GB2312415A

GB2312415A - Plastic Pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2312415A
Application number: GB9708083A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Muller; Gerhard Hagemann; Alexander Hemscheidt
Original assignee: KUTE KUNSTSTOFF TECHNIK ENGINE
Current assignee: KUTE KUNSTSTOFF TECHNIK ENGINE
Priority date: 1996-04-22
Filing date: 1997-04-22
Publication date: 1997-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-22
Also published as: NL1005834A1; IT1296276B1; AU2767297A; FR2747645B1; WO1997039956A1; SE9701455L; ITMI970914A1; FR2747645A1; SE9701455D0; LU90303B1; NL1005834C2; GB9708083D0; DE19716365A1; ES2152767A1; GB2312415B; ES2152767B1

Abstract

A single-part plastic pallet is produced monolithically in one moulding operation, with a loadbearing base (2) which forms a support surface (8) and has feet (6) which are formed in at least four corner regions of the loadbearing base (2) on its underside (4). It is used in transporting and storage systems in which the pallet is supported only in the region of its opposite narrow sides (18) and is otherwise arranged freely, in the manner of a bridge, with its longitudinal extent (22) not supported. The loadbearing base (2) is designed as a double base having an upper top board (10) and a spaced sub-base (12). The top board (10) and the sub-base (12) are connected via a loadbearing construction having two different types of strut frameworks (14, 24); connecting struts (16) running longitudinally, parallel to the long sides (22), being provided in the first type of strut framework (14) and connecting struts (26) running transversely, parallel to the narrow sides (18), being provided in the second type of strut framework (24). The struts (16) act as compression/tension struts. The struts may all be angled (Fig 8).

Description

PLASTIC PALLET The present invention relates to a plastic pallet, comprising a single-part moulding produced completely monolithically in one moulding operation, having a loadbearing base which is essentially rectangular, has two narrow sides and two long sides and forms a support surface, and having feet which are formed in at least four corner regions of the loadbearing base on its underside, opposite the support surface, in particular for use in those transporting and storage systems in which the pallet is supported only in the region of the two opposite narrow sides and is otherwise arranged freely, in the manner of a bridge, with its longitudinal extent not supported.

A single-piece plastic pallet of this type is known from DE 23 06 869 C2, but this is not described for specific use in the said transporting or storage systems (such as high-rise storage systems). It might also not be suitable for this or only conditionally suitable; this is because the loadbearing base of this known pallet is formed by a multiplicity of hollow profiles which are like a quadrilateral pipe, are arranged at a distance from and parallel to one another and run in the transverse direction, that is to say parallel to the narrow sides, and are partially connected to one another by means of struts. This results in a very low bending stiffness, particularly in the longitudinal direction, if the pallet is supported only by its narrow sides. Furthermore, in the case of the known pallet, a relatively complicated spatial shape results and, accordingly, complicated production or an expensive moulding tool. In addition, a relatively large amount of plastic material is obviously also needed for production.

A further pallet made of plastic is known from CH-A 593 827. However, this pallet cannot be designated "single-part" in the generic or inventive sense, since specific openings in the region of feet or longitudinal loadbearers have to be closed with separate covers, these covers also being necessary since they obviously have a bearing function. However, as far as the allegedly single-part production of the pallet main part is concerned, this must be questioned, since the cavities to be closed by the said covers expand towards the inside (Figure 2), so that in the event of single-part production, demoulding would not even be possible. This known pallet has, in the region above the longitudinal loadbearers, a framework which is formed by transverse bearers which are hollow and triangular in cross-section.

Since these transverse bearers thus also run parallel to the narrow sides of the pallet, this known pallet also has a low bending stiffness, which is insufficient for the specified preferred use, in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a plastic pallet of the generic type which is distinguished by a particularly low weight (lightweight construction) but nevertheless having a very high loadbearing capacity and, in particular, a high bending stiffness, above all in the longitudinal direction, and which is in addition also simple and cheap to produce.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the loadbearing base is designed as a double base having an upper, essentially closed top board, and a subbase arranged at a distance below the top board, the top board and the sub-base being connected via a loadbearing construction having two different types of strut frameworks, connecting struts running longitudinally, parallel to the long sides, being provided in a first type of strut framework, and connecting struts running transversely, parallel to the narrow sides, being provided in a second type of strut framework.

