engage a glass sheet 54 received in a groove 24. The lower rod termination 48 is received in a journal-bearing formed in a bottom guide plate 56 (FIG. 4) disposed in the base 22. [0016] Rotation means for rotating the stringers 32 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6. The upper rod terminations 48 traverse the mounting channel 38 forming part of the frame 26 through a series of respective apertures 39 formed therein and are received in respective journal bearings formed in an upper rod guide 58 fixed to the channel 38. The upper rod terminations 48 each have a respective spring arm 60 extending transversely to the axis of the rod terminations 48 which engages a sliding plate 62. [0017] The sliding plate 62 is slidably mounted in the channel 38 through three sliding guides 64 spaced across the width of the channel 38 and having a groove for slidably receiving the sliding plate 62. Respective pins 66 traverse the sliding guides 64 and are received in corresponding slots 68 formed in the sliding plate 62. The upper edge of the sliding plate (as drawn) is castellated or notched to receive a respective spring arm 60 and a spring biasing coil 70 in each notch whereby contact is maintained between the sliding plate 62 and the spring arm terminations 60. [0018] The external operator handle 46 is pivoted to the frame at pivot pin 72 and carries a connecting rod 74 which is coupled to one end of the sliding plate 62 so that rotation of the handle 46 causes translation of the sliding plate 62, as indicated by arrow 76. It will be noted that the connecting rod 74 is threaded so that its length may be adjusted for tighter or looser locking force. Meanwhile, downward rotation of the operator handle 46 from the release position (as drawn) will cause the handle 46 to traverse the center of rotation of pivot pin 72 and come to rest in an over-centre locking position. [0019] In use, such rotation of the operator handle 46 to pull the sliding plate 62 to the left (as drawn) allows the spring coils 70 to expand and bear against the spring arms 60, thereby rotating the stringers 32 as indicated by arrow 78 in FIG. 2 to cause the stoppers 52 to firmly engage the glass sheet 54 at substantially right angles on opposite sides thereof. Continue reading about Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials... Full patent description for Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Apparatus & method for cleaning cooling tower recirculating water Next Patent Application: pipeline pig storage rack apparatus Industry Class: Supports: racks ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13005 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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