Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D19/0004—Rigid pallets without side walls
  • B65D19/0006—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element
  • B65D19/0008—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface
  • B65D19/002—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface the base surface being made of more than one element
  • B65D19/0024—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
  • B65D19/0028—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D19/0004—Rigid pallets without side walls
  • B65D19/0006—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element
  • B65D19/0008—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface
  • B65D19/001—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface the base surface being made of a single element
  • B65D19/0012—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface the base surface being made of a single element forming a continuous plane contact surface
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00009—Materials
  • B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
  • B65D2519/00034—Plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00009—Materials
  • B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
  • B65D2519/00069—Plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00009—Materials
  • B65D2519/00084—Materials for the non-integral separating spacer
  • B65D2519/00104—Plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
  • B65D2519/00273—Overall construction of the pallet made of more than one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
  • B65D2519/00278—Overall construction of the pallet the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
  • B65D2519/00288—Overall construction of the load supporting surface made of one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
  • B65D2519/00318—Overall construction of the base surface made of one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
  • B65D2519/00323—Overall construction of the base surface made of more than one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
  • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
  • B65D2519/00333—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
  • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
  • B65D2519/00338—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00368—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer
  • B65D2519/00373—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00368—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer
  • B65D2519/00378—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
  • B65D2519/00398—Overall construction reinforcements
  • B65D2519/00432—Non-integral, e.g. inserts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00547—Connections
  • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
  • B65D2519/00557—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00547—Connections
  • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
  • B65D2519/00557—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements
  • B65D2519/00562—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
  • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
  • B65D2519/00547—Connections
  • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
  • B65D2519/00557—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements
  • B65D2519/00567—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted

Definitions

• This invention relates to pallets used to package, store, and handle materials and more specifically to such pallets having plastic legs according to the invention.
• Wood pallets have many disadvantages. For example, they are subject to breakage and thus are not reusable over extended periods of time. Wood pallets, as they will deteriorate if left exposed to the elements, must be stored indoors when not in use and so take up a considerable amount of valuable floor space in the warehouse. In an effort to solve some of the problems associated with wood pallets, plastic pallets have been developed and employed with some degree of success.
• an upper panel or platform is formed by fusing together upper and lower plastic sheets to form a reinforced double wall or "twin sheet" structure.
• Some pallets consist of a single upper panel constituting a load-bearing platform with a plurality of legs extending downward from the platform to maintain it in spaced relation to a support surface on which the legs rest.
• Other pallets consist of two panels, the first constituting an upper platform structure and the second a lower base structure, with a plurality of legs or spacers separating the two.
• the legs are distributed over the undersurface of the platform structure in a number and density sufficient to adequately support the weight likely to be carried by a particular pallet design when used in its intended manner. For example, for a rectangular pallet, there will typically be nine legs with one located at each corner of the pallet, one midway along each of the pallet sides, and one at the center of the pallet.
• the legs are typically formed by molding at each location where a leg is desired a large downwardly extending protrusion in both the upper and lower plastic sheets of the twin sheet structure .
• the leg protrusion of the top sheet fits inside of and is fused to that of the lower sheet, and the resulting leg extends downwardly substantially below the lower surface of the platform structure.
• a disadvantage of this construction is that the pallet must be fabricated on a mold that can only produce a pallet having one predetermined configuration of legs.
• the production of a range of different pallets optimized for specific applications and having different numbers and patterns of legs requires the pallet fabricator to invest in a large number of different molds.
• the leg structures are of necessity formed of the same thickness plastic material as the platform structure so that the structural requirements and concerns of the leg structures may not be individually addressed but, rather, must be address in consideration of the often divergent structural requirements and concerns of the platform structure.
• the plastic pallet of the invention comprises a platform structure having a generally planar underface and a plurality of individual legs extending downwardly from the underface in spaced relation.
• Each leg comprises a modular plastic structure of box configuration including a generally planar upper portion, a generally planar lower portion, and an annular portion interconnecting the upper and lower portions and maintaining the upper and lower portions in spaced relation.
• the legs are secured to the platform structure by fusing the upper portions of each leg to the underface of the platform structure with the legs in spaced relation.
