Modular rack system and components therefor

Abstract

A new modular rack system is provided which can be ganged, expanded, contacted and modified in various ways, depending on the type of merchandise to be transported or stored. It can be readily moved by forklift and lifted by cables. Once the new modular rack system has fulfilled its transportation or storage function, it can be easily disassembled, transported, and stowed until needed for subsequent transportation and/or storage missions. In its most basic embodiment, the modular rack system generally comprises a plurality of beams, each beam consisting of an elongated member having first and second ends; and a plurality of coupler blocks, each block consisting of a three-dimensional polygonal body having a plurality of faces, each face having an aperture for receiving a single end of a beam, and each aperture including a retaining mechanism which releasably locks the received end within the aperture. For a preferred embodiment of the rack system, each coupler block has six cubically-arranged faces. Thus, by interconnecting multiple coupler blocks with multiple beams, cubic rack arrays of various shapes and sizes may be assembled. The length of the beams may be varied to accommodate various sizes and shapes of merchandise. The system further contemplates the incorporation of multiple shock absorbing feet, each of which is nestingly secured to a coupler block positioned at each lowermost corner of the rack array.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.