ES1111555U - Paler structura aligerada (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Lightened structure pallet, in particular a pallet (1) molded in plastic material of the type comprises a board or platform (2) intended to provide the support surface for the load to be transported or stored, and groups (3) of legs attachable to the lower face of the platform (2) constituted each of the groups by two end legs and an intermediate leg linked together by means of a lower skate (3a), in which the loading platform (2) presents a multiplicity of openings (2b) distributed over practically all of its surface, where the loading platform (2) comprises longitudinal holes (4) obtained in the same operation of molding the platform and intended to accommodate metal inserts (4a) of reinforcement, where the loading platform (2) also includes non-slip elements or strips for retaining the load positioned on the surface of the loading platform (2), characterized in that: The loading platform (2) comprises a total of 4 slots (5) extended in the longitudinal direction, parallel and spaced apart, occupying symmetrical positions two to two on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the loading platform (2), designed to house one or more anti-slip strips, linked to the platform by thermowelding; The intermediate leg (6) of each group of legs (3), emerging from, and integral with, a respective skate (3a), has a stepped upper portion (6a) that is dimensioned so that in height it reaches the upper edge of the clipping means (9), and further presents the particularity of including reinforcement incoming formations (6b) extended vertically to the total height of this stepped portion, in equispaced angular positions, and Each of the end legs associated with each skate (3a) includes an intermediate or fusible support element (7) constituted by a substantially flattened prismatic body, of oblong cross-section, having upper and lower portions each of plug, with the particularity that responds to a design that keeps symmetry with respect to a central plane and can be used with variable orientation. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pallet of lightened structure, which provides essential characteristics of novelty and notable advantages over the means known and used for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

More in particular, the invention proposes the development of a pallet for loading, transporting and storing items, whose structure is obtained by some molding operation and responds to a redesigned load platform configuration for lightening the same respect to the pallets of the current technique, although without any loss of structural strength and load capacity. The modified structure of the pallet of the invention not only includes the mentioned lightening of the loading platform, but also other changes that affect the components that integrate the pallet legs, the skates from which they emerge or the links between components, of so that the resulting pallet shows better stiffness, workability and safety characteristics than existing pallets of the same type.

The scope of the invention is

comprised within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture of pallets and platforms for merchandise support.

that of

Background and Summary of the Invention

The broad utility of

pallets for the transport and storage of items and merchandise in a wide variety of industrial sectors. In general, pallets consist of structures that include a platform that provides the loading surface on which the items are placed, whose platform is supported by legs that are grouped by extension plates at the opposite end of the platform longitudinally known as "skates".

Over time, the skates have evolved considerably, so that they were initially constructed based on a number of wooden plates, positioned adjacent in a plane constituting the loading platform, and linked together by other plates of the same material extended transversely to the first. The legs consisted of wooden dowels located in various positions of their lower perimeter contour, and sometimes also in some central position, with the legs of each side (or intermediate positioning) joined together by their lower faces by other wooden plates constituting the respective support skates on the ground or other bearing surface.

The improvement of molding techniques, has allowed the pallet platforms and the other components that make up its structure, can be constructed with plastic materials, for example with the use of injection molding techniques, thereby achieving manufacturing pallets much faster and simpler, weighing considerably less than those of wood, and with the possibility of substantially improved performance than the pallets of the prior art. A clear example of molded pallet of the type mentioned is the Spanish Utility Model ES-1 079 048, of the same holder, in which a loading platform constituted in a single piece, and equipped with through holes in the longitudinal direction for housing metal reinforcement inserts against the flexion derived from the load, includes support skates from which the legs emerge, in which a central leg is integral with the skate to which it belongs and each of the two extreme legs begins with an integral vertical portion of low height prepared to receive an intermediate support element (usually known in the technical jargon as "fuse"), prepared for connection by clipping both the initial vertical portion and the end opposite the corresponding housing formed in the underside of the loading platform. The pallet is prepared to adopt an alternative configuration in which it can be provided with wheels for easy movement, with corresponding recesses in opposite positions of the upper face of the platform to partially house said wheels when several pallets are stacked.

As will be understood, a pallet with the structural characteristics just mentioned, has meant a significant advance in this type of devices, both in terms of construction and design aspects and in terms of aspects of use, reuse and space needs for storage.

