EP1445204B1

EP1445204B1 - Load handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1445204B1
Application number: EP04250681A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Price; Kelvin Wells
Original assignee: DS Smith UK Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2004-02-09
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-09
Also published as: EP1445204A2; EP1445204A3; GB0302879D0; DE602004014303D1; GB2398061B; ATE398085T1; GB2398061A; GB0402780D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a pallet 1 comprising an upper (in use) platform - a load support platform -, a base, and spaced bearers which interconnect the platform and base and have means in the form of a diagonal strut to permit erection of the pallet from a collapsed condition to a fully erected position the diagonal strut 5 of each bearer is inclined in the same direction, and at the same angle to the horizontal. As the diagonals 5 are inclined in the same direction, the pallet 1, is relatively easily erectable from a position in which they are substantially flat with the platform 2 and base 3 substantially parallel and almost in contact, to the fully erected position <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to load handling apparatus, particularly a pallet.
Pallets are used in grocery and retail distribution and in industry for handling loads. The pallets are often loaded with a load which can be transported round say a factory or warehouse site on fork-lift trucks or the like. Also, the pallets can be loaded onto a lorry or truck for transporting a load over distance. Such pallets must be strong enough to perform their function. Traditionally such pallets have been made of wood. Whilst being able to support a load, such pallets are heavy, bulky and are liable to break or splinter, which is a health or injury hazard for operatives. Such pallets too are often "recycled" in the sense of being returned after use to an authorised depot, but such systems consume substantial space for storage of pallets prior to return, and require numerous lorry journeys to effect that return. There is also a risk that pallets will be lost or damaged.
As an alternative to wood, lighter pallets made from foldable and creasable materials such as corrugated cardboard have been produced. However prior non-wooden pallets of this sort have proved difficult to manufacture cost effectively. They often require several separate components and a hand lay up assembly, and often require a similar storage space as that for a wooden pallet.
United States Patent Application US-A-3115105 discloses a collapsible pallet wherein the bearers consist of supporting struts arranged in opposing, non-uniform, direction (see Fig 9).
The bearers are configured to be vertically aligned (see Fig 1).
It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.
According to the invention there is provided a pallet assemblable from initially separate members, comprising (in use) an upper platform, a base, and spaced bearers which interconnect the platform and base, wherein the bearers each comprise a tubular body with a strut, the strut extending in use diagonally from one lower corner to an opposite upper corner, the struts of each bearer being inclined in the same direction in a plane transverse to the planes of the platform and base whereby to provide rigidily in the direction of an applied load and wherein the bearers have means to permit the erection of the pallet from a collapsed condition thereof.
Thus a pallet embodying the invention may be stored and/or transported substantially flat.
Suitably each bearer may be of unitary structure and may extend across the pallet.
There may be three bearers which may be substantially parallel and spaced apart over the pallet.
Each bearer may comprise a plurality of separate bearer means as considered across the pallet.
In a preferred embodiment each bearer may comprise three separate bearer means, suitably nine bearer means in all.
There may be locking means adapted to maintain the pallet in an erected condition. This provides for a positive construction, particularly when the locking means may comprise means of the platform and/or base and means of the bearers which interengage to provide a locking function to maintain the pallet in an erected condition.
There may be a slot in the platform and a locking lug of complementary shape to the slot carried by the bearer.
The locking function is enhanced by there being a plurality of slots and lugs, suitably nine slots and lugs, arranged in sets of three in three substantially parallel rows across the pallet.
One row of slots may intersect an edge of the platform and the other two rows of slots may be inboard of the platform, each slot thereof being a slot closed at each end..
Suitably the platform, base and bearers may be assembled together by securing means, suitably an adhesive such as glue.
The platform, base and bearers may each be formed from a respective blank of creasable material, the bearers being foldable about crease means formed therein.
The material may comprise a fluted blank of planar material, suitably a corrugated cardboard blank.
