Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Industrial platform
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-20
2003-12-30
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3637)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Industrial platform
C108S057160, C108S051300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668734
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to pallets used to support and transport a load of packages, and, in particular, to disposable and/or recyclable pallets and methods for producing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pallets are typically used to support a load of packages, allowing the load to be lifted and transported by a lift truck such as a forklift. Several layers of packages may be loaded onto a pallet, and the load may then be secured around its circumference using, for example, flexible wrap or shrink-wrap in order to stabilize the load on the pallet.
Some pallets have a platform upon which the packages are loaded and a base having channels adapted to receive the “forks” of a forklift. These pallets, hereinafter referred to as “platform-type pallets”, are typically constructed from wood or plastic, and may be re-used multiple times. Disadvantages to using platform-type pallets involve the cost of producing the pallet, space required for and cost of storing the pallets, cost of shipping the pallet and its load to their destination, and cost and inconvenience of shipping the pallet back from its destination so it may be reused. The shipping costs are even more significant for relatively heavier pallets (e.g., wood pallets). Due to weight restrictions, the amount of product that can be shipped with the relatively heavier pallets is reduced. Furthermore, while these pallets are generally reusable, they are subject to breakage (especially wood pallets).
A relatively thin and lightweight alternative to a platform-type pallet is known as a “slip sheet” or “slip pallet”. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional slip pallet
10
may be, for example, a thin sheet of lightweight material such as plastic having one or more extending edges
12
. The slip pallet
10
is loaded with packages
20
and the packages are usually wrapped around the circumference of the load (i.e., around a vertical axis) in order to stabilize the load
22
. A specially adapted lift truck
24
grasps an edge, e.g.
12
, of the slip pallet
10
, pulls the slip pallet
10
onto a platform
26
, and then lifts and transports the load
22
as desired. As the load
22
is lifted and transferred onto the platform
26
, the weight of the load
22
shifts from the leading end
14
to the opposite (trailing) end
16
(as indicated by “L1” and “L2”), possibly damaging packages (e.g.,
20
a
,
20
b
) located on the lowermost layers
18
on these ends
14
,
16
. The greater the lift angle “A”, the greater the weight “L2” exerted on the packages (e.g.,
20
b
) located on the trailing end
16
, especially those on the lowermost layers
18
.
Using either a platform-type pallet or a slip pallet, additional damage may occur to the lowermost layers of packages during shipping due to vibration and jostling of the load.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet that essentially functions as a disposable/recyclable platform-type pallet. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pallet that provides a shock-absorbing effect during transport of the load. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for producing such a pallet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A pallet for supporting a load of packages is disclosed. The pallet includes a support structure which may comprise flexible film wrapped around at least one of the layers of the load (e.g., the lowermost layer). The flexible film is wrapped around two axes which are generally perpendicular to one another and preferably located within the same plane such that the flexible film covers at least a majority of the layer(s). The pallet also includes a base which may comprise at least one elongate tubular member having an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the support structure. The elongate tubular member may further comprise at least one opening therethrough which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift.
A method for producing the pallet of the present invention is also disclosed. The method includes the initial steps of wrapping at least one of the layers of the load with a flexible film around a first axis, and then wrapping the same layer(s) with a flexible film around a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis and preferably located on the same plane, thereby producing a support structure. The base described above may be assembled by removably attaching a first portion to a second portion, thereby producing a first elongate tubular member having a first opening therethrough, and then removably attaching a third portion to a fourth portion, thereby producing a second elongate tubular member having a second opening therethrough. The support structure may then be placed on the assembled base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2614688 (1952-10-01), Hammer
patent: 2614689 (1952-10-01), Miller
patent: 2930481 (1960-03-01), Beble
patent: 3236197 (1966-02-01), Rossner
patent: 3788462 (1974-01-01), Meincer
patent: 3880286 (1975-04-01), Wegener
patent: 4802421 (1989-02-01), Atterby et al.
patent: 5285731 (1994-02-01), McIntyre
patent: 6012399 (2000-01-01), Carter
patent: 7323166 (1979-04-01), None
Lucas Philip J.
Mayer Leo W.
Chen José V.
Coors Brewing Company
Kaufman Nellie C.
Klaas, Law, O'Meara & Malkin, P.C.
O'Meara William P.
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