GB2126560A - Foot for goods handling pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pallet foot (1) in plastic material, of overall hollow and tapered shape, designed to be fixed on the back of a platform, forming the pallet proper, wherein the widest open end of said foot is open and has a ring-shaped horizontal flanged edge (6), whose outer surface is coated with a layer of adhesive material (14, 16), said layer being covered with a removable protecting sheet (18, 20), designed to be removed for fixing the foot on the back of the platform forming the pallet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foot for goods-handling pallet The invention relates to a new type of foot for a goods-handling pallet, made for example in cardboard.

A goods-handling pallet is known to be a platform, forming aworking-stage,forstoring and moving loads by means of a fork-lifttruck.

Pallets are already known which reformed by a platform, in cardboard for example, making awork- ing-stage, and resting on plasticfeet,to allow through theforks of the fork-lift truck (as described for example in British Patent No.2089316 or in U.S. patents Nos. 3 377847and3316861).

French Patent No.2341 493 describes a method for producing such feet, which consists in first rolling up a strip of corrugated cardboard and then applying on one end ofthe resulting cylindrical body a double-face adhesive tape. This tech nique however has proved rather unsatisfactory in that, on the one hand, the production of such feet is costly due to the use of the double-face adhesive tape which is an expensive item, and on the second hand, in that the honeycombed structure of the resulting roll considerably limits the contacts between the upper surface ofthe roll and the adhesive material, limiting as a resultthe adhesive properties. In addition, the mechanical strength of such feet has proved unsatisfactory with use, especially in damp conditions.Finally, because the feet are cylindrical and because, due to the honeycomb structure, their base catches on rough surfaces, these feet cannot, with the absence of rigidity, slide under a pressure, this being seen as a great impediment.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by proposing a foot for a goods-handling pallet, ofthe type constituted by a platform resting on feet in plastics materials, such a foot being inexpensive to produce, easily adaptable to small-scale productions and to platforms of different thickness and, what is more, necessitating no special equipmentto produce them.

The palletfoot according to the invention which is made from plastic material, with an overall hollow and tapered shape, and which is designed to be fixed to the back of a platform forming the pallet proper, is characterized in that its widest open base has a ring-shaped horizontal flanged edge, whose outer surface is coated with a layer of adhesive material, said layer being covered with a removable protecting sheet, designed to be removed forfixing the foot on the back of the platform forming the pallet.

Advantageously, - the feet are made of injected plastics, such as PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, with an optional fillerofglassfibers; - said tapered feet have an appropriate shape, such as a truncated cone shape, or a tetragonal shape, or even better, they have a grooved cross-section so as to improve their bearing surface and to improve their crushing strength; - the adhesive, which is meantto join the feetto the platform ofthe pallet, is a material which can be deposited by any appropriate means, and which is quick-setting (within around one second); said adhesive must be a dry one, i.e. waterless, so as not to penetrate into the cardboard constituting the platform; hot-melttype adhesive are advantageously used.

Although in general, the platform is plane, it can also be constituted by the bottom of a box, a cardboard box for example, such as the bottom of an "American box". Likewise, the platform may be made from any other material than cardboard, plastics for example.

According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the position of the feet on the platform is predetermined, for example by making impressions at cutting time, on the back of the platform which is preferably made of cardboard. Consequently, when the feet are ready to be fixed, their position is readily identifiable and no specially-trained staff is necessary.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure lisa diagrammatical cross-section of a foot according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a plan view of said foot; - Figure 3 is a cross-section of a pallet with a cardboard platform equipped with feet according to the invention; - Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment ofthe back of a cardboard platform adapted to receive feet according to the invention.

- Figures 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate an improved embodimentofthe invention seen in a three-quarter plan viewfrom above andfrom beneath respectively.

Referring to Figure 1 to 4, the pallet foot according to the invention is produced from injected plastic material, such as for example polypropylene. Said foot (1) essentially comprises a hollow and tapered (truncated) body (2) closed at its small base (3). Said base however, is provided with a small opening (4) to allow draining of condensation. The foot is open at its upper part (orwide base) in its center (5). Moreover, according to the main characteristic ofthe invention, said foot principally comprises a wide horizontal border (6) of annular or like shape. To permit ready storage ofthesefeet by stacking, it is necessary for their inner and outer conicity to be virtually identical.

Also, the diameter of the opening (5) has to be greater than the external diameter of the base (3) to allow said base (3) to fit inside the top (5). These rules however have not been totally observed in the drawings for simplification purposes.

The pyramid-like overall tapered shape of rectangu larcross-section is reinforced by bar-like members (7, 8 and 9) molded with the foot (see Fig. 2).

