Pallet Side Recesses for Secure Display Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pallets face challenges in securely and quickly attaching displays due to increased material requirements and difficulties in insertion, with existing fastening methods either requiring access to the top or causing material deformation, leading to unreliable connections.
Innovation Solution
The pallet features recesses on its side surfaces that extend vertically, allowing for two-sided access and monitoring of display extensions, with undercuts and wedge-shaped cross-sections for secure clamping, enabling easy insertion and removal while preventing movement, and additional recesses for gripping and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If slot-shaped recesses are used on the top surface for display attachment, then displays can be attached to the pallet, but material requirements increase and insertion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by moving the attachment recesses from the top surface to the side surfaces of the pallet. This allows display extensions to be inserted from the sides rather than from above, making the insertion process easier and more accessible while maintaining secure attachment through the recess geometry with locking flanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional top-surface attachment to three-dimensional side-surface attachment. By positioning recesses on the vertical side surfaces and allowing insertion from multiple directions (top, bottom, or side), the system adds dimensional flexibility that simplifies the insertion operation while preserving attachment reliability.
2Ease of operation
If T-shaped recesses are used on the sides of the pallet, then display attachment is simplified, but material deformation occurs preventing reliable connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the recess by adding undercuts and locking flanges to the T-shaped design. These parameter changes create a progressive insertion path that guides the display extension into proper alignment and provides mechanical locking, preventing material deformation while ensuring reliable connection through the enhanced recess geometry.
3Reliability
If locking tabs are added to display extensions, then attachment security improves, but material requirements and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from separate tabs on the display extension and integrates it into the pallet's recess structure. The locking flanges are formed as part of the recess geometry in the pallet itself, eliminating the need for additional locking tabs on the display extension and reducing overall material requirements while maintaining attachment security.
4Adaptability or versatility
If displays are attached to pallets in retail spaces, then product presentation is improved, but access to the top of the pallet is limited making mounting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting approach by enabling side-surface insertion of display extensions, which provides accessible entry points in retail environments where top access may be limited. The recesses on the vertical side surfaces allow workers to attach displays from the sides or front of the pallet, significantly improving mounting accessibility while maintaining full display functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pallet (1) with a substantially rectangular base structure (2) and four side surfaces (3) enclosing the base structure (2), of which two side surfaces (3) are arranged on opposite sides of the base structure (2) and are aligned parallel to each other, wherein the base structure (2) has a top and bottom surface (4, 5) that are flat apart from stiffening structures, and wherein feet (6) are arranged on the bottom surface (5) for supporting the base structure (2), wherein the pallet has inwardly offset corners such that extensions at the corners of a display base can be slipped over the inwardly offset corners.