• each leg comprises an outer skirt portion and each leg further includes a column structure positioned within the skirt portion and interconnecting the upper and lower planar portions.
• This arrangement provides an extremely strong leg structure and further provides a leg structure that will survive even total decimation of the outer skirt portion of the leg by a forklift truck or the like.
• each leg is formed of first and second sheets of plastic material fused together to provide the box configuration. This specific construction allows the legs to be quickly and inexpensively manufactured.
• the first plastic sheet comprises an upper sheet with the first annular skirt portion extending downwardly from the first main body portion such that the first annular surface faces downwardly
• the second plastic sheet comprises a lower sheet and further includes a second annular skirt extending upwardly from the second main body portion such that the second annular surface is defined by an upwardly facing upper annular edge of the second skirt portion.
• the pallet further includes a generally planar base structure, an upper surface of which is fused to the main body portion of the lower sheet of the leg so that the leg, in coaction with other legs, separates the platform structure and base structure to define passageways therebetween for the entry of material handling equipment.
• the pallet thus produced is of the double faced type in which the base structure, rather than the legs themselves, contacts any supporting surface on which the pallet rests.
• a leg comprises an upper plastic sheet having an upper face secured to the underside of the pallet platform panel and a hollow upper boss which opens in the upper face and extends downwardly therefrom, and a lower plastic sheet having a hollow lower boss which opens in a lower face of the lower sheet and extends upwardly therefrom.
• the upper and lower bosses contact one another and are fused together to connect the upper and lower sheets.
• the leg formed in this manner is well suited to a vacuum molding production process, and the coacting bosses give the leg significant strength.
• the upper boss includes an annular side wall and a bottom wall
• the lower boss includes an annular side wall, with the side walls being of generally equal height.
• the side walls of the upper and lower bosses are fused together, the bottom wall of the upper boss is fused to an upper surface of the lower sheet, and the top wall of the lower boss is fused to a lower surface of the upper sheet.
• the upper sheet further includes an upper annular downwardly extending skirt in surrounding relation to the upper boss and the lower sheet further includes a lower annular upwardly extending skirt in surrounding relation to the lower boss, with a lower annular edge of the upper skirt fused to an upper annular edge of the lower skirt.
• the side walls of the upper and lower bosses taper in a complementary fashion to define an angled interface therebetween and the side walls are fused together at this angled interface.
• the tapered configuration of the boss side walls provides improvement in both manufacturability of the legs and in the strength thereof.
• the side walls of the upper and lower bosses have grooves running along the length of the angled interface such that when the side walls are fused together, the grooves are aligned to form a hollow stiffening column which runs between the upper and lower surfaces of the leg along the angled interface at the epicenter of the leg structure.
• This stiffening column provides a further significant increase in the crush resistance of the leg with only a small increase in the amount of plastic material required to manufacture the leg.
• each leg has a hollow closed box configuration and includes an upper wall structure; and the upper wall structure of each leg is fitted into a respective pocket and is fused to the plastic material of the platform structure defining the pocket.
• This arrangement provides a pallet which may be inexpensively produced and which allows a range of pallet sizes to be produced from a single platform structure simply by varying the characteristics of the legs that are fused to the platform structure.
• the upper wall structure of each leg has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the respective pocket so as to fit snugly within that pocket. This arrangement provides a positive securement as between the platform structure and the leg and optimizes the shear strength of the pallet.
• the platform structure comprises a twin sheet structure formed of upper and lower thermoformed plastic sheets selectively fused together and the pockets are formed in the lower plastic sheet. This specific construction provides a ready and convenient means of providing the pockets for receipt of the legs.
• each leg is formed from first and second thermoformed plastic parts fused together. This arrangement provides a ready and inexpensive means of providing the legs.
• each leg is fused together along a seam line lying in a generally vertical plan. This arrangement facilitates ready assembly of the legs and provides excellent leg strength.
• the pallet further includes a base structure; a plurality of upwardly spaced opening pockets are provided in an upper face of the base structure; and each leg includes a lower wall structure having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a respective base structure pocket, is received in that pocket, and is fused to the plastic material of the base structure defining that pocket.
