INTERLOCKING PALLET

PALETTE INTERVERROUILLABLE

English Abstract

A pallet (10) having at least two sections (12 14, 16, 18) has interlocking
means (36, 38) for joining the sections together,
the interlocking means comprising knuckles (36, 38) on sections which mate to
receive a releasable locking member (74).

Claims

-6-
CLAIMS
1. A pallet comprised of at least two
sections having releasable interlocking means for joining
said sections together, each section having a top load
supporting deck with an underlying supporting member, a
plurality of knuckles integral with and spaced along the
periphery of at least one side of said top load
supporting deck and a plurality of knuckles integral with
and spaced along the underlying supporting member on an
adjoining side of said deck, the knuckles on a first
section of said pallet being spaced apart to permit
mating with corresponding knuckles on a second section of
said pallet, said knuckles being adapted to receive a
releasable locking member when brought into mating
relationship, said sections being joined together to
provide a rigid integrated platform when said locking
member is inserted through the knuckles on said first and
second sections of said pallet.
2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein each
section of said pallet has a node centrally located
and projecting from the surface of said deck for
receiving a hollow core of a roll when said roll is
placed in a standing position on said deck.
3. The pallet of claim 1 wherein each
section has foot members contiguous with said
underlying members, said foot members being positioned
at each corner of said section.
4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said
knuckles have eyes adapted to receive an elongated rod
for securing said sections in interlocking
relationship.

-7-
5. A pallet comprised of at least two
sections having releasable interlocking means for
joining said sections together, each section having a
top load supporting deck with foot members positioned
at each corner of said section, each section having a
first set of knuckles integral with and spaced along
the periphery of the surface of at least one side of
said deck and a second set of knuckles integral with a
spaced along a member underlying said first set of
knuckles, said first and second sets of knuckles being
spaced apart to permit mating with knuckles on a
second section of said pallet, said knuckles being
adapted to receive a releasable locking member when
brought into mating relationship said sections being
joined together to provide a rigid integrated platform
when said locking member is inserted through said
knuckles on said first and second sections on said
pallet.
6. The pallet of claim 5 wherein each
section of said pallet has at least one node
projecting from the surface of said deck for receiving
a hollow core of a roll when said roll is placed in an
upright position on said deck.
7. The pallet of claim 5 wherein said foot
members are contiguous with members underlying said
supporting deck.
8. The pallet of claim 5 wherein said
knuckles have eyes adapted to receive an elongated rod
for securing said sections in interlocking
relationship.

Description

WO 92/01607 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/US91/04887
1
TITLE
INTERLOCKING PALLET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new interlocking
pallet comprised of at least two sections which can be
joined together.
Interlocking pallets which are formed by a
plurality of sections are known. These pallets are
useful for supporting loads to be moved by lift
trucks, particularly when only a portion of a load is
to be transported from place to place. Such a pallet
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,224. While the
various sections of the pallet can be joined in a
releasable interlocking relationship, no positive
locking means is provided, and in lifting and moving
the pallet, the sections may come apart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention
there is provided a pallet consisting of at least two
sections having releasable interlocking means for
positively joining the sections together. The locking
means effectively prevents separation of the sections
during both lateral and vertical movement of the
pallet.
Each section of the pallet has a top load
supporting deck with foot members positioned at each
corner of the section. The locking means comprises
knuckles on each section which can be brought into
mating relationship. The knuckles of a first section
are spaced apart along the periphery of at least one
side of the deck and along an underlying member on an
adjoining side of the deck. When similarly configured

WO 92/01607 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/US91/0488'
2
sections are in the mated position, the two sections
can be locked together by inserting a locking member
through openings in the mated knuckles.
In another embodiment of the pallet of this
invention, knuckles on a first section of the pallet
are spaced apart along the periphery of the surface of
at least one side of the deck and along a member
underlying the side of the deck. Knuckles on a second
section of the pallet are similarly spaced apart as
just described to permit mating with knuckles on the
first section of the pallet. When the knuckles of the
two sections are in the mated position, the sections
can be locked together by inserting a locking member
through openings in the mated knuckles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet of
the present invention illustrated by four interlocked
sections;
FIG. 2 is a view of one section of the
pallet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is view of the pallet shown in FIG. 1
in a partially broken down state:
FIG. 4 is a view of another embodiment of
the present invention illustrated by two interlocked
sections: and
FIG. 5 is a view of one section of the
pallet of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1, pallet 10 is
comprised of four sections 12, 14, 16 and 18. Each of
the four sections is substantially identical having a
top load supporting deck 20, 22, 24 and 26 and foot

2087440
WO 92/01607 PCT/US91/04887
3
members 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, 32 and 34 at the corners
of each section.
Section 12 is shown in more detail in Figure
2. Knuckles 36, 36' and 36" are spaced apart along
the periphery of the surface of deck 20. Similar
knuckles 38, 38' and 38" are spaced apart along
stringer 40. The knuckles have eyes 42, 42', 42", 44,
44' and 44" for receiving locking members. Sections
14, 16 and 18 include similarly spaced knuckles and
eyes.
As shown in Figure 1, the sections have
openings 46, 48, 50 and 52 which are wide enough to
permit entry of the forks of a fork-lift or pallet
truck. Stingers 54, 56, 58 and 59 have beveled outer
and interior surfaces, preferably beveled at a 45
degree angle, to permit easy access and withdrawal of
the wheels of a pallet truck.
The embodiments shown in the Figures are
configured to transport large rolls of film. As shown
in Figure 1, nodes 60, 61, 62 and 64 protrude from the
surface of the sections. An open end of the core of a
roll in an upright position is placed over the node to
assist in retaining the roll on the pallet. The node
as well as the surface of the section should be
suitably reinforced for supporting heavy loads. Other
cc~figurations could be used to accommodate
di~ferently shaped loads.
As best shown in Figure 2, the surface 20 of
section 12 includes wells 66, 68 and 70 for receiving
corner posts. A triangular shaped post 72, a portion
of which is shown, or other configuration may be used.
The posts can support a cover plate, not shown, which
would include nodes for receiving the open end of the
core of a roll standing on the pallet. A cover plate
is necessary to protect the rolls on the pallet during

WO 92/01607
PCT/US91 /0488'
4
shipping and stacking. A stretch-wrap package can be
provided for encasing the pallet, rolls and the cover
plate using a suitable polymeric film.
Referring now to Figure 3, pallet 12 is
shown in a partially broken down state. Locking rod
74 is shown partially inserted through the knuckles of
adjoining sections 16 and 18. A second locking rod 76
is also shown partially inserted through knuckles on
sections 14 and 18. When rod 74 is fully inserted,
bent end 78 fits into groove 80 which is formed
between sections 16 and 18. A similar groove
accommodates the end of rod 76.
In another embodiment of the pallet of this
invention shown in Figure 4, sections 82 and 84 have
knuckles 86, 86', 86", 88, 88' and 88" spaced along
the periphery of decks 90 and 92. Rod 94 is shown in
the locking position securing the sections together.
Section 82 is shown in more detail in Figure
5. A second set of knuckles 98, 98' and 98" is shown
on underlying stringer 100. When two sections are
mated, locking rods can be inserted in both the upper
and lower sets of knuckles. The surface of the deck
102 of section 82 is configured with nodes 104, 106,
108, 110 and 112 to receive the hollow end of cores of
rolls of film.
The pallets of this invention may be
constructed from a variety of materials. They may be
molded from polymeric materials such as ABS resins,
high density polyethylene and polyesters. Recylcable
material are particularly suited for this purpose. In
molding the pallets the deck portions and the lower
portion which includes the stringers and foot members
can each be molded separately and joined together by
suitable fastening means. Preferably, the foot
members and stringers are molded simultaneously as

WO 92/01607 ~ ~ 3 ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/US91 /04887
contiguous members. However, the sections of the
pallet may be molded as integral units. Various known
molding techniques can be used.
While particular embodiments of this
5 invention have been shown and described, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various
changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the scope of the invention.
15
25
35

Representative Drawing