As a result of the combination according to the invention of strut frameworks running longitudinally and transversely, the situation is achieved where even relatively large pallets, in particular so-called Europallets according to DIN 15 146 Part 2, can be produced in a relatively simple and still technically achievable manner in only one moulding operation ("in one shot"), but nevertheless have a sufficiently good longitudinally bending stiffness. To this end, it is particularly advantageous if the first type of strut framework is in each case provided in two surface zones, adjacent to the two narrow sides, of the loadbearing base, and the second type of strut framework is provided in the remaining intermediate region. In this case, the longitudinally running connecting struts of the first type of strut framework extend over a length of up to about one third of the overall length of the loadbearing base, starting from the respective narrow side. The transversely running connecting struts in the remaining intermediate region can then advantageously extend continuously transversely over the width of the loadbearing base, from long side to long side. In the case of a Euro pallet, which according to the standard cited has a length 1200 mm and a width of 800 mm, this preferred configuration leads to the fact that the longitudinally running connecting struts - and hence the cavities to be moulded in by means of slides have a length in the range of up to about 400 mm. This is entirely manageable in terms of moulding technology. The transverse direction is in any case less problematic, since for the slides the pallet width only needs to be halved. In the case of a Euro pallet, this likewise results in a slider length of about 400 mm.

The invention therefore achieves the situation that a pallet of elevated bending stiffness, specifically exactly in the longitudinal direction which is significant, for example, in high-rise stores, can be produced in only a single moulding operation. This results in the very economic and also environmentally politically advantageous possibility of using recycled reclaimed plastic, at least to some extent, for the production.

Since such reclaim is not a "pure grades, but is rather composed of a virtually incalculable mixture of different plastics, in this case only processing "in one shot" is possible. This is because separately produced parts could not subsequently be homogeneously coherently connected (welded), precisely because of different melting points of the material components contained.

Because of its high degree of economy, the pallet according to the invention constitutes a true alternative to the wooden pallets which have previously predominantly still been used in high-rise stores, plastic naturally offering fundamental advantages over wood; mention should be made here, only by way of example, of: insensitivity to effects of the weather, low weight (in particular in the wet, since plastic does not absorb water, by contrast with wood), good shape stability, low risk of damage as the result of avoiding splinters, etc.

Preferably, the connecting struts, at least of the first type of strut framework, are designed at least in part as tension/compression struts in such a way that their linear upper and lower connecting points (transition points to the top board and to the sub-base) are in each case offset laterally in relation to one another, parallel to the plane of the loadbearing base. This is therefore a case of an oblique arrangement at least in a case of a part-quantity of connecting struts, which lie in planes which in each case run at an angle a g 900 to the plane of the loadbearing base. In the simplest case, the strut framework corresponds to the configuration of a so-called "gingle brace framework", in which in each case two adjacent tension/compression struts together form a V or an inverted V. According to the invention, however, the configuration can also be provided with additional struts, perpendicular to the plane of the loadbearing base, corresponding to a "stud framework" or "intermediate framework". In addition, the tension and compression struts can be arranged not to cross one another and/or to cross one another. A configuration corresponding to a so-called "K-framework" is also fundamentally possible within the context of the present invention.

In the case of all the designs it is essential that a "triangle system" results from the oblique arrangement of at least some of the connecting struts, for the purpose of stiffening. This would likewise contribute to a very high stiffness of the loadbearing base, since the strut framework can absorb lateral thrust forces. Therefore, in most applications it is already sufficient to provide this preferred configuration of the loadbearing base only in two opposite, strip-shaped edge zones. In the remaining surface region of the loadbearing base, the top board and the sub-base can then be connected to one another via connecting struts running parallel. These connecting struts can be aligned essentially perpendicular to the plane of the loadbearing base. In the case of this stiffening, this is thus a "rectangular system" or "rectangular framework". However, the connecting struts of the second type of strut framework are preferably designed as a "triangle system" - in a manner similar to the preferred configuration of the first type of strut framework.

