Pallet Assembly With Formed Portion For Cargo Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pallets, especially wooden ones, are not durable, prone to decay, and infestation, while plastic pallets require additional reinforcement that increases weight and cost, making them difficult to move and ship, and recycling is complex due to mixed materials.
Innovation Solution
A pallet assembly that incorporates a formed portion on its body to securely receive a rigid elongate item, enhancing lengthwise rigidity without adding significant weight or cost, using a channel or undercut to retain items like barbells or weight plates, allowing the pallet to be flexible without reinforcement when empty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wooden pallets are used, then cost is low, but durability and resistance to decay and infestation are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet body is made of plastic material which provides durability and resistance to decay and infestation while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The plastic material serves as a composite solution that combines the advantages of both wooden and metal pallets.
2Strength
If plastic pallets are reinforced with additional material or support members, then strength is improved, but weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet transitions from a static reinforced structure to a dynamic system where the carried items themselves provide structural reinforcement. The items on the pallet act as stressed members that enhance strength only when needed, eliminating the need for permanent reinforcing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The items carried on the pallet serve a dual function: they are the cargo being transported and simultaneously act as structural reinforcement for the pallet. The system uses the cargo itself to strengthen the pallet, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing components.
3Strength
If plastic pallets are reinforced with metal members, then strength is improved, but recycling complexity increases due to material separation
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is constructed entirely from plastic material without metal reinforcing members, creating a homogeneous structure that is easy to recycle. The reinforcement is provided by the carried items themselves, not by integrated metal components, allowing the pallet to be easily separated and recycled as a single material type.
4Weight of moving object
If plastic pallets are made flexible without reinforcement, then weight is reduced, but strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is designed to be flexible and lightweight in its empty state, transitioning to a strong, rigid structure when items are placed on it. The carried items provide the necessary structural reinforcement dynamically, allowing the pallet to optimize its weight-strength ratio based on its loading state.
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet having: a pallet body having a first side and an opposing second side; at least one formed portion located on the first side of the pallet body and shaped to receive a rigid elongate first item thereon, the formed portion oriented substantially along a lengthwise axis of the pallet body. When the elongate first item is substantially retained on the formed portion of the pallet body such that when the elongate first item is secured thereon, a lengthwise rigidity of the pallet body is enhanced by the rigid elongate first item.