MXPA04006424A

MXPA04006424A - Pallet support unit.

Info

Publication number: MXPA04006424A
Application number: MXPA04006424A
Authority: MX
Inventors: P Hassell Jon
Original assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co
Priority date: 2003-07-01
Filing date: 2004-06-29
Publication date: 2005-03-31
Also published as: CA2471697A1; US20050000395A1

Abstract

A pallet support unit includes a plurality of legs extending outwardly at an angle from a load-bearing upper surface to a floor-contacting lower surface. An opening is defined between each adjacent pair of legs both receiving a forklift. Each leg is formed of multiple angled sections to improve the strength of the leg and resistance to impact from the forklift.

Description

TARIMA SUPPORT UNIT Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to pallets and more particularly to a pallet support unit. Background of the Invention Pallets are used to store and transport items. The pallets keep the items at a distance above the floor so that they can be lifted and moved easily by a load elevator. After the items are unloaded, empty pallets are typically returned to the first site for reuse. Plastic pallets are usually lighter than wooden pallets and some plastic pallets are designed so that they can fit together, so that each pallet will fit at least partially into another empty pallet, to minimize the space required for the storage and transport of empty pallets. However, a significant amount of space and effort is still needed to store, return and reuse pallets. The use of multiple plastic supports has been proposed. The disposable plastic holder includes a top surface to carry the load and a surface Ref. 156921 lower for contact with the floor. A plurality of sections extend at an angle outwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface and may include openings for receiving a load elevator between pairs of adjacent sections. A plurality of similar or identical supports are then arranged to support the articles at a distance above the floor. These supports can be formed economically enough so that they can be used once to transport the articles from their origin to their destination and then, instead of returning them, they can be recycled. However, the stretches of such supports can not be strong enough to withstand the impact of a load elevator. Therefore, a pallet support unit with stretches with improved impact resistance is desirable. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides a pallet support unit comprising a plastic support with improved strength of the section, and with impact resistance. The pallet support unit according to the present invention includes sections, each of which comprises a multiple angled reinforcement to improve the impact resistance. In a preferred embodiment, each span includes a plurality of 90 degree angles oriented in alignment with each opening between each adjacent pair of spans. Each section may include three angles of 90 degrees forming a generally "W-shaped" cross section. The section may further include edges projecting outwardly from the external surfaces to limit the interconnectedness of the stacked supports when not in use. In another embodiment, a plurality of supports are joined by a plurality of connectors extending therebetween, integrally molded as a single structure. The turned openings of the adjacent supports are connected by a pair of side connector walls each formed continuously with a section of a section. An upper connecting wall connects the pair of side connector walls. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in relation to the appended figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pallet support unit according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the support units shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a second embodiment of the pallet support unit according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a partial section of an alternative modality of the assembly 50 shown in Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a pallet support unit 10 that supports a load 12 of article layers 13. The stand 10 of the stage includes a plurality of supports 14 spaced apart, generally distributed in a matrix of two by two. All supports 14 are substantially similar, and can be injection molded of high density polyethylene, or other plastic materials suitable for the application. Figure 2 shows one of the support units 14, which has a generally flat upper element 16 having an upper surface 18 which defines a surface for carrying the load. A section 20 extends downwardly or at an angle of approximately 115 degrees outward from each corner of the upper element 16. The lower ends 22 of the sections 20 are connected by a lower element 24, which is a peripheral projection 24 which is extends around the periphery of the support 14 which provides force to the sections 20 preventing them from bending or flexing outwards and also allowing the load to be transferred to the surface below. In one embodiment, defined between each adjacent pair of sections 20, and between the projection 24 and the upper element 16, an opening 26 can be provided to receive the tip of the load elevator.

