NESTABLE PALLET

Abstract

A nestable pallet includes a deck having a plurality of openings through an upper support surface thereof. A plurality of corner columns extend downward from the deck. The plurality of corner columns are aligned with the plurality of openings through the upper support surface of the deck. The plurality of corner columns each include a front face, a rear face, an outer face, an inner face opposite the outer face, and an angled face between the inner face and the front face. The angled face includes a plurality of vertical corrugations, such as a first vertically-elongated recess between a first vertically-elongated projection and a second vertically-elongated projection.

Claims

1. A nestable pallet comprising: a deck having a plurality of openings through an upper support surface thereof; a plurality of corner columns extending downward from the deck, the plurality of corner columns aligned with the plurality of openings through the upper support surface of the deck, the plurality of corner columns including a first corner column; and the first corner column including a front face, a rear face, an outer face and an inner face opposite the outer face, the first corner column further including an angled face between the inner face and the front face, the angled face including a first vertically-elongated recess between a first vertically-elongated projection and a second vertically-elongated projection.

2. The nestable pallet of claim 1 wherein the inner face includes a second vertically-elongated recess between a third vertically-elongated projection and the second vertically-elongated projection.

3. The nestable pallet of claim 2 further including a first vertical interior rib on an inner surface of the first vertically-elongated recess.

4. The nestable pallet of claim 3 further including a second vertical interior rib on an inner surface of the second vertically-elongated projection.

5. The nestable pallet of claim 4 further including a third vertical interior rib on an inner surface of the second vertically-elongated recess.

6. The nestable pallet of claim 5 wherein the outer face includes a plurality of corrugations.

7. The nestable pallet of claim 6 further including an angled gusset on outer surfaces of each of the first vertically-elongated projection, the second vertically-elongated projection, and the third vertically-elongated projection.

8. The nestable pallet of claim 7 further including an angled gusset on outer surfaces of the first vertically-elongated recess and the second vertically-elongated recess.

9. The nestable pallet of claim 8 wherein the deck includes a plurality of intersecting ribs and where each of the angled gussets is contiguous with a different one of the plurality of intersecting ribs.

10. The nestable pallet of claim 9 wherein the deck includes at least one handle opening therethrough.

11. The nestable pallet of claim 10 wherein the plurality of corner columns further includes second, third, and fourth corner columns and wherein the second, third, and fourth corner columns are mirror images of the first corner column.

12. The nestable pallet of claim 11 further including a pair of side columns extending downward from the deck between the plurality of corner columns.

13. The nestable pallet of claim 12 wherein the deck is 18-24 by 36-48.

14. A nestable half pallet comprising: a deck having a plurality of openings through an upper support surface thereof, the deck further including a plurality of intersecting ribs extending downward from an upper support surface of the deck; a pair of side columns extending downward from side edges of the deck; a plurality of corner columns extending downward from the deck, the plurality of corner columns and the pair of side columns aligned with the plurality of openings through the upper support surface of the deck; and each of the plurality of corner columns including a front face, a rear face, an outer face, an inner face opposite the outer face, and an angled face between the inner face and the front face, the angled face including a plurality of vertical corrugations.

15. The nestable half pallet of claim 14 wherein the inner face includes a plurality of vertical corrugations.

16. The nestable half pallet of claim 15 wherein the angled face includes a first vertically-elongated recess between a first vertically-elongated projection and a second vertically-elongated projection.

17. The nestable half pallet of claim 16 wherein the inner face includes a second vertically-elongated recess between a third vertically-elongated projection and the second vertically-elongated projection.

18. The nestable half pallet of claim 17 further including vertical interior ribs on inner surfaces of the first vertically-elongated recess, the second vertically-elongated projection, and the second vertically-elongated recess.

19. The nestable half pallet of claim 18 further including an angled gusset on outer surfaces of each of the first vertically-elongated projection, the second vertically-elongated projection, the third vertically-elongated projection, the first vertically-elongated recess and the second vertically-elongated recess.

20. The nestable half pallet of claim 19 wherein each of the angled gussets is contiguous with a different one of the plurality of intersecting ribs of the deck.

21. A nestable pallet comprising: a deck having a plurality of openings through an upper support surface thereof; a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck, the plurality of columns aligned with the plurality of openings through the upper support surface of the deck, the plurality of columns including a first column; and the first column including a front face, a rear face, an outer face and an inner face opposite the outer face, the inner face including a plurality of vertical corrugations reinforced by a plurality of vertical inner ribs along interior surfaces thereof and a plurality of angled gussets along exterior surfaces thereof.

22. The nestable pallet of claim 21 wherein the outer face includes a plurality of corrugations reinforced by a plurality of vertical ribs along interior surfaces thereof and a plurality of angled outer gussets along exterior surfaces thereof.

