BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pallet. Pallets are often used to store and transport goods. Pallets maintain the goods at a distance above the floor such that they can readily be lifted and moved by a forklift. Plastic pallets are lighter and more durable than wooden pallets.
Some pallets are half the size of standard-sized pallets and are known as “half-pallets.” The half-pallets include a deck and a plurality of spaced-apart feet extending down from the deck to form openings. These half-pallets are transported short distances, such as from a delivery truck into a store, by a person on a wheeled pallet lift jack. The pallet lift jack is first rolled into an opening between the feet of a loaded half-pallet. A pneumatic or mechanical lift mechanism on the pallet lift jack then lifts deck of the half-pallet upward until the feet of the half-pallet are off the ground and the loaded half-pallet can be freely rolled on the pallet lift jack.
One known half-pallet includes a plurality of lateral projections protruding inwardly from lower portions of the feet. These lateral projections contact an underside of the pallet lift jack when the half-pallet is lifted, thereby assisting in locking the half-pallet in position on the pallet lift jack. However, the force exerted against the lateral projections can cause the feet to deflect outwardly, causing the lateral projections to slip off the pallet lift jack.
The known half-pallet also includes recesses on the upper surface of the deck into which are received the feet of a similar pallet stacked thereon. Adjacent recesses (noncontiguous with the recesses that receive the feet) receive the lateral projections of the similar half pallet stacked thereon. The recesses help maintain the stability of a stack of the empty half pallets, but the arrangement of the recesses and do not permit cross-stacking of empty half pallets. The feet do not fit into the recesses when cross-stacked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A half pallet for use with a pallet lift jack includes a deck from which extends a plurality of feet. A lateral projection extends inwardly from the feet. A vertical projection protrudes upwardly from an inner end of the lateral projection and is spaced from the foot such that a portion of a frame of the pallet lift jack can be received between the vertical projection and the foot. This prevents the feet from being deflected outwardly when the half pallet is locked against the frame of the pallet lift jack, thereby improving the stability of the stacked half pallets on the pallet lift jack.
The half pallet includes a plurality of interlocking features on the upper surface of the deck. In the example disclosed, each interlocking feature is a recess that receive both the foot and the lateral projection. The recess receives the foot and the lateral projection when in a stacked position and when in a cross-stacked position, thus providing increased stability to cross-stacked, empty half-pallets.
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 a pallet according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the pallet of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the pallet.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the pallet supported in a locked position on a pallet lift jack.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pallet stacked on a similar pallet.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5 looking down, taken just above the upper surface of the deck of the lower pallet.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pallet cross stacked on two similar pallets.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 looking down, taken just above the upper surface of the deck of the lower pallet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A pallet 10 of the half-pallet type is shown in FIG. 1. The pallet 10 includes a deck 12 from which extend down four corner feet 14a and two side feet 14b. Side walls 16 extend partially down from the deck 12 and connect the feet 14a, b to define fork-receiving openings 18. A pallet lift jack opening 20 is defined at each end of the pallet by the deck 12 and side walls 16.
Each of the corner feet 14a and side feet 14b includes a lateral projection 24 extending inwardly toward an opposite foot 14a, b. A vertical projection 26 protrudes upwardly from an inner end of each lateral projection 24.
