Patent Application
20170036810
Transportation and storage of objects is a part of daily life in the civilized world. To achieve these objectives, boxes, cases, trays, cartons, and pallets have been designed and re-designed to address these transportation needs. Trays, pallets, and open-topped containers provide excellent utility for moving and storing single items as well as fungible loads. They are often simpler to load and less expensive to manufacture than closed containers.
For loads that may be sensitive to the elements and/or need to be stored for long lengths of time, or loads that tend to slide easily, trays and pallets may work better if the load is protected. This type of protection is often provided via tarp or plastic wrapping. However, it is difficult to secure the tarp or wrapping. Some simply wrap the entire tray or pallet+load several times and depend on the self-stick characteristics of the plastic to secure it. The self-stick character is not very dependable. It is also difficult to remove/unwrap loads wrapped in multiple layers of plastic. For loads that are not uniform in shape, depending on self-stick is even less dependable. Further, more plastic than is actually necessary to offer protection for the load is often used in order to be more certain it will remain in place.
In addition to the expected waste and lack of dependability, plastic wrapped or tarp wrapped pallets are difficult to manipulate. In order to move the pallets and their loads, machines such as fork lifts need to be able to easily engage and lift the pallet and its load and then easily disengage from the pallet after the pallet is positioned. If a pallet or tray is wrapped in plastic, the features that may otherwise facilitate easy engagement such as runners or slots may be covered by the plastic making transport difficult or impossible. Alternatively, wrapping in order to avoid blocking these loading features can be time consuming and wasteful of the wrapping material.
Securing a tarp is even more difficult and sometimes is accomplished using bungee cords or ties with hooks to secure the ends together, or ties to gather the tarp at the corners and secure by securing on the underside of the corner. Many of the same problems that plague the use of plastic wrap also plague the use of tarps. What was needed was simple means to secure plastic wrap or a tarp to a tray or pallet without negatively affecting the function or simplicity of loading the tray or pallet.
The present invention is designed to minimize the amount of plastic wrap or tarp required. It provides means to secure that are operable with either tarp or plastic and are simple to use. The securement means of the present invention are of simple and easy construction and at least partially integrated with the rack or tray. Finally, the securement means preferably do not interfere with the other operative loading features of the tray or pallet.
Although the pallets or trays with which the present invention are used are not intended to be limited by this description, it is useful to describe a common type of pallet.
The securement means of the present invention may be used with a plastic pallet capable of bearing a dynamic load, some comprising a load limit of up to about 2,000 pounds or more. Standard pallets may include pallets that can span a 42 inch or 44 inch open pallet rack. Pallets are typically designed for durability and storage/stacking ease. Some of the pallets with which the present invention may be used are stored in a nesting arrangement with others and may be of relatively low cost. Many are of unitary structure such as manufactured by a molding process. Said securement means of the present invention secure wrap or tarp in such a way that the other advantageous features of the pallet are not diminished in value. Pallets of different dimensions having the features of the present invention would also be desirable especially if the pallet can readily survive several shipping cycles before repair or replacement.
The present invention comprises securement means for a pallet or tray having a loading deck. The loading deck may be the result of a molding process. Alternatively, the pallet or tray is generally of a unitary structure resulting from an injection molding, blow molding or vacuum forming process. In a preferred embodiment, the pallet or tray can be nested and stacked with other pallets. The securement means is associated with a surface of the pallet and designed to anchor a covering over a load placed on the pallet or tray. The securement means is preferably designed to lie mostly if not entirely within the plane of the surface with which it is associated so as to minimize or avoid interference with the original functionality of the pallet or tray. In one embodiment, the securement means is integrally formed in a portion of the pallet and lies interior to the plane of the surface.
Technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless otherwise defined. In the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” specifically also encompass the plural fauns of the terms to which they refer, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The word “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or” and not “either/or”. The term “about” is used to mean approximately, in the region of, roughly, or around. The term “comprise(s)” and “comprising” are to be interpreted as having an open-ended meaning and synonymous with the phrases “having at least” or “including at least”.
A pallet 10 of the present invention includes at least a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a first outer side 16. Many embodiments also include a second outer side 18, a first end 20, and a second end 22. Some embodiments include a plurality of outer sides all equal in dimension. Means to secure 30 may be located on any portion of any one of said top surface 12, the bottom surface 14, any outer side 16, 18, or either end 20, 22 if an end is present. In one embodiment, said means to secure 30 comprises a resiliently closed opening 165 (see
In one embodiment, the pallet 10 is a molded pallet of unitary structure, the top surface 12 and a lower most plane 34 of the bottom surface 14 spatially separated. The pallet 10 may comprise runners or ribs in the bottom surface 14 in which case some portions of the bottom surface 14 are closer to or may be integral with the top surface 12 and other portions would be parallel with the lower most plane 34 of the bottom surface 14. Alternatively, as is known in the art, the pallet's bottom surface may comprise pedestals which allow for nesting and provide securement means for transporting the pallet. These embodiments of a pallet 10 comprise an outer surface 100 extending in a downwardly angular or perpendicular manner from said top surface 12, said outer surface 100 may or may not comprise a lower edge 102.
