FR2630401A1 - Stackable assembly constituted by a goods handling pallet and a panel of semi-rigid material, and a pallet box fitted with such an assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a support pallet 1 on which is mounted, in a manner such that it pivots about an axis which is substantially coincident with an edge of the upper surface of this pallet, a panel 4 made of semi-rigid material having substantially the same shape and the same dimensions as that surface. In this assembly, the pallet comprises, as a base, hollow studs 2 having a generally frustoconical shape, whilst the panel 4 comprises, in alignment with these studs 2, openings 5 whose dimensions are sufficient to allow the passage of similar studs and their nesting inside the studs of the pallet 1.

Description

STACKABLE ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF A PALLET OF XÂNTENTENTION
AND A PLATE OF SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL, AS WELL AS
PALLET BOX EQUIPPED WITH SUCH AN ASSEMBLY.

 The present invention relates to a stackable assembly consisting of a handling pallet and a plate of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard, a plastic material or a similar material, articulated on this pallet so to be able to be folded flat on it. The invention also relates to a packaging type of pallet boxes, made from such an assembly.

 The so-called pallet boxes, consisting of a corrugated cardboard box whose bottom rests on and is integral with a support pallet, are very successful with users, because they considerably facilitate the handling of the packaging itself, are suitable for transport over long distances and allow the packaging to be placed directly on the exhibition premises for sale, in particular in supermarkets or hypermarkets, without prior separation of the packaging and its pallet support.

 Numerous types of such pallet boxes have been proposed in the art and, in order to limit the volume of empty packaging during storage, the corrugated cardboard packages integral with the support pallet are usually foldable flat on the pallet.

 Alternatively, it was also proposed, in the French utility certificate NO 2 362 052, to deliver in a separate state to users, on the one hand, a pallet equipped with a cardboard plate intended to form the bottom of 'a box and, on the other hand, the body of this box folded flat. The cardboard plate has dimensions substantially equal to those of the upper surface of the pallet and it is articulated along one of the edges thereof so as to be able to pivot so as to be separated from the pallet or to be applied against its surface. The packaging body comprises four panels hinged together by fold lines and intended to form the side walls of the body, a flap being hinged by a fold line at the base of each of these walls, to form this which in the technique is called "flaps", external and internal, between which the cardboard plate secured to the pallet can be pinched.

 The present invention relates to assemblies of the same general type as those described in utility certificate NO 2 362 052 which has just been mentioned and it aims to reduce the volume of such packaging during storage.

 In fact, despite the appreciable gain in volume brought by the sets described in this utility certificate, the pallets they contain must be superimposed on each other on the storage areas, with the cardboard plates which are interdependent interposed between them, which leads them to occupy a relatively large volume.

 The object of the present invention is to limit the volume occupied in storage by assemblies of this type, by allowing them to be nested one inside the other when they are stacked.

 The invention therefore relates to an assembly comprising a support pallet, on which is pivotally mounted, about an axis substantially coinciding with one side of the upper face of this pallet, a plate of semi-rigid material having substantially the same shape themselves same dimensions as this face, this assembly being characterized in that the pallet is of the type comprising as seat hollow studs of generally frustoconical shape and in that said plate comprises, plumb with these studs, openings of sufficient size to allow the passage of similar studs and their nesting in the studs of the pallet.

 The plate of semi-rigid material may be articulated by a fold line on a tab or a strip glued against the upper face of the pallet, with the fold line disposed along one of the sides of this face to constitute the pivot axis of the plate.

 I1 is clear that with such an assembly, it will be possible to stack the pallets on top of each other by fitting the studs of a pallet into the recesses of the corresponding studs of the immediately lower pallet, through the openings in the semi-rigid plate associated with this last pallet. It is thus possible to appreciably reduce the volume occupied in storage by the assemblies according to the invention.

 In addition, during the manufacture of the assemblies according to the invention, it will be possible to stack alternately the plates of semi-rigid material, with the tab or the adjacent strip previously glued, and the associated pallets, without having to worry nor to have to exert a pressure to allow the adhesion of the legs or bands, since this pressure is exerted by the pallets, nor of the location of the different pallets, the nested studs constituting as many guide elements for the pallets.

 Apart from these advantageous characteristics, the assemblies according to the invention can be used in a manner analogous to those of the prior art and the invention therefore also relates to a pallet box comprising, on the one hand, an assembly consisting of a pallet, on which is pivotally mounted, relative to an axis coinciding with one of its lateral sides, a plate of semi-rigid material having substantially the same dimensions and, on the other hand, a body of packaging comprising four walls articulated together by fold lines, each wall comprising at its base a flap mounted pivoting about a fold line, the plate adjoining the pallet being intended to be interposed between two flaps integral with two opposite walls and two flaps integral with the other two walls, this pallet box being characterized in that the semi-rigid box-plate assembly conforms to the type defined above.

