U.S. patent application number 10/811474 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for plastic pallet.
Invention is credited to Jung, Wolfgang, Perrotta, Dominic P., Skurdalsvold, Scott.
Application Number | 20050211139 10/811474 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34988276 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Perrotta, Dominic P. ; et
al. |
September 29, 2005 |
Plastic pallet
Abstract
A nestable plastic pallet that can be stacked to have a reduced
stack height. The pallet includes a single wall of homogeneous
material that defines a substantially flat load-supporting surface.
The load-supporting surface has perimeter edges, and the pallet has
an underside opposite the load-supporting surface. Perimeter edges
of the pallet have raised lips, which project from the
load-supporting surface. The perimeter edges also have
downwardly-extending lips formed which project from the underside
at the perimeter edges. The underside of the pallet has raised
ribs, which project from the underside and extend between and up to
the downwardly-extending lips. The raised ribs and the
downwardly-extending lips allow the pallet to be edge rackable.
Legs projecting from the underside of the pallet support the pallet
on a surface.
Inventors: |
Perrotta, Dominic P.;
(Daphne, AL) ; Jung, Wolfgang; (Rodgau, DE)
; Skurdalsvold, Scott; (Mansfield, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER AND GREENBERG, PA
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Family ID: |
34988276 |
Appl. No.: |
10/811474 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/57.25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/0094 20130101;
B65D 2519/00318 20130101; B65D 19/0038 20130101; B65D 2519/00069
20130101; B65D 2519/00034 20130101; B65D 2519/00288 20130101; B65D
2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00407 20130101; B65D 2519/00268
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/057.25 |
International
Class: |
B65D 019/38 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A pallet, comprising: a single wall of homogeneous material
defining a substantially flat load-supporting surface having
perimeter edges and an underside opposite said load-supporting
surface; raised ribs formed by an increased material thickness of
said wall and projecting from said underside and extending between
and up to said edges; and deflections in said single wall forming
legs projecting from said underside.
2. The pallet according to claim 1, further comprising raised lips
formed by an increased material thickness of said wall and
projecting from said load-supporting surface at said four
edges.
3. The pallet according to claim 2, wherein said perimeter edges
include two opposite substantially parallel longitudinal edges and
two other substantially parallel opposite edges, and said opposite
longitudinal edges are longer than said other two opposite
edges.
4. The pallet according to claim 3, wherein said legs are only
seven legs including four corner legs, a center leg at a center of
the pallet and two side legs at a middle of said longitudinal
sides.
5. The pallet according to claim 4, wherein said legs are cored out
from said load-supporting surface.
6. The pallet according to claim 5, wherein said legs have holes
formed therein for allowing fluid drainage.
7. The pallet according to claim 5 wherein said legs are formed
with draft angles a for producing and stacking the pallets.
8. The pallet according to claim 3, wherein said raised ribs
include longitudinal raised ribs extending substantially parallel
to said longitudinal edges and radial raised ribs radiating from a
center of the pallet.
9. The pallet according to claim 3, further comprising
downwardly-extending lips formed by an increased material thickness
of said wall and projecting from said underside at said four edges,
said material thickness of said downwardly-extending lips being
less than said material thickness of said raised ribs, and said
raised ribs having a lead in angle .beta. blending into said
downwardly-extending lips.
10. The pallet according to claim 9, wherein said raised ribs
include longitudinal raised ribs extending substantially parallel
to said longitudinal edges and radial raised ribs radiating from a
center of the pallet.
11. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein said load-supporting
surface has a surface texture.