Further advantageous configuration features of the invention are contained in the subclaims and in the following description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments, illustrated in the drawing, of a plastic pallet according to the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the upper side of a pallet according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of the pallet according to Figure 1, Fig. 3 shows a detail enlargement of the region III in Figure 1, Fig. 4 shows a top view in the direction of arrow IV according to Figure 2 of the underside of the pallet, only a part-region, specifically a quarter, of the pallet being illustrated, Fig. 5 shows a side view in the direction of arrow V according to Figure 4, Fig. 6 shows a section along the section line VI-VI in Figure 4, Fig. 7 shows a view in the direction of arrow VII according to Figure 4, Fig. 8 shows a perspective view, analogous to Figure 1, of a second preferred embodiment of the pallet according to the invention, Fig. 9 shows a perspective view, analogous to Figure 2, of the underside of the pallet according to Figure 8, Fig. 10 shows a detail enlargement of the region X in Figure B (analogous to Figure 3), Fig. 11 shows an illustration analogous to Figure 4 in the direction of arrow XI according to Figure 9, once more only one quarter of the pallet being illustrated, Fig. 12 shows a side view in the direction of arrow XII according to Figure 11, Fig. 13 shows a section along the section line XIII XIII in Figure 11, Fig. 14 shows a view in the direction of arrow XIV according to Figure 11 and Fig. 15 shows a section along the section line XV-XV in Figure 11.

In the various figures of the drawing, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbol and are therefore as a rule also described only once in each case.

As emerges initially from Figure 1 and 2, a plastic pallet according to the invention comprises a single-part moulding 1 produced "monolithically" in one moulding operation (injection or press-moulding operation). The pallet or the moulding 1 has an essentially rectangular loadbearing base 2 as well as feet 6 formed at least in four corner regions of the loadbearing base 2, on its underside 4. On its upper side, turned away from the feet 6, the loadbearing base 2 forms an essentially flat support surface 8 for any goods to be stored or transported, not illustrated.

According to the invention, the loadbearing base 2 comprises, at least in part, an upper top board 10, which is essentially closed preferably over the entire support surface 8, and a sub-base 12 arranged at a distance below the top board 10. According to the invention, the sub-base 12 is initially connected to the top board 10 via a first strut framework 14, which comprises connecting struts 16. These connecting struts 16 are preferably designed as tension/compression struts and to this end are aligned, at least partially, at an angle a ;t 900, obliquely to the plane of the support surface 8, (see in particular Figures 1 and 5) in such a way that each of these tension/compression struts 16 forms, in its upper and lower region, merging in one piece into the top board 10 and the sub-base 12, respectively, a linear connection point, the said connection points being offset laterally in relation to one another, parallel to the plane of the loadbearing base 2 and of the support surface 8.

The first strut framework 14 is preferably formed in each of two surface zones 20 of the loadbearing base 2 which are adjacent to opposite side edges, to be specific to the narrow sides 18 of the rectangular loadbearing base 2. This emerges primarily from Figures 2 and 4. In this arrangement, the connecting struts 16 or their linear connection points run essentially perpendicular to these side edges or narrow sides 18, respectively, and hence essentially parallel to the long sides 22 of the rectangular loadbearing base 2. This means that, according to the invention, the connecting struts 16 of the first strut framework 14 virtually form "longitudinal struts1, which correspond in their alignment to the long sides 22. In the case of this design according to Figures 1 to 7, the length of the connecting struts 16, this length corresponding to the width of each surface zone 20, is essentially equal to the width or "thickness" of the feet 6 measured in this direction (see Figure 4).

In the remaining intermediate region 21 of the loadbearing base 2, located between the two surface zones 20, a second type of strut framework 24 connecting the upper top board 10 and the sub-base 12 is provided, the top board 10 and the sub-base 12 being connected to one another via connecting struts 26 running in parallel. In the case of this design, these connecting struts 26 are arranged essentially perpendicular to the plane of the loadbearing base 2 and/or of the support surface 8, so that according to Figure 7 a "rectangular system" for stiffening is formed. In this case, these connecting struts 26 extend continuously between the long sides 22 of the loadbearing base 2, that is to say essentially perpendicular to the running direction of the connecting struts 16 of the first strut framework 14. The connecting struts 16 in each case end at one connecting strut 26, to be specific at the outermost connecting strut 26 in each case. The connecting struts 26 thus virtually for "transverse struts" in relation to the rectangular shape of the loadbearing base 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, it is provided that the sub-base 12 comprises a plurality of base regions 12a, 12b which are located in mutually offset planes. According to Figure 6, preferably in the region of the first strut framework 14, the distance A between the upper top board 10 and the region 12a of the sub-base 12 is greater than the distance B between the top board 10 and the region 12b in the region of the second strut framework 24.

