This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 2017102969225 filed on Apr. 28, 2017, titled “Pallet”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to the technical field of cargo transportation, and more particularly to a pallet.
For easy warehouse management and cargo transportation and logistics, cargo is often carried and supported by a pallet and the cargo may be transported and stored through moving cargo by a forklift. Pallets that have been commonly used are generally made of materials including bonded wood boards, solid wood boards, plastics, and metals and are often made in the form involving strips arranged parallel to each other for easy manufacture. However, the size of a pallet, once manufactured, is not changeable and for different products and different ways of stacking, pallets of a fixed size are surely not fit to the needs of shipping of products of various sizes. For example, in a workshop that manufactures liquid crystal displays, a pallet made according to a specific size may match liquid crystal modules having a particular lengthwise dimension; however, in practical applications of usages, in consideration of matchability and reliability of product stacking, it is necessary to use pallets of different sizes to match the size of the liquid crystal modules. When the liquid crystal modules are stacked in different ways, pallets having different design sizes corresponding thereto must be used. This is disadvantageous to improving utilization of pallets in practical applications.
The technical issue for which the present invention is made is to provide a pallet, which helps overcome the problem that the known pallets having a fixed size do not suit the need for transportation of products of different sizes.
To resolve the above issue, the present invention provides a pallet. The pallet comprises main extension members and support members, wherein the main extension members each comprise a rotary sleeve and a pair of threaded bars, the pair of threaded bars being respectively inserted into the rotary sleeve through two ends of the rotary sleeve, the threaded bars and the rotary sleeve being connected in a rotatable manner through threading engagement therebetween, the support members each comprising a first support element and a second support element pivoted to each other, an end of each of the threaded bars that is distant from the rotary sleeve being pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between the first support element and the second support element corresponding thereto such that rotation of the rotary sleeve adjusts a distance between the pair of threaded bars to change a relative bending condition between the first support element and the second support element thereby varying a size of the pallet.
In the above pallet, the number of the main extension members is two and the two main extension members are arranged to intersect each other, each of the main extension members being connected to one pair of the support members, and wherein when the pallet is in a non-contracted condition, two pairs of the support members collectively define a circumferentially enclosed configuration.
In the above pallet, the pallet further comprises auxiliary extension members, the auxiliary extension members being arranged one pair of the support members connected to the main extension members, the auxiliary extension members each having two ends respectively pivoted to one pair of the first support elements or one pair of the second support elements.
In the above pallet, the number of the auxiliary extension members is plural and the auxiliary extension members are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the main extension members.
In the above pallet, the auxiliary extension members each comprise one pair of straight bars and a sleeve fit over the pair of straight bars, the pair of straight bars being connected to each other through an elastic member, the straight bars having ends distant from the sleeve being pivoted to the support members.
In the above pallet, an end of the first support element connected to the second support element is provided with a first rotation axle, and an end of the second support element connected to the first support element is provided with a second rotation axle that is hollowed, the second rotation axle being fit over the first rotation axle, the first rotation axle having an outer circumferential surface on which a plurality of projections are formed, the second rotation axle having an inner circumferential surface in which a plurality of recesses is formed, the projections and the recesses being engageable with each other to selectively set and fix a relative position between the first support element and the second support element.
In the above pallet, the number of the main extension members is two and the two main extension members are arranged to intersect each other, each of the main extension members being connected to one pair of the support members, and wherein when the pallet is in a non-contracted condition, two pairs of the support members collectively define a circumferentially enclosed configuration.
In the above pallet, the pallet further comprises auxiliary extension members, the auxiliary extension members being arranged one pair of the support members connected to the main extension members, the auxiliary extension members each having two ends respectively pivoted to one pair of the first support elements or one pair of the second support elements.
In the above pallet, the number of the auxiliary extension members is plural and the auxiliary extension members are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the main extension members.
In the above pallet, the main extension members each further comprise an elastic member, the elastic member being received in the rotary sleeve, the pair of threaded bars being connected to each other by the elastic member.
In the above pallet, the number of the main extension members is two and the two main extension members are arranged to intersect each other, each of the main extension members being connected to one pair of the support members, and wherein when the pallet is in a non-contracted condition, two pairs of the support members collectively define a circumferentially enclosed configuration.