12. A pallet, comprising: a single wall of homogeneous material
defining a substantially flat load-supporting surface having
perimeter edges and an underside opposite said load-supporting
surface; raised lips formed by an increased material thickness of
said wall and projecting from said load-supporting surface at said
perimeter edges; downwardly-extending lips formed by an increased
material thickness of said wall and projecting from said underside
at said perimeter edges; raised ribs formed by an increased
material thickness of said wall and projecting from said underside
and extending between and up to said downwardly-extending lips; and
deflections in said single wall forming legs projecting from said
underside.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an apparatus that can be used as a
pallet for storing goods, more specifically, to a plastic
mechanical pallet that can be used in a manufacturing, distribution
or warehouse facility.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,718 (Dunk) discloses a pallet formed of
sheet metal using a drawing operation. The pallet includes
depressions and ribs, which are stamped or drawn into the pallet
from the product or load carrying side of the pallet.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,414 (Nulle et al.) discloses a one-piece
pallet with a plurality of legs and channel-like webs. The Legs and
the webs are formed from the product side of the pallet and are
depressions on the product side of the pallet.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,195 (Maryonovich) discloses a plastic
pallet formed of a single sheet of thermoplastic material. The
pallet has ribs and legs. The legs and the ribs are formed from the
product side of the pallet and are depressions on the product side
of the pallet. Depending on a pallet's orientation in relation to
another pallet, the pallet is either nestable or stackable with
respect to other pallets.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,262 (Knight et al.) discloses a
reinforced plastic pallet that is constructed from two separate
plastic sheets, which are pressed together at preselected
locations.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,618 (Bell) discloses a plastic pallet
that is formed of injection molded plastic or injection molded
plastic foam. The pallet has a flat upper surface and a plurality
of supporting legs. The legs are used for providing rigidity and
support. The pallet includes lifting ribs and strengthening rib on
a bottom side of the pallet.
[0009] Prior art pallets have the disadvantages that they are not
edge rackable (can be supported only by the edges of the pallet
when the pallet is loaded) particularly along the longer sides of
the pallet. Furthermore, the prior art does not disclose pallets
having only seven feet or legs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
single-walled homogeneous plastic pallet which overcomes the
above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and
methods of this general type and which provides a durable pallet
that is easily manufactured, lightweight, and can be used to hold a
variety of products.
[0011] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a pallet including a
single wall of homogeneous material defining a substantially flat
load-supporting surface. The substantially flat load-supporting
surface has perimeter edges. The single wall has an underside
opposite the load-supporting surface. Raised ribs formed by an
increased material thickness of the wall and which project from the
underside and extend between and up to the edges is provided.
Deflections in the single wall, which form legs projecting from the
underside, are included.
[0012] In accordance with another feature of the invention, there
are provided raised lips formed by an increased material thickness
of the wall and which project from the load-supporting surface at
the four edges.
[0013] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the
perimeter edges include two opposite substantially parallel
longitudinal edges and two other substantially parallel opposite
edges. The opposite longitudinal edges are longer than the other
two opposite edges.
[0014] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the
legs are only seven legs, which include four corner legs, a center
leg at a center of the pallet and two side legs at a middle of the
longitudinal sides.
[0015] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention,
the legs are cored out from the load-supporting surface.
[0016] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
legs have holes formed therein for allowing fluid drainage.
[0017] In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention,
the legs are formed with draft angles a for producing and stacking
the pallets.
[0018] In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention,
the raised ribs include longitudinal raised ribs extending
substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges and radial raised
ribs radiating from a center of the pallet.
[0019] In accordance with yet an additional feature of the
invention, there are provided downwardly-extending lips formed by
an increased material thickness of the wall and which project from
the underside at the four edges. The material thickness of the
downwardly-extending lips is less than the material thickness of
the raised ribs. The raised ribs have a lead in angle .beta., which
blends into the downwardly-extending lips.
[0020] In accordance with still another feature of the invention,
the raised ribs include longitudinal raised ribs extending
substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges and radial raised
ribs radiating from a center of the pallet.
[0021] In accordance with still a further feature of the invention,
the load-supporting surface has a surface texture.
[0022] With the objects of the invention in view, there is also
provided, a pallet including a single wall of homogeneous material
defining a substantially flat load-supporting surface. The
substantially flat load-supporting surface has perimeter edges. The
single wall has an underside opposite the load-supporting surface.
Raised lips formed by an increased material thickness of the wall
and which project from the load-supporting surface at the perimeter
edges are provided. Downwardly-extending lips formed by an
increased material thickness of the wall and which project from the
underside at the perimeter edges are provided. Raised ribs formed
by an increased material thickness of the wall and which project
from the underside and extend between and up to the
downwardly-extending lips are also provided. Deflections in the
single wall form legs projecting from the underside.
