GB2089316A

GB2089316A - Pallets and palletised receptacles

Info

Publication number: GB2089316A
Application number: GB8137453A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HIGGINBOTTOM DONALD
Current assignee: HIGGINBOTTOM DONALD
Priority date: 1980-12-13
Filing date: 1981-12-11
Publication date: 1982-06-23
Also published as: GB2089316B

Abstract

A pallet 1, partly of hygroscopic material, is provided with non-hygroscopic feet 3 which extend through a bottom layer 5 of a floor 4, 5 of the pallet. The feet 3 are introduceable into the layer 5 at right angles to the layer and are restrained from upward movement relative thereto by a cover portion 4 hinged to layer 5. The cover portion 4 is releasably lockable to layer 5 by metal clips 52 on portions 53a of the side walls 53 integral with layer 5. Clips 52 pass through apertures 50 in cover portion 4 to engage sockets 50 in layer 5. Further embodiments show modified feet, modified means of retaining the feet to the remainder of the pallet 1, modified means of retaining the cover portion 4 to the remainder of pallet 1, and palletised receptacles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pallets and palletised receptacles This invention relates to pallets and palletised receptacles, of a construction wherein the pallet or receptacle has a plurality of depending spacing parts or feet for spacing an underside of the pallet or receptacle from a surface upon which the pallet or receptacle may be stood.

One known construction of pallet or pallet ised receptacle has, on its underside, a plural ty of box-sectioned cardboard ribs each containing a reinforcement to keep the rib in shape, but a disadvantage of such a construction is that if the pallet or palletised container stands in a shallow layer of water, at least the bottoms of the cardboard ribs may become soggy and the ribs rendered useless.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided, a pallet or a palletised receptacle, comprising a body which is, at least, in part, of a substantially hygroscopic material, for example, cardboard or fibreboard, and a plurality of feet extending, or which are to extend in use, below a floor of the body, said feet being non-integral with the body and of a substantially nonhygroscopic material, for example, plastics, metal or rubber; the floor having a first layer including apertures receiving, or for receiving, said feet and a second layer being arranged, in use, above the the first layer and overlying the feet whereby to distribute the load of contents of the pallet or palletised receptacle to the feet.

The invention enables, for example, a pallet to be assembled from a combination of relatively cheap hygroscopic material in conjunction with non-hygroscopic feet, whereby to produce the same benefits as a one-piece moulding with integral feet, but at a lower cost.

Preferably, the second layer extends substantially over the entire area of the first and where described, for example, to cut down costs, it may be perforate. The second layer may be of hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic material; it may be permanently attached to the remainder of the body or releasably attached. It may be attached to said remainder by stapling the second layer to the first.

Further, the second layer may be releasably lockable to said remainder by a snap-fit engagement means. The snap-fit engagement means may comprise means on the first layer and means on the second layer only, for example, projections on one of said layers may snap into recesses in the other.

Alternatively, the snap fit engagement means may also comprise further engagement means on a side wall of the pallet. This side wall may include portions formed integrally with first layer which are folded into position ready for use and so that the further engagement means co-operates with the means on the first and second layers to releasably lock the second layer to the body. In this arrangement the side wall will be at least two layers thick. Also, part of the side wall, or part of a side wall may be integral with the second layer to give added reinforcement to the respective side wall and/or to help seat the second layer firmly in its position in use.

Where the second layer is integral with part of the side wall, the portions of the wall integral with the first layer may be folded over this part to give a side wall three layers thick.

Preferably, the snap fit engagement means comprises at least one moulded socket attached, or attachable, to the remainder of the body which co-operates with a projection of the engagement means. Preferably, in one embodiment, the projection comprises a metal clip attached to the side wall and the socket is located in the first layer or vice versa, the projection passing through an aperture in the second layer.

In one embodiment the second layer may be hinged on a first edge to the remainder of the body, and preferably, the layer is releasa ble lockable to a side wall by means on the side wall and means on a second edge of the layer remote from the first edge. The first edge may be opposing the second. The releasable locking may be provided by a snap fit engagement, where the components of the snap fit are similar to those used in releasably locking the second layer to the first, i.e. the snap-fit engagement means may comprise at least one moulded socket co-operable with a projection, for example, a metal clip.

In another embodiment the floor may have more than two layers and, preferably, is rectangular. The first layer may comprise two portions extending from one pair of edges of the floor, said portions being folded back towards their respective edges of the pair, to form a third layer, further floor portions extending from the other pair of opposite edges and forming a fourth layer sandwiched between the first and third layers, and the second layer overlying said other layers.

The pallet, or palletised container, may be collapsible or foldable into a position convenient for storage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pallet, or a palletised receptacle, comprising a body which is, at least in part, of a substantially hygroscopic material, for example, cardboard or fibreboard, and a plurality of feet extending, or which are to extend in use, below a floor of the body, said feet being non-integral with the body and of a substantially nonhydroscopic material, for example, plastics, metal or rubber; the floor having apertures receiving, or for receiving, said feet and said feet being removable from or attachable to the pallet or palletised receptacle, by displacing the feet in a longitudinal direction at right angles to the first layer, to allow, for example, separate storage of the feet and body or quick assembly of the body and feet.

By this aspect of the present invention the feet can be quickly removed from the pallet by displacement in one longitudinal direction, as opposed to the case where the feet might have to be rotated to facilitate removal since this may be a time consuming exercise.

Said feet or spacers are preferably dimensioned and so arranged relatively to each other as, advantageously, to permit fork arms of a fork lift truck to be inserted beneath the underside of the pallet or palletised receptacle, preferably, along either of two directions mutually at right angles and prior to lifting of the pallet or palletised receptacle from a surface on which it stands. Such advantageous arrangement is not present in the case of a prior arrangement having spacers in the form of long ribs permitting insertion along one direction only.

The fact, or spacers may, for example, be of an open-topped hollow form, so that they may be nested together while in storage (in sorne embodiments while still attached to the body of the pallet or palletised receptacle).

Pallets or palletised containers constructed in accordance with the present invention may be of any suitable shape, whether a rectangular shape or otherwise. For example, the pallet may comprise a floor or tray of a square or other rectangular shape, or of a non-rectangular shape, for example a circular shape; and, for example, a palletised receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention may comprise a container of square or other rectangular box shape, or a container, for example a circular-sectioned drum-shaped container, not of rectangular box shape.

In application of the invention to a pallet, the pallet may, for example, comprise a cardboard or fibre-board floor, or a shallow cardboard or fibreboard tray which can be erected from a flat form, which is provided with a plurality, for example four or six, of apertures each capable of receiving a respective one of the feet or spacers up to, for example, peripheral flanges on said feet or spacers, the second layer being secured to the floor or tray, over the feet or spacers, when the feet or spacers are in place. The second layer alone, Or in part, may restrain upwards disengagement of said feet or spacers from the apertures.

In application of the invention to a pallet ised receptacle, said receptacle may comprise, for example, a cardboard or fibre-board box having first bottom flaps each comprising (a) an inner portion integral at, or connected to at, a fold line with a side wall of the box and provided with one or more apertures through which a respective one of, or respective ones of, the feet or spacers is or are inserted up to stop means on said foot or feet or spacer or spacers, said flap inner portion being foldable inwards from said side wall, and (b) an outer portion integral with, or connected to, said inner portion and, when the foot or feet or spacer or spacers are in place on the flap inner portion and the inner portion is in an inwardly-folded position, being foldable over the top of said foot or feet or spacer or spacers, to a position, parallel to said inner portion, in which said outer portion is secured, for example by tongues engaging slots in said box side, or by a double-sided adhesive strip, to prevent disengaging movement of the foot or feet of spacer or spacers from said aperture or apertures, and said box having second bottom flaps, integral at, or connected at, fold lines with side walls at right angles (when erected) to the aforesaid side walls, and foldable inwards to positions in which, in the assembled palletised rerzeptacle, said second bottom flaps lie sandwiched between the respective folded-over outer portions of the first bottom flaps and the tops of the respective feet or spacers.

The invention also includes in its scope a kit of parts, including a plurality of feet or spacers of non-hygroscopic or substantially nonhygroscopic material, said kit of parts being for assembling to form a pallet or palletised receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention.

in the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, several embodiments constructed in accordance with the present invention: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pallet constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows, partly assembled, on a smaller scale, the pallet shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a pallet foot of the same overall shape as feet shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but with ribbed sides; Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, Figure 5 shows, viewed from above, a box in an inverted and partly-assembled condition, forming a component of a palletised receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention; ; Figure 6 shows said box, shown in Fig. 5, still in an inverted condition, but with feet inserted in first bottom flaps of said box and with second bottom flaps of said box shown in inwardly-folded positions; Figure 7 shows, on a larger scale, said box, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, still in an inverted condition, with the first bottom flaps partly folded, and with their outer portions inserted through a gap between opposed edges of the second bottom flaps; Figure 8 shows said box shown in Figs. 5 to 7, but now in an upright position and forming with the feet an assembled palletised receptacle; Figure 9 shows a modification of the pallet ised receptacle shown in Fig. 8; and Figures 10 and 11 show modified means for holding the feet shown in the preceding Figs. against disengagement from the respective apertures, Fig. 10 being a vertical sectional view showing a foot being inserted through an aperture and Fig. 11 being a plan view showing said foot fully in place in said aperture.

Figures 12 and 13 show a modified embodiment of the pallet shown in Fig. 1; Figures 14 and 15 show views of a modified embodiment of the box shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Figure 16 shows a top view of the modified box of Figs. 1 4 and 1 5 in which the interior of the box is visible; Figures 1 7 and 18 show views of the modified box of Figs 1 4 to 1 6 which are similar to Figs. 7 and 8; Figures 19 and 20 show a side view and perspective view of a metal clip comprising part of snap-fit engagement means of the embodiments of Figs. 12 to 18, and Fig. 21 shows the snap-fit engagement which releasably locks components of the embodiments of Figs. 1 2 to 1 8 together.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a pallet 1 is shown, in vertical section, in assembled condition in Fig. 1 and comprises a cardboard tray or body 2, a plurality of spacers in the form of plastics non-hygroscopic feet 3 (for example of P.V.C. material) and a cardboard cover sheet 4 comprising a second layer of a floor 2a and part of the body. The cardboard tray 2 is of rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 2, floor 2a has a flat bottom or first layer 5 and, integral with said bottom, an upstanding peripheral wall 6 which can be folded inwards along crease lines 7 to lie substantially flat against the bottom 5 when the tray 2 is to be stored or transported in an out-of -use condition. The cover sheet 4 is of plain, flat rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 2, and is designed to fit snugly into the tray from above.The plastics feet 3, which in this particular embodiment are four in number, consist of identical, rectangular-sectional moulded plastic cups each having downward-tapering sides 8, and an integral bottom 9, and each having a top rim in the form of an integral, flat, horizontal, outwardly-directed-peripheral flange 10. The said feet 3, when not in place, can be nested together compactly for storage and/or transit when out of use. Each foot 3 is engaged with a respective one of four counterpart rectangular apertures 11 in the base 5. Said apertures 11 are arranged so that the feet 3 engaged therewith are so located relatively to each other that the fork arms of a fork lift truck may be inserted beneath the bottom of the pallet 1, when the pallet 1 is standing on the feet 3, along either of two directions mutually at right angles.

In order to assemble the pallet 1 from its components 2, 3, 4, each foot 3 is inserted, from that face 1 2 of the tray bottom 5 which is uppermost in use, bottom-first into the respective aperture 11 in the bottom 5 until the flat peripheral flange 10 on said foot 3 engages against the said face 1 2 of said flat bottom 5, the said foot 3, when said flange is so engaged, being a snug fit in the respective aperture 11, with the foot bottom 9 spaced some distance below the underside face of the bottom 5, as shown in Fig. 1.When the feet 3 have all been inserted in the respective apertures 11 up to the flanges 10, the cover sheet 4 is inserted into the tray 2 so as to engage against the top faces of the flanges 10 of the feet and is then secured to the base 5, for examply by stapling, whereby firmly to prevent upward disengaging movement of the feet 3 from the apertures 11, said cover sheet 4 also holding the tray wall 6 firmly in an upstanding position. The pallet is now ready for use.The feet space the pallet from a surface upon which it stands, to enable the fork arms of a fork-lift truck to be inserted beneath the pallet to engage up against the underside of the pallet bottom; and a particular advantage of the provision of the feet 3 is that, being of non-hygroscopic material, the pallet feet can stand in shallow layers of water, or many other liquids, without thereby becoming damaged or rendered useless, whilst at the same time serving to space, and thereby to protect, the cardboard bottom 5 from the said water or other liquid.

If required, the sides of the plastic feet 3 may each have integral, moulded, hollow, inwardly-projecting, downwardly-extending reinforcing ribs, such as the ribs 8a shown in Fig. 3.

The assembled pallet 1 is of robust and rigid construction and can be cheaply manufactured, the feet 3 being made sufficiently rigid and strong to be self-supporting under a normal load for the pallet, without requiring inserts to prevent them from collapsing.

Furthermore, the pallet 1 can, after use, be dismantled by removing the cover sheet 4, withdrawing the feet 3, and collapsing the tray 2, and then compactly returned for reuse, or stored until again required for use.

Instead of upward disengaging movement of the feet being prevented solely by the cover sheet, any other suitable means for preventing such upward disengagement may be provided. For example, in the modification shown in Fig.4 each foot, shown here at 3', is moulded with integral downwardly-tapering peripheral projections 1 3 which terminate at the top in flat upwardly-presented shoulders 14 spaced from the underside of the flange on the foot by a distance equal to, or slightly less than, the thickness of the cardboard bottom 5 of the pallet, whereby each foot 3' can be fixed in the respective aperture for receiving it by inserting said foot 3' bottom-first through the aperture (the cardboard bottom of the pallet yielding as it is engaged by the tapering faces (shown at 1 3a) of the projection 13) until the shoulders 14 engage beneath, and thereby interlock wits, the underside of said pallet bottom, as shown.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, a palletised receptacle 20 comprises a cardboard box 21 (shown in Fig. 5 viewed from above when in an inverted partly-assembled condition) and a plurality (in this embodiment four) of spacers in the form of moulded, plastics non-hygroscopic feet 22 (for example of P.V.C. material) similar to the feet 3 described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each foot 22 having downwardly-tapering sides, a flat bottom, and an integral, flat, horizontal outwardly-directed peripheral flange 23. If required, the sides of the feet 22 may have integral inwardly projecting reinforcing ribs similar to the ribs 8a shown in Fig. 3.The cardboard box 21 has a pair of opposite vertical first side walls 24, which extend downwardly and out of the paper as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and a pair of opposite parallel vertical second side walls 25 which are at right angles to the side walls 24 and which as shown also extend downwardly and out of the paper. Integral, along fold lines, with respective ones of the first side walls 24 are two top flaps 26, whilst integral, along fold lines, with respective ones of the second side walls 25 are two top flaps 27 shown in a partly open position. These four top flaps 26, 27 can be folded inwards to close the top of the box 21 and are shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 5, which, as stated, shows the box in an inverted condition.The box 21 is formed from a single cardboard blank, the side walls being connected by stapling and being, when the top flaps 26, 27, and the hereinafter-mentioned bottom flaps, integral with said side walls, are in appropriate positions, movable relatively to each other in a parallel motion, whereby the box takes up a collapsed condition for storage, or transport, when not in use.

Integral, along fold lines 28, with the bottom margins of respective ones of the first side walls 24 are two first bottom flaps 29, each comprising an inner flap portion 30 and an outer flap portion 31 foldable over the said inner flap portion 30 about a fold zone 32 parallel to the respective fold line 28. The outer edge of the outer flap portion 31 of each flap 29 carries a plurality (in the embodiment shown, three) of integral cardboard tongues 35. The first side walls 24 are each provided, spaced a short distance below the respective fold line 28, with a plurality of elongate slots 36 for receiving, as hereinafter explained, respective ones of the tongues 35.