However, the modifications introduced by the applicant in the structure of the loading platform and in the rest of the components that together with said platform make up the pallet of the previous model, have allowed improving the structural characteristics and operational capabilities of said pallet, by a lightening of the structure of the loading platform and with the provision of modified components that offer additional alternatives that had not been initially contemplated in the previous model.

Thus, an object of the present invention is the provision of a lightened load platform with respect to the pallet of the previous model, without losing structural resistance, and provided with a number of non-slip elements (longitudinal strips) that significantly increase the coefficient of friction with the load placed on the pallet and guarantee a better retention of it.

Another object of the invention is to improve the structural strength of the insertion portion of the central leg of each of the skates with the respective housing of the loading platform, by means of a perimeter wall profile specifically developed to avoid the possible deformation of that area.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an insertion portion of the central leg of each skate sized so as to increase the contact surface with the walls of the housing and also the rigidity in the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a smooth zone, free of reinforcement ribs or any other external formation, in the registration zone between the position of the central leg and the perimeter of the skate, with the double objective of increasing the clearance and compatibility between different models of pallets and avoid the accumulation of dirt as in the veined areas of the current skates.

Another aspect of the invention consists in providing inside the central leg of the skate a housing for the RFID tag integrally attached to the inner surface of the housing by means of radial ribs, such that it guarantees, as in the previous model, the integrity of said label against external agents.

Another aspect of the invention consists in providing the skates with a step in each of its ends, of reduced dimensions but sufficient to guarantee the immobilization of the pallets when they are traced on plastic boxes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide intermediate support elements, or fuses, reinforced for each of the end legs of the skate, provided with an upper plug portion and a lower plug portion, these elements having design features such that the intermediate support element or fuse has symmetry with respect to a central plane, being therefore reversible positioning in its assembly as an intermediate support element in relation to each end of the skate, and also presenting each of the major faces of the skate a respective surface space that on one side shows textured surface for the incorporation of a label and on the opposite side shows smooth surface for the incorporation of logos or other means of identification of the client.

Another object of the present invention is to provide each fuse with releasable means for quick clipping in relation to each of the plug portions of each end, and with particularity that at least the clipping means of the upper plug portion are designed so that they have an external profile that facilitates both the insert and release operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a protection box for the RFID tag, specifically designed to protect the tag inside and be safely inserted in the housing provided for that purpose in the central leg of the skate.

These and other objects and advantages have been achieved by means of the pallet that will be described in the following, and whose essential characteristics are compiled in the claim set that accompanies this description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given solely by way of illustrative example and without limitation whatsoever with reference to the drawings that are accompanied, in which:

Figure 1a is a schematic view, in perspective from above, of an improved pallet constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 1b shows a schematic perspective view of the pallet loading platform of Figure 1a, seen from its bottom face;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of an end portion of a pallet according to Figure 1, with the components of the skate respectfully removed with respect to the platform;

Figures 3 and 4 show schematic perspective views of an intermediate support element or fuse according to Figure 2, seen for each of its two major faces;

Figure 5 is a cross section of the fuse of Figure 3, taken along the V-V line;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a central leg portion of the skate of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a skate as shown in Figure 2, but in an inverted position, together with a detail D1, on a larger scale, in relation to one end of the skate;

Figure 8 is a schematic elevational view of a skate portion, illustrative of extreme steps made therein;

Figures 9 to 11 are schematic illustrations, in section, of the linkage by clipping of the ends of a fuse to both the loading platform and the respective end elevation of the skate;

Figures 12 and 13 are schematic, perspective views of the protective box designed to contain the RFID tag, respectively in the open box and closed box positions, and

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate perspective and side elevation representations, respectively, of the upper fuse portion that appears enclosed in the circle identified as D2 in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As mentioned above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the object of the invention will be carried out in the following with the help of the attached drawings, through which the same numerical references to designate the same or similar parts. Thus, in the first place according to Figure 1a of the drawings, a general view of a pallet constructed in accordance with the present invention can be seen, indicated globally with the reference numeral 1, in which as usual a board or loading platform 2, and three groups of legs and associated skates generally indicated by numerical reference 3, parallel and equidistant from each other, of which a group occupies legs and skates occupies centered position. The surface of the platform 2 has a multiplicity of perforations 2b extended throughout almost all of it, including the central longitudinal strip 2a, while on the underside these openings are surrounded by partitions of reduced height, such as It shows Figure 1b of the drawings, organized so that they constitute an integral grid with the platform that provides the rigidity necessary to support the loads while at the same time supposing a lightening of the weight of the platform, with the consequent saving of material.

