Leg assembly for paper pallet

Abstract

A pallet includes a top plate and a leg assembly fixed below the top plate. The leg assembly includes a bottom plate fixed below the top plate. The bottom plate includes three receiving sections spaced from one another. Each receiving section includes two longitudinal sides and a bottom side. Three supporting blocks are mounted in each receiving section and spaced from one another. Each longitudinal side of each receiving section includes two transverse openings. Each transverse opening on each receiving section is located between two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/950,203 filed Sep. 24, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pallet. In particular, the present invention relates to a paper pallet.

2. Description of the Related Art

Paper pallets are more widely used than conventional wooden pallets and metal pallets, as the paper pallets are light, inexpensive, and recyclable. FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a typical paper pallet 90 comprising a top plate 91 and a plurality of legs 92 supporting the top plate 91. The top plate 91 is comprised of a plurality of sheets that are made of corrugated paper or thick paper and that are bonded together to improve the strength of the paper pallet 90.

Two forks of a forklift are inserted into the spaces between the legs 92 along a longitudinal direction for lifting the paper pallet 90. However, the forks of the forklift could not be inserted into the paper pallet 90 along a transverse direction, causing limitation to operation of the forklift. To provide openings in the transverse direction of the paper pallet 90, each leg 92 is divided into a plurality of separate leg units, leading to a decrease in the strength of the legs and undesired easy disengagement of the legs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a pallet comprising a leg assembly with improved strength.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pallet comprising a leg assembly that allows insertion of the forks of a forklift along either a longitudinal direction or a transverse direction.

In accordance with the present invention, a pallet comprises a top plate and a leg assembly fixed below the top plate. The leg assembly comprises a bottom plate fixed below the top plate. The bottom plate comprises three receiving sections spaced from one another. Each receiving section includes two longitudinal sides and a bottom side. Three supporting blocks are mounted in each receiving section and spaced from one another. Each longitudinal side of each receiving section includes two transverse openings. Each transverse opening on each receiving section is located between two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other.

Preferably, a folded plate mounted in each receiving section and bonded between the bottom side of each receiving section and the supporting blocks.

Preferably, each of two outer ones of the receiving sections comprises an extension for sealing a top of an associated one of the two outer ones of the receiving sections.

Preferably, each longitudinal side of each receiving section comprises two reinforcing pieces. Each reinforcing piece has a side connected to a bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the transverse openings.

Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a conventional paper pallet.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a pallet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the pallet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a leg assembly of the pallet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flattened view of a bottom plate of the leg assembly of the pallet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the bottom plate.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing supporting blocks mounted in the bottom plate.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating a pallet with a modified embodiment of the leg assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the pallet in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a leg of the pallet in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a modified embodiment of the leg in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a pallet in accordance with the present invention. The pallet comprises a top plate 10 and a leg assembly fixed below the top plate 10. The top plate 10 is substantially square or rectangular and may be formed by bonding a plurality of sheets of corrugated paper or thick paper. Cargo or the like is placed on a top side of the top plate 10. The leg assembly is also made of corrugated paper or thick paper. It is, however, noted that the top plate 10 and the leg assembly of the pallet can be made of any other suitable material.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the leg assembly comprises a bottom plate 20 and a plurality of supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33. The bottom plate 50 defines a plurality of compartments (not labeled) for receiving the supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom plate 20 comprises three receiving sections 21, 22, and 23 spaced from one another by a longitudinal space (not labeled). Each receiving section 21, 22, 23 includes two longitudinal sides 24 and a bottom side 25. Three supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33 are mounted in each receiving section 21, 22, 23 and spaced along a longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 7. Each supporting block 31, 32, 33 may include a plurality of sheets of paper to improve the strength.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flattened view of the bottom plate 20. FIG. 6 illustrates folding of the bottom plate 20. The bottom plate 20 comprises folding lines (not labeled) to allow easy folding for forming the receiving sections 21, 22, and 23. Further, each longitudinal side 24 of each receiving section 21, 22, 23 is punched to form two transverse openings 26. Preferably, each opening 26 is located between two of the supporting blocks 31, 32, 33 adjacent to each other. Further, an extension 27 extends outward from the outermost longitudinal side 24 of each of two outer ones of the receiving sections 21, 22. The supporting blocks 31, 32, 33 are bonded in place to provide a reliable leg assembly which is bonded to the top plate 10. The transverse openings 26 in the respective longitudinal sides 24 of the respective receiving sections 21, 22, and 23 are aligned with each other, allowing insertion of the forks (not shown) of a forklift (not shown) into the transverse openings 26. The arrangement of the receiving sections 21, 22, and 23 and the supporting blocks 31, 32, and 33 improves the strength of the leg assembly.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each extension 27 is folded inward and bonded to seal a top of the associated receiving section 21, 22 and to improve the strength of the leg assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, two reinforcing piece 28 are obtained on each longitudinal side 24 of each receiving section 21, 22, 23 after the punching procedure, with each reinforcing piece 28 having a side still connected to the associated longitudinal side 24. One of the reinforcing pieces 28 is bonded to a bottom wall delimiting an associated transverse opening 26, and the other reinforcing piece 28 is bonded to the reinforcing piece 28, forming a reinforced structure, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein a folded plate 30 is mounted in each receiving section 21, 22, 23 and bonded between the bottom side 25 and each supporting block (now designed by 310, 320, 330). As illustrated in FIG. 10, each folded plate 30 is in the form of a plate that is folded, and the folded sections 36 of the plate 30 are bonded together. And the supporting blocks 310, 320, 330 are bonded on the folded plate 30, forming a leg. Reinforcing boards 340 are mounted in each supporting block 310, 320, 330. FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment, wherein a reinforcing plate 350 formed by folding a paper board is mounted in each supporting block 310, 320, 330.

It is noted that the pallet in FIGS. 8 and 9 may include the arrangement of the transverse openings 26 and the reinforcing pieces 28.

As apparent from the foregoing, the leg assembly of the pallet in accordance with the present invention has improved strength and allows insertion of the forks of a forklift along either a longitudinal direction or a transverse direction.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising:

a top plate; and

a leg assembly comprising a bottom plate fixed below the top plate, the bottom plate comprising three receiving sections spaced from one another, each said receiving section including two longitudinal sides and a bottom side, three supporting blocks being mounted in each said receiving section and spaced from one another, each said longitudinal side of each said receiving section including two transverse openings, each said transverse opening on each said receiving section being located between two of the supporting blocks adjacent to each other.

2. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a folded plate mounted in each said receiving section and bonded between the bottom side of each said receiving section and the supporting blocks.

3. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, with each of two outer ones of the receiving sections comprising an extension for sealing a top of an associated one of the two outer ones of the receiving sections.

4. The pallet as claimed in claim 1, with each said longitudinal side of each said receiving section comprising two reinforcing pieces, each said reinforcing piece having a side connected to a bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the transverse openings.

5. The pallet as claimed in claim 2, with each said longitudinal side of each said receiving section comprising two reinforcing pieces, each said reinforcing piece having a side connected to a bottom wall delimiting an associated one of the transverse openings.