Each of the inner flap portions 30 is provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures 37 each for receiving a respective one of the plastics feet 22.

Integral, along fold lines 38, with the bottom margins of each of the second side walls 25 is a respective pair of second bottom flak s 39, the two flaps 39 of each pair being spaced from each other to leave a narrow gap 33.

The following is a convenient method of assembling the plastics feet 22 to the cardboard box 21 to complete the palletised receptacle, starting with the box 21 in the inverted condition shown in Fig. 5:- The feet 22 are first each inserted bottom4irst into the respective apertures 37 in the inner flap portions 30 of the first bottom flaps 29 until the flanges 23 of the feet 22 engage against the (in this inverted condition) upwardly-presented faces of the respective ones of said inner flap portions 30; and the second bottom flaps 39 are folded inwards, about the fold lines 38, to lie over the interior of the box (Fig. 6).Next the first bottom flaps 29, now carrying the feet 22, are turned inwards about the fold lines 28 and the outer flap portions 31 of the said flaps 29 are inserted through the gaps 33 between the inwardly-folded second bottom flaps 39, as shown in Fig. 7. The box 21 is then turned into a non-inverted position in which (with the top flaps 26, 27 moved to a position not blocking the interior of the box, if said flaps 26, 27 are not already in such position) the person assembling the palletised receptacle has access via the interior of the box to the said outer flap portions 31, inserted through said gaps, and said outer flap portions 31 are now folded about the fold zones 32 to positions in which the tongues 35 engage into, and interlock with, the respective slots 36, whereby the flanges 23 of the feet 22 engaged with the respective bottom flaps 39 are firmly held against, and parallel to, respective ones of the inwardlyturned second bottom flaps 39, and the latter are held firmly sandwiched between the respective ones of said flanges 23 and the respective ones of the outer flap portions 31, as shown in Fig. 8. The feet 22 are thereby firmly held in place and prevented from upward disengaging movement from the apertures 37; and the second bottom flaps 39 are firmly held in positions in which they rigidly hold the side walls 24 of the box at right angles to the side walls 25. The now-palletised receptacle is now ready for use, and is of robust and rigid construction, with three thicknesses or layers of cardboard of the bottom of the box, and can be cheaply manufactured, the feet 22 being made sufficiently rigid and strong to be self-supporting under a normal load for the palletised receptacle, without re guiring inserts. As in the case of the feet 3 of the hereinbefore-described pallet 1, the feet 22 can stand in layers of water, or many other liquids without thereby becoming damaged or rendered useless, and said feet 22 have a function of spacing the cardboard box from such layers of water or other liquid, in addition to their function of spacing the box from a surface upon which it stands to enable fork arms to be engaged between the box.

The palletised receptacle 20 can be dismantled by disengaging the tongues 35 from the slots 36, unfolding outwards the first bottom flaps 29, withdrawing the feet 22, unfolding outwards the second bottom flaps 39 and (if not already unfolded outwards) the top flaps 26, 27, and then collapsing the box into a flat condition for storage or transport in an out-ofuse condition, the feet 22 conveniently nesting together for such transport or storage.

An advantage of the construction of the palletised receptacle 20 is that manufacturers or merchants holding stocks of the cardboard boxes 21 and plastics feet 22 may, at will, according to requirements, assemble the boxes 21 and feet 22 together, as hereinbefore described, to form palletised receptacles, or alternatively, assemble the boxes 21 without the feet 22, so as to form non-palletised receptacles, the apertures 37 being in the assembled box covered by the flaps 39 and flap portions 31.

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig.

9, a palletised receptacle 20' is of the same construction as the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8 except that the tongues 35 and slots 36 are omitted and instead the outer flap portions 31 of the first bottom flaps are provided with double-sided adhesive strips 40 for securing said flap portions 31 to the respective second bottom flaps 39 to hold the flaps 39 and the flanges 23 of the feet 22 sandwiched firmly between the respective outer flap portions 31 and inner flap portions 30.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 9 may be used for light-duty use, whilst that shown in Figs. 5 to 8 may be used for heavier-duty use.

