Nesting rack with alignment pins

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a nesting rack equipped with a highly earthquake-resistant alignment pin.SOLUTION: A nesting rack 1 includes an alignment pin 4 for vertically connecting multiple nesting racks 1, each having a front support column 2 and a rear support column 3 formed in the shape of a hollow rectangular pillar. The alignment pin is composed of a lower portion 10 having a generally rectangular pillar shape sized to fit inside the hollow pillar, and an upper portion 12 having a generally square pyramid shape that matches the generally rectangular pillar shape of the lower portion. A first engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four outer wall surfaces of the rectangular pillar of the lower portion of the alignment pin, while a flexible foot member 16 having a generally square ring shape is joined to the lower end of the pillar 2. A second engagement portion capable of engaging with the first engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four inner wall surfaces of the foot member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nesting rack having alignment pins, and more particularly to a nesting rack having alignment pins with excellent earthquake resistance that allows multiple nesting racks to be stably stacked one on top of the other. [Background technology]

[0002] Nesting racks are used as shelves for storing various items in warehouses and other locations, and can be stacked one inside the other for storage. Furthermore, by using a forklift or other device to change the location of the nesting rack, or by stacking multiple nesting racks one on top of the other, space in the warehouse can be used effectively.

[0003] As alignment pins for connecting multiple nesting racks one above the other, there are alignment pins with an upwardly protruding hemispherical or bullet shape. When multiple nesting racks are connected via such alignment pins, the alignment pins on the nesting rack that will be the lower tier fit inside the hollow bottom ends of the supports of the rack that will be the upper tier, thereby making the connection strong.

[0004] For example, the nesting rack described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with alignment pins that prevent the upper and lower nesting racks from sliding against each other even when subjected to large vibrations caused by earthquakes, road construction, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3200473 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, particularly in countries where earthquakes are frequent, there is a need for nesting racks that are equipped with alignment pins to connect multiple nesting racks more stably. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Provided is a nesting rack equipped with alignment pins for vertically connecting multiple nesting racks, each having a front support and a rear support formed in the shape of a hollow square pillar, wherein the alignment pin is composed of a lower portion having a roughly square pillar shape formed to dimensions that allow it to fit inside the hollow support, and an upper portion having a roughly square pyramid shape that matches the roughly square pillar shape of the lower portion, wherein a first engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four outer wall surfaces of the square pillar of the lower portion of the alignment pin, while a flexible foot member having a roughly square ring shape is joined to the lower end of the pillar, and a second engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four inner wall surfaces of the foot member, wherein the nesting rack equipped with alignment pins is configured so that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion can engage with each other when the alignment pin is fitted inside the hollow support.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first engagement portion is formed as a recess, while the second engagement portion is formed as a protrusion.

[0009] The protrusion is characterized in that it is formed so as to protrude inward from the inner wall surface of the leg member.

[0010] Furthermore, only the four corners (four corner portions) of the leg member are joined to the lower end portion of the support.

[0011] Furthermore, a protrusion is formed on each of the four inner wall surfaces of the leg member, and four recesses that can engage with each of the protrusions are formed in the lower portion of the alignment pin.

[0012] The alignment pin is characterized in that it is provided on the top of one of the front support column and the rear support column. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] (a) A perspective view of a nesting rack, (b) a perspective view of an alignment pin, and (c) a perspective view of the lower end of a support column. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of nesting racks when stacked. [Figure 3] 10 is a perspective view showing the process up to when the alignment pin is fitted into the inside of the lower end of the support pillar. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the process up to engagement between the recess of the alignment pin and the protrusion of the leg member. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first engagement portion of an alignment pin in another embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a method of attaching a leg member in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The nesting rack (hereinafter simply referred to as "rack") of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of a nesting rack 1 of the present invention. Rack 1 generally comprises front support posts 2 and rear support posts 3, and a beam member 5 for supporting a pallet or the like. In one embodiment, an alignment pin 4 is provided on the top of the front support post 2 of rack 1. Alternatively, alignment pin 4 may be provided on the top of the support post 3 located on the rear side of rack 1. Furthermore, as in the "other embodiment" shown in the upper left of FIG. 1(a), alignment pin 4 may be provided on the beam member rather than on the support post 2.

