Loading platform

Abstract

An improved loading platform or pallet formed in a single body or element by molding includes eight rectangular external elongated frame partitions, aligned in pairs, forming the edges of a rectangle, the vertices and a central zone of which are free. The pallet also includes eight internal partitions, arranged in parallel pairs, in the form of a cross. The internal and external partitions have therein aligned openings which form tunnels for the receipt of the fork of a fork lift truck. The eight internal partitions extend outwardly from the arms of an X-shaped core of the pallet. The upper and lower faces of the pallet include plates which form the actual load bearing surfaces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved loading platform of the type commonly known as pallet, which is novel due to the fact that it is formed of a moldable material in a single piece body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pallet of the invention generally comprises a substantially rectangular frame, each side of which is composed of two aligned portions formed by partitions of equal length. The sides of the rectangular frame are joined by means of other internal partitions which are grouped about and extend outwardly from a central portion which is approximately X-shaped. From the ends of the arms of the X-shaped portion extend eight internal partitions, grouped in pairs to form a cross in such a manner that each of the double legs of the cross are joined to the ends of the arms of the X-shaped portion and to a central zone of one of the sides of the exterior rectangular frame.

The structure is completed by means of two plates which form the upper and lower surfaces of the pallet. Such plates have therein a series of weight-reducing holes and non-skid ribs, while the corners of these plates are provided with hollow columns which are precisely positioned at the vertices of the rectangular frame.

The central area of the rectangular frame is hollow, and each portion of each side thereof has an orifice which aligns with a similar orifice in an internal partition forming a leg of the internal cross. The aligned orifices thus form tunnels for the receipt of the arms of the fork of a conventional fork lift truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure of the invention is illustrated in more detail in the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lower plan view of a pallet according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of such pallet.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along III--III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the pallet along one of the longer surfaces thereof.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to that of FIG. 4, but taken along one of the shorter surfaces of the pallet.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line VI--VI in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a section taken along line VII--VII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line VIII--VIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the pallet, but with the upper plate surface thereof removed to facilitate illustration of the internal structural arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen with particular reference to FIG. 9, a pallet according to the present invention is formed of an X-shaped central core or nucleus 1 having extending from the end of each leg thereof, and in directions perpendicular to each other, a pair of internal partitions 2. Thus, there is formed a cross, each arm thereof being formed by a pair of partitions 2, and the center of which is core 1. Each partition 2 has therethrough a preferably rectangular opening 4 aligning and coinciding with other similar openings 5 in external partitions 3 which form the external side surface of the rectangular frame of the pallet. The coincidence of the preferably rectangular openings or windows 5 in the external frame, and the preferably rectangular openings or windows 4 in the legs of the cross, thus provide tunnels, two at each side or side surface of the pallet, for the receipt of the arms of the fork of a conventional fork lift truck.

External partitions 3 join internal partitions 2 at positions slightly recessed inwardly with respect to the length thereof, so that the zones corresponding to the imaginary vertices or corners of the hexagonal prism-shaped pallet are provided with hollow columns 6 which reinforce the assembly. Brackets or braces 7 are also provided for the purpose of reinforcing the pallet. Such brackets are triangular in shape and are arranged, at regular intervals and parallel to each other, in each of the gaps in the side surfaces of the pallet formed by the partitions 3 being inwardly recessed with respect to the outer ends of partitions 2 and columns 6.

The upper and lower plates which constitute the actual pallet loading surfaces have therein a series of orifices 8, which are preferably square-shaped, and whose sides have downwardly facing wings or flanges 9 which act as a reinforcement of the internal partitions 2.

The hollow areas 11, which are formed between pairs of partitions 2 along the axes of symmetry of the pallet, have formed in the respective upper and lower plates, depressions 12 which cover the complete length of areas 11, thus forming canals which, with the help of orifices 13 in both the upper and lower plates of the pallet, act as drains.

The hollow columns 6 may also be provided with drain holes.

The external portion of the loading surfaces, i.e. upper and lower plates which cover the internal structure of the pallet, may be provided with ribs or flanges 14 such as those represented in FIG. 3. Such ribs 14 act as anti-skid elements for the pallet when they are formed into rows.

The device of the present invention will be formed in a single element or integral piece and will thus overcome the difficulties caused by the use of conventional pallets made, for example, of separate plates or sheets, screwed or nailed to each other, which with use generally tend to come loose or separate.

On the other hand, due to the nature of the material, which will preferably be plastic, from which the pallet is made, the pallet is resistant to the atmosphere. Further, the pallet of the invention is light in weight but has a high degree of strength and rigidity.

The orifices distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of the pallet reduce the weight thereof, while the wings or flanges 9 which project inwardly from the faces of the pallet, reinforce the assembly.

It is not considered necessary to further extend this description, since any person skilled in the art will readily understand the concept of the invention as well as the advantages derived from its industrial exploitation.

Therefore, it will be understood that modifications may be made to the specific structural arrangement discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a loading platform of the pallet type including an upper substantially flat rectangularly-shaped plate, a lower substantially flat rectangularly-shaped plate, and partition members joining said upper and lower plates and extending perpendicular thereto, said partition members forming four lateral sides of said pallet and forming reinforcing means for supporting the weight of a load placed on said upper plate; the improvement wherein:

said partition members comprise:

an X-shaped core element positioned in the geometric center of said pallet and having four legs;

eight internal partition elements, two of which extend outwardly and in directions perpendicular to each other from the outer end of each of said four legs of said core element, said internal partitions being arranged in the form of a cross having four arms, each of said arms being formed by a pair of said internal partitions extending parallel to each other outwardly from said core element to substantially the mid-point of one of the lateral sides of said pallet; and

eight external partition elements, each of said lateral sides of said pallet being formed by two of said external partition elements, each of the two exernal partition elements forming each lateral side joining one of the two internal partition elements forming the respective arm of said cross extending to said each lateral side;

each of said internal and external partition elements having therein openings which align and coincide in directions of said pallet parallel to said lateral sides, the thus aligning and coinciding openings forming tunnel means for receiving the arms of the fork of a fork lift truck; and

all of said partition members and said upper and lower plates being formed in an integral single piece.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said external partition elements are positioned inwardly of the outer ends of the respective of said internal partition elements and joined thereto at points spaced from said outer ends thereof; and said partition members further comprise hollow columns joined to said external partition elements at the vertices or corners of said pallet.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 1, further comprising triangular shaped reinforcing members arranged parallel to each other and in rows connected to said external partition elements and to said upper plate and said lower plate.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said upper and lower plates have therein an inwardly extending depression, said depression being in the form of a cross and extending inwardly into the spaces formed between said pairs of internal partitions, said depressions defining in each of said upper and lower plates four non-depressed zones of equal rectangular size, each of said zones having therein orifices defined by downwardly extending flanges.

5. The improvement claimed in claim 4, wherein said orifices are square shaped.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 4, further comprising, on the outer surfaces of said upper and lower plates, anti-skid means for increasing the frictional properties of said surfaces; said anti-skid means comprising a plurality of ribs having a rounded cross-section, said ribs being arranged in rows extending peripherally of said plate.

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6, wherein said ribs, on said upper plate are also arranged in rows between said orifices.