GB2172573A - Pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet for use in transportation of a load, for example by a fork lift truck, comprising a deck (1) supported by complementary slotted spacers (6,7) and secured together by inter-engageable locking members (4,5), the locking members being adapted to be disengaged by a tool (14) to facilitate separation of the structural members. The locking members may respectively have resilient tongues (10) with saw-shaped teeth and a tube-like portion with internal teeth. The spacers may be replaced by a tubular member or by slotted runners connected by slotted components. The load may be secured by straps which engage inclined surfaces (18,19) on the slotted members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pallet This invention relates to a pallet of the kind which finds use in transportation of a load, for example, by a fork lift truck, pallet truck or using a crane or other hoist.

Conventional pallets are generally comprised of several timber members, referred to as boards, bearers, stringers and blocks, in a variety of dimensions, which are nailed or screwed together in different combinations to provide different style, size and strength pallets. Alternatively, they may be formed in one piece to a given size and style from plastic, metal or other composite materials. Such pallets suffer from the disadvantage that they are not designed to be altered once manufactured. Problems occur when such pallets are used to accommodate loads of dimensions or weights other than those for which they were specifically made, or are handled by means for which they were not designed.

Furthermore, pallets are constantly damaged, and repairs are time-consuming and costly where these are possible.

According the the present invention a pallet comprises separate structural members secured together by inter-engageable locking members, the locking members being adapted to be disengaged to facilitate separation of the structural members.

Disengagement for separation of the structural members is important in allowing members to be removed, substituted, added to or rearranged and then reassembled, to create a new pallet of a style, size or strength appropriate for the new specific function. This results in safer and more efficient handling of loads.

The structured members may include a deck and ground engaging supports or runners. The runners arranged to interlock, thereby imparting rigidity, and secured by means of further locking members which serve to provide additional stacking strength and further rigidity when assembled into a frame on which loads may sit.

The structured members may include a full-size deck or deck sections and ground engaging supports or runners, or may include a top and bottom deck or deck sections separated by the supports or runners.

The locking members may be provided with respective male and female engaging portions.

These may be adapted to be disengaged by means of a tool.

The locking members are preferably arranged to extend perpendicularly through a deck of the pallet.

According to a first preferred aspect of the present invention a pallet comprises a deck and a plurality of ground engaging supports securable to the deck by means of the interengageable locking members.

According to a second preferred aspect of the present invention a pallet comprises a deck and a plurality of runners secured to the deck by the interengageable locking members.

Pallets in accordance with the preferred aspects of this invention may also incorporate a second lower deck.

According to a third preferred aspect of the present invention, a pallet comprises a plurality of runners secured by the interengageable locking members.

The runners may be arranged to interlock thereby imparting rigidity to the pallet, and allowing extension of the runners, for example, for assembly of larger pallets.

The invention is further described by means of example and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first pallet; Figure 2 is an exploded view of part of an alternative pallet; Figure 3 shows a further alternative pallet; Figures 4 and 5 are runners for a pallet; Figures 6to 8 are components for use in conjunction with the runners shown in Figures 4 and 5; Figures 9 and 10 illustrate alternative constructions of the deck of a pallet in accordance with this invention.

Corresponding components are similarly numbered in each Figure; and Figure 11 illustrates a further alternative pallet.

Figure 1 is an exploded partial view of a pallet constructed in accordance with this invention. A generally laminar deck 1 contains a plurality of apertures 2 each with peripheral recesses 3 to receive the base 13 of female locking member 4. A male locking member 5 is adapted to engage the female locking member 4. Two complementarily slotted spacers 6, 7 form an aperture through which the locking members 4,5 pass and serve to support the bases 8 of the male members 5 in spaced relation to the deck 1. A rebate 9 is arranged to receive the base 8 of the member 5.

The male locking member 5 has four resilient tongues 10 provided with rearwardlyfacing sawshaped teeth disposed on their outer surfaces. An alternative embodiment may include spring loaded arrays of teeth. The female locking member 4 comprises a generally square section tube provided with rearwardly facing saw-shaped teeth 11 (see Figure 2) on the inner surface. Insertion of the tongues 10 of the male locking member into the female locking member causes engagement of the saw-shaped teeth which prevents separation of the members. The locking members are secured together irrespective of the depth of penetration of the male member. Release of the locking member is performed by insertion of a tool 14 which comprises four pointed tongues 15 through slots 16 in the base of the female member.The tongues 15 pass between the toothed tongues 10 of the male member and the toothed inner surface 11 of the female member causing disengagement of the teeth. Removal of the tool 14 allows the members to be re-engaged. The pallet may be disassembled and reassembled repeatedly without detriment to the security of engagement of the locking members. The shapes of the teeth may be varied without departing from the scope of this invention, any rearwardly facing array of projections, such as quadrant or hook shaped teeth, being applicable as may be expedient for purposes of easy manufacture or durability.

Alternative arrangements of locking members involving threaded shafts or collars or bayonet fittings may be employed. However, these do not combine the abilityto engage at various separations with the facility for rapid disengagement.