In the illustrated, preferred embodiments of the invention - for this, see in particular Figures 2 and 9 the loadbearing base 2 has on its underside nine feet 6 in a symmetrical arrangement of three rows each of three feet 6. In this case, the feet 6 are expediently in each case connected in groups or rows, in their lower region facing away from the loadbearing base 2, via skids 30, to be precise in each case three feet 6 are connected via the skids 30, so that a total of three skids 30 are provided, which are in each case divided into two sections arranged between the feet. The skids 30 run parallel to one another and preferably also parallel to the long sides 22 of the loadbearing base 2. Between the loadbearing base 2 and the skids 30 there is a clear spacing which is 2 the necessary drive-in height of a stacker or gripper.

For the purpose of saving material, provision is expediently made for the skids 30 in each case to be designed, in particular on their underside, to be hollow and preferably with stiffening ribs 32. However, it lies within the scope of the invention to provide skids of solid material.

Expediently - likewise in order to save material - the feet 6 are also designed to be hollow and open downwards. In this case, stiffening ribs 34 running longitudinally and/or running transversely are preferably arranged inside the feet 6 and expediently extend upwards as far as the loadbearing base 2, that is to say as far as the sub-base, and are connected there in one piece. In this regard, it is particularly advantageous to interrupt the stiffening ribs 34, in particular of the outer feet 6 arranged in corner regions of the loadbearing base 2, in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction. As a result, inside the feet 6 there exists no direct rigid connection between the walls which form the respective foot 6 and extend perpendicular to the loadbearing base 2, for which reason, in spite of good stiffness, an elastic compliance is achieved. By this means, in the event of shock loadings occurring, damage (material breakage) is advantageously avoided to a large extent.

As further emerges from Figures 2 and 4 in each case, the loadbearing base 2 can advantageously have stiffening ribs 36 on its underside, at least in some regions. These stiffening ribs 36 are provided in particular in the region of a central strip extending parallel between the surface zones 20 having the strut framework 14, that is to say in each case between the "central" feet 6. For the purpose of good demouldability, the stiffening ribs 36 are aligned perpendicular to the plane of the loadbearing base 2, and they have free end edges which expediently lie in a common plane with the lower surface of the regions 12a of the sub-base 12, in order to form a support plane for a stacker or the like.

Moreover it is advantageous if the loadbearing base 2 has surface roughening on its upper side, that is to say in the region of the support surface 8, to be specific in such a way that a good frictional connection and hence a low risk of slippage of goods to be stored or transported on the support surface 8 is achieved.

In addition, the loadbearing base 2 preferably has on its upper side grooving 38, particularly over the whole surface, made of individual elevations 40 distributed over the support surface 8. This can be seen in particular in the enlarged illustrations in Figures 3 and 10. In this case, the elevations 40 are preferably of a sufficient height, starting from the support surface 8, for example 1 mm, that as a result the discharge of liquids, such as water, is ensured even if there are specific goods located on the pallet or the loadbearing base 2. This is because a gap is always formed between the support surface 8 and the goods, because of the elevations 40.

In a further development of the invention, the loadbearing base 2 has at least one through opening 42, but preferably a plurality of through openings 42 distributed over the surface. These through openings 42 serve, on the one hand, for the passage of media, for example liquids and gases. On the other hand, preferably at least one through opening 42 can be configured to be elongated as a handle opening, as a result of which it can be used for the manual handling of the pallet.

In addition, in the advantageous embodiment, means are provided for fastening packaging materials. To this end, preferably at least in the corner regions of the loadbearing base 2, facing away from its upper side, there are formed retaining edges 44 behind or under which packaging material (not illustrated), in particular film (heat-shrink film), can engage. This can be seen at best in Figures 3 and 10. The retaining edges 44 are - as illustrated - preferably formed by the feet 6 being set back somewhat towards the inside with respect to the corners of the loadbearing base 2, to be specific by means of recesses or clearances 46 formed in the corner regions.

