Pallet and adapter therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a transportation pallet clearance adapter (30) that comprises a stringer engaging portion, and a ground support portion extending downwards from the stringer engaging portion for the transportation of goods. The disclosure further concerns a transportation pallet set that includes a two-way, stringer, open boarded, single / double deck pallet, and at least one transportation pallet clearance adapter (30), comprising a stringer engaging portion and a ground support portion extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion.

Description

[0001] PALLET AND ADAPTER THEREFOR

[0002] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure is concerns pallets used for transportation of goods. The disclosure is further directed to an adapter used in conjunction with such pallets.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:

[0006] - US3807581

[0007] - US9458000

[0008] - W004083047

[0009] Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that it is in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0010] BACKGROUND

[0011] US3807581 describes a collapsible pallet for transporting cargo and having adjustable height stacking posts positioned at each of the four comers. Each post is pivotably attached about a fixed post portion and is rotatable to vertical locked positions to be stacked above the stationary post portion and provide adjustable height to the pallet.

[0012] US9458000 describes a pallet truck adapter having side by side shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines, in which the shoes are of different heights. This facilitates locating one pallet on the higher shoe, lifting it slightly off of the supporting surface, and then moving to and lifting another pallet on the lower shoe. The adjacent pallets can then be moved together and offloaded at different locations, unloading the pallet on the lower shoe first, and the pallet on the higher shoe thereafter.

[0013] W004083047 describes adjustable legs for pallets such as paper pallets that are detachable so as to enable reuse of the legs when the pallet is discarded. The adjustable leg comprises a hollow leg that is provided with an upper lateral flange adapted to support the leg on the pallet and an outer thread provided close to the upper end of the leg. The adjustable leg is further provided with fastening ring having inner thread that correspond the outer thread on the leg and another lateral flange. The hollow leg is threaded in a hole in the pallet so that the upper lateral flange sits on the pallet and the fastening ring is screwed onto the outer thread so that ring's lateral flange contiguous to the pallet so that the pallet is raised above the ground and sits on the ring's lateral flange.

[0014] Hoisting and transporting machines are often collectively referred to as ‘forks’, and are typically of two main categories: forklifts and pallet trucks / jacks. Forklifts are heavy duty machines, typically of high loading, lifting and transport capacity, and wherein their forks / tines can be lowered to a minimum resting over the ground surface, as they are free of load- wheels at their free front end. Pallet jacks (whether manual or motorized) are of compact size and are restricted as far as loading, lifting and transport capacity, and their forks / tines comprise load-wheels at their free front end, supporting the forks’ level. As such, the forks of pallet jacks are displaceable between a lowered position at which the forks are somewhat elevated from the ground surface, and a raised position at which the forks are elevated for transportation of a pallet.

[0015] Pallets are well known and are broadly used for storage and transportation of goods. A wide variety of pallets are known, varying in material, shape, design and size.

[0016] One type of pallets is the so called ‘skid pallets namely ‘two-way, stringer, open boarded, pallets’. Such pallets typically comprise parallelly extending stringer beams, having fork entries on two opposite sides (front and back) where tines of a hoisting and transporting machine can enter. Stringer beams are referred to as spaced apart beams extending below and supporting a plurality of spaced apart top deck boards. The pallets can be single-deck platforms, absent of a bottom deck, or double double-deck platforms, wherein the stringers are configured for resting over a ground surface.

[0017] Pallets of the aforementioned type (two-way, stringer, open boarded, single / double deck, pallets) typically have low ground clearance, namely corresponding with the height of the stringer beams, i.e. the distance of a bottom face of the deck boards from the ground.

[0018] Accordingly, such pallets are suited for handling by forklifts (as the forks can enter the low ground clearance), and are not suited for handling by pallet j acks that require a greater ground clearance (owing to the presence of the load-wheels). GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0019] A first aspect of the disclosure is directed to a transportation pallet clearance adapter that comprises: a stringer engaging portion, and a ground support portion extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion.

[0020] The transportation pallet clearance adapter can be detachably attachable to a stringer of a transportation pallet.

[0021] The stringer engaging portion can comprise a stringer embracing cavity for arresting therein a stringer of a transportation pallet.

