US20250325102A1

US20250325102A1 - Storage rack

Info

Publication number: US20250325102A1
Application number: US18/882,242
Authority: US
Inventors: Yueming Li
Original assignee: Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2024-04-19
Filing date: 2024-09-11
Publication date: 2025-10-23

Abstract

A storage rack includes vertical beams, a first beam and a shelf. The first beam is coupled at its two ends to the vertical beams and defines a support surface on which the shelf is placed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/CN2024/089454 filed on Apr. 24, 2024, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410479703.0 filed on Apr. 19, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of storage equipment and, in particular, to a storage rack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Storage racks are widely used for warehousing and storage of goods in daily life, factories, logistics and other sectors. Modern storage racks are usually composed of shelves, vertical beams, horizontal beams and other modular components, and their main components including the vertical beams and horizontal beams are generally manufactured by bending or otherwise processing thin metal sheets. However, the so-manufactured components lack strength and have limited load-bearing capacity.
Therefore, those skilled in the art are directing their efforts towards developing a storage rack, the load-bearing capacity of which is effectively increased and adaptively enhanced at various locations with different load-bearing capacity requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described shortcomings of the prior art, the problem sought to be solved by the present invention is how to effectively increase the load-bearing capacity of a storage rack and to adaptively enhance the load-bearing capacity at various locations with different load-bearing capacity requirements.
The above object is attained by a storage rack provided in the present invention, which includes a vertical beam, a first beam and a shelf. The first beam is coupled at its two ends to the vertical beam and defines a support surface on which the shelf is placed.
Additionally, the first beam may comprise at least one reinforcing portion.
Additionally, the first beam may comprise a first reinforcing portion which is a first projection formed by bending a body of the first beam, the first projection extending in a lengthwise direction of the first beam, the first projection comprising a first surface and a second surface, which intersect each other.
Additionally, the support surface may be formed by bending an upper margin of the first beam extending in the height-wise direction, or the first surface of the first projection may serve as the support surface.
Additionally, the first beam may comprise a second reinforcing portion which is a second projection formed by rolling a lower margin of the first beam located away from the support surface.
Additionally, the second projection may have a circularly curved cross-section.
Additionally, the storage rack may further comprise at least one second beam detachably coupled at its two ends to respective two of the first beams.
Additionally, the second beam may be provided at an end with a first locating member, with the first beam being provided with a second locating member at locations thereof where the first beam is to be coupled to the second beam, the first locating member detachably coupled to the second locating member.
Additionally, the first locating member may comprise a notch defining an opening, wherein the second locating member comprises a stud configured to be able to enter the notch through the opening.
Additionally, the second beam may be provided at an end with an engagement portion in a form of thin sheet, wherein the notch is provided in the engagement portion.
Additionally, the first locating member may comprise a flange provided at the end of the second beam, wherein the second locating member comprises a slot provided in the first beam, the flange configured to be able to pass through the slot.
Additionally, the second beam may comprise a second beam body and at least one reinforcing portion formed on the second beam body.
Additionally, the second beam body may have two margins, an upper one of which projects outwardly and forms a third projection, wherein the first locating members are provided at an end of the third projection.
Additionally, a lower one of the two margins of the second beam may project outwardly and form a fourth projection, wherein the first locating member is provided at an end of the fourth projection.
Additionally, the first locating member may be provided at an end of the second beam body.
Additionally, one of the third projection and the fourth projection may extend from its edge toward the other, forming a fifth projection which serves as the reinforcing portion of the second beam.
Additionally, the second beam body may be bent to form a sixth projection which serves as the reinforcing portion of the second beam, the sixth projection comprising a first surface and a second surface, which intersect each other.
Additionally, the second locating member may not be located at middle of the first beam.
Additionally, the storage rack may further comprise a connecting member connecting a first vertical beam and a second vertical beam in sequence along lengthwise direction, the connecting member configured to restrict relative movement of the first vertical beam and the second vertical beam in a non-vertical direction.
Additionally, the connecting member may comprise a first body and a second body, which substantially perpendicularly intersect each other, the first body defining a first clamping portion along its edge away from the second body, the second body defining a second clamping portion along its edge away from the first body, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion both having U-shaped cross-sections and thus defining therein channels adapted for insertion of the first vertical beam and second vertical beam therethrough.
Additionally, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion may be both provided therein with a first protrusion, and the first protrusion may be oriented toward inner wall surfaces of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion and used to stop the first vertical beam and the second vertical beam in position.
Additionally, the connecting member may further comprise a second protrusion, and the second protrusion may be formed by extensions of intersecting portion of the first body and the second body in the lengthwise direction of the vertical beams.
Additionally, the connecting member may have a length h smaller than a distance H between a first slot in the first vertical beam and a second slot in the second vertical beam, wherein the first slot is spaced from the second vertical beam by one slot, and the second slot is spaced from the first vertical beam by one slot.
Additionally, the connecting member may be provided with avoidance slots corresponding to the slots in the vertical beams.
Additionally, the first beam may be integrally formed by rolling.
The storage rack of the present invention has the benefits as follows:

- 1. Each first beam defines at least one reinforcing portion, which enhances load-bearing capacity of the first beam. The load-bearing capacity of the storage rack can be further increased by adding a second beam between opposite first beams. Locating members on the first and second beams allow them to be quickly assembled together. The second beam may also define one or more reinforcing portions which allow even greater load-bearing capacity to be obtained. With connecting members, the height of the storage rack can be extended to achieve better utilization of the available storage space.
- 2. According to the present invention, appropriate load-bearing capacity enhancement strategies may be applied to various locations of the storage rack according to their different load-bearing capacity requirements. For example, load-bearing capacity can be enhanced at a certain location in the storage rack through quickly coupling a second beam to first beams. To any layer in need of greater load-bearing capacity, one or more second beams may be added. On the contrary, no second beam may be added to a layer not required to provide large load-bearing capacity. Further, depending on the required load-bearing capacity, selection may be made among first beams and second beams with different reinforcing portions.

Below, the concept, structural details and resulting effects of the present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a full understanding of the objects, features and effects of the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural overview of a storage rack.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partially exposed view of the storage rack.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of a first beam, in which a support surface is formed by bending an upper margin of the first beam twice.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of another embodiment of the first beam, in which a first surface of a first projection serves as the support surface.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a second beam coupled to a first beam.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view of part B of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the second beam.

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view of FIG. 9 , taken at another angle.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the second beam, showing how it is structured for coupling to first beams.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic view of part of FIG. 11 , showing how an end of the second beam is structured for coupling to a first beam.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 taken at A-A.

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural view of a second embodiment of the second beam, in which slots serving as first locating members are provided at ends of a third projection of the second beam.

FIG. 15 is a schematic structural view of a third embodiment of the second beam, in which slots serving as first locating members are provided at ends of third and fourth projections of the second beam.

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural view of a fourth embodiment of the second beam, in which slots serving as first locating members are provided at ends of a body of the second beam.

FIG. 17 is a schematic structural view of a fifth embodiment of the second beam, in which flanges serving as first locating members are provided at ends of the third projection of the second beam.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged schematic view of part C of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19 is an enlarged schematic view of part D of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 20 is a schematic structural view of a sixth embodiment of the second beam, in which flanges serving as first locating members are provided at the ends of the body of the second beam.

FIG. 21 is a schematic structural view of a seventh embodiment of the second beam, in which the second beam further has a fifth projection serving as a reinforcing portion.

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 21 .

FIG. 23 is a schematic structural view of an eighth embodiment of the second beam, in which the second beam further has a sixth projection serving as a reinforcing portion.

FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 25 is a schematic structural view of two vertical beams coupled together with a connecting member.

FIG. 26 is a schematic structural view of the connecting member without second protrusions.

FIG. 27 is a schematic structural view of the connecting member with second protrusions.

FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting member.

FIG. 29 schematically illustrates dimensions of the connecting member.

FIG. 30 is a schematic structural view of the two vertical beams, which are coupled together with the connecting member, and to which first beams are coupled.

FIG. 31 schematically illustrates teardrop-shaped avoidance slots in the connecting member.

FIG. 32 schematically illustrates oblong avoidance slots in the connecting member.

