Runner assembly for mobile shelving

Abstract

The present invention relates to a runner assembly for supporting a mobile shelving unit above a longitudinal mobile shelving track, the runner assembly including a longitudinal body of inverted U-shaped configuration having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots adapted to accommodate fastening means for attachment of mobile shelving components to the longitudinal runner body. For example, a roller adapted to slideably engage the longitudinal track, clips for engaging the mobile shelving unit, and transverse cross members for connecting two runner bodies, are each mountable to the runner body, meaning that no additional post-processing of the runner is required once it is cut to size.

1 . A runner assembly for slidably supporting a mobile shelving unit above a longitudinal track, said runner assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal body; and   at least one slot extending longitudinally along the body, said slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means at desired positions along its length, whereby each of said fastening means is used to attach a mobile shelving component to the body; and   wherein said fastening means is a nut and bolt connection, and wherein the longitudinal slot is in the form of a T-shaped slot including a larger inner region adapted to slideably accommodate said nut and a narrower outer opening allowing for insertion through of said bolt to engage said nut.   
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A runner assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a transverse cross member to extend from the runner assembly to a second spaced apart runner assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A runner assembly as in  claim 7  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of at least one triangular shaped bracket adapted to reinforce the junction between the transverse cross member and the runner assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A runner assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a drive means for moving the runner assembly along the track. 
     
     
         10 . A runner assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of an end bracket, said fastening means being integral with the end bracket in the form of at least one projection extending outwardly therefrom and being shaped according to the cross section of the slot for snug insertion therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . A runner assembly as in  claim 10  wherein said end bracket further includes a means of engaging said longitudinal track to prevent tilt of the mobile shelving unit. 
     
     
         12 . A runner assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said longitudinal body includes an inverted U-shape configuration having an upper horizontal planar portion and two vertical planar portions extending downwardly from transverse edges thereof, each planar portion having at least one longitudinal slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means to any one of the planar portions. 
     
     
         13 . A runner assembly for slidably supporting a mobile shelving unit above a longitudinal track, said runner assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal body including at least one vertical planar portion; and   at least one slot extending longitudinally along said at least one vertical planar portion, said at least one slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means at desired positions along its length, whereby each of said fastening means is used to attach a mobile shelving component to the body.   
     
     
         14 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a transverse cross member to extend from the runner assembly to a second spaced apart runner assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A runner assembly as in  claim 14  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of at least one triangular shaped bracket adapted to reinforce the junction between the transverse cross member and the runner assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a drive means for moving the runner assembly along the track. 
     
     
         17 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of an end bracket, said fastening means being integral with the end bracket in the form of at least one projection extending outwardly therefrom and being shaped according to the cross section of the slot for snug insertion therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said longitudinal body includes a horizontal planar portion having at least one longitudinal slot extending along an upper surface thereof, said at least one slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means the horizontal planar portion. 
     
     
         19 . A runner assembly as in  claim 18  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a mobile shelving unit to be supported above the horizontal planar portion. 
     
     
         20 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said longitudinal body includes a horizontal planar portion having at least one longitudinal slot extending along an underside thereof, said at least one slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means to the horizontal planar portion. 
     
     
         21 . A runner assembly as in  claim 20  wherein said fastening means is for attachment of a roller to be suspended from the horizontal planar portion, said roller adapted to slideably engage said longitudinal track. 
     
     
         22 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said longitudinal body includes at least one vertical planar portion having at least one longitudinal slot extending along an outer side thereof, said at least one slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means to the vertical planar portion. 
     
     
         23 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said longitudinal body includes an inverted U-shape configuration having an upper horizontal planar portion and two vertical planar portions extending downwardly from transverse edges thereof, each planar portion having at least one longitudinal slot adapted to accommodate one or more fastening means to any one of the planar portions. 
     
     
         24 . A runner assembly as in  claim 13  wherein said fastening means is in the form of an engageable nut and a bolt adapted to be inserted through an aperture in said mobile shelving component, and said longitudinal slot is in the form of a T-shaped slot including a larger inner region adapted to accommodate said nut and a narrower outer opening allowing for insertion there through of said bolt to thereby engage said nut. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A runner assembly for supporting a mobile shelving unit above a longitudinal mobile shelving track, said runner assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal body of inverted U-shaped configuration having an upper horizontal planar portion and two vertical planar portions extending downwardly from transverse edges of the horizontal planar portion;   a plurality of longitudinally extending slots extending along an upper and lower side of said horizontal planar portion, and along an outer side of said two vertical planar portions, said slots adapted to accommodate fastening means for attachment of mobile shelving components to the longitudinal body, including a roller to the lower side of the horizontal planar portion, said roller adapted to slideably engage said longitudinal track, connection means to the upper side of the horizontal planar portion for engaging the mobile shelving unit, and transverse cross members to the outer side of the vertical planar portion for connecting two longitudinal bodies.