Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Industrial platform – Stacking
Patent
1995-08-14
1997-02-04
Chen, Jose V.
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Industrial platform
Stacking
108 511, 108 513, B65D 1938
Patent
active
055987877
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a pallet/spacer assembly comprising an essentially rectangular pallet and four spacers, one of which is fitted at each corner of the pallet in all cases, each spacer comprising an angular section, the angle being essentially a right-angle.
A pallet/spacer assembly of this type is disclosed in French Patent 1,311,981. Said assembly comprises rectangular feet which are fitted under a pallet. Fixing is effected in that special slots are made in the pallet, through which slots protrusions on the spacers are inserted, which protrusions are then folded over. It is clear that for the use of such spacers special pallets are needed. Moreover, this method of fixing is relatively complicated because protruding parts of the spacers have to be inserted very accurately through corresponding slots in the pallet. Removal of the spacers is also a problem. Spacers of this type are used where pallets are stacked on top of one another and the pallets are carrying a load which is of relatively low height and is vulnerable or of uneven height, so that the load can not be utilised for carrying the pallets on top of one another.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a pallet/spacer assembly wherein the spacers are of such construction that said spacers can be used in combination with conventional pallets without it being necessary to take special measures.
This aim is achieved with a pallet/spacer assembly as described above in that each spacer is provided, over a first part of the length of the angular section, with two walls, i.e. the first and second walls, which are at said right angle and wherein, over a second part of the length of the angular section, said section is provided with at least one further, third, wall which joins the free edges of the two parts at right angles, in order to form a tube in this region, the length of the first part corresponding to at least half the height of the pallet.
The invention is based on the insight of allowing the spacer to consist of two parts. A first part, which has a length corresponding to at least half the height of the pallet, comprises an angular section and is intended to be fixed to the pallet in the corner thereof. This type of fixing can be realised using any of the methods disclosed in the prior art, such as gluing. Simple nailing or stapling of such parts is preferred. The second part of the spacer comprises, on one side, an extension of the first part, that is to say the angular section extends both over the height of the pallet and over the freely protruding part of the spacer above or below the pallet. At least one further wall, which rests on the bearing surface of the pallet, adjoins said extension.
It is pointed out that British Patent 1,521,077 discloses a corner support for boxes. In this publication there is no mention of fixing to pallets. A corner support of this type comprises an angular section intended to be placed against the corner of the box concerned. Below said angular section there is a part which is horizontal in the use position and from which a foot extends. A construction of this type requires a relatively large amount of material and, with respect to variation in the spacing between successive pallets, is not very flexible in use because the height of the foot is more or less fixed.
According to an advantageous embodiment the length of the first part is at most equal to the height of the pallet. That is to say the first part is fixed exclusively to the top side of the pallet.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the length of the first part is greater than the height of the pallet and the protruding part is folded over against the pallet. That is to say the pallet is enclosed between, on one side, the second part and, on the other side, the folded-over part. Said folded-over part can, of course, be fixed by stapling or the like.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, that part of the spacer which rests on the bearing surface of the pallet and serves to transfer
REFERENCES:
patent: 2495711 (1950-01-01), Fletcher
patent: 2895186 (1959-07-01), Franks
patent: 3364883 (1968-01-01), Evans
patent: 3500770 (1970-03-01), Skubic
patent: 4102525 (1978-07-01), Albano
patent: 5224678 (1993-07-01), McClellan
patent: 5345879 (1994-09-01), Maillard
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