In the above pallet, the pallet further comprises auxiliary extension members, the auxiliary extension members being arranged one pair of the support members connected to the main extension members, the auxiliary extension members each having two ends respectively pivoted to one pair of the first support elements or one pair of the second support elements.
In the above pallet, the number of the auxiliary extension members is plural and the auxiliary extension members are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the main extension members.
In the above pallet, the rotary sleeve has an inner wall that is provided with at least two threaded plugs, the threaded plugs being fixed to the inner wall of the rotary sleeve, the threaded bars being respectively inserted into the threaded plugs and forming threading engagement with the threaded plugs.
In the above pallet, the number of the main extension members is two and the two main extension members are arranged to intersect each other, each of the main extension members being connected to one pair of the support members, and wherein when the pallet is in a non-contracted condition, two pairs of the support members collectively define a circumferentially enclosed configuration.
In the above pallet, the pallet further comprises auxiliary extension members, the auxiliary extension members being arranged one pair of the support members connected to the main extension members, the auxiliary extension members each having two ends respectively pivoted to one pair of the first support elements or one pair of the second support elements.
In the above pallet, the number of the auxiliary extension members is plural and the auxiliary extension members are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the main extension members.
In the above pallet, the threaded bars are each of a hollowed structure to reduce weight of the pallet.
In the above pallet, the support members each comprise a first layer and a second layer fixedly connected to each other, the first layer and the second layer being stacked on each other such that a gap is formed between the first layer and the second layer for receiving insertion of a fork of a forklift.
The efficacy of the present invention is as follows. Rotation of a rotary sleeve allows for adjustment of the distance between a pair of threaded bars and varies a length of a main extension member. Two ends of the main extension member are each connected to one of the support members. Each of the support members comprises a first support element and a second support element pivoted to each other. The main extension member is connected to the pivotal connection between the first support element and the second support element. Thus, adjusting the length of the main extension member changes a bending or inclining condition between the first support element and the second support element so as to change a size of the pallet, allowing for flexible variation of the size of the pallet to suit the need for transportation of cargo of different sizes and thus reducing costs of transportation and storage.
To more clearly explain the technical solution proposed in an embodiment of the present invention and that of the prior art, a brief description to the drawings that are necessary for describing the embodiment or the prior art is given as follows. It is obvious that the drawings that will be described below show only some embodiments of this application. For those having ordinary skills of the art, other obvious variations may be readily available from these attached drawings without the expense of creative effort and endeavor.
A clear and complete description will be given to technical solutions provided by embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments so described are only some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments that are available to those having ordinary skills of the art without the expense of creative effort and endeavor are considered belonging to the scope of protection of the present invention.
The embodiments of the present invention provide pallets for carrying cargo in order to ease transportation and storage of cargo. In an embodiment, the pallet is used to carry display modules and the likes in a liquid crystal display manufacturing workshop.
Referring to
The support members 20 each comprise a first support element 202 and a second support element 204 pivoted to each other. In other words, an end of the first support element 202 and an end of the second support element 204 are connected to each other and the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 are rotatable with respect to each other by means of the connection. In a preferred embodiment, the support members 20 are each made in the form of a rod-like structure having a flat surface. Since the surfaces of the support members 20 are provided to support cargo thereon, flatness of the surfaces helps stably support the cargo thereon. Further, an end of each the threaded bars 104 that is distant from the rotary sleeve 102 is pivoted to the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204. In other words, the threaded bar 104 is rotatable relative to the first support element 202 and the second support element 204. In the instant embodiment, the threaded bars 104 each have one end that is provided with a thread connected to and received in an interior of the rotary sleeve 102 and an opposite end connected to one of the support members 20, so that when the rotary sleeve 102 is rotated to cause the threaded bars 104 to move in such a direction as being further received into the rotary sleeve 102, the threaded bars 104 pull the support members 20 to move in such a direction as further approaching the rotary sleeve 102. Further, since the threaded bars 104 are each pivoted to the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 corresponding thereto, during the process of the support members 20 approaching the rotary sleeve 102, the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 are inclined and becoming bent with respect to each other so that the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 gets approaching and thus closer to the rotary sleeve 102. Since the two ends of each of the main extension members 10 are each connected to one of the support members 20, when the threaded bars 104 are moved in such a direction as being further received into the rotary sleeve 102, the pivotal connections of the two sets of first support element 202 and second support element 204 are moved closer to each other thereby reducing the distance between the two support members 20 and thus varying the size of the pallet.
