EP1600391A1

EP1600391A1 - Pallet

Info

Publication number: EP1600391A1
Application number: EP05010752A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Katherine Proudlove
Original assignee: Linpac Materials Handling Ltd
Current assignee: LA 2012 Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-25
Filing date: 2005-05-18
Publication date: 2005-11-30
Also published as: GB2414464A; GB0411711D0; US20050263043A1

Abstract

A pallet (1) includes a deck (2) having upper and lower surfaces (4,6) and a plurality of legs (8) depending from the lower surface of the deck (2) to support the deck above the ground. A plurality of apertures (10) are provided in the upper surface of the deck (2). The apertures (10) are arranged to receive the legs of a second pallet (1a) so that the second pallet can be stacked on the pallet (1) in a nested condition. A plurality of closure elements (12) are associated with the apertures (10), each said closure element being adjustable to selectively open or close the respective aperture.

Description

The present invention relates to a pallet and in particular to a pallet that can be stacked with other pallets of a similar kind in a space saving nested configuration.
Traditional pallets, made from wood or plastics materials, cannot normally be stacked in a nested condition. The empty pallets therefore take up a considerable amount of space when stacked, leading to high storage and transportation costs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet that mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages and, in particular, that can be stacked in a nested condition. The term "nested" as used herein is defined to mean a condition in which two pallets can be stacked so that the distance between the centres of the pallets is less than the height of an individual pallet.
Further desirable (but not essential) objectives of the invention are to provide a pallet having a substantially smooth and/or continuous top deck surface having no large apertures, which is strong and capable of supporting heavy loads, and which when stacked in a column with other similar pallets, cannot move laterally relative to the other pallets.
According to the present invention there is provided a pallet including a deck having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of legs depending from the lower surface of the deck to support the deck above the ground, a plurality of apertures in the upper surface of the deck arranged to receive the legs of a second pallet so that the second pallet can be stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, and a plurality of closure elements associated with the apertures, each said closure element being adjustable to selectively open or close the respective aperture.
The invention allows the empty pallets to be stacked in a nested condition, thereby significantly reducing the space occupied by the stacked pallets and providing for savings in storage and transportation costs. The closure elements allow the apertures to be closed when the pallet is being used to transport goods, so allowing bulk goods to be carried and preventing small items from falling into the apertures. The pallet can also have large, strong legs, allowing heavy loads to be carried. When the pallets are stacked in a nested condition and the legs of the upper pallet are received in the apertures of the lower pallet, sideways movement of one pallet relative to the other is prevented, increasing the stability of the stacked pallets.
Advantageously, the apertures are aligned with the legs, so that when a second pallet is stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, the legs of the second pallet are received partially within the legs of the pallet. This allows a considerable space saving to be achieved, for example typically 30% and possibly 50% or more.
The legs are preferably tapered, so that the legs of a second pallet fit within the legs of the first pallet. The legs may include support structures for supporting the legs of a second pallet.
Advantageously, the closure elements comprise pivotable doors, preferably hinged doors. The closure elements may be constructed and arranged such that when closed, they are substantially flush with the upper surface of the deck, which is ideal for carrying bulk goods.
Advantageously, each leg is substantially U-shaped, comprising two side members and a substantially horizontal foot member, which allows for convenient stacking and provides a large "footprint" to the supporting ground surface.
The pallet preferably comprises a plastics moulding.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a pallet with the closure elements in a closed condition;
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the pallet;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the pallet from above;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a pallet with the closure elements in an open configuration;
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the pallet with the closure elements in an open configuration;
Figure 6 is an isometric view at an enlarged scale, showing one of the closure elements in an open configuration;
Figure 7 is an isometric view from below at an enlarged scale, showing a leg of the pallet;
Figure 8 is a partially cut away isometric view, showing two pallets stacked in a nested condition;
Figure 9 is a side section, showing two pallets stacked in a nested condition;
Figure 10 is an isometric view showing two pallets stacked in a nested condition;