The blank for each bearer may comprise a plurality of panel bearing crease means, and cut-outs whereby to form the bearer on folding about the respective crease means, overlapping parts of the blank being secured together by securing means to maintain the bearer in the formed condition.
The securing means may suitably comprise adhesive.
The pallet may comprise a 2 or 4-way entry defined by the bearers for receiving a fork lift element.
The pallet may also include access for a pallet jack device.
Pallets embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows schematically views of a first embodiment of pallet according to the invention in an erected condition;
Fig. 2 shows the pallet of Fig. 1 in use;
Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the first embodiment of pallet;
Figs. 4 and 5 show respectively blanks of material for forming the bearer, and platforms of the pallet of the first embodiment;
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a bearer of a second embodiment of pallet according to the invention;
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of pallet, in a partially erected position;
Fig. 8 shows the second embodiment of pallet, erected;
Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a blank for a platform and/or base of the second embodiment of pallet; and
Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a bearer of the second embodiment of pallet.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown a pallet 1 (Figs. 1 to 5) and 100 (Figs. 6 to 10) each comprising an upper (in use) platform - a load support platform 2 -, a base 3, and spaced bearers 4 which interconnect the platform and base and have means in the form of a diagonal strut to permit erection of the pallet from a collapsed condition thereof (for example, see Figs. 7, 8, the latter showing the fully erected condition of the pallet 100, but a similar erection would be observable for the pallet 1).
In both embodiments, the diagonal strut 5 of each bearer is inclined in the same direction, and at the same angle to the horizontal. As the diagonals 5 are inclined in the same direction, the pallet 1, 100 is relatively easily erectable from a position in which they are substantially flat with the platform 2 and base 3 substantially parallel and almost in contact, to the fully erected position of Figs. 1 - 3, (first embodiment) or Fig. 8 (second embodiment).
Both pallets 1, 100 are formed from respective blanks of creasable material such as planar corrugated cardboard blanks. Also, each pallet is assembled from separate platform, base and bearers, which are assembled together and secured together as by adhesive to form the pallet 1 or 100.
The pallet 1 is formed from five members, namely a platform, a base and three bearers which extend across the whole width of the pallet 1.
The pallet 100 is formed from eleven members, namely a platform, a base and nine bearer means 6 (Fig. 6), arranged in three rows of three, three bearer means 6 in one row being spaced apart and forming a bearer 4 extending across the pallet 100.
As shown in Fig. 1, the pallet 1 has locking means 7 adapted to maintain the pallet 1 in an erected condition. These locking means 7 comprise means of the bearers 4 which are in the form of locking lugs 8 which engage in a respective slot 9 in the platform 2. There are nine such slots and lug arrangements 7, arranged in three substantially parallel rows across the pallet 1, one row 9' intersecting a lateral edge 10 of the pallet 1 and the other two rows 90" being inboard of the platform, the slots of those two rows being closed at each end.
The lugs 8 are formed integrally from a blank 11 (Fig. 4) for forming the bearer 4, in the form of upstanding key-shaped lugs which when the pallet 1 is erected, slide along the underside, in use, of the platform 2 until they spring into the slot 9 (Fig. 5) and engage in a narrow recess 12 of the slot 9 by a nib or nose 13 of the lug 8. This prevents unintentional collapse of the pallet 1, as any pressure to the left (as viewed in Figs. 1 to 3), which is the direction for potential collapse, is resisted as the lug 8 is pushed ever more firmly into engagement with the edge of the slot 9 by such leftward pressure, so locking the nib 13 and recess 12 ever more firmly. The pallet 1 is then rendered particularly stable. However, it will be appreciated that the pallet 1 can be collapsed when desired simply by pushing downwardly on the lugs 8 so that they are released from the slots and can slide along the underside of the platform 2 when leftward (as viewed) pressure is applied to the pallet.
The bearer blank 11 has seven panels 14 linked by crease means in the form of impressed crease or hinge lines 15, cut outs 16, 17 form the lugs and fork lift access points respectively, and tongues 18 to engage in slots 19 to form an orthogonal bearer 4 on erection, the hinge lines being such that on correct folding, the diagonal strut 5 is formed. Overlapping parts of the bearer blank 11 are secured together as by being glued together.
