WO2000018651A2

WO2000018651A2 - Pallet with means for facilitating the removal of the load

Info

Publication number: WO2000018651A2
Application number: PCT/ZA1999/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pieter Jacobus Grobler
Original assignee: Pieter Jacobus Grobler
Priority date: 1998-09-30
Filing date: 1999-09-30
Publication date: 2000-04-06
Also published as: AU1526600A; WO2000018651A3

Abstract

A pallet (10) comprises a load supporting surface (12) and a base (14). The load supporting surface comprises a number of parallel support beams (18) separated by tapered channels (16) which permit access by the tines of a lifting member to facilitate lifting of a load off the pallet with the pallet remaining behind. A mat (40) for releasably engaging the load supporting surface may also be provided in which case the lifting element engages the underside of the mat to lift the load.

Description

PALLET FOR TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a pallet for transportation of goods and in a particular form, a pallet for use with a complimentally designed forklift tine configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional pallet comprises a load supporting surface supported on a frame, with the frame having open sides for accessibility of the tines of a forklift.

Applicant has identified difficulties experienced with the known load conveyancing systems with particular reference to those commonly referred to a "palletized" conveying systems. The difficulty experienced with the "palletized" conveyancing systems is that the load which the so-called "pallets" supports, are conveyed on the particular pallet, for example on to a transportation vehicle. The need for the pallets to be conveyed with the load is a difficulty in that the pallets, which are often not the property of the owner of the load, need to be transported therewith and more often than not become waylaid thus resulting in a loss thereof. It will be appreciated that the loss of pallets in aforementioned way is undesirable as in most instances, the pallets are hired by a party to be utilised in the conveyance of loads such as fresh produce or the like. These costs must then be recovered out of profits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a load conveyancing system which will at least alleviate some of the disadvantages experienced by utilisation of the known systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a pallet comprises a load supporting surface and a base member, the load supporting surface including a plurality of spaces adapted to be accessible to a matched lifting member for removing load from the pallet and or locating a load on the pallet.

In the preferred form of the invention the load supporting surface comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats mounted on the base member. Also in the preferred form, the number of spaces coincides with the number of tines of the lifting member. In one form, the lifting member may comprise an attachment for a conventional forklift.

In one form of the invention, the pallet may comprise aluminium, wood or even a reinforced cardboard material and the b-)se may resemble that of a conventional pallet. In the preferred form however, the pallet comprises a moulded plastics material In this form the load supporting surface is integral with the base and may comprise four parallel support beams separated by tapered channels, the support beams being themselves supported by the base comprising a grid of channels having feet at the interstices thereof.

It has come to the Applicant's attention that the pallet described above may require the goods to be conveyed to be bundled to a certain degree in order to prevent them falling off the pallet.

In order to alleviate this requirement as far as possible, the Applicant proposes a modification of the invention comprising a sheet member adapted to releasably engage the supporting surface of the pallet.

In the preferred form of the invention the sheet member comprises a mat of plastics material, the mat including a pattern of apertures therein to facilitate drainage and to reduce the mass and consequently, the production cost of the mat. The underside of the mat may include feet or the like formations for engaging the supporting surface of the pallet.

The use of the mat permits an unbundled or partially bundled load to be lifted and conveyed with the weight of the load being evenly distributed over the surface of the mat rather than being concentrated on the tines of the lifting member. In the preferred form, the mat and the pallet comprises a nylon reinforced with glass fibre.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of loaded pallet, and lifting member according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the pallet of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the pallet of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a mat;

And

Figure 6 is a similar view of a mat located on a pallet.

DESCRIPTION OF MODES OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, a pallet (generally referenced 10) comprises a load supporting surface

12 and a base 14. The load supporting surface compirse a plurality of spaced apart slats 18 separated by spaces 16.

The base 14 is defined by nine similar chock blocks 20 equidistantly spaced apart and symmetrically arranged so that the combination will serve to support slats 18 in a raised relationship relative to a supporting surface (not shown). Such as a floor.

Three similar, elongate intermediate members 22 are interposed between members 18 and chocks 20 to lie transverse to the former at their respective ends and middles and to which 18 and 20 are secured to form the base.

The operative inner ends of members 18 are truncated to define convergent openings to slots 16 the purpose of which will become more apparent hereinbelow. Chocks 20 are so spaced apart that openings will be defined between the respective blocks that are similarly dimensioned to those found with conventional pallets so that object 12 may be thereby manipulated by conventional "forklifts" or the like.

In one form, the complimental or matching lifting mechanism 24 is provided which 5 comprises four similar tines 26 matched with spaces 16 and adapted to be fitted to a conventional forklift mechanism (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the load (indicated in dotted lines) supported by surface 14 in use will be capable of being manipulated by means of mechanism 24 by causing tines 26 to be inserted in slots 16 and lifting the latter to so lift the load so that it may be " _Q conveyed thereby as desired.

It will still even further be appreciated that the pallet is not moved together with the load thus allowing it to remain at it's location thereby obviating the need for it to be conveyed therewith.

Turning now to Figures 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment of the invention is now 15 described.

In this form, the pallet 10 comprises a moulded product of glass fibre reinforced nylon. The load supporting surface 12 is integral with the base 14 and comprises four parallel support beams 18 separated by tapered channels 16.

The base comprises a grid of tapered channels 30 having feet 32 at the interstices 20 of the channels.

The support beams 18 may include slots 34 designed to reduce the mass of the pallet and hence keep manufacturing costs to a minimum.

In a modification or improvement of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 a mat 40 is provided which is locatable on the pallet 10 (Figure 6). The mat also comprises a glass fibre-reinforced nylon material and takes the form of a thick sheet of the material moulded to include holes 42 which serve to facilitate drainage and again to reduce cost of manufacture.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pallet characterised in that it comprises a load supporting surface and a base member, the load supporting surface including a plurality of spaces adapted to be accessible to a matched lifting member for removing load from the pallet and'or locating a load on the pallet.

2. A pallet according to claim 1 characterised in that the load supporting surface comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats mounted on the base member.

3. A pallet according to claim 1 characterised in that a lifting member is provided with a number of tines corresponding with the number of spaces in the load supporting 10 surface.

4. A pallet according to claim 3 characterised in that the lifting member comprises an attachment for a forklift.

5. A pallet according to claim 1 characterised in that the base of the pallet resembles that of a conventional pallet.

^5 6. A pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the pallet comprises aluminium.

7. A pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the pallet comprises wood.

8. A pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the pallet comprises reinforced cardboard.

9. A pallet according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises a moulded plastics material and the load supporting surface is integral with the base and comprises a plurality of parallel support beams separated by tapered channels, the support beams being themselves supported by the base comprising a grid of grid of channels having feet at the interstices thereof.

10. A pallet according to claim 9 characterised in that the load supporting surface comprises four parallel support beams.

11. A pallet according to any of the above claims characterised in that a sheet member adapted to releasably engage the supporting surface of the pallet is provided.

12. A pallet according to claim 1 1 characterised in that the sheet member comprises a mat of plastics material, the mat including a pattern of apertures therein.

13. A pallet according to claim 12 characterised in that the underside of the mat includes feet or the like formations for engaging the supporting surface of the pallet.

14. A pallet according to claim 9 and claim 12 characterised in that the pallet and the mat comprises glass fibre reinforced nylon material.

15. A pallet according to claim 14 characterised in that the glass fibre content of the material is twenty percent by mass.

6. A pallet according to any of the above claims characterised in that it is substantially s described with reference to the accompanying drawings.