Figure 11 is an isometric view from below, showing two pallets stacked in a nested condition, and
Figure 12 is an isometric view showing two pallets stacked in an unnested configuration;
The pallet 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is formed as a plastics moulding and includes a substantially planar deck 2 having an upper surface 4 and a lower surface 6. Four legs 8 depend from the lower surface 6 of the deck, to support the deck above the ground. Four apertures 10 are provided in the upper surface 4 of the deck, each aperture being aligned with one of the legs 8. A closure element 12 is associated with each aperture 10, and is connected to the deck 2 by means of a hinge 14. A pattern of non-slip elements 16 is provided in the upper surface 4 of the deck 2. The non-slip elements 16 may for example consist of deformable rubber buttons mounted in cylindrical recesses in the upper surface of the deck 2.
The deck 2 is substantially rectangular in shape, and is typically approximately 1200mm long and 1000mm wide. A peripheral wall 18 extends around the sides of the deck 2. The upper surface 4 of the deck is substantially planar, having no apertures extending through it, apart from the four apertures 10 associated with the closure elements 12. Underneath the upper surface 4, the deck is reinforced by an array of ribs 20 (see Figure 7).
Each closure element 12 consists of a trap door, which is connected to the deck 2 by means of a hinge 14. The hinge 14 extends along one edge of the closure element 12 and allows the closure element to be pivoted between an opened position as shown in Figure 5, in which the closure element lies on top of the deck, and a closed position as shown in Figure 3, in which it sits in the associated aperture 12, so that the top surface of the closure element 12 lies flush with the upper surface 4 of the deck 2. When the closure element 12 is closed, the edge furthest from the hinge 14 rests on a ledge 22 provided within the aperture 10 (see Figures 6 and 9).
When all the closure elements 14 are closed, the upper surface 4 of the deck 2 is solid, having no apertures into which small items can fall.
Each leg 8 is substantially U-shaped, comprising two substantially vertical side members 24 and a horizontal foot member 26 that extends between and connects the side members 24 (see Figures 2 and 7). The side members 24 are tapered, becoming gradually narrower in both length and width towards their lower ends. Each side member 24 includes an outer wall 28 and an inner wall 30, which are interconnected by a set of cross members 32 (see Figures 5 to 7). The inner wall 30 is partially cut away at its upper end, forming a recess 34 in each side member 24 towards the upper end of the leg. This recess 34 is shaped to accommodate the lower part of the leg of a second pallet 1a when stacked on top of the first pallet 1 in a nested condition, as shown in Figures 8 to 11.
When stacked in the nested condition, each leg 8a of the upper second pallet 1a extends through the corresponding aperture 10 of the lower first pallet 1 and is received within the recess 34, so that it rests on the inner walls 30 of the side members 24. In this condition, the distance between the centres of the stacked pallets is approximately 30% less than the height of each individual pallet, thus providing a considerable saving in space. In addition, the stacked pallets are mechanically joined to one another, thus preventing a column of stacked pallets from sliding relative to one another, for example during transportation.
Alternatively, the pallets 1,1 a can be stacked in an un-nested condition as shown in Figure 12, by stacking the pallets with the closure elements 12, 12a in a closed position. In this condition, the distance between the centres of the adjacent pallets 1, 1a is substantially equal to the height of a pallet.

Claims

A pallet including a deck having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of legs depending from the lower surface of the deck to support the deck, a plurality of apertures in the upper surface of the deck arranged to receive the legs of a second pallet so that the second pallet can be stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, and a plurality of closure elements associated with the apertures, each said closure element being adjustable to selectively open or close the respective aperture.
A pallet according to claim 1, in which the apertures are aligned with the legs, so that when a second pallet is stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, the legs of the second pallet are received partially within the legs of the pallet.
A pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the legs are tapered.
A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the legs include support structures for supporting the legs of a second pallet.
A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the closure elements comprise pivotable doors.
A pallet according to claim 5, in which the closure elements comprise hinged doors.
A pallet according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the closure elements are constructed and arranged such that when closed, they are substantially flush with the upper surface of the deck.
A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each leg is substantially U-shaped, comprising two side members and a substantially horizontal foot member.
A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pallet comprises a plastics moulding.