초록 ▼

The invention relates to a fork lift pallet characterized by a raised platform construction, and having suitability of purpose to support and permit unitized handling of at least 300 times its own weight. The features of the pallet that lend to its extended utility over the prior art include the use

The invention relates to a fork lift pallet characterized by a raised platform construction, and having suitability of purpose to support and permit unitized handling of at least 300 times its own weight. The features of the pallet that lend to its extended utility over the prior art include the use of densely packed column means, arranged in a strategic pattern, and supporting the raised platform critically between about ¾″to 2″. Essentially, the entire platform surface is columnized as above-described, except for parallel non-column supported spans (two or four in number) for fork lift access and retrieval. The pallet further features a stepped sidewall with a rolled extreme edge for maximum stiffness and multiple elongated ribs in the platform, set out of phase to provide optimum utility traits. Unitized product loads may be moved on such pallets in a manner closely simulating the functionality of prior heavy rigid pallets of wood or plastic.

대표청구항 ▼

A lightweight pallet of from between about 2¼to about 9 pounds in weight and having a raised load supporting platform, the pallet comprising: (a) a thin flexible sheet of heat-formable thermoplastic material, said flexible sheet comprising the load supporting platform of the pallet; (b) a rigid base

A lightweight pallet of from between about 2¼to about 9 pounds in weight and having a raised load supporting platform, the pallet comprising: (a) a thin flexible sheet of heat-formable thermoplastic material, said flexible sheet comprising the load supporting platform of the pallet; (b) a rigid base in the vertical direction, the base supporting said flexible sheet in a normally disposed horizontal, raised position, and being characterized by sufficient rigidity to resist substantial compressive deformation under a compressive load, uniformly applied over the horizontal load supporting area of the flexible sheet, of 300 times the weight of the pallet; (c) the rigid base comprising hollow thin-walled ground engageable column means, said base comprising from between about 10 to about 40 column means for each square foot of the horizontal load supporting area of the flexible sheet; said column means being from between about ¾to about 2 inches in depth and comprising depressions formed in the flexible sheet; (d) the flexible sheet comprising stiffening rib means integrally formed therein and further comprising a pair of non-ground supported, laterally spaced and parallel flexible sheet portions engageable at the underside with the tines of a lift fork; (e) said rigid base and flexible sheet being formed integrally of a heat formable sheet of thermoplastic of from between about 30 to about 120 mils average sheet thickness.