KR20120042984A - Pallet that can be assembled with sliding boards and a locking spine member - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet includes a plurality of side rails each including an upper and lower runners; A plurality of boards each configured to extend between one runner of the two runners; A spine member extending parallel to the rails and including a top and bottom spine runners; Each board including a spine coupling configured for sliding engagement with a spine runner; And a locking member configured to prevent sliding disengagement of the boards from the spine runner when locked.

Description

PALLET THAT CAN BE ASSEMBLED WITH SLIDING BOARDS AND A LOCKING SPINE MEMBER}

The present invention relates to a pallet and a method for assembling the pallet. Pallets according to the invention, although not exclusively, are in particular of the kind used for the transport and storage of large objects, for example for transport using fork-lift trucks, trains, cranes or jacks. The pallet according to the invention can also be used to provide a supporting surface for a display, for example a signboard or a poster.

Conventional pallets include lower deck boards for ground or floor joining, which may extend in a first direction of the pallet, eg transversely; Stringers or blocks mounted on the lower deck boards and extending in a second direction of the pallet, eg, in a longitudinal direction, to connect the deck boards; And upper deck boards mounted on the stringers or blocks and configured to support loads in use. The upper deck boards typically extend parallel to the lower deck boards. The openings between the upper and lower deck boards are configured to receive the sharp branches of ropes or forklifts or other lifting devices that can be attached to a crane or crane.

Conventional pallets are made from wooden joists and planks. Wooden pallets are difficult and uneconomical to repair and are usually broken if damaged in use. These pallets are also huge and difficult to transport. Nails used to secure the boards may be a safety barrier to the pallet handler or may damage the packaging of the goods being transported.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable pallet that can be assembled from modular or replaceable components and can be dismantled for transport, storage or replacement of damaged components without the use of nails.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the pallet

A plurality of side rails each including an upper and lower runner;

A plurality of boards each configured to extend between runners of two rails of the plurality of rails;

At least one spine member extending parallel to said rails, said at least one spine member comprising a top and bottom spine runners, respectively;

Each board including a spine coupling configured for sliding engagement with a spine runner; And

A locking member configured to prevent sliding disengagement of the boards from the spine runner when locked;

Each board has two ends, at which ends a joining portion is formed;

Each rail has a plurality of sockets, each socket configured to obtain and engage a coupling portion of each board;

The board is disengaged from the rail, and the board further includes an unlocked position where the board can be inserted into or removed from the socket and the board is engaged with the rail to remove it from the socket. Can be moved in parallel with respect to the rails between the locked positions.

The present invention provides a pallet that can be assembled in combination with side rails by inserting the ends of each board using respective sockets and sliding each board in a direction parallel to the rails. The spine member may then be slidably coupled with the boards to form a rigid pallet that can support the load in use. Pallets can also be dismantled for transport, storage or repair. Reduced volume is required for the transportation of dismantled pallet components. If necessary, service inspection and repair of the dismantled product is easy. Different components of the pallet can be made of different materials to more efficiently meet their different structural and load carrying requirements. This allows for flexibility in supply chain management and product life cycle management. One or more components, preferably the final locking member, may comprise a recognition device, such as a radio frequency identification device (RFID) disc or label, such that the pallet has an ID recorded from the date of manufacture. Physical locations can also be recorded and tracked with service records using GPRS logistics.

Locking or unlocking by movement of boards parallel to the rails in the longitudinal direction with respect to the rails and the spine member means that the components in the pallet cannot be disengaged by the transverse movement perpendicular to the rails during use. Has an advantage. In addition, the prevention of sliding movement of the boards along the spine member by means of the locking means provides a simple and reliable procedure for assembling and dismantling the pallet by placing the rails in place and then adding and removing the remaining components. This avoids the use of both longitudinal movement and transverse movement during assembly.

In a preferred embodiment where each board has tongues at each end, these tongues extend the pallet laterally towards the sockets at each rail; Each tongue is configured to engage with complementary formations of the rail as the board slides from the unlocked position to the locked position and defines an abutment extending parallel to the rails. It includes a formation.

The formation preferably extends towards the socket and is sized to receive a rib that is integral with the rail and also includes a slot extending parallel to the rails.

Alternatively, the formation may comprise one rib or series of protrusions arranged to be received in a slot in the rail.

Each board may have a protruding tongue or rib configured to be slidably obtained and coupled within a channel. Each side rail may comprise a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly and sockets positioned between adjacent protrusions, each socket configured to receive a board inserted between the rails and further comprising a board inserted into the socket. In this case, it is slidably moved in a direction parallel to the rail into the channel and configured to couple the board and the rail.

