WO2006024052A1

WO2006024052A1 - A pallet

Info

Publication number: WO2006024052A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2005/000124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johann Witsche
Original assignee: Johann Witsche
Priority date: 2004-08-24
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: ZA200702412B

Abstract

The invention provides for a pallet 10. The pallet 10 includes at least one panel formation 12 secured on a plurality of support members 16 positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to one another. The pallet 10 further includes a protective strip 18 extending along an edge portion 22.3 of the panel formation 12. The protective strip 18 is secured between the panel formation 12 and the plurality of support members 16 at 20. The invention extends to a method of forming a pallet and to a protective strip.

Description

A pallet

Field:

THIS INVENTION relates to a pallet. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming a pallet, to a protective strip and to a pallet.

Background:

Pallets are often used to carry goods. One type of pallet includes a deck and an opposed spaced apart base held together by a plurality of support members, such as stringer members, or blocks, or the like, for example, positioned in spaced apart positions relative to one another between the deck and the base. Such pallets typically define spaced apart passages extending between the support members, the deck and the base. The passages are typically arranged to receive a fork of a fork lift, or the like, so as to enable goods carried on the pallets to be handled by a fork lift.

It has been found that edge portions of the deck and the base adjacent mouths of the passages are typically vulnerable to damage. For example, when the fork of a fork lift is passed into the passages, it often happens that tips of the fork jab against such edge portions. Since the deck and the base are often made of timber, or the like, such jabbing often leads to the edge portions becoming damaged, or splintered.

Damage to the edge portions can weaken the pallet and can cause the pallet to fail when being handled while carrying goods. Accordingly, the pallets are typically inspected periodically, and, should the pallets be damaged beyond a certain degree, are often repaired. Reparation of the pallets can typically involve repairing, or replacing, one, or both, of the deck and the base. The deck and the base are often formed by a plurality of panel boards, or members, secured to the stringer members, or blocks, in parallel and adjacent one another. Reparation of the deck can then typically involve replacing one or more leading panel members positioned adjacent the mouths of the passages.

Periodic inspection and repair of pallets can lead to maintenance of the pallets being rather expensive.

Attempts have been made to reinforce the edge portions of the decks and the bases adjacent the mouths of the passages with varying degrees of success. One method involves securing protective strips to the edges adjacent the mouths. One way such protective strips can be secured to the edges is by chemical means, such as by using adhesives, or the like, for example. Another way is by mechanical means, such as, by using fasteners, such as, nails, or screws, or staples, or the like, for example. It has been found that such protective strips have not provided sufficient protection. Furthermore, it has been found that the integrity of the methods of securing such strips to the edge portions adjacent the mouths has been found wanting.

In the case where the decks and the bases are formed by a plurality of timber panel members attempts to reinforce the edge portions of the decks and the bases adjacent the mouths of the passages have included replacement of leading timber panel members positioned adjacent the mouths of the passages with members made of a material having a damage resistance greater than that of timber. Such members can be of, for example, a polymer material, a metal material, or the like. It has been found that metal members can be relatively expensive and can detrimentally increase the weight of the pallet. Polymer members can also be relatively expensive and can sag at relatively high temperatures.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "panel formation" is to be interpreted to mean either a deck or a base of a pallet as described above. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method of securing a protective strip on a pallet.

Summary:

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a pallet, the method including positioning a protective strip between a panel formation member and at least one support member and securing the panel formation member to the support member thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member.

Positioning the protective strip between the panel formation member and the at least one support member may include positioning the protective strip between the panel formation member and a plurality of spaced apart support members and securing the panel formation member to the support members thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support members.

The method may include positioning the protective strip on the panel formation member, then positioning the panel formation member adjacent the support member, or members, thereby to position the protective strip between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

Positioning the protective strip on the panel formation member may include locating the protective strip along an edge portion of the panel formation member.

The protective strip and the edge portion of the panel formation member may be complementally shaped to enable the protective member to be seated along the edge portion of the panel formation member. Locating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member may then include seating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member. The panel formation member and the protective strip may be complementally shaped to enable the edge portion of the panel formation member to be received within the protective strip. Locating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member may then include positioning the panel formation member within the protective strip.

Securing the panel formation member to the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, may include passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

Passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, may include driving nails through the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

Passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, may include driving screw- threaded fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

The protective strip may define gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip to be gripped between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, when the protective strip is operatively secured between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pallet including at least one panel formation secured on a plurality of support members positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to one another and a protective strip extending along an edge portion of the panel formation, the protective strip being secured between the panel formation and the plurality of support members.

The panel formation may include a plurality of panel formation members secured on the plurality of support members. The protective strip may extend along an edge portion of at least one panel formation member. The protective strip may be secured between the at least one panel formation member and the plurality of support members.

The panel formation member may define opposed major faces extending from the edge portion. One of the major faces may face the support members. The protective strip may extend at least partially across the major face facing the support members and over the edge portion.

The protective strip and the edge portion of the panel formation member may have complementally shaped seat formations. The protective strip may be located on the panel formation member in a seated fashion in which the seat formation of the panel formation member is received in the seat formation of the protective strip.

The panel formation member may define an opposed edge portion. The protective strip may extend across the major face facing the support members and over the opposed edge portion.

The panel formation member and the protective strip may be complementally shaped to enable the panel formation member to be received within the protective strip. The panel formation member may be located within the protective strip.

The panel formation member may be secured to the support members by means of fasteners extending through the panel formation member and the support members. The panel formation member may be secured to the support members by means of nails extending through the panel formation member and the support members.

The panel formation member may be secured to the support members by means of screw-threaded fasteners extending through the panel formation member and the support members.

The protective strip may define gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip to be gripped adjacent the panel formation member and the support members.

The panel formation member may be made of wood.

The support members may be made of wood.

The protective strip may define a rounded edge.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a protective strip including an elongate flange portion arranged to extend at least partially across a major face of a panel formation member of a pallet so as to be positionable between the panel formation member and a support member of the pallet and an end portion extending longitudinally along the flange portion, the end portion being arranged to extend over an end portion of the panel formation member when the flange portion is positioned to extend at least partially across the major face of the panel formation member.

The end portion may be rounded.

The end portion may define a thickness greater than the thickness of the flange portion. The protective strip may further include an opposed flange portion extending from the end portion and in parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the other flange portion.

The opposed flange portion may define a width less than a width of the other flange portion.

The flange portion may define gripping formations.

The gripping formations may be defined by a roughened surface of the flange portion.

The protective strip may include a plurality of apertures extending through the flange portion to enable fasteners to be passed through the apertures.

Description of preferred embodiments:

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a pallet in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an end portion of the pallet along arrows II- II in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of another pallet in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 of the drawings, and shows a method of forming a pallet in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and

Figures 5 to 7 show schematic cross-sectional views of portions of different embodiments of a pallet in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a pallet in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The pallet 10 includes opposed panel formations 12, 14. The panel formation 12 defines a deck of the pallet 10 and the panel formation 14 defines a base of the pallet 10. The panel formations 12, 14 are secured on a plurality, in this case three, of support members in the form of stringer members 16 positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to one another. The pallet 10 further includes a protective strip 18 extending along an edge portion of the panel formation 12. The protective strip 18 is secured between the panel formation 12 and the plurality of stringer members 16 as indicated at 20.

The pallet 10 defines spaced apart passages 15 extending between the stringer members 16, the deck 12 and the base 14. The passages 15 are arranged to receive a fork of a fork lift, or the like, so as to enable goods carried on the pallet 10 to be handled by a fork lift. The pallet 10 defines two directions of entry 17, 19 for a fork of a fork lift.

The panel formations 12, 14 and the stringer members 16 are typically made from wood.

The panel formation 12 typically include a plurality of inner deck boards, or panel formation members 22, secured on the stringer members 16 to define the panel formation 12. The protective strip 18 extends along an edge portion 22.2 of one of the panel formation members, namely a leading edge deck board, or panel formation member 22.1, adjacent mouths 21, 23 of the passages 15. The protective strip 18 is secured between the panel formation member 22.1 and the plurality of stringer members 16 as indicated at 20.

As can best be seen with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts, unless otherwise stated, the panel formation member 22.1 defines opposed major faces 22.3, 22.4 extending from the edge portion 22.2. One of the major faces, namely the major face 22.4, faces the stringer members 16. The protective strip 18 extends partially across the major face 22.4 and over the edge portion 22.2.

