Storage rack reinforcement/repair unit

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the repair, reinforcement and protection of damaged upright support members of typical commercial and industrial storage rack systems is disclosed. The invention employs a rigid vertical channel attached to an accommodating base plate to wrap around and bring into secure alignment a damaged upright storage rack support member. The invention is designed to be used to repair damaged upright storage rack support members without requiring the disassembly of the storage rack or the removal of product being stored on the rack.

1 . A storage rack repair and reinforcement unit for repairing, reinforcing and protecting a damaged upright support member of a storage rack assembly comprises: 
 an elongated channel member having a C-shaped cross-section defining a face panel and two side panels and having a plurality of alignment and attachment holes spaceably positioned along the length of the face panel of said channel member; and,    a base plate member perpendicularly attached to one end of said channel member, said base plate member having dimensions extending substantially beyond the external cross-sectional dimensions of said channel member and said base plate member having a portion of said base plate removed along one of its sides so as to align with the internal cross-sectional dimensions of said channel member;    means for securing said base plate member to a rigid flat surface such as a concrete or metal floor; and,    means for securing said upright support member of said storage rack assembly to the face panel of said channel member.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the internal cross-sectional dimensions of said channel member are sufficient to accommodate and nestably receive the external linear dimensions of said upright support member.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated channel member comprises a length of structural steel.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said base plate member is U-shaped and is comprised of structural steel.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said base plate member is rigidly attached to said elongated channel member as by welding.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said base plate member is secured to said rigid flat surface by a plurality of bolts which engage mounting holes spacably positioned around the perimeter of said base plate member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said upright support member is secured to the face panel of said channel member by a plurality of bolts which engage said alignment and attachment holes of said face panel.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said storage rack repair and reinforcement unit is used to leverage said damaged upright support member into proper alignment for attachment to the face panel of said channel member.  
   
   
       9 . A method of repairing, reinforcing and protecting a damaged upright support member of a storage rack assembly comprising the steps of: 
 securing a storage rack repair and reinforcement unit to the floor or other surface supporting said storage rack assembly at the location on said supporting surface occupied by, or previously occupied by, said damaged upright support member; said storage rack repair and reinforcement unit comprising an elongated channel member vertically attached to a base plate member,    using said storage rack repair and reinforcement unit as leverage to bend or otherwise straighten said damaged upright support member so as to align said support member with the elongated channel member of said repair and reinforcement unit, and,    attaching said upright support member to said elongated channel member.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said channel member has a C-shaped cross-section defining a face panel and two side panels and having a plurality of alignment and attachment holes spaceably positioned along the length of said face panel of said channel member.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said base plate member is rigidly attached to one end of said elongated channel member and has dimensions extending substantially beyond the external cross-sectional dimensions of said channel member and having a portion of said base plate member removed along one of its sides so as to align with the internal cross-sectional dimensions of said channel member.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said elongated channel member comprises a length of structural steel.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said base plate member is U-shaped and is comprised of structural steel.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said base plate member and is rigidly attached to said elongated channel member as by welding.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said base plate member is secured to said supporting surface by a plurality of bolts which engage mounting holes spacably positioned around the perimeter of said base plate member.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said upright support member is attached to said elongated channel member by a plurality of bolts which engage said alignment and attachment holes of said face panel.