Patent US3565264A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3565264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pallet rack equipped with sheet metal structural member
Assignee: Republic Storage Systems Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-04-16
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A pallet rack with cold formed pallet supporting beams constructed such that when pallets are positioned on the rack controlled twisting of the beams occurs until load and reaction forces are in equilibrium. The disclosure also includes an improved nonsymmetrical cold formed beam having a web located according to the load to be supported, whether symmetrically or nonsymmetrically applied, such that the beam does not twist under load, or, as in the pallet rack, may have limited controlled twisting. The beam as used in the pallet rack is constructed such that the shear center of the beam lies along a line in or adjacent the web portion.
Inventors
- 👤 William T Guiher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:44
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/30; A47B57/40; A47B57/402; F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/22; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A unitary wide flange sheet metal beam comprising: a. an asymmetrical flange structure including a load engaging flange portion; b. a web disposed transversely to said load engaging flange portion; c. a second flange portion continuous with both said web and said load engaging flange portion and extending generally transversely from said web to a terminus of said load engaging flange portion; d. said load engaging flange portion extending from said one terminus to another terminus beyond said web; e. said web disposed along a plane intersecting said load engaging flange portion along a line which is closer to one of said load engaging flange termini than to said other load engaging flange terminus thereby positioning the shear axis of the beam parallel to said web plane; f. said first and second flange portions engaged adjacent said web plane to transmit load forces to said web; g. said flange structure reacting to an applied load to tend to twist said beam slightly thus redistributing said load on said load engaging flange portion; and, h. the twisting tendency of said beam terminating when the resultant of said redistributed load acts through said shear axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A unitary wide flange sheet metal beam comprising: a. an asymmetrical flange structure including a load engaging flange portion; b. a web disposed transversely to said load engaging flange portion; c. a second flange portion continuous with both said web and said load engaging flange portion and extending generally transversely from said web to a terminus of said load engaging flange portion; d. said load engaging flange portion extending from said one terminus to another terminus beyond said web; e. said web disposed along a plane intersecting said load engaging flange portion along a line which is closer to one of said load engaging flange termini than to said other load engaging flange terminus thereby positioning the shear axis of the beam parallel to said web plane; f. said first and second flange portions engaged adjacent said web plane to transmit load forces to said web; g. said flange structure reacting to an applied load to tend to twist said beam slightly thus redistributing said load on said load engaging flange portion; and, h. the twisting tendency of said beam terminating when the resultant of said redistributed load acts through said shear axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A beam as defined in claim 1 whErein the location of said shear axis relative to said web centerline is such that said web twists a maximum of 2* from the plane of its relaxed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
a load engaging flange portion continuous with said connecting flange portion and folded back upon said connecting flange portion to extend transversely of said web plane,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
a load engaging flange portion continuous with said connecting flange portion and folded back upon said connecting flange portion to extend transversely of said web plane,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
a second flange part extending beyond said web plane oppositely from said first flange part, said second flange part continuous with said load engaging flange portion of said first flange part, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
a second flange part extending beyond said web plane oppositely from said first flange part, said second flange part continuous with said load engaging flange portion of said first flange part, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
said connecting flange portion and said load engaging flange portion engaged adjacent said web plane for transmitting load forces to said web from said flange; e. means for supporting each of said beams on said members including at least a part operative to exert a twisting moment on the associated beam when said beam supports a pallet; f. said part engaging a vertically disposed support member at a location spaced laterally from said web whereby to exert said twisting moment on said beam; and g. said beam defining a shear axis extending along said web remote from said flanges and said first and second flange parts being flexible under load whereby when a pallet is supported on the flange parts of one of said flanges said beam tends to twist slightly and the resultant of said load acts through said shear axis to terminate the twisting tendency of said beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
said connecting flange portion and said load engaging flange portion engaged adjacent said web plane for transmitting load forces to said web from said flange; e. means for supporting each of said beams on said members including at least a part operative to exert a twisting moment on the associated beam when said beam supports a pallet; f. said part engaging a vertically disposed support member at a location spaced laterally from said web whereby to exert said twisting moment on said beam; and g. said beam defining a shear axis extending along said web remote from said flanges and said first and second flange parts being flexible under load whereby when a pallet is supported on the flange parts of one of said flanges said beam tends to twist slightly and the resultant of said load acts through said shear axis to terminate the twisting tendency of said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
a second radiused bend interconnecting said load engaging flange portion and said connecting flange portion and defining a terminus of said first flange part, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
a second radiused bend interconnecting said load engaging flange portion and said connecting flange portion and defining a terminus of said first flange part, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A beam as defined in claim 1 and further including a radiused bend connecting said flange portion and said flange, said radiused bend located at said first mentioned terminus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A beam as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiused bend is located a substantially lesser distance from said web than the other terminus of said flange.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