The board may have a longitudinal slot which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pallet and is configured to engage the edge of each runner, parallel to the rails. This configuration conveniently locks the board and rail together and prevents the transverse or transverse movement of the rails and the boards.

In a preferred embodiment, the slots or other formations of the boards extend parallel to the rail in the outward direction from the center of the rail toward the front or rear end of the rail in use. In these embodiments, the boards can be inserted into the socket and slidably moved outward into their locked positions.

Each tongue is preferably obtained by sliding movement into the channel of the rail. This serves to facilitate the joining of the board and rails, preventing twisting in use.

The pallet according to the invention has the advantage that the rails and the spine member can be formed from hollow box or tubular zones so that the rails and the spine member have an opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the pallet. Adjacent pallets can then be secured end to end together using ropes or chains to form an elongate structure. This structure can be used as a bridge to allow passage over flooded or muddy or unstable terrain. In a preferred embodiment, the pallets are composed of reinforced composite material, for example wood reinforced polymer composite. These pallets are buoyant and can act as safety floats or can be joined together to form pontoons or pontoons during flooding or heavy rain.

Pallets according to the invention find use as a support surface for displays such as signs, posters, display light boxes, flooring materials, partitions, bed frames, table tops or benches.

The pallet according to the invention has the further advantage that it can be assembled without the use of nails, screws, clips or other fixtures, thereby avoiding the need to maintain and transport the required number of such fixtures.

Pallets can be made from extruded polymeric materials such as polypropylene or other engineering thermoplastics, or from aluminum or other extrudable metals. The use of wood-plastic composites is particularly preferred. Such materials may contain bagwood and wood products. The use of recycled waste wood is particularly desirable in order to minimize environmental damage.

In a preferred embodiment, each spine runner comprises a pair of ribs extending longitudinally, wherein the ribs define a channel between the ribs, the channels and ribs complementing the complementary formation of the spine coupling portion of the board. It is configured to hold together.

In an alternative embodiment, the spine has a longitudinal axis and axially extending spine runners of the spine, wherein the at least one locking member is axially rotatable about the axis,

The locking member comprises a spine runner portion,

The locking members are in an unlocked position where the spine runner portion is aligned with the spine runner to form a continuous runner and the locking member interferes with the spine rubber so that the board cannot be disengaged from the runner in a sliding manner. It is movable from the position which was made.

Each rotatable locking member may comprise a single longitudinal rib that is configured to align with one of the pairs of ribs of the spine runner in the unlocked position. In a preferred embodiment, the locking member comprises two single ribs positioned in oppositely opposed relations to opposite sides of the member. This arrangement allows the locking member to be disengaged from the board by a single rotational movement but still allow insertion or removal of the board from engagement with the spine.

Preferably, the spine and locking members have an axial hole in which a shaft is obtained to support the locking member during rotation relative to the spine. In a first preferred embodiment, the shaft can be removed from the spine while not in use. In alternative embodiments, the shaft may be permanently located in the hole to reinforce the spine and the rotatable locking members.

Transverse openings, lugs, sockets or other engagement structures may be provided on the locking member to obtain a bar or tool to facilitate rotation of the member in use. For example, the opening may be configured to obtain a blade of a screwdriver.

In a first preferred embodiment, the side rails have abutments at their ends. These serve to prevent the board from sliding the ends of the rails in use.

In a preferred embodiment, two locking members are provided between two spine members. These locking members can be located in the center of the spine member and in the center of the pallet to define a socket or recess into which the board can be inserted when the locking members are in the unlocked position. The insertion of the board then makes it possible to slide longitudinally on the spine and into engagement with the side rails.

In a preferred embodiment, the side rails may comprise a box zone extrusion with the upper and lower runners facing inwardly of the pallet, each runner extending along each zone with one channel having a rebate between adjacent channels, A rebate includes an array of dimensions dimensioned to form a socket to obtain and engage the end of each board.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boards are configured to slidably engage the spine runner from its first end, and the locking means is configured to secure at least one board slidably coupled on the first end of the spine. It is.

Preferably, the locking means comprise bolts available in openings in the final board and in the spine. The bolt may be secured by one or more nuts. This provides a simple and robust means of locking the pallet assembly. Alternatively, screw or spring clip equipment may be used. In addition, the locking means may comprise a radio frequency identification device (RFID) or a label which enables the identification and tracking of the pallet.

