CN110770136A

CN110770136A - Pallet assembly

Info

Publication number: CN110770136A
Application number: CN201880041797.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 叶礼闻
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-22
Filing date: 2018-06-22
Publication date: 2020-02-07
Also published as: WO2018236207A1; PH12019502890A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pallet assembly (1) with an improved interlocking structure, comprising an upper deck member (100), a lower deck member (300) and a plurality of interlocking units (400), wherein the deck members (100, 300) have a load-bearing surface (110, 310), a bottom surface (130, 330) and a plurality of spaced-apart support members (150, 350), respectively; the upper and lower platen members (100, 300) are provided with at least one passage (170, 370), respectively, and a notch (171, 371) is formed around an inner peripheral surface of each passage (170, 370) of the platen member (100, 300) near the bearing surface (110, 310); each interlocking unit (400) comprises a first member (410) and a second member (430), said first and second members (410, 430) having a head (411, 431) and a hollow body (413, 433), respectively, the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) being provided with a retractable holding means (435) at the lower end of the hollow body (433); the channels (170) of the upper platen member (100) and the corresponding channels (370) of the lower platen member (300) are aligned to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlocking unit (400) to securely interlock the joints of the platen members (100, 300).

Description

Pallet assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pallet assembly for storing and loading goods, and more particularly, to a pallet assembly having an improved interlocking structure and easily constructed to a desired height.

Background

Pallets are widely used for bulk transport and storage of items or loads. In addition, heavy, bulky items or loads in the storage device can be easily moved by pallets, and a large number of items or loads can be loaded and unloaded with minimal labor by using mechanical material handling equipment (e.g., pallet trucks and forklifts).

The pallet may be made of different materials such as wood, aluminium, steel, fibre or plastic. Among them, wooden pallets and plastic pallets are the most widely used pallets in the current industry. Wooden pallets are typically assembled using nails, which may require regular maintenance to avoid nails and wood chips protruding from wear, thereby minimizing injury. Also, wooden pallets are difficult to clean and, because wood readily absorbs moisture, wooden pallets are vulnerable to fungus, bacteria and insect infestation if cared for improperly, which may ultimately cause safety problems.

Although plastic pallets avoid the above problems, it is costly and time consuming to produce a unitary or one-piece composite plastic pallet with upper and lower platens because of the additional welding machines required to weld the separate upper and lower platens during its production. Further, such stacking of loaded pallets can be difficult for monolithic or unitary plastic pallets without an underlying deck. Although modular pallets may address this issue, it is noted that modular pallets require a strong interlocking structure in order for the assembled pallet to have sufficient strength to support different items or loads. Existing partially modular plastic pallets are costly, relatively complex to form, difficult and weak to assemble.

Also, different industries and companies may require pallets of different heights. The traditional pallet is fixed in height and cannot be expanded. To produce pallets of different heights requires the addition of a molding machine, which increases operating costs.

In view of the above-described and other drawbacks, it is desirable to provide a pallet assembly having an improved interlocking structure that is strong and has sufficient strength to support different loads. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pallet assembly which can be assembled to the required height in a simple and economical manner to meet the requirements of different industries, such as the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries, which require that loads be placed at a sufficient distance above the ground.

A pallet assembly and combination of elements or components thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described and/or illustrated in the detailed description.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention generally relates to a pallet assembly for storing and loading goods. According to the present invention, the pallet assembly includes an upper deck member, a lower deck member, and a plurality of interlocking units.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower platen members have a load-bearing surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of spaced-apart support members on the bottom surface of the platen member, respectively. Preferably, the support members of the upper and lower deck members have at least one side wall extending integrally from the bottom surface of the respective deck member and forming a base having an edge.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower platen members are each provided with at least one channel extending upwardly from the base of each support member to the bearing surface of the respective platen member. Preferably, a recess is formed around the inner peripheral surface of each of the channels adjacent the bearing surface of the platen member. It should be noted that when the upper platen member is engaged with the corresponding lower platen member, the channels of the upper platen member and the corresponding channels of the lower platen member are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlocking unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each interlocking unit comprises a first member and a second member, each member having a head and a hollow body. It should be noted that the second member is first inserted into the accommodation hole formed by the combined upper and lower platen members before the first member is inserted into the hollow body of the second member. In a preferred embodiment, retractable retaining means for suitably catching the recess of the passage of the deck member when the second member of the interlocking unit is inserted into the receiving hole formed by the combined upper and lower deck members preferably integrally extends from the lower end of the hollow body of the second member of the interlocking unit. It should be noted that the first member of the interlocking unit of the preferred embodiment is adapted to be inserted into the hollow body of the second member of the interlocking unit, thereby securely interlocking the joints of the deck members.

In a preferred embodiment, the hollow body of the first member of the interlocking unit is further provided with at least one male locking connector and the hollow body of the second member of the interlocking unit is further provided with at least one female locking connector of complementary shape to the male locking connector. The female locking connector is in mating engagement with the male locking connector of the first member of the interlocking unit when the first member of the interlocking unit is inserted into the hollow body of the second member of the interlocking unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first member of the interlocking unit is further provided with at least one ridge. Preferably, the ridge is remote from the male locking connector of the first member of the interlocking unit. In a preferred embodiment, the second member of the interlocking unit is further provided with at least one groove opposite the ridge of the first member of the interlocking unit. It should be noted that when the first member of the interlocking unit is inserted into the second member hollow body of the interlocking unit, the ridge of the first member slidably engages the complementary shaped groove of the second member to guide the male locking connector into interlocking engagement with the female locking connector.

Preferably, the pallet assembly of the present invention is further provided with a plurality of locking devices. In a preferred embodiment, the side walls of the support members of said upper and lower platen members are further provided with at least one aperture, and the hollow bodies of the first and second members of said interlocking unit are further provided with at least one perforation having a shape complementary to said aperture. It should be noted that when the interlocking unit is fully inserted into the receiving hole formed by the combined deck member, the apertures of the side walls of the deck member and the corresponding perforations of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are aligned with each other to facilitate insertion of the locking device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pallet assembly is provided with a plurality of extension members. It should be noted that the extension member is interposed between the support members of the respective upper and lower platen members. Preferably, each extension member has an upper surface provided with a rim, at least one side wall, a bottom surface provided with a rim, and a locking groove. In a preferred embodiment, the locking slot preferably extends from an upper surface of the extension member to a bottom surface of the extension member for mutual alignment with the respective channels of the upper and lower deck members to form a receiving channel for facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit.

Preferably, the extension member is further provided with at least one protruding sleeve integrally extending outward from a peripheral wall of the locking groove of the extension member. In a preferred embodiment, at least one recess of complementary shape to said projecting sleeve is further provided on the inner peripheral surface of said channel adjacent the base of the support member of each of said upper and lower platen members to facilitate receiving the projecting sleeve of said extension member when said extension member is sandwiched between the respective platen members during assembly.

Preferably, the inner periphery of the edges of the upper and bottom surfaces of the extension member is further provided with at least one protrusion. In a preferred embodiment, the projection of the extension member is secured against an inner side wall of the support member of the corresponding deck member during assembly when the edge of the extension member is in contact with the edge surface of the base of the support member of the corresponding deck member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall of the extension member is further provided with at least one hole, and the hollow bodies of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are each further provided with at least one opening corresponding to the hole of the extension member. It should be noted that during assembly, the apertures of the extension member and the corresponding openings of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are aligned with one another to facilitate insertion of the locking device to further reinforce the joint of the deck member and the extension member.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pallet assembly includes an upper deck member, a lower deck member, and a plurality of interlocking units. In this preferred embodiment, the upper platen member and the lower platen member have a bearing surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of support members distributed on the bottom surface of the upper platen member and the lower platen member, respectively. In this preferred embodiment, each of the support members of the deck members has at least one side wall extending integrally downward from the bottom surface of the respective deck member and forming a base having an edge.

According to this preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower platen members are each provided with at least one channel extending upwardly from the base of the respective support member to the bearing surface of the respective platen member. In the preferred embodiment, a recess is formed around the inner peripheral surface of the channel adjacent the bearing surfaces of the upper and lower platen members. It should be noted that when the upper platen member is engaged with the corresponding lower platen member, the channels of the upper platen member and the corresponding channels of the lower platen member are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlocking units.

In the preferred embodiment, each interlocking unit includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member each have a head and a body. Each member of the interlocking unit is provided with a coupling means integrally extending from lower ends of main bodies of the first member and the second member. It should be noted that the coupling means of the first member is adapted to matingly engage the coupling means of the second member after the first member and the second member are inserted into the receiving hole formed by the joined platen members to securely interlock the joint of the platen members.

In the preferred embodiment, the pallet assembly is provided with a plurality of extension members. It will be appreciated that, during assembly, the extension members are sandwiched between the support members of the respective upper and lower platen members. Preferably, each extension member has an upper surface provided with a rim, at least one side wall, a bottom surface provided with a rim, and a locking groove. In this preferred embodiment, the locking slot preferably extends from an upper surface of the extension member to a bottom surface of the extension member for mutual alignment with the respective channels of the upper and lower deck members to form a receiving channel for facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit.

Preferably, the extension member in this preferred embodiment is further provided with at least one protruding sleeve integrally extending outwardly from a peripheral wall of the locking groove of the extension member. In this preferred embodiment, at least one recess of complementary shape to the projecting sleeve is also provided on the inner peripheral surface of the channel adjacent the base of the support member of each of the upper and lower deck members to facilitate receiving the projecting sleeve of the extension member when the extension member is sandwiched between the respective deck members during assembly.

Preferably, the inner periphery of the edges of the upper and bottom surfaces of the extension member is further provided with at least one protrusion. In this preferred embodiment, the projection of the extension member is secured against the inner side wall of the support member of the corresponding deck member when the edge of the extension member is in contact with the edge surface of the base of the support member of the corresponding deck member during assembly.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pallet assembly includes an upper deck member, a lower deck member, a plurality of interlocking units, and a plurality of locking devices. In this preferred embodiment, the upper platen member and the lower platen member have a bearing surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of support members distributed on the bottom surface of the upper platen member and the lower platen member, respectively. In this embodiment, each of the support members of the deck members has at least one side wall extending integrally downward from the bottom surface of the respective deck member and forming a base having an edge. In the preferred embodiment, the side walls of the support members of the upper and lower deck members are provided with at least one aperture.

According to this preferred embodiment of the invention, said upper and lower platen members are each provided with at least one channel extending upwardly from the base of the respective support member to the bearing surface of the respective platen member. In the preferred embodiment, a recess is formed around the inner peripheral surface of the channel adjacent the bearing surfaces of the upper and lower platen members. It should be noted that when the upper platen member is engaged with the corresponding lower platen member, the channels of the upper platen member and the corresponding channels of the lower platen member are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlocking unit.

In the preferred embodiment, each interlocking unit includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member each have a head and a body. The first member and the second member each have a head and a body. In this preferred embodiment, the body of each member of the interlocking unit is provided with at least one perforation corresponding to the apertures of the support members of the upper and lower platen members. It should be noted that the perforations of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are adapted to align with the respective apertures of the support members of the upper and lower platen members after the interlocking unit has been fully inserted into the receiving aperture formed by the associated platen member, facilitating insertion of the locking device.

In the preferred embodiment, the pallet assembly is provided with a plurality of extension members. It will be appreciated that during assembly, the extension member is sandwiched between the support members of the upper and lower platen members. Preferably, each extension member has an upper surface provided with a rim, at least one side wall, a bottom surface provided with a rim, and a locking groove. In this preferred embodiment, the locking slot preferably extends from an upper surface of the extension member to a bottom surface of the extension member for mutual alignment with the respective channels of the upper and lower deck members to form a receiving channel for facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit.

If desired, the side wall of the extension member in this preferred embodiment may also be provided with at least one hole, and the hollow bodies of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are each further provided with at least one opening corresponding to the hole of the extension member. It should be noted that the apertures of the extension member and the corresponding openings of the first and second members of the interlocking unit are mutually aligned to facilitate insertion of the locking device to further reinforce the joint of the deck member and the extension member.

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or without sacrificing any of its advantages.

Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus do not limit the present invention, and wherein:

figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2 shows a bottom exploded perspective view of the deck member of the pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembled pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a pallet assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figures 5a and 5b show front perspective views of different variants of the interlocking units of the pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

figure 6a shows a front perspective view of an interlocking unit of a pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention provided with male and female locking connectors;

figure 6b shows a front view of an interlocking unit of a pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention provided with male and female locking connectors;

figure 7 illustrates an enlarged exploded perspective view of a pallet assembly having extension members according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an assembled pallet assembly with extension members according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9a shows a top perspective view of an extension member of a pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9b shows a bottom perspective view of the extension member of the pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9c shows a top perspective view of the extension member of the pallet assembly with a protruding sleeve and a protrusion according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9d shows a bottom perspective view of the extension member of the pallet assembly having a protruding sleeve and a protruding portion according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9e shows a top perspective view of another variation of the extension member of the pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9f shows a bottom perspective view of yet another variation of the extension member of the pallet assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross section of an assembled pallet assembly with extension members according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 11 shows an enlarged exploded view of a pallet assembly with a locking device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

12a, 12b and 12c show front perspective views of different variants of interlocking units with perforations and openings according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13a shows a top perspective view of an assembled pallet assembly having reinforcement members disposed at the periphery of the deck members, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13b shows a bottom perspective view of an assembled pallet assembly having a reinforcement member disposed at a central portion of the deck member, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 14 shows an enlarged exploded view of a pallet assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

figure 15 shows a perspective view of an interlocking unit of the pallet assembly of figure 14;

figure 16 shows an enlarged exploded view of a pallet assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

figure 17 shows a perspective view of an interlocking unit of the pallet assembly of figure 16.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to a pallet assembly for storing and loading goods. More particularly, the pallet assembly has an improved interlocking structure and is easily configured to a desired height. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to preferred embodiments thereof. It will be understood, however, that the description is limited to the preferred embodiments of the invention only to facilitate the discussion of the invention, and it is contemplated that various modifications and equivalents may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

A pallet assembly for the storage and loading of goods according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 17, either individually or in any combination thereof.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 there is shown a pallet assembly 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pallet assembly 1 includes an upper deck member 100, a lower deck member 300, and a plurality of interlocking units 400. Preferably, the upper platen member 100 and the lower platen member 300 are formed in exactly the same manner. In a preferred embodiment, the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 have a load-

bearing surface

110, 310, a bottom surface 130, 330, respectively, and a plurality of spaced-apart

support members

150, 350 evenly distributed on the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen members

100, 300, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. Preferably, the load-

bearing surface

110, 310 of the

inventive deck member

100, 300 is a smooth surface so as to provide a horizontal and unbroken surface for storing smaller items, thereby eliminating the need for placement of other materials such as shelves or load protection pads. The bearing

surface

110, 310 of the

inventive platen member

100, 300 may be in the form of perforations or a mesh, if desired.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the

support members

150, 350 of the

platen members

100, 300 have at least one

side wall

151, 351, respectively, the

side wall

151, 351 extending integrally from the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen member

100, 300 and forming a base 153, 353 having an edge 153a, 353 a. It should be noted that the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

100, 300 may be made of a solid face or a lattice frame. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper platen member 100 and the lower platen member 300 are provided with at least one

channel

170, 370, respectively. Preferably, the

channels

170, 370 extend upwardly from the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 to the load-

bearing surface

110, 310 of the

platen member

100, 300. If desired, each or

more support members

150, 350 of the

platen member

100, 300 may be provided with at least two

channels

170, 370 extending upwardly from the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 to the load-

bearing surface

110, 310 of the

platen member

100, 300, as shown in fig. 13a and 13 b. In a preferred embodiment, the

recesses

171, 371 are formed around the inner circumferential surface of the

channels

170, 370 proximate the bearing surfaces 110, 310 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300. It will be appreciated that when the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the lower platen member 300, the channels 170 of the upper platen member 100 and the corresponding channels 370 of the lower platen member 300 are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 400.

If desired, each channel 370 of the lower deck member 300 may also be provided with at least one appendage 375, which appendage 375 integrally projects outwardly from the peripheral wall of the channel 370 proximate the base 353 of the lower deck member 300, and each channel 170 proximate the base 153 of a respective upper deck member 100 is further provided with at least one recess (not shown) corresponding to the appendage 375 of the lower deck member 300, or vice versa, as shown in fig. 4. It will be appreciated that the appendage 375 of the upper deck member 300 serves to mate into a complementary shaped recess (not shown) of the corresponding upper deck member 100 during assembly, and vice versa, to further ensure engagement of the

deck members

100, 300.

In a preferred embodiment, each interlock unit 400 includes a first member 410 and a second member 430, as shown in FIG. 5 a. The first member 410 and the second member 430 have

heads

411, 431 and

hollow bodies

413, 433, respectively. The

hollow bodies

413, 433 of the first and

second members

410, 430 of the interlock unit 400 preferably extend integrally from the

heads

411, 431 of the

members

410, 430 of the interlock unit 400. Preferably, the hollow body 433 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 has a wider diameter than the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 to properly accommodate the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 when the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 is snap-fitted into the hollow body 433 of the second member 430. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 is provided with a radially extending retractable retainer 435, preferably located at the lower end of the hollow body 433 of the second member 430. It will be appreciated that the retractable retaining means 435 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 is adapted to be suitably clasped over the

respective recesses

171, 371 of the

deck members

170, 370 to interlock the

deck members

100, 300. Preferably, the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 is first inserted into the receiving hole formed by the mutually aligned

passages

170, 370 of the combined upper and

lower deck members

100, 300, and then the first member 410 is inserted into the hollow body 413 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400. It should be noted that the head 411 of the first member 410 is adapted to be properly positioned over the retractable retainer 435 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 to prevent the retractable retainer 435 of the second member 430 from being removed from the

respective recesses

171, 371 of the

deck members

170, 370, thereby securely interlocking the joint between the

deck members

100, 300.

It should be understood that the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 may be inserted from the lower platen member 300 or from the upper platen member 100 through a receiving hole formed through the joined

platen members

100, 300. Thus, if the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 is inserted from the lower deck member 300 through the receiving holes of the joined

deck members

100, 300, the retractable holding devices 435 of the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 properly snap over the notches 171 of the channel 170 of the upper deck member 100. Likewise, if the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 is inserted from the upper platen member 100 through the receiving hole of the

platen members

100, 300, the retractable holder 435 of the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 snaps over the notch 371 of the channel 370 of the lower platen member 300, as appropriate. By way of example and not limitation, the retractable retention device 435 is preferably a retractable retention flange or the like.

It will also be appreciated that the

recesses

171, 371 of the

channels

170, 370 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 are also configured to locate the head 431 of the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 after the second member 430 is inserted through the receiving hole of the combined

platen member

100, 300. Therefore, if the second member 430 is inserted from the lower platen 300 through the receiving holes of the joined

platen members

100, 300, the head 431 of the second member 430 is fixed on the notch 371 of the passage 370 of the lower platen member 300. Similarly, if the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 is inserted from the upper deck member 100 through the receiving holes of the combined

deck members

100, 300, the head 431 of the second member 430 is fixed on the recess 171 of the channel 170 of the upper deck member 100.

Although the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 of the preferred embodiment is shown as having a wider diameter to properly receive the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 and provided with a retractable retainer 435 to properly snap over the

recess

171 or 371 of the

channel

170 or 370 of the

deck member

100 or 300, it should be noted that the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 may also be configured to have a wider diameter and provided with a retractable retainer. Thus, the retractable retaining means of the first member 410 is adapted to snap-fit onto the

corresponding recess

171 or 371 of the

channel

170 or 370 of the

deck member

100 or 300, and the hollow body 433 of the second member 430 is likewise snap-fitted into the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 in the same manner as described above, and will not be described in detail here.

Referring to fig. 6a and 6b, the hollow body 413 of the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is further provided with at least one male locking connector 413 b. Correspondingly, the hollow body 433 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 is further provided with at least one female locking connector 433b to engage with a corresponding male locking connector 413b of the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 after snap-fitting the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 into the hollow body 433 of the second member 433 of the interlocking unit 400. Preferably, the hollow body 413 of the first member 510 of the interlocking unit 400 is further provided with at least one ridge 413c, and the hollow body 433 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 is further provided with at least one groove 433c of complementary shape to the ridge 413c, to suitably mate and snap fit with the corresponding ridge 413c of the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400, as shown in fig. 6a and 6 b. Preferably, the ridge 413c is distal to the male locking connector 413b of the first member 410 of the interlock unit 400. It will be appreciated that the ridge 413c of the first member 410 is adapted to slidably engage with a complementary shaped groove 433c of the second member 430, thereby guiding the male locking connector 413b of the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 into interlocking engagement with the female interlocking connector 433b of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400 after the first member 410 of the interlocking unit 400 is inserted into the hollow body 433 of the second member 430 of the interlocking unit 400. By way of example and not limitation, the male locking connector 413b of the preferred embodiment is preferably a retractable locking tongue or the like, and the corresponding female locking connector 433b is preferably a locking groove or the like.

It should be noted that although the first member 410 of the interlock unit 400 of the present invention is preferably configured to have a shorter length than the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 shown in fig. 5a, the first and

second members

410, 430 of the interlock unit 400 of the present invention may be configured to have equal lengths if desired, as shown in fig. 5 b.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pallet assembly 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of extension members 700. It will be appreciated that the extension members 700 are intended to be sandwiched between the

support members

150, 350 of the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300 during assembly to increase the overall height of the pallet assembly 1, as shown in figures 7 and 8, thereby increasing the distance between a load positioned on the load-

bearing surface

110 or 310 of the

deck member

100 or 300 and the floor surface.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in fig. 9a and 9b, each extension member 700 includes an upper surface 710 provided with a rim 711, at least one side wall 730, a bottom surface 750 provided with a rim 751, and a locking slot 770. It should be noted that the upper surface 710 and the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 may be made of a solid surface or a lattice frame.

Preferably, the locking groove 770 extends from the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 to the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700. It will be appreciated that the locking slots 770 of the extension member 700 are used to: when the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 and when the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the lower platen member 300, the

channels

170, 370 of the

corresponding platen member

100, 300 are aligned with one another to form receiving channels to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 400 to securely interlock the junction between the

platen member

100, 300 and the extension member 700. It should be noted that the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 can be inserted through the receiving channel from the lower platen member 300 or from the upper platen member 100. Thus, if the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 is inserted from the lower deck member 300 through the receiving channel formed by the combined

deck members

100, 300 and extension member 700, the collapsible retention device 535 of the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 snaps properly over the notch 171 of the channel 170 of the upper deck member 100. Likewise, if the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 is inserted from the upper deck member 100 through the receiving channel formed by the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700, the retractable retainer 435 of the second member 430 of the interlock unit 400 snaps into place over the notch 371 of the channel 370 of the lower deck member 300.

It should be noted that the interlock unit 400 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may have any length deemed suitable for interlocking the pallet assembly 1, whether or not the pallet assembly has the extension member 700.

As shown in fig. 9c to 9f, the extension member 700 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is further provided with at least one protruding sleeve 771 integrally extending outward from a peripheral wall of the locking groove 770 of the extension member 700, and the upper and

lower platform members

100, 300 are further provided with at least one

recess

173, 373 corresponding to the protruding sleeve 771 of the extension member 700, respectively. Preferably, recesses 173, 373 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 complementary in shape to the protruding sleeves 771 are formed around the inner circumferential surfaces of the

channels

170, 370 near the bases 153, 353 of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300, as shown in fig. 10. It will be appreciated that when the extension member 700 is sandwiched between the

corresponding deck members

100, 300 during assembly, the projecting sleeves 771 of the extension member 700 are snap-fitted into the corresponding

recesses

173, 373 of the

deck members

100, 300, thereby strengthening the engagement between the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extension member 700 is further provided with at least one

protrusion

712, 752, the at least one

protrusion

712, 752 integrally extending from the inner periphery of the

rims

711, 751 of the upper surface 710 and the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700, as shown in fig. 9c to 9 f. In a preferred embodiment, the

projections

712, 752 of the extension member 700 are for: after the extension member 700 is interposed between the

support members

150, 350 of the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300, when the

rims

711, 751 of the extension member 700 are in surface contact with the edges 153a, 353a of the bases 153, 353 of the

support members

150, 350, they firmly abut against the inner sidewalls of the

support members

150, 350 of the

deck members

100, 300, thereby preventing the extension member 700 from coming off during the assembly process.

It should be noted that in embodiments, in case the base of the

support member

150, 350 is made of a lattice frame, the

projections

712, 752 of the extension member 700 may further be provided with a plurality of

notches

712a, 752a, as shown in fig. 9 f. In the preferred embodiment, the

notches

712a, 752a of the

projections

712, 752 of the extension member 700 are used to: the extension member 700 is fitted into the lattice frame of the

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

100, 300 while being sandwiched between the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300.

In a preferred embodiment, the pallet assembly is further provided with a plurality of locking devices 900, as shown in fig. 11. Preferably, the

side walls

151, 351 of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 are further provided with at least one

aperture

151a, 351 a. Also, the

hollow bodies

413, 433 of the first and

second members

410, 430 of the interlocking unit 400 are further provided with at least one

perforation

413a, 433a, said at least one

perforation

413a, 433a corresponding to the

apertures

151a, 351a of the

side walls

151, 351 of the

support members

150, 350 of the

deck members

100, 300, as shown in fig. 12a and 12 b. It will be appreciated that the

apertures

151a, 351a of the

side walls

151, 351 of the

support members

150, 350 of the

platen members

100, 300 serve to: after the interlocking unit 400 is completely inserted into the receiving holes of the coupled

deck members

100, 300, the corresponding

penetration holes

413a, 433a of the first and

second members

410, 430 of the interlocking unit 400 are aligned with each other to facilitate the insertion of the locking device 900, thereby further enhancing the engagement between the upper deck member 100 and the lower deck member 300. By way of example and not limitation, the locking device 900 may be a pin, bolt, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extension member 700 is further provided with at least one hole 731 in the side wall 730, as shown in fig. 11. It should be noted that in this preferred embodiment, the

hollow bodies

413, 433 of the first and

second members

410, 430 of the interlock unit 400 are also provided with at least one opening 413d, 433d of complementary shape to the aperture 731, as shown in fig. 12 c. It will be appreciated that when the interlock unit 400 is fully inserted into the receiving channel formed by the aligned

channels

170, 370 of the

deck members

100, 300 and the locking slot 770 of the extension member 700, the aperture 731 of the extension member 700 and the openings 413d, 433d of the

hollow bodies

413, 433 of the first and

second parts

410, 430 of the interlock unit 400 are aligned with one another to facilitate insertion of the locking device 900 to further enhance engagement between the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each

deck member

100, 300 is further provided with at least one reinforcing member 800 to reinforce the strength of the

deck members

100, 300 for supporting different loads. Preferably, as shown in fig. 13a, the reinforcement member 800 is molded integrally with the

deck member

100, 300 and is near the periphery of the

deck member

100, 300. If desired, the reinforcement member 800 may be located in a central portion of the deck member, as shown in FIG. 13 b. By way of example and not limitation, the reinforcement member 800 is preferably a metal bar, a steel bar, or the like.

Referring to figures 14 and 15, there are shown elements or components of a pallet assembly 1 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that some of these elements or components have been described above. Therefore, in the following description, the same reference numerals and drawings as those of the foregoing embodiment will be used for the parts or elements of the pallet assembly 1 of this preferred embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment, pallet assembly 1 includes an upper deck member 100, a lower deck member 300, and a plurality of interlocking units 500. Preferably, the upper platen member 100 and the lower platen member 300 are formed in exactly the same manner. In the preferred embodiment, the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 have a load-

bearing surface

support members

150, 350 evenly distributed on the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen members

100, 300. In the preferred embodiment, the

support members

150, 350 of the

platen members

100, 300 have at least one

side wall

151, 351, respectively, the

side wall

151, 351 extending integrally from the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen member

100, 300 and forming a base 153, 353 provided with an edge 153a, 353 a. It should be noted that the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

100, 300 may be made of a solid face or a lattice frame. According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper platen member 100 and the lower platen member 300 are provided with at least one

channel

170, 370, respectively. Preferably, the

channels

170, 370 extend upwardly from the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 to the load-

bearing surface

110, 310 of the

platen member

100, 300. In the preferred embodiment,

notches

171, 371 are formed around the inner circumferential surfaces of the

channels

170, 370 adjacent to the bearing surfaces 110, 310 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300. It will be appreciated that when the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the corresponding lower platen member 300, the channels 170 of the upper platen member 100 and the corresponding channels 370 of the lower platen member 300 are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 500.

In the preferred embodiment, each interlock unit 500 includes a first member 510 and a second member 530. Preferably, the first member 510 and the second member 530 are formed in exactly the same manner. The first and

second members

510, 530 have

heads

511, 531 and

bodies

513, 533, respectively. The

bodies

513, 533 of the

members

510, 530 of the interlock unit 500 preferably extend integrally from the

heads

511, 531 of the

members

510, 530 of the interlock unit 500. In the preferred embodiment, the

members

510, 530 of the interlock unit 500 are provided with coupling means 515, 535, respectively, integrally extending from the lower ends of the

bodies

513, 533 of the first and

second members

510, 530. It should be noted that the coupling device 515 of the first member 510 is used to: after the first and

second members

510, 530 are inserted in opposite directions into the receiving holes formed by the mutually aligned

passages

170, 370 of the joined upper and

lower deck members

100, 300, the coupling means 535 of the second member 530 is tightly engaged to securely interlock the joint between the

deck members

100, 300. It will also be appreciated that the

notches

171, 371 of the

channels

170, 370 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 also serve to: after the

members

510, 530 are inserted into the receiving holes of the joined platen members, the

heads

511, 531 of the

members

510, 530 of the interlocking unit 500 are positioned. By way of example and not limitation, the coupling means is preferably an L-shaped flange, or a hook-shaped flange, or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the pallet assembly is provided with a plurality of extension members 700 as shown in figures 9a to 9 f. It will be appreciated that the extension members 700 are intended to be sandwiched between the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower pallet members

100, 300 during assembly, thereby increasing the overall height of the pallet assembly 1. In the preferred embodiment, each extension member 700 includes an upper surface 710 provided with a rim 711, at least one sidewall 730, a bottom surface 750 provided with a rim 751, and a locking slot 770. It should be noted that the upper surface 710 and the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 may be made of a solid surface or a lattice frame. Preferably, the locking groove 770 extends from the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 to the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700. It will be appreciated that the locking slots 770 of the extension member 700 are used to: when the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 and when the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the lower platen member 300, the

channels

170, 370 of the

corresponding platen members

100, 300 are aligned with one another to form receiving channels to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 500.

It should be noted that the interlock unit 500 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may have any length deemed suitable for interlocking the pallet assembly 1, whether or not the pallet assembly 1 has the extension member 700.

In this preferred embodiment, the extension member 700 is further provided with at least one protruding sleeve 771 integrally extending outward from a peripheral wall of the locking groove 770 of the extension member 700, and the upper and

lower platform members

100, 300 are further provided with at least one recessed

portion

lower platen members

100, 300 complementary in shape to the projecting sleeves 771 are formed around the inner surfaces of the

channels

170, 370 proximate the bases 153, 353 of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300. It will be appreciated that when the extension member 700 is sandwiched between the

deck members

recesses

173, 373 of the

deck members

100, 300, thereby strengthening the engagement between the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700.

protrusion

712, 752, the at least one

protrusion

712, 752 integrally extending from the inner periphery of the

rims

projections

support members

150, 350 of the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300, when the

rims

support members

150, 350, they firmly abut against the inner sidewalls of the

support members

150, 350 of the

deck members

It should be noted that in embodiments, where the base of the

support member

150, 350 is made of a lattice frame, the

projections

notches

712a, 752a, as shown in fig. 9 f. In the preferred embodiment, the

notches

712a, 752a of the

projections

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

100, 300 while being sandwiched between the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300.

Referring to figures 16 and 17, there are shown elements or components of a pallet assembly 1 according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that some of these elements or components have been described above. Therefore, in the following description, the same reference numerals and drawings as those of the foregoing embodiment will be used for the parts or elements of the pallet assembly 1 of this preferred embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment, the pallet assembly 1 includes an upper deck member 100, a lower deck member 300, a plurality of interlocking units 600, and a plurality of locking devices 900. Preferably, the upper platen member 100 and the lower platen member 300 are formed in exactly the same manner. In the preferred embodiment, the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300 have a load-

bearing surface

support members

150, 350 evenly distributed on the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen members

100, 300. In the preferred embodiment, the

support members

150, 350 of the

platen members

100, 300 have at least one

side wall

151, 351, respectively, the

side wall

151, 351 extending integrally from the bottom surface 130, 330 of the

platen member

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

channel

170, 370, respectively. Preferably, the

channels

170, 370 extend upwardly from the base 153, 353 of the

support member

150, 350 to the load-

bearing surface

110, 310 of the

platen member

100, 300. In the preferred embodiment, the

recesses

171, 371 are formed around the inner circumferential surfaces of the

passages

170, 370 adjacent to the bearing surfaces 110, 310 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300. It will be appreciated that when the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the corresponding lower platen member 300, the channels 170 of the upper platen member 100 and the corresponding channels 370 of the lower platen member 300 are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 600. It should be noted that the

side walls

151, 351 of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and lower

cover plate members

100, 300 of the preferred embodiment are provided with at least one

aperture

151a, 351 a.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each interlocking unit 600 includes a first member 610 and a second member 630. Preferably, the first member 610 and the second member 630 are formed in exactly the same manner. The first member 610 and the second member 630 have

heads

611, 631 and

bodies

613, 633, respectively. The

main bodies

613, 633 of the

members

610, 630 of the interlock unit 600 preferably extend integrally from the

heads

611, 631 of the first and

second members

610, 630 of the interlock unit 600. In this preferred embodiment, the

main bodies

613, 633 of the first and

second members

610, 630 are provided with at least one

perforation

613a, 633a, respectively, the

perforation

613a, 633a corresponding to the

apertures

151a, 351a of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower platen members

100, 300. Accordingly, after the interlocking unit 600 is completely inserted into the receiving holes of the coupled

deck members

100, 300, the

apertures

151a, 351a of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower deck members

100, 300 and the corresponding

penetration holes

613a, 633a of the first and

second members

610, 630 of the interlocking unit 600 are aligned with each other to facilitate the insertion of the locking device 900. By way of example and not limitation, the locking means may be a pin or bolt or the like.

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower pallet members

100, 300 during assembly, thereby increasing the overall height of the pallet assembly 1. In the preferred embodiment, each extension member 700 includes an upper surface 710 provided with a rim 711, at least one sidewall 730, a bottom surface 750 provided with a rim 751, and a locking slot 770. Preferably, the locking groove 770 extends from the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 to the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700. It should be noted that the upper surface 710 and the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 may be made of a solid surface or a lattice frame. It will be appreciated that the locking slots 770 of the extension member 700 are used to: when the upper surface 710 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 153 of the support member 150 of the upper platen member 100 and when the bottom surface 750 of the extension member 700 is in surface contact with the base 353 of the support member 350 of the lower platen member 300, the

channels

170, 370 of the

corresponding platen members

100, 300 are aligned with one another to form receiving channels to facilitate insertion of the interlock unit 600.

It should be noted that the interlock unit 600 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may have any length deemed suitable for interlocking the pallet assembly 1, whether or not the pallet assembly has the extension member 700.

In the preferred embodiment, the extension member 700 is further provided with at least one aperture 731 in the side wall 730. It should be noted that the

main bodies

613, 633 of the first and

second members

610, 630 of the interlock unit 600 are also provided with at least one opening 613d, 633d that is complementary in shape to the aperture 731. It will be appreciated that when the interlock unit 600 is fully inserted into the receiving channel formed by the aligned

channels

170, 370 of the

deck members

100, 300 and the locking slot 770 of the extension member 700, the aperture 731 of the extension member 700 and the openings 613d, 633d of the

bodies

613, 633 of the first and

second members

610, 630 of the interlock unit 600 are aligned with one another to facilitate insertion of the locking device 900 to further strengthen the joint between the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700.

lower platform members

100, 300 are further provided with at least one recessed

portion

lower platen members

channels

170, 370 near the bases 153, 353 of the

support members

150, 350 of the upper and

lower platen members

deck members

recesses

173, 373 of the

deck members

100, 300, thereby fixing the junction between the

deck members

100, 300 and the extension member 700.

protrusion

712, 752, the at least one

protrusion

712, 752 integrally extending from the inner periphery of the

rims

projections

support members

150, 350 of the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300, when the

rims

support members

150, 350, they firmly abut against the inner sidewalls of the

support members

150, 350 of the

deck members

It should be noted that in embodiments, in case the base of the

support member

150, 350 is made of a lattice frame, the

projections

notches

712a, 752a, as shown in fig. 9 f. In the preferred embodiment, the

notches

712a, 752a of the

projections

support member

150, 350 of the

deck member

100, 300 while being sandwiched between the respective upper and

lower deck members

100, 300.

By way of example and not limitation, the components of pallet assembly 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as

deck members

100, 300 and extension member 700, may be made of polycarbonate or other synthetic polymer or plastic material.

It should be noted that the configuration of the various components, elements and/or members for performing the above-described embodiments is merely illustrative and exemplary. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that those configurations, parts, elements and/or components used herein may be varied in some manner in order to achieve different effects or desired operational characteristics. Other combinations and/or modifications of configurations, arrangements, structures, applications, functions or components used in the practice of the invention, and which are not specifically described, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments and conditions, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles thereof.

It will be obvious that the invention thus described may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A pallet assembly (1) for storing and loading goods comprising an upper pallet member (100) and a lower pallet member (300), said upper pallet member (100) and said lower pallet member (300) having a load-bearing surface (110, 310), a bottom surface (130, 330) and a plurality of spaced apart support members (150, 350) on said bottom surface (130, 330) of said pallet member (100, 300), respectively, said support members (150, 350) having at least one side wall (151, 351) respectively, integrally extending downwardly from the bottom surface (130, 330) of the respective pallet member (100, 300) and forming a base (153, 353) having an edge (153a, 353a), characterized in that:

the upper platen member (100) and the lower platen member (300) are provided with: at least one channel (170, 570) extending upwardly from the base (153, 353) of each support member (150, 350) to the load-bearing surface (110, 310) of the respective platen member (100, 300), wherein a notch (171, 371) is formed around the inner peripheral surface of the channel (170, 370) of the respective platen member (100, 300) proximate to the load-bearing surface (110, 310); and

a plurality of interlocking units (400), each interlocking unit (400) comprising a first member (410) and a second member (430), said first and second members (410, 430) having a head (411, 431) and a hollow body (413, 433) integrally extending from said head (411, 431), respectively, wherein said second member (430) is provided with a collapsible retaining means (435) radially extending from a lower end of said hollow body (433); and

the channels (170) of the upper platen member (100) and the corresponding channels (370) of the lower platen member (300) are aligned to form receiving holes for facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit (400), wherein the retractable retaining means (435) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is adapted to snap-fit into the recesses (171 or 371) of the channels (170 or 370) of the platen members (100 or 300) after the second member (430) is inserted into the receiving holes of the platen members (100, 370), and the first member (410) of the interlocking unit (400) is adapted to snap-fit into the hollow body (433) of the second member (430) to securely interlock the joint of the platen members (100, 300).

2. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the retractable retaining means (435) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is preferably a retractable retaining flange or the like.

3. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the hollow body (413) of the first member (410) of the interlocking unit (400) is further provided with at least one male locking connector (413b), and the hollow body (433) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is further provided with at least one female locking connector (433b) of complementary shape to the male locking connector, the female locking connector (433b) being in mating engagement with the male locking connector (413b) of the first member (410) when the hollow body (413) of the first member (410) is inserted into the hollow body (433) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400).

4. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the male locking connector (413b) of the first member (410) of the interlocking unit (400) is preferably a retractable tongue or the like, and the female locking connector (423b) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is preferably a locking groove or the like.

5. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the hollow body (413) of the first member (410) of the interlocking unit (400) is further provided with at least one ridge (413c) remote from the male locking connector (413b), and the hollow body (433) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is further provided with at least one groove (433c) of complementary shape to the ridge remote from the female locking connector (433b), such that when the first member (410) is inserted into the hollow body (433) of the second member (430), the ridge (413c) of the first member (410) slidably engages with the corresponding groove (433c) of the second member (430) to guide the male locking connector (413b) into interlocking engagement with the female locking connector (433 b).

6. The pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each channel (370) of the lower deck member (300) is further provided with at least one appendage (375) projecting integrally outwards from a peripheral wall of the channel (370) close to the base (353) of the lower deck member (300), each channel (170) close to the base (153) of the upper deck member (100) being further provided with at least one recess (not shown) corresponding to the appendage (375) of the lower deck member (300), and vice versa; such that during assembly, the appendage (375) of the lower deck member (300) fits tightly into a recess (not shown) of the upper deck member (100) that is complementary in shape thereto, and vice versa.

7. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the pallet assembly (1) is provided with a plurality of extension members (700), each extension member (700) having an upper surface (710) provided with a rim (711), at least one side wall (730), a bottom surface (750) provided with a rim (751), and a locking slot (770) extending from the upper surface (710) of the extension member (700) to the bottom surface (750) of the extension member (700).

8. The pallet assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the respective support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) such that the locking channel (770) of the extension member (700) and the respective channels (170, 370) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) are aligned with each other, thereby forming a receiving channel facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit (400).

9. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 8, characterised in that the retractable retaining means (435) of the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) is adapted to catch the notch (171 or 371) of the channel (170 or 370) of the pallet member (100 or 300) after the second member (430) of the interlocking unit (400) has been inserted into the receiving channel formed by the joined pallet member (100, 300) and the extension member (700), the first member (410) of the interlocking unit (400) being adapted to snap fit into the hollow body (433) of the second member (430) to securely interlock the joint between the pallet member (100, 300) and the extension member (700).

10. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one projecting sleeve (771) extending integrally outwardly from the peripheral wall of the locking groove (770) of the extension member (700).

11. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that at least one recess (173, 373) corresponding to at least one said protruding sleeve (771) of said extension member (700) is formed around the inner periphery of said channel (310, 370) adjacent the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) of the respective said upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

12. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the projecting sleeves (771) of the extension members (700) snap-fit into corresponding recesses (173, 373) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) when the extension members (700) are sandwiched between the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

13. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one protrusion (712, 752) extending integrally from the inner periphery of the rim (711, 751) of the upper and bottom faces (710, 750) of the extension member (700).

14. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that the projections (712, 752) of the extension member (700) are secured against the inner side walls of the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300) when the rim (711, 751) of the extension member (700) is in surface contact with the edge (153a, 353a) of the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) after the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300).

15. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pallet assembly (1) is further provided with a plurality of locking devices (900).

16. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 15, characterised in that the side walls (151, 351) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) are further provided with at least one aperture (151a, 351a), the hollow body (413, 433) of each member (410, 430) of the interlocking unit (400) being further provided with at least one perforation (413a, 433a) of complementary shape to the aperture, such that the aperture (151a, 351a) of the support member (150, 350) of the pallet member (100, 300) and the corresponding perforation (413a, 433a) of the first and second members (410, 430) of the interlocking unit (400) are mutually aligned after the interlocking unit (400) has been fully inserted into the accommodation hole formed by the joined pallet members (100, 300), facilitating insertion of the locking device (900).

17. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 7 or 15, characterised in that the side walls (730) of the extension members (700) are further provided with at least one hole (731), and that the hollow body (413, 433) of each member (410, 430) of the interlocking unit (400) is further provided with at least one opening (414d, 434d) complementary in shape to said hole, so that after the complete insertion of the interlocking unit (400) into the receiving channel formed by the combined deck member (100, 300) and the extension member (700), the hole (731) of the extension member (700) is mutually aligned with the corresponding openings (414d, 434d) of the first and second members (410, 430) of the interlocking unit (400), facilitating the insertion of the locking device (900).

18. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 15, characterised in that the locking means (900) are preferably pins, bolts or the like.

19. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the deck members (100, 300) are further provided with at least one stiffening member (800) integrally moulded with the upper and lower deck members (100, 300).

20. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that the reinforcement members (800) are preferably metal bars, steel bars or the like.

21. A pallet assembly (1) for storing and loading goods comprising an upper pallet member (100) and a lower pallet member (300), said upper pallet member (100) and said lower pallet member (300) having a load-bearing surface (110, 310), a bottom surface (130, 330) and a plurality of spaced apart support members (150, 350) on said bottom surface (130, 330) of said pallet member (100, 300), respectively, said support members (150, 350) having at least one side wall (151, 351) respectively, integrally extending downwardly from the bottom surface (130, 330) of the respective pallet member (100, 300) and forming a base (153, 353) having an edge (153a, 353a), characterized in that:

the upper platen member (100) and the lower platen member (300) are provided with: at least one channel (170, 370) extending upwardly from the base (153, 353) of each support member (150, 350) to the load-bearing surface (110, 310) of the respective platen member (100, 300), wherein a notch (171, 371) is formed around the inner peripheral surface of the channel (170, 370) of the respective platen member (100, 300) proximate the load-bearing surface (110, 310); and

a plurality of interlocking units (500), each interlocking unit (500) comprising a first member (510) and a second member (530), the first and second members (510, 530) having a head (511, 531) and a body (513, 533) integrally extending from the head (511, 531), respectively, wherein each of the members (510, 530) is provided with a coupling means (515, 535) integrally extending from a lower end of the body (513, 533); and

the channels (170) of the upper platen member (100) and the corresponding channels (370) of the lower platen member (300) are aligned to form receiving holes for facilitating insertion of the interlock unit (500), wherein the coupling means (515) of the first member (430) is adapted to matingly engage the coupling means (535) of the second member (530) after the first and second members (510, 530) are inserted into the receiving holes of the platen members (100, 370) in opposite directions to securely interlock the joints of the platen members (100, 370).

22. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 21, characterised in that the coupling means are preferably L-shaped flanges or hook-shaped flanges or the like.

23. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 21, characterised in that the pallet assembly (1) is provided with a plurality of extension members (700), each extension member (700) having an upper surface (710) provided with a rim (711), at least one side wall (730), a bottom surface (750) provided with a rim (751), and a locking slot (770) extending from the upper surface (710) of the extension member (700) to the bottom surface (750) of the extension member (700).

24. The pallet assembly (1) according to claim 23, wherein the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the respective support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) such that the locking channel (770) of the extension member (700) and the respective channels (170, 370) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) are aligned with each other, thereby forming a receiving channel facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit (500).

25. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one projecting sleeve (771) extending integrally outwardly from a peripheral wall of the locking groove (770) of the extension member (700).

26. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that at least one recess (173, 373) corresponding to at least one said protruding sleeve (771) of said extension member (700) is formed around the inner periphery of said channel (310, 370) adjacent the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) of the respective said upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

27. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 26, characterised in that the projecting sleeves (771) of the extension members (700) snap-fit into corresponding recesses (173, 373) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) when the extension members (700) are sandwiched between the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

28. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 23, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one protrusion (712, 752) integrally extending from the inner periphery of the rim (711, 751) of the upper and bottom faces (710, 750) of the extension member (700).

29. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 28, characterised in that the projections (712, 752) of the extension member (700) are secured against the inner side walls of the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300) when the rim (711, 751) of the extension member (700) is in surface contact with the edge (153a, 353a) of the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) after the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300).

30. A pallet assembly (1) for storing and loading goods comprising an upper pallet member (100) and a lower pallet member (300), said upper pallet member (100) and said lower pallet member (300) having a load-bearing surface (110, 310), a bottom surface (130, 330) and a plurality of spaced apart support members (150, 350) on said bottom surface (130, 330) of said pallet member (100, 300), respectively, said support members (150, 350) having at least one side wall (151, 351) respectively, integrally extending downwardly from the bottom surface (130, 330) of the respective pallet member (100, 300) and forming a base (153, 353) having an edge (153a, 353a), characterized in that:

the upper platen member (100) and the lower platen member (300) are provided with: at least one channel (170, 570) extending upwardly from a base (153, 353) of each support member (150, 350) to a load-bearing surface (110, 310) of the respective platen member (100, 300), wherein a recess (171, 371) is formed around an inner circumferential surface of the channel (170, 370) of the respective platen member (100, 300) proximate to the load-bearing surface (110, 310), the side walls (151, 351) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower platen members (100, 300) being provided with at least one aperture (151a, 351 a);

a plurality of interlocking units (600), each interlocking unit (600) comprising a first member (610) and a second member (630), the first and second members (610, 630) having a head (611, 631) and a body (613, 633) integrally extending from the head (611, 631), respectively, wherein the bodies (613, 633) of the first and second members (610, 630) are provided with at least one perforation (613a, 633a) corresponding to the apertures (151a, 351a) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower platen members (100, 300); and

a plurality of locking devices (900); and

the channels (170) of the upper platen member (100) and the corresponding channels (570) of the lower platen member (500) are aligned with each other to form receiving holes to facilitate insertion of the interlocking unit (600), wherein after the interlocking unit (400) is fully inserted into the receiving holes formed by the joined platen members (100, 300), the apertures (151a, 351a) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower platen members (100, 300) and the corresponding perforations (613a, 633a) of the first and second members (610, 630) of the interlocking unit (600) are aligned with each other to facilitate insertion of the locking device (900) to securely interlock the joints of the platen members (100, 300).

31. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 30, characterised in that the locking means (900) are preferably pins, bolts or the like.

32. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 30, characterised in that the pallet assembly (1) is provided with a plurality of extension members (700), each extension member (700) having an upper surface (710) provided with a rim (711), at least one side wall (730), a bottom surface (750) provided with a rim (751), and a locking slot (770) extending from the upper surface (710) of the extension member (700) to the bottom surface (750) of the extension member (700).

33. The pallet assembly (1) according to claim 32, wherein the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the respective support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) such that the locking channel (770) of the extension member (700) and the respective channels (170, 370) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) are aligned with each other, thereby forming a receiving channel facilitating insertion of the interlocking unit (500).

34. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 30 or 32, characterised in that the side walls (730) of the extension members (700) are further provided with at least one aperture (731), and the body (613, 633) of each member (610, 630) of the interlocking unit is further provided with at least one opening (614d, 634d) of complementary shape to the aperture, such that after the interlocking unit (400) has been fully inserted into the receiving channel formed by the combined deck member (100, 300) and the extension member (700), the aperture (731) of the extension member (700) and the corresponding openings (614d, 634d) of the first and second members (610, 630) of the interlocking unit (600) are aligned with each other, facilitating insertion of the locking device (900).

35. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 32, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one projecting sleeve (771) extending integrally outwardly from a peripheral wall of the locking groove (770) of the extension member (700).

36. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 35, characterised in that at least one recess (173, 373) corresponding to at least one said protruding sleeve (771) of said extension member (700) is formed around the inner periphery of said channel (310, 370) adjacent the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) of the respective said upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

37. A pallet assembly (1) as claimed in claim 36, characterised in that the projecting sleeves (771) of the extension members (700) snap-fit into corresponding recesses (173, 373) of the support members (150, 350) of the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300) when the extension members (700) are sandwiched between the upper and lower pallet members (100, 300).

38. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 32, characterised in that the extension member (700) is further provided with at least one protrusion (712, 752) integrally extending from the inner periphery of the rim (711, 751) of the upper and bottom faces (710, 750) of the extension member (700).

39. A pallet assembly (1) according to claim 38, characterised in that the projections (712, 752) of the extension member (700) are secured against the inner side walls of the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300) when the rim (711, 751) of the extension member (700) is in surface contact with the edge (153a, 353a) of the base (153, 353) of the support member (150, 350) after the extension member (700) is sandwiched between the support members (150, 350) of the corresponding pallet member (100, 300).