«2 United States Patent Offerman (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: US 9,215,931 BI Dec. 22, 2015 (34) STORAGE RACK WITH IMPROVED TIE, SUPPORT (1). Applicant: LE Centennial Limited, Tortola (VG) (72) Inventor: Ryan Thomas Offerman, Cantifl, CA ws) LT. CENTENNIAL we) (73) Assignee: IMITED, Tortola (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 0 days. (21) Appl. Nos 14/304,895 (22) Filed: Jun. 14, 2014 (Sb) Ince AGB 96/02 (2006.01) A478 96/20 (2006.01) (2) US.CL cre AN7B 96/021 (2013.01); A47B 9602 (2013.01); 447B 964024 (2013.01) (58) Field of Classification Search cre A471 47/0058; A4TB 47/021; AAT 447028; AA7B S706; ATR STOR; A47R 57/30 A47B 57/32; A47B 57/34; ATE 57/40 A47B 57/402; AATB 57/48; A47B 57/482; A4TB 57/485, AATB 57/487, AATB 96102; AATB O6I021: AATB 96/024; AG7B. ‘961028; ASE 961067; A47B 96/1481 211/190, 191, 192,204, 206; ‘248/220 21, 220.22, 220.31, 223.41, 2482248, 228.11 See application file for complete search history, vuspe 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3086.660 A + 411963 Site Bse.eo1 A+ L19Ts Moneta At M197 MeConnet AS Som AS Rio Batson Be $2013, Seossis be* 4201 2oovansssos AL* 11/2001, aoitupnass Als '22011 20120000871 A+ 12012 Troymeret a ao120067S38 AL* 32012 Lavon eal SO1aULIG973 AL* $2014 Buckley al FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS. P 9618 AL 92001 MTB 7/50, Ik 2egoesd AL * 2 007 ara702 HR porzeis AL © 92012 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner — Joshua Rodden (74) Auornes. Agent or Firm — Barlow, Josephs & Holmes, Li 7 ABSTRACT A storage rick includes front and rear deck heams and (C-shaped! te supports extending between the deck beams. ach te support hus a Side wall a top flange and a bottom ange, The top Mange has front and rear ends und tubs extend- ing downvvardly derefrom. The bottom ange has front and rar ends and tabs extending downwardly therefrom. When assembled with the dack beams the front and ear ends ofthe {op flange are seated on a support ledge of the deck beams withthe tabs received into respective slots. Similarly. the {ont and ear ends ofthe bottom flange are seated on a wer Jegor the front andrea dee beams withthe tbs received into the respective slots. The ie supports cooperate with the deck ‘beams limit the sagging ofthe decks, while also preventing ‘outward twisting ofthe deck beams 4 Claims, § Drawing SheetsU.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 1 of 5 US 9,215,931 B1U.S, Patent Dec. 22,2015 Sheet 2 of 5 “wv VW MK | Pace x ss = p REESE bes Mepes ETRE EEEE ERSTE TESS) z= diU.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 3 of 5 US 9,215,931 B1U.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 4 of 5 US 9,215,931 B1U.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 5 of 5 US 9,215,931 B1 32 e i AG.7US 9,215,931 BI 1 STORAGE RACK WITH IMPROVED TIE, SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invent ‘The instant invention relates to ready-to-assemble rack storage systems, More specifically, the invention relates to an Jmproved deck beam and C-shaped tie support arrangement hich, under significant weight, preventsor limits the owing ‘or sagging ofthe deck beam, while also preventing outward ‘visting ofthe bottom flange ofthe deck bes, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an exemplary embodiment, storage rack includes four vertical comer supports and a plurality of horizontal shelf assemblies each supported on the vertical comer suppor ach shelf assembly comprises front and rear horizontal ‘deck beams which extend side to side between and are sup ported by the vertical supports, a plurality of C-shaped tie Supports extending front to back between the front and rear horizontal deck beams and a planar shelf supported on the imerlocke tie supports and deck beams. ach of the deck beams has an outer vertical sie wall, 2 horizontal lower leg extending inwardly, a horizontal upper Jeg extending inwardly, and 3 horizontal support ledge ‘extending further inwardly from the upper leg tt a height ‘which is below the upper leg. The suppor ledge and the lower Jeg both include a plurality of aligned mounting lots extend- ing parallel longitudinal extent ofthe deck beams. ‘Each Ge support has a vertically extending side wall, & horizontal top flange extending inwardly and a horizontal bottom flange extending inwardly parle wo the top lange. The top flange has front and rear ends and tabs extending dowawardly Irom the foat and reat ends, The bottom Mange has front and rea ends and tabs extending downwardly from the font and rear ends. When assembled with the deck beams the front and rear ends of the top Mange are seated on the support ledge of the front and reae deck beams with die tabs recived ino the respective slots. Similarly the front and rear ‘ends ofthe bottom Mange are seated on the lower leg ofthe font nd rear deck beams with the tabs received into the respective slots In use, the top and bottom flanges ofthe tie support coop- ‘erate to limit the sqgaing ofthe deck