A pallet constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in Figure 1, comprises a deck 1 secured to the spacers 6,7 by means of the locking members 4,5. The spacers 6,7 are slotted e.g. at 46 so that they may be either used in pairs as shown or singly in conjunction with a runner as described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. Alternatively a plain tubular sleeve 17 as shown in Figure 2 may be employed. The spacers 6,7 are provided with inclined surfaces e.g. 18, 19 which serve as guides for straps used to secure a load to the deck 1. Corresponding slots 20, 21 are provided in the deck 1 adjacent the aperture 2. Use of the inclined surfaces 18, 19 also help avoid possible damage to the straps due to point contact with corners on the spacers or edges of the deck.The slots 20, 21 allow the straps to closely engage the sides of a ioad, minimising any tendency of the load to shift during transportation, especially if the load does not occupy the full area of the deck. The strapping when under tension does not pull upon an unsupported section of the deck. This avoids any tendency of the deck to bend or break. A single pallet may be used with the loads of various sizes, avoiding the need to provide a range of differently sized pallets.

Two decks or deck sections separated by spacers may be secured together by locking members in analogous fashion to the arrangement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative pallet in accordance with this invention comprising a deck 22 secured by means of locking members 23 of the kind shown in Figures 1 and 2, to slotted runners e.g.

24,25. The constructions of the runners is shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 4 shows a first runner having slots adapted for engagement with slots 27 of the runner shown in Figure 5. The ground engaging portions 28,29 of the runners are chamfered to facilitate insertion of the tines of a fork lift truck into the apertures 30,31. The ends of each runner are each provided with a tongue 32 and socket 33. These permit the runners to be connected together for assembly of a larger pallet.

Figure 6 shows an end portion for connection to a runner to provide a different style of pallet. The inclined strap engaging surface can be seen at 34.

Figure 7 shows a mid-section extension for a pair of runners, slotted for engagement of a perpendicular runner. Figure 8 shows a plain extension piece 35 togetherwith a protective sheath 36 forthe tongue 32,37. The tongues 32,37 of the runners are provided with resilient catches e.g. 38 which engage in recesses in the sockets 33,39 to prevent separation of the runners. Release of the runners may be achieved by insertion of a tool into apertures 40 to depress the catches. The ends of alternative runners may be provided with two male ortwo female arrangements or other locking arrangements as may be convenient.

The tongues and sockets extend beyond the base of the runners and provide a means whereby slings may be used. The base is shorter than the top to allow straps to be applied to exert pressure nearer to the load centres. This has a marked effect of reducing runner bending tendencies due to the rounding action of straps under tension, to provide a tighter, more secure load, at the same time reducing the possibility of load shift.

The ground engaging portions ofthe runners are continuous allowing the pallet to travel easily in any direction on rollerconveyors.

The deck of pallets in accordance with this inven tion may be composed of solid laminar sheets as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Preferably the decks are composed of perforated sheets.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of a portion of a deck composed of overlapping or staggered hexagonal networks. This may comprise a unitary moulding or may comprise a laminate of layers of hexagonal sheets.

Figure 10 shows an alternative arrangement com prising a sheet formed with an array of circular perforations 41 having a hexagonal array of streng thening ribs. This arrangement may also be com posed of a laminate of separate sheets. A further alternative arrangement (not shown) comprises layers of sheets each having an array of circular perforations.

Compounds for pallets in accordance with this invention may be extruded from plastics or other materials. These are easy to clean. Use of plastics or other composite materials in conjunction with the locking devices avoids accidents due to splintering or projecting nails. The lightweight components are easy to manipulate and shipping costs may be reduced. The components may be stored in a "knock down" state, economising on storage space. Furth ermore, damage to a component does not entail replacement of the entire pallet.

Figure 11 illustrates an alternative pallet carrying a load 50 secured by a strap 51. The pallet comprises pairs of runners 52, 53 secured together in a similar manner to the preceding embodiments. Locking and reinforcing members 54 extend between the run ners. Partial deck sections 55,56 are secured to the runners by means of male and female interlocking members 57, 58 as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Use of partial deck sections 55, 56 allows the deck to conform to the dimensions of a load 50 which is smaller than the pallet, allowing the straps to closely engage the load. Inclined strap engaging surfaces 38 of the runners serve to prevent point contact of the straps in analegous manner to thise identified by integer 34 in Figure 6. Cables 59 may be passed under the end of the runners 52,53 to form slings for transportation of the pallet by a crane.

Claims (8)

1. A pallet comprising separate structural members secured together by inter-engageable locking members, the locking members being adapted to be disengaged to facilitate separation of the structural members.

2. A pallet as claimed in claim 1, including releasably engageable male and female locking members.

3. A pallet as claimed in claim 2, wherein each male locking member has four resilient tongues provided with rearwardly facing projections disposed on their outer faces, and each female locking member comprises a generally square section tube provided with rearwardly facing projections on the inner surface.

4. A pallet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structural members include a deck and ground engaging supports or runners.

5. A pallet as claimed in claim 4, comprising interlocking the ground engaging supports or runners.

6. A pallet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking members are arranged to extend perpendicularly through the deck of the pallet.

7. A pallet as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the structural members comprise a plurality of runners.

8. A pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.