[0016] FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the alignment pin 4 provided on the top of the support column 2. The alignment pin 4 is composed of a lower portion 10 in the shape of a generally rectangular prism, sized to fit inside the hollow support column 2, and an upper portion 12 in the shape of a generally rectangular pyramid, which matches the generally rectangular prism lower portion 10. Furthermore, first engagement portions are formed on one or more of the four outer wall surfaces of the lower portion 10 of the alignment pin 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1(b), four recesses 14 are formed as first engagement portions on the four outer wall surfaces of the lower portion 10 of the alignment pin 4.

[0017] 1(c), a leg member (liner) 6 made of a flexible material is joined to the lower end of the support 2. The leg member 6 is formed in a roughly square ring shape, and, for example, only joints 18 at the four corners of the leg member 6 are welded to the lower end of the steel support of the nesting rack 1. Second engagement portions are formed on one or more of the four inner wall surfaces 8 of the leg member 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1(c), four protrusions 16 are formed as second engagement portions on the four inner wall surfaces near the lower end of the support 2.

[0018] 1(b) and (c), four recesses 14 are formed in the alignment pin 4 as first engagement portions, while four protrusions 16 that can engage with each of these recesses 14 are formed in the support post 2 as second engagement portions. However, in other embodiments, the first engagement portions may be formed as protrusions on the outer wall surface of the alignment pin 4, while the second engagement portions may be formed as recesses on the inner wall surface of the support post.

[0019] 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of nesting racks when stacked. In one embodiment, a rack 1 to be the upper tier is lowered by a forklift in the direction of arrow A onto a rack 1 to be the lower tier. At this time, the forklift operator positions the rack 1 so that the foot member 6 at the bottom end of the support column 2 of the rack 1 to be the upper tier fits over the alignment pin 4 provided on the top of the support column 2 of the rack 1 to be the lower tier. Because the upper portion of the alignment pin 4 is formed in the shape of a square pyramid, even someone unfamiliar with forklift operation can easily position the racks.

[0020] Figure 3(a) shows the state in which the rack 1 to be the upper tier is lowered in the direction of arrow A by a forklift or the like, before the alignment pin 4 of the rack 1 to be the lower tier is fitted inside the lower end of the hollow support 2 of the rack 1.

[0021] 3(b), when the alignment pin 4 of the rack 1 to be the lower tier fits inside the lower end of the support column 2 of the rack 1 to be the upper tier, the protrusion 16 formed on the inner wall surface of the leg member 6 and the recess 14 formed on the outer wall surface of the alignment pin 4 engage with each other. Note that since only the four corners of the flexible leg member 6 are joined to the support column 2, just before the protrusion 16 and the recess 14 engage with each other, the central portion of the leg member 6 (not the joint portion 18) is momentarily spread outward by the length of the protrusion 16 (it momentarily bends outward as if to escape).

[0022] Figures 4(a), (b1), and (c1) show the process in which the rack 1 to be the upper tier is lowered in the direction of arrow A, and the protrusion 16 of the leg member 6 of the support 2 of the rack 1 to be the upper tier engages with the recess 14 of the alignment pin 4 of the rack 1 to be the lower tier. Figure 4(b2) is an end view taken along line II in Figure 4(b1). Figure 4(c2) is an end view taken along line II-II in Figure 4(c1).

[0023] FIG. 4(a) shows the state before the alignment pins 4 of the rack 1 to be the lower tier are fitted inside the hollow support posts 2 of the rack 1 to be the upper tier.

[0024] Then, as shown in Figure 4(b1), just before the lower portion 10 of the alignment pin 4 fits into the inside of the foot member 6 of the support 2, the protrusion 16 of the foot member 6 abuts against the outer wall surface of the alignment pin 4, causing the central portions of the four sides of the foot member 6 that are not joined to the support 2 to instantly expand outward.

[0025] In other words, as clearly shown in the end view of Figure 4(b2), just before the protrusion 16 and the recess 14 engage with each other, the protrusion 16 abuts against the outer wall surface of the lower part 10 of the alignment pin 4, causing the central parts of the four sides of the foot member 6 to instantly expand outward.

[0026] Then, as shown in Figure 4(c1), when the alignment pin 4 of the support 2 of the lower rack 1 is completely inserted into the inside of the foot member 6 of the support 2 of the upper rack 1, the center portion of the foot member 6 returns to its original shape, as shown in Figure 4(c2), and the protrusion 16 of the foot member 6 engages with the recess 14 of the alignment pin 4. This engagement makes the multiple racks 1 connected together highly safe and will not collapse even when subjected to strong vibrations, etc.

[0027] In another embodiment shown in Figure 5(a), holes 20 are drilled as first engaging portions in the outer wall surface of the lower portion 10 of the alignment pin 4. These holes 20 are configured to engage or fit with protrusions formed on the leg members of the support 2.

[0028] In yet another embodiment shown in Figure 5(b), a notch 22 extending upward from the lower edge of the lower portion 10 of the alignment pin 4 is formed as a first engagement portion, and this notch 22 is configured to engage with a protrusion on the foot member of the support 2.

[0029] 6(a) shows another example of a method for attaching a leg member (liner) 24. In this attachment method, when the flexible, square-ring-shaped leg member 24 is moved in the direction of arrow B relative to the support 2, the inner wall surface 26 of the leg member 24 comes into contact with the outer wall surface 28 of the support 2, and the protrusion 30 formed on the inner wall surface 26 of the leg member 24 is inserted into the notch 32 formed in the lower side of the support 2.

[0030] Then, as shown in Figure 6(b), the lower end of the support 2 and the foot members 24 can be welded at the four corner joints 18. Figure 6(c) is a bottom view of the support 2 with the foot members 24 welded, showing that the protrusions 30 protrude inward from the support. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1... Nesting rack 2...(Front) support 3...(rear) support 4...Alignment pin 5...Beam member 6...leg member 8...Inner wall surface 10…lower part 12...Upper part 14...Recess (first engagement portion) 16...Protrusion (second engagement portion) 18...Joint 20...hole (first engagement portion in other embodiments) 22...Notch (first engagement portion in further embodiments) 24...leg member 26...Inner wall surface 28...Exterior wall 30…Protrusion 32...Notch

Claims

1. A nesting rack having alignment pins for vertically connecting a plurality of nesting racks each having a front support column and a rear support column formed in the shape of a hollow square pillar, The alignment pin is composed of a lower portion having a generally square prism shape formed to a size that can fit inside the hollow support, and an upper portion having a generally square pyramid shape that matches the generally square prism shape of the lower portion, and a first engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four outer wall surfaces of the square prism of the lower portion of the alignment pin, a flexible, generally square-ring-shaped foot member is joined to a lower end of the support post, and a second engagement portion is formed on one or more of the four inner wall surfaces of the foot member; A nesting rack with alignment pins, characterized in that a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion are configured to be able to engage with each other when the alignment pin is fitted inside the hollow support column, A nesting rack with alignment pins, characterized in that the first engagement portion is formed as a recess while the second engagement portion is formed as a protrusion.

2. 2. The nesting rack with alignment pins according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are formed so as to protrude inward from the inner wall surfaces of the leg members.

3. 3. The nesting rack with alignment pins according to claim 2, wherein only the four corners of said leg members are joined to said posts.

4. A protrusion is formed on each of the four inner wall surfaces of the leg member, 4. A nesting rack with alignment pins according to claim 3, wherein four recesses capable of engaging with each of said projections are formed in the lower portion of said alignment pin.

5. 5. A nesting rack equipped with an alignment pin according to claim 1, wherein the alignment pin is provided on a top portion of one of the front support column and the rear support column.

Images