AU601293B2

AU601293B2 - Pallett construction

Info

Publication number: AU601293B2
Application number: AU18199/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Guido Meynout Calkoen
Original assignee: Design Count Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Plastic Repairable Pallets Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-22
Filing date: 1988-06-21
Publication date: 1990-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-21
Also published as: AU1819988A

Description

t 7 COMMONWEALTH OF AUISTRAL6 PATENTS ACT 1952.69 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class I t. Class Application Number: PI 02603 Lodged: 22nd June, 1987 c, Qomplete Specification Lodged: ZC' Accepted:

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C Published: Prtiority: 0 C r Related Art:

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This document contaIns thle' amendments made im Section 4 9 and is currcc t i 1r printing.

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t'~'me of Applicant:.

Address of Applicant, Actual Inventor: DESIGN COUNT PTY. LTD.

25 Hinkler Street, Mordialloc, Vtctoria 3195. Australia.

GUTDO M] YNOUT CALKOEN' Address for Service EDWD. WATERS SONS, 50 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 3000.

aotmplete Specification foe th!e invention entitled: PALLETT CONSTRUCTION The following stpitement Is a full description of this invention, including the best merthod of performing it k~nown to

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2 PALLET CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to pallets and more particularly to an improved pallet construction made from plastics material.

Conventionally loading pallets for use with fork lift trucks or the like have been produced from wood. While these pallets have generally proved satisfactory, they remain reasonably expensive to produce and, moreover, there are a number of situations, particularly in food industries, Swhere wood pallets are not desirable. For example, wood i0 pallets cannot be cleaned or sterilised when it might be necessary to do so in certain industries. Pallets produced from plastics materials have been developed for use in situations where wood pallets are not ~niktable or desirable.

S 15 These have generally been single piece mouldings of complex design which have been very expensive to produce. Moreover, pallets of this type can become damaged relatively easily.

Usually the damage is localised in a small area but because the pallet is of one piece construction, the whole pallet has to be scrapped because it cannot be repaired as with wooden pallets.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for a plastics material pallet which will be less complex in design and therefore Sless expensive to produce than currently known designs, while providing some capability of being repaired in situations of localised damage.

I. ,,,eeodince with the presenft -invention the t t oo a provided a pallet construction comprising a plura y of 0 pallet forming members arranged in two laye -and defining fork receiving openings between said o layers, each said pallet forming member having a gth equal to the width of the pallet with the ditre on of said pallet forming members in one of said la <eing crossed relative to the direction o id pallet forming iembers in the ocher of said aers, and fastening means being provided to connect t4hear pa.ot forming br i i-ea to-ayes------ I 3 In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising: a plurality of pallet forming members arranged in two connected layers with at least two said pallet forming members located ir each said layer, and said layers forming a pallet bottom and a pallet top; each said layer being constructed of said pallet forming members arranged side by side with the pallet forming members in one said layer being ar: anged at substantially ninety degrees relative the pallet forming members in the other said layer, and fastening means for fastening each said pallet forming member in one said layer to all of pl the pallet forming members in the other said layer.

The present invention also anticipates providing a ,e pallet forming member in a pallet as aforesaid, the pallet forming member having a substantially rectangular platfora section having a first surface adapted to form an outer tL- surface of the pallet, and a second surface opposed to said first surface; and a plurality of boss .emberz extending from said second surface with free engagement end surfaces located in a plane I parallel to said first surface, said boss members being located generally at each corner of said platform section I r t and generally at opposed longitudinal edges of said platform ij I section midway along said longitudinal edges.

Accordingly to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pallet comprising: S e a plurality of pallet forming members arranged in C two layers forming a pallet bottom and a pallet r top; each said layer being constructed of at least two said pallet forming members arranged side by side with the pallet forming members in one said layer being arranged transversely relative to the pallet forming members in the other said layer; 3a each of said pallet forming members comprising a substantially rectangular platform section with a first surface adapted to form a pallet outer surface, a second surface opposed to said first surface and adapted to form a pallet inner surface, and a plurality of separate boss members extending from said second surface; said boss members being located generally at each corner of said platform section and generally at opposed longitudinal edges o. said platform section midway along said lo2gitudinal edges such that a free end of each said boss member of one said pallet forming member in one of said layers engages a free end of a least one said boss member in the I other said layer; att a first one of said longitudinal edges of each said pallet forming member including engagement formations engageable with similar engagement 't formations on an adjacent said pallet forming e«as. member when assembled into a pallet; and said engagement formations preventing separation of said pallet forming members by movement of said members away from one another in the same plane.

1 According to a still further aspect the present I «invention provides a pallet forming member for forming a part of an outer surface of the pallet construction, and a j second surface opposed to said first surface; and a plurality of boss members extending from said second surface and having free engagement end surfaces, said boss members being located generally at each corner of the pallet forming member and generally at opposed longitudinal edges of said platform section midway along said longitudinal edges, said boss members at opposed corners adjacent one said longitudinal edge having both a projecting element and an adjacent recess, said projecting elements being engageable in a respective recess of an adjacent similar pallet forming member of the pallet construction.

Tf L-- 4 -rectangular plate- section havigaeng th substantitjj* twice its width with a first surface adapted to orm an outer surface of the pallet construction a second surface opposed to said first surfa eof said pallet construction, a plurality of f s members extending from said second surface wit tree engagement end surfaces located in the sa plane, said boss members being located at or adjacert each corner of said plate section and at or adjacn opposed longitudinal edges of said plate section 1 mi d ilo n g it u d i n a l cd g o One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of one 1 5 possible pallet construction; Figure 2 is a top plan view of one preferred pallet 9 forming member; o0 o Figure 3 is a lower plan view of the pallet forming •aS member of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line K-K of Figure 2; A* Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken along 1 line X-X of Figure 2; Figures 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views i 25 through one edge of respective pallet forming members showing engagement formations adapted to connect with one another; Figure 7 is a detailed plan view of one corner of a pallet forming member; o n0 Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of Figure 7.

S.Figure 1 shows a pallet construction 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pallet construction 10 comprises four identically moulded plastics material pallet forming members 11, 12, 13 and 14. Each of these members extend over the v r 5 complete width/length of an upper or lower surface of the pallet construction 10 and comprises half of that surface area. The pallet members 11,12 forming the upper layer are crossed relative to the members 13,14 forming the lower layer. In the embodiment illustrated the pallet members 11 and 12 are arranged at 90° to the pallet forming members 13 and 14. Integrally moulded projections or bosses 15, 21, 22 and 23 are provided at or adjacent the corners and midway along the longitudinal sides of the memlrsrs 11 to 14. The projections or bosses have free engagement surfaces located in a single plane such that when the members are assembled (Figure respective projections abut one another to form fork receiving cavities 16 between the upper and lower layers of the pallet construction. Fastener elements 17 of 15 any desired type may be provided to form the pallet forming ac members 11 to 14 in the construction illustrated in Figure Or Figures 2 to 9 illustrate in more detail one j cc I preferred form of pallet forming member Figure 2 illusirates a top plan view of a pallet forming member (11 to 14), The member has a first outer surface 18 adapted to form the upper or bottom outer surface of the pallet I ,e construction 10. The reverse or inner side of the pallet

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c forming member 19 is shown in Figure 3. As can be seen in Se 5 both Figures 2 and 3, the configuration of the pallet a 25 v" forming member is identical on either side ol the transverse centre line A-A with the exception of the edge engagement formations 20,20" described in more detail hereinafter. The boss members 15, 21, 22 and 23 are configured in plan view 30 as shown in Figure 8. The corner boss members 15 are part circular with a projecting corner corresponding in shape with the corner of the Jpltform formed by the section SI between the outer and inner surfaces 18 and 19. The other corner boss members 22 are generally U shaped in plan view and are configured to be essentially half of thb boss member 23 formed spanning the centre line A-h along the outer longitudinal edge 24 of the pallet forming member 12. The central boss member 231, like boss member 22 is mirror imaged -6on either side of the centre line A-A and is configured to provide an essentially square post centrally within the Ipallet construction when the construction is assembled as 4shown in Figure 1. Each of the corner boss members 15 and 522 have a centrally located bore 25 adapted to receive a fastener 17 therethrough to secure two pallet forming members together in the configuration shown in Figure 1.

Similar fastener receiving bores 25 are located in the central boss members 21 and 23 except, in this case two £bores 25 are located on either side of the centre line A-A.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the outer surfane 18 includes recesses 26 surrounding the fastener receiving bores 25 to allow the head of any fastener 17 used to be recessed below the general outer plane o~f the surface 18.

'Ccccc Each of the boss members 15, 21, 22 and 23 further include passage means 27 appropriately located to allow water or any r other liquid to drain from the recesses or cavities 26. The r c onstuctin oftheplatform section of the pallet forming member is generally to provide a solid web thickness 29 strengthened by an array of stiffening ribs 3G arranged on the inner surface 19 face of the platform section., The web thickness 29 further includes an array of larger holes 31 and smaller holes 28 to allow for drainage or water/liquid 31 further effectively reduce the volume (and therefore weight) of plastics material used which reduces the cowt of production and decreases the weight of, the assembled pallet.

pallet forming member 12 other than Lzhe edge with the C 00 engagement formations 20,20' have a series of depressions or recesses 32. ThiF permits the configuration to define a ramp like diverging surface 33 leading f rom the inner surface 19 along an edge zone towards the outer surface 18.

This enables an effectively wider mouth region for the fork receiving recesses 16 and assists in guiding forks of a fork lift truck or the lik~e to enter the recesses 16.

As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the engagement formations 20,20' are located along one longitudinal edge of Li t i;fi I, 2 7 the pallet forming member. The formations 20,20' comprise upstanding projections 34,34' adjacent the free edge of the pallet forming member with recesses 35,35' immediately located inwardly of the projections 34,34' respectively.

The projection 34 is formed by a longitudinally extending web 36 stiffened by a plurality of transverse abutment ribs 37 and 38 located on either side of the web 36. Similarly, the projection 34' is formed by a longitudinally extending web 39 stiffened on the outer side by a transverse abutment rib 40. The projection 34 is configured to engage within the recess 35' and the projection 34' engages within the recess 35 when the edge engagement formations are moved together in the direction of the arrow (Figures 6A and 6B).

When engaged together the respective surfaces 18 of the two i pallet forming members are aligned and the pallet forming members cannot be separated by movement away from one another in a horizontal direction as depicted in Figures 6A and 6B. As is best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the engagement formations 20,20' are located on opposite sides z0 of the transverse centre line A-A such that their projections 34 and 34' respectively are oppositely directed.

This arrangement enables a single mould to be used to form the pallet forming members 11, 12, 13 and 14 which are identical in shape in the embodiment illustrated.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show in more detail the configt ation of the corner boss members 15. The boss members 15 have a free abutment surface 41 which is located in the same plane as similar abutment surfaces on the other boss members 21, 22 and 23. In the assembled configuration 30 (Figure 1) the surfaces 41 of adjacent boss members 15 of separate pallet forming members engage against one another.

To assist in locating the boss members when assembling the pallet construction, the boss members 15 further include a depending projection 42 of a U shaped construction with one drainage hole 27 communicating with the interior of the U shaped projection. The projection 42 has an outer wall dimension slightly smaller than but essentially the same shape as the adjacent recess 43 formed by stiffening ribs 44

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C I Ca 8 and 45 within the boss member 15. Thus, when assembled such as in Figure 1, the projection 42 of one pallet forming member engages within the recess 43 of the adjacent abutting pallet forming member to appropriately locate the pallet forming members relative to one another. The construction of the projection 42, however, does not obstruct drainage of water through the passages 27.

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Claims

1. A pallet comprising: a plurality of pallet forming members arranged in two connected layers with at least two said pallet forming members located in each said layer, and said layers forming a pallet bottom and a pallet top. each said layer being constructed of said pallet forming members arranged side by side with the pallet forming members in one said layer being arranged relative to the pallet forming members in the other said layer, and fastening means for fastening each said pallet forming member in one said layer to all of the pallet forming members in the other said layer.

2. A pallet E-n=m- b according to Claim 1, wherein said pallet forming members are generally identical.

3. A pallet fmt-n mbe- according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each said pallet forming member has a width and a length substantially twice the width. I f

4. The pallot according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein each said pallet forming member is integrally molded from synthetic resin material. S a 5. The pallet according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 J i wherein each said pallet forming member comprises a substantially rectangular platform section with a first surface adapted to form a pallet outer surface, a second surface opposed to said first surface and adapted to form a pallet inner surface and a plurality of separate boss 6t 4 k /7-Q 10 members extending from said second surface, said boss members being located generally at h corner of said platform section and generally at d logitudinal edges of said platform section midway alony said longitudinal edges such that a free end of each said boss member of one said pallet forming member in one of said layers engages a free end of at least one said boss member in the other of said layers.

6. The pallet according to claim 5 wherein a first one of said longitudinal edges of each said pallet forming member includes engagement formations engageable with similar engagement formations on an adjacent said pallet forming member when assembled into the two layers, said engagement formations preventing separation of said pallet forming members by movement of said members away from on 3 another in the same plane. U 7. The pallet according to Claim 6 wherein said engagement formations on each said pallet forming member are formed by adjacent sections of equal length, and said engagement formations in said adjacent sections are oppositely directed.