23. The nestable pallet of claim 21 wherein the deck includes a plurality of intersecting ribs and where each of the plurality of angled gussets is contiguous with a different one of the plurality of intersecting ribs.

24. The nestable pallet of claim 23 wherein the deck includes at least one handle opening therethrough.

25. The nestable pallet of claim 21 wherein the nestable pallet is a half pallet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a nestable pallet.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the corner columns of the nestable pallet of FIG. 4.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a section view through the corner column of the nestable pallet of FIG. 5, looking downward.

[0012] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of one of the corner columns of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 9 is an end view of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a top view of a pair of tines of a pallet jack or pallet lift (not shown) entering a short end of the nestable pallet of FIG. 1 at an angle that is approximately 20 to 30 degrees.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the tines and the nestable pallet of FIG. 10.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the tines and nestable pallet of FIG. 11 with the tines more fully inserted below the nestable pallet.

[0017] FIG. 13 is a top view of the tines and nestable pallet of FIG. 12.

[0018] FIGS. 14 and 15 are bottom and top views, respectively, of the tines 50 inserted into the nestable pallet 10 such that the tines 50 are between all four corner columns 14 and between the side columns 15.

[0019] FIG. 16 is an end view of the tines and nestable pallet of FIG. 15 prior to the tines lifting the nestable pallet from the floor.

[0020] FIG. 17 shows the tines and nestable pallet of FIG. 16 with the tines lifted to engage an underside of the deck of the nestable pallet.

[0021] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a forcible side impact of one of the tines one one of the corner columns of the nestable pallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] A nestable pallet 10 according to an example embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The nestable pallet 10 includes a deck 12 and a plurality of corner columns 14 and side columns 15 supporting the deck 12 above the floor. The nestable pallet 10 may be integrally molded as a single piece of suitable plastic. In this example, the nestable pallet 10 is a half-pallet, i.e. about half the size of a standard pallet, or in the range of about 18-24 by 36-48. The nestable pallet 10 has two corner columns 14 and one side column 15 along each long edge (side) of the deck 12. The columns 14, 15 are generally hollow and are aligned with corresponding openings 16 through an upper support surface of the deck 12, which are configured to receive the plurality of columns 14, 15 of an identical nestable pallet 10 therein. Handle openings 18 may be formed through the deck 12 to facilitate lifting and carrying the nestable pallet 10 by a user.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a top view of the nestable pallet 10 of FIG. 1. The openings 16 are aligned with and lead to the interiors of the plurality of columns 14, 15.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view, i.e. a view of one of the long sides of the nestable pallet 10. As shown, the exterior faces of the plurality of columns 14, 15 each have a plurality of corrugations 20 oriented vertically. The corner columns may have tapered leading edges, as shown.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the nestable pallet 10. The deck 12 includes a plurality of intersecting ribs 22 below the support surface of the deck 12 and connecting to the plurality of columns 14, 15, as is well known. A peripheral rib 24 extends about the entire periphery of the deck 12.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the corner columns 14 of FIG. 4. Each of the columns 14, 15 includes a lower wall 26.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a section view through the corner column 14 of FIG. 5 (looking downward). The other corner columns 14 would be mirror images. Referring to FIG. 6, the corner column 14 generally has the shape of a rectangle with a cut corner. The corner column 14 has a front face 34, which would face the nearest short side of the nestable pallet 10, and a rear face 36 on an opposite side of the corner column 14 (facing the adjacent side column 15 along the same long side of the nestable pallet 10 (FIG. 4)). The front face 34 and rear face 36 are generally parallel.

[0028] The corner column 14 has an outer face 38 facing the nearest long side of the nestable pallet 10. The corner column 14 also has an inner face 30 opposite the outer face 38 and generally parallel to the outer face 38. The corner column 14 also includes an angled face 32, which cuts the corner between the inner face 30 and the front face 34.

[0029] The outer face 38 includes the plurality of corrugations 20. The inner face 30 and angled face 32 each include a plurality of corrugations 28a-e (collectively corrugations 28). Interior ribs 29 may reinforce some or all of the plurality of corrugations 20, 28. The plurality of corrugations 20, 28 each include a plurality of alternating vertically-elongated recesses and vertically-elongated projections.

[0030] More specifically, the angled face 32 includes a first vertically-elongated recess 28b between a first vertically-elongated projection 28a and a second vertically-elongated projection 28c. The inner face 30 includes a second vertically-elongated recess 28d between a third vertically-elongated projection 28e and the second vertically-elongated projection 28c.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, each corner column 14 is configured and orientated such that the angled face 32 is adjacent the nearest short side of the nestable pallet 10 and such that a distance between the leading edges of the angled faces 32 of two adjacent corner columns 14 along a common short side of the nestable pallet 10 is initially greater and then decreases moving inward from the short side until reaching the two opposing, generally parallel inner faces 30 of the two corner columns 14.