said connecting flange portion and said load engaging flange portion engaged between said first and second bends for transmitting load forces to said web; d. said second flange part comprising a single thickness of the sheet metal material continuous with said load engaging flange portion and which extends beyond said web plane from said first flange part; e. said second flange part defining a second terminus of said flange remote from said web plane; and f. one of said flange parts flexing more than the other flange part in response to the application of a load on said beam whereby the applied load is redistributed on said flange to prevent substantial twisting of said beam under said load.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
said connecting flange portion and said load engaging flange portion engaged between said first and second bends for transmitting load forces to said web; d. said second flange part comprising a single thickness of the sheet metal material continuous with said load engaging flange portion and which extends beyond said web plane from said first flange part; e. said second flange part defining a second terminus of said flange remote from said web plane; and f. one of said flange parts flexing more than the other flange part in response to the application of a load on said beam whereby the applied load is redistributed on said flange to prevent substantial twisting of said beam under said load.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A beam as defined in claim 4 wherein said flange deflects slightly under an applied nonsymmetrical load to shift said load to increase the proportion of said load supported by said flange adjacent said radiused bend.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A beam as defined in claim 3 wherein said radiused bend is located a substantially greater distance from said web than said other terminus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A beam as defined in claim 3 and further including support structure for said beam operative to apply a twisting moment to said beam when loaded, said support structure being effective to urge one terminus of said flange toward engagement with the load to increase the proportion of said load supported by said flange adjacent said terminus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
a beam as defined in claim 7 wherein a symmetrical load applied to said beam is shifted to a nonsymmetrical load in response to said support structure twisting said beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
A pallet supporting rack comprising: a. a plurality of vertically disposed support members; b. wide flange sheet metal pallet supporting beams extending horizontally between said members; c. said beams each formed from a single sheet of metal and including a web and flanges extending transversely of the plane of said web; d. said flanges each being asymmetrical about the plane of said web and each including;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A pallet supporting rack comprising: a. a plurality of vertically disposed support members; b. wide flange sheet metal pallet supporting beams extending horizontally between said members; c. said beams each formed from a single sheet of metal and including a web and flanges extending transversely of the plane of said web; d. said flanges each being asymmetrical about the plane of said web and each including;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pallet rack as defined in claim 9 wherein said part is a clip member attached to said beam and removably secured a respective vertical support member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pallet rack as defined in claim 10 wherein said clip includes support surfaces engaged with said members at locations spaced laterally from said plane of said web.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pallet rack as defined in claim 11 wherein said surfaces form the sole supporting connections between said beams and said members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
142 words
A one-piece sheet metal I-beam comprising: a. top and bottom flange constructions one of which is a load engaging flange; b. a web extending between said flange constructions; c. structure for transmitting load forces between said load engaging flange construction and said web, said structure incLuding engaged force transmitting surfaces on said load engaging flange, said surfaces located adjacent said web and spaced from opposite lateral sides of said load engaging flange; d. said top and bottom flanges each being asymmetrical about the plane of said web; e. said beam having a shear axis located adjacent said web; f. said sheet metal being of relatively light gauge; and g. said load engaging flange construction of said beam deflectible under load to shift the load and thereby cause the line of action of the resultant load force to extend through said shear axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
142 words
A one-piece sheet metal I-beam comprising: a. top and bottom flange constructions one of which is a load engaging flange; b. a web extending between said flange constructions; c. structure for transmitting load forces between said load engaging flange construction and said web, said structure incLuding engaged force transmitting surfaces on said load engaging flange, said surfaces located adjacent said web and spaced from opposite lateral sides of said load engaging flange; d. said top and bottom flanges each being asymmetrical about the plane of said web; e. said beam having a shear axis located adjacent said web; f. said sheet metal being of relatively light gauge; and g. said load engaging flange construction of said beam deflectible under load to shift the load and thereby cause the line of action of the resultant load force to extend through said shear axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A beam as defined in claim 13 wherein said shear center is spaced from said centerline of said web portion a maximum distance approximately equal to the sectional thickness of said sheet metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
A one-piece sheet metal I-beam comprising: a. a substantially planar web; b. a flange extending transverse to the plane of said web and defining a first flange part extending from one side of said web plane and a second flange part extending oppositely of said first flange part from aid web plane; c. said first flange part comprising a folded section of said sheet metal including;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
A one-piece sheet metal I-beam comprising: a. a substantially planar web; b. a flange extending transverse to the plane of said web and defining a first flange part extending from one side of said web plane and a second flange part extending oppositely of said first flange part from aid web plane; c. said first flange part comprising a folded section of said sheet metal including;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An I-beam as claimed in claim 15 and further including a stiffening lip extending from said second terminus parallel to said web.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |