GB2280663A

GB2280663A - Pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2280663A
Application number: GB9415678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Clive Loftus; James W R Fathers
Original assignee: McKechnie UK Ltd
Current assignee: McKechnie UK Ltd
Priority date: 1993-08-03
Filing date: 1994-08-03
Publication date: 1995-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-03
Also published as: GB9415678D0; GB2280663B; GB9316093D0

Abstract

A pallet 10 comprises deck means 12 on which a load may be supported during use. A plurality of pillars 18 are located between a lattice base 22 and the underside of the deck 12 such that a space 16 exists between the base 22 and the deck 12 to receive a lifting apparatus, such as the tines of a fork-lift truck. Each pillar 18 is releasably attached to the deck 12 and base 22 by a means of a plug and socket arrangement, with a means for receiving a tool to assist fixing to the deck. The top end of each pillar 18 forms a plug to fit a cooperating socket 32. The connection can be of bayonet or screw type. <IMAGE>

Description

Pallet The present invention relates to pallets.

A conventional design of pallet (sometimes called a stillage) is a wooden construction consisting of a board or slatted deck. Blocks of wood are nailed to permanently secure them to the underside of the deck.

Planks are nailed to the lower ends of the blocks to interconnect them. The result is a slot between the deck and planks into which tines of a fork lift truck can be inserted to lift the pallet and goods supported on it.

This design of pallet is vulnerable to damage, particularly from careless handling or from inaccurate positioning of tines during lifting.

The present applicant has appreciated that a plastic construction would be more desirable for various uses, but that the high rate of damage of wooden pallets and the relatively high cost of plastic in relation to a timber product are likely to make a plastic pallet uneconomic.

The present invention seeks to obviate or mitigate this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a pallet comprising deck means on which a load may be supported during use, and spacer means defining a space for receiving lifting apparatus, such as fork lift tines, the spacer means comprising releasable attachment means for attaching at least one element to the deck means whereby the element is detachable from the pallet and replaceable.

The spacer means may include at least one element which extends downwardly from the deck means, in use, to define the said space below the deck means. The releasable attachment means may comprise a socket and a plug arrangement arranged to releasably retain the plug in the socket. The socket and plug arrangement may comprise at least one projection and a cooperating recess into which the projection enters when the plug enters the socket, the recess being so shaped as to retain the projection therein. The socket and plug arrangement and the projection and recess may form a bayonet connection between the plug and socket, or may form a screw thread connection between the plug and socket, the connection providing a full or partial thread.

The plug and socket may have channels which come into alignment when the plug is installed in the socket, the pallet further comprising a locking member which can be inserted into the channels to prevent relative movement of the plug and socket. 4 The socket and plug arrangement may be releasable by turning the plug relative to the socket and the plug may have at least one formation, such as a hole, for cooperating with a tool for turning the plug relative to the socket. The formation or hole may be accessible from above and/or below the deck means.

The pallet may further comprise a base member spaced below the deck means by the spacer means, preferably by means of socket and plug arrangements as aforesaid. The base member may comprise a lattice interconnecting the positions of the spacer means and providing means for attachment to the spacer means at each position.

The spacer means may include at least one pillar, which may be detachable as aforesaid. The pillar and deck means preferably cooperate to form a releasable connection therebetween. The pallet preferably further comprises a plurality of pillar and sockets as aforesaid.

The plug is preferably provided by one end of the pillar, the socket being formed in the deck means, but the reverse arrangement may be used.

The pallet is preferably manufactured from a synthetic plastics material or materials.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view otherwise corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the pillars used in the pallet of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of one corner of the deck used in the pallets of Figs. 1 and 2, and on an enlarged scale.

The pallet 10 shown in the drawings comprises deck means 12 on which a load may be supported during use.

Spacer means indicated generally at 14 define spaces 16 for receiving fork lift tines or other lifting apparatus.

The spacer means 14 comprise releasable attachment means to be described more fully below, for attaching at least one pillar element 18 to the deck 12. This allows the pillar 18 to be detached from the pallet 10 for replacement in case of damage.

In more detail, the deck 12 provides an upper surface 20 on which a load will sit in conventional manner. Below the deck 12, there is a base 22 in the form of a lattice. The pillars 18 are located between the base 22 and the underside of the deck 12 to space the deck 12 and base 22 apart thereby defining spaces 16 for fork lift tines between the deck 12 and base 22 and between neighbouring pillars 18.

The overall strength of the arrangement may be improved by extending the material of the deck 12 down to meet the base 22, which may extend upwardly, as indicated generally at 24. This also serves to shroud the corner pillar, reducing the risk of damage. Any or all of the pillars could be wholly or partially shrouded in this manner.

Each pillar 18 is releasably attached to the deck 12 and to the base 22 by means of a plug and socket arrangement which can now be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. The pillar 18 is generally a right circular cylinder, but other shapes could be used. Grooved recesses 26 are formed around the upper and lower edges of the curved surface of the pillar. Each groove has an entry portion 28 leading from a mouth at the corresponding end surface of the cylinder, to a main portion 30 which extends generally circumferentially around the cylinder. In the pillar shown in Fig.

3, four grooves 26 are situated around each end face. It is to be noted that the grooves 26 adjacent the upper end face and lower end face are opposite-handed in the sense that although the main portions 30 extend in the same sense around the cylinder axis, the entry portions 28 extend upwardly or downwardly as appropriate.