[0023] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0024] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in the plastic pallet, it is nevertheless not intended
to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and
structural changes may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of
equivalents of the claims.
[0025] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pallet according to the
invention as seen from the load carrying side;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pallet according to FIG.
1 as seen from the underside; and
[0028] FIG. 3 is a section through the center of two nested pallets
according to FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a
single-walled plastic pallet 1 according to the invention. The
plastic pallet 1 is produced by a low-pressure structural foam
process, which utilizes a chemical foaming agent to produce a
pallet of homogeneous material. The term homogeneous material
refers to a blend of plastic resin such as HDPE (High Density
Polyethylene), filler such as calcium carbonate, and a blowing
agent, and a color concentrate. It is also possible to include a
low percentage of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) as a regrind
material for lowering material costs. Because the pallet 1 is a
single-walled homogenous part it is completely and easily
recyclable.
[0030] The pallet 1 includes a substantially planar load-supporting
surface 5, which can be provided with a surface texture or surface
grain 8 for increasing the coefficient of friction between the load
and the pallet 1. The pallet 1 has four perimeter edges, which have
raised lips 6, which project in the direction of the load to be
supported by the pallet. The raised lips 6 help prevent the load
from shifting off of the pallet 1. The four edges of the pallet
also have downwardly-extending lips 11, which extend in a direction
away from the load to be supported by the pallet.
[0031] The pallet 1 includes seven legs for supporting the pallet 1
on the floor or on top of the load of another pallet 1. The legs
include four L-shaped corner legs 4, two side legs 2, located in
the center of the long sides of the pallet 1, and a center leg 3
located in the center of the pallet 1. The legs are cored out from
the load carrying side of the pallet 1, so as to reduce the weight
of the pallet 1 and to reduce the cycle time for producing the
pallet 1. The legs are provided with generous radii at all their
edges, and the legs may have holes 7 in their bottoms to allow
drainage of any liquid that the pallet 1 may be exposed to. The
legs can include a draft angle a on their sides to allow the easy
manufacture of the pallet 1 and to allow a plurality of pallets 1
to be nested upon one another.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows ribs, which are provided only on the underside
of the pallet 1. The ribs include longitudinal ribs 10 which are
substantially parallel to the long side of the pallet 1 and run the
entire length of the pallet 1 from edge to edge and thus from
downwardly-extending lip 11 to downwardly-extending lip 11. The
ribs also include radial ribs 9, which extend from the center leg 3
of the pallet 1 to the downwardly-extending lips 11. The radial
ribs 9 and the longitudinal ribs 10 intersect one another. Both the
longitudinal ribs 10 and the radial ribs 9 may be interrupted by
any one of the legs, however, the ribs continue on the opposite
side of the legs to the downwardly-extending lips 11. At the edges
of the pallet 1 each of the ribs have a lead in angle .beta., which
blends into the downwardly-extending lips 11. The angle .beta.
allows forks of a forklift to enter a region under the pallet 1
without damaging the ribs 9, 10.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows the pallet in an edge rackable position, where
edge rackable is defined as supporting a pallet 1 from its
underside by only supporting the pallet 1 under two opposing edges
of the pallet. Such a support may be a pair of angle irons.17
mounted on a frame. The pallet 1 must have sufficient rigidity to
be edge rackable. In the present invention the downwardly-extending
lips 11 and the ribs 9, 10, which extend up to the
downwardly-extending lips 11, achieve this rigidity. The lead in
angle .beta. of the ribs matches the angle of an angle iron on
which the pallet 1 is edge rackable. Although the ribs 9, 10 have
been disclosed as radial ribs 9 and longitudinal ribs 10, any
geometry of ribs can be used as long as sufficient strength is
provided for edge racking of the pallet 1.
[0034] FIG. 3 also shows two pallets 1 as they are nested when
stacked on top of one another. As can be seen from FIG. 3 the legs
fit into the recesses of the legs 2, 3, 4 of the underlying pallet
1. Furthermore when nested, the top pallet 1 rests on its ribs 9,
10 on the load-supporting surface 5 of the underlying pallet. The
lead in angle .beta. formed on the ribs 9, 10 allows access to
separate the pallets 1 when they are nested.
* * * * *