As in the case of the aforementioned model, the platform has holes 4 extended longitudinally along the platform 2, obtained during the same molding operation of the platform, intended for the insertion of rigid bars 4a to provide the platform 2 the characteristic of rigidity versus flexion that could be derived from the load supported. These rigid bars 4a appear partially inserted in the representation of the Figure

2.

Additionally, platform 2 is provided with longitudinal grooves 5 on its upper surface, obtained during the molding operation, parallel and spaced apart from each other, occupying two to two symmetrical positions on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the loading platform 2, intended to house inside non-slip strips, usually heat-welded to the board, which provide a retention effect on the loads located above the pallet due to its high coefficient of friction. Unlike other pallets of the current art, the invention has provided that the platform 2 incorporates a total of four slits for the insertion of as many non-slip strips, so that the user may have the option of selecting the number of non-slip strips that you consider more suitable for use with each type of load.

Referring again to Figure 2 of the drawings, an end portion of a pallet can be seen with the corresponding leg and skate group separated from the platform 2. As depicted, each leg group includes a skate 3a from which a central leg 6 emerges in intermediate position, and at each of whose ends a vertically elevated portion 3b appears, of reduced height, intended to accept the incorporation of the lower end of an intermediate support element 7, which by the end opposite is coupled with platform 2. The representation also shows the provision of a somewhat recessed longitudinal zone 22, extended to a central portion of the skate 3, in correspondence with the registration area between skate and perimeter, whose smooth surface finish, or the less free of ribs or any other external formation, prevents dirt from accumulating in said area and at the same time allows to increase the clearance and compatibility between different pallet models, thereby achieving another of the objectives set forth in the realization of pallets of the present invention.

The construction and design features of the intermediate leg 6 can be better appreciated in the representation of Figure 6. As shown, the leg 6 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a stepped portion 6a at its upper end whose height, unlike with other legs of the current technique, it has been extended until it is flush positionally with the clipping means 9, such that this increase in height compared to the similar legs of the current technique implies an increase in the contact surface with the housing 8 of the platform 2, substantially improving the rigidity of the assembly.

But in addition, the upper portion 6a of the leg 6 of the pallet 1 according to the present invention incorporates an additional advantageous feature consisting in the fact that it has been provided with incoming reinforcing formations, in particular four formations 6b extended vertically at full height of the stepped portion 6a, angularly equally spaced and thus occupying diametrically facing positions two to two. The leg 6 is internally hollow and has a central vertical housing 10, open at the upper end, integral with the internal surface of the leg by virtue of several radial partitions 11. The housing 10 is intended to house inside, as mentioned, the RFID tag that is usually included in this type of panels, under conditions of total protection against external agents.

Referring again to Figure 2 of the drawings, the intermediate support elements or "fuses" 7 are also separated from the skate 3a. Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate enlarged representations of a skate 7, seen on both sides, which allow to better appreciate the constructive details of this element.

The intermediate or fuse support element of the present invention, as well as others of the current art, consists of a flattened prismatic substantial body, oblong cross-section, internally hollow, and with an internal partition 12, visible in the section of the Figure 5 corresponding to the VV line of Figure 4, which provides the necessary structural strength that allows it to absorb the impacts associated with the use of usual handling means (trucks and pallet trucks). However, unlike other equivalent elements of the current technique, the fuse 7 of the present invention has the peculiarity that it has been designed with symmetry with respect to its central plane, which allows it to be used with any orientation, as appropriate .

The body of the intermediate support element or fuse 7 has on each of its faces a surface portion of predetermined dimensions for the incorporation of labels or other identification means. As an example, a surface portion 7a of one of the faces is intended for bonding the shipping label and has a textured finish in order to minimize the possible retention of glue from the label, and the other surface portion 7b can be smooth finish, in order to receive customer logos or other means of identification. With this, due to the symmetry of the fuse 7 and therefore its ability to use with the corresponding orientation, the position of the labels or logos can be chosen, respectively facing inwards or outwards, as appropriate.