The spine member may comprise two or more zones configured to be positioned end to end along the axis of the pallet.

The boards can be separated by spacer zones having a relatively narrow width, each spacer zone being located between pairs of adjacent boards and having a slated upper and / or lower deck shape. configuration.

The invention is further illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which is not in any limiting sense.

1 is a perspective view of a pallet according to the present invention;
2 is a plan elevational sectional view of another pallet;
3 to 8 are perspective views showing the assembly of the pallet as shown in FIG. 1;
9 is a cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a view along the cross section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9;
11 through 18 show additional cross sectional and elevation views corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 10;
19 is a detailed view of the locking arrangement;
20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the locking arrangement and engagement of the spine and board member;
21-23 illustrate a board member of a pallet;
24-27 illustrate further embodiments of the present invention;
28 illustrates a spine member of a further embodiment of the present invention;
29 illustrates an alternative locking arrangement.

In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements in each of the drawings.

The pallet shown in FIG. 1 comprises a pair of side rails or stringers 1, 2 extending in the longitudinal direction, and an array of upper deck boards extends between the side rails. The upper deck board has a first board 3 and a second board 4 arranged alternately.

The two spine members 6 extend in the axial longitudinal direction of the pallet as described below. The spine member 6 has an axial hole 7 which provides a continuous channel from the front to the back of the pallet.

An array of lower deck boards 10, similar to the upper deck boards, is configured to engage the ground or bottom surface in use.

2 includes a plan view, a side cross-sectional elevation, a cross sectional view, and a detailed view of that cross section for R-R.

Each side rail 1, 2 is generally box-shaped including a lower portion 20 for ground engagement, an upper load bearing portion 21, an outer skin 22 and an inner skin 23. Extrusion structure. The inner surface includes an upper runner 24 and a lower runner 25 extending in the longitudinal direction of the pallet. These runners face the inside of the pallet when in use. Each runner includes a channel 26 configured to obtain and engage a correspondingly shaped protruding tongue or rib of the board when the pallet is assembled.

The channels 26 are each defined by parallel protrusions 27 extending inwardly from the top and bottom surfaces 20 of the side rails. Rectangular or other shaped rebates or sockets 28 are located between each projection 27. These rebates or sockets 28 are sized to receive the end of the board during assembly of the pallet.

3 shows a perspective view of two spine members 6 with a lower board 10 attached thereto. A pair of central spine members 30 support a pair of upwardly extending parallel ribs 31, 32 that define a channel 33 between the ribs 31, 32. The corresponding pair of lower ribs 34, 38 are installed on the lower surface of the spine. Channel 33 has a narrow inlet and a wide interior as shown in FIG. 20, so that correspondingly shaped protrusions extending from the board can be inserted into the channel by sliding longitudinally. The board is supported and held stationary against any torsional movement. Alternatively, the outer lateral face of the ribs may be wider at the end away from the spine to join the board in use.

During assembly of the pallet, the board 10 and the spacer 4 slide into engagement on the lower ribs 34, 38 of the spine to form two subassemblies.

4 shows the next step of assembly in which the upper board 3 is slidably inserted on the upper ribs 31, 32 of the spine. The slots 40 are arranged to extend parallel to the spine outwards towards the front or rear from the center of the pallet as shown in FIG. 4.

5 shows the next step of assembly in which the spacer boards 4 are inserted adjacent to the top boards 3. The upper boards 3 have tongues 41 extending outwardly to engage in the channels of the rails.

In FIG. 6 additional boards 3 are inserted on the spines to complete the subassemblies of the pallet.

In FIG. 7, side rails are inserted on the ends of the subassemblies such that tongues of the board are available in the socket 28. The subassemblies are firmly joined by sliding them outwards towards the ends of the rail to produce an assembled structure as shown in FIG. 8. Upper and lower boards are locked into engagement with the rails to form a rigid structure. A continuous path extends the length of the pallet through the rails and spine members so that ropes, cords or chains can be used to join two or more pallets together in flood or other natural disasters.