• the base structure comprises a twin sheet structure formed of upper and lower thermoformed sheets selectively fused together and the upwardly opening pockets are formed in the upper plastic sheet. This arrangement provides a ready and efficient means of providing the upwardly opening pockets.
• the invention further provides an improved double face plastic pallet including a generally planar platform structure defining an upper face providing an article support surface and an underface; a generally planar base structure defining a lower pallet support face and an upper face; and a plurality of hollow legs of closed box configuration positioned between the platform and base structures and each including an upper wall structure fused to the underface of the platform structure and a lower wall structure fused to the upper face of the base structure.
• This arrangement provides a double face plastic pallet providing high strength, inexpensive manufacture, and versatility.
• FIGURE 1A is a perspective view of a single faced pallet according to the first embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a leg used in the invention pallet;
• FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line
• FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;
• FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;
• FIGURES 7A and 7B are perspective views of upper and lower halves, respectively, utilized in constructing the pallet leg;
• FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a twin sheet plastic pallet according to a second embodiment of the invention including a base structure, a platform structure, and a plurality of legs interposed between the base and platform structures;
• FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.
• FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the base structure;
• FIGURE 12 is a bottom plan view of the platform structure;
• FIGURE 17 is a bottom fragmentary perspective view of the platform structure
• FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified form of the second embodiment pallet.
• FIGURE 22 is a plan view of the modified pallet of Figure 21.
• a first embodiment of the invention pallet is shown in Figures 1-7; a second embodiment of the invention pallet is shown in Figures 8-20; and a modified form of the second embodiment pallet is shown in Figures 21 and 22.
• FIG. 1A An alternative form of the pallet of the present invention is depicted in Figure 1A and is identical to the above-described form in all respects except that pallet 10' is of the single faced type and as such does not include a base structure. Legs 16' are fixed to the bottom of platform structure 12' and rest directly upon a supporting surface. Note that, as in the first described form, the spaces between legs 16' define forklift entry passages 18' accessible from all four sides of pallet 10' .
• upper sheet 20 and lower sheet 120 are identically molded pieces, and as such the distinction between sheets 20 and 120 being upper and lower respectively is purely arbitrary and used herein for descriptive purposes only. To emphasize this fact, the reference numerals assigned to the components making up lower sheet 120 differ from those assigned to the components of upper sheet 20 only in their leading digit. It should also be noted that, unless otherwise stated, any description of a feature of upper sheet 20 applies also to the corresponding feature of lower sheet 120.
• upper sheet 20 includes a generally planar top panel 22 and a skirt 24 extending downwardly from the periphery thereof.
• the vertical dimension of skirt 24 varies around the periphery so that the lower, distal edge 24A of skirt 24 has a stepped or notched configuration.
• the distal edge 24A is flared outward to form a flange 26, the bottom of which defines an annular bonding surface 27 running around the entire periphery of skirt 24.
• skirt 24 is formed with a plurality of vertically extending channels 28 which project inward from the outer surface of the skirt 24.
• a hollow boss 30 extends downwardly from top panel 22 and is generally frustoconical in shape, having an annular side wall 32 and a substantially planar bottom wall 34. Boss 30 is offset toward one end of upper sheet 20 and a flat 36 is formed on the side of boss 30 facing toward the end of upper sheet 20 opposite the direction of the offset. Flat 36 runs straight down the frustrum of boss 30, and a groove 38 passes along the center line of flat 36, projecting toward the inner or concave side of boss 30.
• lower sheet 120 is identical to upper sheet 20 but is oriented in an inverted position so that skirt 124 extends upwardly from the periphery of a planar bottom panel 122 and flares outward at distal edge 124A to form a flange 126, the bottom of which defines an annular bonding surface 127, and boss 130 extends upwardly from bottom panel 122 in staggered, meshing relation to downwardly extending boss 30.
• upper sheet 20 and lower sheet 120 are aligned in the mutually opposed relationship depicted in Figures 7A and 7B and brought together so that the notched lower and upper edges of skirts 24, 124 fit together in a meshing relationship, with bonding surfaces 27, 127 in registry and fused to one another around substantially the entire circumference of flanges 26, 126.