[0022] The stringer embracing cavity of the stringer engaging portion can have a rectangle cross section defined between at least three wall sections corresponding with respective wall faces of a pallet stringer.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the stringer engaging portion can comprise at least an elastic wall section, deformable so as to render the stringer engaging portion snap-engageable over a stringer of a transportation pallet.

[0024] A second aspect of the disclosure is directed to a transportation pallet set, that comprises: a transportation pallet and at least one transportation pallet clearance adapter, wherein said transportation pallet is a two-way, stringer, open boarded, single / double deck pallet, and said transportation pallet clearance adapter comprises a stringer engaging portion and a ground support portion extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion; and wherein said stringer engaging portion comprises a stringer embracing cavity engageable over a stringer of the transportation pallet, such that the ground support portion projects below a bottom surface of the stringer.

[0025] According to difference standards, the clearance required for a pallet jack / truck is about 4 inches, whereas the clearance of a pallet of the concerned type can be about only 2 inches.

[0026] Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be associated with any one or more of the aspects of the present disclosure, individually or in various combinations thereof:

[0027] • The height of the stringer embracing cavity can correspond with the height of the stringer;

[0028] • The height of the ground support portion can be approximately the same as the height of a stringer embracing cavity of the stringer engaging portion; • The width of the stringer engaging portion can be less or equal to the distance between two neighboring top deck boards of a transportation pallet;

[0029] • The width of the top wall portion and side wall portion of the stringer engaging portion can be less or equal to the distance between two neighboring top deck boards of a transportation pallet;

[0030] • The thickness of the top wall portion can be less or similar to the thickness of the top deck boards of a transportation pallet;

[0031] • The height of a top surface embracing member does not exceed the thickness of a load board of a transportation pallet;

[0032] • The top wall portion can be arced towards the stringer embracing cavity, to impart it elasticity;

[0033] • The stringer engaging portion can generally be U-like shaped; this facilitates that the stringer engaging portion of the transportation pallet clearance adapter can be slidably mounted on a stringer of a transportation pallet;

[0034] • The stringer engaging portion can be U-like shaped, with a side facing opening;

[0035] • The stringer engaging portion can be U-like shaped, with an upwards facing opening;

[0036] • An opening portion of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion can comprise one or more stringer arresting prongs. Such prongs are configured for preventing unintentional disengagement of the stringer engaging portion from a pallet stringer arrested thereby; tips of the one or more prongs project to decrease the cross section of the opening portion of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion;

[0037] • A stringer arresting prong can be disposed at a free end of an opening of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion;

[0038] • Two stringer arresting prongs can be disposed facing one another, at opposite ends of the opening of the stringer engaging portion;

[0039] • The one or more stringer arresting prongs can be chamfered, to facilitate sliding of the clearance adapter over the stringer beams into engagement therewith; • The transportation pallet clearance adapter can be a monoblock, injection molded, or extruded element;

[0040] • The transportation pallet clearance adapter can comprise two or more elements attachable to one another;

[0041] • The transportation pallet clearance adapter can be assembled of two members attachable to one another, wherein each of the two members comprises a segment of a stringer engaging portion and a segment of a ground support portion, wherein the respective segments complement one another to form, at an attached position, the stringer engaging portion and the ground support portion;

[0042] • The two members can be identical with one another or be a mirror image of one another;

[0043] • The two members can be snapingly attachable with one another;

[0044] • The transportation pallet clearance adapter can be made of polymeric material;

[0045] • At least a bottom stringer-wall engaging portion of the stringer engaging portion can comprise projections extending into the stringer embracing cavity; such projections can increase grip of a pallet stringer;

[0046] • The projections can extend from one or more of the bottom stringer-wall engaging portion, the side wall portion and the top wall portion;

[0047] • Projections oppositely extending from the bottom stringer- wall engaging portion and the side wall portion can extend parallel with one another;

[0048] • Projections extending from the bottom stringer- wall engaging portion and the side wall portion can extend perpendicular to projections extending from the side wall portion;

[0049] • The stringer embracing cavity can be shaped and sized for friction embracing a stringer of a transportation pallet;

[0050] • Portions of the stringer engaging portion and of the ground support portion can comprise reinforcing ribs;

[0051] • The stringer embracing cavity of the stringer engaging portion can comprise a pivotally hinged wall segment, positionable between an open position and an embracing, closed position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0053] Fig. 1A is a top perspective view of an example of a transportation pallet for use in conjunction with a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to the disclosure;

