Reinforcement kit for protecting pallet rack frame

Abstract

An integral pallet rack post reinforcement kit for protecting the lower pallet rack frame from forklifts, etc. which takes the place of the lower six to twelve inches of the front frame post and fastened in its place. The kit is, for example, square tube welded to a three-sided outer clamp which bears a front angle deflector. These components are welded to a four inch by twelve inch by three-eighths inch footplate with two three-quarter inch by five inch by half inch wedge bolt anchors for attachment to the warehouse floor. Accordingly, this footplate replaces the original footplate. By using the reinforcement kit with the angle deflector, frontal impacts are deflected off to one side. The front post of the original pallet rack the present reinforcement kit would, over time, fail from cyclical or repeated impacts.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An integral reinforcement kit for protecting pallet rack frame comprising: 
 an upright, vertically oriented clamp having an upper portion and a lower portion: 
 a rectangular anchor base having a front portion a front end and a rear portion;  
 said clamp being supported by and extending vertically from said anchor base front portion; and  
 a leg support upright supported upon said front portion of said anchor base and extending upward within clamp lower portion;  
 said integral reinforcement kit being made of a substantially heavier gauge of metal than said pallet rack frame;  
 whereby said leg support upright supports a truncated lower upright leg of a pallet rack; and  
 whereby said upper portion of said clamp engages said pallet rack so as to clamp said reinforcement kit to said truncated lower pallet rack upright leg.  
   
     
     
         2 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 1 , wherein said leg support has a leg support cap located at the upper end thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 2 , wherein said clamp is “U”-shaped in cross section having a front wall and opposing side walls.  
     
     
         4 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 3 , wherein said front wall of said clamp faces forward relative to said kit and extends upward from a point near said front end of said anchor base, said opposing side walls extending rearwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         5 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 4 , wherein said leg support upright extends rearwardly beyond said lower clamp portion.  
     
     
         6 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 5 , wherein said leg support is generally square in cross section.  
     
     
         7 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 6 , wherein said pallet rack upright is welded in place relative to said lower portion of said clamp and said anchor base.  
     
     
         8 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 7 , further comprising a vertically oriented front deflector extending the substantial length of said clamp and located on said front wall thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 8 , wherein said front deflector is an angle segment having two equal sides extending forward from said clamp front wall and meeting at an apex spaced forward of and generally bisecting said clamp.  
     
     
         10 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 9 , wherein said deflector is a right angle segment having a cap extending to said clamp front wall.  
     
     
         11 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 5 , wherein said rear portion of said anchor base defines at least one anchor bolt bore for receiving a respective floor anchor bolt.  
     
     
         12 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 5 , wherein the remaining portion of the pallet rack truncated upright leg is generally coextensive with said leg support cap, said upper portion of said clamp partially encasing said remaining portion, and said remaining portion is welded to said upper portion of said clamp to form a reinforced extension thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 12 , wherein the remaining portion of the pallet rack truncated upright leg has spaced bores therealong and is generally coextensive with said leg support cap, said clamp partially encasing said remaining portion and having corresponding bores through said opposing walls for receiving leg support bolts to thereby form a reinforced extension of said truncated upright post.  
     
     
         14 . The reinforcement kit of  claim 1 , wherein said truncated upright leg with said reinforcement kit secured thereto is equal in length to the remaining upright legs of the pallet rack.  
     
     
         15 . In combination with a pallet rack having a truncated lower upright leg, an integral reinforcement kit for protecting a pallet rack frame comprising: 
 an upright, vertically oriented clamp having an upper portion and a lower portion: 
 a rectangular anchor base having a front portion a front end and a rear portion;  
 said clamp being supported by and extending vertically from said anchor base front portion; and  
 a leg support upright supported upon said front portion of said anchor base and extending upward within clamp lower portion;  
 said integral reinforcement kit being made of a substantially heavier gauge of metal than said pallet rack frame;  
 whereby said leg support upright supports a truncated lower upright leg of a pallet rack; and  
 whereby said upper portion of said clamp engages said pallet rack so as to clamp said reinforcement kit to said truncated lower pallet rack upright leg.  
   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein said leg support of said reinforcement kit has a leg support cap located at the upper end thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said clamp of said reinforcement kit is “U”-shaped in cross section having a front wall and opposing side walls.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein said front wall of said clamp of said reinforcement kit faces forward relative to said kit and extends upward from a point near said front end of said anchor base, said opposing side walls extending rearwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein said leg support upright of said reinforcement kit extends rearwardly beyond said lower clamp portion.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein said leg support of said reinforcement kit is generally square in cross section.