U.S. patent application number 11/174867 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for leg assembly for paper pallet.
Invention is credited to Fu-Mei Chen.
Application Number | 20060065170 11/174867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322228 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060065170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Fu-Mei |
March 30, 2006 |
Leg assembly for paper pallet
Abstract
A pallet includes a top plate and a leg assembly fixed below the
top plate. The leg assembly includes a bottom plate fixed below the
top plate. The bottom plate includes three receiving sections
spaced from one another. Each receiving section includes two
longitudinal sides and a bottom side. Three supporting blocks are
mounted in each receiving section and spaced from one another. Each
longitudinal side of each receiving section includes two transverse
openings. Each transverse opening on each receiving section is
located between two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each
other.
Inventors: |
Chen; Fu-Mei; (Taoyuan City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRO-TECTOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
20775 NORADA CT.
SARATOGA
CA
95070
US
|
Family ID: |
46322228 |
Appl. No.: |
11/174867 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10950203 |
Sep 24, 2004 |
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11174867 |
Jul 5, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/51.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00557
20130101; B65D 2519/00124 20130101; B65D 2519/00054 20130101; B65D
2519/00089 20130101; B65D 2519/00293 20130101; B65D 2519/00318
20130101; B65D 19/0026 20130101; B65D 2519/00373 20130101; B65D
2519/00402 20130101; B65D 2519/00019 20130101; B65D 2519/00333
20130101; B65D 2519/00562 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/051.3 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/00 20060101
B65D019/00 |
Claims
1. A pallet comprising: a top plate; and a leg assembly comprising
a bottom plate fixed below the top plate, the bottom plate
comprising three receiving sections spaced from one another, each
said receiving section including two longitudinal sides and a
bottom side, three supporting blocks being mounted in each said
receiving section and spaced from one another, each said
longitudinal side of each said receiving section including two
transverse openings, each said transverse opening on each said
receiving section being located between two of the supporting
blocks adjacent to each other.
2. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a folded
plate mounted in each said receiving section and bonded between the
bottom side of each said receiving section and the supporting
blocks.
3. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, with each of two outer ones of
the receiving sections comprising an extension for sealing a top of
an associated one of the two outer ones of the receiving
sections.
4. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, with each said longitudinal
side of each said receiving section comprising two reinforcing
pieces, each said reinforcing piece having a side connected to a
bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the transverse
openings.
5. The pallet as claimed in claim 2, with each said longitudinal
side of each said receiving section comprising two reinforcing
pieces, each said reinforcing piece having a side connected to a
bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the transverse
openings.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/950,203 filed Sep. 24, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a pallet. In particular,
the present invention relates to a paper pallet.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Paper pallets are more widely used than conventional wooden
pallets and metal pallets, as the paper pallets are light,
inexpensive, and recyclable. FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a
typical paper pallet 90 comprising a top plate 91 and a plurality
of legs 92 supporting the top plate 91. The top plate 91 is
comprised of a plurality of sheets that are made of corrugated
paper or thick paper and that are bonded together to improve the
strength of the paper pallet 90.
[0006] Two forks of a forklift are inserted into the spaces between
the legs 92 along a longitudinal direction for lifting the paper
pallet 90. However, the forks of the forklift could not be inserted
into the paper pallet 90 along a transverse direction, causing
limitation to operation of the forklift. To provide openings in the
transverse direction of the paper pallet 90, each leg 92 is divided
into a plurality of separate leg units, leading to a decrease in
the strength of the legs and undesired easy disengagement of the
legs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An objective of the present invention is to provide a pallet
comprising a leg assembly with improved strength.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
pallet comprising a leg assembly that allows insertion of the forks
of a forklift along either a longitudinal direction or a transverse
direction.
[0009] In accordance with the present invention, a pallet comprises
a top plate and a leg assembly fixed below the top plate. The leg
assembly comprises a bottom plate fixed below the top plate. The
bottom plate comprises three receiving sections spaced from one
another. Each receiving section includes two longitudinal sides and
a bottom side. Three supporting blocks are mounted in each
receiving section and spaced from one another. Each longitudinal
side of each receiving section includes two transverse openings.
Each transverse opening on each receiving section is located
between two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other.
[0010] Preferably, a folded plate mounted in each receiving section
and bonded between the bottom side of each receiving section and
the supporting blocks.
[0011] Preferably, each of two outer ones of the receiving sections
comprises an extension for sealing a top of an associated one of
the two outer ones of the receiving sections.