The body of each fuse 7 is capable of being coupled by its lower end, as said, both to the raised vertical portions 3b of each end of the skate 3a, and by its upper end to the respective housings present in the lower platform face 2, indicated with reference 13 in Figure 1b. For this, the fuse element 7 is configured so that the plug portion of its lower end, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, is sectioned into four successively adjacent vertical portions or fingers 14, of the that the two central fingers include, on both sides, clipping tabs 15. In a complementary manner, each of the vertical elevations 3b of each end of the skate 3a is internally divided into four compartments 16, configured and sized according to the fingers 14 of the fuse, and the two central compartments being configured with recessed areas 17 on both facing walls, in accordance with the clipping tabs 15. This arrangement is more clearly visible in Figure 7 of the drawings, and especially in detail D1 on a larger scale.

On the other hand, the plug portion of the upper end of each intermediate support element or fuse 7 also includes releasable clipping means on both sides, consisting of protruding buttons 18, with inclined surfaces favorable to the insertion / extraction operation in through holes. respective 19 made on both side walls of each housing 13. This external configuration of the protruding clipping buttons 18 can best be appreciated in the representations shown in Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings. As shown, the outer surface of each of the protruding clipping buttons 18 has a horizontal central strip and two inclined planes extending from said central horizontal strip in the direction of each of the opposite perimeter edges. This configuration allows each of the inclined planes to help respectively insert / remove each protruding clipping button 18 in / from their respective socket 13.

Additionally, both views of the aforementioned Figures 14 and 15 also illustrate an important feature included in each of the intermediate support elements.

or fuses 7, consisting of the provision of notches 23 in the transition of each of the major faces of each upper and lower plug portion with the central portion of the fuse (in the Figures only lines 23 corresponding to the portion of upper plug, but as stated above, they have also been included in the lower plug portion although they are not visible in the Figures). These notches 23 constitute definitive notches that, by way of weakening lines, facilitate the initiation of breakage in said areas in case of severe impacts, thereby protecting the boards and skates and reducing

considerably

he cost economic associated to the

repair of damages arising from such impacts.

Doing

now reference to  the Figure 8  from the

drawings, another novel feature of the pallet of the invention is shown, consisting of the provision of recesses or steps 3c at the bottom of each end of a skate 3a. This provides means that provide retention and prevent the sliding of a pallet when traced on plastic boxes. In an exemplary embodiment, the height of these steps can be of the order of 2.5 mm.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 11 of the drawings, sectional views are shown that allude to various aspects of the invention. Figure 9 illustrates a longitudinally sectioned platform portion that allows to appreciate the leg 6 coupled at its upper end to the platform 2 of the pallet, with the clipping means 9 engaged in corresponding seats provided in the hole 8 of the leg coupling, leaving Clearly see the housing 10 with the RFID tag box 20 inserted inside. Figure 10 is a cross-section of a pallet portion that allows to see the coupling between the upper and lower plug portions of a fuse 7 with the respective housings of the platform 2 and the skate 3a, with the upper clip elements 18 inserted in the holes 19 of the housing 13 of the platform 2. Figure 11 allows to appreciate in greater detail the lower plug portion of an intermediate support element or fuse 7 inserted in the housings of the raised vertical portion 3b of the end of a skate 3a , one of the fingers 14 being specifically visible with its clipping means 15 housed in the recessed portions 17 of the corresponding housing 16.

Finally, Figures 12 and 13 are illustrative of schematic views, in perspective, of a box 20 used as a means of accommodation and protection of an RFID tag which, as stated above, usually accompanies the goods supported by pallets such as the one proposed by the present invention The positioning of this box with the RFID tag inside, inserted inside the central housing 10 of the intermediate leg 6, has already been commented in relation to Figure 9. The box is generally rectangular prismatic, of the openable type. , for the introduction / extraction of the RFID tag, for which purpose it is composed of two mutually attachable halves 20a, 20b, preferably molded in a suitable plastic material, linked together by means of an integral hinge 21 with a corresponding end of each one of the halves and obtained in the same molding process as the box. Figure 12 shows the box in the open condition with both halves 20a, 20b extended in relation to mutual alignment, and Figure 13 shows the box closed, by folding one half over the other.

