Adaptable and locking bracket assemblies for a load stop and load lock pallet rack system

Abstract

The invention depicted herein is a simple connection bracket used in conjunction with standard vertical and horizontal pallet rack beams and locking mechanisms to prevent material handlers from damaging walls during placement of pallets or from removing pallets from storage on or under pallet racks.

1 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack, comprising:
 first end means being two parts spaced ⅛-inch apart, each having a plurality of connection members of a suitable quantity, shape and arrangement for attachment to a vertical pallet rack beam;   second end means having a plurality of connection members of such quantity, shape and arrangement as suitable for attachment to a horizontal pallet rack beam;   support means for connecting said first and second end means, orienting said first and second end means such that the first end means attaches to the second end means and where each of two opposing sides of the support means is secured at an angle generally perpendicular to each of the said first and second end means.   
     
     
         2 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , wherein the support means is a plurality of metal pieces attaching the first and second end means, making the bracket assembly, generally, rectangular. 
     
     
         3 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 2 , wherein each support means contains one or more holes enabling insertion of a locking means, such as a bolt or padlock. 
     
     
         4 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , wherein the connection members of the first end means are pallet rack connection members of a style chosen from the group comprising slotted, speedrack, interlake, old style teardrop, keystone, sturdibilt, T-bolt, slide-and-lock, lynx, structural, teardrop and simple bolt-and-hole. 
     
     
         5 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , wherein the connection members of the second end means are pallet rack connection members of a style chosen from the group comprising slotted, speedrack, interlake, old style teardrop, keystone, sturdibilt, T-bolt, slide-and-lock, lynx, structural, teardrop and simple bolt-and-hole. 
     
     
         6 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more extension means, wherein an edge of each extension means is welded at an angle generally perpendicular to a vertical edge of the first end means, thereby creating one or more flange(s) for facilitating guidance in connecting a bracket assembly to a vertical pallet rack beam. 
     
     
         7 . The extension means of  claim 6  comprising a plurality of attachment points for further securing in place or temporarily locking a bracket assembly to a vertical pallet rack beam. 
     
     
         8 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first end means extends vertically beyond the body means in one or both directions by a length sufficient to accommodate an industrial-grade bolt hole and further comprising one or more said bolt holes positioned as to overlap with one or more holes in a vertical pallet rack beam when the said bracket assembly is attached to the vertical beam. 
     
     
         9 . An adaptable bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a restriction means. 
     
     
         10 . The restriction means of  claim 9 , wherein said restriction means comprises an opening, such as a hole, in the first end means enabling employment of said restriction means and an insertion means positioned through the opening and/or connected to the back, non-connector side of the first end means of a shape and size such that it can be inserted via an insertion means, such as pushing or pulling against a spring or another placement mechanism, into the open space of a female connection member of a vertical pallet rack beam or another bracket assembly while the attached bracket assembly is in proper position, whereby said restriction means restricts mobility of the male connection members of the attached bracket assembly inside the female connection members of the vertical beam or other bracket assembly and, thus, prevents unintended dissociation of the attached bracket assembly. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack, comprising:
 a support means of two vertical, parallel side plates;   a first end means of two vertical, parallel flanges, the inside surface of which is roughly coplanar with and extends from the outer surface of said support means such that the inner distance between the flanges is greater than the distance between the side plates, the flanges being a suitable width apart as to fit neatly against two opposing outer sides of a vertical pallet rack beam and having a plurality of opening means of such quantity, shape and arrangement as suitable for attachment to a horizontal pallet rack beam;   second end means having a plurality of connection members of such quantity, shape and arrangement as suitable for attachment to a horizontal pallet rack beam.   
     
     
         12 . An adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 11 , wherein said flanges are created by vertically crimping the support means, having a length intended for the completed bracket assembly, at a horizontal location that is less than the minimum desired clearance. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 11 , wherein said flanges are created by welding the edges of two extension means onto the support means. 
     
     
         14 . An adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 11 , wherein the opening means of the first end means are horizontal series of discrete holes identically placed in each flange and of a size and spacing that allows for insertion and securing of a bolt through opposing holes in the flanges and simultaneously through opposing holes in the sides of the vertical beam that abut the fitted flanges. 
     
     
         15 . An adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack as described in  claim 11 , wherein the opening means of the first end means are two horizontal slots identically placed in each flange and of a size and spacing that allows for insertion and securing of a bolt through opposing slots in the flanges and simultaneously through opposing holes in the sides of the vertical beam that abut the fitted flanges. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-piece adjustable U-shaped bracket assembly for a pallet rack, comprising an end means having a plurality of connection members of such quantity, shape and arrangement as suitable for attachment to a horizontal pallet rack beam; two parallel side plates perpendicular to the end means, each having a plurality of openings; two extension means generally of the height of said side plates and positioned against said plates such that a primary surface of each extension means abuts the outer surface of one of the parallel side plates, the extension means further having a plurality of openings positioned as to substantially overlap the openings in the side plates; a plurality of attachment means each spanning an overlapping openings of each side plate and associated extension means. 
     
     
         17 . New use of an adaptable bracket assembly to create a locking mechanism for securing loaded pallets within pallet rack bays, the bracket assembly comprising a first end means having a plurality of connection members of a suitable quantity, shape and arrangement for attachment to a vertical pallet rack beam, a second end means having a plurality of connection members of such quantity, shape and arrangement as suitable for attachment to a horizontal pallet rack beam, a support means for connecting said first and second end means, orienting said first and second end means such that the first end means attaches to the second end means and where each of two opposing sides of the support means is secured at an angle generally perpendicular to each of the said first and second end means, and each support means having one or more holes enabling insertion of a locking means, such as a bolt or padlock, one hole of which is positioned in the lower corners of the sides of the support means nearest the second end means, and flanges extending vertically and perpendicular to the first end means with at least one hole on each flange, positioned identically on each flange, and positioned as to overlap with an equal number of holes on the inner sides of the vertical beam, the new use comprising:
 mounting of said second end means of two bracket assemblies to the longitudinal ends of a horizontal pallet rack beam such that the bracket assemblies are parallel to each other and each is perpendicular to the horizontal beam;   mounting of said first end means of the two bracket assemblies to two vertical pallet rack beams such that the bracket assemblies are at equal height and the attached horizontal beam is perpendicular to the attached vertical beams;   insertion of a first locking means through opposing holes in the flanges of the bracket assembly and the vertical beam;   insertion of a second locking means through the hole of the support means and the corresponding hole of the abutting vertical beam;   securing of each locking means to disable detachment of the bracket assemblies from the vertical or horizontal beams.   
     
     
         18 . The use of  claim 14 , whereby the locking means is of a style chosen from the group comprising padlock, chain, bolt, fibrous or metal woven element, plastic element, rod, latch, locking latch, hook, and combination or other lock.