[0012] Preferably, each longitudinal side of each receiving section
comprises two reinforcing pieces. Each reinforcing piece has a side
connected to a bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the
transverse openings.
[0013] Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a conventional paper
pallet.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a pallet in accordance
with the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the pallet in
accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a leg assembly of the
pallet in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flattened view of a bottom plate of the leg
assembly of the pallet in accordance with the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the bottom plate.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing supporting
blocks mounted in the bottom plate.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating a pallet with
a modified embodiment of the leg assembly in accordance with the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the pallet in FIG.
8.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a leg of the
pallet in FIG. 8.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a modified embodiment of the
leg in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a pallet in accordance
with the present invention. The pallet comprises a top plate 10 and
a leg assembly fixed below the top plate 10. The top plate 10 is
substantially square or rectangular and may be formed by bonding a
plurality of sheets of corrugated paper or thick paper. Cargo or
the like is placed on a top side of the top plate 10. The leg
assembly is also made of corrugated paper or thick paper. It is,
however, noted that the top plate 10 and the leg assembly of the
pallet can be made of any other suitable material.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the leg assembly comprises a
bottom plate 20 and a plurality of supporting blocks 31, 32, and
33. The bottom plate 50 defines a plurality of compartments (not
labeled) for receiving the supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33. In the
illustrated embodiment, the bottom plate 20 comprises three
receiving sections 21, 22, and 23 spaced from one another by a
longitudinal space (not labeled). Each receiving section 21, 22, 23
includes two longitudinal sides 24 and a bottom side 25. Three
supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33 are mounted in each receiving
section 21, 22, 23 and spaced along a longitudinal direction, as
shown in FIG. 7. Each supporting block 31, 32, 33 may include a
plurality of sheets of paper to improve the strength.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a flattened view of the bottom plate 20.
FIG. 6 illustrates folding of the bottom plate 20. The bottom plate
20 comprises folding lines (not labeled) to allow easy folding for
forming the receiving sections 21, 22, and 23. Further, each
longitudinal side 24 of each receiving section 21, 22, 23 is
punched to form two transverse openings 26. Preferably, each
opening 26 is located between two of the supporting blocks 31, 32,
33 adjacent to each other. Further, an extension 27 extends outward
from the outermost longitudinal side 24 of each of two outer ones
of the receiving sections 21, 22. The supporting blocks 31, 32, 33
are bonded in place to provide a reliable leg assembly which is
bonded to the top plate 10. The transverse openings 26 in the
respective longitudinal sides 24 of the respective receiving
sections 21, 22, and 23 are aligned with each other, allowing
insertion of the forks (not shown) of a forklift (not shown) into
the transverse openings 26. The arrangement of the receiving
sections 21, 22, and 23 and the supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33
improves the strength of the leg assembly.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each extension 27 is folded
inward and bonded to seal a top of the associated receiving section
21, 22 and to improve the strength of the leg assembly.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, two reinforcing piece 28 are
obtained on each longitudinal side 24 of each receiving section 21,
22, 23 after the punching procedure, with each reinforcing piece 28
having a side still connected to the associated longitudinal side
24. One of the reinforcing pieces 28 is bonded to a bottom wall
delimiting an associated transverse opening 26, and the other
reinforcing piece 28 is bonded to the reinforcing piece 28, forming
a reinforced structure, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified embodiment of the
invention, wherein a folded plate 30 is mounted in each receiving
section 21, 22, 23 and bonded between the bottom side 25 and each
supporting block (now designed by 310, 320, 330). As illustrated in
FIG. 10, each folded plate 30 is in the form of a plate that is
folded, and the folded sections 36 of the plate 30 are bonded
together. And the supporting blocks 310, 320, 330 are bonded on the
folded plate 30, forming a leg. Reinforcing boards 340 are mounted
in each supporting block 310, 320, 330. FIG. 11 illustrates an
alternative embodiment, wherein a reinforcing plate 350 formed by
folding a paper board is mounted in each supporting block 310, 320,
330.
[0031] It is noted that the pallet in FIGS. 8 and 9 may include the
arrangement of the transverse openings 26 and the reinforcing
pieces 28.
[0032] As apparent from the foregoing, the leg assembly of the
pallet in accordance with the present invention has improved
strength and allows insertion of the forks of a forklift along
either a longitudinal direction or a transverse direction.
[0033] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible
without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of
the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *