EP2799359A1 - Cargo pallet comprising side boards and telescopic extension members - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet (1) for transporting goods comprises a plate (2) with four sides and two side panels (4, 5) on two opposite first sides (6, 7) of the plate (2), each side panel (4, 5) comprising a telescopic extension (9, 10).

Description

Technical area

The field of the invention is that of the logistic support, in particular pallets or cages for transport and storage, for the transport of goods.

Prior art

Transport and storage pallets are generally used for the transport and storage of bulk goods, especially in the field of industry and commerce. The pallets conventionally comprise a base provided with feet allowing them to be moved by pallet trucks. On this basis is a tray designed to receive the goods. Some pallets may also include peripheral elements mounted on the tray, including walls to support the goods. In order to limit the size of the pallets when they are empty, the peripheral elements are foldable and / or foldable on the plate.

This is for example the case of the pallet box of the patent application WO 2012/88 090 provided with end walls and side walls assembled on a pallet plate and supported by flanges extending upwardly from a planar base. The side walls or the end walls each have a hinge structure to allow internal folding of the walls so that they can be laid flat on one another in a folded position on the tray. The pallet box can be folded during its empty storage to reduce its size, and unfolded for storage of goods.

However, the internal volume of pallet crates like that of the patent application WO 2012/88 090 is not always used optimally when loading goods. Indeed, it depends on the size of the goods and the height of the walls of the pallet box. The size of the walls being fixed, it is common to use different types of pallet boxes to load goods of different sizes. The Determining and changing the type of crate pallet takes a lot of time and does not always allow a stable stacking with other types of pallet crate. In addition, when empty spaces are created by the goods in the interior volume of the pallet boxes, the pallet storage efficiency is not optimal and increases the transport costs.

Finally, added to the weight of the goods, the weight of the pallet crates is not negligible in the calculation of the cost of the fuel consumed during transport.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a pallet and / or any logistic support comprising a tray with or without feet, for example a cage with feet, capable of containing goods of variable sizes while limiting the spaces empty created by the goods on the pallet.

To this end, the invention relates to a pallet comprising a four-sided plate, characterized in that it comprises at least two side panels on two opposite first sides of the plate and in that each side panel comprises a telescopic extension.

The idea behind the invention is to be able to vary the height of the sideboards with the telescopic extensions according to the size of the loaded goods. The pallet can be provided with two sideboards or four sides and only two telescopic extensions on two opposite sides of the board. The tray, the sides and the extensions can be wood, plastic, aluminum, composite, steel, etc ... The sideboards can be solid walls or perforated or wired.

• chaque ridelle est reliée au plateau par une charnière pour occuper une première position dans laquelle les ridelles sont pliées sur le plateau et une seconde position dans laquelle les ridelles sont dépliées perpendiculairement au plateau pour permettre le stockage de marchandises sur le plateau ;
• les deux ridelles sont reliées entre elles par des premières barres de renfort ;
• les rehausses télescopiques sont reliées entre elles par des secondes barres de renfort parallèles aux premières barres de renfort ;
• les ridelles ont chacune une structure en tubes et les rehausses télescopiques ont chacune une structure à barreaux coulissant dans la structure en tubes des ridelles ;
• des brides à goujon sont prévues pour bloquer les structures à barreaux des rehausses télescopiques dans les structures en tubes des ridelles ;
• la structure des ridelles et des rehausses télescopiques a une forme d'échelle ;
• elle comprend en outre des pieds sous le plateau, et en ce que les extrémités libres des rehausses télescopiques sont conçues pour supporter une autre palette en superposition.

The pallet according to the invention may advantageously have the following particularities:

• each sideboard is connected to the plate by a hinge to occupy a first position in which the sideboards are folded on the plate and a second position in which the side panels are unfolded perpendicular to the tray to allow storage of goods on the tray;
• the two sides are interconnected by first reinforcing bars;
• the telescopic extensions are interconnected by second reinforcing bars parallel to the first reinforcing bars;
• the side panels each have a tube structure and the telescopic extensions each have a sliding bar structure in the tube structure of the side panels;
• stud flanges are provided for locking the telescopic extension bar structures in the tube structures of the side panels;
• the structure of the slats and telescopic extensions has a scale shape;
• it further comprises feet under the tray, and that the free ends of the telescopic extensions are designed to support another pallet in superposition.

• Selon une autre réalisation de l'invention un couvercle est prévu pour reposer sur les rehausses télescopiques parallèlement au plateau.

The presence of hinges makes it possible to fold down the sides when the pallet is empty in order to limit the space occupied by the pallet. The presence of reinforcing bars connecting the sideboards two by two and the telescopic extensions two by two increases the stability of the pallet when deployed in the cargo loading position.

• According to another embodiment of the invention a cover is provided to rest on the telescopic extensions parallel to the plate.