The second embodiment of pallet 100 is similar to the first except that it omits the locking means 7 of the first embodiment. In the pallet 100, each bearer 4 is in the form of the three spaced apart but aligned bearer means 6 each formed from a blank 21 as before (Fig. 10), and each having a diagonal strut 5, inclined in the same direction and at the same angle to the horizontal.
A plan view of a blank 22 for the base 3, is shown in Fig. 9, locations 23 for the nine feet or bearers shown in dashed lines and cut outs in solid lines (as in Figs, 1 - 5). The holes 24 are for providing access for wheels of pallet trucks.
The blank 21 comprises seven panels 25 with crease means 26 and cut-outs 27 e.g. tabs.
Both pallets 1 and 100 define between neighbouring bearers 4, entry points for forks of fork lift trucks, and access points for a pallet jack device, e.g. a wheel of such device.
It will be understood that the pallets 1, 100 described herein are light, rigid, strong and relatively inexpensive. Moreover, as the pallets are made of corrugated cardboard, or the like, they can be recycled after use through established recycling channels and the like. Also, the danger of injury when using the pallets instead of wooden pallets is much reduced as the pallets do not splinter and are much lighter than wooden pallets.

Claims

A pallet (1) assemblable from initially separate members, comprising in use an upper platform (2), a base (3), and spaced bearers (4) which interconnect the platform (2) and base (3) characterised by the bearers(4) each comprising a tubular body with a strut (5), the strut (5) extending in use diagonally from one lower corner to an opposite upper corner, the struts (5) of each bearer (4) being inclined in the same direction in a plane transverse to the planes of the platform (2) and base (3) whereby to provide rigidity in the direction of an applied load and wherein the bearers have means to permit the erection of the pallet (1) from a collapsed condition thereof.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 1, each bearer (4) being of unitary structure and extending across the pallet (1).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 2, there being three bearers (4) which are substantially parallel and spaced apart over the pallet (1).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 1, each bearer (4) comprising a plurality of separate bearer means (6) as considered across the pallet (1).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 4, each bearer (4) comprising three separate bearer means (6).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 5, comprising nine bearer means (6).
A pallet (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising locking means (7) adapted to maintain the pallet (1) in an erected condition.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 7, the locking means (7) comprising means of the platform (2) and/or base (3) and means of the bearers (6) which interengage to provide a locking function (7) to maintain the pallet (1) in an erected condition.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 8, comprising a slot (9) in the platform (2) and a locking lug (8) of complementary shape to the slot (9) carried by the bearer (4).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 9, there being a plurality of slots (9) and lugs (8).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 10, there being nine slots (9) and lugs (8), arranged in sets of three in three substantially parallel rows across the pallet (1).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 11, one row of slots (9) intersecting an edge of the platform (2) and the other two rows of slots (9) being inboard of the platform (2), each slot (9) thereof being a slot (9) closed at each end.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 1, the platform (2), base (3) and bearers (4) being assembled together by securing means.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 13, the securing means comprising an adhesive.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, the platform (2), base (3) and bearers (4) each being formed from a respective blank (11, 21, 22) of creasable material, the bearers (4) being foldable about crease means formed therein.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 15, the material comprising a fluted blank (11, 21, 22) of planar material.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 16, the blank (11, 21, 22) comprising a corrugated cardboard blank (11, 21, 22).
A pallet (1) according to Claim 17, the blank for each bearer (4) comprising a plurality of panels (14,25) bearing crease means (26), and cut-outs (27) whereby to form the bearer (4) on folding about the respective crease means (26), overlapping parts of the blank (14, 25) being secured together by securing means to maintain the bearer (4) in the formed condition.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 18, the securing means comprising adhesive.
A pallet (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising a 2 or 4-way entry defined by the bearers (4) for receiving a fork lift element.
A pallet (1) according to Claim 20, including access for a pallet jack device.