 The pallet with hollow studs used in accordance with the invention may be a one-piece pallet of a molded material, for example of agglomerated wood or of a synthetic material. It may also include a rigid plate of which integral hollow conical studs will be attached, with passages formed in the plate directly above these studs. All these types of pallets are well known in the art and will therefore not be described in detail.

An embodiment of an assembly according to the invention will be described below by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pallet-plate assembly of a semi-rigid material according to the invention
Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the pallet box
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pallet box mounted
FIG. 4 is a cross section illustrating the stacking of several assemblies according to FIG. 1.

 The assembly according to the invention, comprising a pallet on which is pivotally mounted a plate of a semi-rigid material, comprises, in the example shown in the drawings, a pallet 1 of molded plastic or of molded chipboard , comprising rows of parallel legs formed by hollow frustoconical studs 2.

 On the upper face of this pallet is glued by a tab 3 a corrugated cardboard plate 4, articulated on the tab 3 by a fold line which extends along a longitudinal side of the upper face of this pallet, so to be able to fold the plate 4 on this face and to be able to straighten it. In this plate are formed openings 5, in locations such that in the folded position of the plate, these openings coincide with the openings 6 (or surround the openings 6) through which the hollow studs 2 open to the upper surface of the palette. Advantageously, openings 5 ′ are formed in the tab 3 directly above the hollow studs 2.

 It is thus possible, as seen in Figure 4, to easily stack the pallets on top of each other in a small volume, by fitting the hollow studs 2 of a pallet into the hollow part of the studs of the pallet arranged immediately below in the stack, through the openings 5 of the cardboard plate 4 associated with this last pallet.

 In normal use of the pallet, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the cardboard plate 4 can be engaged, in a manner known per se, between, on the one hand, external flaps 7 adjoining parallel walls 8 of a packaging body 9 and, on the other hand, internal flaps 10, adjoining the other two walls II of the body 9. The packaging body 9 is of a type well known in the art: the walls 8 and 11 are hinged together by folding lines or "upsetting" and the flaps 7 and 10 are also hinged on these walls by folding lines. Flaps such as 10 ′ are also articulated in a similar manner to the upper part of the walls 8 and 11. In the position of use of the pallet box, the packaging body 9 simply rests on the pallet 1, with the plate carton 4 attached to the pallet pinched between the flaps 7 and 10 of the body 9, the weight of the latter and of the products it contains, when full, sufficient to keep it in position.

 The invention therefore provides a simple and easy to implement means for producing pallet boxes which have the same advantages as those of the prior art and are distinguished therefrom, in storage, by a reduced volume in the stacked position.

Claims (6)

 1.- Assembly comprising a support pallet (1), on which is pivotally mounted around, an axis substantially coinciding with one side of the upper face of this pallet, a plate (4) of a semi-rigid material having substantially the same shape and the same dimensions as this face, this assembly being characterized in that the pallet is of the type comprising as its seat hollow studs (2) of generally frustoconical shape and in that said plate (4) comprises, at the plumb of these studs (2), openings (5) of sufficient size to allow the passage of similar studs and their nesting in the studs of the pallet (1).  2.- An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (4) of a semi-rigid material is articulated by a fold line on a tab (3) or plain strip glued against the upper face of the pallet ( 1), with the fold line arranged along one of the sides of this face to constitute the pivot axis of the plate (4).  3.- assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that openings (5 ') of sufficient dimensions to allow the passage of studs (2) similar to those of the pallet are formed in the leg (3) - plumb hollow studs on which it extends.  4.- assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pallet (1) is a one-piece pallet of a molded material.  5.- assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said pallet comprises a rigid plate of which are attached frustoconical pads reported, with passages formed in the plate directly above these pads.  6.- Pallet box comprising, on the one hand, an assembly consisting of a pallet (1), on which is pivotally mounted, relative to an axis coinciding with one of its lateral sides, a plate (4) of a semi-rigid material having substantially the same dimensions and, on the other hand, a packaging body (9) comprising four walls (8,11) hinged together by fold lines, each wall having at its base a flap (7,10) pivotally mounted around a fold line, the plate (4) adjoining the pallet (l) being intended to be interposed between two flaps (7) integral with two opposite walls and two flaps ( 10) integral with the two other walls, this pallet box being characterized in that the box pallet assembly is in accordance with one of claims l to 5.