In the above description, terms such as "superior", "inferior", "vertical", "horizontal" or others of a similar nature have been used. It should be understood that the adoption of such terms must be interpreted in accordance with the operational position of the pallet.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of the present description more extensive so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived therefrom, as well as carry out the practical realization of its object.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and since the description given corresponds only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that within its essentiality multiple variations of detail may be introduced, also protected, which may affect the shape, size or the manufacturing materials of the assembly or its parts, without this implying any alteration of the invention as a whole, delimited only by the claims provided in the following.

Claims (7)

1.-Pallet of lightened structure, in particular a pallet (1) molded in plastic material of the type comprises a board or platform (2) intended to provide the support surface for the load to be transported or stored, and groups (3) of legs that can be attached to the lower side of the platform (2), each one of the groups consisting of two extreme legs and an intermediate leg linked to each other by means of a lower skate (3a), in which the loading platform (2) has a multiplicity of openings (2b) distributed to almost all of its surface, where the loading platform (2) comprises longitudinal holes (4) obtained in the same molding operation of the platform and intended to accommodate metal inserts (4a) of reinforcement, where the loading platform (2) also includes non-slip elements or strips for retaining the load positioned on the surface of the loading platform (2), characterized in that: the loading platform (2) comprises a total of 4 grooves (5) extended according to the longitudinal direction, parallel and spaced from each other, occupying two to two symmetrical positions on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the loading platform (2), intended to house one or more anti-slip strips, linked to the platform by heat welding; the intermediate leg (6) of each group of legs (3), emerging from, and integral with, a respective skate (3a), has a stepped upper portion (6a) that is sized so that in height it reaches the upper edge of the clipping means (9), and also has the particularity of including incoming formations (6b) of reinforcement extended vertically to the total height of this stepped portion, in angularly spaced positions, and each of the end legs associated with each skate (3a) includes an intermediate support element or fuse (7) constituted by a substantially flattened prismatic body, with an oblong cross-section, which has both upper and lower portions of the plug, with the particularity that it responds to a design that keeps symmetry with respect to a central plane and admits to being used with variable orientation 2. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate leg (6) is internally hollow and comprises a central vertical housing (10) linked to the internal surface of the leg by means of radial partitions (11), this housing being ( 10) sized to house a box (20) with an RFID tag inside. 3.-Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper plug portion of each intermediate support element or fuse (7) of each end leg, adapted for engagement in a respective housing (13) of the lower face of the platform loading (2), includes symmetrical clipping means (18) with respect to the intermediate plane of the element, consisting of protruding buttons prepared for housing inside holes (19) made in both walls of the respective housing (13), with the outer surface of said protruding buttons materialized with two planes inclined in opposite directions from a central transverse strip for ease of insertion / extraction operations in / from said holes (13), and because the lower plug portion of the intermediate support or fuse element (7) of each end leg, adapted for housing inside a respective raised vertical portion (3b) of one end of the skate (3a), is sectioned in four vertical portions or fingers (14) successively adjacent, of which two fingers (14) intermediates incorporate on both sides clipping means (15) with symmetry with respect to the central plane, and the raised vertical portion (3b) has its internal space divided into four housings (16) configured and sized in accordance with the fingers (14 ), including the two intermediate housings (16) wall portions (17) recessed for coupling and linking with said clipping means (15) of the lower plug portion of the fuse (7). 4.-Pallet according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the upper and lower plug portions of each fuse (7) exhibits in its connection to the intermediate portion of the fuse the formation of a notch materialized by a notch (23 ) constituting a breaking start line in case of severe impacts. 5. Pallet according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the intermediate support element or fuse (7) comprises a surface portion (7a) on one of its faces with a textured finish for bonding a label, and a surface portion (7b) in the face

opposite, smooth finish, for the incorporation of

a

logo or other means of identification.

6.-

Pallet  according the claims one to  5,

characterized in that each skate (3a) includes at both ends a stepped portion (3c), with a height of the order of approximately 2 mm, which co-restores a means of non-slip in the condition of pallet traced on plastic boxes. 7. Pallet according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protection box (20) of the The RFID tag is molded in plastic material and comprises two halves (20a, 20b) mutually coupled, linked together by means of an integral hinge (21) with a corresponding one of the ends of each half and obtained during the same molding operation.