GB2376222A

GB2376222A - Pallet with spring stops

Info

Publication number: GB2376222A
Application number: GB0209038A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nir Hadar
Original assignee: Polymer Logistics Israel Ltd
Current assignee: Polymer Logistics Israel Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-19
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2002-12-11
Also published as: GB0209038D0; IL142711A0

Abstract

A palette with depressible spring-lifted stops has a number of stops set within its upper surface. Each stop is a depressible spring-lifted stop spring-biased to a raised position in which the stop projects upwards from the upper surface so as to provide an obstruction to horizontal movement of a load across the upper surface, and depressible under application of a vertically applied load to a depressed position in which the stop lies at or below the upper surface. Preferably, the stops are rectangular at the sides and L-shaped at the corners.

Description

Pal, let With Depressible Spring-Lifted Stops FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a palette with depressible spring-lifted stops. Palettes such as are used for transporting various goods, for example for retail outlets, have a single load-bearing surface which must be used alternately to support large flat-bottomed crates or loads which require the full surface and smaller objects or containers in a manner such that they do not slip off the surface.

A number of patents disclose selectively raised and lowered stops for use on vehicles. Specifically, U. S. Patent No. 5,785, 473 to Stark teaches a hydraulically actuated structure in which stops are raised by hydraulic pressure provided by the vehicle. In the absence of hydraulic pressure, the stops are spring biased to a lowered position. The need for hydraulic activation makes such a system unsuited for use in palettes which must be free-standing low-cost units.

Similarly, U. S. Patent No. 4,203, 372 to Ivanov et al. teaches sets of stops for fixing the position of a load along a track within a cargo aircraft.

Here, the stops, deployed along the length of the track, are locked in a retracted state and have a complicated mechanism for selectively releasing the stop from a locked retracted state. As a result, this system is also not suited to massproduced free-standing palettes.

Finally, U. S- Patent No. 2,757, 039 to Merriman teaches a set of manually deployable stops or"dogs"for use in a truck. The need for manual deployment of the stops renders the structure unduly labor intensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a palette with depressible spring-lifted stops.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a palette with depressible spring-lifted stops comprising: (a) a palette having a substantially flat upper surface for supporting a load; and (b) a plurality of stops set within the upper surface, characterised in that each of the stops is implemented as a depressible spring-lifted stop spring-biased to a raised position in which the stop projects upwards from the upper surface so as to provide an obstruction to horizontal movement of a load across the upper surface, and depressible under application of a vertically applied load to a depressed position in which the stop lies at or below the upper surface.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of stops include four L-shaped stops each deployed near a comer of the upper surface.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of stops include at least four elongated stops each deployed near a straight edge of the upper surface.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of stops includes at least one stop located near a midline subdividing the upper surface into two regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein : FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a palette, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a palette, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention ; FIG. 3 is an additional isometric view of the palette of Figure 1 ; FIG. 4 is an additional isometric view of the palette of Figure 2; FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the palette of Figure 1 carrying a load which is held in position by raised L-shaped comer stops; FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the palette of Figure 2 carrying a load which is held in position by raised L-shaped comer stops; FIGS. 7 and 8 are two enlarged isometric views of a corner region from

Figure 6 ; FIGS. 9 and 10 are two isometric views of the palette of Figure 1 carrying two loads held in place by raised stops near straight edges of the palette and near a midline subdividing said upper surface into two regions ;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are two isometric views of the palette of Figure 1 carrying a bottle supporting surface retained by raised stops along one side of the palette ; FIGS. 13 and 14 arc two isometric views of the palette of Figure 1 carrying a large load overlying the entirety of the upper surface of the palette with all of the stops depressed; FIGS. 15 and 16 are schematic cross-sectional views taken through a depressible spring-lifted stop, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, the stop being shown in a raised position ; and FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic cross-sectional views taken through a depressible spring-lifted stop, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, the stop being shown in a depressed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a palette with a support surface in which are embedded a number of spring-lifted stops which, when depressed, are flush with the surface. When a large flat-bottomed load is lowered onto the surface, the stops are depressed so that they do not interfere with maximum use of the available surface. When a smaller crate is positioned on the surface, the stops not overlaid by the crate remain lifted and prevent sideways slipping of the crate.

The invention is applicable to palettes configured for lifting by forklift trucks and trolleys (e g., Figures 2,4 and 6), as well as to palettes mounted on wheels (e. g., Figures 3,5 and 9-14).

The stops may have various different forms according to the design and intended use of the palette. Examples shown here include rectangular and L- shape stops in plan view. The L-shape stops are particularly useful as corner stops located near comers of the palette surface. Alternative shapes are also possible such as, for example, round stops.

In vertical cross-section (Figures 15-18), the stops have parallel vertical sides, preferably terminating in rounded upper corners. The stops are permanently spring biased to a raised position (Figures 15 and 16) and may be depressed by weight applied to the upper surface to a lowered position (Figures 17 and 18) in which the upper surface is at or below the surface of the palette, and typically roughly level with the surface. The spring biasing may be provided by a metallic helical spring as shown, or by plastic springs, preferably integrally molded as part of either the stop or the palette.

In an alternative implementation (not shown), the vertical motion of the stops may be achieved using a rotational movement with complementary partially-helical abutment surfaces between the stop and the palette and a torsion spring.

The location and number of the stops may be chosen according to the intended applications. In most cases, at least four stops are provided, one near each comer of a rectangular palette surface. Additionally, or alternatively, one

or more stop may be located spaced along the length of each edge of the palette surface. In the preferred example shown here, intermediate stops located near the middle of each edge are inwardly spaced from the edge such that a first size of load (Figures 5-8) is retained only by the comer stops with all other stops depressed while a load which is slightly smaller in one or two directions would also be closely retained by one or more of the intermediate stops also remaining raised.

Optionally, as seen in Figures 9 and 10, additional intermediate stops may be located away from the edges of the palette surface to retain objects of dimensions significantly smaller than that of the palette surface. In one particularly preferred example (Figures 9 and 10), one or more stops are deployed along or near a line subdividing the rectangular palette surface into two equal smaller rectangles. The result here is that each of two containers is held in position by at least one raised stop along each of its sides.

Figures 11 and 12 show a bottle supporting surface retained by stops along one side while the stops are depressed along the other edges of the palette.

Figures 13 and 14 show a large load overlying the entire surface of the palette with all of the stops depressed.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A palette with depressible spring-lifted stops comprising: (a) a palette having a substantially flat upper surface for supporting a load; and (b) a plurality of stops set within said upper surface, characterised in that each of said stops is implemented as a depressible spring- lifted stop spring-biased to a raised position in which said stop projects upwards from said upper surface so as to provide an obstruction to horizontal movement of a load across said upper surface, and depressible under application of a vertically applied load to a depressed position in which said stop lies at or below said upper surface.
2. The palette of claim 1, wherein said plurality of stops include four L-shaped stops each deployed near a comer of said upper surface.
3. The palette of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said plurality of stops include at least four elongated stops each deployed near a straight edge of said upper surface.
4. The palette of any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of stops includes at least one stop located near a midline subdividing said upper surface into two regions.