US2914282A - Leg structure for pallet - Google Patents

Description

Nav. 24, 1959 L, J, Bum, i 2,914,282

LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Filid July 16, 1956 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 24, 1959 L.. J. BUDD 2,914,282

LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Filed July 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Effi a fr g. 6

I y 54 A/ United States Patent l LEG STRUCTURE FOR PALLET Larry J. Budd, Chicago, lll., assignor to Pallet l )evices, Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1956, Serial No. 597,905

7 Claims. (Cl. 248-120) This invention relates generally to a load supporting structure and more particularlyy to a ber or paper board pallet.

Manufacturers of liber hoard pallets have been making the leg structure for their pallets integral with the pallets in the form of folded under reinforced tubes. The present. invention concerns itself with a new type of leg structure for a pallet and the novel manner in which the leg structure is attached to the pallet.

The instant leg structure is comprised of two strips of flexible material such as paper board which are of unequal length and are each folded into rectangular tubes. The tubes are telescoped with respect to one another and have means for interlocking themselves in assembly. The leg structure may be assembled with the Ipallet by inserting the inner or inside rectangular tube through a rectangular opening in the pallet. The opening in the pallet has tabs cut out and turned under and which are adapted to bear against the outside surface of the inside rectangular tube and against the inside surface of the outside rectangular tube. Thereafter, the tubes l and tabs are glued together or otherwise fastened.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pallet construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved leg structure for a pallet.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved structural cooperation between a platform and its legs to provide a pallet.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pallet construction including legs therefor which lend themselves to economical'manufac1 ture on a large production basis.

According to the general features of this invention there is provided a fiber Iboard pallet including a platform and depending legs for supporting the pallet. The platform has a rectangular opening defined by edges having depending turned under angularly arranged tabs about said opening. The legs for said platform comprise shorter and longer strips each having portions folded into generally rectangularly configurated inner and outer leg sections. The generally rectangularly configurated inner leg section has at least two of the portions overlapping at.

least two other of the portions with a notch at one o-f the corners extending through the overlapped portions. The inner rectangularly contigurated leg section is telescoped through the opening with the angularly arranged turned under tabs bearing against the outer surface of the inner leg structure. The generally. rectangularly congurated outer leg section has the portions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to `face relation and they extend diagonally from one of the corners with the outer leg section notched generally atsaid one of the corners. The outer section is telescoped over the inner section with the notches engaged with one another in interlocked'assembly and with the tabs sandwiched between the sections t maintain the sections in assembly with the platform.

2,914,282 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 ICC The edges of the opening are cut outv at the junction of the edges with one another to minimize tearing of the liber board.

A further yfeature of this invention relates to the provision o-f a trussed leg structure for a pallet.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparentk in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating therein a single embodiment in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my pallets in? stacked relation to one another and each supporting a load;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plane viewv ofmyA pallet in a preliminary stage of construction;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of an outside strip which is to be folded into an outer rectangular tube;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of an inside strip which is to be folded into an inner rectangular tube;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the outside stripafter having been folded to provide a rectangular tube;

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the inside strip after having been folded to provide a rectangular tube;

Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of my partiallyI assembled pallet having the inner tube extending through4 the opening and supported by the pallet;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing in greater detail the structural relation of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a bottom elevation, similar to Figure 7, however, showing the outside tube telescoped over the' inner tube to provide a leg structure which is in assembly with the pallet.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 in Figure l indicates generally my pallet which is adapted to sustain a load 1'1' thereon by means of wire straps and the like. Nested over the load 11 is a cap or cover 12. This cap or cover 12 provides a level surface upon which another pallet' and load may be maintained in stacked relation.

In order to facilitate the shipping and moving of the pallet 10 and the load carried thereon, legs 13 have been provided.

The pallet 10 also includes a bottom panel 14; The

legs 13 are adapted to maintain the bottom panel olf` of" the ground surface thereby enabling the fork of a lift" portant aspect of the present invention concerns the fact the pallet 10 and particularly the leg structure 13 may be very economically manufactured with a minimum of waste.

lFrom Fiure l it will be perceived the cover 12 and.

the platform 14 are both preferably rectangular and cupshaped and formed in much the same manner. Both the cover 12 and the platform 14 lend themselves to being manufactured from a flat strip of paper board and the like. The strip (not shown) is initially blanked, and thereafter, sidewalls l5 are turned away from the blank at generally right angles. By reason of the fact certain of the sidewalls are cut with an extra amount of material, this material is utilized to provide flaps 16 which may be turned around the corner and engaged in face to face relation with the adjacent sidewall 15. Thereafter, the" ilap 16 may be stapled at S or otherwise' secured to thea adjacent sidewall 15 and it is in this manner the rectangular cup shaped cover 12 and platform 14 may be constructed.

