# US 2014/0197295 A1 · Impact Barrier for a Storage Rack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197295 A1 - Document ID: US20140197295A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/743,165 - Filed: 2013-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: Southwest Agri-Plastics, Inc. - Applicants: Southwest Agri-Plastics, Inc. - Inventors: Victor A. Sahm, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197295A1 ## CPC - A47B 95/043: {Protecting rims, buffers or the like} - B65G 1/02: Storage devices (furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F) - A47B 96/14: Bars, uprights, struts, or like supports, for cabinets, brackets, or the like (aspects of adjusting height or inclination of shelves or brackets A47B57/00) - A47B 2095/046: {of the snap-on type} - B65G 2207/40: Safety features of loads, equipment or persons - F16F 7/12: using plastic deformation of members {(F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192)} - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An impact barrier for a storage rack support structure includes an arcuate outer wall having opposed first and second ends, the first and second ends being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. The impact barrier further includes a first deflection element, a second deflection element, and a third deflection element, wherein the third deflection element is position between the first and second deflection elements. The first deflection element extends from the first end to a first medial position on the outer wall between the first end and the third deflection element, and the second deflection element extends from the second end to a second medial position on the outer wall between the second end and the third deflection element. Upon impact, the first, second and third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated by the impact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An impact barrier for a storage rack support structure, the barrier comprising: an outer wall having opposed first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween; a first deflection element, a second deflection element, and a third deflection element, wherein the third deflection element is positioned between the first and second deflection elements; the first deflection element extending from the first end to a first medial position on the outer wall between the first end and the third deflection element; the second deflection element extending from the second end to a second medial position on the outer wall between the second end and the third deflection element; and wherein upon impact, at least one of the first, second or third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated from the impact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, further comprising a first hinge disposed between the first medial position and the third deflection element and a second hinge disposed between the second medial position and the third deflection element to facilitate movement of the first and second ends between a locked position to secure the protector to the storage rack and an unlocked position, to facilitate attachment or removal of the protector from the support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein the outer wall is arcuate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein the third deflection element comprises a pair of connecting segments extending between the outer wall and a base portion, the base portion positioned to abut the support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein the first and second deflection elements each include a planar segment positioned to abut and otherwise frictionally contact the support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein a central deflection element has a larger surface area than other deflection elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein the length of the outer wall is about 1.5 times the cross-sectional diameter of the barrier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein one of the deflection elements abuts a front surface of the support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1 further comprising a grip positioned at one or more of the group selected from the first end, the second end and on at least some of the plurality of spaced apart deflection elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The impact barrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the deflection elements has a surface area that is at least about twice a surface area of any of the other deflection elements. ### Claim 11 An impact barrier for a support structure, comprising: an arcuate outer wall having opposed first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween; a first deflection element, a second deflection element, and a third deflection element, wherein the third deflection element is positioned between the first and second deflection elements; the first deflection element extending from the first end to a first medial position on the outer wall between the first end and the third deflection element; the second deflection element extending from the second end to a second medial position on the outer wall between the second end and the third deflection element; and a first hinge disposed between the first medial position and the third deflection element; a second hinge disposed between the second medial position and the third deflection element; and wherein the first and second hinges enable expansion of the gap to facilitate attachment and removal of the impact barrier from the support structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The impact barrier of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of each deflection element includes a planar segment having a surface that abuts the support structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The impact barrier of claim 11, wherein a third deflection element includes a larger surface area than either of the first and second deflection elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The impact barrier of claim 11 further including a grip extending from the first and second ends of the wall to secure the impact barrier to the support structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The impact barrier of claim 11, wherein the outer wall is arcuate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The impact barrier of claim 11, wherein the first, second and third deflection elements form a bounded region for receiving the support structure therein. ### Claim 17 An impact barrier for a storage rack support structure, the barrier comprising: an outer wall having opposed first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween; a first deflection element, a second deflection element, and a third deflection element, wherein the third deflection element is positioned between the first and second deflection elements; the first deflection element extending from the first end to a first medial position on the outer wall between the first end and the third deflection element; the second deflection element extending from the second end to a second medial position on the outer wall between the second end and the third deflection element; wherein each of the first, second and third deflection elements including a planar segment extending along a length to form a bounded region to receive the support structure therein; and wherein upon impact, at least one of the first, second and third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated from the impact. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The impact barrier of claim 17, wherein the outer wall is arcuate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The impact barrier of claim 17 further comprising a first hinge disposed between the first medial position and the third deflection element and a second hinge disposed between the second medial position and the third deflection element to facilitate movement of the first and second ends between a locked position to secure the protector to the storage rack and an unlocked position, to facilitate attachment or removal of the protector from the support structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The impact barrier of claim 17, wherein the third deflection element comprises a pair of connecting segments extending between the arcuate wall and a base portion, the base portion positioned to abut the support structure.