Lockable transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet materials

Abstract

A “harp rack” for the storage and shipping of sheet material modified so that the stringers are rotatably mounted for simultaneous rotation relative to a supporting base and frame between a locking position and a release position, the stringers each have locking vanes disposed on opposite sides which terminate in a glass engaging stopper such as rubber.

1 . In a transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet material, the rack having 
 a base coupled to a frame, the base having a width and a length,    the frame having at least one horizontally extending support vertically spaced from the base,    a plurality of stringers spaced from each other along the width of the base and extending between the said at least one horizontally extending support and the base, the stringers being adapted to separate sheets material supported by the base,    the improvement in which the stringers are rotatably mounted for rotation relative to the support and the base between a locking position and a release position, the stringers each having a pair of transversely extending locking vanes disposed on opposite sides thereof and terminating in a glass engaging stopper, and rotation means for simultaneously rotating the stringers to bring the stoppers into and out of engagement with any sheet material supported on the base.    
   
   
       2 . A transportation rack according to  claim 1  in which the stoppers are made of a resilient material.  
   
   
       3 . A transportation rack according to  claim 2  in which the stoppers are made of synthetic plastic material or rubber.  
   
   
       4 . A transportation rack according to  claim 1  in which the locking vanes are integrally formed into a Z-configuration symmetrically disposed on a rotation axis for the stringers, the stoppers being mounted to free ends of the vanes so that, in use, the stoppers will engage the sheet material at substantially right angles.  
   
   
       5 . A transportation rack according to  claim 1  in which the rotation means is disposed in said horizontally extending support and the base has a journal-bearing for rotation support of the stringers.  
   
   
       6 . A transportation rack according to  claim 1  in which the rotation means is actuated by an external operator handle, the operator handle being pivotable between said release position and said locking position, where it is locked by an over-centre locking lever.  
   
   
       7 . A transportation rack according to  claim 1  in which the rotation means has an external operator handle for translating a sliding plate that engages the stringers between said release position and said locking position, the stringers each having respective spring arm terminations for engaging the sliding plate, spring biasing means being disposed between the spring arm terminations and the sliding plate to maintain contact between the sliding plate and the spring arm terminations, whereby translation of the sliding plate causes the stringers to rotate.  
   
   
       8 . In a transportation rack for storing and shipping sheet material, the rack having 
 a base coupled to a frame, the base having a width and a length,    the frame having at least one horizontally extending support vertically spaced from the base,    a plurality of stringers spaced from each other along the width of the base and extending between the said at least one horizontally extending support and the base, the stringers being adapted to separate sheets material supported by the base,    the improvement in which the stringers are rotatably mounted for rotation relative to the support and the base between a locking position and a release position, the stringers each having transversely extending locking means terminating in a glass engaging stopper, and rotation means for simultaneously rotating the stringers to bring the stoppers into and out of engagement with any sheet material supported on the base.    
   
   
       9 . A transportation rack according to  claim 8  in which the stoppers are made of a resilient material.  
   
   
       10 . A transportation rack according to  claim 8  in which the stoppers are made of synthetic plastic material or rubber.  
   
   
       11 . A transportation rack according to  claim 8  in which the rotation means is disposed in said horizontally extending support and the base has a journal-bearing for rotational support of the stringers.  
   
   
       12 . A transportation rack according to  claim 8  in which the rotation means is actuated by an external operator handle, the operator handle being pivotable between said release position and said locking position, where it is locked by an over-centre locking lever.