Wire-formed Pallet

Abstract

A heavy duty wire-formed pallet is provided which is light in weight, but yet which is rugged in its construction. The pallet of the invention may be stacked with other like pallets to be stored in a minimum of space when not in use. The pallet is constructed to be capable of supporting heavy loads without sagging or damage. The structure incorporates a pair of side rails formed of metal strips, and which are supported at the ends of appropriate pedestals, to constitute a stable, wide-tread supporting base for the pallet when it is heavily loaded.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most prior art pallets are made of wood, and although usually cheap and inexpensive, they may be easily broken. The prior art wooden pallets are difficult to clean, and they are relatively heavy. The wire formed pallet of the present invention, on the other hand, is light in weight. Moreover, the pallet to be described is of a sturdy construction, and it is not subject to breakage. The pallet of the invention is capable of supporting heavy loads without sagging, and in a stable manner. The pallet is easy to clean, for example, by a detergent spray.

The pallet of the invention is constructed of metal wire rods and metallic strips. The wire rods form the load bearing surface for the pallet, which is displaced up from the supporting floor by appropriate pedestals. As mentioned above, a pair of strips is affixed to the lower ends of the pedestals, and extend from one end of the pallet to the other to form a wide-tread stable load supporting frame for the pallet.

The pedestals, as will be described, are affixed to the load bearing surface of the pallet by additional steel rods which extend across the pallet and form trusses with the other wire rods, so that the pallet is capable of supporting heavy loads without sagging.

The resulting pallet frame and the trusses at the load bearing surface of the pallet, as mentioned, form a sturdy and strong support for the load. The pallet is constructed so that the force of a lift truck or pallet truck may extend freely into the sides or ends of the pallet.

The pallet of the invention is particularly useful in warehouses for storing or handling goods. In that respect, the particular pallet of the invention is constructed to handle relatively heavy loads without any tendancy for the structure to break or sag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 2 is a detail showing of one corner of the pallet of FIG. 1, and particularly illustrating the manner in which the pedestal at that corner is attached to the load bearing surface of the pallet; and

FIG. 3 shows the manner in which two pallets, such as the pallet shown in FIG. 1, may be stacked on one another for storage in a minimum space, when the pallets are not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pallet illustrated in the drawing includes a peripheral metallic strip member 10 which is configured to circumscribe a predetermined rectangular area, and which defines side edges and end edges for the pallet.

A first plurality of U-shaped wire rods 12 extend from one end of the pallet to the other in spaced parallel relationship, and these wire rods are welded, or otherwise attached to the peripheral strip 10 at the end edges of the pallet.

A second plurality of U-shaped wire rods 14 extend transversely across the rectangular area from one side of the pallet to the other, and these latter wire rods are welded, or otherwise affixed to the strip 10 at the side edges of the pallet.

The wire rods 12 are welded to the wire rods 14 at the cross-over points. As illustrated, the wire rods preferably have a rectangular cross section, and have a height greater than the width thereof for maximum load support capabilities.

A plurality of pedestals 18 are mounted at each side of the pallet, with a pedestal being positioned at each corner, and at the intermediate point of each side. Each of the pedestals 18 is formed, for example of a metal strip having a generally U-shaped configuration, and each having sides converging downwardly toward the bit portion. The pedestals are welded, or otherwise attached to additional transverse wire rods 20 which extend transversely across the pallet in spaced parallel relationship with corresponding rods 14, but on the opposite side of the rods 12 with respect thereto. The additional rods 20 are also welded, or otherwise affixed to the rods 12 at the cross-over points. The rods 20 form trusses with the corresponding rods 14 to increase the load bearing capabilities of the structure.

A pair of relatively wide strips 30 is welded, or otherwise affixed to the lower ends of the respective pedestals 18, as shown. The strips 30 extend along the side of the pallet in spaced parallel relationship with the load bearing surface formed by the rods 12, 14 and 20. The strips 30 form stable support rails for the pallet. Apertures may be provided in the individual strips, as shown, as well as in the pedestals 18, to lighten the weight of the pallet.

The pallet of FIG. 1 is designated generally as 50 in FIG. 3 and, as shown, it may be stacked on a similar pallet 50A, so that the pallet may be stored in a minimum space, when not in use.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved heavy duty wire formed pallet which is capable of supporting heavy loads in a stable manner. While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended to cover the modifications in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A load-bearing wire-formed pallet comprising: a peripheral strip member configured to circumscribe a predetermined rectangular area and to define end edges and side edges for the pallet; a first plurality of U-shaped wire rods affixed to said peripheral strip member and extending in spaced parallel relationship across the rectangular area from one of the side edges to the other; a second plurality of U-shaped wire rods affixed to said peripheral strip member and extending in spaced parallel relationship transversely across the rectangular area from one of the end edges to the other in transverse relationship with the rods of the first plurality; a plurality of pedestals for the pallet mounted at each side thereof, each of said pedestals being formed of a flat metallic strip configured to a generally U-shaped configuration having downwardly converging sides; a pair of flat strips affixed to the pedestals and extending along each side of the pallet in spaced parallel relationship with the plane of said rectangular area to constitute support rails for the pallet; and a plurality of additional wire rods extending across the rectangular area from one of the side edges to the other in space and parallel relationship with certain of the wire rods of the second plurality on opposite sides of the wire rods of the first plurality with respect thereto to form trusses, said pedestals being affixed to respective ones of the additional rods.

2. The load-bearing wire-formed pallet defined in claim 1 in which said wire rods of said first and second pluralities have a rectangular section of the height of each of said rods being greater than the width.

3. The load-bearing wire-formed pallet defined in claim 1 in which said wire rods of the second plurality are affixed to the wire rods of the first plurality at the cross-over points thereof.

4. The load-bearing wire-formed pallet defined in claim 1 in which said strip forming said support rails have openings therein of a particular configuration and extending along the length thereof.