GB2263464A

GB2263464A - Pallet.

Info

Publication number: GB2263464A
Application number: GB9201464A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Adrian Bird
Original assignee: POINT PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: POINT PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-01-23
Filing date: 1992-01-23
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-23
Also published as: GB9201464D0; GB2263464B

Abstract

A pallet has three hollow, closed elongate main blocks 12 in a spaced parallel relation, each having transverse through openings. A plurality of stringers 34 extend laterally across the aligned blocks 12 and locate in aligned ones of recesses 26 on an upper face thereof and recesses 32 on a lower face. Each of the stringers 34 is connected to the respective block 12 by a plurality of plastics plugs. As the blocks 12 and stringers 34 can be formed from a plastics material, the pallet is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and durable and long lasting, being resistant to deterioration, and where necessary resistant to fire, when stored out of doors or under cover. <IMAGE>

Description

Component Structures This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to component structures, and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with components made of materials such as plastics, carbon, glass fibre or polyearbonate. Reference hereinafter to "plastics" is intended to embrace such materials. The invention is also particularly but not exclusively concerned with component structures in the form of pallets which are designed to be handled by forklift trucks and have a product support surface and a ground engagable surface between which are defined spaces within which the forks of a forklift truck can be inserted for lifting of the pallets, with or without products supported thereon, for movement of the pallets or the products as desired.

According to the present invention there Js provided an interconnected component structure comprising a plurality of first elongate components arrangd n fl a spaced parallel relation, each first component hazing a plurality of laterally extending recesses in at least one longitudinal outer face, a plurality of second elongate components, each being provided to extend laterally across the first components and locate sn aligned ones of thr rsspectwo rectssos therein, and means for connecting the second components to the first components, whereby, with the latter, the first components locating in the recesses in said one longitudinal outer face provide the structure with a load support surface.

Preferably each of the first components has at least one laterally extending recess in an opposed longitudinal outer face, one of the second components being provided to extend laterally of the first components and locate in aligned ones of the recesses in said opposed face.

Preferably also each of the recesses has the same profile and each of the second components has a profile complementary to the profile of the recesses, whereby, when located in the recesses, each second component provides an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the first component present between adjacent ones of the recesses.

Each of the first components may also br provided with a plurality of through transverse openings, and each of the first and second components may be formed of a plastics material, carbon fibre, glass fibre or polycarbonate.

In a preferred embodiment, there are provided three of the first components, with eight of the second components extending across said one outer face thereof to define the load support surface, and three of the second components extending across the opposed longitudinal face to provide a bracing for the structure.

The connecting means may comprise a plurality of plug members, a first through bore being formed in the respective second component to receive a main body part of the respective plug member, and a second through bore being formed in the respective first component and being of reduced dimension relative to the first through bore to receive only an end part of the respective plug member and require same to resiliently deform when passing therethrough to be received within the first component, means being provided on the end part whereby to normally prevent the latter from returning therethrough.Each plug member may have an axial through bore in the main body part, a locking pin being located in the bore and normally being accessible from the end of the plug member remote from said end part, whereby, when the plug member is positioned in the first and second through bore and the respective first and second components, the pin can be manually moved through the axial bore into the end part whereby to deform the latter and assist in preventing the plug member from bejng remosed from or t h p first and second components.

The present invention also provides an interconnected component structure comprising a plurality of first elongate components all of substantially the same configuration, and a plurality of second elongate components all of substantially the same configuration, the first and second components being formed of a plastics material as hereinbefore defined, and means for interconnecting the first components and the second components, whereby to form a structure with a load support surface.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a pallet according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pallet of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the pallet of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view from below; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through part of a load support surface of a pallet.

Referring to the drawings, a pallet 10 is formed from a plurality of interconnected components, each preferably formed from a plastics material.

These components include a plurality of hollow, closed elongate main blocks 12, and in this embodiment three of the blocks 12 arranged in a spaced parallel relation. Each of the blocks 12 is formed with a pair of through openings 14 extending transversely through the block 12 and spaced apart, whereby to provide respective end sections 16, each interconnected to a central section 18 by upper and lower webs 20, 22 respectively.

When the blocks 12 are aligned, respective ones of through openings 14 are also aligned for a purpose hereinafter described.

Extending transversely of one longitudinal outer face, the upper face 24 in use, of each block 12, are a plurality of equispaced recesses 26. As shown clearly in Fig. 5, adjacent ones of thr recesses 26 are spaced by planar areas 28. On the opposed longitudinal outer surface 30, each block 12 is provided with three laterally extending recesses 32 at the locations of the end sections 16 and the central section 18. The recesses 32 have the same profile as the recesses 26.

The components further include a plurality of second elongate components in the form of stringers 34.

