Industrial pallets and methods of manufacture of panel structures

• US 5,298,098 A
• Filed: 06/17/1991
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herbert K. Hoedl
• Original Assignee: Herbert K. Hoedl
• Inventors: Hoedl, Herbert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DE SIMONE, MARK B
• Application Number:
  US07/716,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 156/73.5, 156/293, 156/294, 156/73.1, 264/23
• US Class Current: 156/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/0672 Spin welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12441 being a single wall
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12449 being asymmetric B29C66/12445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12469 being asymmetric
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/3024 said melt initiators being non-integral with the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/472 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/474 said single elements being substantially non-flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73941 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermosets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0026 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 : made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 : contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00343 : contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 : whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00378 : whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed

Abstract

A novel industrial pallet for use in supporting and moving goods, engageable by conventional forklift trucks, comprises an upper platform, one or more lower planar reinforcements and cylindrical spacers therebetween, defining a space suitable for access of the forks of a forklift truck from all sides. Some or all of the components are made of thermoplastic-type materials, so that the structures can be economically and simply made by friction welding (e.g. spin/vibration welding). Alternatively, a thermoplastic material may be positioned between components, to act as a thermoplastic glue of respective parts on friction welding.

Claims

1. A process of manufacturing an industrial pallet having a platform, a planar reinforcement and a plurality of hollow cylindrical spacers disposed therebetween, said spacers having thermoplastic end portions and said platform and reinforcements having thermoplastic portions to contact the ends of the spacers, said process comprising:

placing opposed ends of at least one of said cylindrical spacers in thermoplastic contact with the thermoplastic portion of the platform and the thermoplastic portion of the reinforcement;

and holding the platform and the reinforcement stationary whilst the cylindrical spacer is rotated relatively thereto under pressure, about its longitudinal axis, to effect simultaneous friction welding of the cylindrical spacer to the platform and the reinforcement.

3. The process of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cylindrical spacer is gripped for rotation by gripping means disposed within the cylindrical spacer.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the reinforcement or the platform is apertured at the location of contact with the cylindrical spacer and the gripping means protrude through the aperture in the reinforcement or the platform into the interior of the cylindrical spacer.

5. The process of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cylindrical spacers are gripped for rotation by gripping means disposed exteriorly thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 or claim 2 including the initial steps of cutting strips off a planar sheet of material having thermoplastic characteristics to form the platform and the reinforcements, and cutting apertures through said reinforcements of a size and shape substantially corresponding to an the internal size and shape of the cylindrical spacers.

7. The process of claim 4 wherein the gripping means effect rotation of the cylindrical spacer about its longitudinal axis, relative to the platform and the reinforcement.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the cylindrical spacer is gripped for rotation by means of friction belts contacting the exterior surface thereof.

2. A process of manufacturing an industrial pallet having a platform, a planer reinforcement, and a plurality of hollow cylindrical spacers disposed therebetween, said spacers having thermoplastic portions to contact the ends of the spacers, said process comprising:

placing opposed ends of at least one of said cylindrical spacers in thermoplastic contact with the thermoplastic portion of the platform and the thermoplastic portion of the reinforcement;

and holding the platform and the reinforcement stationary whilst the cylindrical spacer is vibrated relatively thereto under pressure, about its longitudinal axis, to effect simultaneous friction welding of the cylindrical spacer to the platform and the reinforcement.