In the support 14 according to the present invention, each section 20 includes a plurality of cross wall sections 30a-d. In the preferred embodiment, each of the wall sections 30a-d extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly with respect to each section 30a-d of the adjacent wall. To provide increased resistance to the impact of the tip of a load elevator, the outer wall sections 30a and 30d, which are adjacent to the openings 26, are oriented in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the opening 26 (ie the plane defined substantially by the outer edges of the upper element 16, the sections 30d, 30 a1 of the wall, and the inner edge of the peripheral projection 24). Each section 20 further includes an inner wall section 30b, 30c, adjacent to and perpendicular to the sections 30a, 30d of the outer wall, respectively, and perpendicular to each other. The result is generally a "W-shaped" cross-section for each section 20. At a lower end of each section 30b, 30c of the inner wall, a vertical edge 36 extending outwardly prevents the supports 14 from engaging one within the other too tightly when they are stacked between uses. In use, the supports 14 are distributed in an arrangement spaced above the floor with the openings 26 of the supports 14 to be unloaded to receive the tips of the load elevator. The articles 13 are then stacked on the supports 14 in an arrangement that will depend on the relative size, weight or density of the articles 13 and the supports, and on the number of articles 13 that will be stacked thereon. An arrangement is illustrated in Figure 1. In some cases, a cardboard sheet or other type of sliding sheet may be included between the support units 14 and the lower layer of articles 13 for increased stability and support. In some cases, it may be desirable to wrap the articles 13 together in plastic or other packaging, or even to wrap or otherwise secure the support units 14 to the load 12 of the articles 13. The article loading 13 can then be transported to its destination on the support units 14, such as by a load elevator. In the event of an impact by the tip of the load elevator with one of the legs 20, the outer wall section 30a or 30d will provide increased strength, impact resistance, and will help prevent the collapse of the support unit 14 . In the destination, the article load 13 is unloaded and / or sold and the support units 14 can be stored by fitting them together, each one inside the other. In this way the unused supports 14 occupy a minimum amount of space. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second modality of a pallet assembly 50 according to the present invention. In this pallet assembly 50, the four supports 14 are integrally molded as a unitary, single structure, in a related manner, and with the connectors 52. Each connector 52 includes a pair of connecting side walls 54, 56 extending from and continuously with the sections 30d, 30a of the outer wall that are adjacent to the openings 26 (not visible in Figure 3) flipped to each other from the adjacent supports 14. Each connector 52 further includes an upper connector wall 58 connecting the two connecting side walls 54, 56 and continuous and coplanar with the upper elements 16 of the supports 14. The upper connector wall 58 may include small openings 60 for drainage, ventilation and to reduce the weight and material of the assembly 50. The peripheral projection 24 extends outwardly from the external connector side wall 54. Figure 4 is a partial section of an alternative embodiment of the assembly 50 shown in Figure 3., wherein the like components are designated with like reference numbers having a virgulilla superscript ('). As shown therein, the support assembly 50 'of the pallet includes the support units 14 1 of the pallet having a generally cylindrical cross section instead of the rectangular design of the previous embodiment, such as those described in the Publication of the US Patent Application No. 2003 / 0047121A1, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. The units 14 'include an upper section 16', a lower projection 24 ', and have sections 20' extending therebetween. As in Figure 3, connectors 52 'extend between laterally adjacent units 141 to form assembly 50'. The sections 20 'can be corrugated in such a way that they act as springs to help absorb the shocks or the load placed on the unit, up to a degree which depends on the material chosen, the number of corrugations, and the number, size and spacing of the sections 201. The tips of the load elevator can be received by the openings 26 'defined between the sections 20'. Further, the lower end 55 'of the side wall 54' can be raised upwardly such that a tip of the load elevator could be received under the side wall. Although the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not proposed that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Instead, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as an antecedent, the content of the following claims is claimed as property. A support, characterized in that it comprises: an upper element that includes an upper surface to carry the load; an inferior element of contact with the floor; and a plurality of sections extending from the upper element to the lower element and defining between each adjacent pair of sections an opening for receiving a tip of a load elevator, each opening generally defining a plane, each section including a section of wall adjacent to one of the openings, the wall section substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the adjacent opening. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower element includes a peripheral projection connecting a lower end of each of the plurality of sections to each other. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall section is one of the outer wall sections, each section includes two sections of the outer wall, each substantially perpendicular to an adjacent opening. 4. The support according to claim 3, characterized in that the wall section further includes at least two internal wall sections, each substantially perpendicular to an adjacent one of the two outer wall sections. A pallet assembly, characterized in that it includes a plurality of supports according to claim 1, arranged to support a single load, the upper elements of the plurality of supports generally distributed in a single plane. The pallet assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the plurality of supports are spaced apart. The pallet assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that each adjacent pair of the plurality of supports is connected by at least one connecting side wall. The pallet assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one connecting side wall includes at least two connecting side walls, each connecting side wall extends continuously from the wall section in one of the plurality of supports up to the section of the wall in a manner adjacent to each other, of the plurality of supports. 9. A support, characterized in that it comprises: an upper element that includes the upper surface to carry the load; an inferior element of contact with the floor; and a plurality of sections extending from the upper element to the lower element and defining between each adjacent pair of sections an opening for receiving a tip of a load elevator, each section includes at least three connected wall sections, at least substantially perpendicular. The support according to claim 9, characterized in that at least three sections of the wall include at least four sections of the wall, each section of the wall being substantially perpendicular to some immediately adjacent sections of at least four sections of the wall.