CA2119791A1

CA2119791A1 - Palletised containers and pallets therefor

Info

Publication number: CA2119791A1
Application number: CA 2119791
Authority: CA
Inventors: Raymond James Keys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-26
Filing date: 1994-03-24
Publication date: 1994-09-27
Also published as: GB9405999D0; GB2276368A; AU5907994A

Abstract

ABSTRACT
PALLETISED CONTAINERS AND PALLETS THEREFOR
A pallet for a container or case comprises a rectangular base having flaps (28) extending from two opposed sides thereof, and a plurality of stiffening means (24,32) extending across the base, with the base being foldable about a line extending across the base, preferably centrally, between the two sides which have the flaps. This folding facilitates the fitting of the pallet to a container (10) by interfitting of the container. Other pallets, which are free-standing, are also described.
(Fig. 4).

Description

211~791 ,, PAI LETISED CO~TAIN~S ANI~ PA~I!S ~EFOR
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Thi~ inventio~ relate3 to palle~i~ocl .i con~aiIIer~ ~ aIld par~ ula~ly to what are know~ ~
S i~teg:rated case and pa~le~ ~tructures. It i8 ~lso c:o}laerned with pallet~ f or attachment to cases or c:ontainers .
?he tr~nsportation o good~ container~ or ca;es made for example ~rom corrugated ~ibreboard ~aterial makes it desirabl~ for the indi~ridual ~; containers o~ l:aS~1~8 to have their own ~ r~tegrated pallets, 80 that ~he unit~ can readily be lift:ed by a ~ork lift truck for example. With an iDteg:Catet case ;1 ?nd pallet con~truction, the pall~t re~ail2~ wil:h the ,l 15 c~n~ainer or aa~e during tran~por~a~ion, there~y avoiding the need ~or a sepa~cate, conventional pallet.
GB-A- 7 3 6 6 9 ~ describe s a supportin~ pall~t de6i~ned to ke removably agsocia~ecl with a cardboard o~ box. The pallet i8 attaahed to ~he ~t~m a::e of the bo~c by ha~ing ~lap~ in6e~tab1e through t~e op~n }~ott~m -~ o:E the ~ox so a~ to lie within the box ~ruc~ure. ~he pall~t i a ri~id compc~ne~t ~ad~ fr~m two ~heetR o~
cor~ugated ca:Fdboard with spacer me2aber~ there~el;wee~, thus preventi~g any folding of the basic pallet ~` 2~ ~3tructure.
~1 GB-A-151~730 describs~ a rig' d pallet which -j ag i~ at:tached ~o the bo 1:~m o~ a aarto~ by haYing a .~ ~lap whi ;:~ is in~;ertabl~ u,nder ~Elaps c~i~ th~ ~arton ~j itseli~, thereby to hold the pall el~ plac~.
GB-~-1601365 cl~;cribe~ al pallet ~or attachment to a c:orltainer, wherein the paLllet c~ pri~es c~ a ~ir3t rigit sheet co-extens~a~e with th~ ba~;e o the aoIl~ainer and a ~;econd sheet whih i~; . oldabl~ and is affix~d to ~he fir~t ~;heet, th~ folding action crea~inq - ~ 35 ~laps by which the palle~ caTl be r~hlovably atta~hed to ;1 '.~
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;' the co~tain~r.
~-A-2121003 agaill d~4~ihe~; a aombi~d ca3~ton ant upporting palle~t ~rher~ th~ pallet ha~ ~
ba~e of the same size a:rld ;l~orm a~i the erec:ted s::a~ton . 5aIld has insertion ~lap~ at the edge~ wh:Lch tuck ~ Ia~o - th~3 base o~ the cartor~.
GB-A-21~8582 des~rib~as ~ pall~t fo:~: an air freight contai:~er which is a o~o-piec~ base with opposecl side ~la3)s whi~h extend up into the c~ontair~er }Swhere they are ~olded d~m ~nd he~d in place.
GB-A-215U533 describ~s a oldable con~ai~er but agairl it is adapt~d to be ~ec~lred to a rigid palle~
~- ba~;e.
;. It is one object of the presa~t iD;I~e~tion to 15~rovide an i~t~grated aa6e a~d p~l:Let structure wbic:h :, c:an ~e readily assem}~led and whicll i5 strong aIld secure.
~:' It is a furth2r objeat of the in~ention to pro~ide an in~egra~ed ca~e and pa Llet strllcture w~ere 20the pro~ision of ~he pallet i~rolv~s no ad~itiona~
- stit:chiIlg or glueing to the co~tainer or case., ., It i~ yet a further object o~ the invention ~, to des~ h~e s~n~ct~re ~uc:h that: tho c:ontai~er or ca~
- i, can be deli~ered to aIl as~iembly po-nt i~ a flat ~or~
-, 25toge~her with the pallet.
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. It is yet a furth~ar object t~ p~cvide a h-l pallf3t stru~ture which carl more ree~dily be as:~e~led to ?~ a ca~e or contai~er than with many of ths Icnown ;tructures, parti~ularly f or large ~ize pallets .
30In a~aordancl3 with o~e a~peat o~ the pref;e~t ~ invention ~here is pro~ided a palletised colltairlor .s.l compris,irlg a c:ontainex or ca3e, and a pallet structure ~Eor atta~:hment to the cont:aine3: or oa~e, wh~rein the . par~ o~ the palle~ structure which i6 co-exl~:n~ive ~i~h ~, 35the co~t~iner or case i~ foldable ~o facilitate ~he ~s; .
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attacbment of the~ pallet to the con~ ner or ca;e.
In a. pref errzd eD~od~ ~t o~ the l~ ntion the pa}let structure i~ f oldabl~ about a ~ n~re lill9 .
Pre:ee:cably ~ the pallet str~ct~re irlcludoa~ f 12Lp~ which ~, 5 are ~rranged to i~teren~age with flap~; on th~ aontairlor or ca~e to hold the pallet ~;tructure fixedly in po~ition on the aontain~r or aas~.
~; Also in accordaD.ce with th~ inve~tion t}~.ere iæ provided a pal~ et i~or inte~ration with a ac~ntainer or case, the pal}.et compri:~ins a. :~ecta~gular ba~;e having ;Elaps exl:ending from two oppo ed side3 ~hereof, a~d a plurality of -eti~e~ing DQe2~n~ extending acros~
the base, with t~e base being f oldabl~ about a line . e$ten~in~3 acro~;~; the }~ase ~etweeII t~e two sides which h~ve said flap~ .
' In order that the ~nventlon may ~e re full~
:1 und~3rstood~ a number o~ pr~en~ly pre~rred embodiments ,', in acco:cdance with the in~ntion will now be de~ ribed ~, by way of example and with re~erenc~ to the 2D a~c:omparlying drawings~ in ~hiah:
Fig. 1 is an illustra~ion of th~a a~ ;embly a f i~:~t e~bocl~ent of pall~
;~! Fig . 2 ~hows t~e pallet o Pig ~ 1 în .;~ a~;semble~ fo~al;;
Pig " 3 shows th~ pallet oi~ Fig . 2 :Eol~ed i~ about a csntre line;
. Fig. 4 ~3hows the p~llelt of }~ig. 3 being presen~ed to a Case;
,~,! , Fig,. 5 ShC~WB the pallet and aa~ o:~ ~ig. 4 in 3~ a partially a~sembled ~onn,o ~ig. 6 shows~ ~he i~ Lal asæ~mbl~r o:E ~hf~ ¢ase l and pallet of Fig. ~;
Fi~. 7 s~Lo~:3 the a~sembl~r of a 8eco~d s 3 embodiment o:E palle1:;
. ~j 35 Fig. 8 show~; a ~ur~her ~tep in the asseml91y '.`.I
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211~791 ~4--o~ th~ pallet o~ Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 shows the p~llet o:f Fi~. ~ oldsd a~out a ce~tr~ line ar~d pr~ n~ed to a case;
Fig. 10 ishows th~ paLl.let ar~d aa~e oi~ Fig~ 9 in a par1~ assem~led ~D~l;
s F~ hows the c:ase~ and pall~t o:e Fi~. 10 ;~ in the ~ lly assembled form;
. Fig. 12 shows a lnckirLg device to secur~ the pallet a~d case in the a~e~led i~orm;
1~ Figs. 13 ~o 16 i llu~trAte s~eps in the - asfiembly o~ a ~hird e~bodi~enl: o~ palle~ d ~on~ e~;
-- ~ Fig~. 17 and 18 illu8~rat/3 ~;teps in the a~ ly o~ a follrth em}~odi~er~t of pa~leti6ed cont; Lin~3r;
p'lg5. 19 to ~2 illu trate ~t~p in th~
., a38edl~bly oi a fifth embod~ent of palletised co:~ltainer, s. 23 to 25 ill~ trate ~teps in ~he ~ assembl~ O:e a ~ir~it embodiment of ~re~-~;itanding pall~t;
.i Pig~i. 26 and 27 ~llustrate ~;it~ps i~ the ~ a~sem}: ly o~ a second e~bodime~t of ~r~ ta~ding pallet;
8. 23 to 30 illustrat~a ~t~p~ in ~h~
as~ ly of a thi:ed emb~im~nt o~ fre~-standing pa:~let;
Figs . 31 to 3 3 illustrate st~ps in the 25 a~embly o~ a fourth e~b4dimes~t OI ~ree-s~anding pal}et;
Fig. 34 illustra~es; a furth~r ~tep i~ the as~ bly of a palleti~ed ~onta~.~er;
~ ig. 35 ~hows th~ i~al a~;sem}~ly Btep ia~ the 30 ~a3cing of a palle1:i~3ed conta~ner;
Fi~ . 36 i~ a detail ~iew showing th~ r~e~e folding o~ t~a board ~nat~ial ~rom which the pallets are ~nade;
Fig~. 37 ~o ~2 illu~trate steps in tl~e ;~ 3~ ass~l~r of a :3ixth ~m~odi~ent o~ pallet~ ~ed contai~er;

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Figs. 43 to 411 illu~;trat~ ~;tap~ th~
as3embly o~ a seve~h em~o~lime~t ~ pall~tl~d container;
Fig . 4 9 i6 a plan vie~ o:E the layollt i~or a one-piec:e two way en~y free-3ta~din~ pallet;
~iq. 50 shows th~ pi~llet o:e Flg. ~ whe~
a~embled;
- Fig. Sl i~; a plan Vil3W o:f the layout ~or a,: one-piece four way erltry free~standin~ pall~3t; and Fig. 52 ~how~ the pall~t o~ ~ig. 51 when a~3se~ibled .
,.,i Ref errin~ f ir~;t to Fig . 4, thi~ ~;howa; a case/co~tai~er whic h is ~o :~or~ p~r~ of ~he integrated case and pallet oi~ th~i present inve~ltio~. The lS ca~e/contai ner lO is i~ormed from at least one pieoe o~
- :~oldable packagin~ ~aterial. The materia} ;Er~m which.i th& ca~e i~ made may be for example a corrug~t~d b~board material ~, such a~ ~riplo-:lEluted l~ihreboa:cd ~-, for ~artic:ula~ly heavy du~y ~a~3e~ or double-walled 2 corrugated board ~or normal appli¢a~iorls . The ca~;~ ha~;
two opposed nd wallg 12, each wi~h a top ~l~Lp (not showrl) and 2L bottom flap 14. The ~:a~i~ also ha~ two oppos~d sides 16, each with a t~p ~lap tnot sh~ and --, a bottc~m flap 18. The c:a~e ~ ~ joined alo~g the ad~ace~t ~d~es o~ ~ne ~id~ and on~ ~nd, a~; indi~:ated ~t ` ~ ~ O, f or e~ample by ~titching or gluei~g or stitching ~d ~luei~ .
.~ q!he pallet part o:f~ the ~::nns~:rus:tion is 3howr~
~, in Pig. 1~ q~he pa.llet i~ i~ormed fro~ at lea;st ~hrefpieces of ~oldable pa~kaging material. T~e pr~;~erred '~ materiRl ~or the~ pallet i:3 a singla or double-wall '`-I corrugated fibreboarcl. The ~irst piece of ~oldable packagirlg ma~ riz~1 is indicated ge~e:rally a~ ~2. Thi~
ao~sîst~; of a recta~gul~ shee~ of ~oard from whi~h the ; 1 35 four co:rn~r~ ha~e ~een removed by a 3uil:able cutting - -, `:!
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- method, leaving two reatan~ular board ~r~3as ~4 extending ~rom oppo2;ed ~;ides oiE the mai~ board ar~a.
~hese two }i~rojecting areas 24 ar~ cr~aæed and~Gr scored across~ the corrugations to e~bl~ them each to }aç~
- 5 ~olded into a hollow }:~ox-~h~p~d onfi~3uratior~ wh~
then g~ued or s~itched o~.to t;he D~ boa:rd a~ea as dicated in Fig. 1 ~or the 10ft ha~d por1;ion 24 .
-~ Crease~;Jscore~ are made along the corr~ga~ior~s - betwee~ the ma~gin~; o~ ~he projecting portio~; 2~ to i~orm pallet flap6 28 which ~re arranged to be ~olded dowr~ and back unde:~ the pall~t, a~; ~;hown iIl Fig~ 2. A
centre crease/score 30 i5 provided ~c~ro~3s the corrugation acro~;s the ~ull ~idth o:E the fi.rsl: pie~e of material 22. This centre crea:se/~core erlableæ the ,, 15 pallet to ~old about this centre lin~ ~ illustrated i~
Fi~ 3. ~wo further pieces o~ foldable packaging ~a~erial ~2 are each o~a~ed/scored acro~ the orrugations to enable them ~o ~e ~olded into a ho~low ~'3 box shape co~iguration which i~ th~ glued or ~titched ~l 20 together. These pieces 32 are thon ready to be :~ixed to the main board area. ~3ach piec~ 32 has a length which i8 equal to half the distance betwee~ the crease/sccr~ line~ . Asa shown st clearly i~L Fig. 1, -s an imagi~ar~ centre line on one o~ the widar ~idec o~
~' 25 ea¢h ~ox-~;ha~?ed piecs~ 32 i~3 pos~ tioned direc~ly over ~; tha ~entre ~old lin~ 30. The pieces 32 ar~ then glued ~; ox ~ti1:ched over only ~alf ~helr respective a:s:eas onto :~ . the mai n board and o~ respec~ LV~e oppo~ite sides of the ~; ceIltre old line 30. In other w0~ , the piec~ 2 are ;1 30 ~titched or glued on~o the areas 34 which ar~ indi~ ted }:~y c~rosE; hatching i~ Pig. 1. It is to }~e noted that the ~reaæea/~ore. 26 ~d 30 are in ~aG~ ~ade on the ~; ~ rever~e side o~ ~he ~h~et o~ materi~l 2~ . o~ the urldersisle as viewed in Fig ~. 1 . It ~}lould also be Ilc\ted that the portions 24 which are shown in Ti~. 1 as being .~
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irlte~ral with the maial sheet o~ mat~rial 2~ aould .. al~ernakively b~ ~or~d a~3 separa~ item~, whic:h ara : then stitched or qlued to th~ main ~heet. In ~hi~ case each portion 24 would be creased/scored with ~our li~es S to make ~ive ~ec~ion~ ~hi~h would f old into al hollow box-shaped configuration whi~h would the~l be glued sr .i stit~:hed together before being ~ixed, again by glueing or stitching, to the margins o~ the main boaxd 22.
To a6semble the integrated case a~d pallet shown in Fig~ o 6, it i5 ~irst nec~ ry to ~- as~ ble the case 10 from a ~1 t for~ into it;~3 made-up ~orm as ~hown in ~i~ . 4 . The pallet~ con~txuct~d a~
shown in Fig. 2, is~ ~olded a~out the ce~tre lin~ 30 a~
~hown in Fig. 3. ~he pallet is ~hen a~ta~hed to the case by sliding the pallet down o~ to or~e of the bottwn s ~r2d ~lap~ 14 of the ca~e, a:3 3hown iA E~ - 4. !rhi~
proc:edu~e~ po~ ior~:3 the bott~-om e~d ~lap 14 bet~een the pallst flaps 28 and the pallet ~ase. T~e ne~t ~;tage i8 ., tQ align the ot~ser end oi~ ~h~ pallet wi~h ~ho other bottom elld ~lap 14 o~ the aa~e. This ~lap 14 iF~
, '~ ins~rted betweell the f laps 2 8 of th~ palle~t and the pallet ba~e arld is pushed until ~he pallet lies ~lat on -, the hase o~ the case, a~ hown i~ ~ . It is then .~ orlly nec:essa~y ~n in~ort three ~earer:~ o~ 3truts 36 ~ 25 w~ are o:E e~ual leng~h iAto ~:he ho}low bo~ 3hapecl ;~ portions 24, 32 o the p~llet. With th3 s:e~tral beerer .~ 1 or ~:;trut 3 6 pu~hed through the ~wo o~antral box-~haped ~, piec:e~ 32 the palIet i8 fi~ r locked again~;t foldi~g and is secured to the case by the in~erer~çragemeR~ of t~e rPspective ~lap3 14 and 28.
. 1 ~e~errir~ ow ~o Figs . 7 to 12 ~here is shown -~ an alternative em~odiment of pallet f or attach~e~t to ~-~ the ca~e 10. ~ere the pallet i~ formed f:ram one piea~
40 of foldable pack~ging ~aterial. The pr~ferr~d . i ~5 material ~or ~hi con~truction is a sheet OI ~ingle or ~i :