FIG. 33 is a schematic structural view of the storage rack without connecting members.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged schematic view of part of FIG. 33 , showing second locating members of first beams, which are located closer to ends of the first beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A few preferred embodiments of the present invention are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings so that techniques thereof will become more apparent and more readily understood. The application can be embodied in various different forms and its scope is in no way limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Throughout the figures, structurally identical elements are indicated with the same reference numerals, and structurally or functionally similar elements are indicated with like reference numerals. The dimensions and thickness of each element in the drawings are shown arbitrarily, and the present application is not limited to any particular dimension or thickness of any element. In the figures, where appropriate, the thicknesses of some elements may be somewhat exaggerated for clarity.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a storage rack 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention includes four vertical beams 100, four first beams 200 and a shelf 500. The vertical beams 100 are erected at four different locations. Opposite ends of the first beams 200 are coupled to the vertical beams 100. The first beams are arranged in a single layer and define support surfaces 201, on which the shelf 500 is placed. If required, the storage rack 10 may include multiple such layers which are spaced apart at variable distance(s). The shelf 500 may be provided in any of various forms, such as a mesh, a flat plate or a wood plate. The present invention is not limited to any particular form of the shelf 500.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 29 , the ends of the first beams 200 are coupled to the vertical beams 100. The coupling may be accomplished with any conventional means known in the art. The present invention is not limited to any particular means for coupling the first beams 200 to the vertical beams 100. Preferably, a plurality of slots 103 are provided in the vertical beams 100 along their lengthwise direction (see FIG. 25 ), and the ends of the first beams 200 are coupled to some of the slots 103, for example, using any known means such as clasps or fasteners 104. Coupling the first beams 200 to slots 103 at different locations can change the height of the aforesaid single layer. Alternatively, in case of multiple layers in the storage rack 10, this can also modify the distance(s) between the layers. The slots 103 may have any practically required shape and may be, but are not limited to being, square slots, circular holes or teardrop-shaped slots as shown in FIG. 29 (each of which consists of a circular upper portion and a lower straight portion, which is joined to, and has a width less than a diameter of, the circular upper portion). FIG. 30 shows how the first beams 200 are coupled to the vertical beams 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ends of the first beams 200 are provided with rivets, which can be engaged in the slots 103.
Referring to FIG. 3 , each first beam 200 is elongate and includes a first beam body 203, a support surface 201 and at least one reinforcing portion. The support surface 201 is used to support the shelf 500 and may be formed by bending or otherwise processing the first beam 200. The reinforcing portion is used to increase support strength of the first beam 200. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , an upper margin of the first beam 200 in a height-wise direction is bent twice to form the support surface 201. Moreover, the body 203 of the first beam 200 is bent along its lengthwise direction to form an outwardly projecting first projection 210, which serves as one reinforcing portion of the first beams 200. The first projection 210 has a first surface 211 and a second surface 212 which intersects the first surface 211 at an angle, preferably at an acute angle. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first surface 211 of the first projection 210 serves as the support surface 201, and a portion defining the second surface 212 functions as a reinforcing portion.
In some embodiments, a lower margin of the first beam 200 away from the support surface defines a reinforcing portion of the first beam 200. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the lower margin of the first beam 200 may be bent, rolled or otherwise processed to form the outwardly projecting second projection 220, which serves as another reinforcing portion of the first beam 200. The second projection 220 may be circularly curved. Preferably, the first beam 200 may be rolled so that the lower margin continuously curves and plastically deforms into a final shape desired by the second projection 220.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 , in order to further increase the load-bearing capacity of the first beams 200, the storage rack 10 further includes a second beam 300 disposed between opposite two of the first beams 200. The second beam 300 is elongate and provided with a first locating member 301 at each end. The first beams 200 are each provided with a second locating member 302. The first locating members 301 can be detachably coupled to the second locating members 302, allowing for quick locating and coupling of the first beams 200 and the second beam 300. In order to avoid reinforcing portions of the first beams 200 from interfering with the ends of the second beam 300, the ends of the second beam 300 may define avoidance notches 303 for receiving the reinforcing portions. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 , first reinforcing portions of the first beams 200 may be received in the avoidance notches 303 at the ends of the second beam 300. The second beam 300 may be coupled to the first beams 200 so that the first reinforcing portions are received in the avoidance notches 303.
In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 8 , the first locating members 301 are notches 310 each defining an opening 311 (see FIG. 13 ), and the second locating members 302 are studs 312 which can be passed through the respective openings 311 and received in the respective notches 310. For example, the studs 312 may be provided by rivets. The rivets may be cylindrical and solid, and corresponding holes in the first beams 200 may be accordingly circular. It is such circular holes that are least possible to develop stress concentration. Therefore, the circular holes in the horizontal beams can minimize load bearing induced damage. Moreover, the solid rivets can support the first beams in terms of load withstand capacity. The rivets may be forced into the first beams 200 so that their head portions are situated above the first beams 200 and form the studs 312. The studs 312 may detachably engage with the notches 310, allowing for quick coupling. The notches 310 may have any suitable shape. Preferably, referring to FIG. 13 , each notch 310 is circularly curved, and the opening 311 that it defines forms a narrow mouth. That is, the size of the opening 311 is smaller than a diameter defined by the notch's circularly curved shape. In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 8 to 13 , the second beam 300 defines, at each end, an engagement portion 320 in the form of a thin sheet, and the notches 310 that defines the openings 311 are provided in the respective engagement portions 320. Preferably, in order to minimize impairment of load-bearing capacity of the first beams 200, in general terms, instead of arranging the rivets at the middle of the first beams 200, at least one pair of such rivets is evenly provided on each first beam. For example, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 , one pair of studs 312 is provided on each first beam 200 (which are formed by corresponding rivets arranged on the first beam 200) so that each stud 312 is located closer to either end of the first beam 200 rather than at its middle.
In some embodiments, at least one margin of a body 304 of the second beam 300 in its height-wise direction defines a reinforcing portion, and the notches 310 that define the openings 311 are provided at opposite ends of the reinforcing portion.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 , an upper margin of the body of the second beam 300 may be bent to form a third projection 330 with an upper surface 331, and ends of the third projection 330 may rest on the support surfaces 201 of the first beams 200. Referring to FIG. 14 , the notches 310 may be provided as the first locating members at the ends of the third projection 330, and the studs 312 may be provided as the second locating members 302 on the support surfaces 201.
For example, referring to FIGS. 9 and 13 , a low margin of the body of the second beam 300 may be bent to form a fourth projection 340, and ends of the fourth projection 340 may rest on the second projections 220 of the first beams 200. Additionally, the notches 310 may be provided as the first locating members at the ends of the fourth projection 340, and the studs 312 may be provided as the second locating members 302 on surfaces of the second projections 220 of the first beams 200.
It would be appreciated that both or either of the third projection 330 and the fourth projection 340 shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 may be formed. In the former case, the notches 310 may be provided as the first locating members in either of the third projection 330 and the fourth projection 340. Alternatively, each of the third projection 330 and the fourth projection 340 may be provided therein with such notches 310 (see FIG. 15 ).
In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 16 , the notches 310 may be provided at ends of the body 304 of the second beam 300.
In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 17 to 20 , the first locating members 301 are downwardly-projecting flanges 350 provided at the ends of the second beam 300, and the second locating members 302 are slots 351, which are provided in the first beams 200 and adapted for insertion of the flanges 350 therethrough. Quick locating and coupling of the first beams 200 and the second beam 300 can be achieved simply by inserting the flanges 350 through the slots 351. For example, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , an upper margin of the second beam 300 may be bent to form a third projection 330. End portions of the third projection 330 may extend in a lengthwise direction of the second beam 300 and then be bent downwards to form the flanges 350, and the slots 351 may be provided at corresponding locations in the support surfaces 201 of the first beams 200. It will be understood that a lower margin of the second beam 300 may be processed in a similar way to form flanges 350. That is, the lower margin of the second beam 300 may be bent to form a fourth projection 340. End portions of the fourth projection 340 may extend in the lengthwise direction of the second beam 300 and then be bent downwards to form the flanges 350, and slots adapted for insertion of the flanges 350 of the fourth projection 340 therethrough may be provided in lower margins of the first beams 200. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 20, end portions of the body 304 may extend in the lengthwise direction of the second beam 300 and then be bent downwards to form the flanges 350.
FIGS. 9 to 20 show the second beam 300 having the aforementioned third projection 330 and fourth projection 340, which are capable of enhancing load-bearing capacity of the second beam 300. In some embodiments, the second beam 300 may have one or more additional reinforcing portions. For example, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 , the second beam 300 may further have a fifth projection 360 serving as such an additional reinforcing portion, which projects from an edge of the fourth projection 340 toward the third projection 330. As another example, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 , a middle portion of the second beam 300 may be bent to form an outwardly projecting sixth projection 370 which can serve such an additional reinforcing portion of the second beam 300. The sixth projection 370 may have a first surface 371 and a second surface 372, which both extend in the lengthwise direction of the second beam 300 and intersect each other.
Additionally, the second beam 300 may have hanging holes 305, on which some items can be hung, and which can be used in hoisting the second beam 300. With the slots 305, the second beam 300 can be conveniently hoisted during manufacture, e.g., to facilitate spraying.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 25 , in order to extend the height of the storage rack 10, the storage rack 10 may further include connecting members 400 each capable of connecting two vertical beams 100 lengthwise to form a longer vertical beam 100 in such a manner that the connecting member 400 can restrict relative displacement of the two vertical beams 100 in any other direction than lengthwise, thereby securely connecting them together so that they act as if they were an integral whole. As shown in FIG. 25 , each vertical beam 100 has a first side face 101 and a second side face 102, which are substantially perpendicular to each other. As shown in FIGS. 26 to 28 , the connecting member 400 has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as each vertical beam 100. Specifically, the connecting member 400 includes a first body 410 and a second body 420, which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The first body 410 and the second body 420 intersect along their first edges 411 and 421. The first body 410 defines a first clamping portion 413 along its second edge 412 opposite to the first edge 411, and the second body 420 defines a second clamping portion 423 along its second edge 422 opposite to the first edge 421. Both the first clamping portion 413 and the second clamping portion 423 have U-shaped cross-sections, and these U-shaped portions delimit spaces that form channels 401 into which the vertical beams 100 can be inserted. End portions of the vertical beams 100 can be inserted into the U-shaped spaces so that the first clamping portion 413 surrounds outer edges of the first side faces 101 of the vertical beams 100 and that the second clamping portion 423 surrounds outer edges of the second side faces 102 of the vertical beams 100. In this way, limited by the first clamping portion 413 and the second clamping portion 423, the two lengthwise connected vertical beams 100 are restricted from displacement in any other direction than lengthwise. FIG. 33 shows the storage rack 10 without such connecting members 400, while FIG. 2 shows the storage rack 10 with the connecting members 400. Through using the connecting members 400, the height of the storage rack 10 can be extended, increasing space utilization. The connecting members 400 may be included or not, as required in practical applications.
In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 28 , each of the first clamping portion 413 and the second clamping portion 423 has internal first protrusions 430 toward an inner wall surface of the clamping portion, which may be formed by stamping. The first protrusions 430 can impede movement of the vertical beams 100. That is, when the end portions of the vertical beams 100 are inserted into the U-shaped spaces of the clamping portions, the first protrusions 430 will come into contact with them and thereby prevent the vertical beams 100 from moving within the U-shaped spaces of the clamping portions. Impeding movement of the vertical beams 100 by the first protrusions 430 can help consumers achieve locating during assembly.
In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 27 , the connecting member 400 may further include second protrusions 440 at its ends opposing lengthwise with respect to the vertical beams 100. The second protrusions 440 may be formed by lengthwise extensions along the edges of the first body 410 and the second body 420 where they intersect each other. The second protrusions 440 may be so formed as to fit on intersecting portions of the side faces of the vertical beams 100. In case of the vertical beams 100 being provided with a plurality of slots 103 to which the first beams 200 can be coupled, the second protrusions 440 can increase a contact area of the connecting member 400 with the vertical beams 100 while being such as not to block any slot 103 in the vertical beams 100.
In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 31 and 32 , the connecting member 400 may have a plurality of avoidance slots 402, which can be aligned with slots 103 in the vertical beams 100, avoiding the first body 410 or second body 420 of the connecting member 400 from blocking any slot 103 in an vertical beam 100. Such blocking may interfere with coupling of the vertical beams 100 with first beams 200. The avoidance slots 402 may have a shape which substantially matches the shape of the slots 103. For example, as shown in FIG. 31 , the slots 103 in the vertical beams 100 may be teardrop-shaped, and the avoidance slots 402 may be teardrop-shaped in the same way. It will be understood that the avoidance slots 402 may also be otherwise shaped than said slots, as long as they are bigger than said slots so that any of said slots would not be blocked by the first body 410 or the second body 420. For example, as shown in FIG. 32 , the avoidance slots 402 may also be oblong.
