WO2013015675A2

WO2013015675A2 - Interlocking pallet

Info

Publication number: WO2013015675A2
Application number: PCT/MY2012/000211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohd Nor SHAMSUL BACHAR BIN
Original assignee: Shamsul Bachar Bin Mohd Nor
Priority date: 2011-07-22
Filing date: 2012-07-23
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Also published as: WO2013015675A3; WO2013015675A8

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlocking pallet structure (100) made of at least two subassembly sections. Each subassembly section includes a platform having an upper surface and a bottom surface; an interlocking means (25a, 25b) provided at the periphery of each subassembly section (10) to interlock with another subassembly sections; and a plurality of hollow blocks (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) provided at each outermost corner of the bottom surface of each subassembly section (10) for receiving a plurality of foot extension structures (20), wherein said plurality of foot extension structures (20) provided in a removable manner whereby it facilitates elevation of the subassembly sections (10) from a foundation surface on where it (10) rests. A plurality of joint fastening components (30a, 30b, 30c) detachably secures to the plurality of foot extension structures (20) engaged at the bottom surface of the pallet structure (100), is provided to strengthen the structural integrity of the pallet structure (100).

Description

Interlocking Pallet

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a pallet. More particularly, relates to an interlocking pallet formed from at least two connectable subassembly sections.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Interlocking pallets which are formed by interconnecting various modular pallets in a releasable manner have been widely used for storage and supporting loads. Unlike most unitary piece of pallets which are generally restricted to certain loads of length and/or width, such interlocking pallets however provide flexibility in layout configurations and thus facilitate loading of goods with different volumes and/or sizes. Furthermore, such plastic interlocking pallets are durable as any damage to one single modular pallet can be readily removed and replaced by a new modular pallet.

However, there are some limitations observed in the existing pallets with interlocking structures. Weight-bearing capacity of a plastic interlocking pallet will be substantially reduced if it is assembled from more than four modular pallets. These interconnected modular pallets may easily come apart or deformation when it is under load, as there is no positive interlocking means. Besides that, conventional interlocking structures used in the art, for example, pin-and-tail joints, are prone to damage during assembly and they are not easily to be brought into full union.

Therefore, it is the purpose of the present invention to alleviate the aforementioned limitation observed in the traditional pallet structures.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of subassembly sections having an improved interlocking means which is easily to be assembled into pallet structures with different dimensions and configurations.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of joint fastening components to strengthen the structural integrity of an assembled pallet structure, avoiding it from deformation under load, especially when it is being moved. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of foot extension structures which detachably secured to the bottom of the pallet and thus elevates the pallet structure from the ground it rests to prevent moisture damage.

Other objectives of this invention will become apparent on the reading of this entire disclosure. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an interlocking pallet s-tructure made of at least two. subassembly sections is -provided. Each subassembly section includes a platform having an . upper surface and a bottom surface;... an interlocking means provided at the periphery of each subassembly section to interlock with the next adjoining subassembly sections; and a plurality of hollow blocks provided -at each outermost corner of the bottom ..surface- o.f .each ..subassembly. section for receiving a plurality of foot extension structures.

Preferably, said plurality of foot extension ^■ structures provided in a removable manner; it can readily assembled or disassembled from the subassembly sections, therefore, facilitates elevation of the subassembly sections from the foundation surface on where it rests.

Once the subassembly sections are well-interlocked, a plurality of joint fastening components detachably secures to the plurality of foot extension structures engaged at the bottom surface of the pallet structure, is provided. This is to strengthen the structural integrity of the pallet structure, especially when it is being moved or . lifted by forklift or semi-truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 -shows - an assembled pallet . structure from four subassembly, sections o.f. the present .invention in.. two-by-two arrangement .

Figure 2 shows the plurality of subassembly sections of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows the plurality of foot extension structures and the plurality of joint fastening components embodying the present invention. Figure 4 is a magnified view of interlocking means of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Further understanding of the object, construction, characteristics and functions of the invention, a detailed description with reference to the embodiments is given in the following

In Figure 1, a pallet structure (100) formed by interlocking four subassembly sections (10a, 10b, 10c, and lOd) is illustrated. Each subassembly section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) as illustrated.—..-in... Figure 2. includes a substantially square platform having... an..upper .surface . for load supporting and a bottom surface having a plurality of hollow blocks (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) provided at each outermost corner for receiving a plurality of corresponding- foot extension structures (20), as shown in Figure 3.

The plurality of foot extension structures (20) detachably engaged to the plurality of hollow blocks (15a,.15b, 15.c, 15d) provided at the lower surface of the section (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d)^'. In other words, the plurality of foot extension structures (20) can be readily attached or detached from the subassembly section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) whereby the sections (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) can be raised from the ground on where it rests. Distance between the bottom surface of the section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) and the ground can vary, depending on the height of the plurality of foot extension · structures (20) .

In a preferred embodiment, each subassembly structure (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) has an interlocking means (25a, 25b) provided along its periphery in a manner such that it allows adjacent subassembly sections (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) of the same to be interconnected therewith, thus forming an assembled pallet structure (100) with desired configurations and dimensions. As oe readily -seen in Figure 4, where . a magnified- view of interlocking. . means . (20.) of the. present invention has presented, the interlocking means (10) is a dovetailed-j oint and is formed from a plurality of trapezoid blocks projecting from the side surfaces of each subassembly section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) .

Said plurality of trapezoids blocks (25) suitably includes a pair of complementary interlocking configurations being the male interlocking connectors (25a) and female interlocking connector (25b) . Said pair of complementary interlocking configurations (25a, 25b) provided at the side surfaces of each subassembly section in such a manner that the male interlocking connectors (25a) facing downwards while the female interlocking connectors (25b) facing upwards, or vice versa. Understandably, male-interlocking connectors (25a) extending downwardly from the side surface of the section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) may be interconnected with female- interlocking connectors (25b) provided at the upper side surface of an adjoining subassembly section (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) , or vice versa.

Despite the fact that the interlocking means (25a, 25b) can provide an extremely strong joint between the interconnected s bassembly- .sections -(10a,- .lOb, 10c, lOd) without dependence on glue or .other fastening methods., . however, its structural integrity may be reduced when a large number of connectable subassembly sections (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) are brought together. Deformation or cracking of such assembled pallet structure (100) may be often resulted, especially when it is exposed to mechanically harsh conditions, for example when it is being lifted or moved by a forklift or a semi-struck.

In order to enhance the structural strength of an assembled pallet structure (100), a plurality of joint fastening components (30), as shown in Figure 3, is therefore provided. In accordance to the preferred embodiment, the plurality of joint fastening components (30) are hollow square blocks and are designed in such a manner to facilitate releasably securement of the plurality of joint fastening components (30) to the plurality of foot extension structures (20) provided at the lower surface of the assembled pallet structure (100). Upon assembled, the plurality of joint fastening components (30) tightly locks and holds the plurality of foot extension structures (20) of an assembled pallet structure (100) in place, avoiding movement in all directions and thereby adding extra strength . to the joints between interconnected subassembly sections (10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) . It is noted that, in one preferred, embodiment, said .plurality of joint fastening components (30) includes a plurality of corner joint fastening components (30a) made of one hollow square blocks in 1-by-l arrangement, a plurality of side joint (30b) fastening components made of two hollow square blocks in l-by-2 arrangement, and a plurality of corner joint (30c) fastening components made of four hollow square blocks in 2- by-2 arrangement. . . . It should be understood that, instead of being used as an industrial cargo pallet, the connectable subassembly sections (10) of the present invention can be assembled with its corresponding removable parts, particularly foot extension structures (20) and joint fastening components (30) to produce, includes but not limited to, raised floors, containers, cages, geocell panels and storage rage.

In a preferred embodiment, the subassembly sections (10), foot extension structures (20), and joint fastening components (30), are preferably, produced from any plastic injection machine and can be made, of, includes. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) , K-plastic, polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styror.e (A3S) and Polypropylene. (PP), but. . not. limited tocomposite resulted..... from, a ..mixture of. polyethylene .and fiber based material such as rice husk, palm fiber and saw dust as well as any biodegradable materials.

Although the present invention · has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and examples thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claim

1. A pallet structure (100) comprising:

at least two subassembly sections (10), wherein each subassembly section (10) including:

a platform having an upper surface and a bottom surface; an interlocking means (25a, 25b) provided at the periphery of each subassembly section (10) to interlock with another subassembly sections;

a plurality of hollow blocks (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) provided at each outermost corner of the bottom surface of each subassembly section (10) for receiving a plurality of foot extension structures (20), wherein said plurality of foot extension structures (20) provided in a removable manner whereby it facilitates elevation of the subassembly sections (10) from a foundation surface on where it (10) rests,

a plurality of joint fastening components (30a, 30b, 30c) to releasably secured to the plurality of foot extension structures (20)_. provided at the bottom surface of the pallet structure ( 100 ) , thereby enhances the structural strength. A pallet structure (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said interlocking means (25a, 25b) is a dovetailed joint.

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said interlocking means (25a, 25b) is formed from plurality of trapezoid blocks projecting from the side surfaces of each subassembly section (10).

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said plurality of trapezoid blocks forms a pair of interlocking configuration being the male interlocking connectors (25a) and the female interlocking connectors (25b) .

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said pair of interlocking configurations provided at the side surfaces of each subassembly section in such a manner that the male interlocking connectors (25a) facing downwards while the female interlocking connectors (25b) facing upwards, or vice versa.

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said male interlocking connectors (25a) extending downwardly from the side surface of the section (10) may be interconnected with female-interlocking connectors (25b) provided at the upper side surface of an adjoining subassembly section (10), or vice versa.

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said plurality of joint fastening components (30c, 30b, 30c) is in the form of hollow blocks that are designed in such a manner that the plurality of foot extension structures (20) provided at the bottom surface of the pallet structure (100) could be inserted therein.

A pallet structure as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said hollow blocks tightly lock and hold the plurality of foot extension structures (20) of the pallet structure (100) in place and thereby adding extra strength to the joints between the interconnected subassembly sections (10).

A pallet structure (100) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said pallet structure (100) can be made of plastic-based materials, includes but not limited to High-density polyethylene (HDPE) , K-plastic, polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and Polypropylene (PP) and a composite resulted from a mixture of polyethylene and fiber based material such as rice husk, palm fiber and saw dust as well as any biodegradable materials.