[0054] Fig. IB is a planar front / back view of the pallet of Fig. 1 A;

[0055] Fig. 1C is a planar side view of the pallet of Fig. 1 A;

[0056] Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the transportation pallet of Fig. 1A, fitted with a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to the disclosure;

[0057] Fig. 2B is a planar front view of Fig. 2A;

[0058] Fig. 2C is a planar side view of Fig. 2A;

[0059] Fig. 2D is an enlargement of the portion marked 2D in Fig. 2A;

[0060] Fig. 2E is a planar top view of Fig. 2A;

[0061] Fig. 2F is a planar bottom view of Fig. 2A;

[0062] Fig. 3A is a top, right side, perspective view of a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0063] Fig. 3B is a top, left side perspective view of the transportation pallet clearance adapter of Fig. 3 A;

[0064] Fig. 3C is a planar front view of the transportation pallet clearance adapter of Fig. 3 A;

[0065] Fig. 4A is a section along line 4A - 4A in Fig. 2D;

[0066] Fig. 4B is a planar view of Fig. 4A;

[0067] Fig. 4C is a section along line 4C - 4C in Fig. 2D;

[0068] Fig. 4D is a planar view of Fig. 4C;

[0069] Fig. 4E is a section along line 4E - 4E in Fig. 2B;

[0070] Fig. 5A is a top perspective view of another example of a transportation pallet for use in conjunction with a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to the disclosure;

[0071] Fig. 5B is an enlargement of the portion marked 5B in Fig. 5A; Fig. 6A is a top, right side, perspective view of a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to another embodiment of the disclosure, the adapter at an assembled position;

[0072] Fig. 6B is a section along line 6B - 6B in Fig. 6A;

[0073] Fig. 6C is a section along line 6C - 6C in Fig. 6A;

[0074] Fig. 6D is a section along line 6D - 6D in Fig. 6A;

[0075] Fig. 7A is an exploded view of the transportation pallet clearance adapter of Fig. 6A;

[0076] Fig. 7B is an exploded, rotated view, of the transportation pallet clearance adapter of Fig. 6A;

[0077] Fig. 8A is a section taken along line 8A - 8A in Fig. 5B;

[0078] Fig. 8B is a section taken along line 8B - 8B in Fig. 5B;

[0079] Fig. 8C is a section taken along line 8C - 8C in Fig. 5B; and

[0080] Fig. 9 is a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3B.

[0081] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0082] Attention is first directed to Figs. 1 A to 1C, illustrating a transportation pallet 10, suitable for use in conjunction with the adapter of this disclosure. The pallet 10 is a two way ‘skid pallet namely comprising a top deck 14 composed of a plurality of spaced apart top deck beams 16 (i.e. open boarded), supported over several spaced apart stringer beams 18, wherein a bottom face 19 of the stringers 18 is configured for resting over a ground surface.

[0083] The pallet 10 has two fork entries (referred to by arrows FE) disposed at two opposite sides (front and back), where tines of a hoisting and transporting machine (not shown) can enter. A forklift / ground clearance C extends below a bottom surface 20 of the top deck 14, said clearance in fact correspond with the height H of the rectangular stringer beams 18.

[0084] Typically, the transportation pallet 10 is made of wood, though plastic and cardboard pallets are known too, as well as differently shaped and sized pallets, which can be used in conjunction with a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to embodiments of the disclosure, providing they comply with the above definition.

[0085] As mentioned, the height of the stringer beams defines the ground clearance of the pallet, which according to several manufacturing standards, the height of the ground clearance of such pallets is about 2 inches (~5cm), rendering it too low for manipulating by a pallet jack / truck, since the forks / tines of a pallet jack are disposed elevated from the ground surface also at their lowered position, as opposed to fork lifts that can assume a lowermost position resting over the ground surface (and hence suitable for use in conjunction also with pallets having a tight ground clearance as mentioned above). Typically, the clearance required for a pallet jack / truck is about 4 inches (~10 cm).

[0086] Further attention is directed also to Figs. 2A to 4E, illustrating the pallet 10 (Figs. 1A to 1C) fitted with a transportation pallet clearance adapter (‘clearance adapter’) according to the disclosure, generally designated 30.

