JPH04267737A - Polymer pallet leg for cardboard pallet base board - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a polymer pallet leg constituting a pallet support device in which both a cardboard sheet and a wafer board are regenerable and environmental problems are taken into consideration. CONSTITUTION: A polymer pallet leg 10 for a cardboard pallet base includes a first truncated cone 12, a second truncated cone 14 within the first truncated cone invertedly positioned with respect thereto, a rim 28 surrounding and offset below the top edge of the first truncated cone, and a plurality of locking tabs 34a-34d extending outwardly from the top edge of the first truncated cone. The locking tabs 34 engage with corresponding tab holes of the cardboard pallet about a pallet leg hole. The second truncated cone includes a flat surface for engaging with any object placed on the pallet and is about the same height as the top edge of the first truncated cone. An optimal braking tab 36 can be also provided for engaging the cardboard further locking the leg in position. A pallet leg insert engages the second inverted cone for attaching a bottom pallet base to the polymer pallet leg.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to polymeric pallet legs for cardboard pallet substrates, and more particularly to cardboard pallet legs for constructing pallet support devices, typically for supporting corrugated cardboard sheets. A method and apparatus for using multiple pallet legs. Also,
Pallet substrate inserts for pallet substrates and polymer pallet legs are also provided.

0002

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Due to the disposal problem of wooden pallets, the cost of wooden pallets, and most importantly, wooden pallets are not environmentally renewable, landfill waste disposal sites are Wooden pallets have become environmentally undesirable due to their inability to tolerate Wooden pallets quickly fill up landfills, do not degrade quickly, and generally cause environmental distress as landfills fill up with bulky material. Furthermore, wooden pallets cause the destruction of trees and are also unsuitable from an environmental point of view.

US Pat. No. 3,915,09 to Weis et al., issued October 28, 1975.
Conventional polymer pallet legs, such as in No. 9 (Support Columns and Disposable Pallet Structures), are a single cup-shaped support structure without a support structure, i.e., an inverted cup-shaped support structure, so that the Weight and statics and dynamics are limited. Mass transfer is discontinuously positioned from the legs, through the cup, and down to the substrate by the rim, neither of which has a similar reverse support relationship. This results in statics and dynamics limitations and structural problems, resulting in structural statics and dynamics failures.

The main object of the present invention is to provide polymeric pallet legs that together with corrugated cardboard sheets or wafer boards constitute a recyclable and environmentally friendly pallet support device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric pallet leg that is easy to use with the pallet sheets of a pallet machine, is recyclable, and is cost effective.

Another object of the invention is to provide a polymeric pallet leg that is stackable within other similar polymeric pallet legs before and after use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pallet leg insert for attaching a substrate to the bottom of a polymer pallet leg.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a. a first frustoconical body having a rim therearound; b. a second truncated cone body within the first truncated cone body; c. at least one locking tab terminating outwardly from the first frustoconical body; can get.

Further, according to the present invention, a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; b. a rim spaced below the top edge; c. a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; d. A second frustoconical body is positioned inverted within the first frustoconical body, and a polymeric pallet leg is obtained.

[0010] Further, according to the present invention, a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; a rim spaced below the top edge; a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; a polymer pallet leg having a second frusto-conical body positioned inverted within one frusto-conical body; b. A combination of a polymer pallet leg and a pallet sheet is obtained, comprising: a pallet sheet having holes with locking tab slots for receiving and locking the polymer pallet leg;

[0011] Further, according to the present invention, a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; b. a rim below the top edge; c. a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; d. a second frustocone body positioned inverted within the first frustocone body; e. A vertical member extending between the first frustoconical body and the second frustoconical body is obtained.

[0012] Further, according to the present invention, a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; a rim spaced below the top edge; a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; a polymer pallet leg having a second frusto-conical body positioned inverted within one frusto-conical body and including a lower inner rim; b. a pallet sheet having holes with locking tab slots for receiving and locking said polymer pallet legs; c. a pallet leg insert having engagement means engaged within the pallet base and frictionally engaged around the rim and into the second frustoconical body; and a pallet sheet. A combination of a pallet substrate and a pallet leg insert is obtained.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a polymeric pallet leg having a support structure and a reverse support structure. The polymer pallet legs are made from a renewable polymer material. Pallet leg inserts are provided for attaching pallet leg substrates to provide additional weight distribution, transportability or handling to pallet equipment with polymeric pallet legs, top pallet substrates, bottom pallet substrates and pallet leg inserts. can bring.

