Track assembly for mobile shelving

Abstract

The present invention relates to a track assembly being of a hollow profile construction and having superior strength and stiffness. All functional components of the track, including joining means between tracks and between the track and end brackets, anti-tilt means, and levelling means, are located either inside or beneath the track. The track assembly upper surface is therefore aesthetically pleasing and free from tripping hazards.

1 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving, said track extrusion characterised by a longitudinally extending hollow region inside the track extrusion configured to receive a joining means at a longitudinal end thereof and thereby facilitate the unobtrusive joining of said track extrusion with a further mobile shelving component. 
     
     
         2 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 1  wherein said track extrusion is substantially triangular in cross section and has a central upper channel extending between two diagonally extending external walls, and two hollow regions disposed on transverse sides of said central channel and below the external walls, said two hollow regions adapted to receive two joining means. 
     
     
         3 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said further mobile shelving component is in the form of a second track extrusion, and said joining means is in the form of an elongate joining pin having a first end adapted to be received and locked in the hollow region of said track extrusion, and a second end adapted to extend longitudinally outwardly from said track extrusion to be received in the hollow region of said second track extrusion. 
     
     
         4 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 3  wherein each joining pin is lockable in each track extrusion hollow region using at least one locking bolt adapted to engage coaxially aligned apertures extending through the joining pin and a lowermost surface associated with the hollow region, from the underside of the track extrusion. 
     
     
         5 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 4  wherein said locking pin apertures are positioned such that when two track extrusions are joined together, they abut at their ends and thereby form flush diagonally extending external walls. 
     
     
         6 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 4  or  claim 5  further including one or more packers adapted to sit beneath the joint between the first and second track extrusions, wherein the height of the joint is determined by the number of packers therebeneath. 
     
     
         7 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 6  wherein each packer is rectangular and is adapted to sit longitudinally beneath said joint. 
     
     
         8 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 7  wherein said track extrusion includes an outwardly extending body on one side thereof for supporting further mobile shelving components, in which case said packer is rectangular and adapted to sit transversely beneath the joint. 
     
     
         9 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 7  or  claim 8  wherein each packer includes a 3×2 matrix of apertures, and a means of engaging an adjacently stacked packer. 
     
     
         10 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as in  claim 9  wherein the apertures of an uppermost packer are positioned and configured to accommodate head portions of said locking bolts. 
     
     
         11 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein said further mobile shelving component is in the form of an end bracket, and said joining means is in the form of at least one elongate joining pin integrally formed with said end bracket and adapted to be received and locked in the hollow region of said track extrusion. 
     
     
         12 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 6  wherein each joining pin is lockable in each track extrusion hollow region using at least one locking bolt adapted to engage coaxially aligned apertures extending through the joining pin and a lowermost surface associated with the hollow region, from the underside of the track extrusion. 
     
     
         13 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 7  wherein said locking pin apertures are positioned such that when the end bracket is joined to the track extrusion, it abuts with the track extrusion end. 
     
     
         14 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 12  or  claim 13  further including one or more packers adapted to sit beneath the end of the track, wherein the height of the joint is determined by the number of packers therebeneath. 
     
     
         15 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 14  wherein each packer is rectangular and is adapted to sit longitudinally beneath the track end. 
     
     
         16 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as characterised in  claim 15  wherein each packer includes a 3×2 matrix of apertures, and a means of engaging an adjacently stacked packer. 
     
     
         17 . A track extrusion for mobile shelving as in  claim 16  wherein the apertures of an uppermost packer are positioned and configured to accommodate head portions of said locking bolts. 
     
     
         18 . A track assembly for a mobile shelving unit, said track assembly characterised by:
 a longitudinal track body including a central longitudinally extending channel and at least one longitudinal recess disposed above and alongside said channel;   a runner adapted to slideably engage said central longitudinal channel and support said shelving unit thereabove, said runner including a suspended portion at an end thereof having at least one outwardly extending shoulder adapted to engage said at least one longitudinal recess and thereby prevent said shelving unit from tilting about a transverse axis.   
     
     
         19 . A track assembly for a mobile shelving unit as characterised in  claim 18  wherein said runner suspended portion includes two oppositely and outwardly extending shoulders adapted to engage two longitudinal recesses disposed above and on opposed transverse sides of said central longitudinally extending channel. 
     
     
         20 . A track assembly as characterised in  claim 18  or  claim 19  wherein said runner suspended portion forms part of a runner end bracket. 
     
     
         21 . A track assembly as characterised in  claim 20  wherein said runner includes two end brackets each having integrally formed suspended portions including shoulders adapted to engage the track longitudinal recesses. 
     
     
         22 . A track assembly as characterised in any one of  claims 18 - 21  wherein said track central channel is substantially V-shaped and adapted to support rollers associated with said runner thereabove, whereby opposed outer edges of each roller contacts an opposed surface of the V-shaped channel.