US2479728A - Pallet - Google Patents

Description

PALLET Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,W INVENTOR.

k j? qnnmr DARLING 1? 6 BY myw J HTTORNE'V Aug. 23, 1949. G. DARLING 2,479,728

PALLET Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l LA N (30 I Mi Him! 1 IIIIIIIIIIII I M 4 Fzcb. 9 J 4 30 1 WW I 5 EU/ W IN V EN TOR. GRREME DARLING Patented Aug. 23, 1949 I UNITED STATE PATENT PALLET Graeme Darling, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 675,751 5 Claims. (01. 248-120) This invention relates to material platforms and has more particular reference to platforms generally known as pallets or skids, which are used in conjunction with industrial fork lift trucks and the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid which is strong and durable, light in weight, simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet or skid having a deck structure which includes top and bottom members provided with lightening holes, an intermediate corrugated member and reinforcing members connecting the top and bottom members to the intermediate member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet or skid having a deck structure as characterized above in which all of the members are pressed from sheet material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet having a deck construction which resists crushing and provides stiffness in all directions.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single face, four-way pallet construction in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, with a part broken away, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, with a part broken away, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, with a part broken away, taken on the line 'l| of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a double face fourway pallet having decks constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of deck construction with a part broken away;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line ll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the deck shown in Fig. 9, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective exploded view showing how the members which comprise the deck structure are assembled.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, there is shown a single face four-way pallet comprising a supporting platform or deck I0 and a plurality of depending supporting legs ll so arranged as to permit the entrance of the forks of the usual commercial lift fork truck from at least four directions. The supporting platform or deck ID is preferably made rectangular in shape and comprises an intermediate corrugated plate [2, a top plate l3, a top cover plate M, a bottom plate IS, a bottom cover plate l6, and side-cover plates ll, l8, l9 and 20. The side cover plates l1, l8, l9 and 20 may be formed as separate plates; however, in the particular embodiment shown, the side cover plates H and H! are formed integral with the top plate [3, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The side cover plates l8 and 20 are formed integral with the top cover plate It, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The intermediate plate I2 is rectangular inshape and is formed with a plurality of transversely extending rows of alternating top opening channels 2| and bottom opening channels 22. These channels may be made of any desired shape in cross section, in the particular embodiment shown, they are rectangular in cross section. The bottom plate I5 is rectangular in shape and is provided with av plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral upwardly projecting tongues or fins 23. These tongues or fins are formed as partially cut out portions of the bottom plate [5 and are of a size and shape to be received and fit in the bottom opening channels 22 in the intermediate plate It.

The top plate is is rectangular in shape and is provided with a pluralit of transversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral depending tongues or fins 24. These tongues or fins are formed as partially cut out portions of the top plate l3 and are of a size and shape to be received by and fix in the top opening channels 2| in the intermediate plate l2.

In the particular embodiment shown, the left and right hand end portions of the top plate 13, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, are bent downwardly to form the side cover plates I1 and I9, respectively.

The transversely extending rows of depending fins formed in the top plate I 3 and bottom plate l5 are so spaced laterally of each other that, when the top and bottom plates are superimposed upon the top and bottom, respectively, of the intermediate plate l2, each row of depending fins is received in one of the top opening channels and each row of upwardly projecting fins is re- Figs. 5 and 6, and the contacting surfaces of the three plates, as well as the contacting edges of the fins and the walls of the channels are suitably secured together. When the plates are assembled as described above, each depending and upwardly projecting fin is in horizontal alignment with the laterally adjacent depending and upwardly projecting fins, as shown in Fig. 6, thus forming a plurality of horizontally extending spaced rows of fins which act as strengthening or reinforcing members. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the vertical side walls of the top and bottom opening channels form a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of strengthening or reinforcing members. The openings 25 and 26 formed in the top and bottom plates when the partially cut out portions which form the fins are bent upwardly and downwardly, respectively, act as lightening holes. Due to this construction, the plates which form the deck structure can be made of very thin sheet material and still permit the deck to be strong and with a. great resistance to crushing. The deck structure is completed by superimposing the bottom cover plate l6 upon the bottom plate [5. While the-end plates l8 and 20 may be made as separate plates; in the particular embodiment shown, they are formed by bending the front and back edge portions of the top cover plate downwardly as shown in Fig. 7.

In order to reduce the weight of the pallet, the top and bottom cover plates may be omitted, if desired. It is contemplated that all of the plates be made from sheet material such as cardboard, plastic or thin sheet metal. and pressed to the desired shape and suitably secured together by gluing or, in the case of metal, by spot or contact welding.

The supporting legs may be made of wood, plastic, compressed layers of cardboard or light weight metal. In the particular embodiment shown, they are made in the form of rectangular blocks and. are secured to the deck by gluing or, in the case of metal, by spot or contact weld- In Fig. 8, there is shown a double faced fourway pallet. This pallet comprises a top supporting platform or deck 21; a bottom supporting platform or deck 28 and a plurality of spacing members 29 so located as to permit the entrance of the forks of a commercial lifting fork truck from at least four directions. The decks 21 and 28 are similar in construction to the deck I0. The spacing members 29 are similar in construction to the supporting legs ll of the one face pallet and are secured to the top and bottom decks 21 and 28 by gluing or, in the case of metal, by welding.