A general object of the present invention is a polymeric pallet leg for a recyclable pallet apparatus having a recyclable polymeric pallet foot and a recyclable corrugated cardboard pallet sheet or surface. The polymer legs engage and lock within the pallet surface and together form a pallet device. One of the interesting aspects and features of this pallet device is that pallet legs can be refitted to form new legs and pallet sheets can be recycled to form new pallet sheets. It is. Therefore, there is no need to scrap or dispose of polymer plastic legs or corrugated cardboard pallet sheets as they can be recycled and manufactured again into plastic legs and pallet sheets for pallet equipment. . The entire pallet system can be remanufactured from recycled materials. Pallet leg inserts are provided for attaching the bottom pallet substrate to the polymer pallet legs. The combination of top and/or bottom substrates, polymeric pallet legs, and polymeric leg inserts form a pallet device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a frustoconical body having a base and an upwardly extending enlarged cylindrical wall extending around the frustoconical body and extending along the top edge of said wall. A downwardly extending lip spaced below the
), a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge, and an inverted frustocone body positioned within the frustocone body and having a top surface in the same plane as the locking tabs. and
The top surface of the inverted truncated cone and the locking tabs support objects placed on the pallet sheet. The polymer pallet legs engage within the four locking tab holes. The rim engages the bottom of the pallet. Braking tabs may also be provided for engaging internally against the corrugated surface of the pallet sheet to lock the polymeric plastic feet in place. A certain amount of corrugated cardboard is displaced due to the engagement of the brake tabs. The bottom cardboard pallet rests on the rim. The top surface of the inner frustocone engages the bottom surface of any products placed on the pallet to provide additional support. A pallet substrate insert is also provided for frictional engagement with the polymer pallet legs;
It distributes the weight of the polymer pallet legs over the bottom pallet substrate and also increases the bottom surface area of the polymer pallet legs. The bottom pallet substrate also takes into consideration transportability, handling, and any other requirements for the bottom pallet substrate.

A significant aspect and feature of the present invention is that the pallet is three dimensional in terms of dynamic and static stability, including a lower support surface for substrate support and an upper support surface for object support in the plane of the pallet. Includes polymer pallet legs.

Other significant aspects and features of the present invention are that it is readily available to any individual for engagement with pallet sheets, and that it can be easily engaged for playback and removed from pallets. Easily removable polymer pallet legs.

Still other significant aspects and features of the present invention are polymeric pallet legs that are renewable, as well as pallet support sheets that are renewable. The entire pallet device is recyclable.

Additional significant aspects and features of the invention include:
A pallet substrate insert for engaging polymer pallet legs to provide greater substrate surface area for passage or handling, particularly across conveyor equipment.

Other objects of the invention, as well as its many attendant advantages, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout all the drawings.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a polymer pallet leg 10 of the present invention, which leg has a frustoconical body 12 and an inverted frustoconical body 14. The first truncated cone has an extended side 16
, a base portion 18 , and a top edge portion 20 . As shown in FIG.
and a base edge portion 26. The height of the top surface 24 is approximately the same as or equal to the height of the top edge 20. Around the top edge 20 is a downwardly extending edge 30 spaced apart from the top edge, as shown in FIG.
Extending is a rim 28 having locking tab molded holes 32a-32d. Extending outwardly around the top edge 20 are locking tabs 34a-34d. An optional fifth hole having a corresponding locking tab hole 38, as shown in FIG. 5 and described in detail below.
A brake tab 36 is provided to face upwardly and engage within the cardboard surface.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, and all numbers correspond to the elements described above.

FIG. 3 is a top view, and all numbers correspond to the elements described above. Holes 40a-40d are provided in the base 18.

Operation mode FIG. 4 shows the top cardboard or chip board.
3 shows a perspective view of a polymer pallet leg 10 for insertion into a pallet substrate 50; This polymer pallet leg 10 is inserted into the top pallet base 50 at the bottom right hole of the cardboard pallet to form a pallet with three other holes that hold the polymer pallet legs. The insertion operation is as simple as pushing the polymer pallet legs 10 and twisting the legs 10 to attach the pallet legs 10. Top pallet substrate 50 is made of any suitable renewable material.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the lower right corner of FIG. 4, with all numbers corresponding to the elements previously mentioned. Of particular note is the brake tab 36, which is sloped slightly upwardly from the flat surface of the rim 28 to frictionally engage the underside of the cardboard top pallet substrate 50.

Explanation of the first alternative embodiment FIG. 6 shows a plurality of vertical supports 60a to 6 which connect the truncated cones.
Figure 3 shows a top view of another embodiment of a polymer pallet leg with 0n. Vertical supports connect the inner frustocone to the outer frustum to provide even more structural stability between the frustocones.