If desired, instead of the stop means on the feet 3 or 3' or 22 being continuous peripheral flanges, said stop means may, for example, be formed by providing each foot with, at the top, a set of peripherally-spaced co-planar outwardly-projecting lugs.

If desired, instead of providing the pallet or palletised receptacle with four feet or spacers, two, three, or more than four, for example six.

feet or spacers may be provided, with the number of receiving apertures being chosen accordingly. Which it is preferred that the arrangement of the feet or spacers on the pallet or palletised receptacle is such that the fork arms of a fork-lift truck may (as is the case with the pallet 1, and as is the case also with the palletised receptacle 20) be inserted beneath the bottom of the pallet or palletised receptacle, when the pallet or receptacle is standing on the feet or spacers, along either of two directions mutually at right angles, if desired the arrangement of the feet or spacers may be such that the fork, arms may be inserted beneath the bottom of the pallet or palletised receptacle along one direction only.

The feet or spacers may be of any other suitable shape or size, and may for example be feet of circular cross-section, or be of narrow elongate bar-like form; and they may be of any other suitable non-hygroscopic or substantially non-hygroscopic material, for example they may be of sheet-metal or of sufficiently-rigid rubber.

In the modification illustrated by Figs. 10 and 11, a pallet or palletised receptacle has a cardboard platform or cardboard bottom or cardboard bottom parts (for example bottom flaps), said platform or bottom or bottom parts being provided with apertures for receiving respective plastics feet, one of said apertures being shown at 41 and one of said feet being shown at 42. The peripheral edge of each aperture 41 has a plurality of peripherallyspaced integral cardboard tongues 43, and each foot 42 has a peripheral top flange 44 and, immediately below said flange 44, a plurality of horizontal slots 45, each for engagement by a respective one of the tongues 43.In order to attach said foot 42 in place, it is inserted bottom-first into the aperture 41 and moved so that the tongues wipe over sloping sides of the said foot until the said tongues 43 enter the respective slots 45 and interlock therewith (Fig. 11) to retain the foot 42 against both upwards and downwards movement, the top and bottom edges of the slots 45 constituting abutment faces co-operating with the tongues. Preferably, a cardboard cover sheet is secured over the flange 44 to reinforce the retaining action of the tongues 43 against upward displacement of the foot 42. If desired, the slotted foot 42 may, instead of being flanged, have a flangeless top rim engageable by said cover sheet.

The abutment means on the feet or spacers, and the retaining part or parts of or carried by or locatable over the platform or bottom or bottom parts of the pallet or palletised receptacle may be of any other suitable form. For example, the feet or spacers may be of circular-sectional form and have abutments in the form of outwardly-projection radial lugs and the respective aperture in the said platform or bottom part or parts may be of circular form with enlargements in the form of radial peripherally-spaced notches, whereby the feet of spacers can be inserted top-first into the apertures, with the lugs passing through the notches, and then be turned to bring the lugs over plan portions of the aperture surrounds to thereby prevent withdrawal of the feet or spacers, and with upward displacement of the feet or spacers being prevented by locating a cardboard cover sheet or cover flaps over said feet or spacers.

If desired, those parts referred to in the description of the above-described exemplary embodiments as being of cardboard, may be made of fibre-board instead of cardboard.

When made of cardboard they may be made of, for example, heavy-duty thick cardboard, or of, for example, corrugated reinforced cardboard. From a cost point of view, use of corrugated of corrugated reinforced cardboard, or use of fibre-board, may be preferable to use of heavy-duty thick cardboard.

With further reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the box 21 shown therein may, if required, for example if of very large size, be formed from two symmetrical pieces of "half-blanks" secured together at, for example, the corner edges shown at 46 in Fig. 5, by, at each said joint, staples inserted through one of the half-blanks and through an overlapping flange on the other half-blank.

Figs. 1 2 to 21 show various preferred modifications to the embodiments already described and these modifications are described below.