In some embodiments, hanging holes 403 are provided in the first body 410 and the second body 420.
As the connecting member 400 is used to lengthwise connect the two vertical beams 100, its length must be such as to ensure a sufficient contact area between the connecting member 400 and the two vertical beams 100 required by restriction of the vertical beams 100. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 29 , in case of a plurality of slots 103 being equidistantly provided in the vertical beams 100 along the lengthwise thereof, a length h of the body of the connecting member 400 is smaller than a distance H between a given slot 103 a in the upper vertical beam (another slot intervenes the slot 103 a and the lower vertical beam) and a given slot 103 b in the lower vertical beam (another slot intervenes the slot 103 b and the upper vertical beam). Preferably, H is 92.5 mm. It will be understood that the length of the connecting member 400 may be configured as required and is not limited to being as shown in FIG. 29 .
The structure of the storage rack 10 of the present invention has been described in detail above. Each first beam 200 defines at least one reinforcing portion, which enhances load-bearing capacity of the first beam 200. The load-bearing capacity of the storage rack 10 can be further increased by adding a second beam 300 between opposite first beams 200. Locating members on the first 200 and second 300 beams allow them to be quickly assembled together. The second beam 300 may also define one or more reinforcing portions, which allow even greater load-bearing capacity to be obtained. With connecting members 400, the height of the storage rack 10 can be extended to achieve better utilization of the available storage space. Further, according to the present invention, local enhancement of load-bearing capacity can be achieved in the storage rack 10 through quickly coupling a second beam 300 to first beams 200.
According to the present invention, appropriate load-bearing capacity enhancement strategies may be applied to various locations of the storage rack according to their different load-bearing capacity requirements. For example, load-bearing capacity can be enhanced at a certain location in the storage rack 10 through quickly coupling a second beam 300 to first beams 200. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 33 , to any layer in need of greater load-bearing capacity, one or more second beams 300 may be added, and the number of added second beams 300 may be determined according to the need. On the contrary, no second beam 300 may be added to a layer not required to provide large load-bearing capacity. Further, depending on the required load-bearing capacity, selection may be made among first beams 200 and second beams 300 with different reinforcing portions. For example, selection may be made between first beams with only the first projection and with both the first and second projections. Likewise, selection may be made between second beams with only one reinforcing portion or with multiple reinforcing portions.
Manufacture of a first beam 200 according to the present invention will be described below.
Preferably, the first beam 200 of the present invention may be manufactured as an integral one-piece structure. This allows the resulting first beam 200 to have improved load-bearing capacity and can facilitate batch manufacture at lower cost.
Specifically, according to the present invention, the first beam 200 may be manufactured by rolling. Roll forming is a process to continuously bend an elongate material, such as a metal sheet or steel strip, into a desired cross-sectional shape on rolling equipment. According to the present invention, a process for manufacturing the first beam 200 by rolling may include the steps as follows.
Design a mold according to a required shape of the first beam 200.
Subject a raw material (such as a metal sheet) to pre-processing which may include, but is not limited to including, cleaning, cutting, and edge alignment. The pre-processing is intended to ensure that the quality and size of the material satisfy predefined criteria.
Feed the pre-processed raw material to rolling equipment, wherein a series of rolling operations are carried out to continuously bend and plastically deform the raw material into an elongate article with a desired cross-sectional shape.
Cut and shape the elongate article from the rolling step. For example, the elongate article may be cut according to a required length of the final product. After that, it may be further shaped and modified according to the actual situation until a desired size and appearance are attained.
Subject the article from the cutting step to punching, perforating, welding and other processes, obtaining the final product. It will be understood that, in this step, as required, the article may also be subjected to fewer or more processes, as long as it can be ensured that the final product satisfies the requirements of the design.
The use of roll forming enables the product to be manufactured as an integral one-piece structure in large batches and is advantageous in ease of operation and effectively reduced cost.
Although a few preferred specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art can make various modifications and changes thereto based on the concept of the present invention without exerting any creative effort. Accordingly, all variant embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, inference or limited experimentation in accordance with the concept of the present invention on the basis of the prior art are intended to fall within the scope as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage rack, characterized in comprising a vertical beam, a first beam and a shelf, the first beam coupled at its two ends to the vertical beam, the first beam defining a support surface on which the shelf is placed.

2. The storage rack of claim 1, characterized in that the first beam comprises at least one reinforcing portion.

3. The storage rack of claim 2, characterized in that the first beam comprises a first reinforcing portion which is a first projection formed by bending a body of the first beam, the first projection extending in a lengthwise direction of the first beam, the first projection comprising a first surface and a second surface, which intersect each other.

4. The storage rack of claim 3, characterized in that the support surface is formed by bending an upper margin of the first beam extending in the height-wise direction, or the first surface of the first projection serves as the support surface.

5. The storage rack of claim 3, characterized in that the first beam comprises a second reinforcing portion which is a second projection formed by rolling a lower margin of the first beam located away from the support surface.

6. The storage rack of claim 5, characterized in that the second projection has a circularly curved cross-section.

7. The storage rack of claim 1, characterized in further comprising at least one second beam detachably coupled at its two ends to respective two of the first beams.

8. The storage rack of claim 7, characterized in that the second beam is provided at an end with a first locating member, with the first beam being provided with a second locating member at locations thereof where the first beam is to be coupled to the second beam, the first locating member detachably coupled to the second locating member.

9. The storage rack of claim 8, characterized in that the first locating member comprises a notch defining an opening, wherein the second locating member comprises a stud configured to be able to enter the notch through the opening.

10. The storage rack of claim 9, characterized in that the second beam is provided at an end with an engagement portion in a form of thin sheet, wherein the notch is provided in the engagement portion.

11. The storage rack of claim 8, characterized in that the first locating member comprises a flange provided at the end of the second beam, wherein the second locating member comprises a slot provided in the first beam, the flange configured to be able to pass through the slot.

12. The storage rack of claim 8, characterized in that the second beam comprises a second beam body and at least one reinforcing portion formed on the second beam body.

13. The storage rack of claim 12, characterized in that the second beam body has two margins, an upper one of which projects outwardly and forms a third projection, wherein the first locating members are provided at an end of the third projection.

14. The storage rack of claim 13, characterized in that a lower one of the two margins of the second beam projects outwardly and forms a fourth projection, wherein the first locating member is provided at an end of the fourth projection.

15. The storage rack of claim 12, characterized in that the first locating member is provided at an end of the second beam body.

16. The storage rack of claim 14, characterized in that one of the third projection and the fourth projection extends from its edge toward the other, forming a fifth projection which serves as the reinforcing portion of the second beam.

17. The storage rack of claim 14, characterized in that the second beam body is bent to form a sixth projection which serves as the reinforcing portion of the second beam, the sixth projection comprising a first surface and a second surface, which intersect each other.

18. The storage rack of claim 8, characterized in that the second locating member is not located at middle of the first beams.

19. The storage rack of claim 1, characterized in further comprising a connecting member connecting a first vertical beam and a second vertical beam in sequence along length direction, the connecting member configured to restrict relative movement of the first vertical beam and the vertical beam in a non-vertical direction.

20. The storage rack of claim 19, characterized in that the connecting member comprises a first body and a second body, which substantially perpendicularly intersect each other, the first body defining a first clamping portion along its edge away from the second body, the second body defining a second clamping portion along its edge away from the first body, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion both having U-shaped cross-sections and thus defining therein channels adapted for insertion of the first vertical beam and second vertical beam therethrough.

21. The storage rack of claim 20, characterized in that the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are both provided therein with a first protrusion, and the first protrusion is oriented toward inner wall surfaces of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion and used to stop the first vertical beam and the second vertical beam in position.

22. The storage rack of claim 20, characterized in that the connecting member further comprises a second protrusion, and the second protrusion is formed by extensions of intersecting portion of the first body and the second body in the lengthwise direction of the vertical beam.

23. The storage rack of claim 20, characterized in that the connecting member has a length h smaller than a distance H between a first slot in the first vertical beam and a second slot in the second vertical beam, wherein the first slot is spaced from the second vertical beam by one slot, and the second slot is spaced from the first vertical beam by one slot.

24. The storage rack of claim 2, characterized in that the first beam is integrally formed by rolling.