At the four corners of the platform 14 or the panel 14a are cut openings 17 (Figures 7 and 9). In the formation of each of the openings 17, the panel 14a is cut'to provide four adjacent triangular tabs 18. At the four'corners of the rectangular opening 17 and more particularlyV at the junction of the tabs 18 with the platform 14 is provided small cut out openings 19 which are adapted to greatly diminish any likelihood of the material of the platform 14 from tearing or ripping. After the tabs 18 have been cut out they are each bent or turned along score lines 20 generally vertically downwardly as is viewed in Figures 2 and 8.

The leg structure 13 is comprised of two strips of paper board material or the like 21 and 22 (Figures 3-6). Strip 21 is made considerably longer than strip 22 so that when the respective strips are folded in the manner hereafter described folded strip 22 will be able to telec'sope into folded strip 21.

The strip 21 is divided into six flaps or panels, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Each of the panels 23-28 are separated from one another by score lines 29. Panels 24-27 are of the same length while end panels 23 and 28 are elongated as compared to the other panels. Positioned at the score line 29 on panels 23 and 28 are notched portions 30 defining notches which extend approximately one-half of the strip.

When the strip 21 is folded, as seen in Figure 5, a rectangular tubular leg section 31 is provided. To reinforce the rectangular tube 31, the elongated panels 23 and 28 extend diagonally across at the corners of the tube with the notched portions 30 positioned at the corner from where the elongated panels 23 and 28 emanate. To insure that the tube 31 does not come apart, the panels 23 and 28 may be suitably secured by gluing or the like.

In Figure 4 is shown the second strip 22 which is shortened in length as compared to strip 21 but is of the same width. The strip 22 is comprised of six panels or flaps 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. Each of the panels 3237 are seperated from one another by one of score lines 38 which is the line at which the panels are adapted to be folded relative to one another.

Adjacent the ends of the istrip 22, are provided notched portions 39 defining notches which are about one-half the width of the strip 22. These notches 39 are positioned so that they are located at the junction of panel 32 with panel 33 and at the junction of panel 36 with panel 37; a portion of each of the notches being cut away from the panels 32, 33 and 36, 37.

The strip 22 has been folded to form a rectangular, tubular leg section 40 in Figure 6. In the folding of the strip 22, the notches 37 are arranged so as to be located at one of the corners of the rectangular tube 4G. In order to provide a reinforced structure, panel 32 underlaps panel 36 and panel 33 underlaps shortened panel 37. To permanently assemble the tube 40, the flaps 32, 36 and 33, 37 may be glued or otherwise permanently secured together by means such as 'staples and the like.

In view of the foregoing it will be appreciated how the components of my leg structure 13, namely, the strips 21 and 22, may be very economically manufactured with a minimum of Waste from strips of material,

To assemble the leg structure onto the platform 14 to form a pallet 10, the inner or smaller tubular leg section `40 is telescoped through the opening 17 (Figure 8). The tabs 18 which have been struck from the panel 14 bear against the outer side of the leg section 40 and serve to hold the tube 40 in place. At this stage of assembly, if desired, the tabs 18 may be suitably secured to the leg section 40.

After the leg section 40 and the platform 14 have been assembled together, the larger rectangular tubular leg section 31 is aligned from the underside of the platform 4 14 with respect to leg section 40 so that the openings or notches defined by notched portions 30 and 39 will engage one another. Thereafter, the section 31 is telescoped over the section 40 including the flaps 18. When the tubes 31 and 40 are in engagement 'with one another, the elongated legs 23 and 28 of strip 21 or tube 31 are adapted to extend through the notch 39 and in the section 40 to interlock the tubes or sections together. To supplement this interlocked assembly, the tubes may be stapled, glued or otherwise secured together to insure permanent assembly of the components thereof. By positioning or sandwiching the tabs 18 between the tubes 31 and 40, the leg structure 13 is maintained in assembly with the panel 14 to define the pallet10.

As a tribute to the strength of my pallet 10 having the legs 13, tests have established the pallet as capable of sustaining in excess of a three thousand pound load.

While the present invention has been illustrated in conjunction with a rectangular pallet utilizing four of the leg structures 13, it will be appreciated the pallet may assume any other shape and any 'suitable number of the leg structures 13 may be provided thereon.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A paper board pallet construction including a platform and depending paper board legs for supporting the pallet, said platform having a cut out opening with the material cut out providing depending angularly arranged tabs, said leg for said platform comprising folded shorter and longer six flapped strips of paper board .with each strip folded into generally rectangularly crosssectioned inner and outer leg sections, said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner leg section having two of the flaps overlapping two other of the flaps with a notch at one of the corners extending through said overlapped flaps, said inner rectanglularly cross-sectioned leg sections telescoped through the opening with the angular tabs bearing against the outer surface of the inner leg structure, and said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer leg section having the flaps at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to face relation and extending diagonally from one of the corners with said outer leg section notched generally at said one of the corners, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notches engaged with one another in assembly and with said tabs sandwiched between and secured with said sections to maintain the sections in assembly with the platform.