8. Tha pallet according to Claim 7 wherein two said sections of engagement formations are positioned on each said pallet formiing member such that the engagemsnt formations on either side of a transverse center of the pallet forming member are oppositely directed.

9. The pallet according to Claim 5 wherein at least one of said boss members on each said pallet forming member includes a projection configuration and a recess configuration such that in the pallet each projection configuration of said pallet forming memer in one of said 4* layers engages within a recess configuration of an adjacent said boss member and a pallet fo,,nring member in the other of said layers to locate said pallet forming members in position. Thei pallet according to Claim 6 wherein the second surface of the platform section of each said' pallet forming member adjacent a second one of said longitudinal edges opposed to said first longitudinal edge diverges outwardly towards said second longitudinal edge such that said second longitudinal edge is substantially located in the plane of said first surface of the platform section.

11. A pallet forming member in a pallet according to Claim .1 comprising: a substantially rectangular platformr section having a first surface adapted to form an outer surface of the pallet, and a second surface opposed to said first surface; and a plurality of boss members extending from said secoind surface with free engagement iznd surfaces located in a plane parallel to said first surface, 8aid boss members being located generally at each corner of said platform section and generally at opposed longiktudinal edges of said platform section midway along said longitudinal edges.

12. The pallet forming mem~ber according to Claim 11 wherein a first one of said longitudinal edges includes engagement formations formed in adjacent sections- of equal length such that the engagement formations in adjacent said sections are oppositely di~rected. 12 E a FU*

13. The pallet forming member according to Claim 11 wherein said pallet forming member is integrally molded from synthetic resin material. a plurality of pallet forming members arranged in two layers forming a pallet bottom and a pal et top; each said layer being constructed of at /east two said pallet forming members arranged side by side with the pallet forming members in o e said layer being arranger transversely relative to the pallet forming members in the other said layer; each of said pallet forming me bers comprising a substantially rectangular pl form section with a first surface adapted to fo 6 m a pallet outer surface, a second surface/opposed to said first surface and adapted to ,6rm a pallet inner surface, and a plurality of ser rate boss members extending from said second sur ace; said boss members/eing located generally at each corner of said atform section and generally at opposed longit dinal edges of said platform section midway along said longitudinal edges such that a free end of each said boss member of one said pallet fo ming member in one of said layers engages a free d of at least one said boss member in the other aid layer; a rst one of said longitudinal edges of each said t I lr i' zr rttr c A tNT C 1 13 wherein one of said longitudinal edges includes at le t two sections of engagement formations on either side o a traverse center line, each said engagement for ion comprising a first portion forming an exten on of one said first and said second surfaces and an en tab portion extending trnnsversely to E-'d first ortion and generally parallel to said projecting eleme s, said end tab portions of said engagement formations opposite sides of said transverse center line bai. ppositely directed at equidistances from said enter line.

24. The pallx forming member according to Claim 21 wherein each d edge of said platform section and one of said longi dinal edges of said platform section are configu ed such that an edge region tapers from said second sur ce toward said first surface while moving to a Sriphory of said.edg region.- S 2s A pallet construction comprising: first and second connected layers, said layers Scincluding at le?.at two pallet forming members, said I,.L pallet forming members in each of said layers being arranged side by side, with said pallet forming embers in said first layer being arranged transversely relative to said pallet forming members of said second layer; and at least one said pallet forming member including: It V 4 a substantially rectangular plptform section having a first surface adapted to form part of an outer surface of the pallet construction, and a second surface opposed to said first 4S )4 surface; and a plurality of boss members extending from said second surface and having free engagement end surfaces, said boss members being located generally at each corner of said pallet forming member and generally at opposed longitudinal edges of said platform section midway along said longitudinal edges, said boss members at opposed corners adjacent one said longitudinal edc, having both a projecting element and an adjacent recess. 2 The pallet consitruction of Claim 4 tS wherein said projecting element and said recess are located on opposed sides of a line bisecting the angle formed by an adjacent corner of said platform section such that said projecting elements are engageable in a respective recess of an adjacent similar said pallet forming member of said pallet construction. rS The pallet construction of Claim 4 S. wherein said platform section has a width and a length substantially S0 twice the width. 17 1 I0 -a The pallet construction according to ClaimzS> wherein said pallet forming member is integrally molded from synthetic resin material. *DATED this 9th day of April, 1990 I L DESIGN COUNTY PTY LTD t I z t t WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS, "The Atrium", 290 Burwood Road Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:JJC (3/36) -NT 'j