Title: Moveable storage and display rack for rolled flooring materials
Abstract: A rack for storing, moving and displaying rolled flooring materials, such as carpet, carpet remnants and pad, having a frame with a plurality of frame members configured to hold flooring materials in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. The frame has an upper section with a stinger receiving mechanism configured to receive a stinger pole attached to a forklift. The stinger receiving mechanism can comprise a shaped portion of the frame or a shaped member or a tubular member attached to the frame for lifting the frame and its contents. The bottom section of the frame can comprise a prong receiving mechanism configured for receiving the prongs of a forklift. The rack can also include one or more movement guides for moving the rack with the stinger and/or one or more roll support members attached to the frame for displaying rolls of material.
Patent Number: 6,854,606 Issued on 02/15/2005 to Robertson
| Inventors:
|
Robertson; David H. (1720 H. St., Fresno, CA 93721)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
340084 |
| Filed:
|
January 9, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
211/60.1; 211/44; 211/49.1 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A47F 007//00; A47F 007//18 |
| Field of Search: |
211/60.1,44,13.1,27-29,85.18,191,41.14
312/107,285
280/79.3
206/446
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2135540 | Nov., 1938 | Smith | 242/594.
|
| 2450180 | Sep., 1948 | Bixer | 211/44.
|
| 2593472 | Apr., 1952 | McGinn | 211/85.
|
| 2646174 | Jul., 1953 | Hutten et al. | 211/44.
|
| 2839198 | Jun., 1958 | Lefevre | 211/41.
|
| 3951276 | Apr., 1976 | Moses.
| |
| 4004701 | Jan., 1977 | Moses.
| |
| 4626017 | Dec., 1986 | Robertson | 296/3.
|
| 4783017 | Nov., 1988 | Ovitz, III.
| |
| 5411360 | May., 1995 | Hilliker et al. | 414/608.
|
| 5590435 | Jan., 1997 | Kostigian | 15/40.
|
| 5906282 | May., 1999 | Aldrich et al. | 211/41.
|
| 6170672 | Jan., 2001 | Boettcher | 211/13.
|
| 6202863 | Mar., 2001 | Grenier | 211/70.
|
| 6383376 | May., 2002 | Beauchamp | 210/189.
|
| 6536607 | Mar., 2003 | Knoll et al. | 211/41.
|
| 6585224 | Jul., 2003 | Schmidt | 248/640.
|
| 6607083 | Aug., 2003 | Webb | 211/59.
|
| 2003/0196971 | Oct., 2003 | Jeskey et al. | 211/41.
|
Primary Examiner: Friedman; Carl D.
Assistant Examiner: Novosad; Jennifer E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ryan; Richard A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rack in combination with a lifting device having a stinger attached
thereto, said rack for storing, moving and displaying one or more rolled
flooring materials thereon, the one or more rolled flooring materials
configured to be lifted and moved by said stinger, said rack comprising:
a frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame forming an upper
section and an opposing bottom section, said frame sized and configured to
store, move and display the flooring materials thereon; and
stinger receiving means at said upper section of said frame for receiving
said stinger to lift and move said frame, said stinger receiving means
configured to permit said stinger to lift said frame without substantial
swaying or other undesirable movement of said frame;
whereby said stinger is selectively inserted into a roll of the one or more
rolled flooring materials to move the roll of flooring material or
received into said stinger receiving means to lift and move said rack with
or without the one or more rolled flooring materials disposed on said
rack.
2. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising prong receiving means
at said bottom section of said frame for receiving one or more prongs
attached to said lifting device.
3. The rack according to claim 2, wherein said prong receiving means
comprises a pair of box members fixedly attached to said frame.
4. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped portion of said upper section of said frame.
5. The rack according to claim 4, wherein said upper section of frame is
generally triangular in shape.
6. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
7. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a tubular member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
8. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising one or more upper
securing means at said upper section of said frame for securing the
flooring materials in a vertical configuration in said frame.
9. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said upper securing means attach
the flooring materials to a longitudinal stiffener disposed between a
first end and an opposing second end of said frame.
10. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising one or more lower
securing means disposed between said bottom section and said upper section
of said frame for securing the flooring materials in said frame.
11. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising one or more roll
support members attached to said frame, said one or more roll support
members configured to freely support said one or more rolled flooring
materials in a generally horizontal position.
12. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of roll support
members attached to said frame, wherein one of said pair of roll support
members is at a first end of said frame and one of said pair of roll
support members is at an opposing second end of said frame for
longitudinally supporting a roll of the flooring materials on said frame.
13. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising one or more movement
guides attached to said bottom section of said frame and a plurality of
wheels below said frame, said one or more movement guides shaped and
configured to receive said stinger and facilitate movement of said rack on
said plurality of wheels.
14. The rack according to claim 1 further comprising an upper extension
member at said upper section of said frame and a bottom opening at said
bottom section of said frame, said upper extension member and said bottom
opening sized and configured to facilitate stacking of a plurality of said
frames.
15. A rack in combination with a lifting device having a stinger attached
thereto and with one or more rolled flooring materials stored, moved or
displayed on said rack, the one or more rolled flooring materials
configured to be lifted and moved by said stinger, said rack comprising:
a frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame forming an upper
section and an opposing bottom section, said frame sized and configured to
store, move and display the flooring materials thereon;
stinger receiving means at said upper section of said frame for receiving
said stinger to lift and move said frame, said stinger receiving means
configured to permit said stinger to lift said frame without substantial
swaying or other undesirable movement of said frame;
prong receiving means at said bottom section of said frame for receiving
one or more prongs attached to said lifting device; and
securing means attached to said frame for securing the flooring materials
in said frame.
16. The rack according to claim 15, wherein said prong receiving means
comprises a pair of box members fixedly attached to said frame.
17. The rack according to claim 15, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped portion of said upper section of said frame.
18. The rack according to claim 15, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
19. The rack according to claim 15, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a tubular member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
20. The rack according to claim 15 further comprising one or more roll
support members attached to said frame, said one or more roll support
members configured to freely support said one or more rolled flooring
materials in a generally horizontal position.
21. The rack according to claim 15 further comprising one or more movement
guides attached to said bottom section of said frame and a plurality of
wheels below said frame, said one or more movement guides shaped and
configured to receive said stinger and facilitate movement of said rack on
said plurality of wheels.
22. A rack in combination with a lifting device having a stinger attached
thereto, said rack for storing, moving and displaying one or more rolled
flooring materials thereon, the one or more rolled flooring materials
configured to be lifted and moved by said stinger, said rack comprising:
a frame having a plurality of frame members, said frame forming an upper
section and an opposing bottom section, said frame sized and configured to
store, move and display the flooring materials;
stinger receiving means at said upper section of said frame for receiving
said stinger to lift and move said frame, said stinger receiving means
configured to permit said stinger to lift said frame without substantial
swaying or other undesirable movement of said frame;
a pair of box members fixedly attached to said bottom section of said
frame, said box members configured to receive one or more prongs attached
to said lifting device;
an upper securing means at said upper section of said frame for securing
the flooring materials in a vertical configuration in said frame; and
one or more lower securing means disposed between said bottom section and
said upper section of said frame for securing the flooring materials in
said frame.
23. The rack according to claim 22, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped portion of said upper section of said frame.
24. The rack according to claim 22, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a shaped member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
25. The rack according to claim 22, wherein said stinger receiving means
comprises a tubular member fixedly attached to said upper section of said
frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to racks for storing,
moving and displaying rolled materials, such as carpet, carpet remnants
and carpet pad. More particularly, the present invention relates to such
racks which are suitable for storing, moving and displaying rolled
flooring materials in either a vertical or horizontal position. Even more
particularly, the present invention relates to such racks that are
configured to be used with a stinger-type apparatuses commonly used to
move rolls of carpet and other flooring materials.
B. Background
Many flooring materials are sold, stored, moved and displayed in elongated
rolls of such materials. For instance, as is well known in the carpet and
related industries, it is very common to sell, store, move and display
carpet and carpet related materials, including carpet, carpet remnants and
carpet pad, in an elongated roll of the material. Also included in the
general category of flooring materials are other forms of floor coverings,
such as linoleum, vinyl flooring and the like that are also supplied in
elongated rolls of the material. For purposes of this disclosure, the term
flooring materials refers to all such materials.
Flooring materials are typically delivered by the manufacturer to the
flooring wholesaler or retailer in the form of large elongated rolls.
After the rolls are received by the wholesaler or retailer, they are moved
into storage or into a showroom for display. Naturally, it is preferred to
display the materials in a way that most beneficially allows the purchaser
to review the materials so that they may consider which materials to
purchase. After the flooring material buyer selects the type and amount of
flooring material they desire, the flooring material is delivered to the
buyer and installed in the buyers preferred location, such as a house or
office. As is well known in the industry, it is often necessary to move
the rolls of flooring materials from one location to another before the
materials are purchased, depending on the need to make room for other
materials, deliver materials to a purchaser or place the materials in a
different location for purposes of better displaying that material.
With regard to the purchase of flooring materials by a buyer, the typical
buyer does not purchase an entire roll or, if buying multiple rolls, full
rolls of the flooring material. As a result some of the flooring material
on a roll is usually left behind to be sold by the wholesaler or retailer.
The left behind materials are commonly referred to as remnants. Naturally,
the wholesaler or retailer desires to sell these remnants so as to fully
maximize his or her profit on the flooring materials. In order to do so,
it is necessary to selectively display the remnants in a manner that best
shows potential purchasers what remnants are available and the quantity of
remnant that is available.
Generally, rolls of flooring material are of such size and weight that they
require the use of powered machines to safely and effectively move one or
more rolls of the material. The typical powered machine is a forklift
having one or more prongs suitable for lifting a pallet with rolls of
flooring material securely placed thereon. Although the prongs on the
forklift can be used to directly lift one or more rolls of flooring
material, this method of moving flooring material rolls is not generally
used because of the high risk of damaging the flooring material. Instead,
because the rolls of flooring materials delivered by the manufacturer are
configured with an internal longitudinal bore, many wholesalers and
retailers utilize an outwardly extending stinger attachment that is
configured to be attached to the forklift in place of the prongs and to be
received by the longitudinal bore. Like the prongs it replaces, the
stinger moves up and down the face of the forklift. In this manner, rolls
of flooring material, including the remnants, are relocated by inserting
the stinger into the longitudinal bore, raising the stinger as necessary,
moving the roll of material to the desired location, lowering the
stinger/roll as necessary and withdrawing the stinger from the roll.
Unfortunately, not all flooring materials are provided in rolls having a
longitudinal bore therethrough. For instance, rolls of carpet pad
generally do not have an internal bore and, therefore, cannot be moved
with the stinger attached to the forklift. In addition, other flooring
related materials or other materials and equipment in the wholesaler's or
retailer's storage facility, store or other place of business are stored
on pallets configured for the prongs of the forklift or otherwise either
require or are more easily handled by the prongs of the forklift instead
of the stinger attachment. As such, it is necessary to switch between the
prong and stinger attachment on the forklift. The process of switching
between the forklift prongs and the stinger attachment is time consuming
and can be relatively difficult, in part due to the 250 to 350 pound
weight of the stinger, depending on the type of forklift, prongs and
stinger utilized. Although it would be possible to have two or more
forklifts, at least one with a stinger and at least one with prongs, most
flooring materials businesses do not have more than one forklift (due
primarily to the cost of forklifts).
