PALLET CAP
A pallet cap for transporting stacked loads of commercial goods is disclosed. The pallet cap comprises a generally rectangular frame having a plurality of peripheral downwardly extending flanges and top rim portions integrally defined by flange corners. The plurality of top rim portions has on an opposite side interior step portions used for holding the load of packaged goods together on a pallet for transport and storage. Additionally, the top rim and associated step portions further define a cutout top center portion used to examine expiration dates displayed on the side of the stacked goods. For ease of transportation and storage, the pallet cap is formed by assembling a flat paperboard strip of a predetermined length and width wherein by folding and bending the strip along predefined longitudinal and transverse score lines the pallet cap of the present invention is created.
The present invention relates to a pallet cap or cover for covering a top side or bottom side of a load on a pallet, and to a method of forming the pallet cap.
BACKGROUND ARTIn the transportation industry, pallets are used for shipping commercial items in bulk and are generally made of wood or plastic. In most cases the pallet comprises a skid and the items to be shipped are stacked on top of the skid and held in place by plastic wrapping or metal straps. In order to stabilize and secure the load on the pallet skid a pallet cap is utilized which rests on the top of the load and is typically secured there by tightly wrapping plastic about the whole assembly. Additionally, the pallet cap also provides a surface on which another skid may be placed.
Prior art pallet caps are generally constructed as either a square or rectangular frame in order to provide a step portion along the inner perimeter of the frame. This provides a surface against which the packaged goods when stacked are held together on top of a pallet for storage and/or transportation. Prior art pallet caps are typically manufactured as a wooden frame made of four thin pieces of wood joined to form a square or rectangular frame. Additionally, four metal plate brackets are provided with each bracket overlapping the adjacent ends of two pieces of wood and are secured to the wood using screws, nails or glue.
These type of pallet caps are expensive to make due to the increasing cost of wood and are expensive to recycle since they are made of wood and metal. Another problem with these this type of pallet cap is that the pallet caps themselves cannot be stored flat as the right angle preformed corner sits upright and hence, they require considerable storage space. This increases storage costs. Also, the formation of the rigid, screwed, nailed or glued corners adds to the cost of the pallet caps. Often, pallet caps are discarded after one or several usages making them expensive to use. The subject invention solves the cost of pallet caps by making them cost effective in manufacturing and due to use of recycled materials beneficial to the environment.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new and improved pallet cap that is inexpensive to manufacture, defines a top square cutout portion for load examination, may be stored flat before and after use, and after assembly will remain on the top of the load prior to the load being wrapped in plastic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA pallet cap for transporting stacked loads of commercial goods is disclosed. The pallet cap comprises a generally rectangular frame having a plurality of peripheral downwardly extending flanges and top rim portions integrally defined by flange corners. The plurality of top rim portions has on an opposite side interior step portions used for holding the load of packaged goods together on a pallet for transport and storage. Additionally, the top rim and associated step portions further define a cutout top center portion used to examine expiration dates displayed on the side of the stacked goods. For ease of transportation and storage, the pallet cap is formed by assembling a flat paperboard strip of a predetermined length and width wherein by folding and bending the strip along predefined longitudinal and transverse score lines the pallet cap of the present invention is created.
In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring once again to
After the strip 19 has been scored and bent as illustrated in
After the strip 19 has been folded twice as illustrated in
It has been found that the pallet cap of the present invention may be in the range of 20 to 25 percent lighter in weight than comparable pallet caps of the type conventionally used in the prior art. This lighter weight is desirable from the standpoint that it results in a material saving, which reduces the cost of the pallet cap, as compared to the prior art. Also, the bended, unencumbered corners which are created by folding a single paperboard strip to create this pallet cap has proven to be advantageous over prior-art constructions wherein overlapping or other means of securement must be provided at each corner of a frame creating similar pallet caps. Although the pallet cap is shown in the drawings as being of rectangular configuration, it will be understood that this invention may be used in connection with other configurations as well.
It is contemplated for embodiments of the invention to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Therefore, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.
Claims
1. A pallet cap comprising:
- a frame comprising a plurality of peripheral downwardly extending flange and top rim portions integrally defined by flange corners; wherein
- said plurality of top rim portions has on an opposite side interior step portions; wherein
- said top rim and associated step portions further define a cutout top center portion.
2. The pallet cap according to claim 1 wherein said frame may be formed by assembling a flat strip of material by folding and bending the strip along longitudinal and transverse score lines.
3. The pallet cap according to claim 1 wherein said frame is made from paperboard.
4. The pallet cap according to claim 1 wherein said frame is assembled from flat strip of paperboard by six fold and bending steps.
5. The pallet cap according to claim 1 wherein said cutout top center portion is sufficiently large to read expiration dates on stacked goods placed on a pallet.
7. The method of making a pallet cap comprising the following steps:
- A. cutting and scoring an elongated strip of flexible material;
- B. folding said strip along a longitudinal score line located down a centerline of said strip;
- C. bending said folded strip along transversely defined score lines for creating corners and top rim and flange portions;
- F. inserting said strip end into a slit defined on an opposite end of said strip for completing the assembly of the pallet cap.
8. The method of claim 7 further characterized in that said strip is constructed from paperboard.
9. The method of claim 8 further characterized in that the assembly of said flat strip defines a cutout top center portion.
10. The method of claim 8 further characterized in that said flange portions are of sufficient downward length to securely hold stacked goods when placed on a pallet.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2016
Inventor: Aerick Bacon (Bolingbrook, IL)
Application Number: 14/656,634