• Bosses 30, 130 also fit meshingly together, with flats 36, 136 in planar contact with one another and fused together along the angled interface therebetween. When so mated, grooves 38, 138 are aligned with one another to define a hollow stiffening column 40, best seen in Figures 4 and 6, running along the angled interface.
• Bosses 30, 130 are preferably of equal height, that height being equal to the combined height of skirts 24 and 124 so as to completely span the distance between top panel 22 and bottom panel 122. In this configuration, when upper and lower sheets 20, 120 are joined to fuse skirts 24, 124, bottom wall 34 of boss 30 is placed in contact with and fused to the upper surface of bottom panel 122 and the top wall 134 of boss 130 is likewise placed in contact with and fused to the lower surface of top panel 22.
• the pallet 210 of the second embodiment of the invention is a double faced pallet of twin sheet construction.
• pallet 210 includes an upper platform structure 212, a lower base structure 214, and a plurality of modular legs 215, 216, 217, and 218 interconnecting the platform structure and the base structure.
• Platform structure 212, base structure 214, and legs 215-218 are formed of organic polymeric material such as polyethylene.
• Platform structure 212 and base structure 214 preferably are of a twin sheet construction employing two plastic sheets which are vacuum formed and fused or knitted together at various points to add structural rigidity.
• Platform structure 212 is formed of an upper plastic sheet 219 and a lower plastic sheet 220.
• Upper sheet 219 has a series of rows of downwardly extending bosses 219a and lower sheet 220 has a series of rows of upwardly extending bosses 220a.
• the downwardly extending and upwardly extending rows of bosses are arranged in interdigitated fashion and fused together at the interface of the interdigitated bosses to form rows of boss columns.
• the rows of columns may for example extend parallel to the longitudinal and transverse side edges 212a, 212b of the platform structure. Further details of the manner in which the bosses of the upper and lower sheets are fused together to form the column structures are shown in U.S. patent Nos.
• peripheral edges 219b and 220b of the upper and lower sheets are fused together to define a downwardly extending peripheral lip 222 defining a downwardly opening groove 224 extending totally around the periphery of the platform structure.
• Lip 222 is formed by bringing peripheral edge portion 220b of the lower sheet upwardly into proximity with the peripheral edge portion 219b of the lower sheet and bending the sheet edge portions downwardly together.
• Lip 222 is constituted by a downwardly extending outer edge portion 220c of lower sheet 220 and a downwardly extending outer edge portion 219c of upper sheet 219. Edge portions 219c, 220c are selectively spaced apart proximate their upper regions to define circumferentially spaced voids 226 therebetween for structural rigidity and are continuously fused together adjacent their lower regions at an interface 228.
• Base structure 214 is formed of upper and lower plastic sheets 230, 232 respectively defining downwardly extending rows of bosses 230a and upwardly extending rows of bosses 232a which are interdigitally arranged and fused together at their interdigitated interfaces to form rows of columns similar to the rows of columns in the platform structure but arranged in rows extending generally parallel to the longitudinal and transverse side edges 214a and 214b of the base structure.
• Base structure 214 may comprise a single, continuous structure or may, as shown, include cutouts 214c to give the base structure an open grate configuration.
• Upper sheet 230 is further configured to define upwardly opening recesses or pockets 234 corresponding in number and circumferential disposition to the downwardly opening pockets 228 in the platform structure and arranged to receive the.
• each leg 215 is configured to nest or seat within a respective base structure pocket 234a; the upper end of each leg 215 is configured to nest or seat within a respective platform structure corner pocket 228a; the lower end of each leg 216 is configured to nest within a respective base structure lateral side edge pocket 234c; the upper end of each leg 216 is configured to nest within a respective platform structure lateral side pocket 228c; the lower end of each leg 217 is configured to nest within a respective base structure lateral side pocket 234b; the upper end of each leg 217 is configured to nest within a respective platform structure lateral side pocket 228b; and the upper and lower ends of leg 218 are configured to seat respectively in pockets 228d, 234d.
• each leg 216 is stepped inwardly at 216g to define a recessed upper wall portion 216h which is stepped inwardly with respect to lip 222 so as not to encroach upon groove 224 and not to interfere with access to groove 224.
• the outboard wall 217f of each leg 217 is stepped inwardly at 217g to define a recessed upper wall portion 217h which is stepped inwardly with respect to lip 222 so as not to encroach upon groove 224 and so as not to interfere with access to groove 224.
• each leg 215 is stepped inwardly at 215g to define an upper recessed wall portion 215h spaced inwardly from lip 222 so as not to encroach on groove 224 and the transverse outboard face 215i of each leg 215 is stepped inwardly at 215j to define a recessed upper wall portion 215k spaced inwardly with respect to lip 222 so as not to encroach upon groove 224.
• Central leg 218 extends between central pockets 228d and 38d to support the central region of the pallet.
• legs 217 have ledges 217j adapted to rest on the upper face of sheet 230 outboard of the longitudinal edge of the respective pocket 234b; legs 216 have ledges 216j adapted to rest on the upper face of sheet 230 outboard of the transverse edge of a respective pocket 234c; and corner legs 215 have ledges 215j and 215k adapted to rest on the upper face of sheet 230 outboard of the longitudinal and transverse edges of the respective pocket 234a.
• the upper ends of legs 215-218 have varying profiles and the respective platform structure pockets 228a-28d have shapes and configurations adapted to individually and firmly accommodate the upper ends of the respective legs.
• the upper end 218d of central leg 218 has a simple truncated pyramidal configuration and seats in a central pocket 228d of corresponding size and configuration; the upper end of each transverse side leg 216 seats in a respective pocket 228c and includes large area bevelled surfaces 2161, 216m, and 216n seating against large area bevelled pocket surfaces 220d, 220e, and 220f defined by the platform structure lower sheet 220 and further includes a small area bevelled surface 216p seating against a small area bevelled surface 220j defined on the inboard face of a ridge 220h formed in platform structure lower sheet 220; the upper end of each longitudinal side leg 217 seats in a respective pocket 228b and includes large area bevelled surfaces 2171, 217m, and 217n seated against large area bevelled pocket surfaces 220k, 2201, and 220m and further includes a small area bevelled surface 217p seating against a small area bevelled surface 220n defined on the inboard face of
• Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the manner in which the invention pallet is utilized to facilitate the shrink- wrapping of an article such as the article 238 positioned on the upper face of the platform structure.
• article 238 is shrink-wrapped in position on the platform structure 212 utilizing a plastic film sheet 240 of bag configuration which is positioned in covering relation over the article whereafter its lower peripheral edge 240a is tucked upwardly into the downwardly opening groove 224 so as to firmly secure the lower edge 240a of the film sheet to the platform structure and preclude inadvertent separation of the film sheet from the platform structure and inadvertent exposure of the article.
• a flat sanitizing film sheet 241 may be positioned over the platform structure prior to placement of the article 238 on the platform structure, whereafter article 238 may be placed on the platform structure over film sheet 241, bag sheet 240 may be fitted over the article, and the lower peripheral edges 240a and 241a of the bag film and the flat film may be tucked upwardly together into the downwardly opening groove 224.
• the upper and lower sheets 219' and 220' of the platform structure 212' are configured to define laterally extending cavities 242 positioned inboard of the leg pockets 228' and extending parallel to the platform structure lateral side edges 212b' , and a tubular steel beam 248 is positioned in each cavity 242 to add structural rigidity to the platform structure and to the pallet.
• the upper and lower sheets are further configured to provide longitudinal cavities 250 extending parallel to the platform structure longitudinal side edges 212a' inboard of leg pockets 228' and longitudinally extending tubular steel beams 252 are positioned in the cavities 250 so as to coact with the beams 248 to define a rectangular beam structure extending around the perimeter of the platform structure inboard of the legs.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pallets (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)
• Finger-Pressure Massage (AREA)

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• 1996
  • 1996-04-23 JP JP8532621A patent/JPH11514315A/ja active Pending
  • 1996-04-23 EP EP96912985A patent/EP0824462B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-04-23 AT AT96912985T patent/ATE212312T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-04-23 DE DE69618777T patent/DE69618777T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-04-23 CA CA002215601A patent/CA2215601C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-04-23 AU AU55625/96A patent/AU710867B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-04-23 WO PCT/US1996/005538 patent/WO1996033919A1/fr active IP Right Grant

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