In another embodiment, the pallet 10 comprises a top surface 12 having an outer surface extending in a downwardly angular or perpendicular manner from said top surface said outer surface 100 comprising a lower edge 102.
In yet another embodiment, the pallet 10 comprises a top deck having a surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a first outer side 16, a second outer side 18, a first end surface 20a, and a second end surface 22a. This embodiment resembles a shallow block. The sides 16, 18, 20a and 22a may, together, be referred to as the outer surface 100.
Any of the aforementioned embodiments of the pallet 10 may be of unitary structure. Any may include means to facilitate nesting such as runners or pegs.
The means to secure 30 may be integrally formed in the outer surface 100. In some embodiments where the outer surface comprises a lower edge 102 said means to secure 30 may be positioned at and may even incorporate the lower edge 102. The means to secure 30 may be molded integrally into the lower edge 102 during the manufacturing process.
The means to secure 30 generally operate by friction fit (including tying and/or anchoring with a knot or “T”) to secure a covering 110 which may comprise plastic wrap or other tarp-like material 110. It is possible to create said means to secure 30 to comprise metal rings or hook, however, the spirit of this invention is to provide means to secure that are simple and do not negatively affect the functionality of the pallet, including required maintenance and replacement of parts. While it is within the scope of this disclosure to provide a pallet 10 with a single means to secure 30 as claimed herein, it is expected most often that a plurality of means 30 will be provided on a pallet 10. In operation, a load is placed on the top surface 12 of the pallet 10. A first end or side or point 112 (see
The present invention is intended to provide means to secure 30 plastic wrap or tarp 110 over a load placed on a pallet 10. It is understood, however, that said means to secure 30 could also be used to secure specially made lids or covers if said lids or covers were equipped with elements that could be retained by the means to secure 30. Means to secure 30 could be used to directly secure a load if the load were equipped with attachment means that can be frictionally secured to the means to secure 30.
In one embodiment, means to secure comprises a keyhole shape 125 opening from said lower edge 102 with stricture 127 for assisting in the securement of the plastic wrap or tarp 110. (See
In a second embodiment a simple slot 135 opening to the lower edge 102 is provided. (See
In a third embodiment, a ramped slot 145 opens into said lower edge 102. Here, the slot also comprises a ramp section 147 to assist the user to align and insert the tarp or plastic 110. (See
A hook-shaped slot 155 is provided in a fourth embodiment wherein said slot comprises a first portion 157 generally perpendicular to said lower edge 102 and a second portion 159 open to said first portion 157 and generally parallel with said lower edge 102. (See
A fifth embodiment comprises a slotted opening 165 in the outer surface 100 said slotted opening 165 flexible, with high resilience. A corner of the tarp 110 or another portion of the tarp 110 may be inserted into the slotted opening 165 which will secure the tarp 110. (See
In use, the present invention accommodates insertion of a portion of the plastic or tarp and securing it therein. It is contemplated that the end of the plastic or tarp may be equipped with a stop such as a “T” or a knot or a plate that, once inserted in the means to secure, will provide additional resistance to slippage.
The present invention will reduce waste otherwise incurred by wrapping the entire pallet, reduce or eliminate loss of functionality caused by fully wrapping a pallet relative to its stackability, and avoid loss of other functionality and sources of weakness that would be caused by exteriorly mounted securement means such as rings or hooks.
The inventor does not intend to limit the invention to these embodiments but, rather, the invention is directed to the use of single or multiple means to secure, all uniform in a given pallet, or arranged in groupings of different embodiments, or comprising several different embodiments to provide multi-use.
The present invention has been described in both specificity, and with generality. It is not intended to be limited except as the claims language requires. To that end, the material used to make the pallet or top deck may be of several blends of plastic, fiberglass, or combinations with wood or metal. The pallet includes at least one and may include a plurality of identical means to secure. Alternatively, the pallet may include a plurality of means to secure that differ from one another within the scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, said means to secure are integrally molded with the pallet or the top deck such that they are co-planar with or interior to the outermost surface of the pallet or top deck in which said means to secure is located.
