NZ286808A - Pallet with raised edge supports with engagement grooves surrounding a central support, for carrying drum(s) - Google Patents

Description

0$ §iU No. 286808 Date: 12 June 1996 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or Relating to Pallets" AVONDALE PALLET COMPANY LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 74 Patiki Road, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand, hereby declares the invention, for which it prays that a 10 patent may be granted to it, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 286808 This invention relates to pallets, in particular pallets which are used to transport or store containers. However, the invention is not limited to this particular application.

Containers such as drums are often used to store liquids which need to be provided in a robust, rigid container.

Pallets are a convenient method of transporting and storing bulk packaged goods, and are frequently used to transport and store drums. However, there is often difficulty in transporting drums on regular pallets as they tend to slide across the carrying surface of the pallet when the pallet is moved.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet which will at least go some way toward overcoming the foregoing disadvantages, or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a pallet for carrying at least one drum, the pallet including profiled grooves, profiled to support sides or edges of each drum adjacent to the pallet.

In a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a pallet for carrying at least one drum, the pallet including profiled edges profiled to support sides or edges of each drum adjacent to the pallet.

In a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of pallet construction.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

One preferred form of the invention and modifications thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: The invention consists of the forgoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pallet in accordance with the present invention; figure 2 is a front elevation of the pallet of figure 1; figure 3 is an end elevation of the pallet of figures 1 and 2; figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a further embodiment of a pallet in accordance with the present invention; and figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a still further embodiment of a pallet in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to figure 1, a pallet is shown generally referenced 1 having a carrying surface 2 and lead boards 4 which are provided on two opposite sides of the pallet.

Referring to figure 2, it can be seen that the pallet has a base surface 6 and vertical support members 8 which support the carrying surface 2 and lead boards 4 relative to the base surface 6. The support members 8 also provide gaps 10 therebetween for placement of forklift tines or the like for transporting the pallet.

Referring to figure 3, it can be seen that the carrying surface 2 comprises a central support member 12 and further supporting matei.jl 14. Central member 12 may comprise a standard timber member, for example, of a required strength, or may comprise a plastics material. The entire pallet may be constructed from a plastics material, for example by being moulded. Supporting material 14 may comprise board such as STRONG BOARD or particle board or plywood for example. Again, another material such as a plastics material may be used. It can be seen from figure 3 that the lead boards 4 are of a thicker material than the materials which form carrying surface 2.

Referring to figure 1, it can be seen that the lead boards 4 have been provided with profiled grooves 16. Thus in figure 5 areas 18 of the lead boards 4 are at the same height from the base surface 6 as areas 20 of the lead boards, but grooves 16 have been removed, for example by routing, to a depth which corresponds to the level of carrying surface 2. ^0O»O8 Drums commonly have a beaded edge or chine on upper and lower edges where the lid and base intersect with the sides. The chine is created during construction to join the lid or base and sides of the drum together.

It will be seen that in the construction shown in figure 5, part of the lower edge or chine of each drum is located in the grooves 16 which are preferably approximately eight to ten millimetres wide and six millimetres deep so that the edge of each drum is engaged in one of the grooves 16 so as to stop the drum sliding across the pallet. This construction provides the additional advantage that movement of drums against each other is reduced so that wear between adjacent drums is minimised. The pattern of drum location on the pallet is shown by dashed circles 22. In use, it is also helpful to strap the drums onto the pallet to prevent substantial vertical movement form dislodging the drums.

Turning to figure 4 in which a further embodiment is illustrated, it will be seen that larger pallets could be provided on which eight drums may be located. Similarly, a pallet for only four drums (not shown) may also be provided, as could a pallet for only two drums, or even a single drum.

Turning to figure 5, another alternative embodiment is shown from which it can be seen that the lead boards 4 have been profiled to provide profiled edges 16, the profile corresponding to parts of the lower sides or lower edges of three drums located side by side. The parts 18 of the lead boards 4 have been removed so that those parts are at substantially the same level as the carrying surface 2. Thus the remaining parts 20 of the lead boards 4 are at a slightly raised height above the height of the carrying surface 2. The profiled edges 16 prevent the lower edges or sides of drums placed on the pallet, in a pattern shown by dashed circles 22, from sliding off the sides of the pallet. Furthermore, it will be seen that when six drums are provided on the pallet, the drums themselves prevent movement toward the centre of the pallet. Thus the arrangement prevents drums from sliding off the pallet. In use, it is also helpful to strap the drums onto the pallet to prevent any vertical movement from dislodging the drums.

It will be seen that the pallet can be manufactured by laminating materials together so that the lead boards 4 can comprise sheet materials such as plywood or particle board provided with the desired profiled groove or cut and these materials can simply be laminated onto the sides of the pallet. Alternatively, the lead boards may be routed to provide the desired shape. Furthermore, a pallet in accordance with the invention may be manufactured from a mouldable material such as a plastics material by a moulding or casting process.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention overcomes the problem of drums sliding off pallets by supporting the lower edges or sides of the drums and provides the advantage of ease of construction at minimal cost. It will be seen that existing pallets could also be easily modified to carry drums in accordance with the present invention by adding lead boards having grooves or cuts of the desired profile. Furthermore, a single central board, such as board 12 could be raised and provided with appropriate grooves to locate and support the drums.

Claims (7)

9 WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 0

1. A pallet for carrying at least one drum having a chine at a lower edge thereof, the pallet having a central support surface provided between at least two edge support 5 surfaces provided on opposing sides of the pallet, each edge support surface being slightly raised relative to the central surface and having an engagement groove therein for engagement with a part of the chine of the at least one drum.

2. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 wherein each edge support surface comprises a 10 surface of a leading board of the pallet.

3. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one engagement groove comprises a semi-circular groove machined into the edge support surface. 15

4. A pallet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each engagement groove has a base which is at substantially the same level as the central support surface of the pallet.

5. A pallet substantially as herein described. 20

6. A pallet substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of pallet construction substantially as herein described with reference 25 to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. by the authorised agent / KNOWLES & ASSOCIATES 6