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. ' '.i ' ' . , ' ' : ' ` ' ' ' ~ ~ ' . ' . ' ' , .: , 2 ~ 7.9 1 do~t}~le-wall c~orruga~ed f.ib~ ard. Three parallel ::rea~eR/3core3 ~2a, ~2b, ~2c ar~ provided ac;ro~ss the . ~ corrugations towards e~ach end o~ the shee~ 4 û to de~ine pallet f~aps 28 as i~ t~e first ~mbodimon1:. In ~hc - 5 second f~Dlbodi~ent t~p run~ers 44 ~r~ plaGed on th~3 eel; 40 a~ shown in Fi g. 7 ,. q!he~ xuP.ller~; are pr~erably of timber. ~h~a pallet ~laps 2B ~old ~aack o~er ~he runners 31 . A~ in the f ir~;t Qmbodim~nt, a cen~ral ~:reassJ~;core 30 ifi provided acros~i the gh~et ~0 11) to enable the pallet to fold a~; sh~wn in Fig. 9.
Be~ea~h ~he ~3heet 4 0 are positioned a ~, plurality of ~i~?er }~loc:3c8 46 ansl ~L8, ~ hown ~o~
clearl~ i~ Fig. 8. The top ;runrlers 44 are nai}ed to ~, the blocks 46 and 48 with ~he coxru~at~d sheet 40 therebekween~ ~h~ palLet 13 then turned o~er ~ see Fig.
.3 8 ) and bottoDI runners ~ and 52 ar~ then nailed on to the timber block~i 46, ~8. :rt i6 to be ~ot~d that a~;
~ the bloc}c6 4 a a~d ~he top run~er~ 52 which are b~,3 po~itioned on each side oi~ 'che c:entre line 30 ~ eet along ~he c~3ntre line, the d~ 3n~ions of these bloc:ks and ru~rler~ are ~;~aller tha~ those of the out~ide b}o~ 46 an~ run~ers Sû. ~hen th~ pallet is folded as hc~wn in Fig u 10 the centre bloc:3cs 4 8 an~ thei~ runners ~J 52 pivot apart, one on each side saf the cerltre liIl-3 30 .~ 2~ ~o assemble the in~egra~ed s:ase and pallet shown in ~igs . 7 ~o 12, i~ Lg f ir~t n~a~3æ$ary to as~;emble the c~ e ~rom a ~Elat form iIIto the ~nade~-up i, fo~m as sh~w~ in Fig . ~ . I!ha pallet i8 ~olded as shown i~ Flg. ~. The pall~t i~; theIl attache~ to the case lO
by sliding the pallet do~n on to on~ o~ ~he bs:~to~ end iElaps 14 o~ . he ca~;e . q~b,is ~gain po6itiolls this glap be~wee~ the palle~ 1ap~ 28 an~ th~a pallet base. ~he~, . I as shown i~ Fig. 10, the oth~r bottom end flap 14 of . the case 1~ loaated in the pa~let and ~he pa~l~t is . 35 pu~hed down until it lie~ ~lat a~ain~t the bottom o:~

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., the c~e. ~he flange cr~a~ed ~y u~ th~3 o:~eaaso/~c:ore .. 42~ is thes~ pushe~l into th~ :en~ro ol~ the pa~ t to aahie~e th~ posi~ion ~ own in Fig. 11. It iE; thlan s~nple procedure to lo~:k the pall~$ in plz~ce by nailin~
a locking ~ab 54 . to ~he central blocks 48 a~ shown iA
Fig. 12. Thi~ is repeated on the other ~ide o~ the .~. p~lle~. q!he pa~let i8 then f~rmly loc:ked ~ plaa~
~gain~t fol~ing a~d i~ integ:~ated wit:h the ca~.
The bearer~3 or s~r~lt:~ 36 shown in Fig. ~ are lQ pr~rabl~r of hi~h-~n~ity polys~y~ene,, al~hough alter~ative ~ate:rials may be u~;ed r For ~xample, thr~e r'' timber ~lock~ ~imilar to the blocks 4 6 in the ssco~d e~bodi~ent, eec:ured between top aIl~ b,ottom ~imber rullners ( similar to the runne~ ~ l could be used~
Alterna~ively, a corrugated ~ibrsboard sheet could be used, ~uitably scored and ~lot~ed a~:l folded to form a ~' bloalc xuitable for inasertio~ o ~he hollow box-like receiver~.
efere~lce is now made to t~o ~od~ent show~
ill Figs. 13 to 15. This illustrate:; ~he: pallet conetruction ., !rhi~ ~how~ a di~ ~:u~ palle~, i . e ,. a ~hape e:ut out of one sheet of ~oard. The mat~rial which is pre~erably u~ed is corrugated fib;rehoard, although any other ~ able material can be u~edO ~I!hi~
; ~5 pallet, in c:ontras~ to those d~ rihed earlier, i~ a . dou3~ deck pallet with the ~trengthe~Liny beares~
betweerl the declssl. The d.ie cut board shaE~e i5 produce~
¦ with two ~langes 110, on oppo3i~e e~ides o~ the dec:3c 108 , o the pall~t. The deck 1û8 i8 divided b~r a ~old lin~
116 w~ich, a6 will be appa~:ent here~aft~r, ~nable3 ~l~e pallet to ~ ~olded abollt t:hi5 ~old line 116~ In Fig.
1~ tha ~oa3~d i~3 ~how~ as h~ g a nu:~er of ~old lirles -~ and revers~ fold line:3 124 ar~d ~lit:æ 126. A~er the nece~;s~ oring and ~littil~ o~ tha sheet o board, ~he sheet aarl be folded illtO the coni~i~uration ~ho~n in .

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Fi~. 14, ~3y which proaeaiff; tu}~ ; 120 a:re areat~ b~
rev0rse olding o~ the ~heet material at 124. T~e~e tubes 120 recei~e bearer~3 118, on~ at each sidl3 o~ the pallet and on~ ::entrally. It il.5 l:o b~ r~oted how~ver S t~at tbe c:e~tral. bsa:~er 11~ is not ins~rted into the pair of c~ntral tube~; 120 until ~he pal~ et has ~Q6~n ~i~ted to the ca~3~/cc\ntainer, ~here;by loaking the pallet to the: aa~e/contai~er, els ehobm in Figa. 34 and - ~5. ~he be~rer a~n ~e manu~a~ured from aorrugated ~ibre~oard, expand~d poly3tyr~n~s or a~y othex ~uita~le ; ~a~erial.
In ~he a~ emb~ step shown in ~ig~ 14, after '. the neces~ary foldi~g, the pe~r~ 3 glued together in the a;reas indicated at 112 and 114, illuS~t~ated by cros6-hatchin~ in the drawin~s. Th~ deck 108 is il~
;7 s~cured to the glued areas 11~ a:r~d 114 t;o create the pallet structu~e 3hown in Fig. lS ~
A~ shown in Fi~s. 1~, 34 and 35, ~he pall~t is fitted to the c:ase~con~ai:ner 1~ }~y ~ r:~t ~olding it ~, 20 about the ce~tre line 116 , then -Fitting the~ del?ending ~, portion over one of the ~lap~ 14 af the c:ase:/co~ta~n~er and ~herea~ter ~itting t~e other hali~ o~ ~h~ pallet to ~he opposi~7 ~lap 14. As ~entior:L~d a3bo~e, ~it~ing o:~
. the c:entral b~3arer or s~rut 118 ~hen lo~:k~ the pallet in it6 flat ~state and also lo~ks it to the . case/con~Liner .
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Refer:;~ing now to ~ig~ 17 and 18, t~e~e how .
a modified ~hape ~or the pall~t ~;he~t. ~ere, the ~heet ha~ four ~eparate ~lallges 110 and the de~k ~rea~ 108 a~e positioned one at each end of the sheet. In this e~3s:~d~ment, after th~ eces~ary ~oldlng, glueiny i5 only required at the zo:~e~ t the en~r~ o the p~llet, a~ compared with the g;reater gllleirlg area n~cessar3,r i~
the p:~e~:~ding e~nbodi~nt. ~gain, ~h~3 glusd area i~
i~dic:ated by c:ross-hatching i~ Fig~ 18. B*caus~ in ?,~