The pallet according to the invention, or the moulding 1 according to the invention, may be produced in any desired size. However, it is particularly advantageous to provide a dimensional configuration according to a pallet to DIN 15 146 Part 2, the overall length LG being about 1200 mm and the overall width Ba about 800 mm.

The pallet according to the invention, or the moulding 1, may be produced in a simple way in only one operation in an appropriately shaped moulding tool, as a result of its special spatial shape, the respective cavities between the connecting struts 16 and between the connecting struts 26 being formed by means of moulding cores which can be driven in and out. Demoulding is also unproblematic, in that the cores which are present are driven out and the halves of the mould are separated.

There now follows a specific discussion of Figures 8 to 15, in which a particularly advantageous embodiment of the pallet according to the invention is illustrated. In this case, firstly identical or mutually corresponding parts and components are provided with the same reference symbols as in Figures 1 to 7, so that reference can be made to the above description.

A first significant difference is then that the loadbearing base 2 is continuously designed as a double base, for which purpose the feet 6 extend only as far as the underside of the sub-base 12. In addition, both types of strut framework 14 and 24 are designed as "triangle systems" having obliquely running connecting struts 16, 26. The sub-base 12 extends essentially in one plane continuously over the entire area of the loadbearing base 2. The loadbearing base 2 therefore has the same thickness throughout. The surface zones 20, in which in each case the first strut framework 14 is provided, here extend in the pallet longitudinal direction over a region of in each case about 1/3 of the overall length LG The length, measured in the longitudinal direction, of the intermediate region 21 therefore also corresponds to about one third of the overall length LG. In the case of this preferred embodiment, the loadbearing base 2 on its own is mainly decisively responsible for the stability and bending stiffness. The feet 6 and the skids 30 play only a subordinate role in relation to the bending stiffness. Because the connecting struts 16 of the strut framework 14 extend relatively far in the longitudinal direction, this design is particularly well-suited for the said use in transporting and storage systems if the pallet is specifically supported only in the regions of the two narrow sides 18.

According to Figure 9, the loadbearing base 2 has stiffening attachments 50 on its underside in the angle regions between the sub-base 12 and the feet 6. On the mutually facing side areas of the feet 6, which are respectively arranged on the narrow sides 18, these stiffening attachments 50 are advantageously designed in such a way that they are enlarged with a triangular cross-section, starting from that side facing the narrow side 18. This advantageously results in the formation of guide faces for stacker arms. Otherwise, the stiffening attachments 50 can also have a concavely curved transition face. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, this is in each case provided on those faces of the feet 6 which face one another in the longitudinal direction.

As further emerges from Figure 9 and also from Figure 11, provision is also made, at least in the case of the feet 6 arranged on the long sides 22, in each case in the centre, that inside the downwardly open cavity, two stiffening ribs 34 are formed, running in parallel in the longitudinal direction, a transverse strut 52 being integrally moulded between each of these two stiffening ribs 34 and the adjacent outer wall of the foot 6. As a result of this advantageous configuration feature, stiffening of the respective foot 6 is achieved, but without impairing the fundamental elasticity and hence the safety against damage (breakages) caused by shock.

It should be further mentioned that - in addition to Euro pallets to DIN 15 146 Part 2 - the present invention is also suitable above all for other pallets which likewise - at least inter alia - are used in those storage systems where they are supported only in the region of their narrow sides. For this case of use, for example, pallets having the dimensions 1100 mm x 1100 mm and 1200 mm x 1100 mm are also used.

The pallet according to the invention, or the single-piece moulding 1, is advantageously composed, at least to some extent, of reclaimed plastic, in particular of a material with about 60% HDPE.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments illustrated and described, but also comprises all embodiments having the same effect in the sense of the invention. Furthermore, the invention is until now also not restricted to the combination of features defined in Claim 1, but can also be defined by means of any arbitrary other combination of specific features of all the individual features disclosed as a whole. This means that, in principle, virtually any individual feature of Claim 1 can be omitted or replaced by at least one individual feature disclosed at another point in the application. To this extent, Claim 1 should be understood merely as a first attempt at formulation for an invention.

