Plastic Wrap Securement For Plastic Pallet

Abstract

A pallet comprising means to secure a tarp or plastic covering is designed to minimize the amount of plastic wrap or tarp required and to be simply employed. The securement means of the present invention are at least partially integrated with the pallet and do not interfere with the other operative loading features of the tray or pallet. In general, the means to secure comprise an opening integral to a side or end of the pallet, opening to the bottom edge, and shaped to both accept and secure a portion of the covering.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising means to secure a covering said pallet comprising: a) a top surface and at least a first side, said first side having an outer surface, an internal surface, an edge and a means to secure; b) said means to secure comprising an opening in the outer surface, a first part of the opening extending through the internal surface and a second part of the opening extending through the edge and having a shape for accepting and securing a portion of a covering.

2. The pallet of claim 1 said portion of the covering comprising a stop for securing the portion of the covering.

3. A method of using the pallet of claim 2 comprising inserting the portion of the covering into the second part of the opening and sliding the covering into the first part of the opening thereafter positioning the stop against the internal surface with the covering extended outwardly from the first outer side.

4. The pallet of claim 1, said means to secure shaped generally like a keyhole.

5. The pallet of claim 1 said means to secure comprising a slanted ramp section at the second part of the opening to assist in aligning the portion of the covering, the first part of the opening shaped as a slot extending away from the edge and the second part of the opening.

6. The pallet of claim 1 said first part comprising an elongated shape, said second part comprising an elongated shape oriented generally perpendicular from the first part to provide means to secure the portion of the covering.

7. The covering of claim 1 comprising a flexible plastic sheet.

8. The covering of claim 1 comprising a tarp.

9. The flexible plastic sheet of claim 7 comprising a corner, said corner equipped with a stop.

10. A pallet of generally unitary plastic structure comprising means to secure a flexible covering, said pallet comprising a first end having an edge, a second end having an edge, a first side having an edge, a second side having an edge, a top deck, and a bottom surface, said means to secure comprising a slot-shape extending upwardly from at least one of said first end edge, said second end edge, said first side edge, and second side edge.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a view of an exemplary pallet;

[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a second view of an exemplary pallet;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the pallet of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a third embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective of a fourth embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective of a fifth embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective of a sixth embodiment; and

[0017] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless otherwise defined. In the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The singular forms a, an, and the specifically also encompass the plural fauns of the terms to which they refer, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The word or is used in the inclusive sense of and/or and not either/or. The term about is used to mean approximately, in the region of, roughly, or around. The term comprise(s) and comprising are to be interpreted as having an open-ended meaning and synonymous with the phrases having at least or including at least.

[0019] A pallet 10 of the present invention includes at least a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a first outer side 16. Many embodiments also include a second outer side 18, a first end 20, and a second end 22. Some embodiments include a plurality of outer sides all equal in dimension. Means to secure 30 may be located on any portion of any one of said top surface 12, the bottom surface 14, any outer side 16, 18, or either end 20, 22 if an end is present. In one embodiment, said means to secure 30 comprises a resiliently closed opening 165 (see FIG. 6); in another embodiment said means to secure 30 comprises a slot 135 (FIG. 3), a keyhole slot 125 (FIG. 4), or an L shaped slot 155 (FIG. 5). Still another embodiment comprises an initial ramped portion to assist with alignment of the tarp (FIG. 7). A final embodiment comprises a tab around which the tarp is wrapped for securement (FIG. 8). In several embodiments the means to secure 30 comprises the same material as that which makes up the surface 12, 14, side, 16, 18 or end 20, 22 on which the means to secure 30 is located and is either flush with or interior to an outside level 32 of that surface, side or end. This might be accomplished by integrally molding the means to secure 30 into the surface 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, or 22. Several of the same or different means 30 may be located on one or more of the surfaces 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, or 22.

[0020] In one embodiment, the pallet 10 is a molded pallet of unitary structure, the top surface 12 and a lower most plane 34 of the bottom surface 14 spatially separated. The pallet 10 may comprise runners or ribs in the bottom surface 14 in which case some portions of the bottom surface 14 are closer to or may be integral with the top surface 12 and other portions would be parallel with the lower most plane 34 of the bottom surface 14. Alternatively, as is known in the art, the pallet's bottom surface may comprise pedestals which allow for nesting and provide securement means for transporting the pallet. These embodiments of a pallet 10 comprise an outer surface 100 extending in a downwardly angular or perpendicular manner from said top surface 12, said outer surface 100 may or may not comprise a lower edge 102.

[0021] In another embodiment, the pallet 10 comprises a top surface 12 having an outer surface extending in a downwardly angular or perpendicular manner from said top surface said outer surface 100 comprising a lower edge 102.

[0022] In yet another embodiment, the pallet 10 comprises a top deck having a surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a first outer side 16, a second outer side 18, a first end surface 20a, and a second end surface 22a. This embodiment resembles a shallow block. The sides 16, 18, 20a and 22a may, together, be referred to as the outer surface 100.

[0023] Any of the aforementioned embodiments of the pallet 10 may be of unitary structure. Any may include means to facilitate nesting such as runners or pegs.

[0024] The means to secure 30 may be integrally formed in the outer surface 100. In some embodiments where the outer surface comprises a lower edge 102 said means to secure 30 may be positioned at and may even incorporate the lower edge 102. The means to secure 30 may be molded integrally into the lower edge 102 during the manufacturing process.

[0025] The means to secure 30 generally operate by friction fit (including tying and/or anchoring with a knot or T) to secure a covering 110 which may comprise plastic wrap or other tarp-like material 110. It is possible to create said means to secure 30 to comprise metal rings or hook, however, the spirit of this invention is to provide means to secure that are simple and do not negatively affect the functionality of the pallet, including required maintenance and replacement of parts. While it is within the scope of this disclosure to provide a pallet 10 with a single means to secure 30 as claimed herein, it is expected most often that a plurality of means 30 will be provided on a pallet 10. In operation, a load is placed on the top surface 12 of the pallet 10. A first end or side or point 112 (see FIG. 9) of a covering 110 which may comprise a plastic wrap or a tarp is gathered and inserted into the means to secure 30. The plastic wrap or tarp 110 is then stretched or extended over the load and a second end or side or point 114 is gathered and secured. The second end or side or point 114 may be secured by a second means to secure 30 as disclosed herein, or may be secured by another means.

[0026] The present invention is intended to provide means to secure 30 plastic wrap or tarp 110 over a load placed on a pallet 10. It is understood, however, that said means to secure 30 could also be used to secure specially made lids or covers if said lids or covers were equipped with elements that could be retained by the means to secure 30. Means to secure 30 could be used to directly secure a load if the load were equipped with attachment means that can be frictionally secured to the means to secure 30.

[0027] In one embodiment, means to secure comprises a keyhole shape 125 opening from said lower edge 102 with stricture 127 for assisting in the securement of the plastic wrap or tarp 110. (See FIG. 4)

[0028] In a second embodiment a simple slot 135 opening to the lower edge 102 is provided. (See FIG. 3)

[0029] In a third embodiment, a ramped slot 145 opens into said lower edge 102. Here, the slot also comprises a ramp section 147 to assist the user to align and insert the tarp or plastic 110. (See FIG. 7)

[0030] A hook-shaped slot 155 is provided in a fourth embodiment wherein said slot comprises a first portion 157 generally perpendicular to said lower edge 102 and a second portion 159 open to said first portion 157 and generally parallel with said lower edge 102. (See FIG. 5)

[0031] A fifth embodiment comprises a slotted opening 165 in the outer surface 100 said slotted opening 165 flexible, with high resilience. A corner of the tarp 110 or another portion of the tarp 110 may be inserted into the slotted opening 165 which will secure the tarp 110. (See FIG. 6)

[0032] In use, the present invention accommodates insertion of a portion of the plastic or tarp and securing it therein. It is contemplated that the end of the plastic or tarp may be equipped with a stop such as a T or a knot or a plate that, once inserted in the means to secure, will provide additional resistance to slippage.

[0033] The present invention will reduce waste otherwise incurred by wrapping the entire pallet, reduce or eliminate loss of functionality caused by fully wrapping a pallet relative to its stackability, and avoid loss of other functionality and sources of weakness that would be caused by exteriorly mounted securement means such as rings or hooks.

[0034] The inventor does not intend to limit the invention to these embodiments but, rather, the invention is directed to the use of single or multiple means to secure, all uniform in a given pallet, or arranged in groupings of different embodiments, or comprising several different embodiments to provide multi-use.

[0035] The present invention has been described in both specificity, and with generality. It is not intended to be limited except as the claims language requires. To that end, the material used to make the pallet or top deck may be of several blends of plastic, fiberglass, or combinations with wood or metal. The pallet includes at least one and may include a plurality of identical means to secure. Alternatively, the pallet may include a plurality of means to secure that differ from one another within the scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, said means to secure are integrally molded with the pallet or the top deck such that they are co-planar with or interior to the outermost surface of the pallet or top deck in which said means to secure is located.