Apparatus and Method for Connecting a Column to a Base

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for connecting a column to a base.

Cantilever racking is a modular storage system comprising a base and a plurality of columns from which arms extend so as to provide or support shelving. This form of racking provides safe, accessible storage and display for a wide variety of items, and is particularly suited to awkward items such as timber boards, piping, extrusions, and those items which are best stored and separated on shelving, frames and dividers.

In connecting the columns to the base when assembling such racking, the lower end of each column is normally inserted into a corresponding housing that protrudes from the base and sheaths a lower part of each column, and bolts are then located laterally through the walls of said housings so as to secure the columns in place.

The disadvantage with this arrangement is that because the housing covers the lower end of the column, it is not possible to attach components, or fix attachments to the column in this area.

In another conventional arrangement some columns are welded to the base. This arrangement has even further disadvantages in that the base or column cannot be easily replaced if it is damaged, and the system cannot be pre-protected from weather. That is to say, appropriate protection must be applied to the welded portion after the column has been welded in place.

The present invention seeks to address these issues.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a column comprising near at least one end means for attaching said column to at least one fastener extending between an end of the column and a surface of a base on which an end of the column is to be mounted, thereby to secure the column to the base.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a column - comprising near at least one end means for attaching said column to at least one fastener extending between an end of the column and an end of a second column on which an end of the column is to be mounted, thereby to secure the column to the second column.

Preferably said means for attaching to at least one fastener is at least one aperture, preferably a threaded aperture. Preferably said at least one threaded aperture runs substantially longitudinally with the column. Preferably the means for attaching to at least one fastener is within the column.

Preferably said column is a racking column. More preferably said column is a cantilever racking column.

Preferably said at least one threaded aperture is comprised on at least one plate, said plate being attached to said column. Preferably said at least one plate is welded to said column.

Preferably a plurality of threaded apertures are used. Preferably said threaded apertures are formed by nuts. Preferably said nuts are welded to said plate.

Preferably said at least one plate is welded to the inside of said column. Preferably said column comprises at least one aperture through which said at least one plate may be welded to said column.

Preferably two nuts are welded to one plate. Preferably two plates are welded near at least one end of said column. Preferably a pair of plates is welded at each end of said column. Preferably said plates are welded approximately 3mm in from the ends of said column.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a column to a base comprising the step of attaching said column to at least one fastener extending between an end of the column and a surface of a base on which an end of the column is being mounted, thereby to secure the column to the base.

Preferably said column is a racking column.

Preferably said at least one fastening means comprises one or more, preferably threaded apertures near the base of said column. Preferably said at least one fastener is a bolt or stud. Preferably said bolts extend through openings on the surface of said base. Any stud may extend from the surface of the base.

Preferably said threaded apertures run longitudinally with said column.

Preferably said threaded apertures are formed by nuts.

Preferably said nuts are attached to at least one plate and said plate is attached to said column.

Preferably said nuts are welded to said plate. Preferably said at least one plate is welded to said column.

Preferably said at least one plate is welded to the inside of said column.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a column for use with racking comprising the step of providing a plurality of apertures to the inside of said column such that said apertures run longitudinally with said column.

Preferably said apertures are threaded, and preferably said threaded apertures are nuts.

Preferably said nuts are attached to at least one plate and said plate is attached to said column.

Preferably said nuts are welded to said plate. Preferably said at least one plate is welded to said column.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a cross section through a column to which the present invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is a diagram showing a column attached to a base in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plate with nuts attached to it in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the plate and nuts of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective vew of the end of a column with the plate and nuts of Figure

4 welded in place; Figure 7 is a plan view of the column of Figure ^" 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram indicating how the various parts of the present invention are fitted together;

Figure 9 is an exploded transparent close-up view of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the section of the base where the column is attached; Figure 1 1 is a view of the underside of the section of the base where the column is attached;

Figure 12 is a side view of a plate holding sleeves instead of nuts;

Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view demonstrating how an extension to a column is attached to the top of a column; and Figure 14 is a plan view showing how the extension of Figure 13 is attached to the top of a column.

As can be seen from the drawings, column 1 has two plates 2 welded to its inside surface at one end. On these plates are welded nuts 5. Column 1 may be aligned with openings 6 on base 2 and bolts 7 inserted through base 2 and into nuts 5 so as to attach column 1 to base 2.

Referring to figures 1 to 3, it can be seen that column 1 is formed from two sheets of metal, moulded and welded together so as to provide hollow enclosures 3. The internal section of column 1 in enclosures 3 comprises angled rear walls 8.

As can be seen in figures 4 to 6, plate 4 is made from a substantially rectangular piece of metal that has been bent so as to form angled halves 10. The profile of plate 4 corresponds with the profile of rear wall 8 of column 1. In the present embodiment the angle between each of said halves is substantially 167°, but the angle could of course be adjusted to suit the profile of the column that the plate is to fit, and vice versa.

Two relatively elongate nuts 5 are welded to each plate 4, one nut on each angled half 10 of said plate. Nuts are used in the present embodiment, but specially made members comprising threaded apertures could of course be used; such apertures could be incorporated into a plate.

Column 1 comprises two apertures 9 through which a plate 4 may be welded to said column. Apertures 9 are so positioned as to allow access to both halves 10 of said plate.

Referring to figures 6 and 7, two plates 4 are housed within column 1 and welded to the interior surface of column 1 , the edge of each plate being set back approximately 3mm from the end of the column. The ends of nuts 5 are flush with the edge of each plate, and as such are also set back approximately 3 mm from the end of the column. In the present instance the bolts are welded to the plates, and the plates welded to the column, but any other suitable means of attachment could of course be employed.

Referring to figures 9 and 10, it can be seen that base 2 is a hollow tube that is substantially quadrilateral in cross-section. The upper side of the base 2 comprises openings 6, the position of which corresponds to the position of the nuts 5 as situated within column 1. The upper side of the base is the surface upon which the column is to be mounted. Base 2 also comprises larger openings 10, seen in figure 1 1, on its underside corresponding to the openings 6 on the upper side; it is through these larger openings that bolts 7 may be passed, so as to reach openings 6. The threaded part of

the bolts may then be extended through openings 6 and into nuts 5; when the bolts are tightened fully the column is held at substantially 90° to the base.

In manufacture of the column, the base nuts 5 are first welded to plate 4. Two plates 4 are welded to the interior wall of column 1 such that nuts 5 are housed in spaces 3. Columns thus prepared may be distributed for use, along with bases.

In attaching the column to the base the column is then located such that the openings of nuts 5 are adjacent to the openings 6 on base 2. Bolts 7 are then inserted through openings 10 and 6 into nuts 5 and tightened such that the end of column 1 is held flush with the surface of base 2.

The column, when tightened down is in contact with the upper side of the base, but the nuts are not owing to the fact that they are set back from the end of the column by - around 3mm. When the column is cut square and has been mounted on the base it will be substantially orthogonal to the upper side of the base.

Turning to Figures 12 to 14, it is also possible to extend the column of the previous figures upwards using the same principle. Column extension part 11 has the same column structure as column 1 , but has a different fixing, so as to allow it to attach to the top of column 1.

As can be seen from Figure 13, the top of column 1 also comprises two plates carrying nuts in the same manner as the bottom of column 1. The bottom of column extension part 1 1 also comprises plates 12, but instead of carrying nuts, they carry unthreaded sleeves 13. The sleeve plates 12 are welded to the internal profile of extension column 11 in the same manner as the nut plates at the bottom of column 1. The sleeves are such that the threaded length of bolts 7 can pass through them, but the head of the bolts cannot.

Extension column 1 1 may then be attached to the top of column 1 by aligning column 1 and the extension column 1 1, inserting bolts through the sleeves at the bottom of extension part 1 1 , and threading these bolts into the corresponding nuts held at the top of column 1. The extension column may be securely joined to column

1 without compromising access to the outside of either column 1 or the extension column. The extension column is fitted easily and rapidly.

It has been set out so far that the column 1 has plates carrying threaded apertures welded to its internal profile, whereas the base 2 has mere holes, and extension column 1 1 sleeves through which bolts may pass. It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that these could be reversed, and the base 2 and extension column 1 1 may carry threaded apertures and the column 1 may bear holes or plates carrying sleeves.

Any combination that allows the column 1 to be attached to the base and an extension column 1 1 attached to column 1 may be employed. Indeed, means other than bolts and threaded apertures may be used.

The present invention has several advantages over existing arrangements. Firstly, a column comprising the threaded apertures in accordance with the present invention may be attached to a variety of different base types. Damaged parts may be easily removed and changed for new parts; for example if a base is damaged it may simply be unscrewed from the columns to which it is attached and replaced with a ^* new base; this is in contrast to the previous arrangements where bases were welded to columns.

Another significant advantage is that the user of the column has access to it all the way to the base. In different previous arrangements, a lower portion of the column would be housed in a metal sheathing part of the base that extended upward from the upper surface of the base. In the present arrangement the means for attaching the column to the base or second column is housed within the column itself. That is to say, that the threaded apertures/sleeves for that are used in attachment of the column to the base are within the column. This new access to lower parts of the column provides the user with an even more versatile racking system.

Also, all the components, namely the base and the column can be pre-protected from the weather, unlike those systems where the column is welded to the base.

The above embodiment is by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.