By way of example, afoot such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is given thefollowing dimensions: - height 180 mm - thickness of border (6) : 2 mm - thickness of bar members (7,8,9) : 2 mum - thickness ofwalls (2,3) : 2mm - width of rectangular base : 80mm - of square opening (5) : 85mm - widthlofannularflange forming the border(6) . 60mm On the horizontal upper face (13) of said border (6) is deposited by any known means, a layer (11,12) of quick-setting adhesive, such as hot-melt adhesive, containing for example synthetic rubber. Advantageously, the technique used for depositing the adhesive is by means of regulated nozzles fed from a melter.It is then possible to depositfourdiscon tinuous strips respectively (14, 15, 16, 17), (see Figure 2), 1 cm in width for example, on each of the four sides ofthesquare border (6). Then, on each ofthesefour discontinuous strips of adhesive (14-17) are deposited, still in continuous manner,fourstrips of silicon-coated paper, respectively (18-21), i.e. a temporarily protection paper. The purpose of such papers is to protect the layers of adhesive (14-17).The width and length ofthese strips of paper (18-21 ) are greater than the width and length of the adhesive strips (14-17), so that, in the first place, said adhesive strips are well protected, and in the second place, the paper strips can be peeled off by hand before the feet are fixed ontothecardboard platform (10).

The pre-cut sheet of cardboard (10), measuring for example 800 x 1200 mm, is provided with several assembly marks (25), imprinted beforehand, numbering five in the case illustrated in Figure 4. Said assembly marks (25) are situated atthe four corners of the cardboard, at a distance which can vary between 50 and 100 mm from the angles, and in the center of the cardboard.

The feet (1 ) are fixed on the back ofthe cardboard (10) as follows: the operator removes manually the protection strips of paper (18-21), then he applies the adhesive coated face of the border (6) of the foot on one pre-marked area (25). The adhesive material (14-17) being quick-setting at room temperature, the feet by simple contact, adhere firmlyto the cardboard (10), and the pallet is readyfor use (see Figure 3).

Although in the illustrated embodiment, the shape ofthe foot is tetragonal, it can also vary and be polygonal, cylindrical, conical, notched, etc.

According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the hollow foot (30) in polypropylene copolymer, is essentially composed of: -aplurality,eightforexample,ofregularand symmetrical grooves (31) or notches, of 1.5 mm thickness.

- a plurality of ribs forming a bridge-like structure (32), molded with the foot and designed to reinforce the border (33); - a border (33), substantially square-shaped in outline, but rounded at the angles (34), also of 1.5 mm thickness; -an orifice (35) provided in the small baseforthe removal of condensation waters.

As previously indicated hereinabove, regulated nozzles are used to depositfourdiscontinuous 1 cm-wide strips of hot-melt adhesive, in rubber four example.

The feet are fixed on the cardboard (10) or on the bottom of an "American box" as indicated hereinabove.

Likewise, in this embodiment, although the cardboard (10) is more generally flat-shaped, said cardboard (10) can also be constituted bythe bottom of a cardboard box, such as an "American box". Thus, when using such a box, it suffices to adhesivelyfix the feet according to the invention on the bottom of said box, in order to permit palletizing, i.e. to use the box as a pallet with the forks of a fork-lift truck.

Although in the illustrated examples, the platform is in cardboard, it can also be made of any other material, such asfor example fiberboard or even better plastics. This last embodiment (platform in plastics) permits to store the platforms on a wet surface without any risk of their absorbing the dampness.

The invention presents many advantages over the systems known up to now, amongst which: - an adaptability to all thicknesses of platforms, especially cardboard platforms; -the fact that it is easierto fix the feet by adhesive means to a platform than to screw them in a wooden pallet or to fit them into pre-cut openings; -the absence of holes in the platform; - ready and separate storage of the feet and platforms; - individual production, on the spot, when re quired, without calling on the services of experienced labor, this being economically impossible with the existing techniques; -the possibility to use "American boxes" as pallets, also an impossibility upto now; ; -the possibility to slide such a box along by lateral pressure, without deforming it or crushing it.

The present invention can therefore find various applicationsinthefieldofgoods-handling pallets: neither as a pallet proper (flat platforms of cardboard or other material); - or as boxes (cardboard boxes).

Claims (10)

1. A pallet foot in plastic material, of overall hollow and tapered shape, designed to be fixed on the back of a platform,forming the pallet proper,wherein the widest open base of said foot has a ring-shaped horizontal flanged edge, whose outer surface is coated with a layer of adhesive material, said layer being covered with a removable protecting sheet, designed to be removed forfixing the foot on the back of the platform forming the pallet.

2. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said foot is made of injected plastic material.

3. A pallet foot according to claim 1 ,wherein said foot has an overall pyramidal shape oftetragonal cross-section.

4. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said foot has an overall truncated shape.

5. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said foot has a grooved or notched cross-section.

6. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said platform is flat.

7. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said platform constitutes the flat base of a cardboard box.

8. A palletfoot according to claim 1,whereinthe back of said platform comprises pre-imprinted parts for positioning the adhesive coated feet.

9. A pallet foot according to claim 1, wherein said platform is made of cardboard or plastic material.

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