Each of the latter extends laterally across the aligned blocks 12 and can locate in aligned ones of t he recesses 2 6 or 32. For thas purposc > , as shown an Fiq. 5, rach of the stringers 34 has, in cross-section, a profile defining a substantially planar surface 36 and further surfaces complementary to the profile of the recesses 26, 32 whereby, when the stringers 34 locate in aligned ones of the recesses 26, the planar surfaces 36 are flush with the planar surfaces 28 of the blocks 12 and, together with the latter, form a load support surface of the pallet 10. Others of the stringers 34 locate in aligned ones of the recesses 32 to form lower end bracing for the pallet 10.

To connect each of the stringers 34 to the respective blocks 12, there are provided a plurality of plugs 38, each preferably formed of a plastics material.

Each plug 38 has a main body 40 and a flange 42 at one end thereof, a pair of resiliently deformable spaced apart jaws 44 extending from the other end of the main body 40 and being formed with respective lugs 46 on their outwardly facing surfaces. The main body 40 has an axial through bore in which a pin (not shown) is movably located.

In use, the plug 38 is located through a stepped bore 48 in the respective stringer 34, the bore 48 having a first diameter part 50 to enable the main body 40 to locate therethrough, and a second smaller diameer part 52 of the same diameter as a corresponding holr 54 in the respective block 12, whereby when the jaws 44 enter the smaller diameter parts 52 they are deformed inwardly to enable the lugs 46 to pass therethrough.

Thereafter the jaws 44 regain their original form and the lugs 46 prevent the jaws 44 from being withdrawn.

The flange 42 engages in a rebate 56 in the outer surface of the stringer 34 whereby to lie flush therewith.

When located in position, the pin, which until then projects outwardly from the flange 42, can be manually forced through the bore between the jaws 44 to thereby deflect the latter apart and further enhance the locking of the plug 38 in position. A secure connection is thereby provided between the respective stringer 34 and the respective block 12.

There is thereby provided a pallet wherein the openings 14 are of sufficient size to allow the forks of a forklift truck to be inserted therein for moving of the pallet. The pallet is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and durable and long lasting, being resis t a n t to deterioration and where necessary res3stant to fire, when stored out of doors or under covcr. It will be appreciated that pallets of any desired size can be built up using whatever numbers of the components are necessary. The interconnected arrangement as such as to provide the necessary load bearing properties.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the configuration of the various components may differ from that described and shown and the numbers of the various components used may be altered as desired depending on the size of the pallet required.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An interconnected component structure comprising a plurality of first elongate components arranged in a spaced parallel relation, each first component having a plurality of laterally extending recesses in at least one longitudinal outer face, a plurality of second elongate components, each being provided to extend laterally across the first components and locate in aligned ones of the respective recesses therein, and means for connecting the second components to the first components, whereby, with the latter, the first components locating in the recesses in said one longitudinal outer face provide the structure with a load support surface.

2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein each of the first components has at least one laterally extending recess in an opposed longitudinal outer face, one of the second components being provided to extend laterally of the first components and locate in aligned ones of the recesses in said opposed face.

3. A structure according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the recesses has the same profile and each of the second components has a profile complementary to the profile of the recesses, whereby, when located in the recesses, each second component provides an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the first component present between adjacent ones of the recesses.

4. A structure according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein each of the first components is provided with a plurality of through transverse openings.

5. A structure according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein each of the first and second components is formed of a plastics material, carbon fibre, glass fibre or polycarbonate.

6. A structure according to Claim 2, or any of Claims 3 to 5, when dependent on Claim 2, wherein there are provided three of the first components, with eight of the second components extending across said one outer face thereof to define the load support surface, and three of the second components extending across the opposed longitudinal face to provide a bracing for the structure.

7. A structure according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the connecting means comprises a plura lity of plug members, a first through bore being formed in the respective second component to receive a main body part of the respective plug member, and a second through bore being formed in the respective first component and being of reduced dimension relative to the first through bore to receive only an end part of the respective plug member and require same to resiliently deform when passing therethrough to be received within the first component, means being provided on the end part whereby to normally prevent the latter from returning therethrough.

8. A structure according to Claim 7, wherein each plug member has an axial through bore in the main body part, a locking pin being located in the bore and normally being accessible from the end of the plug member remote from said end part, whereby, when the plug member is positioned in the first and second through bore ad the respective first and second components, the pin can be manually moved through the axial bore into the end part whereby to deform the latter and assist in preventing the plug member from being removed from the first and second components.

9. An Interconnected component structure comprising a plurality of first elongate components all of substant is 11 y the same configuration, and a plurality of second elongate components all of substantially the same configuration, the first and second components being formed of a plastics material as hereinbefore defined, and means for interconnecting the first components and the second components, whereby to form a structure with a load support surface.

10. An interconnected component structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and,'or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.