[0032] FIGS. 7 and 8, are perspective views of one of the corner columns 14. Again, the other corner columns 14 would be mirror images. A plurality of angled gussets 40 each extend contiguously from a different one of the plurality of intersecting ribs 22 of the deck 12 to the outer surfaces of the plurality of corrugations 28 of the inner face 30 and the angled face 32. A transition from the plurality of intersecting ribs 22 to the plurality of angled gussets 40 is radiused and concave. Similar ribs are connected to the side columns 15 as well.

[0033] FIG. 9 is an end view of the nestable pallet 10, i.e. toward one of the short ends of the nestable pallet 10. The plurality of angled gussets 40 extend vertically at an angle less than 45 degrees relative to the inner surfaces of the corner column 14. The plurality of angled gussets 40 have a radiused transition to the plurality of intersecting ribs 22.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a top view of a pair of tines 50 of a pallet jack or pallet lift (not shown) entering a short end (end) of the nestable pallet 10 at an angle that is approximately 20 to 30 degrees, i.e. 20 to 30 degrees away from where the long axes of the tines 50 would be parallel to the long axis of the nestable pallet 10.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a top view of the tines 50 and the nestable pallet 10 of FIG. 10. In FIG. 11, the lower tine 50 and the lower corner column 14 (i.e. lower in FIG. 11) are interior of the angle of rotation of the tines 50 relative to the long axis of the nestable pallet 10. The interior tine 50 abuts the angled face 32 of the interior corner column 14. The angled face 32 (i.e. the cut-away corner) increases the effective width of entry of the pair of tines 50, so the exterior (or upper in FIG. 11) tine 50 can be received between the corner columns 14, as shown.

[0036] As the tines 50 continue entry into the nestable pallet 10, the tapered leading edge of the exterior tine 50 rides along the inner face 30 of the exterior corner column 14. As it does, this forces the nestable pallet 10 to rotate. The nestable pallet 10 will slidably rotate on the floor as the tines 50 enter the nestable pallet 10 until the long axis of the nestable pallet 10 is substantially parallel to the long axis of the tines 50, as shown in FIG. 12. Once the tines 50 are inserted between the corner columns 14 such that the tapered ends of the tines 50 are past the inner faces 30 of the corner columns 14, and the straight edges of the tines 50 abut the inner faces 30 of the corner columns 14, the long axes of the nestable pallet 10 and the tines 50 will be aligned.

[0037] FIG. 13 is a top view of the tines 50 and nestable pallet 10 of FIG. 12. FIGS. 14 and 15 are bottom and top views, respectively, of the tines 50 inserted into the nestable pallet 10 such that the tines 50 are between all four corner columns 14 and between the side columns 15.

[0038] FIGS. 16 and 17 demonstrate one function of the plurality of angled gussets 40. In FIG. 16, the tines 50 are in a lowered position, spaced below the lower surface of the deck 12. In FIG. 17, the tines 50 are in a raised position, in contact with the lower surface of the deck 12. In between, if the tines 50 are initially off-center relative to the deck 12, one of the tines 50 will contact the plurality of angled gussets 40 on one side of the nestable pallet 10. The angle of the plurality of angled gussets 40 will cause the nestable pallet 10 (and anything stacked thereon) to shift laterally so that the tines 50 are more centered below the deck 12.

[0039] Preferably, the distance between the uppermost inner edges of the plurality of angled gussets 40 (adjacent the plurality of intersecting ribs 22) is approximately greater than the distance between outermost edges of the tines 50. In other words, there would be approximately of space between each outermost edge of the tines 50 and the plurality of angled gussets 40 when the tines 50 are perfectly centered under the deck 12. The relatively snug fit between the tines 50 and the columns 14, 15 help resist the pallet 10 (and any load thereon) tipping. Approximately in this sense means + or 1/10.

[0040] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a forcible impact between the tines 50 and one of the corner columns 14. The interior ribs 39, the plurality of angled gussets 40, and the plurality of corrugations 20 on both the outer face 38 and the inner face 30 (see, e.g., FIG. 6) of the corner columns 14 and side columns 15 reinforce the columns 14, 15 to prevent damage to the columns 14, 15. For example, the disclosed columns 14, 15 resist buckling due to a tine strike.

[0041] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method claim steps are for ease of reference in dependent claims only and do not signify a required sequence of steps unless other explicitly recited in the claims.