Plastic Pallet Snap Connection with Mirror-Symmetrical Hooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-part plastic pallets face disengagement issues under continuous load during transportation, leading to separation of the upper part from the skids.
Innovation Solution
A plastic pallet design featuring outer and middle female foot parts with outer and middle male foot parts, utilizing snap connections with at least two mirror-symmetrical snap hooks and a securing element to maintain engagement, providing a secure connection between the upper part and skids without the need for additional tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If snap connections are used to connect the upper part and lower part, then the pallet can be assembled without welding equipment and the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the connection can disengage under continuous load during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The snap hooks are pre-formed with elastic deformation capability during molding, allowing them to be inserted into the latch elements without additional tools. The elastic material properties are prepared in advance to enable automatic locking when the foot parts are pushed together, eliminating the need for welding equipment while ensuring reliable connection under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by using elastic plastic material with specific deformation characteristics. The snap hooks are designed to elastically deform during insertion and then maintain a locked position through controlled elastic recovery, transforming the connection from a rigid permanent joint to a flexible yet reliable snap-fit connection that resists disengagement under transport loads.
2Strength
If welding is used to connect the upper part and lower part, then the connection strength is high, but a bead is formed that requires time-consuming and expensive milling operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful welding bead formation by completely replacing the welding process with a snap-fit mechanism. The connection is achieved through mechanical interlocking of snap hooks with latch elements, eliminating the need for material removal operations such as milling. This extraction of the problematic welding step directly improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining connection strength through the elastic locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal welding process with a mechanical snap-fit system. Instead of using heat and pressure to fuse materials together (welding), the invention uses pre-formed elastic snap hooks that mechanically interlock with latch elements. This substitution eliminates the bead formation issue and the subsequent milling operation, significantly improving productivity while maintaining adequate connection strength for transport applications.
3Reliability
If multiple snap hooks are used to secure the foot parts, then the connection stability under load is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into distinct functional elements: snap hooks on the foot parts and corresponding latch elements on the upper part. Each snap hook is further segmented with a hook head and a snap arm, allowing independent deformation and locking actions. This segmentation enables multiple connection points without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as each segment performs a specific function in the loading sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap hook design merges the hook head and snap arm into a single integrated elastic element molded from the foot part. This combining of functions into one component reduces the number of separate parts needed, as the single elastic snap hook performs both the engagement (hook head) and locking (snap arm) functions. The merging approach maintains connection stability through multiple contact points while minimizing structural complexity by eliminating the need for separate fastening components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The secure snap connection and ribbed foot parts enhance the pallet's impact resistance and stability, preventing disengagement even under high loads, thus extending its service life and ensuring robustness during transportation.
Implementation Method 1
Each snap hook (8) comprises a snap arm (8'), a rear side (10) and a hook head (9) with undercut (9'). The last portion (11) of the rear side (10) of the snap hook (8) leading to the tip is beveled or rounded... The snap hook (8) has resilient properties
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a plastic pallet (1) with an upper part (2) provided with female foot parts (4, 4′) and skids (3, 3′) provided with male foot parts (5, 5′). The male foot parts (5, 5′), together with the female foot parts (4, 4′), form feet (21, 21′), with the foot parts (4, 4′) of the upper part and the foot parts (5, 5′) of the skids (3 3′) being fastened to one another by means of snap connections (6). Each male foot part (5, 5′) includes at least two snap hooks (8), which are arranged with mirror symmetry in pairs and which each have a hook head (9) with undercut (91), a snap arm (8′) and a rear side (10), the undercuts (9′) of the hook heads (9) facing away from one another and the rear sides (10) of the snap hooks (8) facing towards one another. Each female foot part (4, 4′) includes at least one latch element (7), into which the hook heads (9) are engaged, forming a snap connection (6) in each case. The female foot parts (4, 4′) are integrally connected to the upper part (2). Each female foot part (4, 4′) includes at least one securing element (12), each with at least one free end (13), the securing element (12) being integrally connected to the female foot part (4, 4′), and the securing element (12) protruding into an intermediate space (24) between the rear sides (10) of the snap hooks (8) so that the snap hooks (8) remain in the engaged position.