[0087] The clearance adapter 30 is a monoblock, plastic molded (or extruded) member, comprising a stringer engaging portion 32 and a ground support portion 34 extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion 32.

[0088] As can be seen, best in Figs. 3 A - 3C, the stringer engaging portion 32 comprises a stringer embracing cavity 38 having a rectangle cross section defined between a bottom stringer-wall engaging portion 40, a side wall portion 42 and a top wall portion 44, wherein stringer embracing cavity 38 is suited for snugly accommodating and arresting a stringer beams 18 of the pallet 10, namely wherein at least the height of the stringer embracing cavity corresponds with the height H of the stringer 18.

[0089] Stringer engaging portion 38 is generally U-like shaped, with a side facing opening 39, facilitating that the stringer engaging portion 38 can be slidably mounted on a stringer 18 of a transportation pallet 10.

[0090] As can further be seen, the width W of the stringer engaging portion 32 is less or equal to the distance D between two neighboring top deck boards 16 of the transportation pallet 10. Furthermore, the thickness T of the top wall portion 44 is less or similar to the thickness t of the top deck boards 16 of the transportation pallet 10, whereby at an assembled position the top wall portion 44 does not project over a top face 17 of the top deck boards 16 (best seen in Fig. 4B). This ensures that the top wall portion 44 does not interfere with loads on the pallet.

[0091] The clearance adapter 30 is reinforced by a plurality of reinforcing ribs 48, however the top wall portion 40 (and optionally side wall portion 38) is elastic to an extent rendering the stringer engaging portion 32 snap-engageable over a stringer of a transportation pallet, as will be explained herein below. Furthermore, it is seen that top wall portion 44 is arced, imparting it resiliency, so as to bear tightly over a stringer 18 received within the stringer embracing cavity 38.

[0092] The opening portion 39 of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion 32 (i.e. into stringer embracing cavity 38) comprises stringer arresting prongs 50 and 52 at the free end of the opening 39 (i.e. the free end of the bottom wall engaging portion 40 and of the top wall portion 44), facing one another so as to narrow the opening 39, hence preventing the clearance adapter 30 from unintentional displacing and detaching from the stringer 18. One or both of the stringer arresting prongs 50, 52 is chamfered, to facilitate sliding of the clearance adapter 30 over the stringer beam 18 into engagement therewith.

[0093] It is further seen that the stringer-wall engaging wall portions 40, 42, and 44 of the stringer engaging portion 32, comprise inwards facing projections 58 extending into the stringer embracing cavity 38, for increasing grip / friction of a pallet stringer 18 received therein. However, it is appreciated that the projections 58 can extend from either one or more of the bottom stringer-wall engaging portion 40, the side wall portion 42 and the top wall portion 44. In the illustrated example the projections 58 extend parallel with one another; or perpendicular to one another.

[0094] In use, when it is required to increase ground clearance of the pallet 10, e.g. for the purpose of manipulating by a pallet truck / jack (not shown), the pallet 10 is temporality elevated (e.g. by positioning on a loading table, or using a forklift, etc.; not shown), exposing the bottom face 19 stringer beams 18 of the pallet. At this position, the transportation pallet clearance adapters 30 can be mounted and articulated over the stringer beams 18 (typically four or more clearance adapters 30 are applied). The clearance adapters 30 are articulated to the stringer beams 18 by sliding them through the opening 39 over the stringer beams 18, temporarily deforming the top wall portion 44 until the stringer beam 18 is fully received within the stringer embracing cavity 38, whereat the prongs 50,52 snap to arrest the stringer beams 18. Once the clearance adapters 30 are articulated to the stringer beams 18, the pallet 10 can be positioned over the ground surface, whereby the ground clearance is now increased at NC (Figs. 4B, 4D), said increased clearance NC (typically 4 inches or more) is sufficient for handling / manipulating the pallet 10 using either a forklift or a pallet truck (not shown).

[0095] Noting the elasticity of the top wall portion 40, the transportation pallet clearance adapter 30 can be easily attached and detached from a stringer beam, suitable for reuse. Tuming now to Figs. 5A to 8C, there is illustrated another embodiment of a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to the disclosure, generally designated 60. The purpose of the clearance adapter 60 is the same as that of clearance adapter 30 disclosed hereinabove. Both of which being useful in conjunction with a transportation pallet 10 of the type discussed herein before, and reference is made thereto, using the reference numbers.

