Patent Application
20090064906
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pallets. More specifically, exemplary embodiments provide for enhancing the racking strength of pallets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inexpensive plastic shipping pallets do not have the strength to be stored in pallet racks. Typically, inexpensive plastic pallets are made of recycled resins, for example polyethylene. Pallet racks are metal structures for storing pallets in a vertical stack. A pallet rack consists of four (4) metal beams extending vertically from the ground. The beams are spaced slightly farther apart than the normal dimensions of a pallet. In the United States of America, pallets are generally forty-eight (48) inches by forty (40) inches. Foreign pallets are generally 1200 millimeters by 1000 millimeters. Thus, the beams of a pallet rack are arranged in a rectangular pattern, approximately forty-eight inches by forty inches.
Pallet racks have pairs of horizontal bars that are parallel and level to each other spaced evenly along the length of the vertical beams. The horizontal bars extend between the beams covering the long side of the pallet. These horizontal bars have lips extending inwards on the pallet rack. The lips extend a short distance allowing the pallets to be placed on the pair of opposing lips. Thus, the weight of the pallet is distributed from the pallet to the pallet rack through the horizontal bars.
Plastic pallets designed for racking are significantly more expensive, frequently costing twice as much or more than other plastic pallets. Current add-on runners are used to support pallets on a forklift. These add-on runners are inadequate for supporting the plastic pallets on pallet racks. Due to the design of the add-on runners and the inexpensive pallets, these pallets are not able to support much weight. If put in a pallet rack, these add-on runners deform and break due to the weight of the pallet.
Exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus and a method for enhancing the racking strength of a pallet. The apparatus comprises an add-on runner adapted to be attached to the pallet. The add-on runner comprises a rail and a first and a second support member. The rail comprises a middle attachment section, a first cantilevered end section, and a second cantilevered end section. The middle attachment section is adapted to accept a middle foot of a pallet. The first cantilevered end section includes a first end foot attachment section adapted to accept a first end foot of the pallet. The second cantilevered end section includes a second end foot attachment section adapted to accept a second end foot of the pallet. The first support member extends upwards from the first cantilevered end section towards a deck of the pallet. Also, a second support member extends upwards from the second cantilevered end section towards the deck of the pallet.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
End feet 106 are generally frusto-conical in shape and extend downward from deck 102. End feet 106 are tapered from wider at the top, at deck 102, to narrower at the bottom of the feet. Frusto-conical means having basically the shape of a cone, but the top is cut off parallel to the base. Such a shape is also known as a “frustum” or “frustrum”. End feet 106 occur at either end of long side 108 of deck 102 and are evenly spaced across the length of short side 110 of deck 102.
Middle foot attachment section 204 occurs in the middle of rail 202 and is shaped to accept the insertion of a bottom portion of a middle foot, such as middle foot 104 in
While occurring in end sections 208, end foot attachment sections 206 are spaced a distance from the end of rail 202. Thus, when add-on runner 200 is attached to a pallet, such as pallet 100 in
Exemplary embodiments provide for modifying an add-on runner to increase the racking strength of a standard low cost plastic pallet. Racking strength is the amount weight or load a pallet can hold without major deformation failure when supported at the ends of the pallet. Exemplary embodiments provide two frusto-conical shaped support members that protect the cantilevered portion of the add-on runners. A cantilevered portion is that portion of a structure that projects beyond its own support. The support members transfer the weight of the pallet stored in a pallet rack from the deck of the pallet through the frusto-conical support members to the pallet rack. Because this transference of load is done with the attachable runner, the standard plastic pallet is unmodified and remains an inexpensive commodity.
Add-on runner 200 attaches to a pallet, such as pallet 100 in
Support member 210 typically is made of the same material as a pallet. However, alternate embodiments provide for support members 210 to be made from any appropriate material, such as, for example, but not limited to, wood, plastic, metal, and so forth. Support members 210 are attachable by various means, such as, for example, but not limited to, snapping on, screwing on, bolting on, gluing on, and so forth. Support members 210 may be attached temporarily or permanently.
Furthermore, support members 210 are shaped so as to fit flush against an end foot that extends from a pallet deck, such as end foot 106 of
Thus, exemplary embodiments provide for modifying an add-on runner to increase the racking strength of a standard low cost plastic pallet, wherein the standard plastic pallet is unmodified and remains an inexpensive commodity.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
