초록 ▼

The invention provides longitudinally extending track support and track members for a mobile storage unit. The track support's upper surface has at least one protrusion which projects above and extends longitudinally along that upper surface. A mating recess extends within and along the track member

The invention provides longitudinally extending track support and track members for a mobile storage unit. The track support's upper surface has at least one protrusion which projects above and extends longitudinally along that upper surface. A mating recess extends within and along the track member's under surface. The recess and protrusion are sized and shaped for loose-fit longitudinal engagement of the protrusion within the recess when the track member is laid atop the track support. This permits limited transverse movement of the track member with respect to the track support, reducing susceptibility of the mobile storage unit's wheels to derailment if a transverse force is applied to mobile storage unit as it rolls along the track.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A mobile storage system track, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending track support; (b) at least one protrusion projecting above, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track support; (c) a longitudinally extending track member; and, (d) at least on

What is claimed is: 1. A mobile storage system track, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending track support; (b) at least one protrusion projecting above, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track support; (c) a longitudinally extending track member; and, (d) at least one recess within, and extending longitudinally along, an under surface of said track member, said recess sized and shaped for loose-fit projection of said protrusion within, and extension along, said recess when said track member is laid atop said track support, said loose-fit projection of said protrusion within, and extension along, said recess providing a transverse space between at least one longitudnally extending edge of said recess and a closest longitudinally extending edge of said protrusion and permitting limited transverse movement of said track member with respect to said track support. 2. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second longitudinally extending parallel slots within, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track member. 3. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 2, said track member upper surface having a transverse cross-sectional shape wherein said slots are sloped outwardly and downwardly away from one another. 4. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 3, further comprising first and second longitudinally extending wear strips longitudinally insertable into said first and second slots respectively. 5. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 3, further comprising a wheel having a circumferentially grooved rim extending between spaced apart inwardly bevelled first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable within said first and second slots respectively for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 6. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 2, said track member upper surface having a transverse cross-sectional shape wherein said slots are sloped inwardly and downwardly toward one another. 7. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 6, further comprising first and second longitudinally extending wear strips longitudinally insertable into said first and second slots respectively. 8. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 6, further comprising a wheel having a flat circumferential rim extending between spaced apart first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable within said first and second slots respectively for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 9. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wheel having a cumferentially grooved rim extending between spaced apart inwardly bevelled first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable atop a convex surface formed in said track member upper surface, for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 10. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wheel having a flat circumferential rim extending between spaced apart first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable within a concave channel formed in said track member upper surface, for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 11. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 1, further comprising: (a) a first plurality of said track supports longitudinally aligned with one another and mounted on a support surface; and, (b) a second plurality of said track members longitudinally aligned with one another and laid atop said respective track supports with said respective track support protrusions projecting loosely within said respective track member recesses, permitting limited transverse movement of said track members with respect to said track supports. 12. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 11, further comprising first and second longitudinally extending parallel slots within and extending longitudinally along an upper surface of each one of said track members. 13. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 12, said track member upper surfaces each having a transverse cross-sectional shape wherein said slots are sloped outwardly and downwardly away from one another. 14. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 13, further comprising pluralities of first and second longitudinally extending wear strips longitudinally insertable into said first and second slots respectively. 15. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of wheels, each said wheel having a circumferentially grooved rim extending between inwardly bevelled spaced apart first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable within said first and second slots respectively for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 16. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 15, further comprising a selected plurality of said wheels rotatably coupled to a mobile storage unit for rolling movement of said storage unit along said mobile storage system track. 17. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 12, said track member upper surfaces each having a transverse cross-sectional shape wherein said slots are sloped inwardly and downwardly toward one another. 18. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 17, further comprising pluralities of first and second longitudinally extending wear strips longitudinally insertable into said first and second slots respectively. 19. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of wheels, each said wheel having a flat circumferential rim extending between spaced apart first and second circumferential sides of said wheel, said first and second sides positionable within said first and second slots respectively for rolling of said wheel along said track member without substantial contact of said rim with said track member at points on said rim away from said first and second sides. 20. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 19, further comprising a selected plurality of said wheels rotatably coupled to a mobile storage unit for rolling movement of said storage unit along said mobile storage system track. 21. A mobile storage system according to claim 11, wherein the limited transverse movement is within a range of about 1-5 mm. 22. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 1, wherein the limited transverse movement of said track member with respect to said track support is in a range between 1-5 mm. 23. A mobile storage system track, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending track support; (b) at least one protrusion projecting above, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track support; (c) a longitudinally extending track member; (d) at least one recess within, and extending longitudinally along, an under surface of said track member, said recess sized and shaped for loose-fit projection of said protrusion within, and extension along, said recess when said track member is laid atop said track support, permitting limited transverse movement of said track member with respect to said track support; and, (e) a plurality of fasteners for fastening said track support to a support surface, each one of said fasteners having a flange for bearing against a non-width reduced portion of said track support. 24. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 23, said track member further comprising a plurality of cavities in said track member under surface, each one of cavities sized and shaped to receive a head portion of one of said fasteners. 25. A mobile storage system track, comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending track support; (b) at least one protrusion projecting above, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track support; (c) a longitudinally extending track member; (d) at least one recess within, and extending longitudinally along, an under surface of said track member, said recess sized and shaped for loose-fit projection of said protrusion within, and extension along, said recess when said track member is laid atop said track support, permitting limited transverse movement of said track member with respect to said track support; (e) first and second longitudinally extending parallel slots within, and extending longitudinally along, an upper surface of said track member; and, (f) a cavity within and extending longitudinally along said protrusion. 26. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 25, further comprising a spring clip having a first end insertable within said cavity of a first one of said track supports and having a second end insertable within said cavity of a second one of said track supports, said first and second track supports positioned to longitudinally align said respective cavities. 27. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 26, further comprising: (a) a first wear strip having a first end insertable within said first slot of a first one of said track members and having a second end insertable within said first slot of a second one of said track members; (b) a second wear strip having a first end insertable within said second slot of said first one of said track members and having a second end insertable within said second slot of said second one of said track members; said first and second track members positioned to longitudinally align said first track member first slot with said second track member first slot and to longitudinally align said first track member second slot with said second track member second slot. 28. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 25, further comprising an end-stop sized and shaped for mating engagement within at least one of said slots of a selected one of said track members. 29. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 28, wherein said end-stop is fastenable to said selected one of said track members. 30. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 29, said end-stop first comprising an elastomeric cushioning member. 31. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 30, said end-stop further comprising a longitudinally extending stud. 32. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 31, further comprising an end plate fastenable to an end of a selected one of said track supports. 33. A mobile storage system track as defined in claim 32, said end plate having an aperture sized and positioned for projection of said end-stop stud into said end plate aperture. 34. A mobile storage system as defined in claim 25, further comprising first and second longitudinally extending wear strips longitudinally insertable into said first and second slots respectively. 35. Mobile storage apparatus, comprising: (a) a plurality of substantially parallel, longitudinally extending track supports fastened to a surface at spaced apart locations, each track support comprising at least one protrusion projecting above, and extending longitudinally along an upper surface of said track support; (b) a plurality of longitudinally extending track members, each one of said track members comprising at least one recess within, and extending longitudinally along an under surface of said one of said track members, said recess sized and shaped for loose-fit projection of a corresponding one of said protrusions within and extension along said recess when said one of said track members is laid atop a corresponding one of said track supports, said loose-fit projection of the corresponding one of said protrusions within and extension along said recess providing a transverse space between at least one longitudinally extending edge of said recess and a closest longitudinally extending edge of the corresponding one of said protrusions and permitting limited transverse movement of said one of said track members with respect to said corresponding one of said track supports; and, (c) a mobile storage unit comprising a plurality of rotatably mounted wheels, each one of said wheels sized and shaped for rolling of said one of said wheels along an upper surface of said track members. 36. A method of permitting rolling longitudinal movement and limited transverse movement of a mobile storage unit with respect to a track, said method comprising: (a) mounting a longitudinally extending track support on a support surface; (b) projecting an upper surface of said track support upwardly to provide a longitudinally extending protrusion on said track support, said longitudinally extending protrusion having a first width; (c) inwardly recessing an under surface of a track member to provide a longitudinally extending recess in said track member, said longitudinally extending recess having a second width greater than said first width; and, (d) laying said track member atop said track support while guiding said longitudinally extending protrusion into said longitudinally extending recess, wherein laying said track member atop said track support while guiding said longitudinally extending protrusion into said longitudinally extending recess further comprises providing a transverse space between at least one longitudinally extending edge of said recess and a closest longitudinally extending edge of said protrusion, thereby permitting limited transverse movement of said longitudinally extending protrusion within said longitudinally extending recess and corresponding limited transverse movement of said track member with respect to said track support. 37. A method as defined in claim 34, further comprising longitudinally slotting said upper surface of said track member along transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member. 38. A method as defined in claim 37, further comprising providing a longitudinally extending replaceable wear absorber on each of said transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member. 39. A method as defined in claim 37, further comprising sloping said transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member outwardly and downwardly away from one another. 40. A method as defined in claim 39, further comprising: (a) circumferentially grooving a wheel between first and second circumferential sides of said wheel; (b) inwardly bevelling first and second circumferential sides of said wheel; (c) rotatably mounting said wheel on said mobile storage unit; and, (d) positioning said first and second circumferential sides of said wheel on said transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member respectively. 41. A method as defined in claim 37, further comprising sloping said transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member inwardly and downwardly toward one another. 42. A method as defined in claim 41, further comprising: (a) providing a wheel having a flat rim extending circumferentially between first and second circumferential sides of said wheel; (b) rotatably mounting said wheel on said mobile storage unit; and, (c) positioning said first and second circumferential sides of said wheel on said transversely opposed longitudinally extending portions of said upper surface of said track member respectively.