The deck 12 includes a plurality of interlocking features 30a, b on its upper surface. In the embodiment shown, the interlocking features 30a, b are recesses, but they could alternatively be formed as projections or a combination of projections and recesses. The interlocking features 30a, b include L-shaped corner interlocking features 30a and T-shaped side interlocking features 30b. The corner interlocking features 30a are shaped to receive in an interlocking manner the corner feet 14a, and the side interlocking features 30b are shaped to receive in an interlocking manner the side feet 14b of a similar pallet stacked thereon. As will be described in more detail below, the interlocking features 30a, b are also configured to receive the feet 14a, b of a similar pallet cross-stacked thereon. The deck 12 may include one or more handles 40 formed thereon, such as adjacent the ends of the pallet 10, as shown.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the pallet 10. As shown, the vertical projection 26 is spaced inwardly from the foot 14a to define a frame receiving recess 44 among the lateral projection 24, the vertical projection 26 and the foot 14a. The frame receiving recess 44 includes an abutment surface 46 on the upper surface of the lateral projection 24. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the side feet 14b include similar lateral projections 24 and vertical projections 26.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the pallet 10. Fork receiving openings 18 are defined between each corner foot 14a and the side foot 14b and the side wall 16. The fork-receiving openings 18 provide the ability to move the pallet 10 with a forklift in a generally known manner.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the pallet 10 supported in a locked positin on a pallet lift jack 60. The pallet lift jack 60 includes a base 62 having a lower frame 64. The base 62 is supported on wheels 66 and includes a lift mechanism 70 for selectively raising and lowering a platform 72. The lift mechanism 70 may be pneumatic or electric or it may otherwise provide mechanical leverage for manually lifting the platform 72 and the pallet 10 when loaded (although illustrated empty). To lift the pallet 10, the pallet lift jack 60 is wheeled into the pallet lift jack opening 20 of the pallet 10 until the platform 72 is aligned beneath the deck 12. The lift mechanism 70 is then activated to bring the platform 72 into contact with the deck 12 and then raise the pallet 10 off the floor. As the deck 12 is raised, the lower frame 64 is received into the frame receiving recesses 44 of the pallet 10. When the lateral projections 24 of the pallet 10 contact the lower frame 64, the pallet 10 is locked in place on the pallet lift jack 60 for transport. The lower frame 64 is disposed between the vertical projection 26 and the foot 14a. The vertical projection 26 prevents the foot 14a from deflecting outwardly and releasing the lower frame 64.
Although only the corner feet 14a are visible in FIG. 4, the side feet 14b are locked to the lower frame 64 in a similar manner. When the pallet 10 is wheeled to the desired location, the lift mechanism 70 lowers the pallet feet 14a, b to the floor and is removed from the pallet lift jack opening 20.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pallet 10 stacked on a similar pallet 10′. The pallet 10′ is identical to the pallet 10 and corresponding features of pallet 10′ will be described with the same reference numerals with a prime designation. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5 through a plane just above the upper surface of the deck of the lower pallet to show the position of the feet 14a, b of the upper pallet 10 in the interlocking features 30a, b of the lower pallet 10′. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the stacked position, the corner feet 14a of the upper pallet 10 are received in a portion of the corner interlocking features 30a′ of the lower pallet 10′ and the side feet 14b are received in a portion of the side interlocking features 30b′ of the lower pallet 10′. The side interlocking features 30b′ include an enlarged portion 32′ into which is interlocked the side foot 14b′. This interlocking maintains the stability of the stacked pallets 10, 10′ when stored or transported empty.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pallet 10 cross-stacked on two similar pallets 10′, 10″. In the cross-stacked position, the pallet 10 is supported equally by the two similar pallets 10′, 10″. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 through a plane just above the upper surface of the deck of the lower pallets to show the position of the feet 14a, b of the upper pallet 10 in the interlocking features 30a, b of the lower pallets 10′, 10″. As shown, the interlocking features 30a, b′ and 30a, b″ are configured such that they interlock with the corner feet 14a and side feet 14b in the cross-stacked orientation as well. Two of the corner feet 14a are received in corner interlocking features 30a″, 30a′, but rotated 90 degrees relative to the stacked position. The other two corner feet 14a are received in side interlocking features 30b″, 30b′. One of the side feet 14b is receive in two adjacent side interlocking features 30b″, 30b′. The other side foot 14b is received in two adjacent corner interlocking features 30a″, 30a′ (not visible in FIG. 7). The interlocking between the feet 14a, b and the decks 12″, 12′ in a cross-stacked orientation increases the stability of the empty pallets 10, 10′, 10″ when transported or stored.
The pallet 10 shown is injection molded of a plastic, such as polypropylene or HDPE. The entire pallet 10 shown, including the deck 12, feet 14a, b, and lateral projections 24, is preferably integrally molded as a single piece, but could alternatively be molded as separate components that are snap-fit, welded or glued together.
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.
Patent Application
20060162624
