Storage surface assembly

Abstract

A storage surface assembly is provided for use as a shelf for holding storage items. This storage surface assembly is well suited for use in many industrial and/or commercial applications, where storage shelves must bear heavy loads and maintain their structural integrity while complying with fire codes requiring some amount of open area along the surface of the shelf. Therefore, there is provided a storage surface assembly for use in a standard commercial racking assembly, the storage surface assembly comprising a pair of extension members, and a plurality of traverse members extending between the pair of extension members, wherein the traverse members can be attached to the extension members by various methods, based on the requirements dictated by a particular storage environment.

1 . A storage surface assembly configured for use as a shelf in a tacking system, comprising: 
 a pair of extension members;    a plurality of traverse members extending between the pair of extension members and spaced apart with open air spaces therebetween so as to form a horizontal surface configured to receive storage items thereon, wherein each end of each of the plurality of traverse members is configured to be slidably inserted into a corresponding pair of notches formed in each extension member, and wherein each pair of notches comprises at least one first protrusion configured to engage its respective traverse member so as to secure the traverse member to the extension member.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extension members comprise angle irons.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the angle irons are formed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each traverse member comprises an upper surface, two side surfaces, and an attachment surface extending from each of the two side surfaces such that the upper surface and two side surfaces of each traverse member form a hollow interior portion.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each attachment surface comprises a curved portion which extends from a lower end of each of the two side surfaces, and a linear portion which extends from the curved portion inward towards the hollow interior portion.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the two side surfaces of each end of each of the plurality of traverse members comprises a slot configured to engage with the at least one first protrusion formed in its respective notch so as to secure the traverse member to the extension member.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each pair of notches further comprises a second protrusion configured to engage with a distal end of the linear portion of the attachment surface of its corresponding traverse member.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second protrusion is configured to restrict movement of the attachment surface within the notch.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of pairs of notches are formed in each extension member, and wherein each of the pairs of notches comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion formed in each notch, and each end of each traverse member comprises a corresponding slot formed in each side surface thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the plurality of traverse members are configured to be coupled to the extension members by snap fit.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of extension members are positioned substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members extend substantially parallel to one another to form the horizontal surface.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members are coupled to the extension members at predetermined distances apart so that a horizontal surface area covered by the plurality of traverse members is substantially equal to or less than a horizontal surface area formed by exposed areas between the plurality of traverse members.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members coupled to the extension members are equally spaced so that a horizontal surface area covered by the plurality of traverse members is substantially equal to or less than a horizontal surface area formed by exposed areas between the plurality of traverse members.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members limit movement of the extension members with respect to each other.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members maintain the extension members in a parallel position relative to one another.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of traverse members prevent the extension members from moving in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of traverse members.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a slot is formed at each end of each traverse member, and wherein the slot is configured to receive a corresponding at least one first protrusion.  
   
   
       19 . A storage rack comprising the storage surface assembly of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       20 . A storage surface assembly configured for use as a shelf in a racking system, comprising: 
 a pair of extension members; and    a plurality of traverse members extending between the pair of extension members so as to form a horizontal surface configured to allow storage items to be stacked thereon, wherein ends of the plurality of traverse members are configured to be snap fit into a corresponding plurality of notches formed in the extension members; and    a securing mechanism configured to secure the ends of the traverse members in place within the notches.    
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the securing mechanism for each end of each of the traverse members comprises: 
 a protrusion formed on one of the traverse member and an extension member, and    a slot formed on the other of the traverse member and the extension member, wherein the slot is configured to receive the protrusion.    
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein each traverse member comprises an upper surface, two side surfaces, and an attachment surface extending from each of the two side surfaces such that the upper surface and two side surfaces of each traverse member form a hollow interior portion.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein each attachment surface comprises a curved portion which extends from a lower end of each of the two side surfaces, and a linear portion which extends from the curved portion inward towards the hollow interior portion.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein at least one securing mechanism is provided at each end of each of the plurality of traverse members, and wherein the securing mechanism comprises: 
 a first protrusion which extends from a side of one of the plurality of notches, wherein the first protrusion is configured to be inserted into a corresponding slot formed in a corresponding side surface of an end of a traverse member; and    a second protrusion which extends from a side of the one of the plurality of notches, wherein the second protrusion is configured to engage a distal end of the linear portion of the attachment surface of the traverse member.    
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the second protrusion is configured to restrict movement of the attachment surface within the notch.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the first protrusion is configured to limit lateral movement of its respective traverse member, and the second protrusion is configured to limit vertical movement of its respective traverse member.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each of the two side surfaces of each of the plurality of traverse members is inserted into a notch in an extension member, and wherein each of the notches comprises a securing mechanism.  
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the number of notches formed in one extension member equals the number of notches formed in the other extension member.  
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the number of notches formed in one of the extension members is twice the number of traverse members.  
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of traverse members are spaced along the pair of extension members such that a horizontal surface area formed by the plurality of traverse members is substantially equal to or less than a horizontal surface area formed by exposed areas between the plurality of traverse members.  
   
   
       31 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of notches are formed along a longitudinal portion of each of the extension members, and are configured to correspond to a cross sectional shape of the ends of the plurality of traverse members.  
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the extension members extend substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       33 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the traverse members extend substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       34 . A storage rack comprising the storage surface assembly of  claim 20 .  
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein only a portion of each end of each of the plurality of traverse members contacts a respective extension member.  
   
   
       36 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each traverse member is configured to stand on and be supported by its at least one attachment surface.  
   
   
       37 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of traverse members limit movement of the extension members with respect to one another.  
   
   
       38 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of traverse members maintain the extension members in a parallel position relative to one another.  
   
   
       39 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of traverse members prevent the extension members from moving in a longitudinal direction of the traverse members.