Part holding rack with detachably assembled members and method of making

Abstract

A parts rack for holding automotive parts for shipping and storing parts in the course of assembling of automobiles including a three dimensional framework which is assembled from elongated members detachably connected together using steel connectors to allow shipping of the racks disassembled and to allow quicker deliveries and also readily allow reconfiguration, repairs, and salvage of components.

1 . A part holding rack comprising:
 a rectangular base framework having four corners and including upright short tube sections fixed at each corner of the base frame;   an upper framework including elongated vertical members having lower ends received in said upright tube sections, said upper framework comprising a three dimensional array of elongated vertical and horizontal members connected together with readily detachable connectors thereby allowing ready replacement or recovery of members which are damaged or recovery of members and connectors from damaged racks.   
   
   
       2 . The part holding rack according to  claim 1  wherein said members are formed of square tubing and said connectors comprise short sections of steel tubing sized to slidably receive ends of said members with ends which intersect each other in said upper framework and further including fasteners securing said intersecting member ends therein. 
   
   
       3 . The part holding rack according to  claim 1  wherein said members are formed of square tubing and said connectors comprise short sections of steel tubing sized to slidably receive ends of said members with ends which intersect each other in said upper framework which intersect each other and further including fasteners securing said intersecting member ends therein and wherein said vertical and horizontal members are formed of a composite materials. 
   
   
       4 . The part holding rack according to the part holding rack according to  claim 1  wherein said members are formed of square tubing and said connectors comprise short sections of steel tubing sized to slidably receive ends of said members with ends which intersect each other in said upper framework, and further including fasteners securing said intersecting member ends therein wherein said vertical and horizontal members are formed of a composite materials wherein said rectangular base is formed of steel tubing members welded together. 
   
   
       5 . The part holding rack according to  claim 2  wherein said upper framework forms a rectangular box framework overlying said base frame with four upright elongated members having a lower end received in a respective corner post, and four horizontal elongated members respectively extending between each of said four vertical members, with a steel connector at an upper end of each vertical member having three fixed together tube sections receiving an upper end of a respective vertical member and the ends of two horizontal members intersecting at said corner. 
   
   
       6 . The part holding rack according to  claim 5  further including a nesting post feature at the top of each of said corner connectors receivable in a bottom opening of a respective base corner post of another rack placed thereon. 
   
   
       7 . The part holding rack according to  claim 5  further including an intermediate elongated tubular bracing members extending between one or more of said horizontal members of said upper framework and said base framework and T connectors holding said ends of said bracing members to said horizontal members at a point intermediate the length thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The part holding rack according to  claim 5  further including an intermediate elongated tubular bracing members extending between one or more of said horizontal members of said upper framework and said base framework and T connectors holding said ends of said bracing members to said horizontal members at a point intermediate the length thereof wherein one or more of said bracing members extends at an acute angle to said horizontal members. 
   
   
       9 . A method of constructing holding racks for automotive parts assembled into automotive vehicles in an automotive assembly plant comprising:
 constructing a three dimensional framework of elongated vertical and horizontal members able to be connected together at their ends by steel connectors and detachably assembling said members with said connectors by removable fasteners.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein at least some of said connectors are slidably movable along the length of elongated members and receive an end of another intersecting member. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  further including constructed a weldment of elongated steel members and connected at intersecting ends with short upright tubular corner pieces and assembling an upper framework together of said elongated vertical and horizontal members with at least some of said vertical members having lower ends received a respective one of said corner pieces and detachably securing the same therein. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said upper framework elongated members are extruded from a composite material. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9  further including reconfiguring framework for a different post by disassembling said members and reassembling the members to accommodate said different part. 
   
   
       14 . A method of repairing a rack constructed by the method of  claim 9  by disassembling said framework and removing a damaged part and replacing the same and reassembling said framework.