US2100331A - Rack - Google Patents

Description

J. B. GRAHAM Nov. 30, 1937.

RACK

Filed Nov. 21, 1936 INVEIQTOR. Julius EL 'll-lraham ATTORNEYS.

Patented-NoWBO, 1937 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE BACK Julius 12. Graham, Shubuta, Miss. Application November 21, 1936, Serial No. 112,165 '1 Claims. (or. 211-137) This invention relates to racks and more particularly to display and vending racks.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a rack, having a, plurality of terraced shelves,

in connection with a compartment adapted to house a relatively heavy article or articles, the rack being built sothat it may be easily movedabout yet is sturdy and particularly free from the defects which-cause distortion and buckling l0 of'racks of this kind after being subjected to use. Another object'is to provide a rack, having a compartment associated therewith, the assemblybeing such that the-articles on the shelves of the rack and those within the compartment may be easily reached .Stillanother object is to provide a rack which may be readily and easily cleaned. 7

Another object is to provide a rack wherein portions of the construction have dual functions. -.Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a top plan of the novel rack.

Figure 2 isan and elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the upper end of this rack. V

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of a shelf 0 and bracket, forming a portion of the rack construction. v 0

Figure 5 is a fragment of a corner of the novel rack.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a foot portion of the novel rack, also showing support and bracing means associated therewith.

Figure 7 is a fragment of the support shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom plate, forming a portion 40 of the construction.

1 Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal section through the leg portion of the rack.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of 45 the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, theinovel rack is shown as including a-pair of spaced apart frame members Ill each, preferably, comprising a single length of angle iron formed into a pair of legliportions I I and a bridge portion 12, joining the upper ends of the leg portions. Preferably, the length of angle iron is mitered, bent and finally welded as shown at l3 in Figure 3, in order to form a Strong 55 but light-weight frame construction,

A top plate or rack top I5 is provided and extends over each of the bridge portions l2. This top plate l5 has a downturned rim I6 which overlaps a section of theupper end of each of the leg portions Ii. 6

Means to secure the top plate IE to the frame members I0 is provided and, for example, comprises in part, bolts and nuts I! and I8 which former extend to the bridge portion l2 and downturned rim it. Thus the top plate, insofar as its 10 downturned rim I6 is concerned, provides an additional portion of the frame of the rack.

Disposed below the horizontal plane of the top plate i5 are a suitable number of spaced apart, substantially horizontally extending shelves 2ll.-15 In the example shown, there are two of such shelves extending outwardly from each side of the rack frame and they also extend outwardly from a. portion of each end of the frame, as may be seen particularly in Figures 2 and 5. Other 20 than that the lowermost shelf is deeper than the shelf above it, the shelves are preferably alike and each may be formed from a sheet of suitable material, having a downtume'd rim 2| along the,

preferably, nine edges forming the front and end 5 of each shelf. The rim 2| is formed of a double thickness of the material comprising a shelf, by turning up the material, after the outer thickness of the rim is formed, as shown in Figure 4. The inner edges of each shelf are upturned, as at 22 30 and 23in Figures 4 and 5, so that, a continuous upturned portion 22 extends across the-rear of the shelf and an upturned portion 23 extends along the inner end edges of the shelf, where the latter extends'around the ends of the frame members. 5

Preferably, the shelves 210 aremo unted upon the frame members as follows:--Each shelf 20 is provided with two brackets 24 which are disposed adjacent the ends of the shelf and extend from front to rear. They are spaced apart a distance 40 equal to the distance between the two-leg portions II which will carry them. Each shelf 20 is first suitably attached to an upright or vertically extending wall portion 25, which may comprise a sheet of suitable material having a length about equal to the length of the rack frame and a height so that it may extend from directly below the top plate l5 to below, the lowermost shelf 20. There are, of course, two of these wall portions 25, and p it is preferred to weld the shelves 20 to the wall portions 25,-tw'o to one of them and two to the other,at their upturned portions 22. When so welded, the brackets .are associated with the shelves and the wall portions 25 attached to the leg portions II by bolts and nuts 26 and 21 while knockdown and folding structures of this type,

intended to support a relatively heavy load.

Where the uprights or wall portions 25 extend between the upper ends of the leg portions l l and the downturned rim l6 of the top plate I15, bolts and nuts 30 and 31 may be employed, the shanks of the bolts 30 extending through the rim l6, wall portions 25 and leg portions l I, as shown particularly in Figure 3.

spaced inwardly of the edges of the bottom plate Y 35. A rim 31, preferably like those of the'shelves 20 may be provided for the bottom plate 35, but

this rim extends wholly around the bottom plate, as does the rim 3 of the top plate l5.

Supporting the bottom plate 35 and providing bracing and frame work for the rack, are a pair of cross members 38, shown particularly in Figures 5 to 8. Preferably, these cross members 38 are of angle iron with one outer face of each in contact with the bottom face of the bottom plate 35 and the other outer face of each in contact with the leg portions II; These cross members 38 are perforated, as at 39, for receiving the shanks of bolts 40 for bolting the cross members 38 to the leg portions H, and further perforated as at M for receiving the shanks of bolts 42 for bolting the cross members to braces 43 which may be of angle iron, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the .leg portions H and extending upwardly therefrom to substantially the longitudinal medial line of the bottom plate 35, where they are bolted, as by the bolts 42 to .the cross members 38.

