AU2017101746B4 - A pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet (10) intended for the transportation of frozen products, such as frozen meat. The pallet (10) is injection moulded and includes a top surface (11), a bottom surface (12), and a pair of side surfaces (13) and a second pair of side surfaces (14). Extending between the side surfaces (13) are a pair of passages (22) that are configured to receive the tines of a forklift, that may be employed to lift a pallet (10).

Description

The present invention relates to pallets, and more particularly but not exclusively to pallets that are used to transport frozen meat.

BACKGROUND [0002] Pallets are of a generally square or rectangular configuration, with the pallet having an upper surface that is to receive product to be transported by the pallet. One such product is frozen meat.

[0003] A disadvantage of previous plastic pallets employed to transport frozen meat, is that they are constructed in a manner which means they must have a hollow inner drum like body cavity. They are also not adequately durable enough to withstand the impact of forklift tines when being employed in the daily functions for which they were designed. This inadequacy results in holes being punctured into the side walls of the previous pallets by fork lift tines when impacted in vulnerable side wall areas. The holes expose the pallets inner hollow cavity which then allows the ingress of contaminated water and debris that is likely to present a hygiene hazard to the frozen meat. Additionally, the previous pallets are designed to include a welded steel frame that is located inside the inner hollow cavity of the pallet in order to give it integral strength and stability. Without this steel frame the pallet will not meet the required specification to handle the required load of frozen meat. Once the hollow inner cavities have been exposed by fork tine impact damage the steel frame is subject to contaminated water and will go rusty resulting in additional potential contamination to the frozen meat which has a tendency to compound the hygiene issues associated with the previous pallets. These previous pallets are manufactured by a rotational moulding process.

OBJECT [0004] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

14594216_1:hxa

2017101746 23 Apr 2018

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] An injected moulded pallet, formed of plastics material, the pallet being of a square or rectangular configuration and including:

a top surface; a bottom surface;

a first pair of side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first pair of side surface being generally parallel and transversely spaced;

a second pair of side surfaces, the second pair of side surfaces being generally parallel and transversely spaced and generally perpendicular to the first pair of side surfaces, with the second pair of side surfaces also extending between the top and bottom surfaces; and wherein the top surface includes a pair of edge portions, each edge portion being located adjacent a respective one of the first pair of side surfaces, and a first intermediate portion, with the portions providing a plurality of upwardly extending projections, to receive product to be transported by the pallet, with the top surface further including further intermediate portions, the further intermediate portions being located so that the edge portions and first intermediate portion are located higher than the further intermediate portions, so that the edge portion and first intermediate portions are separated by recesses, with the pallet further including first passages adjacent the upper surface, that are configured to receive tines of a forklift, and further passages, the further passages being located below the first passages, with the further passages being configured to receive the tines of a forklift, with the further passages being generally perpendicular to the first passages and generally parallel to the recesses, the recesses have a transverse width, and the further passages have a transverse width approximately the same as the transverse width of the recesses.

[0006] Preferably, the pallet has no internal enclosed cavities.

[0007] Preferably, there are passages extending between the recesses and first passages.

[0008] Preferably, further passages are above the recesses.

14594216_1:hxa

2017101746 23 Apr 2018

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0010] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic top isometric view of a pallet;

[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic bottom isometric view of the pallet of Figure 1;

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic bottom plan view of the pallet of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of the pallet of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the pallet of Figure 1; and [0016] Figure 6 is a further schematic side elevation of the pallet of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0017] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a plastic pallet 10. The pallet 10 may be of a rectangular configuration, however most preferably it is of a square configuration.

[0018] The pallet 10 is injection moulded, so that it is solid, that is it has no internal cavities, that if exposed (via damage to the pallet 10), do not pose a hygiene problem in respect of cleaning the pallet 10. The pallet 10 includes a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12, a pair of first side surfaces 13 and a second pair of side surfaces 14.

[0019] The side surfaces 13 and 14 are generally perpendicular to the surfaces 11 and 12. Additionally, the surfaces 13 are generally parallel but transversely spaced, and perpendicular to the surfaces 14. The surfaces 14 are generally parallel and transversely spaced.