Racks for beneficially displaying rolls of flooring material have been in
use for some time. One such rack is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,017
to Ovitz, III, et al., which discloses a carpet rack having a frame for
receiving multiple spindle assemblies, each of which are configured to
horizontally support a roll of carpet thereon. Although the rack is shown
with wheel assemblies, the rack does not include any mechanism to move the
rack with a forklift. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,004,701 and 3,951,276, both to
Moses, a storing and handling apparatus and system for rolls of floor
covering is disclosed. In conjunction with a storage and dispensing rack,
the Moses patents disclose the use of a pallet having box members spaced
apart a distance which corresponds to the prongs of a conventional
forklift. Other racks or storage devices are known to include an assembly
suitable for receiving and moving the rack or device with the prongs of a
forklift.
Nothing in the prior art presently known to the inventor discloses or
suggests the use of a stinger attachment to move a storage and display
rack adapted for storing and displaying flooring materials in either a
vertical or horizontal manner. In fact, to the best of the inventor's
present knowledge, the stinger attachment is only utilized to move
individual rolls of flooring materials, not racks having one or more rolls
of such material and not for materials, such as carpet pads, that do not
have a longitudinal bore for receiving the stinger. As a result, a
significant amount of time and effort is wasted changing between the
prongs of the forklift and the stinger attachment. Therefore, what is
needed is a moveable storage and display rack that is configured to be
moved with a stinger attachment and which is suitable for storing and
displaying flooring materials in either a horizontal or vertical
arrangement. The preferred rack should be relatively inexpensive to make,
easy to use and adaptable to current forklift equipment. Preferably, such
a rack should additionally include a mechanism to connect to the forklift
prongs, a mechanism to secure the flooring materials to the rack and a
mechanism to guide the rack when moving it without lifting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The storage and display rack of the present invention solves the problems
identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a new
and useful storage and display rack for rolled flooring materials that is
moveable with either the prongs of a forklift or a stinger attached to the
forklift. The storage and display rack of the present invention is
suitable for storing and displaying one or more rolls of flooring
materials in a vertical or horizontal configuration. Either the prongs or
the stinger attachments of the forklift can be utilized to move the rack
while the one or more rolls of flooring material are securely placed
thereon.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the moveable storage
and display rack of the present invention comprises a frame having a
plurality of frame members and a stinger receiving mechanism for receiving
a stinger attached to a lifting device, such as a forklift and the like.
The frame forms an upper section and an opposing bottom section and a
first end and an opposing second end. The frame should be sized and
configured to hold the desired flooring materials, including rolls of
carpet, carpet remnants, carpet pad, linoleum and the like. The stinger
receiving mechanism is preferably located at the upper section of the
frame and configured to permit the stinger to lift the frame without any
substantial swaying or other undesirable movement of the frame. In the
preferred embodiment, the rack also includes a prong receiving mechanism,
such as a pair of box members fixedly attached to the bottom section of
the frame, configured to receive one or more prongs that can be attached
to the lifting device (generally in place of the stinger). The preferred
embodiment also has a one or more securing mechanisms to secure the
flooring materials in or to the frame, such as an upper securing mechanism
at the upper section of the frame for securing the flooring materials in a
vertical configuration and one or more lower securing means disposed
between the bottom section and the upper section of the frame to secure
the flooring materials in the frame.
In one embodiment, the stinger receiving means comprises a shaped portion
of the upper section of the frame, such as an inverted "U" or "V" shape at
the top of a generally triangularly shaped upper section. In another
embodiment, the stinger receiving means comprises a separate shaped member
fixedly attached to the upper section of the frame, preferably at each end
of the frame so that the stinger may pass through the shaped members and
lift the frame. In yet another embodiment, the stinger receiving means
comprises a tubular member fixedly attached to the upper section of the
frame.
