PLASTIC PALLET WITH HANDLE

Description

[0001] The invention of a plastic pallet with runners. State of the art

[0002] Plastic pallets with a handle are known, for example, from US2017297765A1. This document describes a pallet with multiple feet and multiple handles that can be grasped from the underside of the pallet. The handles comprise a through hole with side walls and an entry opening that extend perpendicular to the surface of the pallet and parallel to the short side of the pallet. The handles are located off-center and off-center of the pallet.

[0003] Furthermore, EP2877408 describes a pallet with four feet, a top side, and a bottom side. The top side has a hand access hole in the center, which extends parallel to the short side of the pallet. This allows the pallet to be reached into the hole from the top side and carried. The pallets are stackable in that the feet have an opening, and the feet of a first pallet engage with the opening of the feet of a second pallet stacked on top.

[0004] Furthermore, pallets with handles on the peripheral sides of the pallet or in the lateral area of ​​the pallet surface are known from US7856932, EP2067709, or WO0078620. Pallets with handles in the lateral area or on the peripheral sides of the pallet have the disadvantage that such pallets usually have to be carried with two hands.

[0005] From US 2012 / 0037050 A1 a pallet with a non-flat deck, in particular for flexible loads, is known, which can be reinforced by inserting or attaching reinforcing elements and can contain a tensioning cable that prevents or reduces the sinking of the upper deck when the pallet is loaded.

[0006] EP 0979778 A2 discloses a pallet with reinforced corner web walls, in which loads and impacts are eliminated by elastic deformation of the corner web walls and are partly distributed to the areas of the pallet behind them. Object of the invention

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of providing a plastic pallet with runners which allows optimized, easy handling for transport with one hand and makes it possible to carry the clean upper side of the pallet towards the body. Description of the invention

[0008] This object is achieved by a plastic pallet according to claim 1. The pallet has a bottom side provided with runners and a top side, wherein one runner runs along the middle of the plastic pallet and the runner along the middle of the pallet has a handle which can be grasped from the bottom of the pallet. The runner along the middle of the plastic pallet is also referred to as the middle runner, regardless of how many runners the pallet has. Preferably, the plastic pallet has three runners, preferably three longitudinal runners. However, it is also possible for the plastic pallet to have two runners and three feet, or to have three transverse runners, or to have more than three runners, for example five runners.

[0009] The handle is positioned in the center of the middle skid relative to the length and width of the pallet, preferably along the central longitudinal axis of the middle skid. The handle is located at the geometric center of the pallet. Particularly preferably, the handle is positioned as close as possible to or at the center of gravity of the pallet. This allows even heavier pallets weighing 20 kilograms or more to be carried with one hand.

[0010] However, the position of the handle in the middle skid is variable in terms of the height between the top of the pallet and the bottom of the skid. Preferably, the handle is located on the underside of the middle skid, as close as possible to the surface that would come into contact with the ground. This allows for the easiest and most ergonomic access to the handle from the bottom of the pallet.

[0011] The term "underside grippable" means that the pallet's handle can be grasped either from the bottom or from the side of the pallet. In contrast, the handle cannot be grasped from the top of the pallet.

[0012] The handle is elongated. Ideally, the handle is aligned parallel to the upper surface, preferably along the central longitudinal axis of the middle skid. A finger cavity is provided between the handle and the upper surface of the plastic pallet. The opening to the cavity is preferably located in the lower surface of the middle skid, in the area of ​​the surface that would come into contact with the ground.

[0013] In another embodiment, the lower surface of the middle skid is continuous, and the handle is arranged parallel to the top surface of the pallet and on a plane between the bottom surface of the middle skid and the top surface of the pallet. In this embodiment, the opening to the finger cavity is preferably located in the side wall of the middle skid.

[0014] The opening in the side wall of the middle skid allows the handle to be grasped from the side of the pallet, possibly through additional openings in the outer skid, which allows for sideways removal of the pallet from a stack. The side of the pallet is also counted as the underside.

[0015] The elongated handle has a U-shaped cross-section, preferably with slightly rounded corners. These slightly rounded corners ensure a high level of comfort in the hand.

[0016] The top of the plastic pallet preferably has a completely closed surface. This is possible because the handle is located in the skid on the underside of the pallet. The closed surface of the top can be provided with a substantially smooth surface to make the pallet easy to clean and prevent dirt or bacteria from accumulating, making it suitable for use in hygienic and cleanroom areas.

[0017] The plastic pallets are made of a durable and resilient material, preferably one or more thermoplastics. For example, the thermoplastic material includes polyethylene or polypropylene, or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the plastic pallet can have reinforcements in various profiles, such as steel profiles, particularly steel tubes. The reinforcements for strengthening the plastic pallets and increasing the load-bearing capacity can be arranged in any desired manner. For example, reinforcement tubes can be arranged along the sides of the pallet, along the pallet's runners, or along all four sides.

[0018] The plastic pallet according to the invention has the great advantage that the handle on the underside means the flat upper side rests against the body when carried. The upper side is usually cleaner than the underside with the runners. This is a major advantage over pallets with handles on the top of the pallet, where either an edge or the dirty underside of the pallet is pressed against the body with the feet or runners when carried, which is uncomfortable and requires more strength. Carrying the plastic pallet according to the invention, on the other hand, is comfortable thanks to the handle on the underside and requires less strength. The position of the handle in the middle runner allows the pallet to be carried with just one hand. This special arrangement of the handle means that even shorter people can carry the pallet.A further advantage of the present invention is that the handle is located close to or at the center of gravity of the pallet, which also simplifies carrying the pallet.

[0019] In a further embodiment, there is also an advantage in that the handle can be grasped from the side of the pallet through an opening in the side wall of the middle skid and the pallet can be removed from a stack from the side.

[0020] Combinations of two or more of the above-mentioned embodiments and variants are conceivable within the scope of the claimed invention.

[0021] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which the invention is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the schematic drawings. Short description of the characters

[0022] They show: Fig. 1a plastic pallet with handle in perspective view of the underside of the pallet, Fig. 2Athe plastic pallet with handle in another perspective view diagonally from below, Fig. 2Ba detailed view of the handle of the plastic pallet of the Figure 2A , Fig. 3 another perspective view of the plastic pallet with handle from below, Fig. 4 the plastic pallet with handle in perspective view from above, Fig. 5 the plastic pallet from Figure 4 in a view from above onto the top, Fig. 6 a cross section through the central longitudinal axis of the middle skid of the plastic pallet along the line AA of the Figure 5 , Fig. 7 a cross section through the central longitudinal axis of the middle runner along the line AA of the Figure 5 through the plastic pallet, Fig. 8 a cross section along the line BB of the Figure 5through the plastic pallet, Fig. 9 the plastic pallet in a view from below of the underside with runners, and Fig. 10 a plastic pallet with a variant of a handle not according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from below.

[0023] In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for the same elements and explanations of a particular reference symbol apply to all figures unless expressly stated otherwise. Embodiments of the invention

[0024] Figure 1shows a plastic pallet 1 with three runners 2, 2' on the underside 7 of the pallet 1, and a top side 4, wherein the middle runner 2' has a handle 3. Furthermore, cavities 5 are provided in the middle runner 2' between the handle 3 and the surface 4 and between the handle 3 and the side walls 8 of the middle runner 2'. These spaces provide enough space to grasp the handle with the hand or with the fingers or, depending on the position of the hand, to completely enclose the handle.

[0025] The handle 3 is elongated with slightly rounded edges and is arranged on the underside of the middle skid 2'. The orientation of the handle 3 runs parallel to the surface of the upper side and along the central longitudinal axis of the middle skid 2'. Furthermore, the handle 3 is arranged in the middle of the middle skid, at the geometric center of the pallet and as close as possible to the center of gravity of the pallet, close to the contact surface of the skid with the ground. This arrangement allows the easiest possible access to the handle, and the handle is easily grasped from the underside 7 of the pallet 1.

[0026] The underside 7 of the plastic pallet 1 has a rib structure 6 with cavities to provide mechanical stability and a significant weight saving.

[0027] Figure 2A shows a plastic pallet 1 as in Figure 1described from a different perspective and with a different rib structure 6 on the underside 7.

