EP1544117A1

EP1544117A1 - Strengthened stackable pallet

Info

Publication number: EP1544117A1
Application number: EP04029000A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfredo Martini
Original assignee: PATENTWERKE AG
Current assignee: PATENTWERKE AG
Priority date: 2003-12-18
Filing date: 2004-12-07
Publication date: 2005-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-07
Also published as: DE602004012054D1; ITMI20030601U1; EP1544117A8; EP1544117B1

Abstract

A strengthened stackable pallet, comprising a plate-like body (2) provided with stackable supporting feet (3) that form fork passage channels, the plate-like body (2) being formed by a substantially hexagonal grid.

Description

The present invention relates to a strengthened stackable pallet.
As is known, several kinds of pallets are already commercially available which are made of plastics and are generally constituted by a plate-like body made of plastic material, whereto supporting feet are connected; such feet may also be of the stackable type and are formed monolithically.
These widely used embodiments in some cases suffer problems that arise from a loading capacity that is not always optimum, since the plate-like body may tend to undergo deformation when loaded.
Another problem that can be ascribed to the solutions of the background art arises from the fact that often there are difficulties in providing precise centering of the load, which may tend to shift on the surface and protrude from the plate-like body.
The aim of the invention is to solve the problems noted above by providing a strengthened stackable pallet that allows to considerably increase the loading capacity of the plate-like body without thereby running the risk of structural failures.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a pallet that has modest dimensions and further allows correct retention of the load, preventing such load from protruding with respect to the plate-like body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stackable pallet, which thanks to its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a strengthened stackable pallet that can be easily obtained starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials and is also competitive from a merely economical standpoint.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a strengthened stackable pallet according to the invention, comprising a plate-like body provided with stackable supporting feet that form fork passage channels, characterized in that said plate-like body is formed by an hexagonal grid.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a strengthened stackable pallet, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic elevation perspective view of the pallet according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view, taken from below, of the pallet according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the pallet;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line V-V of Figure 3.
With reference to the figures, the strengthened stackable pallet according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a plate-like body 2, which is made of plastic material and is provided with nine supporting feet 3, which are distributed in rows and columns and affect the outer sides and the central portion.
The stackable supporting feet 3 are shaped like a truncated pyramid and are provided with drain holes 4, which prevent accumulation of liquids inside them.
The truncated pyramid-like shape allows to provide easy stacking of the pallets, as shown in Figure 4.
The feet 3 are arranged so as to provide the typical channels for the passage of the forks of a conventional fork-lift truck.
For example, the pallets are provided in the size of 800 x 600 mm, accordingly providing a size that is half the size of standard pallets, which typically measure 800 x 1200 mm, so that two pallets arranged side by side may occupy the same space as a standard pallet; it is of course possible to use any sizes deemed appropriate.
A peculiarity of the invention consists in that the plate-like body 2 is provided as an hexagonal grid, which is obtained by means of a plurality of hexagonal cells 5, which are arranged side by side and are provided by means of walls 10, thickness whereof, in a transverse cross-section and along a vertical plane, decreases starting from the central portion both toward the upper face and toward the lower face of the grid.
The walls accordingly define a plate-like body having a plurality of cells 5, which in practice are through openings.
This aspect, besides allowing easy extraction from the mold, also has the considerable advantage of increasing the structural strength, which discharges stresses also at the peripheral region of the supporting feet, thus obtaining a structure that has a considerably higher load capacity than conventional solutions.
Another peculiarity of the invention consists in that at the lateral edges of the plate-like body containment lips 20 are provided, which rise from the plate-like body 2 and are designed to contain the load, preventing it from protruding with respect to the pallet.
The presence of the containment lips, besides providing a further stiffening element, allows to improve stability with particularly simple means.
To complete the description, it is noted that the perimetric edges of the plate-like body are of the folded type, with an outer border 21 with an outer fold that is directed toward the face from which the supporting feet protrude.
From what has been described above, it is thus evident that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a strengthened stackable pallet is provided which comprises a plate-like body provided by means of an hexagonal grid, which in addition to giving a particular appearance to the pallet also achieves a structural improvement.
It should also be noted that the differentiated thickness of the pattern allows better stress distribution, accordingly allowing better load transmission of the assembly.
In practice, the materials used, although the best results have been achieved by using plastic material, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application no. MI2003U000601 from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A strengthened stackable pallet, comprising a plate-like body (2) provided with stackable supporting feet (3) that form fork passage channels, characterized in that said plate-like body (2) is formed by an hexagonal grid.
The stackable pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting feet (3) are shaped substantially like a truncated pyramid.
The stackable pallet according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said grid is provided by walls (10) whose thickness, in a transverse cross-section, decreases starting from the central portion thereof both toward the upper face and toward the lower face of the grid.
The stackable pallet according to claim 3, characterized in that said walls (10) form cells (5) that provide through openings on said plate-like body (2).
The stackable pallet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate-like body (2) has an outer border (21) with an outer fold that is directed toward the face of the grid from which said supporting feet (3) protrude.
The strengthened stackable pallet according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on the plate-like body (2), containment lips (20) that protrude from said plate-like body (21).