beams, while the inter- Jocking tabs and slots o the ie supports and deck beams also ‘cooperate to prevent outward twisting ofthe deck beams. “The planar shelf is received and supported on the lower support ledge the deck beams, andon op ofthe ie supports ‘wherein the top surface ofthe shel i Bash with the wpper surface ofthe horizontal upper leg of the deck beams oom ‘continuous planar shelf surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. While the specification concludes with claims particulely Pointing out and dstinetly claiming particular embodiments ‘ftheinstantiavention, vious eabodiments of theinvention ‘ean be more readily understood and appreciated fom the following descriptions of various embodiments of the inven- tion when read in conjunetion withthe accompanying drm- ings in whieh: TIG. Isa perspective view of an exemplary embodiment storage rack: 0 o 2 FIG. 2isanother perspective view thereof, showing assem by ofthe ie suppots with the deck beans! FIG. 3s a perspective view of an exemplary tie support; FIG. is. front view thereof PIG. Sis an end view thereof, PIG. Gis a cross-sectional view of the deck beamitie sup port interconnection taken along line 66 of FIG. A; and FIG.7 isan enlarged perspective view from beneath show- ‘ng the deck beamitie support interconnection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the inventive storage rack is generally indicated at 10 ia FIGS. 1-7 Inthe exemplary embodiment, te storage rack 10 includes {our vertical comer supports 12A-D and a plurality of hor- zontal shel assemblies 14A-E each supported on the vertical omer supports 12A-D. It should be noted that while the storage rack 10isllustrated with five (5) shelfassemblies, the rick could also inclide fewer shelf assemblies or more shelf ‘assemblies as the user desires ‘The vertical supports I2A-D in theexemplary embodiment are provided in end pais (12-8) (12C-D) with he respec- ‘ivepaired front and rear supports connected by smaller upper ‘and lower horizatal braces 16 and an angle brace 1. ‘Assoeain FIGS. 1-7,cach shelf assembly 14 includes fr ‘and reat horizontal deck beams 20 which extend sie to side between and are supported by the vertical supports 124-D. a plurality of tie supports 2 extending front to back between the front snd rear horizontal deck beams 20 and a planar shelf 24 supported on the interlocked tie supports 22 and deck beams 20. Bach ofthe deck beams 20 is generally C-shaped in eross- section, having an outer vertical side wall 26, a horizoatal ower leg 28 extending inwardly, a horizontal upper leg 30 extending inwardly, ana horizoatal support ledge 32 extend- ing further inwardly from the upper leg 30 at a height which is below the upper leg 30, (See FIGS. 2 and 6). The opposing tends of each deck beam 20 inchude angle channels 34 with hook tabs (not shown) that are received into corresponding slots 36 formed along the length ofthe vertical supports 12. Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 6, the support ledge 32 and the lover leg 28 ofeach deck hoam 20 respoctvely’inclode a plurality of aligned mounting slots 38 extending parallel to a Tongituinal extent ofthe deck beams 2. ‘Referring to FIGS. 3-7,cac tie sipport 22 is also generally (C-shaped in eoss-section, having a vertically extending side ‘wall 40, a horizontal top flange 42 extending inwardly and a horizontal bottom flange 4 extending inwardly parallel othe top flange 42. The top Dange 42 as front and rear ends and tabs 46 extending downwardly from the front and rear ends Similarly, the bottom flange 44 also has front and rear ends And tabs 48 extending downwardly from the front and rear ends. Referring to FIGS. 3,4 and 6 it can be clearly seen that the bottom flange 44 is slightly Ionger than the top flange 42 ‘whereby the downwardly extending tabs 46 and 48 are hori ~zontaly offset from each other ‘When assembled withthe deck beams 20 the front a rear tends ofthe top ange 42 are seated on the support ledge 32 of ‘the fontand rear dock beans 20 with thetabs46 received into therespective slots 38, Similarly. the front and rarends ofthe bottom flange 44 are seated on the lower leg 28 ofthe Front and rear deck beams 20 with the tabs 48 received into the respective slots 38. (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 7). As illustratedUS 9,215,931 BI 3 FIGS. 1 and 2 each shelf assembly 14 includes a plurality of the te supports 22 extending Iroal to back between the deck beams 20, ‘When assembled, C-shaped cross-section of thetie support 22, cooper limit the sagging ofthe dock beams 20, while the interlocking tabs 46,48 and slots 38 of the tie supports 22 and deck beams 20 cooperate 1o prevent outward twisting of the lower leg 28 of the deck beams 20 "As bos illustrated in FIGS. 1,6, and 7, the planar shelf 24 is received and supported on the support ledges 32 of tae deck beams 20, snd on top ofthe te supports 22 wherein the tap surface of the shelf 24 is Bush with the upper surface of the horizontal upper lez 30 of the deck beams 20 to form ‘continuous plinar shelf surface. In the exemplary embod ment, the shelf 24 comprises a mesh configuration. However, ‘any form of planar shelving material 24 would be suitable i the context of the invention. ‘Additionally it should be noted that while all of eompo- nentsin the exemplary embodiment are preferably fabricated froma sig metal material provide the highest rigidity and 2 durability any individual component oral of the components ‘could be fabricated from other materials with similar effet. It can therefare be seen thatthe exemplary embodiment provides a unique and novel storage rack 10, which i easy t0 assemble and which peovides a high degree of stenath. The "unique ie supports 22 provide an improved leveof risidity (© therck structoreand prevent unwanted sagging and twisting ‘of the deck beams under heavy loading, ‘While there is shosen andl described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it wall be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements ofthe parts may be made ‘without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe underiying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the Particular fons hereinshown and described excep insafras Indicated by the scope of the appended claims ‘What is claimed is 1. A storage rack comprising: {eft and right rear vertical supports; [eft and right front vertical supports; front and rear horizontal deck beams respectively extend ing between and supported by each ofthe left and ight, front aod ear vertical supports ‘eh of said deck beams having an outer vertical side wall, ‘horizontal lower leg extending invandly, a horizontal ‘upper leg extending inwardly, and a horizontal support ledge extending further inwardly Irom said upper leg at ‘eight which is below the upper leg, sid support ledge and said lower le including plorality of aligned slots extending parallel to 2 longitudinal extent of said deck bean C-shaped te support having a vertically extending side wall. horizontal top Nange extending inwardly and horizontal bottom flange extending inwardly parallel to the top lange, said top flange having front nel ear ends and tabs extend ing downwardly ftom said front and rear ends, 0 4 ssid front and rea ends of said top flange being seated on ‘ad support ledge of sid front an rear deck beams with Said tbs received into said slots, sd bottom flange having front and rear ends and tabs ‘extending downwardly fom sai front and rear ends, sid front ad rear ends of sid bottom Mange being seated ‘on said lower leg of sid front and rear deck beams with Said tabs received ito said slots, wherein the top and bottom flanges of said tie support ‘cooperate to prevent sagging ofthe deck beams, and ‘wherein the interiocking tabs and slots of the tie supports ‘nd the deck beam cooperate t limit outward twisting ofthe deck beams; and planar shelf received and supported on sad suppor ledge, ‘wherein sid shells Mush with an upper surlace of said horizontal upper ley of said deck beam to form a con- tinuous planar shelf surfice 2. The stomge rack of claim I wherein sid bottom flange ‘of aid te support has length which is greater than sid op Tange, such tat the tabs on said bottom Hangeare offset rom the labs oa the top Mange, 3A shell fora storage rack comprising ‘Front and rear horizontal deck beans, ‘each of said deck beams having sn outer vertical side wall, ‘s horizontal lower lg extending inwardly, horizontal upper leg extending inwardly, and a horizontal support ledge extending furher inwardly from said upper leg at ‘height which is below the upper lep, said suppor ledge and said lower leg including a plurality ‘of aligned slots extending parallel to a longitudinal ‘extent of said deck beams: C-shaped tie support having a vertically extending side ‘wall horizontal top lange extending inwardly and a Irizoaal bottom lange extending inwardly parallel 0 the top ange, ssid top funge having front and rearends and tabs extend ing downwardly from sai front and rear ends said front ancl rea ends of said to flange being seated on sid support ledgeo sid front and reardeck beams with Said ts received into said slots, ssid bottom flange having front and rear ends an tabs «extending downwardly fom sad front and rear ends, ssid front ad rear ends of sad bottom Barge being seat ‘on suid lower leg o sid front and rear deck beans with said tabs received ito sid los, ‘wherein the top and bottom flanges of said tie support ‘cooperate to prevent sagging ofthe deck beams, nd ‘wherein the intriocking tabs and slots of the tie supports ‘andthe deck heams cooperate ta limit outward twisting ‘of the deck beams; and planar shel received and supportedon ssid support ledge, ‘wherein said shelf is fish With an upper surface of said hhorizoatal upper lo of said deck hears to form a con- tinaous planar shelf surface, 4. The stomnge rack of ela 3 wherein sid bottom Mange ‘of said te support has length which is greater than sid top ‘Tange, such that he tabs on said bottom flange are offset rom the tabs oa the top flange.