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this em~od~ea~ the top dealc lOB is in two part~ whiah come toge~her at ~he ce~tre, th,~ c:~n~ral i~old lin~ 116 which pf3rmi~s th6~ a~ee~nbly o~ the~ p~llet o~ tho t:a!3e/container ex~erld~ acro~3s one o:~ ~h~ d~clc areas - 5 108, towards ~he outer margin t;;hereo:E a~ ~hown in Fig.
;~; 1 7 Figs. 19 ~o 22 show a i~urth~r embod~mellt oi~
.' pallet cos~struation. ~!his pallet ~as two ~langes 110, and 2~ ~3ingle glueing area 112 (~igO 20)o ~though this f-~ 10 con;tructior~ if3 s~imilar to that ~;hown in Fl~s., 13 to ; ~ 15, less gllleing i~ re~uired as the top d~ck 108 i~
.- attached to the pair of cen~re ~ube; 120 ~y fit~:ing .~ ton~ues 1:28 into the centre tube3 120 at the point3 130 j'- shown in ~ig~ 0. Thege tongue:3 128 are held is~: plac:e ;' 15 by the central }~earer 118 when this i~ i~itted. Il: m~y be pre erable ~o use ~wo ce~tr31 bear~ , one i~itted from each end.
Figs . 23 to ~5 ~how an example o:E free-standing pallet. Its ini~ial cor~ uration is ~ilar ;~, 20 to that ~hown in Fig. 13, but without the i~lang~ llO
~-J and without the fold lin~ !he palle~ i8 a~;seD~l~d by ~olding and g}ueing at t~e z;oI~e~ 112 and 114 and c:ar . be u~e~l as an alternat~ ~e to a ti~ r pallet O
. Fi~s. 26 a~d 27, which ~hould b~ ~viewed ir combin~ion with l?ig. 25 show a pallet board con~iguration which i:~ simila~ to ~h~t sh~ FigO
1~, but again without the ~la~ge3 110 and without th~
ce~tral fold lin~3 116. Although thi~ is æ~lar ~o the r~ ' pallet C0~15trUCtiOIl showr~ in Fi~s. 23 alld 24, it ~old~
dii~i~ere~ly and requ~res l~ss gl~e~ ng a~ the two parts 108 oE the top de~3c cs~e tog~the~r in t~e centre,.
Fi~. 28 to 30 ~;how ~re~ another free-star~ding pallet~ ~he confi~uration he~re i~ ~i~ilar to tha~
',' 7 shown in FigO 20 ~ except that the ~:en~ral ~o}d line 116 ac:coss the top de~:k ~ 08 is ~ot p;re~ient ansl the flaIlge~
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'. 110 are omi~ted.
Figs. 31 to 33 ~;how a free-standing pallet '~ constru~ion which i~ s~lar to that ~h~ n ~ig~;,. 26 :: and 27, except ~hat hexe th~ cle~X areas 108 ar~
pro~ided each wi~h tWQ c~t-oUt~ 1~6. Wllen th~ sheet i~
~olded, a~; shown in ~igs.. 32 and 33, glueillg area~ 114 -~ are exposed through the top deok 100, l~ thi3 3~ embod:iment the glueing area C:0I15il;t~ oi tho~3e expo~d areas 114 and also the re~ainder o~ the d2ck 10~, ~o ';~d 10 that a~ acldition~l sheet o~ board 138 ca~l be glued laminated) on~:o the deck a:r~a~ q~hi3 p~ovide8 a ~roe-~t~nd ng pallet, a; ~how~ i~ Fig. 33, o~ ~superior ~trength and whiçh ::an be u~ed as an alternati~ to a ti~b~3r pallet~.
3~S Rsference L~ now m2~ ~o ~i~B. 37 to ~2 which how another em~odiment o~ die cut pallet which is ;~ arra~ged to ~e folded ~or :eittiAg to a aa7~;e/c:onta;ne~-.~ This de~ign of pallet does not require any addition~
manufaatllring proce~3s such as glu.eing or ~titchiIlg, as .~ 20 it is ~elf-locking. It i8 a ~iingl* deçk pallet. ~I!he material used i~ pr~ferably corrugated fibreboard, although any oth~r ~uita3b1~ rial ca~ ~e us~d o q!he ~ general configllraticsn o~ ~he pallet i5 best ~hown i~
,~ ~ig8~ 37 and 3~. The ~he~t inc!1ude~ our ~;~par~te !; 25 f1angeE; 14Q, which are u~ed a~ the me~ or atta~:hing . the pallet to t}i~3 ca~;eJcon~ainer lCo Sliti;ing lines a:r~ indica~ed a~ 10.2 and fo1d/sc~re ~ 8 at 143. Tw~
cut-outs 141 are prs:~rided in ~he sheet~ or:le ta~rds ~!: . eac~ end o~ the b1ar~k- These are rectan~ular cu~-outs, . 30 po~;itioned between the fo1d line~ 141. Rev~r~e o1d:Lng o~ sc:or~ is eiEf~cted at the po~ i~ions indiaatsd at 14~ . This is show:sl more cl~arly in Fi~ . 39 .
Additiona1 reverse fo1ding of scor~g i:3 e~ected at . 150 ~
r. 35 q~he pallet is a~3:3emb1ed by ~olding the board ;-:
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alorLg the~ ore line~ 143, thu~ c;~ tin~ two ou~
tu~es 144 which ar~ locked by re~e;ræe ~olcli~g o the acore~ a~ 145 . Bearers 14 6 ar~3 then in~exted in~;o the out~r t~bes 14~ ~ Tho c~ e tube ~ ln three ~ection6 ) i8 created by ~olding of the score lin~; 14!~ t t~ls stage ~he Eaallet is presen~d to the ca~container as 5" shown in Fig . 4 0 . q!he palle1~ he~ attached ~o th~
: caseJ~:ontainer a~; ~;ho~7n in Fig. 41. Wh~rl t~e pallet lies ~lat on the r:ase/container as shown in Fig~ 42, t:he centre tube 148 is locke:d by reversa îoldi.ng o~ the -~ score5 at 150. The central bearer 146 ~:aII the}l be iIlsert~d into the ceIl~re tu~e 148 to secure the pallet to the ~:ase~container.
Figs~ 43 to 48 3how a two-piece die cut pallet. A ~;hape cut o~ o~ one ~heQt of bo~d ~ke~
one half of the pallet, and each hal~ of the p~llet i8 iclentical to th~ other. As in th~ preceding ~bod~ment, this pallet doe:3 not re~uire any additional manufact~ring proc:es2i such a~; gl~eing or ~;titching, a3 it i~; ~;elf -loc:ki~g . :~Sa~h half o~ ~he pallet i Ei fitted :~ separately to the c:ase/container lQ ,, a~ ~hown mo~
~, cle~rly in Fig . 4 6, and the two hal~re~ oi~ the pallot - co~ne tcsgeth~r at th~ cent~e b~fore b~ing lo~ked togeth~r b~r a cen~ral beare:r 182 tFig. 48).
~he cor~fi~uratio~ o;E eac:~ pallet half is ~: ~;h~ Pig. 43~ Th~ two ~lange3 are ~adi~::at~d a~
170. Slits are indicated at 174 a}ld fold tines at 176.
. i q!wo Cllt-outs 1?2 a:~e pr~vided, o~e in oach J~oldable ar~d .~ portion of ~he sheet. Score line~ whic~h are re~es~
folded are indicated a~ 180. The l:~easer~ are ir~dica~ed a~ 182 and fit into tu~s 178, 184,. ~he Ge~tral ~ube 184 is formed i21 ~wo ~ec~io~s~, o~e a~:30q::ia~d with ea~:h -~ pallet half. As b~fore, the flange:3 170 a~:e u~;ed aa .~, the mean~ to attach each hal~ o~ th~ pall~t to the c:a e/c:ontai ~er lO ~ The pallet is a~ bled by folding J, . ~1 '` ' ~ ': .
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-, the board along th~ score lines }76, to cr~a~e ~wo tube~, o~e 178 which is th~ 11 wi~th of t~e c:aseiaontai~er a~d the o~h~3r :184 which i3 half th~
width of ~he cae~eJ~ontainer~ q~hle~;~ tuba~ a~e locked by rever6e folding of the ~cores at 1~30 (Pig. 45~.
-.~ Bearers 182 are ~he~ i~6e~t~d irlto t:he tub~6 17B. A~
~, this ~;t~ge eac~h hal~ o~ th~ pallet is pr~e~ted to the a~eJcontainer a~ ;hown in FigO ~6 . The pallet i3 then aktached to t;he ~:a6e/c:oD.tainer as 8hown in Fig. 41~ and 1~ when the pallet lie3 f lat o~. the c:a:~/contairler a~
~;hown in Fig. 48 the two half width tubes 1E14 will be in ali~nment and enabl~ th~ aentral bea2~er 182 to be in~;erted to ~iec:ure t:h~ pallet ~o ho case~container.
Eig. 36 shows in more d~tail t~e method o~
-.~ 15 rever6e folding alon~ a ~;core li~e, a ~ea~ure which i~
. applicable to each o~ the embosli:meIlt6 desc:ribed a:bove.
Fig. 4g show~ the layout o~ a~other oIle-pi~s:e ; dic-cut two way entry palll3t. T~e dec}c area i~
. iI~dicatsd at 208 ~ slits at 226 and rever~e :U::o~a ~ es ~: 20 at 224 . AI1 optional score ~ e i~; i~dicated at 230 ~
~5~ The pallet, in pa:~ly a~sembled f orm, is sh~wn i~ Plg .
.~ 50. ~he a~embly o~E th~ pallet i~3 ac:hiev~d 5imp~ y olding and glueir~g o~ vartou~ areas.
; Fig~. 51 and 52 ~ihow a broad1y ~n~lar pallet hut d~3signed :~or :Eollr wa~ entry i~st~Ad o~ two w3.y , entry . ~Iere ~ the ~J.arlk i~; provided additioDLally with . ~ix cut-outg 232 which, when the pall~t is a3~sembled, pro~ride the further two entry ways.
-; ~
The layouts of Fig~ ~ 49 to 52 can ltern2Lti~ely ~a produc:ed from two pi~ce~ of board" if re~uired.
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Claims

1. A palletised container comprising a container or case, and a pallet structure for attachment to the container or case, wherein the part of the pallet structure which is co-extensive with the container or case is foldable to facilitate the attachment of the pallet to the container or case.

2. A palletised container according to claim 1, in which the pallet structure is foldable about a centre line.

3. A palletised container according to claim 1 or 2, in which the pallet structure includes flaps which are arranged to interengage with flaps on the container or case to hold the pallet structure fixedly in position on the container or case.

4. A pallet for integration with a container or case, the pallet comprising a rectangular base having flaps extending form two opposed sides thereof, and a plurality of stiffening means extending across the base, with the base being foldable about a line extending across the base between the two sides which have said flaps.

5. A pallet according to claim 4, in which said fold line is midway across the base.

6. A pallet according to claim 4, in which stiffening means are provide along the fold line and at each side of the base which is parallel to the fold line.

7. A pallet according to claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the stiffening means along the fold line is in two parts, each part extending over one half the distance between the flaps and each part overlapping the fold line along its length, with the two parts being fixed to the base on respective opposite sides of the fold line only.

8. A pallet according to claim 4, in which each stiffening means comprises a tube of folded material with a removable bearer therein.

9. A pallet according to claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the flaps when folded over the base almost meet across the centre of the base.

10. A pallet according to claims 4, 5 or 6, which has an upper deck and a lower deck with said stiffening means therebetween.

11. A pallet according to claim 8, in which said tubes are formed by a reverse folding of the material of the pallet.

12. A pallet for integration with a container of case, the pallet comprising two parts each attachable to the container or case, wherein each part comprises a base having flaps extending form two opposed sides thereof, the two parts being respectively attachable to the container or case by said flaps and being pivotable into abutting engagement when folded flush against the container or case, and a plurality of stiffening means extending across the base and linking said two parts.

13. A pallet made form an elongate, generally rectangular blank of material foldable along lines across its width and having slots therein parallel to its length, the folding of the blank generating a pallet having top and bottom decks with tubes of folded blank material therebetween to receive removable bearers.

14. A pallet according to claim 13, in which the bottom deck is in two parts foldable into contact across the centre of the pallet.