The protective strip 18 and the edge portion 22.2 of the panel formation member 22.1 define complementally shaped seat formations 18.5, 22.5 respectively. The protective strip 18 is located on the panel formation member 22.1 in a seated fashion in which the seat formation 22.5 of the panel formation member 22.1 is received in the seat formation 18.5 of the protective strip 18. The protective strip 18 can be generally U- shaped in cross section to define flange portions in the form of an upper horizontal portion 18.3 and a lower horizontal portion 18.4 and an end portion 18.6. The lower horizontal portion 18.4 is sandwiched between the stringer members 16 and the panel formation member 22.1. When the protective strip 18 is located on the panel formation member 22.1, the upper and lower horizontal portions 18.3, 18.4 are generally flush with the major faces 22.3, 22.4. By providing such a protective strip 18, the upper and lower portions 18.3, 18.4 serve to retain the protective strip 18 adjacent the panel formation member 22.1 thereby to inhibit the protective strip 18 and the panel formation member 22.1 from sagging relative to each other. In particular, when the panel formation member 22.1 is of wood and the protective strip 18 is of a plastics material, for example, the upper portion 18.3 inhibits the protective strip 18 from sagging relative to the panel formation member 22.1. The lower horizontal portion 18.4 can extend over a larger portion of the associated face 22.4 than the upper horizontal portion 18.3 relative to the associated face 22.3. The lower horizontal portion 18.4 can extend partially or completely over the associated face 22.4. The lower horizontal portion 18.4 can extend over and beyond the associated face 22.4. It will be appreciated that the lower horizontal portion 18.4 protects the face 22.4 of the panel formation member 22.1 against damage when the fork of a fork lift enters the passages 15. The end portion 18.6 of the protective strip 18 can be thicker than the upper and lower horizontal portions 18.3, 18.4. The protective strip 18 can be distinctively coloured. For example, the protective strip 18 can be coloured red, or yellow, or green, or the like.

Advantageously, the protective strip 18 defines a rounded edge 18.2. The protective strip 18 can be of any appropriate material, such as steel, aluminium, a synthetic plastics material, a composite material, a polymer, or the like.

The panel formation member 22.1 is secured to the stringer members 16 in any appropriate manner. Conveniently, the panel formation member 22.1 is secured to the stringer members 16 by means of fasteners 24 extending through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16. Advantageously, the fasteners 24 can extend through the protective strip 18 as well. The fasteners 24 can be in the form of conventional fasteners, such as, nails, or screw-threaded fasteners, or the like.

Advantageously, the protective strip 18 defines gripping formations 18.1 arranged to enable the protective strip 18 to be gripped adjacent the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16. The gripping formations 18.1 can be in any appropriate form. For example, the gripping formations 18.1 can be defined by a roughened surface, or can be in the form of rib-formations, or the like.

Advantageously, the pallet 10 includes protective strips similar to the protective strip 18 along each edge portion of the deck 12 and the base 14 as further indicated at 25, 27 and 29 respectively, in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts, unless otherwise stated, a method of forming a pallet 10, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, will now be described. The method includes positioning the protective strip 18 on the panel formation member 22.1. The protective strip 18 and the edge portion 22.2 of the panel formation member 22.1 are complementally shaped to enable the protective member 18 to be seated snugly along the edge portion 22.2 of the panel formation member 22.1. Accordingly, positioning, or locating, the protective strip 18 along the edge portion 22.2 of the panel formation member 22.1 includes seating the protective strip 18 along the edge portion 22.2 of the panel formation member 22.1.

The panel formation member 22.1, while bearing the protective strip 18, is then positioned adjacent the stringer members 16 thereby to position the protective strip 18 between the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16.

The panel formation member 22.1 is then secured to the stringer members 16 by passing fasteners 24 through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer member 16. Advantageously, the fasteners 24 can extend through the protective strip 18 as well. The fasteners 24 can be in the form of nails, in which case, passing the fasteners 24 through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16 typically includes driving, or knocking, the nails through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer member 16. Instead, the fasteners 24 can be in the form of screw-threaded fasteners, in which case passing the fasteners 24 through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16 typically includes driving, or screwing, the screw-threaded fasteners through the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer member 16. Conveniently, the panel formation member 22.1 and the protective strip 18 can define registering apertures 26 through which the fasteners 24 can be passed.

Advantageously, the protective strip 18 defines the gripping formations 18.1 so as to cause the protective strip 18 to be gripped between the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16 so that when the protective strip 18 is operatively secured between the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16, the gripping formations serve to anchor the protective strip 18 between the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16. In this way, the protective strip 18 is secured operatively between the panel formation member 22.1 and the stringer members 16.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts, unless otherwise stated, another pallet, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 50.

The pallet 50 includes opposed panel formations 52, 54. The panel formation 52 defines a deck of the pallet 50 and the panel formation 54 defines a base of the pallet 50. The panel formations 52, 54 are secured on a plurality of support members in the form of blocks 56 positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to one another. The pallet 50 further includes a protective strip 58 extending along an edge portion of the panel formation 52. The protective strip 58 is secured between the panel formation 52 and the plurality of blocks 56 as indicated at 60.

The pallet 50 defines spaced apart passages 55 extending between the blocks 56, the deck 52 and the base 54. The passages 55 are arranged to receive a fork of a fork lift, or the like, so as to enable goods carried on the pallet 50 to be handled by a fork lift. The pallet 50 defines four directions of entry 17A, 17B, 19A and 19B for a fork of a fork lift.

The protective strip 58 extends along an edge portion 62.2 of a panel formation member 62 adjacent mouths 51 , 53 of the passages 55. The protective strip 58 is secured between the panel formation member 62 and the plurality of blocks 56 as indicated at 60. The pallet 50 further includes a plurality of deck formation members 52.1 secured over the panel formation member 62. The protective strip 58 is further secured between ends of the panel formation members, or boards 52.1, and the panel formation member 62.

The pallet 50 further includes a protective strip similar to the strip 18 shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings extending along an edge portion of the base 54 as indicated at 64. It will be appreciated that the protective strip arrangement along a side of the pallet 50 corresponding to the direction of entry 17B, as described above, is mirrored along a side of the pallet corresponding to the direction of entry 17 A. Furthermore, protective strip arrangements similar to that described above with reference to the pallet 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings can typically be provided along the edges of the deck 52 and the base 54 along sides of the pallet 50 corresponding with the directions of entry 19A and 19B.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts, unless otherwise stated, other embodiments of end portions of other pallets in accordance with the invention will now be described.

Figure 5 shows a pallet 10 similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Figure 6 shows a pallet 110. The pallet 110 includes a panel formation member 122.1. The panel formation member 122.1 defines an edge portion 122.2 and an opposed edge portion 122.6. The protective strip 118 extends across a major face 122.4 facing support members in the form of stringer members 16 and over the opposed edge 122.6. Although not shown in Figure 6, the protective strip 118 can define gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip 118 to be gripped adjacent the panel formation member 122.1 and the stringer members 16. The gripping formations can be similar to the gripping formations 18.1 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and as described above. In other respects, the pallet 110 is similar to the pallet 10 of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Figure 7 shows a pallet 210. The pallet 210 includes a panel formation member 222.1 and a protective strip 218. The panel formation member 222.1 and the protective strip 218 are complementally shaped to enable the panel formation member 222.1 to be received within the protective strip 218, the panel formation member 222.1 being located in the protective strip 218. Although not shown in Figure 7, the protective strip 218 can define gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip 218 to be gripped adjacent the panel formation member 222.1 and support members in the form of stringer members 16. The gripping formations can be similar to the gripping formations 18.1 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and as described above. In other respects, the pallet 210 is similar to the pallet 10 of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method of forming a pallet, the method including: positioning a protective strip between a panel formation member and at least one support member; and securing the panel formation member to the support member thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member.

2. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 1, in which positioning the protective strip between the panel formation member and the at least one support member includes positioning the protective strip between the panel formation member and a plurality of spaced apart support members and securing the panel formation member to the support members thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support members.

3. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which includes positioning the protective strip on the panel formation member, then positioning the panel formation member adjacent the support member, or members, thereby to position the protective strip between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

4. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 3, in which positioning the protective strip on the panel formation member includes locating the protective strip along an edge portion of the panel formation member.

5. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 4, in which the protective strip and the edge portion of the panel formation member are complementally shaped to enable the protective member to be seated along the edge portion of the panel formation member, locating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member then including seating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member.

6. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 4, in which the panel formation member and the protective strip are complementally shaped to enable the panel formation member to be received within the protective strip, locating the protective strip along the edge portion of the panel formation member then including positioning the panel formation member within the protective strip.

7. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which securing the panel formation member to the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, includes passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

8. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 7, in which passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, includes driving nails through the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

9. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in claim 7, in which passing fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members, thereby to secure the protective strip operatively between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, includes driving screw-threaded fasteners through the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

10. The method of forming a pallet as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the protective strip defines gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip to be gripped between the panel formation member and the support member, or members, when the protective strip is operatively secured between the panel formation member and the support member, or members.

11. A pallet including: at least one panel formation secured on a plurality of support members positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to one another; and a protective strip extending along an edge portion of the panel formation, the protective strip being secured between the panel formation and the plurality of support members.

12. The pallet as claimed in claim 11, in which the panel formation includes a plurality of panel formation members secured on the plurality of support members, the protective strip extending along an edge portion of at least one panel formation member, the protective strip being secured between the at least one panel formation member and the plurality of support members.

13. The pallet as claimed in claim 12, in which the panel formation member defines opposed major faces extending from the edge portion, one of the major faces facing the support members, the protective strip extending at least partially across the major face facing the support members and over the edge portion.

14. The pallet as claimed in claim 13, in which the protective strip and the edge portion of the panel formation member have complementally shaped seat formations, the protective strip being located on the panel formation member in a seated fashion in which the seat formation of the panel formation member is received in the seat formation of the protective strip.

15. The pallet as claimed in claim 13, in which the panel formation member defines an opposed edge, the protective strip extending across the major face facing the support members and over the opposed edge.

16. The pallet as claimed in claim 12, in which the panel formation member and the protective strip are complementally shaped to enable the panel formation member to be received within the protective strip, the panel formation member being located in the protective strip.

17. The pallet as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 inclusive, in which the panel formation member is secured to the support members by means of fasteners extending through the panel formation member and the support members.

18. The pallet as claimed in claim 17, in which the panel formation member is secured to the support members by means of nails extending through the panel formation member and the support members.

19. The pallet as claimed in claim 17, in which the panel formation member is secured to the support members by means of screw-threaded fasteners extending through the panel formation member and the support members.

20. The pallet as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 19 inclusive, in which the protective strip defines gripping formations arranged to enable the protective strip to be gripped adjacent the panel formation member and the support members.

21. The pallet as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20 inclusive, in which the panel formation member is made of wood.

22. The pallet as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 21 inclusive, in which the support members are made of wood.

23. The pallet as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 22 inclusive, in which the protective strip defines a rounded edge.

24. A protective strip including: an elongate flange portion arranged to extend at least partially across a major face of a panel formation member of a pallet so as to be positionable between the panel formation and a support member of the pallet; and an end portion extending longitudinally along the flange portion, the end portion being arranged to extend over an end portion of the panel formation member when the flange portion is positioned to extend at least partially across the major face of the panel formation member.

25. The protective strip as claimed in claim 24, in which the end portion is rounded.

26. The protective strip as claimed in claim 24, or claim 25, in which the end portion defines a thickness greater than the thickness of the flange portion.

27. The protective strip as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26 inclusive, which further includes an opposed flange portion extending from the end portion and in parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the other flange portion.

28. The protective strip as claimed in claim 27, in which the opposed flange portion defines a width less than a width of the other flange portion.

29. The protective strip as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28 inclusive, in which the flange portion defines gripping formations.

30. The protective strip as claimed in claim 29, in which the gripping formations are defined by a roughened surface of the flange portion.

31. The protective strip as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30 inclusive, which includes a plurality of apertures extending through the flange portion to enable fasteners to be passed through the apertures.

32. A method of forming a pallet substantially as herein described and illustrated.

33. A pallet substantially as herein described and illustrated.

34. A protective strip substantially as herein described and illustrated.