The addition of a cover not only protects the goods loaded in the pallet but also to stack the telescopic pallets pallets on top of each other.

Brief presentation of the drawings

• les figures 1 à 5 sont des vues en perspective de dessus de la palette selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue agrandie d'une partie de la rehausse télescopique à débattement réglable selon l'invention.
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective de dessus de deux palettes selon l'invention gerbées l'une sur l'autre.

The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of the embodiment taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views from above of the pallet according to the embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the adjustable telescopic extension according to the invention.
• the figure 7 is a perspective view from above of two pallets according to the invention stacked one on the other.

Description of the embodiments

The invention relates to a transport and storage pallet with folding walls, as described in the example below.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, the pallet may be square or rectangular and of conventional dimensions 600x800 mm, 800x1000 mm, 1000x1200 mm, 1100x1300 mm etc. Similarly, the pallet can be designed in wood, plastics, steel, aluminum, steel wire separately or by combination or with any other suitable material.

The pallet 1 according to the invention is designed to present a first position during a vacuum storage in which the pallet 1 is folded, as shown in FIG. figure 1 , and a second position in which the pallet 1 is deployed to contain the goods, as shown on the figures 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 7 .

With reference to Figures 1 to 5 , the pallet 1 according to the invention comprises a plate 2 and peripheral elements.

In these figures, the plate 2 is substantially plane and represents the upper part of a pallet 1 of known type provided with feet 3 under the plate 2 supporting its support on any type of soil or support and allowing it to be moved by truck. The tray 2 can be full, openwork or other.

The peripheral elements of the pallet 1 are, when they are formed by at least a first and a second sideboard 4 and 5 hinged respectively on two opposite sides 6 and 7 of the plate 2 by means of hinges 8 arranged at each corner of the pallet. plateau 2. A first and a second telescopic extension 9 and 10 can extend respectively from the first and second side panels 4 and 5. Stud flanges 11 are also provided to lock the telescopic extensions 9 and 10 in the side panels 4 and 5 in an adjustable travel position, as shown in detail on the figure 6 . The side panels 4 and 5 and the telescopic extensions 9 and 10 can be connected respectively by two first and second reinforcing bars 12 and 13. Finally, a cover 14 closing the pallet 1 is shown on the drawing. figure 7 .

The first and second sides 4 and 5 are each composed here of at least two parallel tube structures perpendicular to the plate 2 in the second position. In the example shown on the Figures 2 to 5 and 7 three tube structures 15 are used, connected in pairs by horizontal bars 16, so as to reinforce the strength of the tube structures 15 when they are in the second position and to prevent goods from being ejected from the pallet 1 between two tube structures 15.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the first and second side panels 4 and 5 may also be of solid or perforated panel type, not shown, so as to prevent any type of ejection of goods by the sides 6 and 7 when the pallet 1 is charged.

It will be understood that the first and second side panels 4 and 5 are fixed to the hinges 8 so as to pivot from the sides 6 and 7 of the plate 2 respectively according to pivot axes A and B shown in FIG. figure 2 . Each side wall 4 and 5 pivots from a first position in which it is positioned flat on the plate 2 to a second position in which it is positioned perpendicular to the plate 2. Each hinge 8 further comprises first holding edges 17 for the tube structures 15 when the side panels 4 and 5 are in first position and second retaining edges 18 for the tube structures 15 when the side panels 4 and 5 are in the second position, as shown in FIGS. Figures 1 to 5 and 7 .

A first and a second telescopic extension 9 and 10 can extend respectively from the first and second side panels 4 and 5. Each telescopic extension 9 and 10 comprises bar structures 19 sliding in the tube structures 15 of the sideboard 4 and 5. Each barrel structure 19 has an adjustable deflection with respect to the tube structure 15. The adjustment of the deflection is achieved by means of stud flanges 11, as shown in FIG. figure 6 . These stud flanges 11 are designed to be inserted horizontally into holes through tubular structures 15 and bar structures 19 so as to maintain the telescopic extensions 9 and 10 at a given height.

In the example cited, the telescopic extensions 9 and 10 extend slightly above the side panels 4 and 5 when the bar structure 19 is retracted into the tube structure 16, so that the lid 14 closing the pallet 1 can be placed on the telescopic extensions 9 and 10. Without departing from the scope of the invention could be understood that the cover 14 rests directly on the side panels 4 and 5, if the telescopic extensions 9 and 10 are fully retracted into the side panels 4 and 5 The cover 14 is also designed to cover the pallet 1 when it is in the first position so that the pallets 1 can be stacked one on the other for empty storage. The shape of the cover 14 is designed so that it receives any type of pallet. Without departing from the scope of the invention could also be understood that the pallets 1 can stack on each other without lid 14 at both the first and second positions. The telescopic extensions 9 and 10, where the side panels 4 and 5, are here adapted to support the feet 3 of a pallet 100 stacked. The telescopic extensions 9 and 10 comprise, for example, their free end a locking means, for example a right angle corner open towards the inside of the pallet 1 in which the feet of the stacked pallet 100 are wedged.

