Pallet

Abstract

Pallet comprises a load-supporting deck which is attached to and supported by a frame made up of channel sections arranged so that access is provided for receiving the fork of a lift truck from four directions. The supporting deck is welded to the supporting frame and the channel sections of the frame are welded together.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to material handling equipment and more particularly to an improved load-bearing pallet especially suitable for transportation by forklift trucks.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a lightweight, heavy-duty pallet including a load-supporting deck which, in turn, is welded to and supported by a frame made up of channel sections arranged in a pattern to enable entry of a lift truck fork from any one of a number of directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pallet of the invention comprises a load-supporting deck attached to and mounted on a frame which includes a plurality of substantially similar channel sections. Each of the channel sections is made up of a pair of spaced flanges connected by a web and is disposed with its open side up. The channel sections are arranged to form an enclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extending substantially normal to each other. The web of each channel section extends longitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges and one of each of the projecting ends is raised above the plane of the web while the other projecting end extends coplanar with the web. The channel sections are arranged with the raised projecting web end of one section resting on and welded to the coplanar projecting web section of the adjacent section. The channel sections thus from a deck-supporting frame having two pairs of opposed passageways for receiving the fork of a lift truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view with a portion cut away for clarity of the pallet of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of two of the channel sections making up the deck-supporting frame of the pallet of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 designates a load-supporting deck preferably made of sheet metal which, in turn, is supported by a frame, designated generally by reference numeral 4. The deck supporting frame 4 is made up of four similar channel sections 6 each of which is formed with parallel flanges 8 connected by a web 10. The channel sections 6 are disposed with their open sides up and arranged to form an enclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extending normal to each other. The web 10 of each channel section extends longitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges 8 with one projecting end 12 being raised above the plane of the web and the other projecting end 14 extending coplanar with the web. As best shown in FIG. 1 and 3, the channel sections 6 are arranged with the raised projecting web end 12 of one section resting on and connected with the coplanar projecting web end 14 of the adjacent section so that the channel sections form a frame having two pairs of opposed passageways 16 for receiving the fork of a lift truck (not shown).

The upper edges of each of the flanges 8 of each channel section are provided with aligned transverse notches 18 for accommodating a portion of a tie band (not shown) therein. If desired the deck 2, which overhangs the supporting frame 4 around its periphery, may be provided with spaced open end radially extending notches 20, one above a projection of each pair of notches in the flanges of each channel section of the frame 4. The notches 18 and 20 make it possible for a tie band to be threaded under the deck of the pallet and then be brought around the top of the load on the pallet, tensioned and joined end-to-end to secure the load on the pallet deck.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A pallet comprising a load-supporting deck, a frame attached to and supporting said deck, said supporting frame including a plurality of substantially similar channel sections, each of said channel sections including a pair of spaced flanges connected by a web, said channel sections being disposed with their open sides up and arranged to form an enclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extending substantially normal to each other, the web of each channel section extending longitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges, one of each of said projecting ends being raised above the plane of the web and the other projecting end extending coplanar with the web, said channel sections being arranged with the raised projecting web end of one section resting on and connected with said coplanar projecting web end of the adjacent section, said channel sections thus forming two pairs of opposed passageways for receiving the fork of a lift truck.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said deck and said deck-supporting frame are made of metal and said deck is welded to said deck-supporting frame.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the channel sections of said deck-supporting frame are welded together at their adjoining ends.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the upper edges of the flanges of each of the channel sections are provided with aligned transverse notches intermediate the ends thereof adapted to accommodate a portion of a tie band therein.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4 in which said deck overhangs said supporting frame around its periphery, and said deck is formed with spaced open end radially extending notches in the periphery thereof, one substantially above a projection of each pair of notches in the flanges of each channel section of said deck-supporting frame.