The rack can also include one or more roll support members attached to the
frame, such as a pair of such roll support members with one of the pair
attached to the first end of the frame and one of the pair of roll support
members is at the second end of the frame, so as to longitudinally support
a roll of the flooring materials on the frame. The rack can also include
one or more movement guides attached to the bottom section of the frame
and a plurality of wheels below the frame so that the rack may be moved
along the ground by merely inserting the stinger into the movement guide
and guiding the rack to its desired location. The rack can also include an
upper extension member at the upper section of the frame and a bottom
opening at the bottom section of the frame so that the racks may be
stacked on top of each other. Preferably, the upper extension member of a
first rack is angled or otherwise configured to be somewhat self-guiding
into the bottom opening of a second rack that is being placed on top of
the first rack.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
storage and display rack for rolled flooring materials that overcomes the
disadvantages associated with the presently available storage and display
racks for such materials.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a
storage and display rack that has a stinger receiving mechanism for
receiving a stinger attached to a forklift or other lifting device so as
to permit the lifting device to move the rack with the stinger attachment.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a
storage and display rack that utilizes a prong receiving mechanism
suitable for facilitating stacking of racks on top of each other.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a
storage and display rack that comprises a frame having a plurality of
frame members configured to store and display flooring materials in either
a vertical or a horizontal arrangement.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a
storage and display rack that comprises a prong receiving mechanism for
receiving the prongs of a forklift or other lifting device so as to move
the rack with the lifting device.
The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained
in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description
of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the
present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction,
mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and
understood by the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for
carrying out the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a storage and display
rack of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the storage and display rack of
the present invention of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the storage and display rack of
the present invention of FIG. 1 showing use with rolls of carpet or carpet
remnants;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the storage and display rack of
the present invention of FIG. 1 showing use with rolls of carpet pad;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the storage
and display rack of the present invention showing the use of separate end
pieces for receiving the stinger attachment;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the
storage and display rack of the present invention showing a tubular member
configured for receiving the stinger attachment and a floor; and
FIG. 7 is an end view of yet another alternative embodiment of the storage
and display rack of the present invention showing the use of multiple roll
supporting members on the frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like
numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the
present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are
set forth below. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
storage and display rack of the present invention, identified generally as
10, is useful for beneficially storing and displaying one or more rolls of
carpet 12 (FIG. 3), carpet pads 14 (FIG. 4) or other flooring materials,
as defined above, and being moved by a forklift 16 or other lifting device
having a stinger 18 or standard forklift prongs (not shown) attached
thereto. As is well known, carpet 12 typically comes in rolls
approximately twelve feet long and weighing as much as 150 pounds,
depending on the types of materials used for the carpet. Carpet pad 14, on
the other hand is typically approximately six feet long and weighs
approximately forty-five pounds. Naturally, stinger 18 and forklift 16
must be of sufficient strength to lift rack 10 when full of carpet 12, pad
14 and/or other flooring materials.
