Railing Pallet System Reducing Weight and Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pallet systems for shipping and storing safety railing segments are bulky, heavy, and costly due to their large footprint and material requirements, which increases shipping and storage expenses.
Innovation Solution
A compact and lightweight pallet system that incorporates railing segments as structural members, reducing material usage and enabling modular components for reuse, with a design featuring interlocking railing bundles for secure shipment and adjustable edge brackets for efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional pallets are used for shipping railing segments, then the railing segments can be securely transported, but the pallets become excessively heavy and large in footprint, increasing shipping and storage costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the railing segments with the pallet structure by integrating them as load-bearing components. The railing segments are positioned to directly support and transfer loads, eliminating the need for separate heavy pallet materials while maintaining secure transport capability through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The railing segments serve dual functions: they act as both the protective railing components and the structural load-bearing elements of the pallet system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated pallet materials, significantly reducing overall weight while maintaining transport reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional pallets with large footprints are used, then the railing segments can be adequately supported, but the shipping and storage costs increase due to reduced space efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet system is segmented into modular components that can be configured in different arrangements. The railing segments themselves form the structural framework, allowing for compact, space-efficient configurations that reduce footprint while maintaining adequate support capability through strategic positioning of the segmented railing components.
3Strength
If heavy-duty pallet materials are used, then the structural strength is sufficient for shipping, but the fabrication cost and shipping cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The railing segments serve themselves by acting as both the product being transported and the structural support system. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate pallet materials, reducing fabrication costs while maintaining structural strength through the inherent strength of the railing components themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet system for shipping and storage of railing segments. The pallet system captures the corners of a plurality of railing segments, thereby diminishing the weight, footprint, and materials of construction requirements. In some embodiments, a plurality of the pallet systems can be stacked. The diminished size of the pallet system components after removal of the railing segments can be returned to the shipper in a refund exchange arrangement. In some embodiments, the plurality of railing segments is maintained in a fixed relationship using a spacer that is inserted laterally through the plurality of railing segments.