U.S. patent application number 14/167870 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-31 for stackable pallet system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tyler Hobson. Invention is credited to Tyler Hobson.
Application Number | 20140209499 14/167870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51221761 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140209499 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hobson; Tyler |
July 31, 2014 |
Stackable Pallet System
Abstract
A stackable pallet system for holding items has a stand and
stackable pallets. The stand has a top end, a bottom end, and
sides. Vertical corner pieces on the stand are connected to one
another at intersections of the sides of the stand, and each corner
piece has a toe disposed at the top end of the stand. The stackable
pallets can stack one on top of the other and can stack on the
stand. The stackable pallets each have a top end, a bottom end, and
sides and each have corner pieces connected to one another at
intersections of the sides. Similar to the stand, each corner piece
of the pallets has a toe disposed at the top end and defining a
receptacle at the bottom end. When stacking pallets, the receptacle
of each corner piece on a top one of the stackable pallets can
receive or fit on the toe of a corresponding one of the corner
pieces on a bottom one of the stackable pallets. To stack on the
stand, the receptacle of each corner piece on the bottom one of the
stackable pallets can receive or fit the toe of a corresponding one
of the corner pieces on the stand. To help move the stacked
pallets, the stand can have casters or wheels.
Inventors: |
Hobson; Tyler; (Montgomery,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hobson; Tyler |
Montgomery |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51221761 |
Appl. No.: |
14/167870 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61758405 |
Jan 30, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 19/42 20130101;
B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D 2519/00164 20130101; B65D 2519/00333
20130101; B65D 19/10 20130101; B65D 2519/00233 20130101; B65D
2519/00298 20130101; B65D 21/0215 20130101; B65D 2519/00606
20130101; B65D 2519/00059 20130101; B65D 19/06 20130101; B65D
2519/00701 20130101; B62B 3/02 20130101; B65D 2519/00024 20130101;
B65D 2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00626 20130101; B65D 19/0097
20130101; B62B 3/005 20130101; B65D 21/0224 20130101; B65D
2519/00641 20130101; B65D 19/385 20130101; B65D 2519/00512
20130101; B65D 2519/00646 20130101; B65D 2519/00293 20130101; B62B
3/006 20130101; B65D 2519/0097 20130101; B65D 2519/00502 20130101;
B65D 2519/00562 20130101; B65D 2519/00781 20130101; B65D 19/0095
20130101; B65D 2519/00323 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/503 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02 |
Claims
1. A pallet system for holding items, the system comprising: a
plurality of stackable pallets being stackable one on top of the
other, the stackable pallets each having a top, a bottom, sides and
vertical supports, one or more of the vertical supports having a
top connector disposed at the top of the stackable pallet and
having a bottom connector disposed at the bottom of the stackable
pallet, the bottom connector on a top one of the stackable pallets
adapted to engage the top connector of a corresponding one of the
vertical supports on a bottom one of the stackable pallets.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein each stackable pallet comprises
at least one rack surface disposed across the stackable pallet.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the stackable
pallets comprises a first of the at least one rack surfaces
disposed above a second of the at least one rack surfaces.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein a first of the stackable pallets
comprises one or more sidewalls covering one or more of the sides
of the first stackable pallet and connected across adjoining ones
of the vertical supports.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more
sidewalls comprises hinges disposed on an edge of the at least one
sidewall and connected to the bottom of the first stackable
pallet.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more
sidewalls comprises edges removably connected to the adjoining ones
of the vertical supports.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first stackable pallet has
three of the sidewalls covering three of four of the sides of the
first stackable pallet.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one lock
removably affixing one of the vertical supports disposed at the top
one of the stackable pallets to another of the vertical supports
disposed at the bottom one of the stackable pallets.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stand on which the
stackable pallets are stackable.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the stand comprises vertical
supports connected to one another along sides of the stand, one or
more of the vertical supports having a top connector disposed at a
top of the stand, wherein each top connector on the one or more
vertical supports is adapted to engage the bottom connector of a
corresponding one of the vertical supports on the stackable pallet
stacked on the stand.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the stand comprises casters
disposed on a bottom of the stand.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the stackable pallets each have
four of the sides and four of the vertical supports disposed at
intersections of the four sides.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the top connector comprises a
toe disposed on a top end of the vertical support.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the toe comprises a cap having
edges attached to the top end of the vertical support, the cap
having a central portion extending from the edges.
15. The system of claim of claim 13, wherein the bottom connector
comprises a receptacle disposed in a bottom end of the vertical
support, the receptacle receiving the toe inserted therein.
16. A stackable pallet system for holding items, the system
comprising: a stand having a top, a bottom, sides, and first
vertical supports, one or more of the first vertical supports
having a top connector disposed at the top of the stand; and a
plurality of stackable pallets being stackable one on top of the
other and on the stand, the stackable pallets each having a top, a
bottom, sides, and second vertical supports, one or more of the
second vertical supports having a top connector disposed at the top
of the stackable pallet and having a bottom connector at the bottom
of the stackable pallet, the bottom connector on a top one of the
stackable pallets adapted to engage the top connector either of the
stand or a corresponding one of the second vertical supports on a
bottom one of the stackable pallets.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the top connector comprises a
toe disposed on a top end of the first or second vertical support;
and wherein the bottom connector comprises a receptacle disposed in
a bottom end of the second vertical support, the receptacle
receiving the toe inserted therein.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the toe comprises a cap having
edges attached to the top end of the vertical support, the cap
having a central portion extending from the edges.
19. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one lock
removably affixing stacked ones of the first or second vertical
supports to one another.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the stand comprises casters
disposed on a bottom of the stand.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Appl. 61/758,405, filed 30-Jan.-2013, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Pallets are used in a number of industries to hold items for
various purposes. For example, pallets hold items for shipping and
storage before the particular items are individually distributed.
In a machine shop, factory, or other work environment, pallets can
hold items during the process of assembly, manufacture, and
eventual transport. Although pallets are very useful, they can be
hard to move or handle, especially in environments where a forklift
or other device is not readily available or accessible. What is
needed is a way to store items on pallets in a way that can meet
the needs of a user.
[0003] The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to
overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the
problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] A stackable pallet system for holding items includes a stand
and a plurality of stackable pallets. The stackable pallets are
stackable one on top of the other and on the stand. Each of the
stackable pallets has a top, a bottom, and sides, and each has
vertical supports connected to one another along the sides. One or
more of the vertical supports has a top connector disposed at the
top of the stackable pallet and has a bottom connector at the
bottom of the stackable pallet. The bottom connector on a top one
of the stackable pallets is adapted to engage the top connector of
a corresponding one of the vertical supports on a bottom one of the
stackable pallets.
[0005] The stand similarly has a top, a bottom, and sides and has
vertical supports connected to one another along the sides of the
stand. One or more of these vertical supports has a top connector
disposed at the top of the stand. The top connector on the top of
the stand can engage the bottom connector of a corresponding one of
the vertical pieces on the pallet stacked on the stand.
[0006] At least one lock can removably affixes stacked ones of the
vertical supports to another, and the stand can include casters
disposed on a bottom of the stand. The top connector can be a toe
disposed on a top end of the vertical support, and the bottom
connector can be a receptacle disposed in a bottom end of the
vertical support. When vertical supports are stacked together, the
receptacle receives the toe inserted therein. In a particular
implementation, the toe includes a cap having edges attached to the
top end of the vertical support, where the cap has a central
portion extending from the edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates stackable pallets of a pallet system
according to the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2A illustrates a first side of one of the stackable
pallets in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 2B illustrates a second side of the stackable pallet in
FIG. 2A.
[0010] FIG. 2C illustrates a reverse arrangement of toe and
receptacles for the disclosed stackable pallets.
[0011] FIG. 3A illustrate an isolated perspective view of a toe for
the stackable pallet system of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 3B illustrates the toe of FIG. 3A disposed on a top end
of a vertical corner piece of a stackable pallet.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a particular arrangement of stackable
pallets on a stand of the disclosed system.
[0014] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate perspective views of other types of
stackable pallets for the disclosed system.
[0015] FIGS. 5C-5D illustrates embodiments of hinged or removable
sidewalls for the disclosed stackable pallets.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates another particular arrangement of
stackable pallets on a stand.
[0017] FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate types of locking mechanisms for the
stackable pallets of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates stackable pallets 20 of a pallet system
10 according to the present disclosure. The pallet system 10 holds
any of a variety of items on the stackable pallets 20 which can be
moved and stacked on top of one another for storage, transport, and
use. The stackable pallets 20 each have a top end 21, a bottom end
25, and sides 22a-d and each have vertical corner pieces or
supports 26 connected to one another at intersections of the sides
22a-d. Each corner piece 26 has a top connector or toe 30 disposed
at a top end and has a bottom connector or receptacle 28 at a
bottom end. To stack the pallets 20, the bottom connector 28
engages the top connector 30. In particular, the receptacle 28 of
each corner piece 26 on a top one of the stackable pallets 20 is
adapted to receive or fit on the toe 30 of a corresponding one of
the corner pieces 26 on a bottom one of the stackable pallets
20.
[0019] In general, the pallet 20 can be composed of any suitable
materials, such as metal, wood, plastic, or the like, depending on
the durability required and the items to be held. As shown, the
pallets 20 can have four sides 22a-d, although other configurations
of three or more sides can be used. Additionally, the vertical
pieces 26 need not be specifically at the corners of the sides
22a-d.
[0020] The corner pieces 26 are structural in nature and,
therefore, can be constructed in a manner to support a significant
amount of weight. In fact, the weight of items on the pallet's
surface 24 and from other pallets 20 stacked above transfers to the
corner pieces 26, which can stably support the load. The corner
pieces 26 in one particular implementation can be hollow square
tubing composed of metal and can be 2-inches wide. The receptacle
28, then, of the corner piece 26 can be the open, hollow ends of
the tubing used. Of course, the pieces 26 can be cylindrical,
solid, or other shape.
[0021] The pallet 20 can be rectangular, square, triangular, round,
oval, or any other shape. The current configuration shown is
rectangular. In overall size, one configuration of the rectangular
pallet 20 can be 17-in. high, 36-in. wide along the short sides
22a-b, and 44-in. along the long sides 22c-d. The bottom ends of
the corner pieces 26 can extend about 3-in. below the lower edge of
the sides 22a-d, while the top end and toe 30 can extend about
2-in. above the upper end of the sides 22a-d. Of course, other
sizes can be used depending on the items to be held with the pallet
20.
[0022] As also shown, the bottom end 25 of the pallets 20 has a
rack surface 24 for placing and holding items thereon. The rack
surface 24 depicted here is latticed metal mesh, but another other
suitable surfaces can be used, such as a flat surface, sheet metal,
lateral slats, bars, etc.
[0023] The sides 22a-d of the pallet 20 may also have surfaces or
sidewalls 23. For example, FIG. 2A shows a long side 22c-d of a
stackable pallet 22. The side 22c-d has a sidewall 23 constructed
by cross members or slats 23a-b on upper and lower edges of a metal
mesh 23c. Any number of other constructions can be used for the
sidewall 23. The benefit of using the mesh 23c is that the items
held on the pallet's rack surface 24 can be seen through the mesh
23c. The slats 23a-b and mesh 23c connect between adjoining corner
pieces 26 to form the sidewall 23 on the side 22c-d of the pallet
20. The slats 23a-b can be L-shaped bars that form a bottom edge to
support the rack surface 24 and that form a side edge to help hold
items on the rack surface 24.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2B, a short side 22a-b of the stackable
pallet 20 shows how the rack surface 24 may be supported underneath
by one or more crossbeams 27 that extend between lower slats 23b.
The need, size, and number of crossbeams 27 depends on how much
support is needed for the items to be held on the pallet 20. The
crossbeam 27 can be a 2-in. by 3-in. hollow beam composed of metal
or the like.
[0025] As mentioned above, each corner piece 26 of the disclosed
pallets 20 has a toe 30 disposed on a top end thereof. Although it
is not strictly necessary that each corner piece 26 has a toe 30,
it is preferred that they do for adequate support. As shown in FIG.
3A, the toe 30 can be a nesting cap having edges 32 that surround
an extended central portion 34. As shown in FIG. 3B, the edges 32
attached by welding or the like to the top end of the corner pieces
26 so that the extended central portion 34 extends beyond the top
end. The extended portion 34 can be square in shape and can be
about 1-in. wide for use with corner pieces 26 that are 2-in.
square tubing.
[0026] As will be appreciated, various other types of toes can be
used. Moreover, instead of having the toe 30 for the top connector
at the top end and having the receptacle 28 for the bottom
connector at the bottom end of the corner pieces 26, the reverse
arrangement could be used as shown in FIG. 2C. As such, reference
to top and bottom here and in the claims is merely meant to be
illustrative for the purposes of understanding.
[0027] As noted previously, the stackable pallets 20 can be stacked
one on top of another for the purposes of storage, transport, and
use. A particular arrangement of stackable pallets 20 for the
system 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 has a stand 40 on which the
stackable pallets 20 can stack. The stand 40 is similar to the
stackable pallets 20 having a top end 41, a bottom end 45, and
sides 42. Vertical corner pieces or supports 46 are connected to
one another at intersections of the sides 42 of the stand 40, and
each corner piece 46 has a top connector or toe 48 disposed at its
top end.
