SYSTEM WITH AT LEAST ONE LIGHTWEIGHT PALLET AND AT LEAST ONE CONTAINER LAYER WITH ONE OR MORE CONTAINERS

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one nestable lightweight pallet which has an upper deck with a bearing surface and feet on the underside of the upper deck in each corner, and comprising a plurality of containers which each have a container base and four circumferential side walls, wherein the lightweight pallet and the containers are configured and dimensioned in such a manner that, when the lightweight pallet is arranged on a first container layer, wherein the first container layer comprises a plurality of containers, in particular 2, 4, 6 or 8 containers, which abut one another and are inverted, each foot of the feet located in the corners of the lightweight pallet can be placed over its entire surface directly in a corner region of a container.

Claims

1. A system comprising at least one nestable lightweight pallet which has an upper deck with a bearing surface and feet on the underside of the upper deck in each corner, and comprising a plurality of containers which each have a container base and four circumferential side walls, characterised in that the lightweight pallet and the containers are configured and dimensioned in such a manner that, when the lightweight pallet is arranged on a first container layer, wherein the first container layer comprises a plurality of containers which abut one another and are inverted, each foot of the feet located in the corners of the lightweight pallet can be placed over its entire surface directly in a corner region of a container.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lightweight pallet and the containers are configured and dimensioned in such a manner that, when a second container layer is arranged on the lightweight pallet, wherein the second container layer comprises a plurality of containers, which abut one another and are oriented with the container bases in the direction of the upper deck of the lightweight pallet, the container bases can be placed over their entire surfaces on the bearing surface of the lightweight pallet.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, comprising the second container layer having a plurality of first containers which abut one another and are oriented with the container bases in the direction of the upper deck and arranged thereon the first container layer having a plurality of second containers which abut one another and are inverted.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the containers of the first and second container layers are fastened to one another in a frictional or form-fitting manner or with the aid of fastening means.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the first and second container layers comprise in each case four, six or eight containers which are arranged in the form of a matrix.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that when the lightweight pallet is arranged on the first container layer, all of the feet located in the corners of the lightweight pallet can be arranged flush with the side walls of the containers.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the container bases are provided with reinforced side edges and, when the lightweight pallet is arranged on the first container layer, all of the feet located in the corners of the lightweight pallet can be placed on the reinforced side edges of the container bases.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the feet have a pot-like outer shape, of which the bases form a lower standing surface of the lightweight pallet, wherein the feet of the lightweight pallet are formed so as to be nestable in feet of an identical second lightweight pallet.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the feet have a dome-like inner structure, of which the upper side forms an island-like bearing surface as part of the bearing surface of the upper deck.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that when the containers are arranged on the lightweight pallet the container bases can come to lie at least also on the island-like bearing surfaces of the lightweight pallet.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the upper deck of the lightweight pallet comprises a first open rib structure.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the container bases are flat and formed without a stacking edge.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the container bases comprise a second open rib structure.

14. A use of a lightweight pallet in the system as claimed in claim 1.

15. A use of a container in the system as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the figures. In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a system of lightweight pallets nested one inside the other and two container layers;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a further system comprising two lightweight pallets and three container layers;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a further system comprising two lightweight pallets and three container layers;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a lightweight pallet between two container layers; and

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a lightweight pallet between two container layers.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows, purely by way of example, a configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the system comprises, purely by way of example, three lightweight pallets 10, wherein two of the lightweight pallets 10 are nested one inside the other. A third lightweight pallet 10 is arranged above two container layers 202, 204 and stands thereon. A first container layer 204 is arranged above a second container layer 202. The two container layers 202, 204 stand on the two lightweight pallets 10 which are nested one inside the other.

[0038] The two container layers 202, 204 form one container level 20. The container level 20 can comprise further container layers 202, 204, not illustrated. In FIG. 1, the container level 20 comprises, purely by way of example but in a manner not limiting to the invention, eight containers 22, wherein in each case four containers 22 are arranged in the manner of a matrix next to one another and abutting one another in the first container layer 204 and in the second container layer 202.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the number of containers 22 which can be arranged on the lightweight pallet 10. For example, it is possible to cover the lightweight pallet 10 with two, four, six, eight or ten mutually abutting containers 22 in one container layer 202, 204.

[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the containers 22 of the first container layer 204 are arranged inverted on the containers 22 of the second container layer 202. In other words, the container bases 24 of the containers 22 of the first container layer 204 are arranged away from the upper deck 12 of the lightweight pallet 10. In contrast, the second container layer 202 comprises containers 22 which are arranged with their container bases 24 in the direction of the upper deck 12 of the lightweight pallet 10.

[0041] The system can comprise yet further container layers 202, 204, e.g. a third container layer 202, 204 or a third and a fourth container layer 202, 204 and the like, which is not illustrated in FIG. 1. The invention is also not limited to the illustrated arrangement of the containers 22. In the system, the lightweight pallet 10 can also be placed on the second container layer 202, i.e. on the side walls 26 of the containers 22.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a further system comprising two lightweight pallets 10 and three container layers 202, 204, 202. Purely by way of example, a second container layer 202 stands in this case on a lightweight pallet 10. A first container layer 204 is arranged above a second container layer 202. A further lightweight pallet 10 stands on the first container layer 204. A second container 202 stands, in turn, on a further lightweight pallet 10.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of yet a further system comprising two lightweight pallets 10 and three container layers 202, 204, 202. Purely by way of example, a first container layer 204 stands in this case on a lightweight pallet 10. A further first container layer 204 is arranged above the first container layer 204. A further lightweight pallet 10 stands on the further first container layer 204. A first container 204 stands, in turn, on the further lightweight pallet 10.

[0044] FIG. 1 also illustrates the upper deck 12 of the lightweight pallet 10. The upper deck 12 comprises a substantially rectangular bearing surface 120 which is adapted to the size of the containers 22 to such an extent that a specific number of containers 22 can form the container layer 202, 204.

[0045] In particular, the bearing surface 120 comprises island-like bearing surfaces 148 in foot regions 150. The island-like bearing surfaces 148 are formed by dome-like inner structures 144 of the feet 14, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 3.

[0046] In accordance with the invention, the lightweight pallet 10 comprises, in the corners, four feet 14 which have a pot-like outer shape 140 (cf. FIG. 4). The feet 14 in the corners of the lightweight pallet 10 stand on the container bases 24 of the containers 22 in the container layer 202, 204. In particular, they stand, as can be seen in FIG. 4, on reinforced side edges 244 of the container base 24. In other words, the lightweight pallet 10 and the containers 22 are adapted to one another in terms of size such that a contact region 30 is provided between the foot 14 of the lightweight pallet 10 and the reinforced side edge 244.

[0047] The feet 14 in the corner regions of the lightweight pallet comprise, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pot-like outer shape 140 which tapers conically from the upper deck 12 to the base 142. In the centre of the foot 14, the dome-like inner structure 144 is formed in such a manner as to taper funnel-like towards the upper deck 12. The upper side 146 of the dome-like inner structure 144 forms the island-like bearing surface 148 in the plane of the bearing surface 120 of the upper deck 12.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the container base 24 of the container 22 stands on the bearing surface 120 and also on the island-like bearing surface 148 of the lightweight pallet 10.

[0049] The lightweight pallet 10 comprises, on the edges, a side edge 16 which, as illustrated e.g. in FIG. 1, can be formed in sections or alternatively can be formed circumferentially, not illustrated. The side edge 16 prevents the container 22 from slipping on the upper deck 12.

[0050] FIGS. 1-3 also illustrate support feet 18 which are provided approximately centrally on the respective side edges of the lightweight pallet 10. The lightweight pallet 10 can alternatively also be formed without support feet 18 and additionally or alternatively can comprise a further support foot centrally (not illustrated). In the illustrated embodiment, the support foot 18 is offset a little in the direction of the centre but this is not limiting to the invention.

[0051] By adapting the pallet measurements to the container measurements, twodimensional load transfer is achieved, and moreover when the lightweight pallet 10 is placed onto the container layer 202, 204 over the side walls 26 of the containers 22 and by avoiding excessive loading on the container bases 24. The container bases 24 can have open rib structures 242 over a large area, as illustrated as transverse ribbing e.g. in FIG. 1, or formed as a straight grid as illustrated in FIG. 2, without the risk of the container bases 24 being subjected to excessive loading during continuous use and whilst stacked. The load is transferred preferably via the side walls 26 of the containers 22, either in the inverted state via the reinforced side edges 244 or also in the usual state directly via the side walls 26.

[0052] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and includes a large number of embodiments which are immediately apparent to a person skilled in the art.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 10 lightweight pallet; 12 upper deck; 120 bearing surface; 122 open rib structure; 14 foot; 140 pot-like outer shape; 142 base; 144 dome-like inner structure; 146 upper side; 148 island-like bearing surface; 150 foot region; 16 side edge; 18 support foot; 20 container level; 204 first container layer; 202 second container layer; 22 container; 24 container base; 242 open rib structure; 244 reinforced side edge; 26 side wall; 30 contact region

[0054] Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).

[0055] The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.