[0028] Figure 2B shows an excerpt from Figure 2A with the handle 3 and the cavities 5 to the side of the handle 3 between the handle 3 and the side walls 8 of the middle runner 2' and the cavity 5 between the handle 3 and the top side 4 (not shown) of the pallet 1.

[0029] Figure 3 shows the plastic pallet as in Figure 2A described in another perspective view.

[0030] Figure 4 shows a perspective of the top side 4 of the plastic pallet 1 with the three runners 2, 2'. The top side 4 has a closed surface.

[0031] Figure 5 shows the top side 4 of the plastic pallet 1, as in Figure 4 shown, with a closed surface. The longitudinal axis is drawn along line AA and the transverse axis along line BB.

[0032] In Figure 6 is a cross section through the central longitudinal axis AA of the middle skid 2' of the plastic pallet 1 of the Figure 5 The elongated handle 3 is arranged in the center of the central skid 2' along the central longitudinal axis AA on the underside 7 of the pallet 1. The cross-section shows the cavity 5 between the handle 3 and the upper side 4 of the pallet 1. In addition, the rib structures 6 and the cavities therebetween are visible.

[0033] Figure 7 shows a cross section through the central longitudinal axis AA of pallet 1 of the Figure 5 as in Figure 6 described in a perspective view. In addition to Figure 6 In addition to the middle runner 2', an outer runner 2 is visible here.

[0034] Figure 8 shows a cross section through the central transverse axis BB of pallet 1 of the Figure 5in a perspective view. The handle 3 in the center of the middle skid 2' has a U-shaped cross-section with the opening of the U facing downwards. The two outer skids 2 and the cavities 5 between the handle 3 and the side walls 8 of the middle skid 2' and between the handle 3 and the top 4 of the pallet 1 are also shown. These cavities 5 provide sufficient space to grip the handle ergonomically.

[0035] Figure 9 shows a bottom view of the underside 7 of the plastic pallet 1 with the two outer runners 2 and the middle runner 2', the elongated handle 3 and the rib structure 6 of the pallet 1. The orientation of the elongated handle 3 along the central longitudinal axis of the middle runner 2' is visible.

[0036] In the Figure 10A variant of a handle 3' is shown, not according to the invention. The handle 3' has a cylindrical shape and is arranged in the middle of the middle runner 2'. In Figure 10 the elongated handle 3' is arranged parallel to the surface 4 along the central longitudinal axis in the direction of the central longitudinal skid 2'. In addition, the circular-cylindrical handle 3' is arranged on a plane between the top side 4 of the pallet and the underside of the skid 2', and the lower surface of the underside of the central skid 2' is continuous. An opening to a cavity 5' for fingers is provided in the side wall of the central skid 2' for easier access to the handle 3'. In this variant, the handle 3' can be grasped through the skids 2, 2' from the side of the underside of the pallet 1, which enables lateral removal of the pallet 1 from a stack. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1Plastic pallet 2Skids, outer skids 2'middle skid 3, 3'Handle 4Top 5, 5'Cavity 6Ribbed structure 7Bottom 8Side wall of the middle skid

Claims

1. A plastic pallet (1) with an underside (7) comprising skids (2, 2') and a top side (4), wherein a skid is a middle skid (2') running along the middle of the plastic pallet (1) and wherein one skid comprises a handle (3) which is accessible from the underside (7) of the pallet (1), characterized in that the middle skid (2') comprises the handle (3), wherein the handle (3) is arranged in the middle of the middle skid (2'), in the geometric centre of the pallet (1), relative to the length and width of the pallet (1), wherein the handle (3) is elongated and comprises a U-shaped cross-section, and wherein a cavity (5) is provided for fingers between the handle (3) and the top side (4) of the plastic pallet (1) in such a way that the pallet (1) can be carried with one hand.

2. The plastic pallet (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the top side (4) of the pallet (1) comprises a continuously closed surface.

3. The plastic pallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongated handle (3) is aligned parallel to the surface of the top side (4) of the pallet (1).

4. The plastic pallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (3) is aligned along a central longitudinal axis of the middle skid (2').

5. The plastic pallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower surface of the middle skid (2') is continuous and an opening to the cavity (5) is provided for fingers in the side wall of the middle skid (2').