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Modular rack and system of useRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Platelike, Glass TypeModular rack and system of use description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060043032, Modular rack and system of use. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a modular rack and system of use, and more particularly, to a modular rack and system of use for providing transportable storage for planar objects such as insulating glass units, single glass panels and other similar materials. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Manufacturers of insulating glass units are required to take appropriate care in storing and shipping product due to the inherent fragileness of the glass, the main component of the product. Insulating glass units are manufactured by sandwiching a peripheral spacer between two cooperatively aligned and parallel panels of glass. Once assembled, the insulating glass units must be properly secured and shipped to a remote window manufacturing site where appropriate frames and other hardware is added to form completed windows or doors. With the purchasing requirements of specialized orders, shorter lead times, and reduced order quantities, manufacturers preferably ship insulating glass units of various size within the same order. However, the inherent fragile nature of glass prohibits insulating glass units of varying size from being stacked or bundled in bulk. Similar care must be taken for single panels of glass that require transportation to another site. [0003] Packaging for insulating glass units has been developed in the art to reduce breakage during shipment. Several designs include structure to equally space the units in a substantially vertical position using spacers or fixed racking. These designs lack flexibility and have no modular components. Typical designs support the units at the corners or horizontally across the panel surface in a "harp string" manner. These and other designs do not support the panels along two perpendicular edges. Further, these designs require the inefficient shipment of empty and relatively large returnable rack assemblies. [0004] One object of the present invention is to reduce glass breakage as compared to "harp string" style and corner support designs. The present invention utilizes a modular rack system that provides elongated contact with the insulating glass unit in an elongated area adjacent two perpendicular edges. [0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage and transport system that allows for convenient sequential loading and unloading of glass units of various sizes and shapes. [0006] Another object of the present invention is to reduce freight costs of empty racks returned from the window manufacturer to the panel manufacturer. The present invention is designed for use with a main transport cart. Conventionally, a glass manufacturer or supplier ships sheet glass to a panel manufacturer using a cart and frame system. Individual carts are sized to fill the bottom surface of an over-the-highway trailer. Each cart may contain a plurality of glass sheets of varying length, width and depth. Conventionally, the carts are unloaded and returned to the glass manufacturer. The present invention includes a modular rack apparatus suitable for mounting on either the vertical or horizontal portion of the frame. Once the panels are unloaded at the window manufacturer, the racks can be nested to significantly reduce the such the trailer loads of returnable racks to the panel manufacturer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, a unit rack for use in providing shippable storage for a plurality of panels is disclosed. One exemplary panel type is an insulating glass unit. It should be understood that the illustration and description of an insulating glass unit is for perspective and exemplary purposes only, and the invention may be practiced with any fragile planar objects, including sheet glass and single window panels. [0008] In the illustrated embodiment, a unit rack includes a first elongated bar having a top surface, a second elongated bar having a top surface, the second bar top surface being coplanar to the first bar top surface, at least one base rigidly mounted to the second bar, a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end portion mounted to the first bar and a second end portion mounted to the second bar, and at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to the second bar. [0009] A plurality of spacers may include a first arcuate portion adjacent to the first end portion and a second arcuate portion adjacent to the second end portion. A series of first end portions of each of the plurality of spacers may be equidistantly mounted to the first bar top surface. A series of second end portions of each of the plurality of spacers may be equidistantly mounted to the second bar top surface. [0010] The at least one base may include a planar engagement surface. The at least one hanging member may include a c-shaped hook oriented in a direction of the first elongated bar. [0011] The unit rack may include a first hanging member and a second hanging member. The first and second hanging members are each rigidly mounted to a bottom surface of the second bar, wherein the first and second hanging members are disposed in a spaced relationship at opposite ends of the second bar. [0012] Each of the plurality of spacers may include spacer identifying indicia on an exterior surface of the spacers, wherein adjacent spacers are identified with contrasting indicia. [0013] In another embodiment, a shipping assembly and a plurality of panels are supported therein in parallel planes. The assembly includes a cart, a support frame, and a plurality of unit racks as above described. The cart includes a main body having a planar top surface and a plurality of wheels mounted to the main body, wherein the cart is transportable across a horizontal surface. The support frame is removably engaged to the main body top surface and includes a horizontally disposed base having a top surface and a substantially vertical wall. A number of units racks are in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base and a same number of unit racks are removably disposed on the support frame vertical wall, whereby spacers of the units racks in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base are cooperatively aligned with spacers of the unit racks removably disposed on the support frame vertical wall. [0014] The support frame may include a horizontal beam and each of the at least one hanging member may include a c-shaped hook. Each of the number of unit racks removably disposed on the support frame vertical wall is hung upon the horizontal beam by the c-shaped hook. [0015] In another embodiment, a shipping assembly as above described and a plurality of panels supported therein in parallel planes. The panels have a corner defined by two perpendicular edges. Each of the panels is supported substantially along the two perpendicular edges by a spacer on opposing sides of the panel. [0016] The base may include a planar frame engagement surface, wherein the frame engagement surface engages the top surface of the frame base. [0017] The present invention includes a method of transporting panels. The method includes the first step of securing a cart. The cart includes a main body having a planar top surface and a plurality of wheels mounted to the main body. The cart is transportable across a horizontal surface. A second step includes removably engaging a support frame to the base top surface. The support frame includes a horizontally disposed base and a substantially vertical wall rigidly mounted to the base. A third step includes acquiring a plurality of unit racks as above described. [0018] Once a plurality of units racks are acquired, the method includes the step of disposing essentially half of the unit racks in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base. Another step includes removably hanging essentially half of the unit racks on the support frame vertical wall, whereby spacers of the units racks in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base are cooperatively aligned with spacers of the unit racks removably hanging on the support frame vertical wall so as to form at least one rack pair. [0019] Final method steps includes acquiring an inventory of panels and loading the inventory of panels into the at least one unit rack pair whereby the plurality of panels are supported upright therein in parallel planes. [0020] The method may include the step of removably connecting the unit racks in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base to the frame by a fastener. [0021] The method may include the step of inserting a support sheet above the first bar and the second bar and below the spacers of each unit rack disposed in engaging contact with the top surface of the support frame base. Continue reading about Modular rack and system of use... Full patent description for Modular rack and system of use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Modular rack and system of use 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 Modular rack and system of use or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Electronic equipment rack Next Patent Application: Container stacker, stabilizer and aligner Industry Class: Supports: racks ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Modular rack and system of use patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.20656 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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