[0020] The top surface 11 includes a first pair of edge portions 15, and an intermediate portion 16 equally spaced from the edge portions 15. The portions 15 and 16 extend generally parallel, with the edge portions 15 each being located adjacent a respective one of the side surfaces 13.

14594216_1:hxa

2017101746 23 Apr 2018 [0021] Located between the portions 15 and 16, are further intermediate surface portions 17 and planar portions 18, that are recessed relative to the portions 15 and 16, so as to be located at a lower height. Accordingly the portions 17 and 18 provide passages 29 located between the portions 15 and 16.

[0022] The surface 12 provides portions 20 that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, with two other portions 20 being located adjacent the side surfaces 13.

[0023] The portions 20 are separated by portions 21, that are recessed relative to the portions 20 so that there is between the portions 20 grooves or slots 28. The surface 12 also has apertures 24 that extend from the slots 28.

[0024] Extending between the side surfaces 13 are pair of passages 22 that are configured to receive the tines of a forklift, that may be employed to lift the pallet 10. The apertures 24 extend so as to communicate with the passages 22.

[0025] Extending between the side surfaces 14 are slots (passages) 23 that are configured to receive the tines of a forklift, so that the pallet 10 can be lifted. As seen in Figure 2, the slots 23 are perpendicular to the passages 22.

[0026] As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the passages 23 have a width 26, that is approximately the same as the width 25 of the slots 28. Also as can be seen in Figure 1 and 2, the passages 23 are generally parallel to the slots 28, and above the slots 28.

[0027] Preferably the pallet 10 includes high impact resistant reinforcing insert elements fixed in the comers and side walls, the reinforcing elements may be formed of metal or plastics material and they are embedded in the corners and perpendicular peripheral side walls of the pallet as described in Australian Patent 2009200360.

[0028] The above described preferred embodiment has a number of advantages, including the upper surface being configured to inhibit damage to frozen meat being transported by the pallet 10, while being injection moulded, enables the pallet 10 to be formed without any internal cavities or welded steel internal support frame, that may be exposed by damage to the pallet 10 and therefore introduce a hygiene issues.

14594216_1:hxa

2017101746 23 Apr 2018

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. An injected moulded pallet, formed of plastics material, the pallet being of a square or rectangular configuration and including:

   a top surface; a bottom surface;

   a first pair of side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first pair of side surface being generally parallel and transversely spaced;

   a second pair of side surfaces, the second pair of side surfaces being generally parallel and transversely spaced and generally perpendicular to the first pair of side surfaces, with the second pair of side surfaces also extending between the top and bottom surfaces; and wherein the top surface includes a pair of edge portions, each edge portion being located adjacent a respective one of the first pair of side surfaces, and a first intermediate portion, with the portions providing a plurality of upwardly extending projections, to receive product to be transported by the pallet, with the top surface further including further intermediate portions, the further intermediate portions being located so that the edge portions and first intermediate portion are located higher than the further intermediate portions, so that the edge portion and first intermediate portions are separated by recesses, with the pallet further including first passages adjacent the upper surface, that are configured to receive tines of a forklift, and further passages, the further passages being located below the first passages, with the further passages being configured to receive the tines of a forklift, with the further passages being generally perpendicular to the first passages and generally parallel to the recesses, the recesses have a transverse width, and the further passages have a transverse width approximately the same as the transverse width of the recesses.
2. 2. The injection moulded pallet of claim 1, wherein the pallet has no internal enclosed cavities.
3. 3. The pallet of claim 1 or 2, wherein there are passages extending between the recesses and first passages.

   14594216_1:hxa

   2017101746 23 Apr 2018
4. 4. The pallet of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein further passages are above the recesses.

   OZKOR Pty. Ltd.

   Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON

   14594216_1:hxa

   2017101746 23 Apr 2018

   2/5

   II ₂₀1710Π4⁶

   3/5

   2017101746 28 Nov

   PO

   J

   4/5

   2017101746 28 Nov 2017 ff₃4 \O
5. 5/5

   2017101746 23 Apr 2018