In the embodiment described, the pallet may be plastic in the sense that it is formed of plastics material.

Claims

1. Plastic pallet, comprising a single-part moulding produced completely monolithically in one moulding operation, having a loadbearing base which is essentially rectangular, has two narrow sides and two long sides and forms a support surface, and having feet which are formed in at least four corner regions of the loadbearing base on its underside (4), opposite the support surface, in particular for use in those transporting and storage systems in which the pallet is supported only in the region of the two opposite narrow sides and is otherwise arranged freely, in the manner of a bridge, with its longitudinal extent not supported, characterized in that the loadbearing base is designed as a double base having an upper, essentially closed top board, and a sub-base arranged at a distance below the top board, the top board and the sub-base being connected via a loadbearing construction having two different types of strut frameworks, connecting struts running longitudinally, parallel to the long sides, being provided in a first type of strut framework, and connecting struts running transversely, parallel to the narrow sides, being provided in a second type of strut framework.

2. Plastic pallet according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first type of strut framework is in each case provided in two surface zones adjacent to the two narrow sides, of the loadbearing basle, and the second type of strut framework is provided in the remaining intermediate region.

3. Plastic pallet according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transversely running connecting struts of the second type of strut framework extend continuously transversely over the width of the loadbearing base1 from long side to long side.

4. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinally running connecting struts of the first type of strut framework extend over a length of up to about one third of the overall length of the loadbearing base, in each case starting from the narrow sidle,

5. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting struts, at least of the first type of strut framework, are designed at least in part as tension/compression struts in such a way that their linear upper and lower connecting points are in each case offset laterally in relation to one another, parallel to the plane of the loadbearing base.

6. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting struts of the second type of strut framework are designed at least in part as tension/compression struts in such a way that their linear upper and lower connecting points are in each case offset laterally in relation to one another, parallel to the plane of the loadbearing base.

7. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting struts of the second type of strut framework are arranged lying essentially parallel to one another in planes running perpendicular to the plane of the loadbearing base,

8. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper top board essentially extends in one plane continuously over the entire surface of the loadbearing base,

9. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sub-base essentially extends in one plane continuously over the entire surface of the loadbearing base.

10. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sub-base comprises a plurality of base regions which lie in mutually offset planes, the overall thickness of the loadbearing base in the region of the first type of strut framework preferably being greater than the thickness in the region of the second type of strut framework.

11. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the feet are integrally moulded onto the underside of the sub-base

12. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the loadbearing base (2) has nine feet in a symmetrical arrangement of three rows each of three feet.

13. - Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the feet are in each case connected in groups or rows, in their lower region facing away from the loadbearing base, via skids, the skids running parallel to one another and preferably also parallel to the long sides of the loadbearing base.

14. Plastic pallet according to Claim 13, characterized in that the skids are in each case designed, in particular on their underside, to be hollow and preferably of stiffening ribs.

15. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the feet are designed to be hollow and open downwards, stiffening ribs running longitudinally and/or transversely being arranged inside the feet.

16. Plastic pallet according to Claim 15, characterized in that the stiffening ribs, in particular of the outer feet arranged in corner regions of the loadbearing base, are interrupted in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction.

17. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the loadbearing base has stiffening ribs on its underside, at least in some regions, and/or has stiffening attachments in the angle regions in the transition to the feet,

18. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the loadbearing base has surface roughening on its upper side.

19. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the loadbearing base has on its upper side grooving, particularly over the whole surface, made of individual elevations distributed over the surface.

20. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the loadbearing base has at least one through opening, preferably a plurality of through openings distributed over the surface, preferably at least one through opening being configured to be elongated as a handle opening.

21. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the loadbearing base and/or the feet have means for fastening packaging material.

22. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that, at least in the corner regions of the upper side of the loadbearing base, facing away from its upper side, there are formed retaining edges under which packaging material, in particular film, can engage.

23. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 22, characterized by a dimensional configuration according to a pallet to DIN 15 146, Part 2, the loadbearing base having an overall length of about 1200 mm and an overall width of about 800 mm.

24. Plastic pallet according to one or more of Claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the single-piece moulding is composed, at least to some extent, of reclaimed plastic, in particular of a material with about 60% HDPE.

25. A plastic pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.