Wire-formed Pallet

Abstract

An improved wire-formed pallet is provided as a load carrying platform for storing or handling goods in a warehouse or other facility and for shipment of unit loads via rail and truck. The wire-formed platform of the invention is constructed to be nestable, so that many such platforms may be stored in a minimum space when not in use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the prior art pallets are made from wood, and although relatively cheap, they may be easily damaged and broken. In addition, the prior art wooden pallets are subject to contamination and provide numerous incubation areas for the rapid growth of bacteria. It is very difficult and costly to clean wooden pallets because they must be handled one at a time. Wood splinters and loose nails add to the hazards of wood pallets. Because they are made of resinous or hardwoods, they are extremely flammable. They are also heavy and hard to handle. Moreover, such prior art pallets are not constructed to be nestable, so that when not in use, they require a relatively large amount of storage space.

The wire-formed pallet of the present invention, on the other hand, is light in weight, and also is extremely resistant to wear and breakage. The pallet of the invention is a sturdy construction, and is not subject to breakage. Moreover, the pallet of the invention being made of steel wire will not absorb or retain liquids or other contaminants and it is devoid of cracks, crevices and depressions which serve as host areas for the breeding of various strains of bacteria.

Unlike the prior art pallets of wood, plastic and other materials, the pallet of this invention has no cups, pockets, steel runners or indentations of a similar nature which tend to form collection areas for various and sundry dirt and debris and for the retention of water and other liquids, all of which make it practically impossible to wash or sanitize the prior art pallets.

On the other hand, the pallet of the present invention is easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition because it can be cleaned and sanitized easily, quickly, and when nested. The cleansing action of liquid or foam detergents is very efficient on the open wire construction creating a "trickle action" and flowing by gravity throughout all wires of the nested pallets. After a simple water rinse, the pallets dry rapidly and are ready for use. The pallet of the invention also provides optimum air circulation which is of considerable value in the handling and storage of commodities requiring refrigeration.

In accordance with the invention, a pallet is formed entirely of wires, the wires being configured to provide a load bearing surface displaced up from the supporting floor. The support frame for the pallet of the invention is constituted by trusses made, in the embodiment to be described, of steel rods, or the like which are rigidly welded together. The particular pallet to be described is a four-way type, and is subject to a two-way pallet truck entry, for example, and to a four-way fork lift truck entry. The pallet frame forms the aforesaid trusses at its top surface to form a sturdy and strong support for the load. Also, the pallet is constructed so that all entries for the pallet truck or fork lift truck are free and clear of the supporting floor.

The pallet of the invention, as indicated above, is particularly useful in warehouses, for storing or handling goods, and for transportation of unit loads via rail and truck. The particular pallet of the invention is also appropriate in supporting knock-down bins, which comprise side walls formed of wires or other material, and which may be readily mounted on the supporting pallet to provide bins for the goods to be supported thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a wire-formed pallet constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the pallet of FIG. 1, and it also represents additional like pallets nested on top of one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

The pallet shown in the drawing is formed of a pair of peripheral rods 10 and 12 which, as illustrated, are shaped to define the sides and ends of a rectangular area circumscribed by the peripheral rods. The peripheral rods 10 and 12 are spaced from one another, the rod 10 being disposed above the rod 12 when the pallet is supported in a horizontal plane.

The pallet includes a plurality of transverse rods 14 which extend from one side of the pallet to the other, and which are affixed to the peripheral rods 10 and 12, for example, by welding. The rods 14 are supported between the peripheral rods 10 and 12, as illustrated.

A second plurality of rods 16 extend from one end of the pallet to the other, and these latter rods likewise are affixed, for example, by welding to the peripheral rods 10 and 12, and are interposed between the peripheral rods as shown in FIG. 1.

Certain of the rods 16 are configured to extend in loops out of the plane of the peripheral rods 10 and 12 and to form supports 20 at each corner of the pallet, and to form further supports 22 at the center of the sides of the pallet, as well as somewhat longer supports 24 at the center of each end of the pallet, as well as in the center of the pallet itself.

The supports 20, 22 and 24 are shaped so that the spaces between the supports are free and clear from the supporting surface, such as the floor, so as to permit a two-way entry, for example, for pallet trucks, as mentioned previously, and also to provide a four-way entry for the usual type of fork lift truck.

Rods 16 are welded, or otherwise affixed to the rods 14, so as to provide a rigid and stable structure. Additional straight rods 30 extend from one end of the pallet to the other, and are affixed to the rods 10 and 12 at each end of the pallet by welding or other appropriate means. It will be observed that the rods 16 in the illustrated embodiment extend over the transverse rods 14, whereas the rods 30 extend under the transverse rods 14 and are attached by welding, or the like, to the transverse rods 14 as well as to the respectively adjacent rods 16. The rods 30 form trusses with the rods 14 and 16, so as to provide a sturdy and strong load supporting surface.

Additional transverse rods 32 extend from one side of the pallet to the other, and are configured to pass under the supports formed by the rods 16 for reinforcing purposes. The rods 32 are attached to the rods 16 by welding, or other appropriate means.

The invention provides, therefore, a relatively inexpensive wire-formed pallet which is strong and sturdy, and which is not subject to breakage. The pallet of the invention has the advantage in that it may be easily cleaned. Also, the pallet is constructed to permit nesting when not in use, so as to minimize the storage requirements. The nesting of the pallet is shown in FIG. 2, in which several pallets are represented as being nested down into one another so as to form a compact tier.

The particular construction of the pallet is one which has universal applicability, since the individual supports formed by the wires is such, as described, to permit a two-way pallet truck entry from the ends of the pallet, and a four-way fork lift entry from the sides or ends of the pallet.

While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended in the following claims to cover the embodiments which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A load-bearing wire-formed pallet comprising: a first peripheral wire rod configured to circumscribe a predetermined rectangular area and to define sides and ends for the pallet; a second peripheral rod circumscribing said predetermined rectangular area and extending under said first peripheral rod; a first plurality of rods affixed to said first and second peripheral rods and extending in spaced parallel relationship transversely across the rectangular area from one side of the pallet to the other; a second plurality of rods affixed to said first and second peripheral rods and extending across the rods of said first plurality in spaced and parallel relationship across the rectangular area from one end to the other, selected rods of said second plurality being configured to extend out from the plane of said rectangular area as loops forming supports for the pallet; and further rods affixed to said first and second peripheral rods and extending from one end of the rectangular area to the other across said rods of said first plurality on the opposite side thereof to said rods of second plurality, said further rods being positioned respectively adjacent and affixed to certain ones of said rods of said second plurality to form trusses therewith.

2. The pallet defined in claim 1, in which said rods of said second plurality extend over said rods of said first plurality and are affixed thereto, and in which said further rods extend under said rods of said first plurality and are affixed thereto, and in which said further rods are affixed to the adjacent ones of said rods of said second plurality.

3. The pallet defined in claim 1, and which includes further rods extending across the rectangular area and respectively affixed to said selected rods of said second plurality to form reinforcements for said supports.

4. The pallet defined in claim 3, in which said selected rods and said further rods are shaped to provide said supports at each corner of the pallet.

5. The pallet defined in claim 4, in which said selected rods and further rods are shaped to provide further supports for said pallet at the center of each end thereof, and at the center of the pallet.