Abstract
The invention relates to a pallet (1) comprising a first plate (10) and a second plate (20), wherein said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) are parallel, and wherein said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) each extend along a length (L) and a width (W) of said pallet (1), and wherein said pallet (1) comprises a height (H) which extends transversely to said length (L) and said width (W), and wherein said pallet (1) comprises at least one supporting element (11) which is integrally formed with said first plate (10) and/or said second plate (20), wherein said at least one supporting element (11) extends between said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) along said height (H).
Claims
1. A pallet (1) comprising a first plate (10) and a second plate (20), wherein said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) are parallel, and wherein said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) each extend along a length (L) and a width (W) of said pallet (1), and wherein said pallet (1) comprises a height (H) which extends transversely to said length (L) and said width (W), characterized in that said first plate (10) and/or said second plate (20) comprises at least one supporting element (11) which is integrally formed with said first plate (10) or said second plate (20), wherein said at least one supporting element (11) extends between said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) along said height (H); wherein said first plate (10) comprises at least one first opening (14), wherein said at least one supporting element (11) is positioned adjacent to said at least one first opening (14), wherein said first plate (10) and said at least one supporting element (11) are mechanically connected to each other by means of corresponding first mitres (12); wherein said pallet (1) comprises at least one pallet foot (30), wherein said first plate (10) comprises at least one second opening (15), and wherein said at least one pallet foot (30) at least partially protrudes through said at least one second opening (15); and wherein said second plate (20) comprises at least one third opening (21), wherein said at least one third opening (21) at least partially overlaps with, particularly is aligned with, said at least one second opening (15) of said first plate (10).
2. The pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first plate (10) and/or said second plate (20) are formed from a wood material, particularly a high density fiber board.
3. The pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first plate (10) and said second plate (20) are mechanically connected by means of said at least one supporting element (11).
4. The pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second plate (20) comprises at least one fourth opening (22), wherein said at least one supporting element (11) is positioned adjacent to said at least one fourth opening (22), wherein said second plate (20) and said at least one supporting element (11) are mechanically connected to each other by means of corresponding third mitres (23).
5. The pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pallet (1) comprises at least one first supporting element (11) extending along said length (L) of said pallet (1) and at least one second supporting element (11) extending along said width (W) of said pallet (1).
6. The pallet (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one supporting element (11) comprises a first strip (11a) extending along said height (H) and a second strip (11b) which is parallel to said first plate (10) and said second plate (20), wherein said first strip (11b) is mechanically connected to said first plate (10) or said second plate (20) by means of a respective third mitre (23), and wherein said second strip (11b) is mechanically connected to said first strip (11a) by means of a further respective mitre (23).
7. The pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one pallet foot (30) comprises at least two bearing elements (31) and a base (32), wherein said at least two bearing elements (31) are mechanically connected to each other by means of said base (32), and wherein said at least two bearing elements (31) at least partially protrude through said at least one second opening (15) of said first plate (10).
8. The pallet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least two bearing elements (31) are mechanically connected to respective supporting elements (11) positioned adjacent to said at least one second opening (15) through which said at least two bearing elements (31) at least partially protrude.
9. The pallet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said at least two bearing elements (31) and said base (32) are integrally formed by a board, particularly comprising wood material, wherein said board comprises second mitres (33) at the mechanical connections between said at least two bearing elements (31) and said base (32).
10. The pallet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said base (32) extends along a longitudinal axis (1) and has a trapezoid shaped cross-section transversely to said longitudinal axis (1), wherein particularly said base (32) is formed by a wood material, more particularly a medium density fibre board.
11. A method for manufacturing a pallet (1), particularly according to claim 1, wherein a first plate (10) and a second plate (20) are provided, and wherein at least one first mitre (12) is generated in said first plate (10) and/or at least one third mitre (23) is generated in said second plate (20), and wherein at least one supporting element (11) is generated by folding a segment of said first plate (10) at said at least one first mitre (12) or a segment of said second plate (20) at said at least one third mitre (23), such that said at least one supporting element (11) extends transversely to the surface of said first plate (10), and wherein the position of said at least one supporting element (11) is fixed, particularly by gluing, and wherein said second plate (20) is mechanically connected to said first plate (10) by means of said at least one supporting element (11).
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one second opening (15) is generated in said first plate (10), and wherein at least one pallet foot (30) is attached to said pallet (1), wherein said at least one pallet foot (30) at least partially protrudes through said at least one second opening (15), and wherein at least one third opening (21) is generated in said second plate (20), wherein said at least one third opening (21) at least partially overlaps, particularly is aligned with said at least one second opening (15) in said first plate (10).
Description
(1) The invention is further described with respect to the following figures, which are meant to illustrate the invention, but not limit its scope.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a pallet according to the invention comprising pallet feet according to a first embodiment;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of a pallet according to the invention comprising pallet feet according to the first embodiment;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective top view of a first plate of a pallet according to the invention;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming a first plate of a pallet according to the invention;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a pallet foot according to a first embodiment;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a pallet foot according to the second embodiment;
(8) FIG. 7-10 show perspective views of intermediate products for forming a pallet foot according to the second embodiment;
(9) FIG. 11 shows a perspective top view of a first plate of a pallet according to the invention with attached pallet feet according to the first embodiment;
(10) FIG. 12 shows a perspective top view of a pallet and a first plate according to the invention comprising pallet feet according to a second embodiment;
(11) FIG. 13 shows a perspective top view of a second plate of a pallet according to a first embodiment;
(12) FIG. 14 shows a perspective top view of a second plate according to a second embodiment;
(13) FIG. 15 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming the second plate according to the second embodiment;
(14) FIG. 16 shows a perspective top view of a second plate according to a third embodiment;
(15) FIG. 17 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming the second plate according to the third embodiment;
(16) FIG. 18 shows a perspective top view of a pallet comprising a second plate according to the second or third embodiment.
(17) FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a pallet 1 according to the invention comprising pallet feet 30 according to a first embodiment. The pallet 1 comprises a first plate 10 forming the bottom of the pallet body and a second plate 20 forming the top of the pallet body, wherein the first and the second plate 10,20 are parallel to each other and extend along a width W and a length L.
(18) The pallet 1 further comprises pallet feet 30 which are attached to the first plate 10 as shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and 12. The pallet 1 comprises a height H defined by the distance between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 and the height of the pallet feet 30.
(19) The second plate 20 comprises rectangular third openings 21 extended along the length L and width W of the pallet 1, wherein the third openings 21 are arranged above the pallet feet 30, such that two pallets 1 can be stacked, wherein the pallet feet 30 of the upper pallet 1 of the stack can be inserted into the third openings 21 of the neighboring lower pallet 1 of the stack. In this manner, stacks of two or more pallets 1 can be formed in a space-saving arrangement.
(20) FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the pallet 1 shown in FIG. 1. The first plate 10 of the pallet 1 comprises rectangular first openings 14 and rectangular second openings 15, wherein the first and second openings 14,15 extend along the length L and width W of the pallet 1. The first plate 10 further comprises supporting elements 11 at the edges of the first openings 14, at the edges of the second openings 15, and along the rim 13 of the first plate 10. The supporting elements 11 are extended along the height H of the pallet 1, that is the orientation of the supporting elements 11 is perpendicular to the plane in which the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 are extended.
(21) The supporting elements 11 positioned along the first openings 14, the second openings 15, and the edges 13 serve as spacers between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20, and the second plate 20 is mechanically connected to the first plate 10 by means of the supporting elements 11. For example, this mechanical connection is established by gluing the supporting elements 11 to the second plate 20.
(22) Advantageously, the supporting elements 11 form a mechanically stable core structure of the pallet 1.
(23) FIG. 2 further shows pallet feet 30, which are inserted into the second openings 15, and mechanically connected to the supporting elements 11 surrounding the respective second openings 15, as further specified below (see also FIGS. 11 and 12). The pallet feet 30 shown in FIG. 2 are depicted in FIG. 5 and described in detail in the description referring to FIG. 5.
(24) FIG. 3 shows a perspective top view of a first plate 10 of a pallet 1 according to the invention. As depicted in FIG. 3, the first plate 10 comprises nine rectangular second openings 15, which are arranged in three rows extending along the length L of the pallet 1, each of the rows comprising three second openings 15, wherein two of the rows are positioned along the rim 13 of the pallet 1, and the third row is positioned along a center line extended in the direction of the length L, Within the rows, the second openings 15 are equally distributed along the length L. Four supporting elements 11 are arranged along the boundaries of the described second openings 15. Therein, two of the supporting elements 11 extend along the whole width W of the second openings 15, and the other two of the supporting elements 11 extend along a section of the length L of the second openings 15, wherein gaps are positioned between the neighboring supporting elements 11 at the corners of the second openings 15.
(25) The first plate 10 further comprises twelve first openings 14, wherein two parallel adjacent first openings 14 extend along the length L of the pallet 1 between the three rows of second openings 15 at either side of the central row of second openings 15. Furthermore, first openings 14 are positioned along the rim 13 of the first plate 10 in the direction of the length L between the second openings 15. Two parallel supporting elements 11 extend along the length L on opposite sides of each of the respective first openings 14.
(26) Moreover, four first openings 14 are extended along the rim 13 of the first plate 10 along the width W of the pallet 1 between the respective second openings 15. Two parallel supporting elements 11 extend along the width W on opposite sides of these respective four first openings 14.
(27) In addition, four supporting elements 11 are positioned at the rim 13 (around the complete rim 13) of the first plate 10. Besides serving as a mechanical connection between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20, these supporting elements 11 form a frame, such that the core of the pallet 1 formed by the supporting elements 11 is closed from the outside in the assembled pallet 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
(28) FIG. 4 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming a first plate 10 of a pallet 1 according to the invention. The intermediate product is composed of a plate, for example a high density fiber board, comprising first openings 14, second openings 15, and supporting elements 11, wherein the supporting elements 11 are extended along the plane of the plate, and wherein the supporting elements 11 are connected to the plate at V-shaped first mitres 12.
(29) In order to form the first plate 10 shown in FIG. 3, the supporting elements 11 are folded into the direction of the height H of the pallet 1, that is perpendicular to the plane of the first plate 10. Folding into this direction is possible due to the V-shaped first mitres 12. In particular, glue can be applied to the first mitres 12 prior to folding, such that the supporting elements 11 are fixed in the position shown in FIG. 3 after folding.
(30) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a pallet foot 30 according to a first embodiment. The pallet foot 30 comprises two bearing elements 31 from a thin plate, particularly a high density fiber board, having a trapezoid shape, wherein the shorter parallel side of the trapezoid defines a minimal extension e.sub.3 of the bearing element 31 and the longer parallel edge of the trapezoid defines a first maximal extension e.sub.1 of the bearing element 31. The two bearing elements 31 are mechanically connected to each other by means of a base 32 composed of a rectangular plate, particularly a high density fiber board, at their shorter parallel edges defining the minimal extension e.sub.3.
(31) As shown in the left part of FIG. 5, the two bearing elements 31 and the base 32 can be formed by a single plate, particularly a high density fiber board, wherein the bearing elements 31 and the base 32 are separated by second mitres 33, such that the pallet foot 30 can be folded into a position shown in the right part of FIG. 5 at the second mitres 33. In particular, glue can be applied to the second mitres 33 prior to folding, such that the pallet foot 30 is fixed in the position shown in the right part of FIG. 5. Advantageously, the pallet foot 30 can be manufactured in a simple cost-efficient manner by folding i.e. of a high density fiber board.
(32) FIG. 6 shows a perspective top view of a pallet foot 30 according to a second embodiment. The pallet foot 30 comprises bearing elements 31, particularly formed by rectangular boards, wherein the bearing elements 31 are mechanically connected to a base 32. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the base 32 is formed by a prism shaped block extended along a longitudinal axis l, wherein the base of the prism comprises a trapezoid shape. The shorter parallel edges of the bearing elements 31 are connected to opposite angled surfaces of the base 32, such that the pallet foot 30 is V-shaped in the cross-section of the base 32 with respect to the longitudinal axis l. This embodiment has the advantage that the base 32, on which the pallet 1 rests when the pallet foot 30 is attached to the pallet 1 comprises a high mechanical stability.
(33) FIG. 7 shows components from which a pallet foot 30, such as the one depicted in FIG. 6, can be manufactured. A long base 32 shaped as a prism with a trapezoid prism base and a board 35, i.e. a high density fiberboard, from which bearing elements 31 can be formed, are depicted.
(34) FIG. 8 shows two bearing elements 31 produced by cutting from the board 35 shown in FIG. 7, wherein the bearing elements 31 are arranged on opposite sides of the base 32.
(35) FIG. 9 shows an intermediate product, in which the bearing elements 31 have been mechanically connected, particularly by gluing, to the base 32.
(36) FIG. 10 schematically depicts part of manufacturing process, in which a pallet foot 30 is produced by cutting the intermediate product shown in FIG. 9 at a cutting position 34.
(37) FIG. 11 shows a perspective top view of a first plate 10 of a pallet 1 according to the invention with attached pallet feet 30 according to the first embodiment, such as those depicted in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 11, the pallet feet 30 are inserted into the second openings 15 of the first plate 10, wherein the longer parallel edges of the bearing elements 31 defining the first maximal extension e.sub.1 (that is the distal edges with respect to the base 32) are mechanically connected to the supporting elements 11 extending along the length L of the pallet 1 around the respective second openings 15, wherein the bearing elements 31 are particularly glued to the respective supporting elements 11.
(38) In this manner the pallet feet 30 are stably attached to the first plate 10, and the overall stability of the pallet 1 is further increased by supporting the core of the pallet 1 between the first plate 10 and the second plate 20.
(39) In particular, the second openings 15, in which the pallet feet 30 are inserted, comprise a second maximal extension e.sub.2 along the length L of the pallet 1, wherein the first maximal extension e.sub.1 of the bearing elements 31 of the pallet foot 30 is equal to or smaller than the second maximal extension e.sub.2 of the second openings 15, such that the pallet feet 30 can be inserted into the respective second openings 15 from above (wherein the base 32 adjacent to the shorter edge of the bearing element 31 defining the minimal extension e.sub.3 is inserted first from the above) or below, and are arrested in their final position due to spreading of the bearing elements 31 with respect to the base 32.
(40) FIG. 12 (left part) shows a perspective top view of a pallet 1 comprising pallet feet 30 according to the second embodiment depicted in FIG. 6.
(41) FIG. 12 (right part) shows a perspective top view of a first plate 10 of a pallet 1 according to the invention with pallet feet 30 according to the second embodiment depicted in FIG. 6. Similar to the pallet feet 30 shown in FIG. 11, the distal edges of the bearing elements 31 with respect to the base 32 of the pallet feet 30 are mechanically connected, particularly glued, to the respective supporting elements 11 extended along the second openings 15 in the direction of the length L of the pallet 1.
(42) FIG. 13 shows a second plate 20 of a pallet 1 according to a first embodiment, wherein the second plate 20 comprises nine rectangular third openings 21, which are aligned with the respective second openings 15 of the first plate 10.
(43) When the second plate 20 is attached to the first plate 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12 (left part), thereby forming the pallet 1, the third openings 21 of the second plate 20 are arranged above the second openings 15, and thus above the pallet feet 30 along the height H of the pallet 1. Therefore, advantageously, two or more pallets 1 according to the invention can be stacked on top of each other, wherein the pallet feet 30 of the upper pallet 1 are insertable into the third openings 21 of the neighboring pallet 1 below. In this manner, a plurality of pallets 1 can be stored or transported taking up a minimum of space.
(44) FIG. 14 shows a perspective top view of a second plate 20 according to a second embodiment. The second plate 20 comprises nine rectangular third openings 21, the positions and shapes of which correspond to the those of the third openings 21 of the second plate 20 according to the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 13.
(45) In addition, the second plate 20 depicted in FIG. 14 comprises supporting elements 11 positioned along the two opposite short sides of the third openings 21, wherein the supporting elements 11 extend along the width W of the pallet and along the height H perpendicular to the second plate 20.
(46) Furthermore, the second plate 20 comprises four rectangular fourth openings 22 extending along the length L of the second plate 20. Along the fourth openings 22, additional supporting elements 11, which extend along the length L and height of the pallet 1 (transversely to the first plate 10 and the second plate 20), and which are integrally formed from the second plate 20, are positioned.
(47) FIG. 15 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming the second plate 20 according to the second embodiment. The intermediate product is composed of a plate, for example a high density fiber board, comprising third mitres 23, particularly V-shaped third mitres 23, and third openings 21.
(48) In order to form the second plate 20 shown in FIG. 14, the supporting elements 11 are folded into the direction of the height H of the pallet 1, that is perpendicular to the plane of the second plate 20. Folding into this direction is possible due to the V-shaped third mitres 23. In particular, glue can be applied to the third mitres 23 prior to folding, such that the supporting elements 11 are fixed in the position shown in FIG. 14 after folding.
(49) FIG. 16 shows a perspective top view of a second plate 20 according to a third embodiment, comprising fourth openings 22 at positions analogous to the fourth openings 22 of the second plate 20 according to the second embodiment (shown in FIG. 14).
(50) Compared to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14 only one supporting element 11 is positioned along each fourth opening 22, wherein the supporting elements 11 along the fourth openings 22 comprise a first strip 11a, which is connected to the second plate 20 and extends transversely to the second plate 20, and a second strip 11b, which is connected to the first strip 11a, and parallel to the second plate 20. Therein, the first strips 11a and second strips 11b form an L-shaped profile viewed in a cross-section along the plane formed by the width W and height H of the pallet 1 with a right angle between the first strip 11a and the second strip 11b.
(51) FIG. 17 shows a perspective top view of an intermediate product for forming the second plate 20 according to the third embodiment. The intermediate product is composed of a plate, for example a high density fiber board, comprising third mitres 23, particularly V-shaped third mitres 23, cuts 24, and third openings 21.
(52) In order to form the second plate 20 shown in FIG. 16, the supporting elements 11 are folded from the plate, wherein the respective third mitres 23 form the connection between the second plate 20 and the respective first strip 11a, and between the respective first strip 11a and the respective second strip 11b. The cut 24 serves to separate the formed supporting element 11 from the second plate 20 at one side of the respective fourth opening 22 formed by folding of the supporting element 11.
(53) FIG. 18 shows a perspective top view of a pallet 1 comprising a second plate 20 according to the second or third embodiment. The supporting elements 11 positioned along the fourth openings 22 of the second plate 20 are oriented such that they form a staggered arrangement with the supporting elements 11 of the first plate 10. That is, when the first plate 10 and the second plate 20 are joined to form the pallet 1, the respective supporting elements 11 contact a flat corresponding surface of the respective other plate, such that they can be mechanically connected with the respective other plate (first plate 10 or second plate 20).
(54) Such a staggered arrangement advantageously further increases the stability of the pallet 1.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(55) 1 Pallet 10 First plate 11 Supporting element 11a First strip 11b Second strip 12 First mitre 13 Rim 14 First opening 15 Second opening 20 Second plate 21 Third opening 22 Fourth opening 23 Third mitre 24 Cut 30 Pallet foot 31 Bearing element 32 Base 33 Second mitre 34 Cutting position 35 Board L Length W Width H Height e.sub.1 First maximal extension e.sub.2 Second maximal extension e.sub.3 Minimal extension l Longitudinal axis
