Double stacked pallet system for rolled sheet goods

Abstract

A system for handling rolled sheet goods includes at least two pallets with a box situated on each pallet, each box containing a plurality of rolls of sheet goods arrayed within each box so that an open central core of each roll is aligned perpendicular to the box bottom. A compression resistant member is situated adjacent to or within the open central core of some of the rolls, each compression resistant member extending from the box bottom to a plane above the roll top edge to contact a lower surface of the box top to resist vertical compression of the box that would damage the rolled sheet goods. At least one tension member can be used to couple the boxes and pallets of the system together in a vertical stack.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to, and claims domestic priority and all other available benefits from, provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 809,631 filed May 31, 2006.BACKGROUND[0002]The present invention is directed to material handling of rolled sheet goods and, specifically, to pallet systems for rolled sheets goods such as desk mats, floor mats, carpet mats and chair mats used to protect an underlying surface. In particular, the present invention relates to a pallet system having features that enhance the ease of transport and handling, and improve marketability of such rolled sheet goods.[0003]Various types of mats typically made of plastic for office and home use are well known. The mats can vary in size ranging up to 60 inches on each side so that handling of the mats as a flat sheet is not always desirable, and is often awkward. The mats can be made of a plastic, such as vinyl, that will permit the mat to be rolled for ease of handlin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A system of pallet supported boxes for containing rolled sheet goods can include a pallet adapted for engagement by a fork lift, with a box situated on the pallet, the box having a bottom, sidewalls and a top. A plurality of rolls of sheet goods can be arrayed within the box, each roll having an open central core aligned perpendicular to the box bottom and a top edge. A compression resistant member forming a separable support column can be loosely situated within the open central core of some of the rolls of sheet goods. Alternatively, the compression resistant members can be grouped together at the spaces between some of the rolls of sheet goods, with the compression resistant members of each group being angular or tubular. Each compression resistant member can extend from the box bottom to a plane just above the roll top edge to contact a lower surface of the box top. When so positioned, the compression resistant members can resist vertical compression of the box that would damage the rolled sheet goods situated therein. The compression resistant members can provide sufficient load bearing strength that a second similar pallet support box containing another array of rolled sheet goods can be stacked on top of the first. Further the pair of pallet supported boxes can be banded or otherwise secured together so that the pair of boxes can be commonly handled by a single lift truck. Corner braces can be included in each box to facilitate wrapping of the pair of pallet supported boxes.

[0010]The box can contain partitions that can be confined to a lower portion of the box so that the rolled sheet goods can be easily displayed by simply removing an upper portion of the box. Following the removal of an upper portion of the box, the support columns can be easily removed from within the rolls of sheet goods since the columns do not support the interior or exterior surface of the roll of sheet goods. A tension band can be provided to surround each of the rolls of sheet goods to prevent unrolling of the goods when the box is converted to a display.

[0011]One advantage of a pallet supported system of the present invention is the ease of handling the comparatively low-weight, high cubic volume presented by the vertically oriented rolled sheet goods. Another advantage is the ease of conversion of the boxes of the system from protective shipping containers for the goods to attractive commercial displays of the goods. Other features and advantages of a system in accordance with the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following discussion that makes reference to the accompanying drawings.

Problems solved by technology

Following the removal of an upper portion of the box, the support columns can be easily removed from within the rolls of sheet goods since the columns do not support the interior or exterior surface of the roll of sheet goods.

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