Anti-tip bracket for use with mobile shelving

Abstract

An anti-tip assembly for use with a shelving system movable along a track. The track includes a first flange overhanging a first longitudinally extending channel and a second flange overhanging a second longitudinally extending channel. The anti-tip assembly includes an open ended channel, and a first bracket having a first flange extending into a first open end of the open ended channel, and a second flange extending into the first channel of the track. The anti-tip assembly further includes a second bracket having a first flange extending into a second open end of the open ended channel, and a second flange extending into the second channel of the track. The first and second brackets are slidable inside the open ended channel and coupled together with a maximum spacing therebetween. A biasing member biases the first and second brackets outwardly away from one another within the maximum spacing.

1 . An in-track anti-tip system for use with a shelving unit and a pair of spaced apart tracks that together define a travel path, the system comprising:
 a support frame connectable to the shelving unit;   a plurality of movable support assemblies connected to the support frame for moving the support frame along the tracks, the support frame being configured to support the shelving unit on the movable support assemblies while being moved along the tracks; and   a plurality of anti-tip assemblies connectable to the support frame, each of the anti-tip assemblies having a pair of spaced apart juxtaposed bracket members movably couplable to the tracks, the bracket members of the anti-tip assemblies being movable laterally relative to the travel path to accommodate misalignment of the tracks.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  for use with a pair of spaced apart tracks each having a first channel extending along the travel path, and a second channel opposite the first channel and extending along the travel path, wherein the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies flank one of the tracks,
 a first of the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a first flange extending into the first channel of the track flanked by the bracket members, and 
 a second of the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a second flange extending into the second channel of the track flanked by the bracket members. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second bracket members are movable relative to each other to modify a distance therebetween, the distance being limited to maintain the first flange inside the first channel and the second flange inside the second channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the anti-tip assemblies further comprises a coupling assembly that couples the bracket members together across the track flanked by the bracket members, the coupling assembly limiting the distance between the bracket members to maintain the first flange inside the first channel and the second flange inside the second channel as the support frame is moved along the tracks. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second bracket members each comprises a through-hole,
 the coupling assembly comprises a nut and a limit bolt having a head portion, and a shaft portion extending away from the head portion,   the head portion of the limit bolt is adjacent the through-hole of the first bracket member, the head portion being configured not to pass through the through-hole of the first bracket member,   the shaft portion of the limit bolt extending from the head portion through the through-hole of the first bracket member, across the track flanked by the first and second bracket members, and through the through-hole of the second bracket member to position a threaded distal portion of the shaft portion outside the through-hole formed in the second bracket member,   the nut is threadedly engaged with the threaded distal portion of the shaft portion of the limit bolt, the nut being configured not to pass through the through-hole of the second bracket member, and   the distance between the bracket members is limited by the head portion of the limit bolt and the nut.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling assembly comprises a compressed spring disposed about the shaft portion of the limit bolt between the bracket members, the compressed spring biasing the bracket members outwardly away from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the each of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a compressed spring disposed between the bracket members that biases the bracket members outwardly away from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  for use with a pair of spaced apart tracks having a first channel extending along the travel path and a second channel opposite the first channel and extending along the travel path, wherein the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies flank one of the tracks,
 a first of the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a first flange and a second flange, the first flange extending laterally relative to the travel path and into the first channel of the track flanked by the bracket members, the second flange being slidably connected to the support frame, and 
 a second of the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a third flange and a fourth flange, the third flange extending laterally relative to the travel path into the second channel of the track flanked by the bracket members, the fourth flange being slidably connected to the support frame. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second flanges are slidably connected to the support frame by a mounting bracket comprising an open ended channel that extends laterally relative to the travel path,
 the second flange of the first of the bracket is received inside a first open end of the open ended channel, and   the fourth flange of the second of the bracket is received inside a second open end of the open ended channel, the second and fourth flanges being slidable inside the open ended channel relative to the mounting bracket and each other.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second and fourth flanges are adjacent a slip spacer anchored to the mounting bracket inside the open ended channel, the second and fourth flanges being slidable inside the open ended channel along the slip spacer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second and fourth flanges are sandwiched between a pair of slip spacers anchored to the mounting bracket inside the open ended channel. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the open ended channel is at least partially defined by a sidewall having a pair of apertures, and
 each of the slip spacers comprises a projection received inside one of the pair of apertures that anchors the slip spacer inside the open ended channel.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket members of each of the anti-tip assemblies flank one of the tracks, and the system further comprises:
 a foot actuated braking assembly connected to a selected one of the anti-tip assemblies, when actuated, the braking assembly moving the bracket members of the selected anti-tip assembly inwardly toward one another to clamp the track flanked by the first and second bracket members therebetween and limit movement of the first and second bracket members relative to the flanked track.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the selected anti-tip assembly further comprises a compression spring disposed between the bracket members of the selected anti-tip assembly, the compression spring being configured to bias the bracket members outwardly from the track flanked by the bracket members when the braking assembly is not actuated to allow the bracket members to move relative to the flanked track. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  for use with a pair of spaced apart tracks having a central portion with an upwardly opening channel formed therein, wherein each of the movable support assemblies comprises a wheel configured to be received inside and roll along the upwardly opening channel formed in the central portion of one of the tracks. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  for use with a pair of spaced apart tracks having a central portion with a rail, wherein each of the movable support assemblies comprises a wheel having a groove configured to receive the rail, the wheel being configured to roll along the rail. 
     
