Side Loading Rack and Protective Curtain

Abstract

A side loading rack for holding multiple components, which rack includes a rigid open frame, a matrix of side loading storage bins and a flexible curtain for protecting the contents of the bins from dust and contamination. The flexible curtain drops down from the top of the frame and includes multiple spaced guide assemblies, the ends of which are movable within guide tracks located on vertical members of the rigid frame. A flexible strap attached to the top of the curtain is used to affect vertical movement of the curtain.

1 . A rack for holding multiple components, said rack comprising:
 a rigid frame having a plurality of upper horizontal frame members and a plurality of lower horizontal frame members interconnected by a plurality of vertical members to form an open rigid frame;   a matrix of storage bins located within said open rigid frame, each of said bins having a pair of opposed side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, the front of each of said bins being open for the open side loading of a component therein;   a vertically movable flexible curtain mounted upon a front side of said rigid frame, said curtain being attached at a bottom edge to a front one of the plurality of lower horizontal members of said rigid frame; and   a flexible strap for controlling vertical movement of said curtain, said strap being attached to a top edge of said curtain and movable over a bracket member attached to one of the upper horizontal members of said rigid frame.   
   
   
       2 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said bracket member includes a roller over which said strap is movable. 
   
   
       3 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said flexible curtain includes a plurality of spaced guide assemblies attached thereto, said ends of said guide assemblies being movable within vertical tracks located in a pair of said vertical members of said rigid frame. 
   
   
       4 . The rack of  claim 3  wherein said flexible curtain forms horizontal folds in said curtain between said guide assemblies as said curtain is lowered to expose the open front of said bins. 
   
   
       5 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said opposed side, top and bottom walls of said matrix of storage bins are manufactured from fabric material. 
   
   
       6 . The rack of  claim 5  wherein said matrix of storage bins is suspended from rigid frame rods extending between a pair of said upper horizontal frame members. 
   
   
       7 . A side loading rack for storage of multiple components, said rack including:
 a rigid open frame;   a matrix of side loading storage bins contained within said rigid open frame;   a flexible curtain for protecting an open side of said storage bins from contamination, said curtain being fixedly secured at the bottom to said rigid frame and operable to drop down from the top of the frame to expose the open side of said bin for loading and unloading of components; and   a flexible strap attached to the top of said curtain for controlling vertical movement of said curtain.   
   
   
       8 . The side loading rack of  claim 7  wherein said flexible strap is movable over a bracket attached to an upper portion of said rigid frame. 
   
   
       9 . The side loading rack of  claim 8  wherein said bracket includes a roller over which said strap is movable. 
   
   
       10 . The rack of  claim 7  wherein said flexible curtain includes a plurality of vertically spaced guide assemblies attached thereto, said ends of said guide assemblies being movable within vertical tracks located in said rigid open frame. 
   
   
       11 . The rack of  claim 10  wherein said flexible curtain forms horizontal folds in said curtain between said guide assemblies as said curtain is lowered to expose the open front of said bins. 
   
   
       12 . The rack of  claim 7  wherein said bins each include opposed side, top and bottom walls manufactured from fabric material. 
   
   
       13 . The rack of  claim 7  wherein said bins each include opposed side, top, bottom and rear walls manufactured from fabric material. 
   
   
       14 . The rack of  claim 7  wherein said matrix of storage bins is suspended from supports extending between a pair of upper horizontal frame members of said rigid open frame. 
   
   
       15 . A rack for holding multiple components, said rack comprising:
 a rigid frame having a plurality of plurality of vertical members;   dunnage located within said rigid frame for storing components during shipment;   a vertically movable flexible curtain mounted upon a front side of said rigid frame, said curtain being attached at a bottom edge to a horizontal member of said rigid frame; and   a flexible strap for controlling vertical movement of said curtain, said strap being attached to a top edge of said curtain and movable over a bracket member attached to another upper horizontal member of said rigid frame.   
   
   
       16 . The rack of  claim 15  wherein said flexible curtain includes a plurality of guide assemblies attached thereto, said ends of said guide assemblies being movable within tracks secured to said vertical members of said rigid frame. 
   
   
       17 . The rack of  claim 16  wherein each of said guide assemblies includes a pair of end members engaged with said tracks and a middle member extending between said end members. 
   
   
       18 . The rack of  claim 15  wherein a portion of each of said guide assemblies resides in a loop in the flexible curtain. 
   
   
       19 . The rack of  claim 17  wherein said end members are plastic. 
   
   
       20 . The rack of  claim 17  wherein each of said end members has a head residing and movable within one of the tracks. 
   
   
       21 . A rack for holding multiple components, said rack comprising:
 a rigid frame having a plurality of plurality of vertical members;   dunnage located within said rigid frame for storing components during shipment;   a vertically movable flexible curtain mounted upon a front side of said rigid frame, said curtain being attached at a bottom edge to a horizontal member of said rigid frame; and   a plurality of guide assemblies attached to said flexible curtain, end portions of said guide assemblies being movable within tracks secured to said vertical members of said rigid frame.   
   
   
       22 . The rack of  claim 21  wherein said rack comprising a flexible strap for controlling vertical movement of said curtain, said strap being attached to a top edge of said curtain and movable over a bracket member attached to another upper horizontal member of said rigid frame. 
   
   
       23 . The rack of  claim 21  wherein said each of said guide assemblies comprises a pair of end members engaged with said tracks and a middle member extending between said end members.