[0096] The transportation pallet clearance adapter 60 comprises two identical, complimenting members 62A and 62B, attachable to one another to form a solid unit. Members 62A and 62B each comprise a segment of a stringer engaging portion 64A,64B and a segment of a ground support portion 66A,66B, wherein when members 62A and 62B are attached to one another they form together an assembled stringer engaging portion and the ground support portion (Figs. 6A - 6D), giving rise to a stringer embracing cavity 70 having a rectangle U-like cross section with an opening 72 facing upwards.

[0097] The stringer embracing cavity 70 is defined between a bottom stringer-wall engaging portion composed of two portions 76A,76B, side wall portions 78A,78B and facing top wall portions 80A,80B, wherein the stringer embracing cavity 70 is suited for snugly accommodating and arresting a stringer beams 18 of the pallet 10, namely wherein at least the height h of the stringer embracing cavity corresponds with the height H of the stringer 18.

[0098] As can further be seen, the width W of the stringer engaging portion 64A,64B is less or equal to the distance D between two neighboring top deck boards 16 of the transportation pallet 10. Furthermore, the thickness T of the top wall segments 80A,80B is less or similar to the thickness t of the top deck boards 16 of the transportation pallet 10, whereby at an assembled position the top wall segment portions 80A,80B do not project over a top face 17 of the top deck boards 16 (best seen in Fig. 5B).

[0099] Similar to the previous embodiment, members 62A and 62B of the clearance adapter 60 are reinforced by a plurality of reinforcing ribs 92. In addition, at least the bottom stringer-wall engaging wall portions 76A,76B comprise inwards facing projections 96 extending into the stringer embracing cavity 70, for increasing grip / friction of a pallet stringer 18 received therein.

[0100] However, in the previously described embodiment (Figs. 1A to 4E) the transportation pallet clearance adapter 30 is configured for sliding engagement or snap mounting over a stringer beam 18 of the pallet 10, according to the present embodiment (Figs. 5A to 8C) by assembling complimenting members 62A and 62B over a stringer beam 18. For that purpose, it is seen that members 62A and 62B each comprise a snap engaging projection 100 having a tapering rectangle cross-section and comprising snap tabs 102, and a corresponding snap receptacle 104, with respective snap tab arresting depressions 106.

[0101] Assembling the complimenting members 62A and 62B over the stringer beam 18 is facilitated by applying the two members at opposite side faces of the stringer beam 18 and pressing them against one another in direction of arrows 110 (Fig. 7A), until they snapingly articulate, clampingly arresting therebetween the stringer beam 18 (e.g. Fig. 5B). However, it is appreciated that the transportation pallet clearance adapter 60 can also be a priori assembled and articulated to a stringer beam 18 by slidingly snaping it thereover from below.

[0102] Turning now to Fig. 9, there is illustrated a transportation pallet clearance adapter generally designated 120, being a modification of the clearance adapter 30 illustrated and discussed hereinabove in detail with reference to Figs. 3A to 4E. The clearance adapter 120 comprises stringer engaging portion 121 and a ground support portion 122, however, wherein the stringer engaging portion 121 is U-like shaped, with an upwards facing opening 123 extending between two side wall portions 124,126 projecting upwards from a bottom stringer-wall engaging portion 128, giving rise to a stringer embracing cavity 130 extending therebetween, having a generally U-like shape, with a top facing opening 122

[0103] Each of the side wall portions 124,126 comprises at its top, free end, a top wall portion 132,134, respectively, with a chamfered top face 138,140. Similar with the previous embodiments, the clearance adapter 120 comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs 136 and a plurality of projections extending into the stringer embracing cavity 130, as explained hereinabove in connection with previous embodiments.

[0104] The clearance adapter 120 is articulated to a stringer beam of a transportation pallet (not shown in Fig. 9) from below, sliding it into snaping over the stringer 18.