Rotation of the rotary sleeve 102 allows for adjusting the distance between the pair of threaded bars 104 and thus varying the length of the main extension member 10. The two ends of the main extension member 10 are each connected to one of the support members 20, and each of the support members 20 comprises the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 that are pivoted to each other. The main extension member 10 is connected to the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 so that adjusting the length of the main extension member 10 would change a bending state between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 so as to vary the size of the pallet. The size of the pallet is thus variable in a flexible manner in order to suit the need for transportation of products of various sizes thereby saving costs of transportation and storage.
In the instant embodiment, the number of the main extension members 10 involved is two and the two main extension members 10 are arranged to intersect each other. Specifically, the two main extension members 10 are stacked on each other. In a preferred embodiment, the intersection between the two main extension members 10 is set at a location corresponding to a middle point of each of the main extension members 10 and the two main extension members 10 are substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the main extension members 10 is connected to one pair of support members 20, namely contraction and extension of each of the main extension members 10 controlling variation of the spacing distance between one pair of support members 20. When the pallet is in a non-contracted condition, two pairs of support members 20 collectively form a circumferentially enclosed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the two main extension members 10 have the same length and the support members 20 in the non-contracted condition define and circumferentially enclose a rectangular configuration. The rectangular configuration of the pallet helps stably support products thereon. The two main extension members 10 are arranged to intersect each other and the two pairs of support members 20 simultaneously receives and supports cargo thereon to provide an increased contact area between the pallet and the cargo, thereby improving stability of cargo supported on the pallet and helping prevent the cargo from sliding off the pallet during transportation.
In the instant embodiment, reference being made in combination with
In the instant embodiment, the main extension members 10 each further comprise an elastic member 108. The elastic member 108 is received in the rotary sleeve 102 and the threaded bars 104 are connected to each other by the elastic member 108. In a working condition, the elastic member 108 is kept in a compressed state or expanded state in order to maintain the threading engagement between the threaded bars 104 and the rotary sleeve 102 and prevent the threaded bars 104 and the rotary sleeve 102 from causing relative rotation between the threaded bars 104 and the rotary bar before a user starts rotating the rotary bar so that structure stability of the pallet in a fixed state can be improved.
In the instant embodiment, the threaded bar 104 is of a hollowed structure to help reduce the weight of the pallet.
In the instant embodiment, reference being made in combination with
Rotation of the rotary sleeve 102 may adjust the distance between the pair of threaded bars 104 and thus varies the length of the main extension member 10. The two ends of the main extension member 10 are each connected to one of the support members 20 and the support members 20 each comprise a first support element 202 and a second support element 204 rotatably or pivotally connected to each other, with the main extension member 10 being connected to the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204, so that adjusting the length of the main extension member 10 would change an inclined or bending state between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 so as to change the size of the pallet, allowing for flexible variation of the size of the pallet to suit the need for transportation of products of different sizes and reducing costs of transportation and storage.
Referring to
In the instant embodiment, the number of the auxiliary extension members 30 involved is plural and the auxiliary extension members 30 are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the main extension member 10. Further, the lengths of the auxiliary extension members 30 that are located closer to the main extension member 10 is getting closer to the length of the main extension member 10 during the contraction process of the pallet in order to allow the support members 20 to bend or curve about the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 to reduce the size of the pallet for carrying and supporting cargo of a small size.
In the instant embodiment, reference being made in combination with
Rotation of the rotary sleeve 102 allows for adjustment of the distance between the pair of threaded bars 104 and varies the length of the main extension member 10. The two ends of the main extension member 10 are each connected to one of the support members 20. Each of the support members 20 comprises a first support element 202 and a second support element 204 pivoted to each other. The main extension member 10 is connected to the pivotal connection between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204. Thus, adjusting the length of the main extension member 10 changes the bending or inclining condition between the first support element 202 and the second support element 204 so as to change the size of the pallet, allowing for flexible variation of the size of the pallet to suit the need for transportation of cargo of different sizes and thus reducing costs of transportation and storage.
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, it is noted that those skilled in the art would appreciates that various improvements and modifications are still available without departing from the scope of the present invention and such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017 1 0296922 | Apr 2017 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2017/085972 | 5/25/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/196080 | 11/1/2018 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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CN 107467888 abstract and figures (Year: 2017). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180334285 A1 | Nov 2018 | US |