Pallet Cover

Abstract

A pallet cover for concealing the top and side portions of a pallet on which products are supported and displayed and for providing access for the lifting of the pallet via forks of a pallet lifting device. The cover body includes a top portion and four side flaps with a rubber band system. The side flaps are configured to include an extended portion at the corners with anchor points and guide notches to keep the rubber bands in position. The side flaps are in the up position when the pallet is being moved and are flipped down to cover the sides of the pallet. In one embodiment, the pallet cover includes utility slots to facilitate the inclusion of graphic panels and other merchandising articles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is claiming benefit of a prior filed provisional application Ser. No. 61/604,092 filed on Feb. 28, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to product displays at point of sale. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a pallet cover that covers the entire pallet, top and all side walls, and that includes side flaps which may be lifted up to allow access for the lifting of the pallet via forks of a pallet lifting device.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Products shipped to retail stores are commonly shipped and displayed for sale to the public on pallets. Products are loaded on pallets and remain on pallets until they are sold; thus pallets with products are moved numerous times during transport and at the retail store. Retailers, for safety and for display objectives, have required from their suppliers to provide products on pallets with a feature that conceals the pallet and allow for placement of merchandising panels.

Traditionally pallet skirts or covers are used to conceal the sides of the pallet and are made from disposable material such as corrugated cardboard. A simple tab lock system or elastic fasteners with metal barbs on the ends were used to maintain the pallet skirt or cover in position on the side walls and to provide the lifting of the skirt so that the forks of a fork truck have access to the pallet. The fasteners are easily torn out from repetitive use and did not generally provide the desired clean look sought by the retailers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a pallet cover for concealing the side walls of a pallet while providing side flaps that are capable of being lifted repetitively to facilitate the movement of the pallet via a fork lift device. The pallet cover of the present invention is placed on the pallet prior to products being loaded onto the pallet. The side flaps are in the up position when the movement of the pallet by a fork lift device is desired by the user. The concealment of the pallet side walls is achieved when the side flaps are in the down position. The connection between the side flaps is realized by a rubber band system that is hidden from view when the side flaps are in the down position.

Another aspect of the present invention includes utility slots that are present on the top portion of the cover.

Additional features of the invention are set forth below, and are shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet cover in the inverted position exposing the rubber band system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pallet cover with utility slots and products but with cover not in position over the pallet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pallet cover in relation to the pallet;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of pallet cover after die cut of the corrugated fiber board with the relevant cuts and scores;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of view of pallet cover completed with the rubber bands system and utility slots;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pallet cover with two connected side flaps; and

FIG. 7 is a section view of the pallet cover with the connected side flaps in inverted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is preferably made from corrugated fiber board which provides for repetitive use. The pallet depicted and described herein is a standard wood pallet. A pallet cover within the ambit of the invention may be configured for use with alternative pallets of different shapes, sizes and/or materials.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the pallet cover 10 is configured to cover the top and the sides of a pallet. The pallet cover consists of a top portion 11 and four side flaps 12 with a rubber band system connecting the side flaps 12 and providing for a complete coverage of the pallet 14. The pallet cover 10 is structured to allow the movement of the side flaps in up and down positions. FIG. 4 depicts the pallet cover 10 made from corrugated fiber board by a die cut process where the cuts and scores are achieved. Each side flap 12 includes an extended side flap 13 at both ends of the side flap; furthermore, each extended side flap 13 contain an anchor point 16 and a guide notch 17 cuts that are achieved as part of the initial die cut process. The connection of the side flaps 12 is accomplished through the use of a rubber band system as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The rubber band system provides the flexibility of moving the side flaps 12 in the up and down position while maintaining the connectivity on the interior side of the pallet cover 10 so that the connection is not visible when the side flaps 12 are in the down position. With attention briefly to FIG. 6, a rubber band 18 is placed in the anchor point 16 and through the guide notch 17 of one extended side flap 13 and then through the guide notch 17 and to the anchor point 16 of the adjacent extended side flap; once the rubber band 18 is in place, the extended side flap 13 is folded unto its side flap 12 and glued in place. FIG. 7 depicts the connected side flaps 12 in the inverted position.

The pallet cover 10 is placed on top of the pallet with the side flaps 12 in the inverted position so that products 15 are loaded unto the pallet 14 prior to movement. The side flaps 12 are placed in down position when the loaded pallet is at the retail store and ready for display. With the repetitive use of the pallet cover 10 for the movement and display of products by retailer, the pallet cover as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5, may also be configured to include utility slots 19 on the edge of the top portion 11 of the pallet cover 10 allowing the retailer to place merchandising panels and graphics.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the pallet cover 10 have been shown and described herein, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A pallet cover for covering top and side portions of a pallet and for providing access for mechanical lifting of the pallet via forks of a pallet lifting device, said pallet cover comprising: said top being configured to cover the top of a pallet, each of said side flaps being configured to cover the side walls of a pallet, such that a lower most part of the bottom margin of the flap is in line with a bottom surface of the side wall of pallet when the side flap is in the down position about the side wall of pallet, each of said side flaps configured to include extended flaps at the end each side flaps, each of said extended side flaps defining an anchor point and a guide notch, each of said extended side flaps is connected to an adjacent extended flap by a rubber band attached between the two anchor points and through the guide notches whereby the extended side flaps are folded over the said side flaps and glued so that the rubber band remains in position and with the desired tension.

a top;

four side flaps; and

four rubber bands,

2. The pallet cover as claimed in claim 1, said top incorporates slots so that merchandising graphic articles are capable of being inserted.