BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of half of a pallet according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the half of the pallet of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the cap of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cap.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the cap.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the cap.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the center, end column portion of the bottom deck of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the center, end column portion of the bottom deck and the cap.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the center, end column portion of the top deck.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the center, end column portion of the top deck and the cap.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the pallet of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A half perspective view of an example pallet 10 constructed according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Although only half is shown for simplicity, it is understood that the other half would be similar. The pallet 10 includes an upper deck 12 spaced above a lower deck 14 by a plurality of supports or columns including corner columns 16, side columns 18, a center column 19 and end columns 20. The upper deck 12 and the lower deck 14 in this example are each a single, integrally formed part, such as by injection molding polypropylene or other suitable material. Other methods such as rotomolding or thermoforming may also be used.
A column cap 22 is separately formed of a higher density material, such as a higher density polymer such as a high molecular weight high density polyethylene, such that it is stiffer and tougher than the end column 20 (i.e. than the upper deck 12 and lower deck 14), which may be polypropylene or polyethylene. The column cap 22 may be injection molded (if polymer) or formed according to any suitable process. In the example shown, the column cap 22 is fitted in front of only the end column 20 (and the opposite end column 20, not shown), as this is the column most often impacted by the tines of the forklift; however, additional column caps 22 could be fitted over any or all of the remaining columns as well.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pallet 10 of FIG. 1. The upper deck 12 includes a plurality of integrally molded upper column portions 16a, 18a, 19a, 20a that together with integrally molded lower column portions 16b, 18b, 19b 20b, form the corner columns 16, side columns 18, center column 19 and end columns 20, respectively. The lower deck 14, as shown in this example, may include a plurality of runners 30 that interconnect the plurality of lower column portions 16b, 18b, 19b, 20b. The end column lower portion 20b includes a front wall 50 having gaps 52 on either side of the front wall 50 between the front wall 50 and each of a pair of pillars 54 that protrude outward relative to the front wall 50. The lower column portions 16b, 18b, 19b, 20b each include snap-fit connectors 34 for securing to complementary connectors on the corresponding upper column portions. Numerous other known ways of connecting the upper and lower decks 12, 14 can be used, such as heat staking, vibration welding, etc.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the column cap 22 of FIG. 2. The column cap 22 includes a generally flat front panel 38 and curved side walls 40. A plurality of teeth or tabs 42 project from the upper edge and from the lower edge of the front panel 38.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the column cap 22. A pair of integrally-molded hooks 44 project rearward and then inward from outer edges of the front panel 38. As shown in FIG. 5, the hooks 44 open inward toward one another. The curved side walls 40 project forward of the front panel 38 and open rearward.
As shown in FIG. 6, the tabs 42 protrude upward and downward further than the curved side walls 40. Also, the curved side walls 40 taper inward as they extend away from the front panel 38.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the end lower column portion 20b of the lower deck 14 (with the column cap 22 removed). The end lower column portion 20b includes a plurality of apertures 56b in front of the front wall 50 and between the pillars 54.
As shown in FIG. 8, to assemble the column cap 22 to the end lower column portion 20b, the front panel 38 of the column cap 22 is slid down in front of the front wall 50 of the end lower column portion 20b. The curved side walls 40 fit around the pillars 54. The hooks 44 of the column cap 22 are slid down through the gaps 52 to interlock with the front wall 50 to retain the column cap 22 to the end lower column portion 20b. The tabs 42 of the column cap 22 are received in the apertures 56b in front of the front wall 50 in the end lower column portion 20b to further interlock the column cap 22 with the end lower column portion 20b.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the end upper column portion 20a of the top deck 12, with the column cap 22 removed. The upper column portion 20a also includes a short rib forming a pair of spaced apart pillars 54a (much shorter than the pillars 54b on the lower column portion 20b) and a front portion 51. A plurality of spaced-apart apertures 56a are formed in front of the front portion 51. As shown in FIG. 10, the curved side walls 40 of the column cap 22 fit around the pillars 54a and the tabs 42 interlock with the apertures 56a to retain the column cap 22. When the upper deck 12 is assembled to the lower deck 14 (FIG. 8), the tabs 42 are so received in the apertures 56a.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the entire assembled pallet 10. As shown, the pallet 10 includes a similar opposite end column 20, which would also have a column cap 22.
In use, a forklift operator could push the pallet 10 across the floor by placing a tine of the fork against the column cap 22 of the end column 20. The tougher higher-density material of the column cap 22 prevents damage to the end column 20 without unnecessarily increasing the cost of materials for the entire pallet 10 or column 20. In the event that the column cap 22 does receive damage, it can easily be replaced.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers for steps in method claims are for ease of reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence unless otherwise stated.
Patent Application
20080017081
