Modular rack and system of use

Abstract

A unit rack for use in providing shippable storage for a plurality of panels is disclosed. The unit rack includes a first elongated bar having a top surface, a second elongated bar having a top surface, at least one base rigidly mounted to the second bar, a plurality of spacers, and at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to the second bar. The second bar top surface is coplanar to the first bar top surface. Each spacer has a first end portion mounted to the first bar and a second end portion mounted to the second bar. A method of use is also disclosed.

1 . A unit rack for use in providing shippable storage for a plurality of panels, said unit rack comprising: 
 a) a first elongated bar having a top surface;    b) a second elongated bar having a top surface, said second bar top surface coplanar to said first bar top surface;    c) at least one base rigidly mounted to said second bar;    d) a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end portion mounted to said first bar and a second end portion mounted to said second bar; and    e) at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to said second bar.    
   
   
       2 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of spacers comprises an arcuate portion adjacent to said first end portion.  
   
   
       3 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of spacers comprises an arcuate portion adjacent to said second end portion.  
   
   
       4 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein a series of said first end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said first bar top surface.  
   
   
       5 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein a series of said second end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said second bar top surface.  
   
   
       6 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein said at least one base comprises a planar engagement surface.  
   
   
       7 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein said at least one hanging member comprises a c-shaped hook oriented in a direction of said first elongated bar.  
   
   
       8 . The unit rack of  claim 1  comprising a first hanging member and a second hanging member, said first and second hanging members each rigidly mounted to a bottom surface of said second bar, wherein said first and second hanging members are disposed in a spaced relationship at opposite ends of said second bar.  
   
   
       9 . The unit rack of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of spacers comprises spacer identifying indicia on an exterior surface thereof, wherein adjacent spacers are identified with contrasting indicia.  
   
   
       10 . A shipping assembly and a plurality of panels supported therein in parallel planes, the assembly comprising: a cart comprising a main body having a planar top surface and a plurality of wheels mounted to said main body, wherein said cart is transportable across a horizontal surface; a support frame removably engaged to said main body top surface, said support frame comprising a substantially vertical wall and a horizontally disposed base rigidly mounted to said wall and having a top surface; and a plurality of unit racks, each of said unit racks comprising: 
 a) a first elongated bar having a top surface;    b) a second elongated bar having a top surface, said second bar top surface coplanar to said first bar top surface;    c) at least one base rigidly mounted to said second bar;    d) a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end portion mounted to said first bar and a second end portion mounted to said second bar; and    e) at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to said second bar;    f) wherein a number of units racks are in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base and a said number of unit racks are removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall, whereby spacers of said units racks in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base are cooperatively aligned with spacers of said unit racks removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall.    
   
   
       11 . The shipping assembly of  claim 10  wherein said vertical wall of said support frame comprising a horizontal beam and each of said at least one hanging member comprises a c-shaped hook, wherein each of said number of unit racks removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall is hung upon said horizontal beam by said c-shaped hook.  
   
   
       12 . The shipping assembly of  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of spacers comprises a first arcuate portion adjacent to said first end portion and a second arcuate portion adjacent to said second end portion  
   
   
       13 . The shipping assembly of  claim 10  wherein a series of said first end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said first bar top surface and a series of said second end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said second bar top surface.  
   
   
       14 . The shipping assembly of  claim 10  wherein said at least one base comprises a planar engagement surface, wherein said planar engagement surface engages said top surface of said frame base.  
   
   
       15 . The shipping assembly of  claim 10  comprising a first hanging member and a second hanging member, said first and second hanging members each rigidly mounted to a bottom surface of said second bar, wherein said first and second hanging members are disposed in a spaced relationship at opposite ends of said second bar.  
   
   
       16 . A shipping assembly and a plurality of panels supported therein in parallel planes, said panels having a corner defined by two perpendicular edges, the assembly comprising: a cart comprising a main body having a planar top surface and a plurality of wheels mounted to said main body, wherein said cart is transportable across a horizontal surface; a support frame removably engaged to said main body top surface, said support frame comprising a substantially vertical wall and a horizontally disposed base rigidly mounted to said wall and having a top surface; and a plurality of unit racks, each of said unit racks comprising: 
 a) a first elongated bar having a top surface;    b) a second elongated bar having a top surface, said second bar top surface coplanar to said first bar top surface;    c) at least one base rigidly mounted to said second bar;    d) a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end portion mounted to said first bar and a second end portion mounted to said second bar; and    e) at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to said second bar;    f) wherein a number of units racks are in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base and a said number of unit racks are removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall, whereby each of said panels is supported substantially along said two perpendicular edges by a spacer on opposing sides of each of said panels.    
   
   
       17 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  wherein said vertical wall of said support frame comprising a horizontal beam and each of said at least one hanging member comprises a c-shaped hook, wherein each of said number of unit racks removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall is hung upon said horizontal beam by said c-shaped hook.  
   
   
       18 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  wherein each of said plurality of spacers comprises a first arcuate portion adjacent to said first end portion and a second arcuate portion adjacent to said second end portion.  
   
   
       19 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  wherein a series of said first end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said first bar top surface and a series of said second end portions of each of said plurality of spacers are equidistantly mounted to said second bar top surface.  
   
   
       20 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  wherein said at least one base comprises a planar engagement surface, wherein said planar engagement surface engages said top surface of said frame base.  
   
   
       21 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  comprising a first hanging member and a second hanging member, said first and second hanging members each rigidly mounted to a bottom surface of said second bar, wherein said first and second hanging members are disposed in a spaced relationship at opposite ends of said second bar.  
   
   
       22 . The shipping assembly of  claim 16  wherein said spacers of said units racks in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base are cooperatively aligned with spacers of said unit racks removably disposed on said support frame vertical wall.  
   
   
       23 . A method of transporting panels comprising: 
 a) securing a cart, said cart comprising a main body having a planar top surface and a plurality of wheels mounted to said main body, wherein said cart is transportable across a horizontal surface;    b) removably engaging a support frame to said top surface of said cart body, said support frame comprising a substantially vertical wall and a horizontally disposed base rigidly mounted to said wall and having a top surface;    c) acquiring a plurality of unit racks, each rack comprising: 
 i) a first elongated bar having a top surface;  
 ii) a second elongated bar having a top surface, said second bar top surface coplanar to said first bar top surface;  
 iii) at least one base rigidly mounted to said second bar;  
 iv) a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end portion mounted to said first bar and a second end portion mounted to said second bar; and  
 v) at least one hanging member rigidly mounted to said second bar;  
   d) disposing essentially half of said unit racks in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base;    e) removably hanging essentially half of said unit racks on said support frame vertical wall, whereby spacers of said units racks in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base are cooperatively aligned with spacers of said unit racks removably hanging on said support frame vertical wall so as to form at least one rack pair;    f) acquiring an inventory of panels; and    g) loading said inventory of panels into said at least one unit rack pair whereby said plurality of panels are supported upright therein in parallel planes.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the step of removably connecting said unit racks in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base to said frame by a fastener.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the step of inserting a support sheet above said first bar and said second bar and below said spacers of each unit rack disposed in engaging contact with said top surface of said support frame base.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the step of inserting a support sheet in a space between said first bar and said second bar and said spacers of each unit rack removably hanging on said support frame vertical wall.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the steps of unloading said inventory of panels, removing said plurality of unit racks from said support frame, and stacking said unit racks in an alternating nesting pattern.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23  comprising the step of loading said inventory of panels into said at least one unit rack pair whereby said plurality of panels are supported upright therein in parallel planes, wherein said inventory of panels are loaded in a pre-determined sequential order without regard to panel size.