Structures and assemblies of further embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the side rails 50 have a generally box-shaped structure. The inner surface of each side rail has upper and lower runners extending in the longitudinal direction of the pallet. Each runner includes channels formed by parallel protrusions 53, 54 configured to receive correspondingly shaped tongues or other protrusions of the board 51 when the pallet is assembled. The channels 52 are each defined by protrusions 55 extending inwardly from the top and bottom surfaces of the side rails. Rectangular rebates 56 are located between each protrusion 55. The rebates or sockets 56 are dimensioned to receive the board 51 during assembly of the pallet. During assembly, the board 51 is positioned in the spacer and then inserted by sliding into engagement with the spine 57. Spacer 58 is inserted into the sliding engagement with the spine between each board 51. In this way, a slate attached structure is provided.

The spine 57 includes two parts 59, 60 which collectively have a length shorter than the length of the pallet. During the assembly of the pallet, each spine portion is assembled into a top and bottom pair of two boards 51 to form an H-shaped subunit as shown in FIGS. This subunit is inserted into the side rail 50 and then the sub unit is slid outwards to engage the board 51 into the socket in the side rail as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. This leaves a central opening between the two spine members. To complete the assembly, one of the spine members 60 is pushed along a channel formed by the board to contact the second spine member to form a continuous spine. A locking spine member 61 comprising a short spine portion with fastening means, such as a socket for bold at one end, is then inserted into a channel and socket previously occupied by the first spine member to complete the spine unit. Finally, one or more bolts 62 are positioned in the opening 64 to secure the final board 63 to the spine member 61 as shown in FIG. 18.

20 is an enlarged view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. This shows the spine 6 having ribs 31 and 34 of parallel upper and lower pairs which are obtained in the sockets in the upper and lower boards 4 and 10 and are fixed by bolts 62.

21 includes a plan view and an elevation view of an end board according to an embodiment of the invention. Board 117 includes an axial socket 118 extending across the width of the board. The socket has an inlet narrower than the substrate to slidably obtain and engage the runner 112 of the spine member in use. The slot 119 in the end protrusion 120 allows engagement of the side rails with the protrusion 108 in use. The axial opening of the center slot 118 faces in the opposite direction to the axially extending openings of the two slots 119. The end of the board 120 has a tongue 121 configured to be available in the socket of the side rail in use.

FIG. 22 includes a top, bottom, and cross-sectional view of the top and bottom of an alternative end board 122 for insertion on the spine to complete the assembly of the pallet. The board includes an axial slot 123 that defines a socket for ingestion on the spine runner. The socket extends partially across the board including the abutment 127 to prevent sliding of the spine from the hinge 125 at the end of the board. Slots 124 are located adjacent the ends of the board to allow engagement with the side rails as already described. Opening 126 is configured to obtain a bolt (not shown) to secure the board to the spine member.

FIG. 23 shows a board member 128 having tongues 131 with slots 130 extending perpendicular to the board, parallel to the rail, with the end of the pallet facing outwards in use. The channel 129 extends across the width of the board 128, allowing the board to slidably engage on the runner of the spine member as shown in FIG. 20.

24 to 28 illustrate further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a first stage of assembly of one embodiment in which the lower board 200 is obtained on the lower spine runners of the spine portions 201, 202. Locking spine portion 203 with opening 204 for receiving the bolt is coupled to the end board. As in the embodiments already described above, the spine members 201, 202, 203 provide a continuous spine runner 205 comprising up and down pairs of ribs 206, 207.

Protective spacers 208, 209 are inserted on the lower spine runner between the boards 200. The protective spacers provide a smooth surface for supporting the load, which is generally coplanar with the lower ground engaging surface of the boards 200. In this way, damage to the spine runner and clogging of dust are avoided.

In FIG. 25, the top boards 210 are inserted on the top spine runners 206, 207, which top boards 210 extend parallel to the spine members as described with reference to the previous embodiment. It has tongue 214 with slot 213 open outward. Spacer board 212 without slot 213 is located between the pair of boards 210. End board 219 may have a blind slot 213 as shown in FIG. 22 to obtain and engage the end of the spine member.

26 is a view from below the assembled pallet. In FIG. 26, the rails 215, 216, the lower end board 218 and the protective spacers 208, 209, 217 form a continuous planar ground engagement surface for the pallet.

FIG. 27 illustrates an alternative split board with two half portions 220, 221 having a central portion 222, 223 for interlocking with a hook-shaped end 224 for engaging on spine runners. The locking sleeve 225 is inserted into the spine to hold half of it in place after assembly.

The use of divided boards is advantageous in facilitating the final stage of assembly of the pallet. The half board portion can be inserted into a central space that is held between two H-shaped top board arrays after the boards slide outward into their locked position on the rail. In alternative embodiments and modes of assembly, the use of divided boards is not necessary.

Figure 28 shows an alternative locking member according to the invention. The central portion of spine 300 includes a rotatable locking portion 301. The locking portion can be mounted on the shaft or bearing to facilitate axial rotation of the shaft while maintaining a continuous axial cavity 302 through which a rope or other fixture can pass in use. . Spine member 300 extends upwardly with a pair of parallel downwardly extending ribs 304 defining channels 305 and 306 between each pair of ribs as described with reference to the previous embodiment. Supports a pair of parallel ribs 303. The locking member 301 has a single upwardly extending rib or protrusion 306 with a downwardly facing protrusion 307 opposite the single opposite. These are ribs (1) where they are aligned parallel to the upper and lower ribs (303, 304) to form a continuous surface on which the board can slide during assembly or disassembly of the pallet, or ribs to prevent movement of the board along the spine. 306, 307 may be twisted from the second locked position where it is vertical.

Rotation of the locking member may be accomplished by inserting a screwdriver or other elongate tool into the opening 308 to allow the locking member to twist between the locked and unlocked positions.

29 shows an alternative locking arrangement in which spring clips are used to secure the end board to the spine member. Any convenient arrangement of spring clips can be used to secure the board to the spine but allows the board to be released if the pallet is disassembled. In this embodiment, the clip has flanges extending in opposite directions on the ends to cooperate with complementary formations at the bottom of the board and on the ends of the spine.

Claims (12)

A plurality of side rails 2 each comprising an upper runner 24 and a lower runner 25;
A plurality of boards 13 each configured to extend between runners of two rails of the plurality of rails;
One or more spine members 16 extending parallel to the rails and including upper and lower spine runners 31 and 32, respectively;
Each board including a spine coupling portion 29 configured for sliding engagement with a spine runner; And
A locking member 57 configured to prevent sliding disengagement of the boards from the spine runner when locked,
Each board has two ends, at which ends an engaging portion 26 is formed;
Each rail has a plurality of sockets 28, each socket being configured to obtain and engage a joining portion of each board;
The board is disengaged from the rail, and the board further includes an unlocked position where the board can be inserted into or removed from the socket and the board is engaged with the rail to remove it from the socket. Pallet can be moved parallel to the rails between the locked positions. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the side rails comprise box sections with upper and lower runners facing inwardly of the pallet, each runner channel along each section having a rebate between adjacent sections. ) An array of zones extending, wherein the rebate is dimensioned to obtain and engage the board. 3. The pallet of claim 2 wherein the board has a projecting tongue configured to be slidably obtained and coupled within the channel. 4. The side rail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side rails include sockets positioned between a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly and adjacent protrusions, each socket having a board inserted between the rails. And a board configured to be available and to be slidably moved into the channel when the board is inserted into the socket to engage the board and the rail. The board of claim 1, wherein each board has tongues at each end, the tongues extending transversely to the sockets in the respective rails towards the sockets; Each tongue is configured to engage with complementary formations of the rail as the board slides from the unlocked position to the locked position and defines an abutment extending parallel to the rails. Pallet comprising a formation. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said forming portion is sized to receive a rib that extends toward said sockets and is integral with said rail and further includes a slot extending parallel to said rails. In pallet. 8. The pallet of claim 6 wherein the rib is a denying parallel side of the box section of the rail. 8. The spinner of claim 1, wherein each spine runner comprises a pair of longitudinally extending ribs, the ribs defining a channel between the ribs, the channel and the ribs being the board. A pallet configured to engage and maintain a complementary formation of the spine coupling portion of the. 9. The board of claim 1, wherein the boards are configured to slidably engage the spine runner from a first end, and the locking means is slidably coupled on the first end of the spine. 10. A pallet configured to secure at least one board. 10. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the spine member comprises two or more zones positioned next to one another in the axial direction of the pallet. 11. The board according to claim 1, wherein the boards are separated by spacer zones, each spacer zone being positioned between pairs of adjacent boards and having a slat attached upper and / or lower deck form ( A pallet that provides slatted upper and / or lower deck configuration. The spine of claim 11, wherein the spine has a longitudinal axis, the spine runners extend in the axial direction of the spine, and at least one of the locking members is rotatable about the axis;
The at least one locking member comprises a spine runner portion,
The at least one locking member is in an unlocked position where the spine runner portion is aligned with the spine runner to form a continuous runner and the locking member interferes with the spine rubber so that the board cannot be disengaged from the runner in a sliding manner. A pallet that is movable from a locked position.

Images