[0028] During use, the stackable pallets 20 can stack one on top of
the other on the stand 40. In particular, the receptacle 28 of each
corner piece 26 on the bottom one of the stackable pallets 20
receives or fits on the toe 48 of a corresponding one of the corner
pieces 46 on the stand 40. Then, additional stackable pallets 20
can stack thereon as described previously. Finally, the entire
stack can be moved about on a floor using casters 44, wheels, or
the like disposed on the bottom end 45 of the stand 40, preferably
at the corner pieces 46.
[0029] Previous embodiments of the stackable pallets 20 have had
sidewalls enclosing all the sides 22a-d of the pallet 20. This is
not strictly necessary because other embodiments of pallets 20 may
have fewer closed sidewalls. In FIG. 5A, for example, the stackable
pallet 20 has three sides 22b-d enclosed with sidewalls 23, but has
one open side 22a allowing items to be inserted and removed from
the rack surface 24 through that opened side 22a. In another
example of FIG. 5B, a stackable pallet 20 has four open sides
22a-d.
[0030] In still other embodiments, one or more sidewalls 23 may be
removable or may be openable on a side 22 of the pallet 20. In one
example shown in FIG. 5C, a sidewall 23 can be affixed by hinges
50, fasteners, or the like to one of the sides 22a-d of the pallet
20 in FIG. 5A. In another example shown in FIG. 5D, a sidewall 23
can have end tubes 52 that slide on adjacent corner pieces 26 to
form a removable sidewall 23 on a side 22a-d of the pallet 20 in
FIG. 5B. These and other configurations are possible.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, the various types of stackable pallets
20 can be stacked one on top of the other as before and can be used
on a stand 40. In FIG. 6, for example, the system 10 has a bottom
most pallet 20A with four enclosed sides stacked on the stand 40.
The next stacked pallet 20B has one open side, and the top pallet
20C has all four open sides. Moreover, the embodiment of the top
pallet 20C depicted in FIG. 6 has two rack surfaces 24 disposed
between the corner pieces 26. These and other configurations of
pallets 20 can be stacked in any desirable order on the stand
40.
[0032] Filling and emptying the stacked pallets 20 in FIGS. 4 and 6
can be performed as expected, depending on whether a given pallet
20 has open sides or not or has to be filled or emptied when
another pallet is not stacked on top of it. When it is desired to
move the stacked pallets 20 by lifting it on a truck, shelf, or the
like with a forklift or other device, the forks can fit under the
bottom end of the lower most pallet 20 to lift all of the pallets
20 while leaving the stand 40 in place. The stacked pallets 20 can
be tied together with tie rods disposed longitudinally thereabout
to hold the stack together if desired.
[0033] In addition, the various stacked pallets 20 can be locked
together and can be locked to the stand 40 using any of a number of
locking mechanisms or fasteners. As shown in FIG. 7A, for example,
one locking mechanism 60 for the stackable pallets 20 can use a
c-clamp 62, clip, or the like that fits in cross-holes in the
corner pieces 26 between stacked pallets 40. Fasteners 64, such as
butterfly nuts or the like, can then thread onto the free ends of
the c-clamp 62 to affix the two corner pieces 26 together. A
similar mechanism can be used on one or more of the other corner
pieces 26 between the stacked pallets 20.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7B, another locking mechanism 70 for the
stackable pallets 20 can use a bolt 72 that fits in cross-holes in
the corner piece 26 at the receptacle 28 and that fits in a
cross-hole 31 in the toe 30 between stacked pallets 40. Here in
FIG. 7B, the toe 30 is depicted as an extended bar, but other
shapes can be used. A fastener 64, such as butterfly nuts or the
like, can then thread onto the free end of the bolt 72 to affix the
toe 30 inside the receptacle 28. A similar mechanism can be used on
one or more of the other corner pieces 26 between the stacked
pallets 20.
[0035] When one or more of the corner pieces 26 of stacked pallets
20 are affixed together with the locking mechanisms 60 and 70 in
the manner described, the stack of pallets 20 can have improved
stability. Although not shown, locking mechanisms such as the
c-clamp device 60 and bolt device 70 of FIGS. 7A-7B can be used at
the junction of the stand's corner pieces 46 and those corner
pieces 26 of the pallet 20 stacked thereon.
[0036] The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments
is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of
the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will be
appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that
features described above in accordance with any embodiment or
aspect of the disclosed subject matter can be utilized, either
alone or in combination, with any other described feature, in any
other embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter.
[0037] In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained
herein, the Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the
appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims
include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that
they come within the scope of the following claims or the
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *