Four-Way Stack-and-Nest Pallet with Full Window-Framed Runners

Abstract

A pallet made according to this invention provides a one-piece plastic pallet with integrated full window-frame runners for improved safety, nesting and stackability. The pallet includes a plurality of recessed portions that form angled leg portions below the lower surface of the deck. The pallet also includes integrated full window-framed runners in order to accommodate four-way entry. Each window-framed runner includes an angled leg portion having about the same draft angle as the opposing sidewall of the recessed portion. The deck also includes a plurality of channels sized to receive a window-framed runner of a second pallet. Each recessed portion also includes a stop to arrest the downward travel of the leg portion of the second pallet and allow for the nested second pallet to be easily removed from the first pallet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to goods-supporting pallets like the kind transported, raised and lowered by forklift trucks. More specifically, the invention relates to goods-supporting pallets that are made of environmental-friendly plastics and nest one into the other to reduce or minimize storage space.[0002]Goods-supporting pallets made of wood and plastic are well-known in the art. One of the advantages of plastic pallets over wooden pallets is that plastic pallets can be designed to nest one within the other. However, prior art plastic nesting pallets do not provide a runner design which accommodates 4-way entry of the forklift, nor do they provide full window-frame and same-dimensioned runners. Additionally, those plastic nesting pallets are usually one-piece designs which do not incorporate runners of any kind. Plastic pallets that do have runners are usually assembled from different molded parts and cannot nest.[0003]The pallet disclosed a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Objects of the invention are to provide a plastic nesting pallet that has (1) a one-piece design; (2) full window-frame runners (stringers) to improve safety during transport and stacking; (3) a runner design that improves pallet storage at least about 50%; (4) runners which are off-set and chamfered to protect the feet; (5) runners with a common dimension; (6) a top deck that incorporates the runners but still allows the pallet to nest; (7) a foot design that provides an inter-locking footprint but allows for de-stacking; and (8) more static and dynamic load carrying capacity than a similarly sized wooden pallet yet is at least one-third the weight of that pallet.

Problems solved by technology

However, prior art plastic nesting pallets do not provide a runner design which accommodates 4-way entry of the forklift, nor do they provide full window-frame and same-dimensioned runners.

Additionally, those plastic nesting pallets are usually one-piece designs which do not incorporate runners of any kind.

No other pallet is available with these combined critical features.

Prior art pallet designs have either compromised on the full window frame runner system, thereby reducing the safety factor, or have limited the nesting ratio, thereby reducing the economic return of the nesting pallet.

A pallet design that accomplishes both is difficult to achieve given that the design has to maintain industry standards to survive the rigors and abuse of the fork-truck world yet still accommodate an industry load requirement.

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