GB1575143A

GB1575143A - Pallets

Info

Publication number: GB1575143A
Application number: GB2346977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Metal Closures Ltd
Current assignee: Arconic Closure Systems International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-09
Filing date: 1978-05-09
Publication date: 1980-09-17

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PALLETS (71) We, METAL CLOSURES GROUP LIM ITED, a British Company of P.O. Box 32, Bromford Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 7HY, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to pallets and, more particularly, to a pallet for supporting a load.

In mechanical handling of loads, pallets are used for supporting the loads so that the loads can easily be moved by mechanical handling equipment. Generally, a pallet comprises a load bearing platform having a plurality of ribs depending from a lower surface thereof so that when the pallet is supported on a surface, the platform is in a raised position from the surface. In this manner, mechanical handling equipment, such as the forks of a fork lift truck, can be inserted under the platform of a pallet supporting a load and the pallet and load can be raised and removed from the surface.

Hitherto, pallets have been made from timber but, with the rising cost of timber, it is becoming more uneconomic to manufacture pallets of timber construction.

According to the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising a plurality of first stretcher members disposed in spaced parallel relationship one with another, a plurality of second lower stretcher members extending in spaced parallel relationship with each other and transversely of said first members and a plurality of spacing members between the first and second stretcher members for spacing the first stretcher members in a raised position above the second stretcher members wherein the stretcher members are of multi-box crosssection and are made of extruded plastics material and the spacing members are made of extruded foamed plastics material.

The first stretcher members may have mounted thereon a load support platform.

The platform may comprise a plurality of elongate strips. Each of the strips may extend parallel to the second stretcher members.

The spacing members and the elongate strips may be made of extruded foamed plastics material containing a filler. The plastics material may be polyvinyl chloride.

The filler may be a mineral or a vegetable based material such as wood residue.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a slat of a pallet in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a stretcher unit of the pallet, Figure 3 is an elevation of the pallet, Figure 4 is another elevation of the pallet viewed in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a plan view of the pallet shown in Figure 3, and Figure 6 is a cross-section of the pallet on the line X-X of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, a pallet 10 comprises an upper set of parallel elongate stretcher units 11, a lower set of parallel elongate stretcher units 12 each extending at right-angles to each of the units 11 and a plurality of spacing members 13 disposed between the stretcher units 11 and 12. The stretcher units 11 and 12 and the spacing members 13 are made of plastics material and upper surfaces of the spacing members 13 are welded to lower surfaces of the stretcher units 11 and lower surfaces of the spacing members 13 are welded to upper surfaces of the stretcher units 12.

The stretcher units 11 have welded to the upper surfaces thereof a plurality of parallel elongated slats 14 and 15, the slats 14 extende ing above the stretcher units 12 and each pair of the slats 14 having disposed therebetween a slat 15.

In this manner, the pallet comprises a rectangular frame formed by the upper and lower stretcher units 11 and 12 and the spacing members 13 disposed therebetween, the frame supporting a platform formed by the elongate slats 14 and 15 arranged such that when the pallet 10 is supported by the stretcher 12 on a surface, the platform is in a raised position above the surface so that forks of a fork lift truck may be inserted between the spacing members 13 and below the upper stretcher units 11. If the forks are then raised, the forks will engage a lower surface of the stretcher units 11 and raise the pallet 10 and any load supported thereon.

The upper and lower sets of stretcher units 11 and 12 are each made of polyvinyl chloride which is extruded to form a plurality of integral tubular members 16 which are of rectangular cross-section. After each of the stretcher units 11 and 12 is cut to size, the ends thereof are capped with a suitable terminal moulding by solvent application.

Each of the spacing members 13 is made from extruded foam polyvinyl chloride which is impregnated with a filler.

The slats 14 and 15 are each made of extruded foam polyvinyl chloride impregnated with a filler. The ends of the slats 14 and 15, after having been cut to a desired length, are sealed by a solvent.

It will be appreciated that the filler used in the manufacture of the spacing members 13 and the slats 14, 15 may be of a mineral or may be a vegetable based material such as wood residue.

It will also be appreciated that a pallet, in accordance with the present invention, can be used with existing mechanical handling equipment and is compatible with existing pallets made of timber. Furthermore, since pallets in accordance with the present invention are made of plastics material, components of the pallet may be assembled easily by various techniques, such as solvents, radio frequency, or ultrasonic welding.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A pallet comprising a plurality of first stretcher members disposed in spaced parallel relationship one with another, a plurality of second lower stretcher members extending in spaced parallel relationship with each other and transversely of said first members and a plurality of spacing members between the first and second stretcher members for spacing the first stretcher members in a raised position above the second stretcher members wherein the stretcher members are of multi-box crosssection and are made of extruded plastics material and the spacing members are made of extruded foamed plastics material.

2. A pallet according to Claim 1 wherein the first stretcher members have mounted thereon a load support platform.

3. A pallet according to Claim 2 wherein the platform comprises a plurality of elongate strips.

4. A pallet according to Claim 3 wherein each of the strips extends parallel to the second stretcher members.

5. A pallet according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the spacing members and elongate strips are made of extruded plastics material containing a filler.

6. A pallet according to Claim 5 wherein the plastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

7. A pallet according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the filler is a mineral based material.

8. A pallet according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the filler is a vegetable based material.

9. A pallet according to Claim 8 wherein the vegetable based material is a wood residue.

10. A pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. pair of the slats 14 having disposed therebetween a slat 15. In this manner, the pallet comprises a rectangular frame formed by the upper and lower stretcher units 11 and 12 and the spacing members 13 disposed therebetween, the frame supporting a platform formed by the elongate slats 14 and 15 arranged such that when the pallet 10 is supported by the stretcher 12 on a surface, the platform is in a raised position above the surface so that forks of a fork lift truck may be inserted between the spacing members 13 and below the upper stretcher units 11. If the forks are then raised, the forks will engage a lower surface of the stretcher units 11 and raise the pallet 10 and any load supported thereon. The upper and lower sets of stretcher units 11 and 12 are each made of polyvinyl chloride which is extruded to form a plurality of integral tubular members 16 which are of rectangular cross-section. After each of the stretcher units 11 and 12 is cut to size, the ends thereof are capped with a suitable terminal moulding by solvent application. Each of the spacing members 13 is made from extruded foam polyvinyl chloride which is impregnated with a filler. The slats 14 and 15 are each made of extruded foam polyvinyl chloride impregnated with a filler. The ends of the slats 14 and 15, after having been cut to a desired length, are sealed by a solvent. It will be appreciated that the filler used in the manufacture of the spacing members 13 and the slats 14, 15 may be of a mineral or may be a vegetable based material such as wood residue. It will also be appreciated that a pallet, in accordance with the present invention, can be used with existing mechanical handling equipment and is compatible with existing pallets made of timber. Furthermore, since pallets in accordance with the present invention are made of plastics material, components of the pallet may be assembled easily by various techniques, such as solvents, radio frequency, or ultrasonic welding. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A pallet comprising a plurality of first stretcher members disposed in spaced parallel relationship one with another, a plurality of second lower stretcher members extending in spaced parallel relationship with each other and transversely of said first members and a plurality of spacing members between the first and second stretcher members for spacing the first stretcher members in a raised position above the second stretcher members wherein the stretcher members are of multi-box crosssection and are made of extruded plastics material and the spacing members are made of extruded foamed plastics material.