Patent Application
20050000395
This present invention relates generally to pallets and more particularly to a pallet support unit.
Pallets are used to store and transport goods. Pallets maintain the goods at a distance above the floor such that they can be readily lifted and moved by a forklift. After the goods are unloaded, the empty pallets are typically returned to the first location for reuse.
Plastic pallets are usually lighter than wooden pallets and some plastic pallets are designed to be nestable, such that each pallet at least partially fits within another empty pallet, to minimize the space required for storing and transporting the empty pallets. However, a significant amount of effort and space is still needed to store, return and reuse the pallets.
The use of multiple, plastic supports has been proposed. The disposable plastic support includes a load-bearing upper surface and a floor-contacting lower surface. A plurality of legs extend at an angle outwardly from the upper surface to the lower surface and may include openings for receiving a forklift between each adjacent pair of legs. A plurality of similar or identical supports are then arranged to support the goods at a distance above the floor. These supports may be formed inexpensively enough that they can be used once to transport goods from their origin to destination and then, instead of returning them, they can be recycled. However, the legs of such supports may not be substantial enough to withstand impact from a forklift. Therefore, a pallet support unit with legs with improved impact resistance is desired.
The present invention provides a pallet support unit comprising a plastic support with improved leg strength, and impact resistance.
The pallet support unit according to the present invention includes legs, each of which comprises multiple angled wallstock to improve impact strength. In a preferred embodiment, each leg includes a plurality of 90 degree angles oriented in alignment with each opening between each adjacent pair of legs. Each leg may include three 90 degree angles forming a generally “W-shaped” cross-section. The leg may further include ribs protruding outwardly from outer surfaces to limit the nesting of stacked supports when not in use.
In another embodiment, a plurality of supports are joined by a plurality of connectors extending therebetween, integrally molded as a single structure. Facing openings of adjacent supports are connected by a pair of side connector walls each formed continuously with one section of a leg. An upper connector wall connects the pair of side connector walls.
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:
In the support 14 according to the present invention, each leg 20 includes a plurality of transverse wall sections 30a-d. In the preferred embodiment, each of the wall sections 30a-d extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to each adjacent wall section 30a-d. In order to provide increased resistance to impact from a forklift tine, the outer wall sections 30a and 30d, which are adjacent openings 26, are oriented in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the opening 26 (i.e. the plane substantially defined by the outer edges of upper member 16, wall sections 30d, 30a′, and the inner edge of the peripheral flange 24). Each leg 20 further includes an inner wall section 30b, 30c adjacent to and perpendicular to the outer wall sections 30a, 30d, respectively, and perpendicular to one another. The result is a generally “W-shaped” cross-section for each leg 20., At a lower end of each inner wall section 30b, 30c an outwardly extending vertical rib 36 prevents the supports 14 from nesting within one another too tightly when stacked between uses.
In use, the supports 14 are arranged in a spaced-apart arrangement on a floor with the openings 26 of the supports 14 aligned to receive forklift tines. Goods 13 are then stacked on the supports 14 in an arrangement that will depend upon the relative size, weight or density of the goods 13 and the supports, and upon the number of goods 13 to be stacked thereon. One arrangement is illustrated in
The load of goods 13 may then be transported to its destination on support units 14, such as by forklift in the event of an impact by the forklift tine with one of the legs 20, the outer wall section 30a or 30d will provide increased strength, impact resistance, and help prevent the collapse of support unit 14. At the destination, the load of goods 13 is unloaded and/or sold and support units 14 can be stored by nesting them, each one within another. In this manner the unused supports 14 occupy a minimal amount of space.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