[0105] Yet an a second aspect of the disclosure is directed to a transportation pallet set seen in any of the previous drawings, comprising a transportation pallet 10 and at least one transportation pallet clearance adapter (30; 60; 120)wherein said transportation pallet is a two-way, stringer, open boarded, single / double deck, pallet and said transportation pallet clearance adapter comprises a stringer engaging portion (32; 64A, 64B; 121) and a ground support portion (34; 66A, 66B; 122) extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion; and wherein said stringer engaging portion comprises a stringer embracing cavity (38; 70; 130) engageable over a stringer 18 of the transportation pallet 10, such that the ground support portion projects below a bottom surface 19 of the stringer.

[0106] It is appreciated that a transportation pallet clearance adapter according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be articulated to a stringer beam of a transportation pallet also at the event that the pallet is already loaded, since the top surface embracing member does not exceed the thickness of a load board of a transportation pallet.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transportation pallet clearance adapter, comprising a stringer engaging portion, and a ground support portion extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion.

2. The adapter of claim 1, being detachably attachable to a stringer of a transportation pallet.

3. The adapter of claim 1 or 2, wherein the stringer engaging portion comprises a stringer embracing cavity for arresting therein a stringer of a transportation pallet.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the stringer embracing cavity of the stringer engaging portion has a rectangle cross section defined between at least three wall sections corresponding with respective wall faces of a pallet stringer.

5. The adapter of claim 3 or 4, wherein the height of the stringer embracing cavity correspond with the height of a pallets’ stringer.

6. The adapter of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the height of the ground support portion is approximately the same as the height of the stringer embracing cavity.

7. The adapter of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least a bottom stringer-wall engaging portion of the stringer engaging portion comprises projections extending into the stringer embracing cavity.

8. The adapter of any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the stringer embracing cavity is shaped and sized for friction embracing a standard stringer of a transportation pallet.

9. The adapter of any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the width of a top wall portion and a side wall portion of the stringer engaging portion is less or equal to the distance between two neighboring top deck boards of a transportation pallet.

10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the top wall portion of the stringer engaging portion is less or similar to a thickness of a top deck boards of a transportation pallet.

11. The adapter of claim 9 or 10, wherein the top wall portion is arced towards the stringer embracing cavity, to impart it elasticity.

12. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the stringer engaging portion comprises at least an elastic wall section, deformable so as to render the stringer engaging portion snap-engageable over a stringer of a transportation pallet.

13. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the width of the stringer engaging portion is less or equal to the distance between two neighboring top deck boards of a transportation pallet.

14. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the stringer engaging portion has a generally U-like shape, whereby the stringer engaging portion is slidably mounted on a stringer of a transportation pallet.

15. The adapter of claim 14, wherein the U-like shape of the stringer engaging portion has a side facing opening.

16. The adapter of claim 14, wherein the U-like shape of the stringer engaging portion has an upwards facing opening.

17. The adapter of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein an opening the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion comprises one or more stringer arresting prongs, for preventing unintentional disengagement of the stringer engaging portion from a pallet stringer arrested thereby.

18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein tips of the one or more prongs proj ect to decrease the cross section of the opening portion of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion.

19. The adapter of claim 17 or 18, wherein the one or more stringer arresting prongs are disposed at a free end of an opening of the U-like shaped stringer engaging portion.

20. The adapter of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the one or more stringer arresting prongs are disposed facing one another, at opposite ends of the opening of the stringer engaging portion.

21. The adapter of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the one or more stringer arresting prongs are chamfered.

22. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the transportation pallet clearance adapter is a monoblock element, injection molded element, or extruded element.

23. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the transportation pallet clearance adapter is assembled of two members attachable to one another, wherein each of the two members comprises a segment of the stringer engaging portion and a segment of the ground support portion, wherein the respective segments complement one another to form, at an attached position, the stringer engaging portion and the ground support portion.

24. The adapter of claim 23, wherein the two members are identical with one another.

25. The adapter of claim 23 or 24, wherein the two members are snapingly attachable with one another.

26. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the transportation pallet clearance adapter is made of polymeric material.

27. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein portions of the stringer engaging portion and of the ground support portion comprise reinforcing ribs.

28. A transportation pallet set, comprising: a transportation pallet being a two-way, stringer, open boarded, single / double deck pallet; and at least one transportation pallet clearance adapter, comprising a stringer engaging portion and a ground support portion extending downwards from said stringer engaging portion; and wherein said stringer engaging portion comprises a stringer embracing cavity engageable over a stringer of the transportation pallet, such that the ground support portion projects below a bottom surface of the stringer.

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