None
Not applicable.
The present invention relates generally to paperboard containers and pallets, and more particularly to an integrated paperboard container and pallet system having a collapsible walled section facilitating the shipping of the system when unassembled.
Heretofore, pallets used by the shipping industries for the storage or transportation of a variety of goods generally have been constructed out of a wood material. These wooden pallets, however, are known to have a definite usable life, and, thereafter, must be disposed of in an acceptable manner such as in a landfill or the like. Increasingly, the use of wooden pallets has become an environmental issue as the amount of usable landfill space continues to decline. The disposal. problem is magnified when it is considered that large assembly plants, such as automobile plants and the like, generated literally thousands upon thousands of wooden pallets.
The art, then, has turned to pallets fabricated of paperboard materials such as corrugated cardboard and the like, which are generally considered to be more recyclable than wood. Paperboard pallets of such a type are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,444, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,154.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that alternatives to the banded containers heretofore known in the art would be well received by the shipping and manufacturing industries. A preferred alternative would incorporate the advantages of the paperboard pallets described hereinbefore in being inexpensive, recyclable, and easy to assembly, and desirably would be collapsible for efficient storage and shipment.
A paperboard container has a base unit having leg receiving recesses and openings adapted to be filled with forks from a forklift for conveying of the paperboard pallet assembly. A rectilinear flat floor unit has downward projecting legs that mate with the base unit leg receiving recesses and having corner tab recesses. A self-supporting side unit of rectilinear configuration has an open top adapted to receive a lid, an open bottom, and four sidewalls. The sidewalls at the open bottom have projecting corner tabs for mating with the floor unit tab recesses. The side unit has two longitudinal ends and fold lines adapted to be affixed for forming the rectilinear configuration and to urge the side unit to be self-supporting. Two opposing sidewalls of the side unit are foldable to collapse the side unit so that each non-folded sidewall can be laid down atop the flat floor unit for shipping and storage of said paperboard container. A lid covers the self-supporting side unit at its open top.
Advantages of the present invention include a paperboard pallet assembly in a folded down state where several such assemblies can be stacked for shipment. Another advantage is a paperboard pallet assembly that can be quickly and easily assembled at the plant. A further advantage is a paperboard pallet assembly that is sturdy and reliable for housing parts and goods for shipment. These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based in the present disclosure.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings will be described in further detail below.
The inventive self-locking pallet assembly can be shipped and stored in a folded (compacted) state that permits several such assemblies to be stacked on top of each other. Thereafter, a worker can easily unfold the carton sides and assemble the container components to form a carton container suitable for shipping a variety of goods.
Referring initially to
Base unit 12 has two pairs of tunnels, 20A/20B (see
To assemble base unit 12, the paperboard material is folded along fold lines, 36, 38, 40, and 42. Stapling of ends, as illustrated in
Referring now to
Flat floor unit 14 has a series of recesses, recesses 50 and 52 being exemplary of such recesses. The number and location of the recesses also can be varied from the drawings and still be with the precepts of the present invention. The purpose of these recesses will be explained in connection with the further detailed description of side unit 16, below.
Referring now particularly to
Side unit 16 is formed from two pieces of paperboard stock, as illustrated in the drawings; although, more of less pieces can be used in forming side unit 16, as is necessary, desirable, or convenient. As seen best in
The projecting tabs, such as tab 56, are formed by die cutting each side unit piece. Additionally formed by such die cutting procedure are sections foldable to abut, such as, sections 66, 68, 70, and 72. Such sections rest atop floor unit 14 and urge side unit 16 in a self-standing state. Adhesive optionally can be applied to secure such sections to floor unit 14.
Side unit piece 16A is illustrated in
Once side unit 16 has been assembled from side unit pieces 16A and 16B, the manufacturer can fold side unit 16 along fold lines 78 and 80 (
The user by merely unfolding the compacted pallet assembly along fold lines 78 and 80 then can fold down sections 66, 68, 70, and 72, for placing atop floor unit 14. The rest of the assembly of pallet assembly 10, then, proceeds as described herein.
While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In this application all units are in the metric system and all amounts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.