2. A pallet including a platform and depending legs for supporting the pallet, the improvement of the platform having an opening and depending angularly arranged tabs about said opening, said leg for said platform comprising folded shorter and longer strips each having portions folded into generally rectangularly cross-sec-V tioned inner and outer leg sections, said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner leg section having at least two of the portions overlapping at least two other of the portions with a notch at one of the corners extending through said overlapped portions, said inner rectangularly cross-sectioned leg section telescoped through the opening with the angularly arranged tabs bearing against the outer surface of the inner leg structure, and said4 generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer leg section having the portions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to face relation and extending diagonally:

from one of the corners with said outer leg section notched generally at said one of the corners, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notches engaged with one another in assembly and with said tabs sandwiched between and secured with said sections to maintain the sections in assembly with the platform.

3. A pallet including a platform and depending legs for supporting the pallet in assembly therewith, the improvement of said leg for said platform comprising folded shorter and longer strips each having portions folded into generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner and outer leg sections, said generally rectangularly crosssectioned inner leg section having at least two of the portions overlapping at least two other of the portions with a notch at one of the corners extending through said overlapped portions, and said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer leg section having the portions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to face relation and extending diagonally from one of the corners with said outer leg section notched generally at said one of the corners, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notches engaged with one another in assembly.

4. A leg structure for a pallet comprising folded strips providing generally rectangularly cross-sectioned inner and outer leg sections, said generally rectangularly crosssectioned inner leg sections having at least two of the portions overlapping at least two other of the portions with a notch at one of the corners extending through said overlapped portions, and said generally rectangularly cross-sectioned outer leg section having portions at the opposite ends of the strip folded in face to face relation and extending diagonally from one of the corners with said outer leg section notched generally at said one of the corners, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notches engaged with one another in assembly.

5. In a portable material handling pallet adapted for use in lift truck operations and embodying therein a load supporting sheet member and a plurality of supporting tubes elevating said sheet member, means to reinforce the supporting sheet member comprising tab portions displaced from the plane of said sheet, which tab portions are disposed within said tubes and are adapted to be secured thereto, said tubes each comprising inner and outer telescoped tubular sections each having bottom edges with one of said sections comprising a strip having its opposite free ends folded extending laterally across dividing the section, said strip when folded having a tubular area between the folded ends which closes the folded ends, each of said sections having notched areas which notched areas are engaged together when said sections are in telescoped assembly for closer cooperation between the sections and the tabs and also enabling the bottom edges of the sections to be placed 6 in a common plane constituting a ground engaging surface.

6. A load supporting pallet embodying therein a base of sheet material, a load engageable member of sheet material spaced laterally from said base, a plurality of spaced apart pillars between said base and said member respectively, each pillar including an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, which receive therebetween inturned tubular portions of said base and said load supporting member respectively, said inner tubular member providing passages through the pallet and having bottom edges, one of said tubular members comprising a strip having its opposite free ends folded parallel extending laterally across dividing and bisecting the tubular member, each of said tubular members having notched areas which notched areas are engaged together when said tubular members are in telescoped assembly for closer cooperation between the tubular members and also enabling the bottom edges of the members to be placed in a common plane constituting a ground engaging surface, the notched areas on said strip being positioned at the intersections of said free ends with said strip.

7. A pallet including a platform and depending ber board legs for supporting the pallet in assembly therewith, said platform having a series of openings with each opening having tabs turned away from the opening at the periphery thereof, said leg for said platform cornprising shorter and longer strips each having portions folded into generally tubular inner and outer leg sections which are engaged on inner and outer sides of the tabs, said generally tubular inner leg section having a notched portion, and said generally tubular outer leg section having a notched portion, said outer section telescoped over said inner section with said notched portions engaged with one another along a bottom edge of the leg in assembly.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,892 Gomes July 11, 1933 2,348,483 Lacy et al. May 9, 1944 2,493,562 YarmanA Jan. 3, 1950 2,503,240 Cahners Apr. 11, 1950 2,507,588 Brandon et al. May 16, 1950 2,507,929 Pennebaker May 16, 1950 2,602,619 McIntyre July 8, 1952 2,691,500 Baumann Oct. 12, 1954

Images