It will be noted, particularly in Figure 6, that the bottom edges of the wall portions 25 abut the upper face of the bottom plate 35.

The bottom part of each leg'portion ll, below the bottom plate 35, may be provided with a socket member 44, having a suitable downturned opening socket 45 to receive the shank of a castor 46, or the like, so that the assembly may be rolled about as required. There are, of course, four of such castors 46. Y

' The top plate l5, wall portions 25, and a portion of the bottom plate 35 define an open ended compartment 48, with other portions of the bottom plate jutting out beyond the compartment at its opposite mouths. This compartment 48 is free of projections, as may be noted, and adapted to contain articles of some bulk and weight, such asoil or lubricant tanks or containers. Being open at its opposite ends, the containers may be placed within the compartment with their outlets arranged to face outwardly of the compartment, and the terraced shelves 20 and bottom plate 35 (where it projects outwardly'of the Wall portions 25) provide shelves for smaller'lubricant containers, price and display cards, and the like.

By way of example, proportions for the novel rack may be as follows:-Height substantially 33 inches, length at the top of about 24 inches, width at the top of about 14 inches, {length of the bottom plate 35, substantially 29 inches and width of the same about 30 inches. The mouths of the compartment 48 may be substantially 12 inches by 25 inches, so that two 24-gallon lubricant containers, 11 inches by 11 inches by 23 inches may be housed therein. Where the term angle iron is employed, it should be understood that the material may be any suitable rigid material.

The wall portions 25 not only strengthen the frame but provide rear walls for the shelves 20 and bottom plate 35, and conceal the lubricant containers. They also hold down the bottom plat 35, as has been described.

As for the cross members 38, they carry the f bottom plate 35 and also aid in bracing the frame of the rack. V

Blows upon either the upper or lower surfaces of the shelves 20 or upon their downturned rims M will not be apt to cause the shelves to bend or buckle, because of the upturned portions 22 and 23 of the shelves and the double thickness of the rims 2| thereof.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of said leg portions; a-top plate extending over each of said bridge portions and having a downturned rim extending over av section of said leg portions and bridge portions; means for securing said top plate to said frame members; a plurality of shelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical. plane of said top plate; means for securing said shelves to said leg portions; apair of horizontally-disposed cross members, one of each extending from one leg to the other leg of each of said pair of frame members and secured thereto; and a bottom plate spaced below said shelves and disposed upon saidcross members.

2. In a rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a leg and bridge portions; means for securing said top plate to said frame members; a plurality ofshelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; means for securing said shelves to said leg portions; a pair of horizontally disposed cross members, one of each extending from one leg to the'other of each of said pair of frame members and secured thereto; and a bottom plate spaced below said shelves and disposed upon said cross members, said bottom plate beingprovided with openings thru which said legs extend and said cross members being in contact with said leg portions directly below said openings.

3. In a rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of said leg portions; a top plate extending over each of said bridge portions and having a downturned rim extending over a section of said leg portions and bridge. portions;

wardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; a bottom plate disposed below s'aid shelves; and means for securing said shelves to said leg portions, including a wall portion extending igjawnwardly from said top plate to said bottom ate and interposed between said leg portions and shelves.

4. In a rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of said leg portions; a top plate extending over each of said bridge portions and having a downturned rim extending over a section of said leg portions and bridge' portions; means for securing said top plate to said frame members; a plurality of shelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; a bottom plate disposed below said shelves;

and means for securing said shelves to said leg portions, including a wall portion extending downwardly from opposite sides of said top plate and in abutment with the upper face of said bottom plate, and said last named means also including a weld of said shelves to said wall por tions and screw threaded members'extending through saidwall portions andleg portions.

5. In a rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of said leg portions; a top plate extending over each of said bridge portions and having a downturned rim extending over a sec tion of said leg portions and bridge portions; means for securing said top plate to said frame members; a plurality of shelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; a bottom plate disposed below said shelves; and means for securing said shelves to said leg portions, including a wall portion extending downwardly from opposite sides of said top plate between the downturned rim thereof and said leg portions, and in abutment with the upper face of said bottom plate, said last named means also including screw threaded members extending through said wall portions, said leg portions and said downturned rim.

6. Ina dispensing and display rack of the class described, a pair of spaced-apart frame members, each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of the leg portions; a top plate disposed upon said bridge portions; means securing said top plate to said frame members; a pair of shelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; means for securing said shelves to said leg portions; a substantially horizontal bottom plate spaced below said shelves and extending beyond the vertical plane of the lowermost shelf; and means for both bracing said leg portions and supporting said bottom plate above the lower ends of said leg portions.

7. In a dispensing and display rack of the class described, a pair of spaced apart frame members each comprising a pair of leg portions and a bridge portion joining the upper ends of said leg portions; a top plate extending over each of said bridge portions; means for securing said top plate to said frame members; a bottom plate spaced below said top plate and extending from leg portion to leg portion and beyond the vertical plane of said top plate; means supporting said bottom plate in a substantially horizontal position above the lower extremities of said leg portions; a wall portion extending downwardly from said top plate to said bottom plate and secured to said leg portions; and terraced shelves secured to said wall portion and disposed above said bottom plate, said shelves extending outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said top plate.

JULIUS B. GRAHAM.

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