The storage and display rack 10 of the present invention has frame 20 made
up of a plurality of frame members 22 configured to form a first side 24,
second side 26, first end 28 and second end 30, as best shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 included herewith. Frame members 22 of frame 20 are formed into
bottom section 32, sides 34 and upper section 36 to allow rack 10 to store
and display flooring materials, including carpet 12 and pad 14. Although
frame 20 can be, made from a single integral member or a combination of
integral members, the preferred embodiment has frame 20 made from the
plurality of individual frame members 22 which are welded, bolted or
otherwise joined together, as may be appropriate for the materials of
frame members 22. Frame members 22 can be made from steel bars, tubular
steel, composite materials, fiberglass or other materials having
sufficient strength and stiffness for the loads resulting from its own
weight and that of multiple rolls of carpet 12, pad 14 and/or other
flooring materials. Because the rack 10 may be utilized in outdoor
environments, as described below, the frame 20 should be made from
materials suitable for outdoor exposure or sufficiently coated or treated
to avoid corrosion.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, bottom section 32 of frame 20 can be generally
rectangular shaped and formed from four or more frame members 22. Side 34
of frame 20 can comprise frame members extending generally upwardly from
bottom section 32 and interconnecting with upper section 36. Upper section
36 can be generally rectangular shaped, as shown in FIG. 5, or generally
triangular shaped (as viewed from ends 28 and 30), as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. As may be necessary depending on the strength of frame members 22,
longitudinal stiffeners 38 or transverse stiffeners 40 can be used in
bottom section 32, sides 34 or upper section 36 to provide structural
integrity to frame 20 so that it may be lifted and moved as needed and
able to sufficiently support itself, with or without any flooring
materials. Generally, it will be beneficial to configure frame 20 such
that first side 24 and second side 26 are functionally interchangeable so
that the user of rack 10 does not have to concern himself or herself with
a front or back placement of rack 10. Likewise, it will be beneficial to
configure rack 10 such that first end 28 and second end 30 are also
functionally interchangeable so that the user may approach and move rack
10 equally from either first end 28 and second end 30.
Upper section 36 includes a stinger receiving mechanism, shown generally as
42, for receiving the stinger 18 extending outwardly from forklift 16. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, stinger receiving mechanism 42 can comprise a
shaped portion 44 of upper section 36 that is shaped and configured to
interact with stinger 18 so as to allow stinger 18 to pick up rack 10 off
the ground or other surface and move it to another location without
significant swaying or other undesirable motion of rack 10. As shown,
shaped portion can be in the shape of an inverted "U" or it can be more of
an inverted "V" shape. The inverted "U" shape, with the top of the
inverted "U" configured to have a radius or arch portion slightly larger
than that of stinger 18, is preferred due to the additional stability it
provides. When correctly configured, stinger 18 should move upward, due to
action by forklift 16, into shaped portion 44 and interact with it to
prevent swaying of rack 10. A shaped portion 44 in the shape of an
inverted "U", without the transverse members 40 described in several of
the alternative embodiments below, is preferred due to the ability of the
stinger 18 to be inserted into the center of rack 10 and then moved upward
without the need to "aim" the stinger 18 into a relatively small opening.
As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, stinger receiving mechanism 42 can
comprise shaped member 46 fixedly attached to or integral with frame
member 22 at the upper section 36 of each end 28 and 30. In this
configuration, shaped member 46 can also be in an inverted "U" or "V"
shape having a radius or arch configured to interact with stinger 18 to
allow the user to lift rack 10 without any undue swaying or other
undesirable effect. Alternatively, shaped member 46 can be in the form of
a ring or short tubular member, having a circular, square, rectangular or
other cross-section, attached to frame member 22. Shaped member 46 can be
made out of tubular steel or other materials suitable for attachment to
frame member 22 and can be attached either above or below frame member 22
of upper section 36. Depending on the materials utilized for frame member
22 and shaped member 46, they may be connected by welding, bolts, screws,
rivets or other appropriate mechanism. As stated above, the primary
disadvantage of this type of stinger receiving mechanism 42 is that the
stinger must be "aimed" into the space between the shaped member 46 and
frame member 22.
Yet another embodiment for stinger receiving mechanism 42 is shown in FIG.
6. In this embodiment, stinger receiving mechanism 42 is a tubular member
48 extending substantially the full longitudinal length of rack 10 and
connecting to the frame members 22 of upper section 36 of ends 28 and 30.
In the preferred configuration of this embodiment, the inside diameter of
tubular member 48 is selected to be only moderately larger than the outer
diameter of stinger 18, such as the diameter utilized for the interior
longitudinal bore of the rolls of carpet 12 or other flooring materials.
Tubular member 48 can be configured to be below or above frame members 22
at ends 28 and 30 and can have a circular, rectangular, square or other
cross-section. As stated above, the primary disadvantage of this type of
stinger receiving mechanism 42 is that the stinger must be "aimed" into
tubular member 48.
