palette

Abstract

A pallet (1) comprising a base (2) and at least one back panel (3), the base (2) comprising a metal frame (4) forming a support surface for a floor, the back panel (3) being formed of metal uprights (5) and connecting bars (6) for the uprights (5) to form a perforated panel, the frame (4) of the base (2) being formed of stringers (7) and cross members (8) assembled by corner pieces (9), each stringer (7) or cross member (8) being a hollow profile, each corner piece (9) forming a recess (11) for receiving an upright (5) of the back panel (3), this recess (11) comprising a bottom (12) and a peripheral side wall (13), the peripheral side wall (13) of the recess (11) of each of the corner pieces (9) being provided with through openings (14), one of which opens into the end of the stringer (7) adjacent to the corner piece (9), the other in the end of the cross member (8) adjacent to the corner piece (9). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: palette

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet.

[0002] It relates in particular to a pallet comprising a base and at least one back panel, the base comprising a metal frame forming a support plane intended to support a floor, the or at least one of the back panels being formed of metal uprights and connecting bars of the metal uprights to form at least one openwork panel, the frame of the base being formed of stringers and cross members assembled at least by corner pieces, each stringer or cross member being a hollow profile delimiting a through axial cavity, each corner piece forming, in the horizontally positioned state of the frame, a well for receiving an upright of the or at least one of the back panels, this well comprising a bottom and a peripheral side wall.

[0003] Pallets comprising a base forming a load support plane and at least one backrest capable of forming, in the coupled state with the base, a vertical barrier against which a load can bear are known as illustrated by patent FR 3 042 477. The disadvantage of such pallets is that it is often difficult to insert a post of the backrest into the well and, once the post has been inserted into the receiving well, it is sometimes difficult, or even impossible, to remove it from the well for the purpose of dismantling the pallet.

[0004] One object of the invention is to provide a pallet whose design allows for easy assembly and disassembly.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a pallet comprising a base and at least one back panel, the base comprising a metal frame forming a support plane intended to support a floor, the or at least one of the back panels being formed of metal uprights and connecting bars of the metal uprights to form at least one perforated panel, the frame of the base being formed of stringers and cross members assembled at least by corner pieces, each stringer or cross member being a hollow profile delimiting a through axial cavity, each corner piece forming, in the horizontally positioned state of the frame, a well for receiving an upright of the or at least one of the back panels, this well comprising a bottom and a peripheral side wall, characterized in that the peripheral side wall of the well of each of the corner pieces is provided with through openings opening one or more of them into the end of the stringer contiguous to the corner piece,the other or others in the end of the cross member adjacent to the corner piece. The fact that the peripheral side wall of the well of each of the corner pieces is provided with through openings, one or more of which open into the end of the spar adjacent to the corner piece, the other or others into the end of the cross member adjacent to the piece, The corner design prevents or limits the accumulation of dirt in the well and avoids the backrest becoming stuck in the base. The base frame can therefore be made of metal and undergo galvanizing without risk, or with a limited risk, of the backrest uprights subsequently becoming stuck in the base wells. Indeed, any drips resulting from the galvanizing process can be drained through the well openings into the cavity of the side rail or cross member adjacent to the well. Similarly, the backrest can be safely made of metal. This metal construction increases the pallet's mechanical strength.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the peripheral side wall of the well is formed of at least one L-shaped angle and one L-shaped bracket, the openings being arranged on the arms of the bracket. This results in a simple well design.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bracket is provided, at the free end of each arm, with tenons adapted to fit into mortises in the angle bracket for retention in the assembled state. Assembly is thus extremely easy. In addition to their jointing, the tenons and mortises can be welded together.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the well is a well with a quadrangular section, the peripheral side wall of the well delimits four faces with two of the so-called support faces extending, one opposite and in contact with one end of the spar, the other opposite and in contact with one end of the cross member to be assembled to the spar at the level of the well.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the well is provided at its base, on at least one face other than a bearing face of the well, with a wing inclined outwards from the well to aid in storing the base of the pallet stacked on top of an identical base of a pallet without a backing. This design allows for easy stacking of the pallet bases.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the well is formed by a round rod extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the well. Choosing a rod with a circular cross-section again helps to limit the areas of contact with the backrest support and the risk of pinching.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the round rod connects two parts opposite the peripheral side wall of the well.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base stringers are formed of at least two stringer sections joined by a connecting piece forming a sleeve for receiving a backrest upright; the sleeve is delimited by a peripheral side wall provided with at least two facing openings, one of which opens into one end of one of the stringer sections to be assembled at the level of The connecting piece, the other, is located at one end of the other or one of the other sections of the spar to be assembled at the connecting piece. This arrangement again helps to limit the risk of a backrest support becoming stuck at the base, a jamming that would render the backrest impossible to remove from the base.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting piece is in several parts and comprises at least a U-shaped section and a connecting plate assembled together, and the slots are arranged on the U-shaped section which extends between the ends of the longitudinal member sections to be assembled at the connecting piece. This design facilitates the assembly of the different parts of the connecting piece.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting plate has the shape of a T with one vertical arm and two horizontal arms and the U is open in the direction of the vertical arm of the T in the assembled state of the U and the connecting plate. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention in exploded position of certain elements;

[0018] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of an angle piece in exploded position of the elements;

[0019] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a connecting part in exploded position elements.

[0020] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a multipurpose pallet 1, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], suitable for transporting a wide variety of loads. This pallet 1 comprises a base 2 forming a load-supporting surface and at least one backrest 3 which, when coupled to the base 2, forms a vertical barrier against which a load can rest. The base 2 comprises, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], a quadrangular metal frame 4 formed of longitudinal members 7 and cross members 8 assembled by corner pieces 9. Each longitudinal member 7 or cross member 8 is a hollow profile defining a through axial cavity 10 extending from one end towards the other end of the profile. This frame 4 therefore comprises two stringers 7 and two crossbeams 8. This frame 4 can be compartmentalized, as can be seen in [Fig.2], and is intended to support a floor 18 generally made of wood, as illustrated in [Fig.1].This metal base 2 is preferably subjected to galvanizing treatment to improve its resistance to mechanical and climatic stresses. Each longitudinal member 7 or cross member 8 can be in a single section or in several sections, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], where each longitudinal member 7 is formed of three sections. represented in 71, 72 and 73. In this embodiment, each section is assembled to an adjacent section by a connecting piece 16 forming a receiving sleeve for an upright 5 of the backrest 3 which will be described below.

[0021] Each corner piece 9 forms a well 11 for receiving a post 5 of the backrest 3. This well includes a bottom 12 and a peripheral side wall 13.

[0022] Characteristically to the invention, the peripheral side wall 13 of the well 11 of each of the corner pieces 9 is provided with through openings 14, one or more of which open into the end of the longitudinal member 7 adjacent to the corner piece 9, the other or the others into the end of the cross member 8 adjacent to the corner piece 9, to avoid or limit an accumulation of dirt in the well and generate a jamming of the backrest in the base.

[0023] In the example shown in [Fig. 3], the peripheral lateral wall 13 of the well 11 is formed of an L-shaped angle 131 and an L-shaped bracket 132. The L-shaped angle 131 and the L-shaped bracket 132 are joined at a right angle. The openings 14 are arranged on the arms of the bracket 132. Two openings are provided, one per arm. The bracket 132 is provided, at the free end of each arm, with tenons 1321 adapted to fit into mortises 1311 in the angle 131 for retention in the assembled state. Thus, to assemble the bracket 132 and the angle 131 together, it is sufficient to insert the tenons of the bracket into the mortises of the angle and to weld the tenon and the mortise together in the assembled state.

[0024] Since the well 11 is a well with a quadrangular cross-section, the peripheral lateral wall 13 of the well 11 defines four faces, with two of the so-called bearing faces extending, one opposite and in contact with one end of the spar 7, the other opposite and in contact with one end of the cross member 8 to be assembled to the spar 7 at the well 11. Each end of the spar or cross member is preferably fixed by welding to the connecting piece 9. In particular, for each corner piece, one end of the spar is fixed by welding to a bearing face of the corner piece, and one end of the cross member is fixed by welding to a bearing face of the corner piece other than the one welded to the spar.In the assembled state, the openings 14 of the corner piece 9 are arranged respectively, at least partially in coincidence, with the cavities 10 of the stringers 7 and cross members 8 to allow the excess material contained in the well 11 to be evacuated inside the stringer 7 and / or the cross member 8 to free up the well area used for receiving a backrest 3 and to avoid any jamming of a post of the backrest 3 inside said well 11. .

[0025] The bottom 12 of the well 11 is formed by a round rod 121 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the well 11. This round rod 121 connects two opposing parts of the peripheral lateral wall 13 of the well 11. In particular, the parts in The views of the peripheral side wall of the well are provided with through holes opposite each other into which the rod 121 is suitable to be inserted and possibly welded.

[0026] Similarly, the sleeve of the connecting piece 16 is, as illustrated in [Fig.4], delimited by a peripheral side wall provided with at least two sighting lights 17, one opening into one end of one of the sections of the longeron to be assembled at the level of the connecting piece, the other into one end of the other or another of the sections of the longeron to be assembled at the level of the connecting piece 16.

[0027] In the example shown, the side members 7 of the base 2 are formed of three sections 71, 72, 73 of side members joined in pairs by a connecting piece 16 forming a receiving sleeve for a post 5 of the base or a backrest 3. Each connecting piece 16 is in several parts and comprises at least one U 161 and a connecting plate 162 assembled together. The slots 17 are arranged on the U which extends between the ends of the sections 71, 72 or 72, 73 of side members to be joined at the level of a connecting piece 16. These slots 17 extend at least partially in coincidence with the cavity of the ends of the sections of side members to be joined together. The connecting plate 162 is T-shaped with one vertical arm and two horizontal arms.The vertical arm extends opposite the opening of the U and perpendicular to the spar sections to be assembled, while the horizontal arms of the T each extend parallel to and partially overlap a spar section to be assembled. The U 161 is open towards the vertical arm of the T when the U 161 and the connecting plate 162 are assembled. To allow assembly of the connecting plate 162 and the U 161, the connecting plate 162 includes two parallel series of mortises, each arranged on the vertical arm of the T, each series of mortises cooperating with a series of tenons arranged on the free edge of a arm of the U.

[0028] The back panel(s) 3 are formed of metal uprights 5 and connecting bars 6 between the metal uprights 5 to form at least one perforated panel. The pallet 1 of [Fig. 1] comprises, in particular, four perforated panels, said panels being positionable opposite each other in pairs. Each panel is formed here of two parallel uprights 5 connected to each other by three bars 6.

[0029] Each upright 5 can be inserted into a well 11 of an angle piece 9 or into a sleeve of a connecting piece 16 when such a connecting piece is present. For this insertion, it is sufficient, with the frame positioned horizontally, to insert by interlocking an upright 5 of the backrest 3 into a well 11 or a sleeve of the base 2 until the end of the upright 5 rests against the bottom 12 of the well 11 formed by the rod 121 or against a partially closed end of the sleeve whose closing element is again a rod shown in 19 in [Fig.4].

[0030] Assembling the backrest to the base is therefore extremely easy. The same applies to disassembly. The presence of the openings 14 and lights 17 prevents any jamming of a backrest upright 5 in its designated space in the base 2 during assembly and / or disassembly.

[0031] To complete the assembly and, in particular, to aid in storing the pallet 1 in its disassembled state, the well 11 is provided at its base, on at least one face other than a bearing face of the well, with a wing 15 inclined outwards from the well 11 to assist in storing the base 2 of the pallet 1 stacked with an identical base of a pallet 1 (example of a backrest). Each connecting piece can similarly have, at the lower end of the sleeve 1, a wing 20 inclined outwards from the sleeve with the same function as the wing 15 of the well 11. It is thus sufficient to stack two identical pallet bases to observe that the wings of one extend beyond the frame of the other and bear against the edges of the frame to prevent slippage.To assemble the backsplash to the base, simply insert the uprights of one backsplash panel into the slots or recesses in the base. To disassemble, simply unclip the uprights. Thanks to the pallet design, these operations can be carried out without risk of jamming.

[0032]

Claims

Demands

1. A pallet (1) comprising a base (2) and at least one back panel (3), the base (2) comprising a metal frame (4) forming a support surface for supporting a floor (18), the back panel or at least one of the back panels (3) being formed of metal uprights (5) and metal connecting bars (6) for the uprights (5) to form at least one perforated panel, the frame (4) of the base (2) being formed of stringers (7) and cross members (8) joined at least by corner pieces (9), each stringer (7) or cross member (8) being a hollow profile defining a through axial cavity (10), each corner piece (9) forming, in the horizontally positioned state of the frame (4), a well (11) for receiving an upright (5) of the back panel or at least one of the back panels (3), this well (11) comprising a bottom (12) and a wall (13) peripheral lateral,characterized in that the peripheral lateral wall (13) of the well (11) of each of the corner pieces (9) is provided with through openings (14), one or more of which open into the end of the longitudinal member (7) adjacent to the corner piece (9), and the other or others into the end of the cross member (8) adjacent to the corner piece (9).

2. Pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral side wall (13) of the well is formed at least of an L-shaped angle (131) and an L-shaped bracket (132), the openings (14) being arranged on the arms of the bracket (132).

3. Pallet (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bracket (132) is provided, at the free end of each arm, with tenons (1321) suitable for inserting into mortises (1311) of the angle (131) for holding in the assembled state.

4. Pallet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the well (11) is a well of quadrangular section, in that the peripheral lateral wall (13) of the well (11) delimits four faces with two of the so-called support faces extending, one opposite and in contact with an end of the spar (7), the other opposite and in contact with an end of the cross member (8) to be assembled to the spar (7) at the level of the well (11).

5. Pallet (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the well (11) is provided at its base, at the level of at least one of the faces other than a bearing face of the well, with a wing (15) inclined outwards of the well (11) to assist in the storage of the base (2) of the pallet (1) in the superimposed state with an identical base of a pallet (1) free of backrest.

6. Pallet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bottom (12) of the well (11) is formed by a round rod (121) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the well (11).

7. Pallet (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the round rod (121) connects two parts opposite the peripheral lateral wall (13) of the well (11).

8. Pallet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spars (7) of the base (2) are formed of at least two sections (71, 72) of spars assembled by a connecting piece (16) forming a receiving sleeve for an upright (5) of the backrest (3), in that the sleeve is delimited by a peripheral side wall provided with at least two facing lights (17) opening one into an end of one (71) of the sections (71, 72) of the spar (7) to be assembled at the connecting piece (16), the other into an end of the other or another of the sections (72) of the spar (7) to be assembled at the connecting piece (16).

9. Pallet (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting piece (16) is in several parts and comprises at least a U (161) and a connecting plate (162) assembled together and in that the lights (17) are arranged on the U which extends between the ends of the spar sections (71, 72) to be assembled at the connecting piece (16).

10. Pallet (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connecting plate (162) has the shape of a T with one vertical arm and two horizontal arms and in that the U (161) is open in the direction of the vertical arm of the T in the assembled state of the U (161) and the connecting plate (162).