U.S. patent application number 11/435039 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for molded pallet having integral and structurally improved tie down points.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shan Industries, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert J. Lux, Michael C. Melymuk.
Application Number | 20070266910 11/435039 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38710823 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070266910 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lux; Robert J. ; et
al. |
November 22, 2007 |
Molded pallet having integral and structurally improved tie down
points
Abstract
A rectangular pallet formed of a body of moldable material
having a lower surface on which the pallet rests, an upper surface
configured for supporting goods thereon and a peripheral edge
extending therearound providing spaced apart end edges and side
edges; first and second structural bars retained within the body
spaced intermediate the top and bottom surfaces and adjacent to and
spaced from either an end edge or a side edge; notches formed in
the edges having structural bars adjacent thereto, each notch
exposing a short length of a structural bar providing tie down
points for receiving flexible tie down members for use in securing
goods to the pallet top surface.
Inventors: |
Lux; Robert J.; (Broken
Arrow, OK) ; Melymuk; Michael C.; (Broken Arrow,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GABLE & GOTWALS
100 WEST FIFTH STREET, 10TH FLOOR
TULSA
OK
74103
US
|
Assignee: |
Shan Industries, LLC
|
Family ID: |
38710823 |
Appl. No.: |
11/435039 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/57.28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00333
20130101; B65D 2519/00308 20130101; B65D 2519/00268 20130101; B65D
2519/00129 20130101; B65D 2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00437
20130101; B65D 2519/00069 20130101; B65D 19/0012 20130101; B65D
2519/00034 20130101; B65D 19/38 20130101; B65D 2519/00318
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/57.28 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/38 20060101
B65D019/38 |
Claims
1. A rectangular pallet formed of a body of moldable material
having a lower surface on which the pallet rests and an upper
surface configured for supporting goods thereon and a peripheral
edge extending therearound providing spaced apart end edges and
side edges; first and second structural bars retained within said
body spaced intermediate said top and bottom surfaces and adjacent
to and spaced from either said end edges or said side edges;
notches formed in said edges having said structural bars adjacent
thereto, each notch exposing a short length of a said structural
bar providing tie down points for receiving flexible tie down
members for use in securing goods to said pallet top surface.
2. A rectangular pallet according to claim 1 wherein said
structural bars are retained within said body adjacent both said
end edges and said side edges and wherein both said side edges and
end edges having spaced apart notches provide spaced apart tie down
points along all edges of said pallet.
3. A rectangular pallet according to claim 1 wherein said
structural bars are metal bars.
4. A rectangular pallet according to claim 1 wherein said
structural bars are tubular.
5. A rectangular pallet according to claim 1 wherein said body
includes fork lift slots therein spaced intermediate said top and
bottom surfaces and below said structural bars.
6. A rectangular pallet according to claim 1 wherein said body has
recesses in said bottom surface forming a structural pattern
providing required strength while reducing the weight of said
pallet.
Description
REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is not based upon any pending domestic or
international patent applications.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0002] This application is not referenced in any microfiche
appendix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates generally to pallets and more
specifically pallets having integral and structurally improved tie
down points.
[0005] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0006] Pallets have long been relied upon to support heavy loads at
a predetermined height above a supporting surface. Pallets
typically have a top section providing a major surface for
receiving loads thereon and a bottom section having a bottom
surface which supports the top section above the surrounding
surface. The bottom section is usually configured to facilitate
accessing the pallet with a fork lift which can then be used to
lift the pallets and its load for transportation to a different
location.
[0007] Early pallets were typically constructed of wood. These
pallets usually have spaced apart, parallel joists with spaced
apart, perpendicular lateral stringers on the top and bottom of the
joists. These early pallets were typically made of inexpensive wood
and held together with nails.
[0008] Over time pallets have become more sophisticated as
different requirements have arisen. Today a common type of pallet
is one that is molded of plastic or fiberglass. Plastic is the
preferred material for pallets as it can be readily molded and
resist deterioration in wet environments.
[0009] Molded plastic pallets can preferably be made by using the
rotational molding process. This process produces a superior
quality pallet having consistent material thickness. As pallets
have grown in size and sophistication, larger and heavier products
are shipped on them. For this reason it is important that provision
can be made for securing products to the pallets. Others have
provided pallets having improved means for securing a load. For
instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,887 to Cook discloses a load divider
for use with a pallet to enable a plurality of layers of products
to be positioned on the pallet. Each of the dividers includes a
"banding slot" as illustrated in FIG. 1 of this patent and
identified by the numeral 30.