The stinger receiving mechanisms 42 described above allow rack 10 to be
lifted and moved with the stinger attached to forklift 16 or other lifting
device. To allow for the situation where it is desired to move rack 10 but
the prongs are attached to the forklift 16 instead of stinger 18, rack 10
can further comprise a prong receiving mechanism, shown generally as 50,
for receiving the one or more prongs on forklift 16 to allow rack 10 to be
lifted and moved with the prong or prongs of forklift 16. Including prong
receiving mechanism 50 in rack 10 avoids having to remove stinger 18 for
the prongs when they are needed. As shown in the figures, prong receiving
mechanism 50 can comprise a pair of generally rectangular box members 52
shaped and configured to receive the forklift prongs and attached to the
frame members 22 comprising bottom section 32. Box members 52 can extend
substantially the full longitudinal length of rack 10 or they can be one
or more short sections located at either end 28 or 30 and/or positioned at
or near the middle of frame 20. As with shaped member 46, box members 52
can be made out of tubular steel or other materials suitable for
attachment to frame member 22 and can be attached either above or below
frame member 22 of upper section 36. Depending on the materials utilized
for frame member 22 and box member 52, they may be connected by welding,
bolts, screws, rivets or other appropriate mechanism. As an alternative to
box members 52, prong receiving mechanism 50 can comprise a generally "C"
or "U" shaped member attached to the bottom or top of frame member 22
making up bottom section 32. As with the stinger receiving mechanism 42,
prong receiving mechanism 32 should be sized and configured to be able to
allow the forklift prongs to raise and move rack 10 even when it is full
of carpet 12, pad 14 or other flooring materials.
In order to safely store, move and display carpet 12 in a vertical
configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to provide one or more
securing mechanisms to prevent carpet 12 from falling off of rack 10. As
shown in FIG. 3, the securing mechanism can comprise an upper securing
mechanism 54 at or near upper section 36 of frame 20 and/or lower securing
mechanism 56 nearer the middle or bottom section 32 of frame 20. Upper
securing mechanism 54 can comprise, as shown in FIG. 3, a one or more
individual tie members suitable for securely tying a vertical roll of
carpet 12 to an upper section frame member 22 so as to prevent the roll of
carpet 12 from falling off of or outward from rack 10 during storage,
movement or display. Individual tie members, such as strong string, cord,
rope, plastic ties, chain or the like, are preferred because it allows the
user to undo one tie at a time to remove one roll of carpet 12 at a time.
In the preferred embodiment, upper securing mechanism 54 is a tie that
attaches to or connects to an upper section frame member 12, such as a
longitudinal stiffener 38. Alternatively, one end of an upper securing
mechanism 54 can pass through a loop member (not shown) and connect to the
other end of the upper securing mechanism 54 by locking, tying, hooking or
by use of other connecting devices. Lower securing mechanism 56 should be
configured to prevent the bottom of the roll of carpet 12 from "kicking
out" of frame 20. As with upper securing mechanism 54, lower securing
mechanism 56 can be strong string, cord, rope, plastic ties, chain or the
like that crosses from a frame member 22 at first end 28 to a frame member
22 at second end 30 or which meets between ends 28 and 30. In the
preferred embodiment, lower securing mechanism 56 is a chain.
Rack 10 of the present invention can also comprise a separate floor 58 at
the bottom section 32 of frame 20, particularly for stacking carpet rolls
in the vertical configuration shown in FIG. 3. Although frame members 22
and/or prong receiving mechanism 50 can serve as a "floor", for certain
types of flooring materials, a floor 58 that substantially extends from
first side 24 to second side 26 and first end 28 to second end 30 provides
significant benefits for moving certain types of materials or moving rolls
of carpet 12 in a vertical configuration. Use of floor 58 provides a more
complete surface on which to place materials and can assist with achieving
a stable frame 20 by helping to prevent twisting or other undesirable
movement of frame 20. Floor 58 can be made out of the same materials used
for frame 24 or a lighter weight strong material to provide a strong floor
without adding much weight to rack 10.
In the preferred embodiment, rack 10 is made to stack on top of another
rack 10. This can be accomplished by providing an upper extension member
60 that is configured to interact with the bottom section 32 of frame 20.
In the preferred embodiment, upper extension member 60 is configured to be
part of stinger receiving mechanism 42, particularly in the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, which utilize the shaped portion 44 and shaped
member 46, respectively. The shaped portion 44 or shaped member 46 can be
configured to fit into a bottom opening 62 in frame member 22 at the ends
28 and 30 of bottom section 32. As is known in the art, it is preferred
that upper extension member 60 be angled inward towards rack 10 so that it
is in effect self-guiding into bottom opening 62. Naturally, frame 20 of
rack 10 must be sized and configured to be able to withstand the loads
from one or more racks 10 stacked on top of it, each one being full of
carpet 12, pad 14 and/or other flooring materials.
Also in the preferred embodiment, rack 10 has one or more movement guides
64 attached to frame 20. Preferably, movement guides 64 are attached to a
frame member 22 at both ends 28 and 30 of bottom section 32, as shown in
FIG. 6. Movement guides 64 are configured to receive stinger 18 so as to
allow the user of rack 10 to move rack 10 from one location to another
without the need of lifting rack 10 off the ground. The stinger 18 can be
stabbed into one or more of the movement guides 64 and the forklift 16
operated so as to slide rack 10 to the desired location. To assist in this
endeavor, it is preferred that rack 10 comprise wheels 66 at the bottom
section 32. Preferably, wheels 66 are configured to be of the castor type
that allows pivoting of the wheels in any direction which the user desires
to move rack 10.
In another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 7, rack 10
comprises one or more roll support members 68 attached to frame member 22
along sides 34. In this embodiment, it is preferred that frame members 22
at sides 34 angle in from the bottom section 32 toward the upper section
36, as shown in FIG. 7. Roll support members 68 should be sized and
configured to receive and securely support a full roll of carpet 12 or
other flooring material thereon. This allows the user of rack 10 to store
and display multiple rolls of carpet 12 or other materials on rack 10. As
shown, roll support members 68 can be located both inside and outside of
frame 10. Alternatively, roll support members can be utilized on only the
inside or only the outside of frame 10, in whatever combinations desired
by the manufacturer of rack 10. Roll support members 68 can be made out of
the same material for frame members 22 or different materials can be used.
If preferred, roll support members 68 can be coated or covered in a
separate material that is suitably selected to prevent damage to the roll
of carpet 12 or other materials.
In use, the rack 10 of the present invention eliminates the need to
alternate between the prongs or the stinger 18 attached to a forklift 16
or other lifting apparatus when it is desired to move rack 10 from one
location to another. If the stinger 18 is attached to the forklift 16, as
it typically is when moving a single roll of carpet, the user merely has
to slide the stinger 18 into either frame 20 and move it upward until it
connects with shaped portion 44 or slide it into the space provided by
shaped member 46 or tubular member 48. Once in place, upward movement of
stinger 18 by appropriately controlling forklift 16 will result in lifting
rack 10 off the ground or other surface upon which it sits. Rack 10 can
then be moved to the desired location. Once in place, carpet 12, pad 14
and/or other flooring materials can be displayed on rack 10. Rack 10 makes
it particularly easy for the wholesaler-or retailer who has carpet 12 or
carpet remnants he or she wants to sell to store the remnants on rack 10,
move rack 10 and the materials thereon out to a more visible location,
such as outdoors, during the store's open hours and then move it back into
the building or to its stored location in the building when the store
closes.
While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternative
embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled
in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to
various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, it is to be
understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification
within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, it should be noted
that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the
dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly,
materials, size, shape and use.
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