The pallet 1 further comprises in the example cited, two first reinforcement bars 11 connecting the first and second side walls 4, 5 along two second sides 21 and 22 of the plate 2, so as to stabilize the side panels 4, 5 in second position with each other, as shown on the Figures 3, 4 , 5 and 7 . The pallet 1 further comprises two second reinforcement bars 13 connecting the upper ends of the telescopic extensions 9, 10 along each second side 21 and 22 of the plate 2, in such a way as to stabilize the telescopic extensions 9, 10, one with the when the side panels 4 and 5 are in a second position, as shown on the figures 5 and 7 . Without departing from the scope of the invention, the reinforcement bars 12 and 13 may also be in the form of panels, preventing goods loaded inside the pallet 1 from being ejected. A third reinforcing bar, not shown, connecting the free ends of the telescopic extensions can also be arranged parallel between the reinforcing bars 13 in the length of the plate 2. In the same way as the reinforcement bars 13, the third reinforcing bar makes it possible to increase the stability of the telescopic extensions 9 and 10. The reinforcement bars 12 and 13 can be dismountable, foldable or foldable. In the example shown in the figures, the reinforcement bars 12 and 13 are fixed by means of a fixing means comprising an opening placed at each end of the reinforcement bars 12; 13 in which is housed a projection placed at the upper end of each side wall 4 and 5 and telescopic extension 9 and 10. In order to take the least possible space, said reinforcing bars can be telescopic to be folded empty and linked to the palette.

Without departing from the scope of the invention the reinforcement bars 13 and the third reinforcing bar, can be arranged to support the feet 3 of the pallet 100 stacked. In this case, the reinforcement bars 13 comprise for example a locking means of the same type as that used for the telescopic extensions 9 and 10. When the stacked pallet 100 is supported by the reinforcement bars 13, the weight of the pallet 100 stacked is better distributed over the entire pallet 1 and limits the deterioration of pallets in the long term.

In use, the pallet 1 is deployed from the first position to the second position. For this it is necessary to rotate the side panels 4 and 5 until they are blocked by the second holding edges 18 of the hinge 8 perpendicular to the plate 2. The goods are then loaded on the pallet 1. It is then necessary to extend more or less telescopic extensions 9 and 10 depending on the height of the loaded goods. Once the telescopic extensions 9, 10 blocked by the stud flanges 11, the reinforcing bars 12 and 13 and / or the cover 14 must be added according to use. The reinforcement bars 12 and 13 are parallel between 2. The cover 14 may be provided to rest on the reinforcement bars 13 connecting the telescopic extensions 9 and 10.

For the unloading of the goods, the cover 14 is removed as well as the reinforcement bars 12 and 13. Once the goods are unloaded, the telescopic extensions 9, 10 are folded into the side panels 4 and 5 so that they are pivoted so that to be itself folded flat on the plate 2. The reinforcing bars 12 and 13 are placed on the plate 2 in the length, and the cover 14 is placed so as to cover the entire plate 2, the side panels 4 and 5 and the reinforcement bars 12 and 13. The pallet 1 in the first position is closed by the cover 14 to be stored empty on other pallets 1 of the same type.

It goes without saying that the present invention can not be limited to the foregoing description of the embodiment, may undergo some modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. In the illustrated example, the sides and raises of the pallet have a structure in the form of scale which contributes to obtaining a very light palette.

Claims (9)

Pallet (1) comprising a plate (2) with four sides, characterized in that it comprises at least two side panels (4; 5) on two opposite first sides (6; 7) of the plate (2) and in that each side wall (4; 5) has a telescopic extension (9; 10). Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein each side wall (4; 5) is connected to the plate (2) by a hinge (8) to occupy a first position in which the side panels (4; 5) are folded on the plate (2) and a second position in which the side panels (4; 5) are unfolded perpendicular to the plate (2) to allow the storage of goods on the plate (2). Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the two side panels (4; 5) are interconnected by two first reinforcement bars (12). Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic extensions (9; 10) are interconnected by two second reinforcing bars (13). Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the side panels (4; 5) each have a tube structure (15) and the telescopic extensions (9; 10) each have a bar structure (19) sliding in the structure tubes (15) of the side panels (4; 5). Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein stud flanges (11) are provided for locking the bar structures (19) of the telescopic extensions (9; 10) in the tube structures (15) of the side panels (4; 5). Pallet (1) according to claim 5, wherein the structure of the side walls (4; 5) and telescopic extensions (9; 10) has a scale shape. Pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises feet (3) under the plate (2), and in that the free ends of the telescopic extensions (9 and 10) are designed to support a another pallet in superposition. Pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein a cover (14) is provided to rest on the telescopic extensions (9; 10) parallel to the plate (2).

Images