In Figs, 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is shown another modification of deck structure. The supportingplatform or deck shown in these figures comprises a top plate 30; an intermediate corrugated plate 3| and a bottom plate 32.

The top plate 30 is a rectangular plate provided with a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral depending tongues or fins 33 formed from partially cut out portions of the top plate 30. In the particular modification shown, the fins are rectangular in shape,

The intermediate plate 3| is a rectangular plate corrugated to form a plurality of transversely extending alternating top opening channels 34 and bottom opening channels 35. In the particular embodiment shown, the channels are rectangular in cross section.

The sheets are cut The bottom plate 32 is a rectangular plate provided with a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of spaced integral upwardly projecting tongues-or fins 36 formed from partially cut out portions of the bottom plate 32. In the particular modification shown, the fins are rectangular in shape. The transversely extending rows of fins formed in the top and bottom plates are laterally spaced apart so that when the plates are assembled with the top plate in superimposed relationship on the top of the intermediate plate and the bottom plate in superimposed relationship on the bottom of the intermediate plate, each row of depending fins is received and fits in one of the top opening channels and each row of upwardly projecting fins is received and fits in one of the bottom opening channels, all as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12. This particular construction is similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the distinguishing feature lying in the use of the outer side wall 31 of the extreme left top opening channel to form the side wall of the deck and the outer side wall 38 of the extreme right bottom opening channel to form the right side wall of the deck, and the use of the rear rows of depending and upstanding fins, indicated at 39, to form the back side wall of the deck and the forward rows of depending and upstanding fins, indicated at 40, to form the front wall of the deck, all as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

When the plates are assembled as above described, the contacting surface of the three plates, as well as the contacting edges of the fins and the walls of the channels are suitably secured together, as by gluing when the plates are made from cardboard or plastic material, or by spot or contact welding when the plates are made from sheet metal.

With the plates assembled as described above, each depending and upwardly projecting fin is in horizontal alignment with the laterally adjacent depending and upwardly projecting fins, thus forming a plurality of horizontally extending spaced rows of fins which act as strengthening or reinforcing members. The side walls of the top and bottom opening channels form a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of strengthening or reinforcing members.

The openings 4| and 42 formed in the top and bottom plates when the partially cut out portions which form the fins are bent downwardly and upwardly, respectively, acting as lightening holes.

It is contemplated that deck structures as above assembled may be used as a supporting platform without the use of supporting legs, or used as the deck in a one face pallet, or used as the upper and lower decks in two face pallets.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensible that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

-What is claimed is:

l. A supporting platform for pallets and the like, comprising an intermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows of alternate top and bottom opening channels; a top member co-extensive with and covering said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced depending fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of fins being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel in said intermediate member, the peripheral edges of each of said fins being fastened to'the surface of the receiving channel, a bottom member co-extensive with and covering the bottom of said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced upwardly projecting fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of upwardly projecting fins being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding bottom opening channel in said intermediate member, the peripheral edge of each of said upwardly projecting fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel.

2. A supporting platform, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer walls of the extreme right and left channels form the right and left side walls of the platform and the front and rear rows of depending and upwardly projecting fins forming the front and rear side walls of the platform.

3. A pallet comprising a supporting platform, said platform including an intermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows of alternating top and bottom opening channels, a top member co-extensive with and covering said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced lightening openings,

, each row of openings being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel in said intermediate member, a bottom member co-extenslve with and covering the bottom of said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced lightening openings, each row of openings being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding bottom opening channel in said intermediate member, reinforcing means connecting said top and bottom members to said intermediate member, said reinforcing means including fins formed as partially cut out portions of the top and bottom members and bent downwardly and upwardly into contact with said intermediate member and secured thereto, and supporting legs depending from said platform.

i. A pallet comprising a supporting platform, said platform including an intermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows of alternate top and bottom opening channels, a top member co-extensive with and covering said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced depending fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of fins being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel in said intermediate member, the peripheral edges of each of said fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel, a bottom memberco-extensive with and covering the bottom of said intermedi-- ate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced upwardly projecting fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of upwardly projecting fins being located and extending in-superimposed relationship over a corresponding bottom opening channel in said intermediate member, the peripheral edge of each of said upwardly projecting fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel; and supporting legs depending from said platform.

5. A pallet comprising an upper and lower platform, each of said platforms including an intermediate member corrugated to form a plurality of transverse rows of alternate top and bottom opening channels, a top member co-extensive with and covering the top of said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced depending fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of fins being located and extending in superimposed relationship over a corresponding top opening channel in said intermediate member, the peripheral edges of each of said fins being fastened to the surface of the receiving channel, a bottom member co-extensive with and covering the bottom of said intermediate member and being provided with a plurality of rows of spaced upwardly projecting fins formed by partially cut out portions thereof, each row of upwardly projecting REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,049,910 Peck Jan. '7, 1913 2,148,150 Clark Feb. 21, 1939 2,335,836 Zimmerman Nov. 30, 1943 2,369,944 Cahners Feb. 20, 1945 2,372,055 Braun Mar. 20, 1945

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