The top end of each pillar 18 forms a plug to fit a socket 32 shown in Fig. 4. The socket is generally circular. Four teeth 34 (only two of which are visible in Fig. 4) project in from the walls of the socket 32 at the mouth. The circumferential length of the teeth 34 is slightly less than the circumferential length of the entry portions 28. The axial length of the teeth 34 is slightly less than the axial width of the main portions 30. Thus, the pillar 18 can be attached to the deck 12 by offering the pillar to the socket 32 oriented to mate each tooth 34 with a corresponding entry portion 28. The plug is then pushed further into the socket until the teeth 34 have moved into the main portion 30, whereupon the pillar 18 can be axially rotated to move the teeth 34 along the main portions 30. The arrangement thus forms a type of bayonet connection between the pillar and deck.

It is expected that the bayonet fit can be made adequately secure by appropriate choice of dimensions of the teeth and grooves but some additional means of preventing reverse rotation of the pillar may be included if required, such as a click fit arrangement or a channel through the body of the pillar and a second channel through the body of the deck, the channels coming into alignment when the pillar is attached, so that a locking pin can be inserted through the channels to prevent further relative movement of the pillar and deck.

It is to be appreciated that the plug and socket could be reversed so that the plug is provided on the underside of the deck, and a socket is formed in the end of the pillar.

The pillar 18 has a hole 36 for receiving a tool to assist in rotating the pillar relative to the deck.

Alternatively, other formations could be provided for cooperating with a tool, the shape and form depending on the nature of the tool. In an alternative, the pillar 18 may be provided with a hole in one or both end surfaces, accessible from above or below the deck 12. This may facilitate the construction of the pallet, particularly by assisting access to pillars located away from the edges of the pallet. Furthermore, by providing more than one hole or other formation, there is a reduced risk that no formation is available for use in the event of damage occurring.

The nine sockets shown in the deck 12 in Fig. 2 are all of identical construction, and the pillars are also of identical construction so that any pillar can be installed in any socket. Furthermore, the same plug and socket arrangement is provided at the lower ends of the pillar to allow attachment to the base 22 but in this case the arrangement is opposite-handed so that rotating the pillar in one direction can simultaneously secure the upper end of the pillar to the deck 12, and the lower end of the pillar to the base 22.

The base 22 forms a lattice interconnecting the positions of the pillars 18, with a socket 32 provided for attachment to the pillar at each pillar position.

Some of the pillars 18 are removed in Fig. 2 in the interests of clarity.

The pallet 10 can be constructed as follows. First a base 22 would be laid out and a pillar 18 loosely located in each socket 32, but without rotating the pillar to lock it in position. The deck 12 is then lowered into position so that each pillar 18 enters the corresponding socket 32 from below. Each pillar 18 is then turned to secure the bayonet connections at the top and bottom. The result is to form a pallet as shown in Fig. 1.

It can be understood from the above that if the deck 12 or base 22 or any of the pillars 18 become damaged during use, the pillars 18 can be detached by reversing the operations just described, the appropriate part can be replaced and the pallet can then be re-assembled. It is expected that the pillars 18 are the elements most likely to be damaged during use, particularly by fork lift tines, but the curvature of their surfaces may reduce such damage.

It will also be apparent that many variations and modifications may be made to the apparatus shown in the drawings, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the shapes and dimensions of the various components, and details of the attachment arrangements can be widely varied. One alternative attachment arrangement would use screw threads which may be either complete or only partial.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A pallet comprising deck means on which a load may be supported during use, and spacer means defining a space for receiving lifting apparatus, the spacer means comprising releasable attachment means for attaching at least one element to the deck means whereby the element is detachable from the pallet and replaceable.

2. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the spacer means includes at least one element which extends downwardly from the deck means, in use, to define the said space below the deck means.

3. A pallet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the releasable attachment means comprise a socket and plug arrangement arranged to releasably retain the plug in the socket.

4. A pallet according to claim 3, wherein the socket and plug arrangement comprise at least one projection and a cooperating recess into which the projection enters when the plug enters the socket, the recess being so shaped as to retain the projection therein.

5. A pallet according to claim 4, wherein the socket and plug arrangement and the projection and recess form a bayonet connection between the plug and socket.

6. A pallet according to claim 4, wherein the socket and plug arrangement and the projection and recess form a screw thread connection between the plug and socket, the connection providing a full or partial thread.

7. A pallet according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the plug and socket have channels which come into alignment when the plug is installed in the socket.

8. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein a locking member can be inserted into the channels to prevent relative movement of the plug and socket.

9. A pallet according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the socket and plug arrangement is releasable by turning the plug relative to the socket.

10. A pallet according to any of claims 3 to 9, wherein the plug has a formation for cooperating with a tool for turning the plug relative to the socket.

11. A pallet according to claim 10, wherein the formation is accessible from above and/or below the deck means.

12. A pallet according to any preceding claim, wherein the pallet comprises a base member spaced below the deck means by the spacer means.

13. A pallet according to claim 12, wherein the spacer means and the base member are releasably attached by means of a socket and plug arrangement as set out in any of claims 3 to 11.

14. A pallet according to claim 13, wherein the base member comprises a lattice interconnecting the positions of the spacer means and providing means for attachment to the spacer means at each position.

15. A pallet according to any preceding claim, wherein the spacer means includes at least one pillar which is detachable.

16. A pallet according to claim 15, wherein the pillar and deck means cooperate to form a releasable connection therebetween.

17. A pallet according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the pallet comprises a plurality of pillars and sockets.

18. A pallet according to claim 15, 16 or 17 and any of claims 3 to 14, wherein the plug is provided by one end of the pillar and the socket is formed in the deck means.

19. A pallet according to claim 15, 16 or 17 and any of claims 3 to 14, wherein the plug is formed in the deck means and the socket is provided by one end of the pillar.

20. A pallet according to any preceding claim, manufactured from a synthetic plastic material or materials.

21. A pallet substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.