     
         17 . An anti-tip assembly connectable to a support frame and an elongated track mountable to a floor, the track having a longitudinally extending central portion flanked by a first outwardly extending flange and a second outwardly extending flange, the first flange overhanging a first longitudinally extending channel, the second flange overhanging a second longitudinally extending channel, the anti-tip assembly comprising:
 a mounting bracket connectable to the support frame, and when so connected, the mounting bracket defining a first portion of an open ended channel and a portion of the support frame defining a second portion of the open ended channel;   a first bracket member comprising a body portion, a first flange extending outwardly from the body portion, and a second flange spaced from the first flange and extending outwardly from the body portion, the first flange of the first bracket member extending into a first open end of the open ended channel and the second flange of the first bracket member extending into the first longitudinally extending channel of the track underneath the first flange overhanging the first longitudinally extending channel;   a second bracket member comprising a body portion, a first flange extending outwardly from the body portion, and a second flange spaced from the first flange and extending outwardly from the body portion, the first flange of the second bracket member extending into a second open end of the open ended channel and the second flange of the second bracket member extending into the second longitudinally extending channel of the track underneath the second flange overhanging the second longitudinally extending channel, the first flanges of the first and second bracket members being slidable inside the open ended channel relative to the mounting bracket; and   a coupling assembly movably coupling the first and second bracket members together and determining a maximum spacing therebetween, the coupling assembly comprising a biasing member positioned between the first and second bracket members and configured to bias the first and second bracket members outwardly away from one another within the maximum spacing.   
     
     
         18 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a braking assembly configured to decrease the maximum spacing between the first and second bracket members to clamp the track between the first and second bracket members.   
     
     
         19 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the body portion of the first bracket member comprises an aperture located between the first and second flanges, and the anti-tip assembly further comprises:
 a braking assembly pivotally connected to the coupling assembly adjacent the first bracket member, the braking assembly being pivotable relative the first bracket member between a brake released position and a brake engaged position, the braking assembly comprising a projection positioned inside the aperture of the body portion when the braking assembly is in the brake released position,   when the braking assembly is in the brake engaged position, the projection being positionable upon the body portion outside the aperture, and when positioned upon the body portion outside the aperture, the projection pressing the first bracket member toward the first flange of the track and causing the braking assembly to pull the second bracket member toward the second flange of the track thereby decreasing the maximum spacing between the first and second bracket members clamping the track between the first and second bracket members.   
     
     
         20 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the aperture of the first bracket member comprises a notch formed in an edge of the body portion of the first bracket member between the first and second flanges. 
     
     
         21 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first wear plate disposed between the first bracket member and the first flange of the track; and   a second wear plate disposed between the second bracket member and the second flange of the track, when the braking assembly is in the brake engaged position, the first bracket member presses the first wear plate into frictional engagement with the first flange of the track and the second bracket member presses the second wear plate into frictional engagement with the second flange of the track thereby limiting the movement of the anti-tip assembly along the track.   
     
     
         22 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling assembly comprises a rotatable member that is rotatable relative to the first bracket member and the second bracket member, the body portion of the first bracket member comprises a first outwardly extending projection located between the first and second flanges, the body portion of the second bracket member comprises a second outwardly extending projection located between the first and second flanges, and the anti-tip assembly further comprises:
 a brake actuator configured to selectively rotate the rotatable member relative the first and second bracket members between a brake released position and a brake engaged position;   a first braking member adjacent the body portion of the first bracket member and non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable member for rotation therewith, the first braking member comprising a first aperture positioned to receive the first projection of the first bracket member when the rotatable member is in the brake released position, the first braking member further comprising a first surface outside the first aperture positionable upon the first projection of the first bracket member when the rotatable member is in the brake engaged position;   a second braking member adjacent the body portion of the second bracket member and non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable member for rotation therewith, the second braking member comprising a second aperture positioned to receive the second projection of the second bracket member when the rotatable member is in the brake released position, the second braking member further comprising a second surface outside the second aperture positionable upon the second projection of the second bracket member when the rotatable member is in the brake engaged position,   when the rotatable member is in the brake engaged position, the first surface pressing on the first projection to press the first bracket member toward the first flange of the track, the second surface pressing on the second projection to press the second bracket member toward the second flange of the track to thereby decreasing the maximum spacing between the first and second bracket members clamping the track between the first and second bracket members.   
     
     
         23 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first wear plate disposed between the first bracket member and the first flange of the track; and   a second wear plate disposed between the second bracket member and the second flange of the track, when the rotatable member is in the brake engaged position, the first bracket member presses the first wear plate into frictional engagement with the first flange of the track and the second bracket member presses the second wear plate into frictional engagement with the second flange of the track thereby limiting the movement of the anti-tip assembly along the track.   
     
     
         24 . The anti-tip assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a bumper assembly mounted to the mounting bracket and extending outwardly therefrom to a location forward of the mounting bracket, the first bracket member, the second bracket member, and the coupling assembly.   
     
     
         25 . A movable shelving system comprising:
 a shelving unit;   a pair of spaced apart tracks defining a travel path;   a support frame connectable to the shelving unit;   a plurality of movable support assemblies connected to the support frame and configured to move the support frame along the tracks, the support frame being configured to support the shelving unit on the movable support assemblies while being moved along the tracks; and   a plurality of anti-tip assemblies connected to the support frame, each of the anti-tip assemblies having a track engaging assembly that movably couples the support frame to the tracks, the track engaging assembly being movable laterally relative to the travel path to accommodate misalignment of the tracks.   
     
     
         26 . A movable shelving system comprising:
 a pair of spaced apart tracks defining a travel path;   a plurality of mobile shelving units movably mounted to the tracks to travel relative thereto along the travel path; and   a plurality of anti-tip assemblies connected to each of the shelving units, each of the anti-tip assemblies having a track engaging assembly that movably couples at least a portion of one of the mobile shelving units to one of the tracks, the track engaging assembly being movable laterally relative to the travel path to accommodate misalignment of the tracks.   
     
     
         27 . The movable shelving system of  claim 24 , wherein each of at least a portion of the anti-tip assemblies comprises a bumper assembly, each of the bumper assemblies being connected to one of the mobile shelving units by a first anti-tip assembly and positioned to engage a second anti-tip assembly connected to a different one of mobile shelving units. 
     
     
         28 . A movable shelving unit comprising:
 a plurality of upright supports;   a plurality of spaced apart tracks defining a travel path;   a plurality of movable support assemblies each connected to and supporting one of the upright supports on one of the tracks, the movable support assemblies being configured to move the upright supports along the tracks; and   at least one anti-tip assembly connected one of the movable support assemblies, the at least one anti-tip assembly having a track engaging assembly that movably couples the one of the movable support assemblies to the track upon which the one of the movable support assemblies is supported, the track engaging assembly being movable laterally relative to the travel path to accommodate misalignment of the tracks.