GB2165520A

GB2165520A - Improvements in pallets

Info

Publication number: GB2165520A
Application number: GB08424570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn Edward Marston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-09-28
Filing date: 1984-09-28
Publication date: 1986-04-16
Also published as: GB8424570D0; GB2165520B

Abstract

A pallet 10 has cardboard feet 12, 13, 14 which are waterproofed. The waterproofing consists of waterproof shrouds 16 and/or a waterproof barrier (32, Figure 3 not shown) between upper and lower segments (31, 33) of each foot. The waterproof barrier may be constituted by a layer of adhesive bonding the foot segments together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in pallets The present invention relates to pallets for the movement of loads, especially through the medium of base lifting, eg. by fork-lift trucks.

Conventional pallets are made of wood. When the wood is of good quality, the unit cost becomes so high that they must be returnable from the recipient to the supplier for multiple re-use in order to be economic. Where pallets of poor quality wood are used (with a view to them being disposable), the wood is often incapable of meeting the required weight standards; in any case, even low quality, timber is still relatively expensive.

With a view to overcoming the above problems, there has been proposed a pallet made of cardboard. This has the advantage of cheapness and weight-saving. However cardboard is not waterproof; thus if exposed to rain it will delaminate and become useless. Waterproofing methods have been proposed including covering the entire pallet with a plastics material or impregnating it with wax. Both methods add substantially to the cost and the advantage over wood is lost.

The present invention seeks to provide a relatively cheap pallet which will not be damaged by water in use.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being made of cardboard material and the feet only being provided with waterproofing means.

The invention is based on the recognition that most distribution of goods on pallets takes place on "flat bed" vehicles. The vehicle is normally loaded with 20-22 pallets which are then "sheeted and roped" to give protection from the elements, and stability in transit. These vehicles are not protected when unladen hence the floors become wet.

A similar problem arises with curtain sided vehicles.

It follows then that if cardboard is placed directly on top of the wet floor, it will absorb the moisture.

The cardboard will delaminate and become useless.

It is reasonable to suppose that suppliers do not want the base of their products, or the outers of cartons containing their products to become wet; hence the protection of stock will generally be provided for. It follows that when the stock is placed on a pallet, the top of the pallet is protected.

The only problem then that remains is to protect the foot of the pallet from rain or rising moisture.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being of absorbent material, wherein each foot is tightly encapsu lated in a waterproofing material. The absorbent material of the feet is preferably cardboard.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being of absorbent material, wherein each foot comprises at least two segments arranged one above the other, said segments being separated by a waterproof barrier.

The absorbent material of the feet is preferably cardboard.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure la shows a perspective view of a pallet in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1b shows a waterproof shroud for use in the embodiment of Figure la; Figure ic shows an alternative waterproof shroud for use in the embodiment of Figure la; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment of Figure la; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a foot of a pallet in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1a shows a two-way entry cardboard pallet 10 comprising a platform in the form of a board 11 and having three feet 12,13,14 which extend for the length of the board 11. The cardboard may be of corrugated or honeycomb construction. A honeycomb construction with a preferred thickness of 50 mm since such a board can withstand a load of 8 tonnes per square meter.

To protect the feet from water, each entire foot is tightly encapsulated in a waterproof shroud 16.

The shroud may be of polythene or a cling film. Injection moulding can form a strong shroud and at varying depths.

Where rising moisture is the major problem a less expensive modification may be employed, Figure ic in which a shroud 16c in the shape of a cap or tray is provided, which covers only the lower region of each foot. This is a less expensive solution than Figure 1b since less shroud material is required.

Figure 2 shows a four-way entry pallet 20 with nine feet. Thus in this modification nine shrouds 26 are required, of reduced length compared to those at Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an alternative method of waterproofing the feet. A typical foot 30 comprises two cardboard segments 31,33 separated by a waterproof barrier 32, e.g. of foil, polythene or other plastics material.

The water resistant barrier 32 can be formed by a suitable adhesive; thus bonding and water resistance are achieved simultaneously.

The lower segment 33 is thinner than the upper segment and preferably has a thickness of 10 mm or less. Accordingly should the lower segment be thoroughly wetted and collapse, the load on the pallet does not fall or become unstable. Even if collapsed to its full extent, the crushed segment 33 still serves to maintain some distance between the vehicle deck and the barrier 32.

The feet may have three or more cardboard segments to provide any desired height, and further intermediate water barriers may also be provided.

In a modification of Figure 3, the segment 33 may be provided with a waterproof cover, e.g. as shown in Figure ic. However such an arrangement is more expensive than the arrangement illustrated in Figures ic and 3.

The platform of the pallets described may be made of cardboard or wood or other material and may also be waterproofed.

The above-described pallets have the advantage of combining waterproof properties with the cheapness and lightness of cardboard. In addition they permit the use of very shallow feet; indeed since it is not necessary to make any allowances for reducing the effects of rising moisture when determining the depth of the feet, they may have the minimum thickness compatible with the lifting and transporting means employed. This optimizes use of the available space.

The pallets may be constructed in accordance with any of the known styles, two- or four-way entry, low profile and even a mere 20 mm deep to achieve maximum space utilization.

Although the pallet feet have been disclosed as being made of cardboard, they could be made of any other suitable absorbent material.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being made of cardboard material and the feet only being provided with waterproofing means.

2. A pallet according to Claim 1, wherein each foot comprises at least two segments arranged one above the other, said waterproofing means comprising a waterproof barrier separating the segments.

3. A pallet according to Claim 2, wherein the barrier comprises a layer of adhesive between the segments.

4. A pallet according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the lower segment is thinner than the upper segment.

5. A pallet according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least the lower segment has a waterproof cover.

6. A pallet according to Claim 1, wherein said waterproofing means comprises a waterproof shroud encapsulating at least the lower portion of each foot.

7. A pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being of absorbent material, wherein each foot is tightly encapsulated in a waterproofing material.

8. A pallet comprising a platform and feet, at least the feet being of absorbent material, wherein each foot comprises at least two segments arranged one above the other, said segments being separated by a waterproof barrier.

9. A pallet according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the absorbent material is cardboard.

10. A pallet substantially as herein described with reference to Figures la and ib, Figures la and ic, Figure 2 or Figure of the accompanying drawings.