The height of the top surface 24 may be approximately equal to the height of the top surface of the locking tab 34, or may be slightly higher than the top surface of the locking tab 34, as may be predetermined. It may be as low as . The holes 42, 44 release the vacuum suction that may occur between the inner frustocones when stacking the legs. The pallet may be made of any other suitable material such as corrugated plastic, polymer sheet, chipboard, plywood, etc. The distance between the locking tab and the rim is determined by the thickness of the pallet substrate. Furthermore, the plastic pallet legs and pallet substrates can be color-coded with product type names, manufacturer names, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT FIG. 7 shows a pallet for securing a flat bottom pallet base member as described below for a series or group of pallet legs 10 according to a second alternative embodiment. 7 is a perspective view of a leg insert 70. FIG. The pallet leg insert 70 includes a flat member 72 formed as a circle with an angled edge 74, as shown in FIG. A tubular member 76 extends perpendicularly upwardly from the flat member 72. From the upper part of the tubular member 76, a plurality of identical divided gripping members 78a, 78b, 78c, 7
8d extending outwardly and upwardly, each gripping member having a plurality of arcuate grooves including arcuate grooves 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d and an angled surface extending from groove 80a to an inner circumference 85 of tubular member 76. 82. Divided gripping member 78
Each of the arcuate grooves 80a-80d of a-78d snaps frictionally into a ring in the lower interior of the pallet leg 10, as will be described in detail below.
engage. Space 84a between divided gripping members 78a to 78d
-84d allows segmented gripping members 78a-78d to flex inwardly for easy engagement with pallet legs 10. Sloped surfaces 82 facilitate alignment and access for pallet legs 10. Three arcuate grooves 80a-80c are shown by way of example; these arcuate grooves are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows the bottom pallet board 86 attached to the pallet leg 1.
The pallet leg insert 70 is shown secured to the base 18 of the 0. Holes 88 are drilled in the bottom pallet substrate 86. The segmented gripping members 78a-78d are forced through these holes 88 in the bottom pallet base 86. Arcuate grooves 80a-80d of divided gripping members 78a-78d
snappingly engages an annular rib or ring 90 at the base of the inverted frustocone 14, thus securing the bottom pallet base 86 between the flat member 72 and the base 18 of the pallet leg 10. do. A plurality of arcuate grooves 80a to 80c
Any number of internal rings or rims 90 may be used for sequential engagement with one or more of the internal rings or rims 90. Although only one ring is shown by way of example only, this should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows the engagement of the arcuate groove 80b and the annular rib or ring 90 at the base of the inverted truncated cone 14, with all numbers corresponding to the elements previously described.

Various modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the obvious scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of a polymer pallet leg according to the invention; FIG.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a polymer pallet leg according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a polymer pallet leg according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a polymer pallet leg utilized with corrugated cardboard pallet sheets to construct a pallet apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lower right corner of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a first alternative embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pallet leg insert according to a second alternative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view of the bottom pallet substrate secured to the pallet legs by the polymeric pallet leg inserts of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a groove-to-ring engagement of a polymer pallet leg insert and a polymer pallet leg with an intervening bottom pallet substrate.

[Explanation of symbols]

10...Polymer pallet legs 12...Truncated cone 14...Inverted truncated cone 16...Extended side part 18...Base 20...Top edge 22...Reverse extension side part 24...Top surface 26...Base edge 28...Rim 30...Edge extending downward 32a-32n...Locking tab molding hole 34a-34n...Locking tab 36...Fifth braking tab 38...Locking tab hole 40a-40d...hole 42, 44...Optimal release hole 50...Cardboard pallet top board 60a-60n...vertical support 70...Pallet leg insert 72...Flat member 74...Slanted edge 76...Tubular member 78a to 78d...Divided gripping members 80a to 80c...Arc-shaped groove 82...Slanted surface 85...Inner circumference 84a-84d...Space 86...Bottom pallet board 88...hole 90...Tubular rib or ring

Claims (5)

[Claims] [Claim 1] a. a first frustoconical body having a rim therearound; b. a second truncated cone body within the first truncated cone body; c. and at least one locking tab terminating outwardly from the first frustoconical body. [Claim 2] a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; b.
a rim spaced below the top edge; c. a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; d. a second frusto-conical body positioned inverted within the first frusto-conical body; [Claim 3] a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; a rim spaced below the top edge; a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; 1
a polymer pallet leg having a second frustocone body positioned upside down within the frustum; b. A combination of a polymer pallet leg and a pallet sheet comprising: a pallet sheet having holes with locking tab slots for receiving and locking the polymer pallet leg; Claim 4: a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; b.
a rim below the top edge; c. a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; d. a second frustocone body positioned inverted within the first frustocone body; e. a vertical member extending between the first frustoconical body and the second frustoconical body. Claim 5: a. a first frustoconical body having a top edge; a rim spaced below the top edge; a plurality of locking tabs extending outwardly from the top edge; 1
a polymer pallet leg having a second frusto-conical body positioned inverted within the frusto-conical body and including a lower inner rim; b. a pallet sheet having holes with locking tab slots for receiving and locking said polymer pallet legs; c. a pallet leg insert having engagement means engaged within the pallet base and frictionally engaged around the rim and into the second frustoconical body; and a pallet sheet. , a pallet board, and a pallet leg insert.