Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Industrial platform – Knockdown or setup
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-20
2001-03-13
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3624)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Industrial platform
Knockdown or setup
C108S053300, C108S053100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199487
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to modular structures and methods for forming larger structures from them. One use to which the invention is particularly (although not exclusively) applicable is in relation to pallets and operations which utilise pallet or load-bearing structures. Accordingly, while the invention is of more general application, the background to the invention will be discussed particularly in relation to pallet technology.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Conventional pallet structures suffer from a number of shortcomings. To date, pallets used in warehousing, transportation and storage operations have often been constructed in such a way, and from materials which are in appropriate to lending them to repeated use. For example, conventional pallets have traditionally taken the form of generally open enclosures which are made from wooden slats. Pallet structures of this nature have been used in storage, transportation and warehousing operations for many years. Particularly after an extended period of use, the constructional configuration of such pallets, and the material from which they are made (ie. generally wood), either alone in combination, results in them breaking. When that occurs, it is necessary for them to be replaced, which results in cost (including the cost of interruption of operations) as well as inconvenience to the business which uses them.
Moreover, the traditional wooden pallet is invariably a large structure, which is usually designed so as to be capable of being lifted only by the tines or blade of a forklift or another large vehicle having a similar lifting mechanism. Such pallets are therefore generally not suited to smaller scale lifting operations. In many lifting and storage operations, it would be desirable to have a storage structure which could conveniently be lifted by (for example) the blade of a hand-operated trolley. Conventional pallets of the type previously described are completely unsuitable for such operations.
In some operations involving the transportation of goods, a procedure called “Cross-docking” is (and in many instances, must) be utilised. “Cross-docking” refers to the situation where a “divisible” load of goods under transportation, after reaching a specified destination in the transportation process, is divided or broken down into two or more sub-loads, to enable the sub-loads to be transferred and transported on other vehicles. Typically, “cross-docking” would occur as an intermediate step in the commercial transportation of many goods to the ultimate wholesaling or retail outlet. Cross-docking would be used, for example, with goods that are transported on a large vehicle to a “central” receiving destination, and where different sub-loads of those goods are intended to be on-transported to separate destinations, on smaller or other vehicles. This procedure is not as efficient as it could be, as it frequently requires the original load to be carried on conventional (large) pallets, which (i) must either be removed from the vehicle transporting them to enable the load to be divided, or alternatively (ii) the load must be divided on the vehicle and transferred to the other vehicles involved. Clearly, it would be vastly preferable to be able to transfer sub-loads of the original consignment of goods to other transportation vehicles involved in the process in a more efficient manner. This is not possible with conventional pallets.
In addition, when traditional wooden pallets are not in use, their storage generally requires a considerable amount of space. As under-cover storage costs are generally high nowadays, typically, this means that such pallets are stored outside, and are therefore exposed to the elements. In the case of the wooden pallets. their exposure to the degrading forces of rain and the heat from sunshine only serves to deteriorate their structural integrity all the more. In turn, this increases the possibility of the pallet breaking, over the passage of time.
In addition, conventional pallets are generally stand-alone structures, and are not adapted in use, to engage other pallets so as to form larger load-bearing structures. This operational inflexibility of the conventional pallet is often disadvantageous, particularly where it is desired to use a pallet so as to create a larger load-bearing structure or surface, such as a platform.
It is problems such as these, which have brought about the present invention. The present invention therefore aims to alleviate at least one of the problems of the prior art mentioned previously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally provides a modular structure, the structure including:
an upper platform and an underlying support element; and
means provided on at least one peripheral side of the upper platform or the support element, for releasably engaging a reciprocal means on another unit of the structure.
Preferably, the structure is of generally rectilinear shape, when viewed in plan from above or below the structure, so as to define four peripheral sides.
Preferably, the means on one unit of the structure for releasably engaging the reciprocal means of another unit allow the two (or more) units to interlock releasably. Preferably, this is achieved by providing one of the units with at least one projecting flange and the other of the structures with at least a mating receiving flange.
Preferably further, the releasable interlocking action of the units is achieved by moving the projecting flange (or flanges) on one of the units so that the flange(s) align into registry with the receiving flange (or flanges) on the second unit. A preferred form of movement to achieve such engagement is to locate the flanges on one unit, so that they align into registry with the flanges on the other.
Preferably further; each of the units is provided with one or more projection flanges on at least one of its peripheral sides, and with one or more receiving flanges on at least another of its peripheral sides. It is particularly preferred that any one unit of the structure has either projection or receiving flanges on each of its four peripheral sides, and wherein the arrangement of these features is such that where one peripheral side has a projection flange (or flanges), its mutually opposed side on the unit has a receiving flange (or flanges) (and vice versa). It is therefore preferred that each unit of the structure has two sides fitted with projection flanges, and two with receiving flanges, so that each unit is able to releasably engage up to four other units of the structure.
It is further preferred that each structure is formed so as to be capable of receiving a means for moving the structure (such as the tines or blade of a forklift or a hand trolley).
Preferably, this is achieved by providing at least one of the peripheral sides (or the underlying support element) of the structure with a slot or cavity which is adapted to receive such a lifting means. It will be appreciated however that co-operation of the structure with a lifting means can be achieved in any number of ways.
The invention further provides a method of forming a modular assembly, the method including the steps of:
(i) forming the assembly from two or more units of a modular structure, wherein each modular structure includes an upper platform and an underlying support element, and wherein further each unit of the modular structure includes means for releasably engaging a reciprocal means on another unit of the modular structure, and
(ii) positioning or moving two or more of the units in such a way that they releasably engage with one another.
Preferably, the step of positioning or moving the units takes the form of locating the units in such a way that they releasably engage with one another.
Preferably, by exercising the method of the invention, a modular assembly in the form of a platform, a large pallet structure or load-bearing assembly is formed.
It is also preferred, in the method, that the units of the modular structure are of generally rectilinear shape when viewed in plan from above or
Chen José V.
Collard & Roe P.C.
LandOfFree
Modular pallet structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular pallet structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular pallet structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2475253