Pallet rack construction

Claim 1

In a rack structure comprising a slotted upright of rectangular cross section, the walls thereof having a thickness, and a beam terminating at each end in a bracket having a first embracing face parallel to the face of said beam, and a second embracing face at right angles to the face of said beam, embracing adjoining sides of said upright, improved means for locking the beam to the upright comprising a connector secured to the wall of said bracket adjacent said first embracing face, said connector having a hook spaced from said first embracing face, said hook being adapted to fit into a cooperating slot in said upright, said slot having at its lower end an inclined edge sloping away from said second embracing face, said connector being characterized by an outer end, a bearing surface spaced from said outer end facing said first embracing face, said surface being inclined slightly toward said outer end in a direction away from said embracing face, the top of said incline being spaced from said first embracing face a distance slightly less than the thickness of said upright wall, a portion of said inclined bearing surface being compressed against a marginal portion of said upright wall surrounding said slot when said hook is inserted in said cooperating slot, thus serving to draw the beam laterally into tight engagement with said upright a collar surrounding said connector between said first embracing face and said inclined bearing surface, and a groove cut into the face of said hook between said inclined surface and said collar, said collar having a sloping perimetral surface spaced from said second embracing face a distance less than the distance from said second embracing face to the lower portion of said inclined edge of said slot, so that when said hook is inserted in said slot said sloping perimetral surface slides down said inclined edge, thus serving to draw the beam endwise into tight engagement with said upright.