Rackable panel assembly and methods of assembly thereof

Abstract

A rackable panel assembly is provided including a plurality of vertical members each having a rail engagement opening defined therein; and at least one rail having sets of opposed openings spaced along a longitudinal length of the rail, each set of opposed openings adapted to receive a vertical member of said plurality of vertical members therethrough and at least partially cover the rail engagement opening of said vertical member. The assembly further includes at least one coupling member adapted to be at least partially received in each said vertical member for pivotally coupling the vertical member to the at least one rail.

1 . A rackable panel assembly comprising:
 a plurality of vertical members each having a pair of opposed ends and at least one sidewall extending longitudinally therebetween and having a rail engagement opening defined therein;   at least one rail having a pair of opposed ends and at least one sidewall extending longitudinally therebetween, said at least one sidewall defining openings spaced along a longitudinal length of the at least one rail, each of said openings adapted to receive a vertical member of said plurality of vertical members therethrough and at least partially overlap or cover the rail engagement opening of said vertical member; and   at least one coupling member adapted to be at least partially received in each said vertical member for pivotally coupling the vertical member to the at least one rail, said coupling member having at least one protrusion and a biasing member for biasing the at least one protrusion outwardly from the rail engagement opening in a direction perpendicular to the length of the at least one rail to pivotally couple the vertical member to the at least one rail, wherein each said opening is elongate so that said vertical member received therethrough is pivotable relative to the at least one rail.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical members are pivotable relative to the at least one rail so that the rail can be racked to extend substantially parallel to a slope or gradient of an underlying support surface and the vertical members remain substantially vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rail engagement opening of each vertical member is adapted to be at least partially covered by the rail when the vertical member is coupled to the rail. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling is configured to pivotally couple each said vertical member to the at least one rail. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member forms part of a cap for an end of each of said plurality of vertical members for being received in the at least one opening of the at least one rail. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one coupling member includes a pair of protrusions adapted to each respectively protrude from rail engagement openings defined in opposed outwardly facing sidewalls at or near the end of the vertical member, the protrusions and the cap being interconnected by a pair of arcuately shaped legs adapted to function as biasing members for biasing the protrusions outwardly from each respective rail engagement opening. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of arcuately shaped legs curve outwards and away from one another from an underside of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the cap has an underside from which the pair of arcuately shaped legs extend and an opposed outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the outer surface is rounded or partially rounded to facilitate pivoting of the rail relative to the end of the vertical member. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the outer surface of the cap is at least partially deformable to facilitate pivoting of the rail relative to the end of the vertical member. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of arcuately shaped legs has a positioning member disposed at its outer end, said positioning member configured to extend transversely across the outer end of each leg and at least partially abut against an inner surface of both sidewalls of the vertical member. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one coupling member prevents axial movement of each of the plurality of vertical members relative to the at least one rail. 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a rackable panel, said method comprising:
 providing a rackable panel assembly in accordance with  claim 1 ;   inserting at least one coupling member into each vertical member so that the at least one protruding member is aligned relative to the rail engagement opening; and   mounting the vertical members to the at least one rail by individually inserting each vertical member through the opening or openings defined in the rail until the rail covers the rail engagement opening and the at least one protrusion protrudes at least partially outwards from the rail engagement opening in a direction perpendicular to a length of the at least one rail to pivotally couple the vertical member to the at least one rail.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one coupling member is inserted via an end of the vertical member.