Firstly, each foot 3 has been modified in that two opposing side walls 8 are provided with tabs 8b pressed out of upper parts of the walls 8. The tabs are deflected inwardly as the feet are introduced into the apertures 11 and spring back underneath the flat bottom or first layer 5 so that the feet are firmly engaged in the bottom 5.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13 the floor 2a has a cover portion or second layer 4 which extends substantially over the entire area of the bottom 5 and which is releasably lockable thereto by snap-fit engagement means, in the form of moulded sockets 50, apertures 51 in the cover portion 4 and projections 52 (metal clips). Sockets 50 are similar in appearance to the feet 3 but are more elongated; they are located into the bottom 5 by any suitable means but as shown are located by a force fit into holes in the bottom 5. The metal clips 52 are provided on portions 53a of one pair of opposing side walls 53. Fig. 1 3 shows the pallet prior to being folded into its position in use.The opposing side walls 53 are formed by portions 53awhich are integral with the bottom 5, by portions 53b integral with the cover portion 4 and by tab portions 53c which are integral with the other pair of opposing side walls 54. As should be clear from Figs 1 2 and 1 3 side wall portions 53 a may be folded over respective tab portions 53cand portions 53band the metal clips 52 passed through respective apertures 51 into a snap-fit engagement with respective sockets 50. This gives the pallet strengthened side walls and firmly but releasably locks the cover portion 4 into its position in use.Cover portion 4 is hired by staples at its upper right- hand edge as shown in Fig. 13.

Any number of snap-fit engagement means may be used and the projections may, alternatively, be on the bottom 5 and the sockets on the wall portions 53a. Only one wall need have the composite structure as described or all four walls may have similar composite structures. Use of the sockets 50 avoids any open apertures in the body at floor level.

Figs. 14 to 18 show a modified box in which the cover portion 4 is hinged to a wall 55 of the box, the hinge axis being denoted by 4a. The cover portion 4 is attached to the side wall 55 by staples 46 or any suitable means. The floor of the box is assembled exactly as in the manner explained in relation to Figs. 7 and 8 except that the flap portions 31, which together comprise a third layer of the floor, are not provided with tongues 35 and there are not co-operating slots 36 for receiving the tongues. The hinged cover portion 4 has projections in the form of metal clips 52 provided along its free edge which are snap-fit engageable with sockets 50 fitted into a wall 56 opposing wll 55. Alternatively, the projections could be provided on side wall 56 and the sockets on the hinged cover portion 4.

Figs. 1 9 to 21 shows details of the metal clips. Each metal clip 52 comprises a strip of metal which has been bent into a generally Ushaped with a square base 52a. Inclined slots 57 in one limb 58 of the U-shape can receive corners 59 of the other limb 60 which have been folded inwardly.

Each clip 52 may be attached to a flat cardboard or fibreboard member, such as that shown at 61, in dashed lines, by forcing limbs 58 and 60 apart and introducing member 61 therebetween as shown in Fig. 19.

The corners 59 have sharp points 59awhich can be forced through member 61 to engage in respective slots 57. The corners 59 are then folded over to attach the clip to the member 61 as shown in Fig. 20. Each clip is provided with flanges 62 pressed out of limb 58. These flanges 62 are used to position the clip 52 accurately on member 61 by engaging one edge of the member. Portion 63 of the clip extending below the member 61 may be engaged into a co-operating socket 50 as shown in Fig. 21.

Claims

1. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, comprising a body which is, at least in part, of a substantially hygroscopic material, for example, cardboard or fibreboard, and a plurality of feet extending, or which are to extend in use, below a floor of the body, said feet being non-integral with the body and of a substantially non-hygroscopic material, for example, plastics, metal or rubber; the floor having a first layer including apertures receiv ing, or for receiving, said feet and a second layer being arranged, in use, above the first layer and overlying the feet whereby to distribute the load of contents of the pallet or palletised receptacle to the feet.

2. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 1 in which the second layer extends substantially over the entire area of the first layer.

3. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the second layer is releasably lockable to the remainder of the body into its position in use.

4. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 3 in which the second layer is releasably lockable to said remainder by snap-fit engagement means.

5. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 4 in which the snap-fit engagement means comprises means on the first layer and means on the second layer.

6. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 5 and having a side wall, the snap-fit engagement means comprising further engagement means on the side wall, and the side wall having at least portions thereof formed integrally with the first layer which are folded into position in use so that the further engagement means co-operates with the means on the first and second layers to releasably lock the second layer to the body.

7. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which part of the, or a, side wall is integral with the second layer.

8. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 7 when dependent from Claim 6 in which said portions of the side wall integral with the first layer are folded over the part of the side wall integral with the second layer.

9. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 4 or any Claim dependent therefrom in which the snap fit engagement means comprises at least one moulded socket attached or attachable to the remainder of the body which co-operates with a projection of the engagement means, said projection being, for example, a metal clip.

1 0. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 9 when dependent from Claim 7 or from Claim 8 in which the at least one socket is located in the first layer and the co-operating projection is located on a portion of said side wall formed integrally with the first layer, the engagement means on the second layer comprising an aperture through which said projection passes.

11. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the second layer is hinged on a first edge to the remainder of the body.

1 2. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 11 when dependent upon Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the second layer is releasably lockable to a side wall, by means on that side wall and means on a second edge of the second layer remote from said first edge.

1 3. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 1 2 when dependent from Claim 4 in which the snap-fit engagement means comprises at least one moulded socket co-operable with a projection, for example, a metal clip of the snap-fit engagement means.

14. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the feet are individual elements.

1 5. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which each foot has a flange arranged above the first layer, in use.

16. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 1 5 in which the flanges are, in use, sandwiched between and in direct contact with the first and second layers.

1 7. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the feet are engaged or engageable, in the first layer to restrain relative displacement therefrom in a direction substantially at right angles to the first layer.

1 8. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which each foot is hollow and provided with integral strengthening ribs which extend substantially downwardly, in use.

19. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the feet are readily removable from, and readily engageable in, said apertures by movement of said feet in a direction at right angles to said first layer after, in the case of removal, releasing retaining means.

20. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the second layer is of non-hygroscopic material.

21. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 20 in which the floor is of non-hygroscopic material.

22. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the floor has more than two layers.

23. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 22 comprising a generally rectangular floor, in which the first layer comprises two portions extending from one pair of opposite edges of the floor, said portions being folded back towards their respective edges of the pair to form a third layer, further floor portions extending from the other pair of opposite edges and forming a fourth layer sandwiched between the first and third layers, and the second layer overlying said other layers.

24. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 22 in which the free edges of the floor portions forming the third layer are attached, or attachable, to the fourth layer.

25. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in Claim 23 in which the free edges of the said portions forming the third layer have a double-sided adhesive tape attaching, or to attach the third layer to the fourth.

26. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which can be folded from its position in use to another position convenient for storage.

27. A pallet, or a palletisedl receptacle, as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the feet are dimensioned and arranged relatively to each other to permit fork arms to be inserted beneath the underside of the pallet or palletised receptacle along either of two directions mutually at right angles.

28. A pallet substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A pallet as claimed in Claim 28 when modified substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

30. A pallet as claimed in Claim 28 when modified substantially as illustrated in Figs.

12 and 1 3 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A palletised receptacle substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A palletised receptacle as claimed in Claim 31 when modified substantially as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A palletised receptacle as claimed in Claim 31 when modified substantially as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 1 6 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A pallet or palletised receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 including at least one snap-fit engagement means substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 9 to 21 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, when modified substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figs.

10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

36. A pallet, or a palletised receptacle, comprising a body which is, at least in part, of a substantially hygroscopic material, for example, cardboard or fibreboard, and a plurality of feet extending, or which are to extend in use, below a floor of the body, said feet being non-integral with the body and of a substantially non-hygroscopic material, for example, plastics, metal or rubber; the floor having apertures receiving, or for receiving, said feet and said feet being removable from or attachable to the pallet or palletised recep zacle, by djsplacingl the feet in a longitudinal direction at right angles to the first layer to allow, for example, separate storage of the feet and body or quick assembly of the body and feet.