[0010] For background information relative to the design and
construction of improved pallets reference may be had to the
following previously issued United States patents:
TABLE-US-00001 Patent Number Inventor Title D371,881 Provot Pallet
D417,539 Koskinen Pallet 4,735,154 Hemery Reinforced Loading Pallet
and Process For Reinforcing Same 4,869,179 Sammons et al.
Interchangeable Part Plastic Pallet 5,197,396 Breezer et al. Double
Deck Plastic Pallet 5,408,937 Knight IV et al. Ventilated Pallet
5,809,907 Bumgarner Pallet Assembly 5,868,080 Wyler et al.
Reinforced Plastic Pallets and Methods of Fabrication 6,125,770
Brandenburg Plastic Pallet 6,357,366 Frankenberg Rackable Molded
Pallet 6,418,861 Flam Modular Pallet Construction 6,446,563
Ohanesian Thermoplastic Pallet 6,718,887 Cook Sr. Pallet Divider
6,807,911 Carson et al. Pallet With Stress Resistant Structure
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The invention herein consists of a rectangular pallet formed
of a body of moldable material. The pallet body has a lower surface
on which the pallet rests and an upper surface configured for
supporting goods thereon. A peripheral edge extends around the
pallet providing spaced apart end edges and side edges, the side
edges being perpendicular to the end edges. Structural bars,
preferably of stainless steel are retained within the body by being
molded in place and are spaced intermediate the top and bottom
surfaces. The bars are positioned adjacent to but spaced slightly
from the end edges and side edges.
[0012] Notches are formed in the pallet edges in a way that each
notch exposes a short length of a structural bar. The exposed
lengths of bars provide tie down points for receiving tie down
members for use in securing goods to the pallet top surface.
[0013] In a preferred arrangement the structural bars are formed of
metal, and most preferably are formed of tubular metal rods.
[0014] Fork lift slots are conveniently spaced intermediate the top
and bottom surfaces and below the structural bars.
[0015] As is characteristic of most molded pallets in use today the
pallet of this invention preferably is configured with recesses in
the top and bottom surfaces forming a structural pattern that
provides strength while reducing the weight of the pallet.
[0016] A better understanding of the invention will be obtained
from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings and the attached
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pallet that incorporates
the principals of this invention. The pallet is formed of molded
plastic and has an upper surface as seen in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the bottom surface of
the pallet. The top and bottom surfaces are horizontal and spaced
from each other a uniform distance that is the thickness of the
pallet.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken along
the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 4 is another elevational cross-sectional view, this one
taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] It is to be understood that the invention that is now to be
described is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of
ways. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for
purposes of description and not limitation.
[0022] Elements shown by the drawings are identified by the
following numbers:
TABLE-US-00002 10 Pallet 12 Side edge 14 Side edge 16 End edge 18
End edge 20 Top 22 Bottom 24 Voids in top surface 26 Voids in
bottom surface 28 Notches in the end and side edges 30A-D
Structural bars 32 openings
[0023] Referring the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a top isometric
view is shown of a pallet that exemplifies the principals of this
invention. The pallet as shown in FIG. 1 is rectangular, that is,
longer than it is wide. In some embodiments the pallet may be
square and the invention herein is equally applicable to either
configuration.
[0024] In FIG. 1 the pallet is generally indicated by the numeral
10. The pallet illustrated in FIG. 1, as previously mentioned, is
rectangular and has opposed paralleled side edges 12 and 14 and,
perpendicular thereto, opposed end edges 16 and 18. Pallet 10 has a
top horizontal surface 20 and, corresponding, a bottom horizontal
surface 22. Pallet 10 is preferably manufactured as a molded
plastic product. While various molding techniques can be employed,
the product is well suited for manufacturer by rotational molding.
A major use of the pallet is to store and transport material.
Therefore high strength is an essential requirement. However, the
total weight of the pallet is also relevant. For this reason,
pallet 10, like previously known pallets made of molded plastic
material, is preferably manufactured in a grid-like format that is
with elongated portions of the pallet that have full thickness
integrity from one end to the other or from one side to the other.
These integral, full thickness portions function as integral
structural members like joists in a wood framed structure or like
I-beams in a steel structure. Interspersed with these full
thickness portions are other portions that are void through the
full thickness of the pallet. Void portions may be formed by
recesses in the top surface 20 or the bottom surface 22. Voids or
recesses in the upper surface 22 are illustrated, by example, by
the numeral 24. Voids in the bottom surface are illustrated, as
examples, by the numeral 26. In designing the details of a molded
pallet such as that shown in FIG. 1, engineers select designs to
provide the maximum overall strength relative to total weight of
the pallet along with designs that add utility to the pallet.
[0025] Cross-sectional FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a design in which
top surface 20 has voids 24, some of which communicate with voids
26 in bottom surface 22.
[0026] As seen in the drawings, top surface 20 has a series of
spaced apart notches along each of the end edges 16 and 18 and side
edges 12 and 14. Notches in the end edges 16 and 18 as well as
notches in the side edges 12 and 14 are indicated by the numeral
28. In the illustrated design each of the side edges 12 and 14 has
five notches 28 and, in like manner, each of the end edges 16 and
18 has five notches 28 therein. Thus in the pallet upper surface 20
twenty notches 28 are provided.
[0027] Integrally formed within the pallet and spaced slightly
below top surface 20 and slightly inwardly of side edges 12 and 14
and end edges 16 and 18 are four structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and
30D. All of the structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are seen in
FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 only structural bars 30B and 30D are seen as
exposed by notches 28 and in FIGS. 3 and 4, only structural bars
30C and 30D are seen and these only in cross-section.
[0028] Structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are preferably formed
of metal, such as steel or stainless steel. The structural bars may
be solid, or as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bars may be tubular.
The structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are preferably fully
enclosed in the material of which the pallet 10 is molded except
where the bars are exposed by notches 28. In this manner the bars
are not in position to cause damage to any object into which the
pallet may come in contact and the bars are preserved from
corrosive fluids and gases, except at notches 28.
[0029] Structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D as exposed in spaced
apart locations by notches 28 provides convenient tie down points.
There are thus as many tie down points at the top surface 20 of
pallet 10 as notches 28. When heavy loads are carried on the
pallets in certain shipping conditions, it is important that the
loads be fastened securely to the pallets. This is particularly
true if pallets are used in aircraft where the pallets are
subjected to stresses from the load carried thereon upon take off,
landings and turbulent weather. The same is true for pallets used
on ships that are subject to rough seas. Therefore, convenient
structural tie down points are very important and add materially to
the usefulness and convenience of pallet 10 as illustrated
herein.
[0030] Pallets are frequently moved from one location to another by
a fork lift. For this reason, pallet 20 as illustrated herein has
provision for receiving the tines of a fork lift. FIG. 2 shows
openings 32 formed in the molded pallet that can receive fork lift
tines (not shown). The openings 32 are positioned below the
elevation of notches 28 and the structural bars exposed at each
notch 28 so that room exists for tie down members to extend within
a notch and around a structural bar in a way that will not
interfere with fork lift tines.
[0031] Structural bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are, as stated above,
preferably formed of metal and can be solid bars or tubular bars,
however the bars can be formed of non-metallic material, including
stiff, rigid plastic or fiberglass. When a pallet of this invention
is particularly designed for use in corrosive atmospheres it may be
desirable, in some instances, to provide bars 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D
made other than of metal. Except for resisting corrosion, the use
of metal bars is deemed to be the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0032] As previously stated, it is important to tie down materials
positioned on the pallet to resist displacement, and for this
reason it is customary to use nets that are spread over goods
placed on the pallet and the periphery of the nets are then secured
to the pallet. These kinds of nets are sometimes referred to as
"cargo nets". The improved integral and structural tie down points
provided by pallets of this invention make the pallet particularly
useful in combination with nets of various types. Most net systems
function best with multiple attachment points between the net and
the pallet. The molded pallet as described herein has integral and
structurally improved tie down points that make it specifically
useful to receive nets and to receive loads that are best retained
on the pallet by the use of nets.
[0033] The pallet of this invention is particularly useful in
combination with a metal pallet. Metal pallets are very useful for
supporting large and heavy loads but have the disadvantage of being
very expensive. The molded pallet of this invention can be used by
positioning it on a metal pallet so that when a delivery of goods
is made to a destination, the molded pallet can be used to transfer
the goods to the final destination and the metal pallet can then be
conveniently returned on the carrier by which it arrived. This
system is sometimes referred to as associate intermodial platform
pallets that goes by the abbreviation AIP pallets. This is another
illustration of the application of the pallet of this invention for
improved movement and storage of materials.
[0034] While the invention has been described with a certain degree
of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in
the details of construction and the arrangement of components
without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It
is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments
set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be
limited only by the scope of the attached claims, including the
full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is
entitled.
* * * * *